Франкенштейн

           Ipursuedhim,andformanymonthsthishasbeenmytask.Guidedbyaslightclue,IfollowedthewindingsoftheRhone,butvainly.TheblueMediterraneanappeared,andbyastrangechance,IsawthefiendenterbynightandhidehimselfinavesselboundfortheBlackSea.Itookmypassageinthesameship,butheescaped,Iknownothow.

           AmidstthewildsofTartaryandRussia,althoughhestillevadedme,Ihaveeverfollowedinhistrack.Sometimesthepeasants,scaredbythishorridapparition,informedmeofhispath;sometimeshehimself,whofearedthatifIlostalltraceofhimIshoulddespairanddie,leftsomemarktoguideme.Thesnowsdescendedonmyhead,andIsawtheprintofhishugesteponthewhiteplain.Toyoufirstenteringonlife,towhomcareisnewandagonyunknown,howcanyouunderstandwhatIhavefeltandstillfeel?Cold,want,andfatigueweretheleastpainswhichIwasdestinedtoendure;Iwascursedbysomedevilandcarriedaboutwithmemyeternalhell;yetstillaspiritofgoodfollowedanddirectedmystepsandwhenImostmurmuredwouldsuddenlyextricatemefromseeminglyinsurmountabledifficulties.Sometimes,whennature,overcomebyhunger,sankundertheexhaustion,arepastwaspreparedformeinthedesertthatrestoredandinspiritedme.Thefarewas,indeed,coarse,suchasthepeasantsofthecountryate,butIwillnotdoubtthatitwassettherebythespiritsthatIhadinvokedtoaidme.Often,whenallwasdry,theheavenscloudless,andIwasparchedbythirst,aslightcloudwouldbedimthesky,shedthefewdropsthatrevivedme,andvanish.

           Ifollowed,whenIcould,thecoursesoftherivers;butthedaemongenerallyavoidedthese,asitwasherethatthepopulationofthecountrychieflycollected.Inotherplaceshumanbeingswereseldomseen,andIgenerallysubsistedonthewildanimalsthatcrossedmypath.