Pagina 470 de 483

Great God! what a scene has just taken place! I am yet dizzy with

the remembrance of it. I hardly know whether I shall have the

power to detail it; yet the tale which I have recorded would be

incomplete without this final and wonderful catastrophe.

I entered the cabin where lay the remains of my ill-fated and

admirable friend. Over him hung a form which I cannot find words

to describe-gigantic in stature, yet uncouth and distorted in its

proportions. As he hung over the coffin, his face was concealed

by long locks of ragged hair; but one vast hand was extended, in

colour and apparent texture like that of a mummy. When he heard

the sound of my approach, he ceased to utter exclamations of

grief and horror and sprung towards the window. Never did I

behold a vision so horrible as his face, of such loathsome yet

appalling hideousness. I shut my eyes involuntarily and

endeavoured to recollect what were my duties with regard to this

destroyer. I called on him to stay.