Classic Audiobook Collection - The Haunted Island by Edward Harold Visiak ~ Full Audiobook [adventure]

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Haunted Island by E. H. Viziac. Chapter 1. Scampering away. On Christmas Eve, 1668, I, Francis Clayton, was with my brother Dick at Clayton Manor, our father's house. Tis seated on the bottom of a bay near Wimbury, on the seacoast of Devon. My brother served in quality of lieutenant on board his Majesty's ship Tiger, and was but late returned from a cruise off the island of Jamaica. His ship lay at anchor in the beach.

Starting point is 00:00:30 bay. We sat over against one another on the hearth in my little snug room. The squire and the servants were abed. The great old house slept with starting and creaking of the timbers. The fire was sunk together, burning with a clear glow. The candles were wasted to the snuff in their sockets. My brother told a marvelous tale of the South Sea, of an island there haunted by spirits, particularly by a monstrous great ghoul or devil. "'Many rumors,' said he, "'are gotten abroad of this enchanted island. "'Tis said that he who laid up the treasure

Starting point is 00:01:06 "'had a truck with the devil, "'and that a frightful fiend hath guard over it. "'I do certainly know tis there. "'As to the rest, I am nothing concerned "'with such fantastic gear. "'Once ashore there,' said he, "'and not all the devils in hell "'shall keep me from the treasure.

Starting point is 00:01:23 "'Yet of seamen who have seen the thing "'be not extremely out, tis a pretty white. "'The head of it, say they, reaches unto the clouds, "'and the appearance of it is frightful out of all description.' "'There came a sudden tap-tapping in the wainscoting. "'It was no doubt but a rat. "'But I must confess I shrink with fear of it, "'whereupon my brother clapped me boisterously on the shoulder,

Starting point is 00:01:46 "'saying, hello, my land, captain, "'did you think it was the ghost from the haunted island? "'I'll show you something to cheer you up.' "'Hereupon, clapping hand to pocket, "'he plucked forth a little box or casket. It was of gold, very cunningly wrought with the representation of a galleon. And her hull was of rubies, her sails of pearls, her flag, and flowing pendants of emeralds and sapphires, and the sea of amethyst. It was exquisite, and I said so, but my brother bade me read what was written on a piece of parchment that he took from the box and laid open before me.

Starting point is 00:02:20 I know you like poesy, said he. Read it, tis better than a sonnet to my lady's shoe-latchet. The writing was old and small. and thus it was. Go you not nigh the island captain, Go you not close abroad, For death would ride on every side, And hell on your steerboard.

Starting point is 00:02:41 As I was sailing the sea captain, Beyond the Mexique Bay, A muckle blast the good ship cast, A monstrous long south way. Blind ran the ship as a blind antler, And ever her beside, There rode a drear and hooded fear till we the isle espied.

Starting point is 00:03:00 We anchored off the island, Captain, we lay off cables four. I swear by bell, twas Micklewell, we went not nearer shore. It came in the midnight hour, Captain, as God's eye seeth me. I never weaned that such a fiend in earth or hell might be. Praise to the mother of God, Captain, be praise and grammarsy. An image stood of the blessed rude, nailed to our mainmast tree. Here the ballad was broken off. I asked what it was, but had never answered.

Starting point is 00:03:33 For, on a sudden, a summons, loud and long, sounded upon the manorpe door. Hello, what's this? cried I. But my brother said nothing, only got from his chair and stepped to the casement, as I did also. He drew the shutter, and we peered without upon the avenue. It was a wintry and a weird prospect. The moon shone bleak through the scantily falling snow, which was flurried about in drifts of powder on the frozen ground. The tall elms stood gauntly up,

Starting point is 00:04:03 the smaller branches of them stirring in sudden movements, like hands and fingers. But at the great door there was a little fat man in the uniform of the captain of a king's ship. He stood panting, his face, fiery red, and kept pummeling with his cane upon the flagstones. Why, tis the captain of your ship, said I. Tis Captain Skenton.

Starting point is 00:04:26 But, muttering in his teeth, Dick turned and hurried from the room, I followed to find him at the end of the corridor, warily withdrawing the Arras. We looked through. The captain addressed the serving man who had opened to him, and was beside himself with passion. He spoke in rapid and high-pitched tones, and with robustious gesticulation. We caught a tail end. That I see Squire Clayton this night. But he's a bed, Your Honor, says Roger.

Starting point is 00:04:55 Then wake him! Wake him, wake him, cried the little man, and stamping by misadventure a gouty foot, he broke into a paroxysm of rage, just as the squire our father came forth on the gallery of the stairs. What's this, what's this? says he, looking down in his nightcap. What's this, sir? cried Skinton, his voice rising shrill. What's this, sir? Why, your son, sir, a conspiracy, sir, a conspiracy aboard my ship, my ship, sir. Roger, says the squire. How came you to admit this neighing rascal?

Starting point is 00:05:27 Show him into the stable. Hereupon the captain became perfectly furious, But the squire returned him word for word as hot as he gave, So that there fell a very great clamor, And in the hurly-burly Dick stole past them into the hall, eye-following, And so, the door having been left open, out into the night. We scoured down the avenue, crossed the road beyond, And striking into the countryside, cut crisply across the frozen fields to the cliff-top.

Starting point is 00:05:53 then down, helter-skelter to the shore. A great ship lay at an anchor close in, with her sails hauled up in brails. It was the tiger. Her captain's boat lay beached above the breakers, and her crew walked up and down to keep them warm. My brother stepped to the coxswain. To Zai John, said he, as he got back his breath, and to the rest, he said, Back to the shipmen, our plans are out ahead. All's ready. I'll make all your fortunes, my jolly boys.

Starting point is 00:06:21 Aye, aye, sir, aye, aye. But he bade them hush and hastened with a boat. Thereupon, turning to me. Get you back to the manor, says he. No, I go with you, said I. He looked me up and down. Tut, tut. Do you know where we're bound for the South Sea,

Starting point is 00:06:37 and on none of the king's business either? You're going to steal the ship, said I. But they were shoving off the boat, and before ever he could answer, or I take thought we found ourselves aboard, and rolling over the waves. Soon there fell a great barking of dogs from the dirt direction of the manor, whereupon my brother did urge the rowers to greater effort, a few moments

Starting point is 00:06:58 after we reached the ship. We went aboard at the gangway. There stood a big black-bearded fellow who passed on board in the style of the quartermaster. My brother spoke a word in his ear, and the man nodded. "'All have joined Uvery?' asked Dick. "'I but the master and surgeon Burke be aboard. They went not ashore with the rest.' "'Seth,' said Dick with his teeth. "'Where are they, then?' "'The master's in his cabin. "'Burke's in the roundhouse.

Starting point is 00:07:30 "'Overboard with the master. "'Let him swim, the preaching-swap. "'But we'll have need of Burke. "'Have up the men. "'I'll speak to him. "'Haste ovary!' "'He made to the quarter-deck as he spoke "'while the other went below.

Starting point is 00:07:42 "'Soon was heard the boat swain's whistle "'and the mariners began to come up on deck. "'Meantime, there came a splashing under the stern, and the master swam presently forth within sight. Having gotten his breath, he began to shout threats and imprecations at my brother, but Dick laughed and shook his finger at him, crying. Nay, nay, sweet sir, be not so prodigal with your strength. I warrant you'll need all of it and on.

Starting point is 00:08:08 On this, with the last imprecation, the swimmer turned and incontinently made toward the shore. But the mariners were now gotten all up on deck, and my brother prepared to speak to them. but no speech was made by him, for a musket shot rang out on the shore, and some half-dozen men, led by the captain and the squire, came forth on the cliff. The captain, shouting and gesticulating with the smoking musket that he held, but our father stood like a man sore-stricken, so that it went to my heart to see him. I turned to my brother. Go you no further with this, said I.

Starting point is 00:08:42 Return while, yet you may. But he did not answer me. He stood staring to windward, and I saw his first. face set hard. A big ship, flying the flag of St. George, had Hoven sight round a bend of the cliff. Next moment he turned and bawling out, In with the boat! cried he, all hands make sail, a banker and away! There fell a great ado on this, as the mariners went to work to the shrill piping whistle at the boat swain and the word of command. Soon the cable was Hoven, while the seamen saying as they strained at the capstan.

Starting point is 00:09:17 Soon the ship began to move, stretching away under her sprit sail and top sails to the shore breeze. But the other vessel had hoisted up her top gallant sails and came on apace. And now, being but a cable's length away, she shot off a gun. Come on, you dogs! cried Dick.

Starting point is 00:09:34 Fire away and split! And he hastened to the poop, where the gunners worked, charging of the stern chasers. Double-shot him and cripple her, said he. Aye, sir, aye, aye! But now the pursuer fired again, and a round shot crashed into our roundhouse coach. Fire!

Starting point is 00:09:54 And upon the word, the guns belched forth flame. The report shook the ship, and a cloud of cannon smoke rolled up like a scroll. As it cleared, our men roared out with a great cheering, for we had hit the king's ship full in her fore-rigging, split her spritzail, smashed her fore-yard, and handsomely mauled the shrouds. The foremast shook with the brunt, and the top of the top of the ringing, And the topsoe came clattering down. Hereupon my brother fell to capering about like a silly schoolboy.

Starting point is 00:10:22 Well done, Master Gunner, cried he. Well done, my brave. Give him another cheer, my jolly boys. They'll not take us this bout. End of Chapter 1. Chapter 2 of the Haunted Island by E.H. Vizziak. This Librevox recordings in the public domain. Read by Ben Tucker.

Starting point is 00:10:43 Chapter 2. Francis Dreams a Dream. We now rapidly left the floundering and mazed man-of-war, but our men kept firing into the medley on her decks, plying the stern chasers in furious haste. And ever as he was able, the enemy did shoot at us with muskets and pistols, and once, his ship having slewed right round, gave us a thundering great broadside.

Starting point is 00:11:05 But his gunners did much mistake in that they hold us, as the saying is, instead of aiming at our masts and tackling, whereby they might have crippled us, and perhaps brought us quite to a stand. As it was, our ship took no great hurt, though the splinters flew and six of her ports were battered in. Yet many of our men were wounded after his dreadful manner, and one was killed outright.

Starting point is 00:11:29 Whereupon such Brutus and Domeniac fury came upon the rest as transported them like very devils. Our decks were bloody like a slaughterhouse, and from the spar deck the wounded men roared out very grievously as Surgeon Burke wrought upon them so that their groans and shrieks did mingle with the horrid blasphemies. Now, all this time my brother, the captain, did frantically rage as hot as any man. Yea, so far beside himself was he that when he found we drew out of gunshot

Starting point is 00:11:58 and could no longer murder the king's men, he was for going about and returning upon them. He had even given the order to bear up the helm, but hereupon, to my huge surprise, the quartermaster did interpose. It was no more than a look and a word, but it evisely. failed, and the order was immediately revoked. We now lay right of the bay, and having set studding sails, stood off to sea whilst the decks were cleared. The broken ports stopped, and the bolts and tackling overhauled. But I being sick at heart went and shut myself in a master's cabin, which I found empty,

Starting point is 00:12:33 and a great weariness coming over me, I got me into a hammock and presently slept. I dreamed a fearful dream, and it seemed to me that one went before me through a gully in a terrible high cliff, and the gully became dark and darker as we went, and its sheer sides of dank rock towered higher yet, so that they were frightful to look on. Still they rose and rose until their tops might no longer be discerned, and darkness fell, a darkness that seemed to wither my soul. Then he who went before me did turn himself about, and lo! "'Twas Overy, the quartermaster.

Starting point is 00:13:15 His face gleamed ghastly white. But his eyes were blacker than the darkness. They seized on mine and held them forever. I woke gasping and shaking, and there were two eyes as black as jet fixed on mine. Overy, the quartermaster, gazed across at me from the middle of the cabin where he sat in close converse with my brother.

Starting point is 00:13:38 He got up from his chair, and making a sign that I was awake immediately went out. Hereupon my brother rose also and stepped to my hammock. Well, my heart, said he, Has been a voyaging to Toff it, or it's the ghost from the haunted island? Bless us, you screeched like a stuck pig. Scoff away, scoff away, cried I. T''ll be another tale tomorrow.

Starting point is 00:14:03 Aye, said he, but I thought his countenance fallen. Pieces of aid and gold bars and jewels, jewels by the shiplo, that'll be the tale tomorrow. and a hemp and cord about your neck and iron chains to hang in, and yokel faces a gape at you. On that he flamed out in a fury, snapping his fingers, swearing and cursing. But I let him rave, answering nothing, and soon he fell quiet, and throwing himself into a chair sat still, seeming to brood in his mind. End of Chapter 2.

Starting point is 00:14:40 Chapter 3 of The Haunted Island by E.H. Vizziak. This Librevox recording is in the public domain. by Ben Tucker Chapter 3 The Castaways After these events There fell out of nothing worth remark in many days We had favorable winds and calm seas

Starting point is 00:15:00 And met with no king's ships What other craft we met with all meddled not with us nor we with them Through great part of the Bay of Biscay We steered our course Close under the coast of France Until we came to an anchor in a small bay thereby To take in water and fresh provisions

Starting point is 00:15:17 thence we sailed away, standing to the open sea. We passed the Cape of Finisterre, and so onwards toward the tropic of cancer in the line. I come to a day in the fifth week of our voyage. I got up at times and went on deck. The ship went merrily along. There was not a sail in sight nor any glimpse of land, but from horizon to horizon spread the dancing, shining sea, and I thought it was a gracious scene like a world from the hands of God. As I looked, I spied a dark blur of a thing far out upon the waters.

Starting point is 00:15:50 It disappeared, but soon hoven great sight again, this time quite clear. In the same moment, the lookout man bawled. Boat drift on the lobbered bow! Lay two then, and man the jolly boat, cried the captain. The mariners went eagerly to work, snapping greedily at the exciting chance. The jolly boat, which was towing a stern, was speedily hauled in and manned, but the coxswain was shoved from his wanted command of her by Uvery, who put himself into the stern sheets.

Starting point is 00:16:21 I, being full of curiosity, jumped into the boat as they made ready to pull away, whereupon Uvery did look upon me balefully, though he spoke no word, and I knew that he hated me from the bottom of his black heart. Pull away, said the quartermaster, and she began to move a pace. I, keeping my eyes fixed upon the boat we steered for, at length described a huddled heap on board of her, which was presently discovered to be the forms of two men. We drew alongside and lay board on board together,

Starting point is 00:16:52 gazing upon a dismal, dreadful sight. For there in the boat were two gaunt and wasted forms, yea, the very death's heads did grin in the dwindled faces of those poor castaways. One was an Indian, a tall well-knit figure, dark copper-colored, his face, long and hard-favored, lanked black hair. The other was a European, and as it should seem, an Englishman. His yellow beard fell long and untrimmed, and his clothes were mean and old, yet there was that in his look made me think he was a gentleman.

Starting point is 00:17:23 What, however, was remarkable, on sight of the castaways, Uvery gave a great start and drew sharply in his breath. "'They be dead men both,' said a man solemnly. "'Rest to their souls.' But I got into the boat, and taking a mirror that I had about me, I held it in turn to those parted and writhened lips, and lo, it twice became clouded with breath. They live, they live, cried I, but Uvery said quickly.

Starting point is 00:17:50 Nay, nay, you know nothing at all, down you meddler, and out of the way. And to the mariners, he said, overboard with them, we'll have no truck with the debt, and keep your tongue quiet, said he glaring at me, or you shall sweep with them. I say they live, I returned passionately, carry them to the ship. On that, Uvery raised his clenched fist to strike me down. You bark and cur, cried he. Do you meddle with my orders. I'll have you clapped in irons.

Starting point is 00:18:18 I'll flay you to the bone. But like your captain of the ship, said I, floating him. I thought my brother was captain. Overy sat still, all swollen with rage. But hereupon up spoke a seaman, saying stoutly, Maybe the boy's in the right. Who? Make way here.

Starting point is 00:18:34 He climbed over into the cockboat as he spoke. and soon had confirmed my words. But Uvery rose like one possessed, and drawing his knife he reached forth to have stabbed me. But the boat began to rock nigh foundering, and losing his footing he fell, knocking his head against an oar that was outboard, and slid over into the sea.

Starting point is 00:18:54 They fished him out ere he sank, and flung him like a log in the bottom of the boat, where he lay stunned. Hereupon, having made the cockboat fast to our stern, we returned to the ship. My brother stood at the gangway, awaiting us. I acquainted him with what had befallen, demanding that Uvery should be restrained, but he regarded me not at all.

Starting point is 00:19:15 They contrived a bed for the Indian in the forecastle, but the other was installed in the master's cabin beneath the poop where I slept, some bedding being laid for me on the floor. Tended by surgeon Burke and cared for by the mariners, the Indian made a quick recovery, but the other lay as one dead being fallen into a sort of coma or trance. The Indian came out of his swoon about sundown, Dick Burke and I stood beside his bed

Starting point is 00:19:40 When the poor man, on a sudden, stirred and opened his eyes, He looked from one to another of us wildly, And moved his lips as if he would speak. At this juncture, heavy and uncertain footfalls were heard without, And over he came lumbering in, his face mottled red and purple, He approached. But on sight of him, the Indian stared aghast,

Starting point is 00:20:00 stretched forth an arm with a fierce frenzied gesture, uttered a cry and sank back beside his senses. Why? He knoweth him, cried I. He hath seen you before, Overy. If he could speak, I warrant you'd stand proclaimed a black villain. I was out of myself with passion, and I knew not what I said. But the quartermaster was transported with fury, and rasping out horrid oaths, he drew a pistol from his belt and let fly at me. The ball missed my head by a hare's breath and was buried in the wooden wall. Overy made a dash towards me, reeled, and lurched forward

Starting point is 00:20:32 upon the floor. There he lay stunned, having knocked his head against the table leg. The episode had passed in a moment, and Dick and the surgeon stood like men dumbfounded. Burke recovered himself. You've had a narrow squeak, my lad, said he. The man's a maniac. Look you, Captain! But Dick dashed his fist against the wall for mad. End of Chapter 3. Chapter 4 of The Haunted Island by E. H. Visiac.

Starting point is 00:21:10 The Slibervox Recordings in the Public Domain, read by Ben T. Tucker. Chapter 4. Villany. I went on deck to behold a night of calm and beauty. There was no moon, but the hosts of the stars burned in a clear element upon a solemn ground, and I thought they were like gems in the mantle of God. But as I stood, leaning on the bulwarks, dreaming in the blue starlight, on a sudden a hand was laid on my shoulder, and a hearty voice cried. "'Wake up, young Stargazer, what are you dreaming of now? What snow? What worlds, or what vast regions hold, the immortal mind that hath forsook, her mansion in this fleshy nook.'

Starting point is 00:21:59 "'What, old physiker?' "'For twas surgeon Burke. "'Throw physique to the dogs, I'll none of it.' He laughed boisterously at the return, then bade me follow him below, saying that the English castaway was coming out of his swoon. We went quickly to the master's cabin, where the Englishman lay stretched upon a daybed or settee. But instead of the stark and deadly look he had before,

Starting point is 00:22:26 his breast heaved to a gentle respiration, his eyes were closed, and there was even a trace of color in his hollow cheeks. When he wakes, said Burke, he'll either be recovered, and that will be no great while either. But in this point he was out. For the exhausted man continued in his babe-like sleep.

Starting point is 00:22:48 At last, being perfectly tired out, I cast myself down upon the bedding on the floor and took up my repose. Yet I could not presently sleep, for my thoughts were tumultuous and uneasy to the last degree, running continually upon those strange happenings, more especially upon the desire manifested by Uvery to make away with the castaways, and strange recognition of him.

Starting point is 00:23:13 by the mosquito Indian. However, at last I slept. It must have been upon the stroke of midnight that I woke up suddenly from an unquiet sleep to hear the sound of stealthy footsteps in the gangway without. I listened, my heart beginning to thump upon my sides, my eyes upon the door. The handle turned slowly.

Starting point is 00:23:38 The door was softly opened. Then, half-closing my eyes, I feigned slumber. as vivid and moonshine cast through the port, the face of Uvery appeared in the chink. The quartermaster stood peering and listening. He entered and advanced on me, and there was a knife in his hand. Yet I continued to feign slumber, and though near dead with terror, to make my breathing appear regular and slow. At last he was at my side. I opened my eyes, then, ready to evade a deadly thrust, and lo!

Starting point is 00:24:13 the man was passed by me and moving towards the Englishman on the bed. On that my nerve came back to me. The spell was broken. I made one leap of it, half across the cabin floor, and, as the quartermaster, his face set in savage lines, his arm drawn back to thrust, bent over the lumbering Englishman, quick as light I snatched the pistol from his belt and set it close and firm to his ear. Drop your blade, said I, or I'll fire.

Starting point is 00:24:43 Uvery was no craven, but on touch of the iron muzzle he started and dropped his knife. He held perfectly still muttering something that I had no care to hear, and I bawled out loud and repeatedly, help, help! It was then that the Englishman came out of his swoon and rising up in his bed. Where am I? cried he. What is this? You're on the ship, Tiger, replied I. You were taken up from a driving boat. you, with an Indian who is also on the ship.

Starting point is 00:25:14 Ha! And this fellow! He is the quartermaster. He was about to murder you. I know not why. Oh, ho! cried he. A mystery! I am even eager to fathom it.

Starting point is 00:25:28 Turn hither, fellow, that I may look upon the majesty of your countenance. Turn hither, I say. But Uvary on a sudden ducked his head, and with incredible swiftness, whipped from the cabin and was gone. yet the other had got view of his face, and he cried, The pirate! Does the pirate by the Lord Harry? So I am falling among thieves and murderers, says he, turning to me with fine disdain. Well, tis not the first time. You're out on the county.

Starting point is 00:25:59 I was taken aback at this, and knew not what to answer. Yet something in his countenance told me he was a man I might trust. I resolved to tell him distinctly how it was with us. and, as briefly as possible, I did so. He heard me out in silence, his keen eyes searching me. "'Why, here is a lad of metal,' says he, "'and what should ever accompany this quality, of integrity? "'I thank you for your confidence reposed in me.

Starting point is 00:26:27 "'It shall not miscarry. "'And now,' as I stood abashed by his courtly phrase, "'and now for action!' "'But with the word there came the tramp of men approaching, "'and the boat swain entered, having a lantern in one. hand and a bare cutlush in the other. And close at his heels came my brother. The boatswain stood still at the entry, but Dick thrust by him, and came forth into the cabin asking what the matter was. I left it to the Englishman to answer, and he did so.

Starting point is 00:26:55 Look you, sir, said he rising on an elbow and speaking with Holtier, I am, I suppose beholden to you for my life, but to save a man from the sea that he may be barbarously murdered in his bed. Where is the obligation? What means he? asked Dick, turning to me. I told him what had passed. Overy! Always ovary! cried he. What means the fellow? I begin to sicken of it, curses on it. And snapping his fingers in a passion, he rushed from the cabin. The boatswain followed him out, muttering in his beard.

Starting point is 00:27:30 End of Chapter 4. Chapter 5 of the Ha. H. Vizziak. The Slivervox recording is in the public domain Read by Ben Tucker Chapter 5 The Englishman's relation The island Close and bolt the door

Starting point is 00:27:56 Said the Englishman so soon as we were alone That quartermaster saintly soul May be hereabout So and now my lad Get you into your hummock again Untus sleep But sleep was gone from me And when I had told him so

Starting point is 00:28:11 He proffered to relate his experiences to me to pass the vigil, and certainly, added he, they are sufficiently strange. You may be sure I was nothing loth, and when I had put on some clothes and brought a chair to his bedside and seated myself, he thus began. "'Twas some two years ago, lad, that I had occasion to ship his passenger on a ship bound for Fort St. George. We left the downs with fair wind and weather, which continued with us till we were coming into the Indian Ocean, but then arose a huge hurricane of wind which blew us from our course. It held

Starting point is 00:28:49 six days and left us somewhere near the island of Sumatra. Yet the ship remained whole, and we steered north to recover our course, with but a fret of wind. We scarce had got into a sailing posture, but we saw a ship which came towards us, and wanting something, I forget what it was, we made a whiff to her, but we got more than we wanted, for clapping on a wind and coming on, they began to fire at us as hot as they could, and brought our main-mast by the board. Well, they boarded us, as villainous a crew has ever sailed the sea, and though we made a good fight, twas all won, our ship was taken. We expected to all be murdered, or at least set ashore to starve on some desolate island. Here I saw the door-handle turned slowly and softly round,

Starting point is 00:29:37 but forbore to tell the Englishman lest he should break off in his relation. Yet we were reserved alive to what strange surprising experiences I'll tell you. They set many of us down upon the ballast, of whom I was one, pinned together like cattle in that darksome and stinking place. We scarce could stir hand or foot, scarce draw breath. We knew not the day from the night. Our victuals thrown to us as two dogs, scarce were fit for dogs. The place was full of vermin, and there were great rats. Their eyes gleamed in the darkness like. points of fire, and ever and again, as at a signal the creatures came swarming down upon us. How long this lasted I know not, certainly many days.

Starting point is 00:30:23 Oh, feel sick, some raved with the callinger. Three died. But on a blessed morn, at daybreak, they dragged us up out of the pit to the deck. Imagine what it meant to us. You cannot, as you cannot possibly imagine, that dreadful prison. And no man are prizes that they are worth light and air and health and freedom. Look you until he loses them. Indeed, the suddenness of the change was more than we could bear, so that three of our company fell down in a swoon. It was strange to see, I doubt not.

Starting point is 00:30:57 I am pitiful, but no breath of pity moved the villainous hearts. They threw all the swooning men into the sea. I looked around. The pirate was come to port, on one side of her lair ship, on the other land. This land was really an island, though we lay too close to perceive it. We beheld very high cliffs towering

Starting point is 00:31:18 to prodigious height above us, streaked with shining green, creeping plants, and wreathed with vines. As I looked on them a sort of horror seized on me, a phantom foreboding. He paused, and lay back in his bed with closed eyes, but soon continued saying, Now the pinnacle of the pirate lay alongside,

Starting point is 00:31:38 side, and the residue of our party was bidden to get into her. Nay, we were driven into the boat, for they did press upon us, punching and thrusting us in the back, as villainous a crew as ever man set eyes on. Hideous visages, blackened with sin, scarred, mutilated with old wounds, and they were dressed and tricked out these pirates as from the wardrobe of the world, as though it had been opened unto them, and they had taken every man whatsoever he listed. for one had a pair of taffety breeches, a lady's cape, and the turban of an Arab. Another the state habit of a dignitary of holy church cloaked about with the robes of a Chinaman.

Starting point is 00:32:17 A leering negro strutted in the finery of a courtier of the king. Well, a number of them came down into the boat with us. A big man took command. He is your quartermaster. Uvery! exclaimed I. Was he the captain of the pirate? No, said he. He was the quartermaster.

Starting point is 00:32:36 "'Hautomaster, having the second place on the ship, "'well, ovary, or blazing Sue, as they called him, "'having seated himself in the stern, "'ordered us to take the oars and pull to the shore. "'On one of us pleading weakness, "'he burst forth into foul oaths, adding, "'you shall row, though you split. "'Then rising into a frenzy, he snatched up a musket by the barrel,

Starting point is 00:32:57 "'fell the poor man, and, seizing hole on the collar of his coat, "'slung him over into the sea, in a huge shock, "'imbed him. For a space, Overy sat growling and snapping with his teeth like a dog, whilst the other pirates jested among themselves, then he gave the order, pull away. We laboured at the rowing as best we might, the rogues lolling at their ease.

Starting point is 00:33:21 Only when the pinnace was got three pots in, they double-banked the oars to speed her through the shore-breakers. Having landed, our party was ordered in single file, and so marched up the beach. Some six or seven pirates went on either side, bearing pistols while Uvery took the lead. We crossed the beach of white sand. It cast a blinding glare, the sun now being high,

Starting point is 00:33:45 so that we were glad to come presently into a belt of cocoa trees, the porch of a dense wood. We passed within this wood, following a secret path. We had penetrated, it might be a quarter of a mile, when there was made to us an intimation. In a path, and shining beneath a rift in the overgrowth, We spied something round and white, like a great chalk stone. We came up to it.

Starting point is 00:34:10 T'was a human skull. It grimaced in the sun with its glistering laughter. But ovary, turning about, laughed aloud. Ho, ho, my boys, cried he. See how he grins? So shall ye grin anon. He stepped to the death's head, and bowing with vilest mockery.

Starting point is 00:34:29 What cheer, comrade, says he, And have they forgotten ye? Come, he'st along to heaven. And drawing back to his great foot, he sent the death crashing into the overgrowth. We went a little farther, and came as it should seem, to an impenetrable dense thicket that was faced with flowering creepers. Ovary hereupon called a halt, and stepping to the thicket he thrust his hand within, and felt about amongst the stems and leaves. Next moment, that which we had taken to be a thicket, shook and was broken, and a slab of iron swung forward. on hinges, leaving in the midst an orifice as black as night.

Starting point is 00:35:09 Amazed at the sight and fearing we knew not what, we continued to gaze. My lad, as we thus stood, there befell a thing that lifted the hair on my scalp. End of Chapter 5. Chapter 6 of the Ha. H. Vizziak. The Slibervox Recordings in the Public Domain. Read by Ben Tucker. Chapter 6. The Englishman's relation continued. The cell. "'Twas a sound, a voice. But whether of man or beast or worse, we knew not, and it proceeded from the chasm, a sudden, loud, weird, shrieking sound that rose and scattered, until the very wood seemed full of it,

Starting point is 00:36:02 and died gradually away. Suddenly there leaped forth a figure. From the darkness of the cavity it came, and stood confronting us. T'was the figure of a... little lad. But he was gaunt as a skeleton and the great seaman's watchcoat that he wore hung about him like a sack, falling almost to the ground. His legs, appearing like sticks beneath the loosely fastened coat, were bare, and so also were his feet. But strangest of all in the look of the lad was his face. To where impossible to describe it. Blythe, it was miserable, majestic, it was menial, wise. It was wild and witless as the face of an antic, haggard and deadly pale, the eyes roving continually, shining with a spectral light, the face of a little child.

Starting point is 00:36:51 And yet I tell you it gave me a scare. The little lad stood looking upon us, then, lifting his hand with a strange eerie gesture, he cried, welcome me pilgrims, lo, low, the promised land, milk and honey a land flowing with milk and honey eat of it drink sing sing for the joy of it the sun the sun see tis red red is the red sea aha pharaoh where is pharaoh now he strives to follow the o sun down down there's sea enough so he raved in his frenzy the crazy lad but overy lumbering forward with a curse took him with his clinched fist a great buffet on the head so that he fell down like one dead and overy laughed laughed, but not for long. A man burst forth from the thicket behind, and felt the great pirate as if he were a figure of pasteboard. T'was an Indian, that same mosquito Indian you took up with me from the boat. He consorted with the pirates, an innocent abettor of their devilish work,

Starting point is 00:37:55 a malefactor in whom was no guile. For the mosquito Indians do love and revere the English wheresoever they meet with them. honest mariners are pirates, making no discrimination, and are for their part much esteemed by them for their valor, their sagacity, their dexterity in striking fish, and the like. So they look upon our countrymen as lords and masters, and do their bidding with the simple faith of children, brave, honest, kindly souls. Who knows not what imminent service they have done us in a conflict with that Spanish tyrant? footnote how the Englishman would have grieved if he had known that the mosquito Indians faithful to the last would be betrayed to their fate by the English government into the hands of the Spaniards in 1787 end footnote

Starting point is 00:38:45 This mosquito Indian loved the lad whom he took for dead and crying aloud with a bitter cry he cast himself upon the ground at his side fawning upon him as a dog farns upon the body of its master but on a sudden he gave him another cry. He perceived that the lad lived, and getting swiftly to his feet, he caught him up and sped off with him into the wood. Uvery lay as one dead. They plied him with rum, forcing his teeth asunder to get the liquor down. They bathed his hands and brow with water, fetched from a crystal spring, but twas all one, he gave no sign. "'Blazing soos gone,' said a pirate. But he did mistake, for filling his mouth with water from the spring another of the pirate. began to blow it into a fine spray and over his eyes and ears, which is a thing that revives even dying men.

Starting point is 00:39:37 Then he began to recover his senses, and presently staggered to his feet. When he recalled what had befallen him, his rage was great, yet he kept it under, only cast a baleful look upon us as he pointed to the opening in the thicket and cried, "'Four into the promised land!' "'You may be sure, my lad, that no man was very eager to obey the command. The chasm had a fearsome look.

Starting point is 00:40:01 Whither did it lead? The terror of the unknown lay heavy on us, yet in our reluctance and fear was an itch of curiosity, and though an opportunity of escape and freedom had proffered then, I at least would not have taken it. Moreover, the pistols of the guards constrained us, so we entered the chasm and advanced in the darkness. We went on through a passage, as it should seem, hewed out of rock.

Starting point is 00:40:27 Soon the darkness became less And soon, in a strange, livid ghost light We could descry the walls and roof The passage was excavated in the rock. Now the strange illumination became exceedingly bright, A cold, sepricral white light, Such as I had never known before, Nor was there any lamp of flame of fire

Starting point is 00:40:49 To acquaint us whence it came. There was no door visible, yet there was a door, indeed many doors, very cunningly concealed in the wall, and now it opened with a clang of iron. Uvery immediately commanded us to stand, and bidding me, who was among the foremost, to follow him, he betook himself within. Obeying I found myself in the strangest place I had ever known. Here there came a sound of tramping overhead, as if the men had been called to quarters. The Englishman took due notice but did not break off in his relation.

Starting point is 00:41:22 It was a little cell, like the passage, hewed out of rock, and about the size of a ship's round house. There was no furniture in it save a table and a chair. Upon the table was a medley of things, scrolls of parchment, scrawled over with hieroglyphics, triangles and the like. Books, pamphlets, maps, drafts, compasses, and I know not what besides. Beneath the table and nooks and recesses contrived in the wall. were all men of jars and files holding divers materials both liquid and solid also globes retorts crucibles Olympics mortars at the farther in beneath the brass clock stood a large furnace twas the chamber of a scholar the sale of an alchemist and in a great armchair at the table sat the man himself

Starting point is 00:42:15 he was a very ancient man long and large a frame but bowed and lean he was dressed dressed in a scarlet robe like a cardinals. His face, which was shaven bear, was fierce and forbidding, and heavy and ill-shapen in the lower parts, but his forehead was high and deep, and his hair fell in long, venerable locks, white like snow. His eyes were large, but deep-sunk and dull, yet as I was soon to see they could kindle in anger terribly, or become sharp and piercing, like points of steel, and in the whole port and aspect of the man there was power. while thought brooded continually in the majestic wrinkles of his brow he spoke at once turning to ovary and clutching the sleeve of the man's coat and his voice was small and shrill like a woman's so said he they are come the pilgrim band the little pilgrim band you've brought them to labour with us in the vineyard it's not so comrade thereafter they will join tis well tis very

Starting point is 00:43:22 well, and my acid? You have brought my acid? But at the words I saw Uvery's start and turned deadly pale, and in a quavering voice he said, Doctor, forgive, I've forgot. The hand that toyed with Uvery's sleeve closed on it like a vice, a spasm shook the ancient man and left him rigid. The veins stood upon his forehead, gathered in knots. His eyes started in their sockets. For many moments he looked on the man balefully like a serpent. Then uttering a frightful cry, he snatched up a globe of glass and cast it full it over his head. It took him upon the forehead, and well was it for him that the glass was but thin breaking to small pieces. Even so you could see that the man was sorely hurt.

Starting point is 00:44:09 But he gave no sign of pain, and I thought that the anger of the doctor was more fearful to him than any pain, or rather that it kept him from feeling pain at all, only he kept repeating, Doctor forgive, Doctor forgive. "'Forg,' cried the ancient man. "'Where is my acid? The jars are empty, empty, empty, empty.' He sank back in his chair, gasping great beads upon his brow, and over he would have seized the occasion to flee. He leapt to the door.

Starting point is 00:44:42 But no father, for the doctor looked on him. "'What?' cried he, his rasping voice coming in gasps. "'Would you get me the slip?' And then in a horrid coaxing tone, he added, "'Would you leave me, my child, whom I have loved? Would you leave me, after so long as severance? Yet who am I, that I should hinder ye, or deny your smallest desire? Get you gone, child of my heart!

Starting point is 00:45:10 Get you gone into the morass!' "'Mercy!' cried ovary. "'Not there, nay, not there!' The doctor pointed to the door. Over he sank down upon the floor, huddled in fear, and villain though he was I could not but have compassion for him then, but the doctor only laughed, and he touched a little knob of brass that stood on the wall to his hand. Presently a young man, having a look of suffering upon his delicately shaped and shaven countenance, inhabited him black in the manner of a secretary, came swiftly and softly into the cell, and stood before the doctor, bowing almost to the ground. "'Ambrose? "'Somond Sebastian and—'

Starting point is 00:45:56 "'He broke off, seemed to consider. "'And turning to Overy, he asked. "'And if I bore with you yet again—' "'Try me, Doctor, put me to the proof. "'Only do not—' "'Peasful, Ambrose begone.' "'Young man instantly withdrew. "'Overy, on the morrow you shall sail for England.

Starting point is 00:46:18 "'But of that and on, get you gone "'and bring our Newcomb, come, come, comrades to the slave Davies, charging him to see to it that not a jot of care or tendance be omitted unto them, and tell him moreover that if a south bulwark be not finished by the third day following, he shall pass through that door, which I, with all my knowledge and wit, never have been able to unlock. But ovary stood gazing on him after a vacant manner, and rising from his chair in fury, the doctor cried, "'Claude of earth! Lacking understanding! "'Ah, take your cow's eyes from me, Ambrose!' "'He touched the nom again, and when the young man returned, "'expound to this clod-pole,' said the doctor.

Starting point is 00:47:03 "'My saying, the door that hath no key!' "'Thereupon Ambrose turned to ovary, "'and like one reciting a task,' he said, "'No man is able to open it, "'but the dead passed through there. "'Tis the door a fight.' good words ambrose said the doctor no man indeed is able to open that door i myself have a sade even to weariness but i found no key the secret of the earth lie open to me but the invisible ha i saw a goodly vine i ate of the fruit of it knowledge domination gold and it hath turned to ashes in my mouth my heart was empty and i sought to satisfy it

Starting point is 00:47:50 With hate, and the void is but increased. What then is hate? Is it a mere nullity, the wailing in of the soul? Behold now this cell, a place walled off. I banished the light of it, so. He touched a knob upon the wall, and instantly there was thick darkness. Without his light, light of the sun, but not a ray thereof can enter here. No, but if it be dark without,

Starting point is 00:48:20 and I throw up walls and roof them about and stop up every nook and cranny. Can I keep out the darkness, as now I do the light? No, for darkness is nothing, it cannot be shut out, only I make it to vanish with light. So, and on a sudden the cell was flooded with bright light. And as with light and darkness, it's not so, also with good and evil. and hate. Ha! I see it.

Starting point is 00:48:53 I see it. I know thy efficacy. Almighty good. Thou only real power, substance and principle. Spirit. The one spirit! With my intellect in which the truth is dawning,

Starting point is 00:49:08 I see it. But thou comest not into this heart. At this juncture, the Englishman's relation was interrupted. A great gun was shot off on the poop overhead. and while the ship yet shook with reverberation, there came a great shout of cheering, thrice repeated. I sprang to my feet, and on a nod from the Englishman, went from the cabin to find out what this might mean.

Starting point is 00:49:33 End of Chapter 6. Chapter 7 of the Ha. H. Vizziak. The Slibervok's recording is in the public domain. Read by Ben Tucker. Chapter 7. A Horrible Villain I stayed not long in doubt. The steel-gray light of dawn shone upon the sea, And there, within half a mile a stern of us,

Starting point is 00:50:02 Was a great ship flying the flag of St. George. She was out after us, A consort belike of the vessel we had crippled in our scampering away. A very swift sailor she must have been, Considering the speedy sailing we had made all along. But there was small gratulation on that score for the king's ship now, for her foremast had gone by the board, shot away by our stern chasers,

Starting point is 00:50:28 and having slowed right round, she lay wallowing in the troughs of the sea. I climbed the poop ladder, and stepped to the place where my brother stood with the gunners, patting caressingly the nozzle of the piece that had served his turn so bravely. Wallace, the master gunner, stood looking earnestly to leeward, where a wall of mist held down upon the sea.

Starting point is 00:50:51 He spoke a word to my brother, and pointed that way. Dick had a spyglass in his hand, and immediately he set it to his eye, bringing it to bear. As I drew near, I heard him say he described seven great ships,

Starting point is 00:51:05 which stood close-hauled towards us. Hereupon, he gave the glass to the master gunner, who, having looked a while, said he took those ships for pirates. "'And you leave him the king's ship to grind the teeth on, Captain,' said he, laughing,

Starting point is 00:51:22 But Dick shook his head. No, no, said he. That sort of people don't meddle with king's ships. You get no dew of heaven in them. They're going for some Spanish port to sack a city belike. Well, it is a pity, said Wallace. But indignation seized on me, and I said hotly. How is to pity?

Starting point is 00:51:41 Do you wish to see your own people barbarously murdered, you base traitor? The man hung his head, grinning sourly and looking sideways up at my brother, who told me to be off with my theatricals, as he called it, whereupon the gunner laughed. I had returned upon him, but from the cabin beneath there came the dull report of a pistol shot. I knew what it was. Overry had seized on the occasion of my absence to enter the master's cabin,

Starting point is 00:52:09 had fired at the poor invalid, and no doubt murdered him. And so it proved, for on making haste to the cabin I saw the Englishman lay dead in his bed, being shot through the skull into the brain. Yay, I did very narrowly escape a like-fate myself. For that enormous and infernal villain, Uvery, stood crouching in shadow behind the alleyway door, and as I stepped by him he let fly at me with a second pistol that he had. However, I had caught a shuffling motion he made before he fired at me,

Starting point is 00:52:41 and by an instinct I turned my head in the nick of time. The bullet missed me. I immediately drew my rapier and made a palliard. pass upon him even as he leapt on me. But he came a little sideways so that my point took him on the shoulder. He gave a yelping cry and would have closed with me, but quick as a flash I dropped, casting myself with such force at his booted ankles, which I clutched, as handsomely tripped him, so that he fell all his length forward on the cabin floor. Thereupon, before he ever could recover himself, I sprang on top of him, and held him so that he could not anyways stir or lift himself up.

Starting point is 00:53:18 I was mad with passion against this horrible wretch. And if I had had a pistol in my hand, I would have made no more to have set it to his head and murdered him than to have killed a rat. Now the entire affair had passed in the space of a few moments, and the captain had just entered the cabin. He stepped forward, and in a voice that trembled, bade me stand up and let the quartermaster alone. But this was an order I flatly denied to obey.

Starting point is 00:53:46 Let him alone, said I. Why, he hath just endeavored as much as possibly he could to murder me, and look you his bloody work there on the bed. Stop your mouth and get up, said he. I'll get up, said I, if you'll undertake that he shall immediately hang at the main mast. That's my business, said the captain. Up with you, or you shall hang there yourself. Now, Surgeon Burke was come hither standing at the entry of the cabin, and it came into my thoughts to appeal for my brother,

Starting point is 00:54:18 unto him. However, I perceived the foolishness of this. Well, have it as you will, said I, and got to my feet. Overry lay some moments where he was, gnawing the man upon the floor with his teeth, and growling like a dog. Thereupon he stirred, slowly turned over on his back, and so lay lumpish and dazed and retching after a disgusting manner. This horrible villain did reek of rum, so that the cabin was full of the stench of it, and becoming faint I was fain to get forth to the open air. As I passed out of the cabin,

Starting point is 00:54:53 Surgeon Burke winked his eye to me and said in my ear, "'Never you mind, my boy. I'll take him in the hand. I'll bleed him to the last drop.' End of Chapter 7. Chapter 8 of the Haunted Island by E. H. Viziac. This Libervox recording is in the public domain, read by Ben Tucker. Chapter 8 Thalas Coming forth upon the poop I desponded in my mind,

Starting point is 00:55:32 Thinking of home in England and the sea, With all the beauty of its clear and flashing blue waters, Was hateful to me. Yea, it cruelly smiled on me with its shining face. For I suffered loneliness, such loneliness as exiles know, Than which to sensible men there is not on the earth a more cruel, affliction. Here indeed on this populous king's ship of which my very brother was in command, I did find myself alone with a desolation, very far greater than solitude of place.

Starting point is 00:56:06 Doubtless, there was something of God in the villainous men, deep in the hearts of them, as there is something of God in all things, and the rest, to speak truly, is but distortion and shadow and absence and darkness. But I did not understand it so, and looked but on the appearance, loathing them for their villainous demeanor and filthy discourse. A woeful suffering it was, a stifling of the heart, a hand upon the brain, goading it to madness, an upheaval of the deeps, breaking up the standing surface mold.

Starting point is 00:56:43 But amid the stress of it all, and as with a flash of seismic fire, there was made to me a revelation. All loneliness and loss were delusions, for the hearts of all are knit together in the heart of God. So the affliction departed from me, and I came to myself. Yet it left me sore, distraught, so that I shook with cold, like one, in an ague,

Starting point is 00:57:11 and I made to go to the galley where it was a fire. I descended the weather ladder, but coming under the break of the poop, I caught a curious sound of singing that proceeded from within the alleyway. I passed in, and the sound led me towards the master's cabin. Therein I beheld the mosquito Indian. He was alone with the dead Englishman, pacing up and down before the body, and ever as he went, he kept crooning and chanting wild music,

Starting point is 00:57:40 and swayed his body from side to side, and moved his hands and arms in strange mystic passes and convolutions. Wild and inarticulate was the dirge, and the motions, I doubt not, were but the serenic, of a savage fetish, but I watched and hearkened entranced. How much of what followed is accountable to the woeful strain that recent trials, and especially that last great trial, had put upon me, I know not, but I think that there was nothing earthly in that chant or ruin, whatever it was, nothing of human artifice, and that it proceeded from the occult heart of things.

Starting point is 00:58:20 I saw a vision of a boundless expanse, the heavens loaning with masses of cloud ebon black, the firmament illumined with a spectral light, and beneath it all the deep. That was black as the clouds above, and surging in billows, though without foam so stupendous that the tops of them might not be descried, and sweeping together with a shock and tumult such as no man could imagine. But that which held my gaze, yea, and nigh, unseated my reason, was the thing,

Starting point is 00:58:57 whether brute or demon, that seemed to be the sole denizen of the waters, swimming and wallowing there. Merciful God, may I never look upon the like of it again. Slowly the mood and measure of the singing changed, and now I beheld other scenes, and other images, which concerned the mid-period of things.

Starting point is 00:59:16 Again, the measure changed, and now indeed I saw God-like forms and God-like deeds, and there appeared before me, but oh, how transfigured, how glorified, the similitudes of those whom I had known and loved. My mother, who was dead, my friends and playmates as a child, and my father, the squire. They smiled on me, and so near they seemed that I stretched forth my hand to have touched them, and would have spoken to them when low they were gone. The mosquito Indian had ceased from his singing and stood silent and motionless, with bowed head. I sprang to my feet.

Starting point is 00:59:57 Now what manner of man are you? cried I. What was it that you sang? But he turned and looked on me so friendly, and yet, with all so manly, grave and majestic, that I was drawn to him. He saluted me, solemnly we shook hands, and testimony of friendship. A friendship.

Starting point is 01:00:16 that endured to the end. Yay, to the end. The mosquito Indian was sufficiently acquainted with the English tongue, though he did patter it but queerly. He told me the name he went by amongst the English, and was very proud of it knowing no better, for twas but a ridiculous name, given him by some buffoon, so I called him Thelassios, afterwards shortened to Thalas. Because it was a high-sounding word to please him, and because he had been taken up from the sea. Soon after came two seamen to bear away the dead body of the Englishman. I followed them forth to where my brother stood awaiting them under the break of the poop. He immediately bade them to throw the body into the sea.

Starting point is 01:01:02 On this, however, the boatswain, who stood near putting off his cap to the captain, begged leave to ask whether he would not give the body a volley for ceremony, or at any rate cause it to be sewn up in a sheet or an old top-sail, and a weight fastened to it to sink it in the sea. For, said he, if you throw him in as he be, I doubt he'll rise and haunt his cap'n. But the captain, being in a very ill temper, took this in dudgeon, and roughly bid the boatswain to keep his tongue quiet in the mariners to act their part without more ado. This they did, albeit, but unwillingly for what the boat-swain had said about the spirit haunting the ship. And as the body splashed into the sea, they looked one on another very glumly. And after the captain's back was turned, they began to murmur against him,

Starting point is 01:01:53 saying he had put a curse upon them, and that henceforward we should meet with no luck in our voyage, and that in all likelihood the ship would be quite lost. Towards evening the wind freshened very much, so that they said evil already began to fall upon us. But on this coming to my brother's ears, he went and spoke to them and appease their minds, for he showed them that the wind was favorable to our course, and that it did but speed them the faster to the island, whither they were bound and where they would all make their fortunes. When dark came, we had a great rippling sea, and a high wind, which sometimes came in pushes, forcing us to hand our top sails often. It increased to a gale, and came so furious at last that we scutted under a mrs.

Starting point is 01:02:41 main sale. This gave the men work enough all night. End of Chapter 8. Chapter 9 of the Haunted Island by E. H. Viziac. This Liberbox recording is in the public domain. Read by Ben Tucker. Chapter 9, Uvery delivers up the chart. On the next day following, I got up betimes and went on deck. The ship lurched and pitched, so that I had much ado to keep my feet. We ran, before the wind under our top sails only, driven ever onwards with the rolling long waves of the sea and the flying white scud-rack overhead.

Starting point is 01:03:27 This all-moving prospect put strange thoughts and whimsies in my head, in so much that I found I could not endure to look upon it for long together. And I presently returned into my cabin and read in a book until breakfast time. I sat down to that meal and sole company of Surgeon Burk. "'Berke, my brother not yet being up. "'And then I had news of Uvery. "'Tis the second time of bleeding the villain,' says Burke. "'And if you will pass me the poached eggs,

Starting point is 01:03:58 "'I'll even show you how it is done.' "'So you have carved him like a poached egg?' "'answered I, laughing, as I passed the dish to him. "'He provided himself with great liberality, "'and between munching of the eggs. "'Neyes for eggs and lancets for villains,' says he. "'There be your remedies, look you!' While yet spoke, my brother entered and asked what he said about remedies.

Starting point is 01:04:23 The surgeon, putting on a countenance of the greatest gravity, replied, I gave your brother a very good remedy for gout in the great toe. You happen to suffer from the gout, Captain. But Dick was out of humor for jest. Tut-tut, said he testily as he sat down, and immediately after Overy entered the cabin. I looked at Burke who made a grimace at me. Overy staggered to the table with much ado for,

Starting point is 01:04:48 the weakness he was under. He was in a most villainous temper, which the sight of me, be sure, did not serve to sweeten. He sunk heavily into a chair and began to eat in sullen silence. This wrought on my brother, and he rapped out, so you are in the sullens again, my man. Uvery looked up dully and heavily, like a great beast. Then a terrible light came into his eyes, and he bounded to his feet with a roar. What? cried he. You speak to me. You. His speech was stopped with passion, but he caught up a great brass salver and cast it at my brother with all his force. It missed his head, and so narrowly that the harrow was stirred upon his scalp.

Starting point is 01:05:29 And on that, in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, both men had drawn their pistols and fired across. My brother stood untouched, but the quartermaster gave a great snarling, stricken cry, and pitching forward upon the board he lay there silent and still. The ball had pierced his breast in the upper part. and he never spoke more. Only he fixed his eyes upon my brother, full of hate and of mystery, and he took from the pocket of his coat a leathern case

Starting point is 01:05:56 and thrust it forth before us. Then the hand of death closed upon ovary, and in a throw and convulsion terrible to behold, his spirit passed. But I took mechanically the leathern case and opened it. There was a strip of parchment sewn between. T'was a seaman's chart. I turned to my brother, who stood to my brother,

Starting point is 01:06:17 stood holding the smoking pistol. His face was deadly pale, and when I spoke to him, calling him by his name he laughed high and shrill like a woman. Hereupon, Surgeon Burke gave him to drink a dram of brandy from his flask, which steadied him. When he recovered, my brother took the chart, and having observed it a while, he returned it to its case, which he put within the pocket of his coat, saying, this is what I wanted? Tis the chart of the island, Burke. But what made him deliver it to me so? For revenge? But how can, how can That be. End of chapter 9. Chapter 10 of the Haunted Island by E.H. Viziac. This Librevox recording is in the public domain. Read by Ben Tucker. Chapter 10. We fall in with the fleet of Captain Morgan, the Buccaneers Hut. About midday, the wind shifted into the north, and continuing very high, it blew us from our course.

Starting point is 01:07:20 And as we designed to touch at the aisle of Portainteau's Hutt, Puerto Rico, so we could not make it, but must go away under the great island of Hispaniola. Hereupon the wind chopped back again so that we sailed along the south side of the island. Soon after doubling the Cape of Lobos on the southwestern corner of Hispaniola, we descried at sea a fleet of full fifteen sail that came towards us. We misliked the appearance of them yet held our course, albeit the captain caused cutlushes and pistols to be served out and had our ports opened and our guns wrong. out. When we were come to about a quarter of a mile from those ships, the biggest of them

Starting point is 01:07:57 fired a gun, and made a whiff to us to stand in the wind, or lay too, as mariners call it. This was very uneasy to my brother, and now he was sorry he had not borne upon his helm, and scampered away while there was yet time. Yea, it put him in so ill a temper that I, who stood near him on the quarter-deck, was fain to remove to more peaceful ground, for after he had ordered to obey the summons he fell to pacing quickly up and down, and as I stood a little in his path, or rather he pretended I did, he shoved me roughly to one side, as well as giving me a horrid on the ear for having, as he said, obstructed him. The ships came a little nearer and then brought to,

Starting point is 01:08:40 whereupon a dozen men put themselves into a big canoe or perigua, which was towing a stern of the admiral, and pulled towards us. They came on but slowly, for the sea was heavy, but at length they laid aboard of us in the waste. They were all huge brawny seamen, sunburnt like red tiles and very villainous. When they had made fast their boat, the coxswain hallowed to my brother and inquired of him whence we came, being answered, From England, he said he was come from Captain Morgan, who desired some provisions of bread, pork, and cheese,

Starting point is 01:09:16 and recompense whereof he had sent us some jars of excellent Peru wine. Now, while the man spoke, I observed my brother, gave a start and looked earnestly upon him. And after he ceased, the captain desired he would come aboard into the ship, but that the rest should stay in the boat. The rest, however, began to cry out against that. What? You won't treat us, cap'n? Cries one and, Let us see what liquor you brought from England, cries another, and,

Starting point is 01:09:45 Why, your skin flint shark? Quoth another. If you drink not with us, we'll broach your fat hole. Hereupon these unruly rascals Made to swarm the ship's side And what the event of it had been I know not But on a sudden

Starting point is 01:09:58 A gun was shot off aboard the Admiral Which put a period to their brawling They immediately fell quiet And the Coxway and said "'Captain Morgans in haste And I reckon we'd best be in haste also Keep you still in the boat while I go To get vituals

Starting point is 01:10:13 You'll not drink rumbo this bout So he came up to us into the ship And my brother took him into his cabin shutting the door after so that I know not what passed between them. But when they came out they talked very familiarly together, and passing near me I heard my brother say, Is Jolly Peter still with you? Once I apprehended my brother had old acquaintance with these people.

Starting point is 01:10:35 As to what they were, I doubted not, and now do know they were nothing but a swarm of pirates. On board those 15 vessels indeed was embarked the army of Captain Henry Morgan, a name soon to become so notorious and so dreadful. They were going to Maracaibo. When such commodities as the pirates wanted had been laid it into their boat, the jars of wine having been taken aboard the ship in the interim, that spokesman did very affectionately take leave of my brother

Starting point is 01:11:04 and returned into the boat. So they cast off and pulled away, singing a ribbled song to keep the time. After parting from the pirates we hauled our wind and tacked in for the western shore of Hispaniola, to re-victual the ship and fill our water. Thereby in the dusk of the evening we hit a little bay and came to an anchor within a mile from the shore, and lay there all night. In the morning, so soon as it was light, I got up, and went on deck to view the landfall. Indeed, I was much inquisitive to behold this island of Hispaniola,

Starting point is 01:11:37 for a poor, crooked, mutilated man that lived in the village at home, had given me an account thereof, acquainting me with its varied fruitfulness and spacious and beautiful prospects, and with the curious customs of the hunters and planters there, he, when a boy had been kidnapped and transported into slavery on the plantations in the Isle of St. Christopher of the Caribbean Islands.

Starting point is 01:12:00 There his master was one, Betessa, who did even excel in cruelty among a sort of people incredibly cruel to their slaves and servants, and used him with such barbarity as reduced his body to that miserable plight aforesaid. But at last, escaping from the clutches of this inhuman monster he came to Hispaniola, whereafter many days of hiding and wandering up and down the country, he fell in with a certain rich Spaniard, who proved his benefactor.

Starting point is 01:12:30 For this generous, spirited man, not only clothed and cared for that poor fugitive, but did also defray the charges of his passage to England on a ship, that was departing thither, and moreover, he gave him, in Spanish notes, a bounty sufficient to his support for the rest of his days. Having mounted the poop, I looked very eagerly towards the land, I beheld a low wooden shore, whereon at some points a sort of squat small trees, grew quite down to the sea, their branches so low as to touch the water. hugely contrasting with these were palm trees being exceedingly tall, 160 feet at the least, and wholly destitute of branches to the very tops,

Starting point is 01:13:14 where grew prodigious great leaves. The trunks were of a huge thickness and recovered with prickles. Near the bottom of the bay, a river flowed into the sea on the marshy banks, whereof those great trees did chiefly grow. In the background the woods grew very thick and high, I saw there in many brave cedar trees. At the farther extremity of the bay, where the woods were much thinner, there was a clear ground and in the midst a wooden hut.

Starting point is 01:13:43 The roof whereof was covered with the great leaves I've told you of. A smoke went up from a heap near the entry. Even as I spied this hut, a man stepped forth from within and was followed by another. On spying the ship, they immediately turned and hid themselves within the woods. They appeared to be white men, very slovenly dressed. I took them for hunters. I observed by the stirring of the undergrowth, albeit twas but slight, that they worked their way in the coverts of the woods alongside the shore towards the ship.

Starting point is 01:14:15 Being come over against us, they stood concealed amongst the little thick trees beside the sea. And there they were, when on my brother coming to me on the poop, I told him what I had seen. He immediately ordered the jolly boat to be launched and manned, and this done, he put himself into the boat, and said, so did I. We pulled to the shore, making to a point near the place where those two men lurked amongst the trees, and where there was ground-fit to light upon. Having jumped ashore, the captain hallooed to these people, telling them that he came in peace and would by no means harm them, only he desired some discourse with them and to trade with them. Hereupon one of them

Starting point is 01:14:57 made answer in very poor English that twas well. They would trade with him, and invited him to come and drink with them in their hut. They desired, however, that he would come alone, by reason, as they said, their little mean hut was not fit to entertain more. He thanked them and told them he would go with them. Then they came out of their hiding towards us into the open. They were a French buccaneer, or hunter of wild bulls and cows, and his slave. They were very slovenly dressed and beastly dirty.

Starting point is 01:15:30 The buccaneer wore a dirty linen shirt tucked into a little. his breeches, which were dyed in the blood of the beasts he killed. He had round his middle a sailor's belt, a long sheath knife hung from the belt at the back thereof, leggings he had of hairy boarhide, shoes of dressed bullhide, and a big wide-brimmed hat upon his head. The habit of the slave was likewise only without belt or shoes, and on his head an old cloth montero cap. Their faces were anointed with hogs grease to defend them from the stings of insects. My brother went with them to the hut, and I would Surgeon Burke into the woods, for Burke took the opportunity of gathering divers medicinal herbs and woods that the place afforded.

Starting point is 01:16:17 Before he left the seaman, however, he warned them that they should by no means touch the fruit of any tree, which was not pecked by birds. For, said he, t'was an infallible sign that they were not good. and evinced those little squat trees that I had observed from the ship, which had apples on them that did smell very sweet. These were Munchanil, or dwarf apple trees, the fruitware of no bird doth eat. Indeed, it is so venomous that the very crabs that eat of it are poisonous. He that eats thereof is presently raving mad, and dead within a little while after.

Starting point is 01:16:53 Moreover, the sap of this tree doth raise on the skin terrible red blisters, as it were scalding water. We roved up and down in the woods, gathering Burke's medicans. But as the sun climbed, we began to be tormented with those big venomous gnats called mosquitoes, as with other flying and creeping pests also. And, though the surgeon seemed not much to mind them, for me the incessant attacks and inroads of the creatures became well-nigh insupportable. But I endured them for the sake of the novelty of the way. Care was ever had of us as we drew farther from the seaside,

Starting point is 01:17:29 not to lose touch of the river, though we saw a little of it for the dense undergrowth. At length the wood became pathless, which forced us to return. A little after, through a rift in the undergrowth towards the river, I spied a marvelous, strange thing, or so I thought it, for as it should seem, a great tree log that floated in the river,

Starting point is 01:17:51 did turn about and raise itself as if it were a living creature. And a living creature, it really was, being nothing else but a prodigious great Cayman or crocodile that, thus in semblance of a floating log, lay larking for its prey, waiting until some wild boar or other came to drink thereby. This horrible beast could have had no less than threescore foot in length and ten in breath. Another horrid creature I beheld before we returned to the seashore. This was a sort of huge hairy spider, very hideous. Its body was as big as an egg.

Starting point is 01:18:26 its legs were like crabs, four black teeth it had, with which it snapped at me as it ran scuttling away along a bow of a tree. I must confess it gave me a scare, and the more so because I thought it might be the dreadful tarantula whose bite doth make men mad. But Burke told me it was not venomous, and moreover that I need not be afraid of being envenomed by anything in that place, for no creature in the whole island of Hispaniola was venomous.

Starting point is 01:18:55 No, not even snakes. When we got to the boat, we found my brother was not yet returned, and the seaman, much out of humor for the waiting. They sat on the shore, smoking their pipes, cursing the captain and the mosquitoes, and viciously casting stones at the land crabs. "'I ain't going for to bite on this hellshore much longer,' said one. "'Copmore and old cap'n, all to hell with them mosquitoes.' But Burke essayed to turn their minds and,

Starting point is 01:19:23 "'Why, what's amiss with them?' says he merrily. "'They need their victuals like the rest of us. "'I've been feeding a score of them since I came ashore.' "'Well, you may say so, too,' returned the seaman. "'You have enough in to spare on your bones, old sawbones?' "'Birk laughed and slapped him on the shoulder. "'With such jolly talk did he physique their minds, "'and had soon restored them to good health.

Starting point is 01:19:47 "'But on a sudden came a sound of another sort of jollity, "'drunken shout and revelry in the Buccaneers' hut. "'And as he hearkened, I saw the merriment quite go out of Burke, while one of the seamen said harshly, Hark to him, boys, roistering yonder, lying snug and easy on their liquor like fine gentlemen, whilst we be sweltering here. So the ill-temper of the seamen returned,

Starting point is 01:20:10 nor was Surgeon Burke able to mollify them. And now the sun began to shine, very hot, and the hunger and thirst of the mosquitoes appeared even to increase. After a further spell of waiting, the clamor in the hut continuing, those belated and miserable seamen did conclude that they had endured enough and would have put themselves into the boat and launched forth for the ship. However, Burke proffered to go to the hut and bring them word again

Starting point is 01:20:38 and persuaded them to wait his return, so he went and died with him. We forced our way in haste along the woody shore, whilst behind us, the curses of the seamen in front the shouts and laughter of the revelers sounded in our ears, whilst the sun scorched us like a furnace and the humming mosquitoes stung our bare faces. Many discomforts and hardships of body I've suffered, but never a one of them comparable to that sure passage at Hispaniola. At last we came to the hut and straightway entered in. The drinkers sat on a couple of chests and a stool, which were disposed about a table

Starting point is 01:21:15 in which were canicans in an earthen jar or bottle. They had their load. The buccaneer and his slave looked blankly up at us. as we entered, and the Buccaneer broke off in singing a drunken song. But my brother stirred not hand or foot. He sat fallen forward upon the board, being completely conquered with the drink. T'was Vecu, as they call it, the beer of the buccaneers. It is made from cassava root, from which also they make their meal or flour.

Starting point is 01:21:46 Surgeon Burke worked his way around the cabin towards my brother, and taking him smartly by the shoulder, endeavored to rouse him up, but he could not. Meanwhile, the buccaneer began to be contrary and truculent, and tipsily abused us in the French tongue. But we minded him not so long as he contented himself with words. When, however, he pulled out a pistol and began to threaten us with it, Burke leaned swiftly over and snatched it from him. On that, the buccaneer rose up to have grappled with him, but Burke poked him smartly in the wind, which doubled him up, and he rolled over upon the floor and lay there muttering, swearing, and singing this cat. Lolo nois, Lolo nois, On d'oeuvre,

Starting point is 01:22:28 Lélenoir, As for the slave, He meddled not with us, But sat still, drinking down a last panicking of the Vecou, Whereupon he settled also, And presently slept. They being all three thus disposed

Starting point is 01:22:44 And settled on their lees, As the saying is, Surgeon Burke desired me to return alone to the mariners, And to bid them launch forth And bring the boat toward the little landing-time, place, which was over against the hut. Before I went, he anointed my face and hands with hogsgris, a vessel whereof he found in a corner to solace my mosquito bites,

Starting point is 01:23:03 which now began to be very grievous to me. So I went. When I came to the seamen, I found that they had been joined by several others who had come ashore in the launch or longboat, and, the loss, the mosquito Indian, with them. This was told me by two of them who stood by the boats and that the rest were gone away straggling into the woods to shoot wild fowl, some of those who had come into the longboat having muskets.

Starting point is 01:23:29 This put me to my trumps for men to manage the boat, and I started off to sea for them. Suddenly a musket shot rang out in the woods and was succeeded by a great horse croaking of crows or ravens that rose flocking above the treetops in a black multitude. And then, on a sudden, arose a great outcry of men. I set off running that way. and soon perceived what the matter was.

Starting point is 01:23:53 Two of the seamen were locked in a fierce fight. Now, this was a dreadful thing to see, for one of the fighters was a one-armed man. I mean, his left arm had been amputated below the elbow, and in lieu of an arm he had an iron rod with a hook to it. With this hook had he grappled hold of the other, and with his sailor's knife he made fierce claw and cuts at his face. The rest stood by viewing the fight.

Starting point is 01:24:17 However, all was over in a moment, the one-armed man having murdered the other, When I came up he was rummaging in the pockets of the dead man's coat. He seemed to have a huge impatience about something he sought after, digging amongst the cloth stuff, his face red like fire. At last, he grimped out a flask of water, which immediately he uncorked and drank off the contents. The man was stark mad.

Starting point is 01:24:42 Being one of those who had come ashore in the second boat, he had neither heard the surgeon's warning against eating of the fruit of the manchonil, nor knew anything at all of the danger, and being attracted, I suppose, by the pleasant appearance and sweet smell of those deadly apples he had tasted and eaten of them. Whereupon such huge draught and uncontrollable thirst

Starting point is 01:25:03 seized on the poor maddened wretch as inflamed him to that dreadful act of ferocity I've told you of. Now madness seized hold on him indeed, insomuch that he ran up and down, roaring and cutting the air in the trees with his knife, But the boatswain, who stood by quickly, put a period to his misery by running him through with his hanger. After this I told the boatswain what Burke desired, and he mustered half a dozen of that company and brought them with me to the boats.

Starting point is 01:25:34 We put ourselves into the longboat, launched forth, and pulled towards the farther point of the bay, where we found Burke without the hut, stirring the heap of tobacco leaves that was laid up before the entry for a protection against the mosquitoes. We went ashore to him and with him into the hut. The jolly company lay in the same posture all three slumbering. Burke bid our men to remove the captain into the boat, and they began to set about it. But while this was doing, the buccaneers stirred and presently woke up, and having looked stupidly around, he inquired who we were and what we did in his habitation. He was answered pleasantly by Burke, who said, "'Bonsure, monsieur, I hope

Starting point is 01:26:17 "'that you have been dormy. "'There we've got we go-kittance, "'but I'm really very "'fetched to not see "'vote a beau visage.' "'But this was taken very ill "'by the buccaneer who started up crying, "'insolent! Morad, d'all in English!

Starting point is 01:26:37 "'Petig, grand-hombedu! "'Vumill the p'allé! "'And he fell for his knife. The surgeon, however, had removed it whilst he slept, and when he understood this, he would have fallen upon Burke with his fist. But one of the seamen who stood near knocked him on the head with the butt of his pistol, which felt him senseless. Hereupon, waked by the scuffle, the slave began to cry out, and then roared for quarter as a seaman lifted his pistol to have served him after the same manner as his master, but Burke made the man desist. Burke's care now was to get the captain, who continued to slumber, into the boat, and thence all back into the ship again. And this he did, effect mainly by reason of his foresight, and absconding amongst the bushes, the Buccaneer's store of Vecu, before our men came to the hut.

Starting point is 01:27:29 That night I took an opportunity of questioning Thalas about his knowledge of the haunted island and acquaintance with those pirates. But though he answered me very frankly and told me what possibly he was. he could. I learnt not much, for the eyes of a poor Indian or Nantes and Europeans, and here were strange and unfamiliar things. It appeared also that Thalas had never stayed on the island for any considerable space of time, but used to go out on one pirate vessel or another, for it seems there were two or three, and even at such times as he was on the island, he kept himself aloof from the rest, living in the woods. Thalas told indeed of great pieces of ordinance and fortifications,

Starting point is 01:28:14 and of that subterraneous place spoken of by the Englishman. Of the terrible old man the Englishman had called the doctor, he could tell me nothing but what I knew. He had heard of the ghost, but had never seen it. For the rest he had consorted with the Englishman and made great friends with him, and at last, being taken out together on the same ship, they had contrived to escape in the cockboat, and, after many days, and when such provisions as they had were long spent,

Starting point is 01:28:43 had fallen in with our ship in manner related. I asked him how he first came to consort with those pirates. He answered that being many sleeps ago at Quibo. There came one of their ships, and he had gone away with them. Next day I gave the captain, and surgeon Burke an account of all that I had learnt of the haunted island, as well from the Englishman as from the Mosquito Indian. End of Chapter 10

Starting point is 01:29:11 Chapter 11 Of the Haunted Island by E.H. Viziac This Libervox recording is in the public domain, read by Ben Tucker. Chapter 11, The Mad Maroon In all the space of our voyage from the island of Hispaniola, round about the great hump of America southwards, and through the Straits of Magellan and to the South Sea, there fell out nothing worthy of remark.

Starting point is 01:29:44 Nothing, I mean, sufficiently noteworthy or fit to be set down in this history. Accordingly, passing over all this while, I come to the day when, having beat up around the cape at nine leagues distance, we laid the aisle of Juan Fernandez. This island is very high, and at a distance appears like a rough, rocky pyramid, cut off at the top with a canopy of clouds. But when we were got closer to the south side, we perceived the shore was woody. We had a constant breeze, and about sundown stood in past a lesser island, being nothing but scraggy and barren rock, into a bay, and came to an anchor at the distance of a furlong from shore. Thus we had lain not long when we perceived a man made signals to us from the shore,

Starting point is 01:30:34 hallooing and waving a sort of ragged banner on a staff. He appeared to be a wild figure of a man, but the light was failing, and whether European or Indian we could not tell. And as to what he said, a very great concourse of seals on the shore did keep up so great a barking noise that we could make nothing of it. I asked the captain whether he would send off a boat,

Starting point is 01:30:58 but he told me, No, not until the morning, immediately commanded that, on no pretext, should any man leave the ship. Notwithstanding, being restless and full of curiosity to know who and what that story, Strange man on the island might be, I resolved to get to the shore if possibly I could, and began to cast about for a way.

Starting point is 01:31:20 Had the cockboat been afloat, it had been easy if I waited until night came, for the sea was smooth, and the men did not use to keep a good watch. But only the jolly boat lay in the water, and that I could not manage. She lay under our quarter. But when I saw how she tugged at her lashing towards the shore, I took a thought, for I perceived that if the tide held until night, I might safely trust to drive ashore in her, and, peradventure, get off unseen. Concluding, therefore, to make the attempt if the tide held, I disposed myself to wait the time. At last it became quite dark, whereupon I stole softly into the

Starting point is 01:32:01 great cabin, which by good luck I found empty, stepped to a porthole, and looked without. The shine of a bright star just overhead showed me that the jolly boat held in the same posture and that the tide still flowed. I opened the port, and scrambling up made a leap for the jolly boat. I lighted on my toes and the stern sheets, making but little noise, and having recovered my balance, I had soon cut through the lashing with my knife. Unseen by any man on the ship, I drove quickly towards the shore. At length the boat grounded on the sandy bottom, and catching up a rope that was fastened in the boughs, I boldly adventured to leap ashore. But hereupon I came nigh to be scared out of my wits, for falling foul of an obstacle that lay there below, I rolled over, clutching with my fingers a shaggy hide, and a huge

Starting point is 01:32:56 creature rose up beside me, being quite six times bigger than a seal, and did roar like a lion. And indeed, a lion I took him to be, for his head, as I saw it, was exactly like a lion's. However, he shambled away and left me, and now I know t'was a creature called a sea lion. This rencounter shook my spirit, so that, having got to my feet, I stood quaking with fear of the darkness, or rather of unknown terrors the darkness might hold concealed, and being also very cold and wet from my immersion in the breaking waves, I began hugely to repent of my coming hither, and devoutly wished it had been possible to return. Nay, I was very cold and, I was very cold and ready to hallo to the ship, but shame withheld me.

Starting point is 01:33:42 Now, while I thus stood, a voice spoke to me almost at my feet. Ha! Little pilgrim! came the voice. Ha, little pilgrim! It was harsh and grating like a rusty lock. Immediately after a man rose up from an empty waterhole that lay near in my path. He was a small man, and very wild-looking, having a shock of tousled red hair and beard that Nye covered his face, and clothed and, and clothed and, and, and, and, he was a small man, and very wild-looking, and, and very wild-looking, having a shock of, and rags and patches. He stood clutching the staff and tattered banner, which we had observed from the

Starting point is 01:34:13 ship, and peered in my face with his glittering eyes. Ah, little pilgrim? cried he again. What is your sin, shipmate? What, how have you been a fence against the righteous? I perceived he was stark mad. I have slain a man in a duel, said I, humoring him. Ha, t't was a sore offense, cried he, and began to wave his banner above my head. black sin, Jesus have mercy. It was the most grievous transgression. Now, looking here on, shipmate, behold, it shall be his an insign on a hill.

Starting point is 01:34:48 Hereupon he turned from me, and made with great bounds toward a high boulder, which stood at a few yards' distance. He set the staff in a cleft of the rock, crying, Behold the ensign of the Lord, look ye on the banner, shipmate, and say after me, Father, I have sinned afore heaven, and of worthy, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. A gust of wind took the banner, stretching it out, and I beheld upon it the royal device of Spain. I began to repeat the words, but he took me up short.

Starting point is 01:35:16 Grimmercy, cried he, look on the ensign, can't you? Look on the ensign, now over again. I perceived by the look in his rolling eyes that he was on the verge of a frenzy fit, and I hasted to humor him to the letter. When I had said and acted to his satisfaction, he took the banner in his hand again, and began to wave it over my head and absolved me, as he called it, in a hodge-punch jargon of scriptural and nautical phrase. Madness makes ever a rueful picture,

Starting point is 01:35:48 but the shape this man's took was extremely scandalizing to me, and it may easily be believed that now I repented more than ever of having come on shore and would have given a great deal to have been safe back on the ship again. But there was worse to come. For when this business of absolving me was over, the madman took another notion, and, having muttered to himself once or twice, he, on a sudden, bawled out, It is written, he that shatterth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed. Hereupon, he lowered fiercely round at me, clapped his hand behind him, and plucked from his belt along much heat. At the sudden sight of the bare blade glittering in the dark night, I started back and then stepped quickly to one side as the madman made.

Starting point is 01:36:34 a lunge on me. Thus I alluded his intent, and immediately after took to my heels, running blindly in the darkness. I heard him close behind me, the furious haste he made, his quick pants, mingled with curses. I struck my feet against stones. I bruised my body against the jagged sides of boulders. Every moment I expected to feel that murdering great knife come crashing in my bones. Suddenly I tumbled into a waterhole, hurting my ankle, though I scarce. did feel it, but got out, set my back to a great boulder that stood near, drew my rapier,

Starting point is 01:37:10 and made shift to parry a lunge in the nick of time. And as the madman blundered in on me with the impulse of the blow, I caught his wrist in a desperate gripe and twisted his arm round until he dropped his knife, roaring with pain. Thereupon I set my point to his breast, and had him at my will. Up with your arms, said I smartly, or I'll run you through. He was not so mad, but he understood, and held up his arms immediately, but his eyes kept harking down to his knife until, with a kick of my unhurt foot I removed it out of reach. Now, said I, speaking very slowly, you see, don't you, that you are quite helpless. If you do not exactly as I bid you, I shall run you through the heart.

Starting point is 01:37:55 I bid you instantly to drop upon the ground and lay quite flat. And I advanced my point until it pressed upon his breastbone. I, I, said he immediately cast himself flat. So far, so well. But what was next to do I knew not. I had no cord or rope to have bound him, nor withal could I securely have attempted it, for he was stronger than I. Moreover, my hurt ankle now began to pain me much.

Starting point is 01:38:23 There appeared nothing for it but to bide on guard until day, when I trusted to be succored from the ship. accordingly, with a rueful mind and a tired body, I disposed myself to the miserable vigil. For a pretty long while the man lay quiet and perfectly still whilst I took up my posture, as easy as I could, on a ledge of the rock having my drawn sword in my hand. I marveled that he spoke not, and kept the better look out lest he should contemplate a surprise. At length I could endure the silence no longer and break it. "'My man,' said I,

Starting point is 01:38:58 How came you here on this island? I spoke at Adventure, not expecting any reasonable reply. I was therefore startled and perfectly astonished when he said, I was marooned, Captain. Those pirates marooned me. Oh, said I, and how long ago was that? Tis many a year. I, many a year, said he.

Starting point is 01:39:20 It might be ten, it might be twelve. Many a wear a year. I lived like her a beast. All alone, alone. What was your ship, said I, that was taken by these pirates? What was my ship? said he. Why, I was a board of him. The doctor sent us. The doctor, exclaimed I, breaking in on him. What doctor? Not the master of the haunted island? Aye, said he, sitting up and staring on me. His face had turned deadly pale, and his voice quavered.

Starting point is 01:39:57 But you ain't. come from him, lad. No, no, not from him. You ain't? Say, y'at. Be easiest to that, said I. No, I am not come from the doctor. Then how do you know of him? said he, how, how? Never lie to me, on your soul. The Lord did the like to you, if you deal falsely. Behold, I am come in the name of the Lord, in the Lord's name. But I forbear to set down the things he uttered in the frenzy fit that thus on a sudden seized on him, nor did he return again to reason, but all night long lay silent or raving, wildstye kept watch and ward. Towards dawn he slept, but I dared not take any rest myself, nor leave watching of him for a moment. Indeed, the pain of my hurt served to keep me awake.

Starting point is 01:40:46 In that hour, while it was yet dark, came the noise of a commotion on board the ship, being occasioned, as I learned after, by the discovery that the jolly boat and I also were gone. and so soon as it became light I gladly beheld the long boat manned and making for the shore My brother sat in the stern sheets They landed below the jolly boat Which lay high and dry

Starting point is 01:41:07 For the tide had ebbed Whereupon I hallooed to them "'Is that you, Frank?' cried the captain And when I stepped from behind the boulder And he spied me He immediately threw himself into a great rage Or so it appeared rushing to me And threatening me with his fists and crying

Starting point is 01:41:25 What do you mean by this, you whelp you? Do you dare to flout my orders? If you were not a boy, I would hang you up at the yard. I had taken this very ill, and, being in a fume from my painful and tedious vigil, had resisted and outbraved him to his face. But from a sign which he contrived to make me, I perceived what he would be at, that this fury was all a pretense, and he did it for the sake of the men.

Starting point is 01:41:51 Accordingly, taking the hint, I put on a very humble, repentant bearing towards him. Now, whilst he rated me as above, the seaman standing by, the mad maroon awoke from sleep, and sitting up began to stare fixedly on him. This put my brother out, so that he stumbled in his speech and broke off to ask me what the man was. So I gave him an account of all that had fallen out. When I had ended, he ordered the man to be bound, which immediately was performed, he offering but little obstruction. Hereupon we went all to the longboat, the madman who,

Starting point is 01:42:25 now began to mutter and rave after his manner being hailed along by two seamen, and I borne by two others, for I could not walk. Nay, though they carried me gently, I suffered much pain. On coming to the launch, they took out water jars, which they had brought us shore, and put in to her myself and the crazy man, who ceased not to call down curses on us in his mad, religious jargon. On this account the seaman had much fun out of the poor antic, jarring and mocking him, but however this was displeasing to the captain, and suddenly he turns on one of them crying, Be done with this, you yokel fool! You're like some silly schoolboy teasing a village idiot.

Starting point is 01:43:05 Be done with it. Be done with it. I liked this well, but the chidden seaman liked it not at all. He glared at the captain who glared back at him. Thereupon sinking his head, the man looked round upon his fellows but got no sort of encouragement from them. for they held silent looking this way and that. So he thought it convenient to hold his peace. I was rowed with the crazy man to the ship. He was laid bound in the forecastle.

Starting point is 01:43:32 Surgeon Burke took charge of me, and having looked at my hurt ankle, he told me I must lay up for at least a fortnight. End of Chapter 11. Chapter 12 of the Haunted Island by E. H. Vizziac. This Librevox recording is in the public domain. Read by Ben Tucker. Chapter 12 The Warning Sea We parted from the Isle of Juan Fernandez after two days, which we stayed to fill our water, cut firewood, and drive goats.

Starting point is 01:44:08 My confined state was very irksome to me, after the freedom I'd enjoyed on board and the daily fare of new and strange experiences. However, I employed the time pleasantly enough in learning the Spanish language as much as I could of it by means of an old torn copy of Don Quixote and a Spanish dictionary which I chanced to find in a corner, and indeed got much diversion from that merry and sorrowful tale. Sometimes my brother came to me, though he stayed not long. And Surgeon Burke stood my friend throughout, coming to chat with me often and giving me news of anything remarkable that might have happened in the interim. Notably he told me that my brother had questioned the mad maroon,

Starting point is 01:44:49 at a time when he was in his right mind of the haunted island, but that on learning we were thither bound, such huge terror seized on the poor man that, rather than carry him to the island, he besought the captain on his knees to cause him to be shot or thrown into the sea, and was immediately after transported with a violent, raving, crazy fit. That on the morrow he was not to be found anywhere on the ship.

Starting point is 01:45:14 T'was supposed he had made a shift to loosen the cords that bound his limbs, and having got up on deck had jumped overboard and drowned himself in the sea. Either this also was part of his madness, said Bert, or else there's something monstrous terrible on the haunted island. But did he not fright them in, said I, I mean about going to the haunted island. Why, bless you no, said he, they put it down to his whimsies. This was in the first week after our departure from Juan Fernandez.

Starting point is 01:45:47 We made good way on her course, which was southwest, having a brave settled gale at west-northwest. On the morrow, however, when I awoke I was sensible the ship was tossed like an egg-shell, as indeed she was in a high cockling sea. It held all day. Late in the afternoon, Burke coming into the cabin was thrown headlong with a sudden violent lurching of the ship. I laughed to see him go rolling over, being a little round man, but he got to his feet with a very long countenance, which rather abashed me. Yet, was it not like Burke to take umbrage, and I presently perceived that that was not the matter with him? He was concerned in his mind about the men. They were, it seemed, in a most villainous temper by reason of the work they had had

Starting point is 01:46:34 with the ship. For ever since one o'clock in the morning, when the wind came to the northeast, and the sea swelled, they had not found so much as a moment's respite. First, the ship having been put under a forecourse and sprit sail, the fore-sail split. Then when the yard had been lowered and that matter remedied, the standing rigging gave way in several places. That, having been mended, the wind began to wiffle between all points, whereupon the captain set them a brave dance up and down the rigging in his eagerness to make way.

Starting point is 01:47:06 At length, the wind blowing and whiffling, worse than ever, our main course blew to pieces. And now the mizons given way, said Burke, holding up his hands. "'It's a scurvy business,' said I. "'But I see not why you should be put out about the men. "'Let them be. They'll come about anon, like wind and weather. "'In my opinion, wind and weather are rather to be feared than so many silly seamen.' "'A near opinion is out,' said Burke tartly.

Starting point is 01:47:36 "'You've never experienced a mutiny aboard ship, have you? "'No, well, pray you never may. "'A mutiny is what we've been in fear of all along, "'and it seems what that... Miserable Maroon gave out about the haunted island, stuck with the men after all, and now it works. And there goes a word among them that this blast and hurly-burly and coil of trouble with the sails as a warning from God Almighty that we should go no farther on this voyage. And when seamen have stuck on this sort of notion, you may spare your labor and let be.

Starting point is 01:48:07 Not all your endeavors, nor arguments, nor persuasions, nor appeals, look you will avail to hail them off. and now, says he, I must go, the captain may have need of me. With that he departed, leaving me to conjure up dismal forebodings, to the music of the groaning ship, the stamping of the mariners, the brunt and welter of the roaring seas, and the continual shrieking of the winds. Thus I sat hearkening for any sound that might betoken arising of the men, with intent to sally forth on the first sight or appearance of an alarm. However, I heard nothing, and at the customary time the ship's boy came to light the lantern and bring my supper, which made me conclude there was no mutiny so far.

Starting point is 01:48:54 The ship labored more than ever now, and the boy told me that we lay a hole in a huge roaring sea, in drizzling rain and very dark weather. I turned into my hammock and composed myself to sleep, yet with small expectation thereof. However, I slept very well until the morning. When I woke I found Burke was coming into the cabin. He told me that the wind, the sea, and the disaffection of the mariners were sunk together. I told you that it would be so, said I, but not so fast, young cockerel, says he, it would not have been so, and the men had mutiny beyond doubt, but for a curious occurrence and a piece of good fortune which the captain had the wit and sagacity to lay hold on.

Starting point is 01:49:37 It was so, in the mid-watch after the wind came to west and sun. bunk, and the ship recovered her course. The men came together in a gang and the boat swain, stepping to the captain, begged him on behalf of the whole ship's company to bear up the helm and proceed no farther in that course. The captain inquired what they found amiss with the course, and was answered that in the blustering weather and in the many letts and hindrances they had met with all they did clearly perceive the hand of Almighty God warning them against going on. The captain used all persuasions to turn them from this opinion, but he had as well labored to have turned the wind. When he found he could not oversweigh them, he told them

Starting point is 01:50:19 plainly he would not leave his course on any considerations. Nor added he, would you wish me to do it, if you but knew or had any notion of what a rich and kingly treasure is there. Thereupon the men withdrew to the forecastle to consult, now a little after, while they thus stood came a violent, furious tornado, which went roaring past our stern and about our ship's length away. On that, without a moment's hesitation, the captain goes to the men and, "'Look ere, my lads,' says he. "'You saw that tornado. Well, where would he have been, think you had it struck us? Answer me that.' "'Wad, cap'n,' says the boat, swain, "'I suppose we would have foundered.'

Starting point is 01:50:59 "'Aye,' says the captain, returning sharply on him, "'I suppose we would. And now, hear another thing. If I had borne a-board, up the helm, as you desired me to do, where would we have been then? Why, bang in the middle of the tornado, you lung heads. Now where's your warning hand of God Almighty, eh? Says he, I, that brother yours hath a headpiece to his shoulders. Look you, Frank. And so then, said I, that turned to them. Turned them. Why, guinea pigs in a cage aren't more tractable. And talking of guinea pigs, says the waggish fellow smiling on me. Talking of guinea-pegs, I have to tell you,

Starting point is 01:51:38 you are now freed from your cage and may quit your bed and cabin. You may be sure I was glad enough to hear this, and Burke helping me, I rose up and went stiffly out to the deck. The day was clear and bright with white scud cloud flying towards the west. The sea much fallen. The ship sailed heavily, making a due west way. Her topworks were loose, but she had sustained in the west. no leaks. The captain took the sun and seemed to be much satisfied with the observation.

Starting point is 01:52:08 It came out indeed that instead of hindering us the blustering weather had given us great heaves on our course. The wind and sea held favorable, and some ten days after, by over his chart, we should be within forty leagues, more or less, of the haunted island. End of Chapter 12. Chapter 13 of the Haunted Island by E.H. Vizziac. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Read by Ben Tucker. Chapter 13. The Ghost About four o'clock afternoon, the lookout man in our foreyard cried,

Starting point is 01:52:51 Land a weatherbow! This put a strange spirit into the mariners, half eager, half fearful, as might be seen from their restless demeanor and furtive converse with one another. And, as it seemed to me, the very ship began to sail faster, straining and leaping, drenching her beakhead. Soon we began to have other warrants that the testimony of the lookout man that land was nigh, tokens in the air and sea,

Starting point is 01:53:17 a gaudy landfowl came and perched on a yardarm, a piece of rockweed drove along by the ship's side. The sun sank, but the air was clear like crystal, and suddenly a mariner standing in the boughs sang out, There it me, there it be, I spines it! and immediately I described the land as a blue mist, as a cloud no bigger than a man's hand, close aboard the horizon. Aye, there'd be, there be! cried a score of voices. There be the island!

Starting point is 01:53:49 And my brother answered from the quarter-deck. Right, my lads, yonder's the island! There you'll make all your fortunes, my jolly boys! They gave a great huzzah on this, but as it died away, one call to my brother, saying, "'Begging your pardon, cap'n, "'but me and my shipmates be particular curious "'to know whether what that mad maroon told of had any truth in it. "'I mean, about there being a ghost on that island.' "'But the captain answered with a great scoff and bluster,

Starting point is 01:54:19 "'A ghost on the island,' says he. "'Ghost of my grandmother, "'they do say that there's a man in the moon, "'but you can only see the face of him. "'Now, as touching this man in the moon, "'what am I particular curious to know is, "'where hath he his body? in his legs.

Starting point is 01:54:36 This brought much laughter upon that seaman, and stopped his mouth. But Burke nipped my arm, and when the merry din subsided, he blew it up again. "'Where be his body and legs, Captain?' roared he. "'Why, he hath lent him to the ghost on the island!' Meanwhile the island enlarged itself in our view, and the color of it changed to purple. It was very long and high. It lay north and south. Still we made in, and soon towering cliffs appeared, with jagged ridges of hills on that high land.

Starting point is 01:55:07 But now the light began to fade so that the island could no longer be seen. Darkness fell apace, and as it did so, the wind sunk and died quite away. Hereupon within two miles of the shore, we anchored the ship. Now at this time, and indeed, from a good while previous, we heard from the land a booming sound, which at first we took to be nothing but the clamor of bray. but Thalas told us it was the voice of a great waterfall from the lofty cliff. I supped that night with my brother and with Surgeon Burke in the great cabin, and I expected the

Starting point is 01:55:45 captain would speak of his plans. But on the contrary, he spoke scarce a word, seeming to brood in his mind. Only, having risen from his chair, he told us that he went to give orders for our ports to be opened, and our guns run out, new primed and double-shotted, For that, though it was unlikely any menace or danger from the island would come up in the night, yet he thought it convenient to be prepared. I thought my brother was become thinner of late. His face was pale and had a drawn grim look. And though he was yet but young, methought he had gotten gray hairs.

Starting point is 01:56:25 After he had gone, Burke and I sat a while over the board, talking of the mysterious chances of the morrow. I say, of the morrow. for neither did we anticipate anything to happen during the night. At last we rose and went on deck towards the end of the first watch. There all hands were gathered. They stood most by the starboard bulwarks forward, and in the waist gazing upon the island which the moon being risen appeared like a shadow on the sea.

Starting point is 01:56:54 They were strangely silent. I became sensible of a tenseness amongst them. If any man spoke, twas in a whisper, or scarce more than a whisper, as if terror possessed their minds. And now, no doubt, they recalled, and believed implicitly every word and dark terrible hint spoken of the haunted island by the mad maroon. To make a clean breast, I must confess, I began to be uneasy myself. The wind was fallen to a flat calm.

Starting point is 01:57:25 The sea moved with a sluggish and yet fitful motion, as if it too were uneasy and affrighted and unable. to sleep. The moon was at the full, yet having none of the extraordinary brightness common in these latitudes, and showing small and dull as through a veil of crape. It shone upon the ship and upon the stagnant sea with a pale dank light that had mystery in it and waiting and devilry. Suddenly it began to grow darker. Darkness closed in on all sides around like a quivering black curtain. I looked up. As far as I could see, a thithering, thickening layer of cloud closed slowly upon the moon.

Starting point is 01:58:07 The tension increased. All felt that something was about to happen. No man so much as whispered now, or stirred hand or foot. I could hear the beating of my heart, and while we thus stood, the apparition came. "'Hest, merciful God!' It was a shrouded human figure whose stature reached the clouds, and it arose and stood forth upon the shore of the island. The flowing garments of the figure were white like snow and glistening. For a moment it stood motionless. Then, as it should seem, a covering fell from the head of it,

Starting point is 01:58:46 revealing a visage that sometimes, even now, returns to me in sleep, and is a terror of the midnight, so that I start from that nightmare shaking and gasping, a scream upon my lips. The eyes of the figure were fixed upon us. We stood like men turned to stow. There was a little ship's boy there, and his reason was not of strength to bear it, so that he gave a shriek at that prodigy and went stark raving mad. And on that my brother collected himself. He looked upon the poor crazy lad, and then away again at the horrid thing to starboard, and he wrapped out an oath that was one of the pleasantest sounds I ever heard.

Starting point is 01:59:25 Then, swinging round upon the horror struck mariners. To quarters! Roared he. To quarters, Wallace! Give it a broadside! The devil's thing! smite it in the devil's face Give it iron

Starting point is 01:59:35 Iron by thunder And immediately like men Loosed from enchantment They sprang to life They stamped upon the deck They shouted curses and defiance Shaking their clenched fists To the island and the apparition there

Starting point is 01:59:48 And when the gunners went in a frenzy of haste The stations The rest followed them Helping and exhorting them in the work Soon all was in readiness The gunners standing to their pieces The muzzles of twenty cannon trained upon the thing

Starting point is 02:00:01 which continued to stand motionless. And now the command was given. The ship leaped and leaped again as the broadside blazed along and volume upon volume of cannon smoke hid all. We strained our eyes. Gradually the smoke lifted. The figure was standing as before.

Starting point is 02:00:20 And as that horrid countenance came forth again in view, fixedly looking on us, their terror returned upon the mariners. Now come all up on deck again. dazed with fear they stood huddled together, every man clinging to his mate. Suddenly the captain cried, Make sail!

Starting point is 02:00:39 But his voice was shrill and small, and glancing to Starboard, he screamed, Haste! Haste! Make sail! Cut the cable! Again the mariners did his bidding, gibbering with a fright, they swarmed aloft, crowding on sails, whilst one run and hacked through the cable with his hanger. Suddenly the glimmering light cast by the phantom went out. The figure had disappeared.

Starting point is 02:01:00 A cry arose, and the men on the yards and rigging ceased from their panic work. But only for a moment, and soon every sail was set, and every stitch of canvas got on her that our yards would spread. But there was no wind, no, not so much as to lift an ensign. But there was a current run very swift to the southward, in a line with the shore, and the ship drove into the path of it and began to be borne along with it. It carried us about two miles, when it took a turn, swirling gradually, round to the shore. Hereupon we let go our sheet anchor. It was the bower cable that had been cut, but the bottom would not hold. Then began the mariners to cry out, saying it was the dreadful

Starting point is 02:01:42 phantom did this, putting an influence on the sea, and they did murmur against the captain, casting baleful glances at him, muttering and whispering one to another, because he had ensnared them and brought them to this place, but he regarded it not, standing motionless with knit brows. Suddenly a man being perfectly beside himself with rage and terror laid hold on a carpenter's tool that had been left near him on the deck and made directly towards the captain, brandishing the weapon and charging like a maddened bull. And then, beyond doubt, my brother had miserably perished, but Thalas chanced to be standing by,

Starting point is 02:02:18 and thrusting forth his foot as he passed, he effectually tripped up the infuriated man so that he stumbled and pitched forward upon the deck. But, and here was a horrid thing, The man's weapon was jerked quite about in his fall, and he fell full upon the point of it and was pierced through. Whereupon being in an agony and quite hopeless of recovery, the captain shot him dead with his pistol. Yet was the episode for good one way, for the dreadful sight of it did so control and deaden the hearts of the rest that they were withheld from mutineering. As beyond a doubt they had been about to have done, and from murdering the captain. The rage and disaffection of the mariners were abated.

Starting point is 02:02:58 but not their terror. No whit less eager were they to be gone from this place And to put many a sea league betwixt them in the haunted island And as it came home to them That though the darkness concealed it they drove on still nearer to the island Their panic returned upon them And they made desperate endeavors to anchor the ship At last it held in but ten fathoms water

Starting point is 02:03:23 Were we then gotten and so near to the shore Or was it shoal water? We could hear no sound of breakers, but the sea was flat calm, and the clamor of the waterfall still sounded, though less loud. We waited, huddled together like terrified children, peering into the thick darkness. In that hour my brother stepped to me and took me apart beyond hearing of the rest, and looking upon him I saw with a pang how gray and old he was become. He began to speak, tense and low. Boy, said he,

Starting point is 02:03:58 Take my hand, so now say that you forgive me for all. But as I put my hand in his and tried to speak, he looked upon me long and tenderly as he had never looked before, and I think he knew it was the farewell, and that he would not be alive when the night was passed. End of Chapter 13. Chapter 14 of the Ha Ha. Vizziac. The Slibervox recording is in the public domain.

Starting point is 02:04:34 Ben Tucker. Chapter 14. The Cut Cable Whether my brother had spoken more, I know not, for on a sudden there came a stir and commotion among the men who began to move towards us in a gang. When they were come near, one said hoarsely, "'Cabin, we hear's shorebreakers. Harkin now! Harken to it!' I listened, and above the clamor of the waterfall, I thought I did, indeed, hear the sound of breaking waves. But the seaman on a sudden cried, We be nearer shore, nearer shore, the Lord have mercy on us. Nearer shore, cries the captain. Hath the anchor peradventure come home in a duck pond?

Starting point is 02:05:16 Why, you lunkhead, she as fast as iron locks. Then look there, said the other, and pointed down upon the sea forward. The thick darkness which had held until now with no rift in the cloud pall was broken. A shaft of moonshine took the sea hard by our cut water, and the captain following it gave a great start. "'The ship was in motion again.' "'Driving by thunder!' cried he, "'and running to the head, he laid hold of the cable and hauled on it.

Starting point is 02:05:43 "'It began to come in slack and easy, and soon a loose end appeared. "'The cable had been severed.' "'My brother stood motionless, the dripping rope's end dangling from his hand. "'Then he swung fiercely round upon the mosquito Indian. "'If this be your handiwork, my man,' cried he. "'If I do but half trace it to your hands, you shall hang. You shall hang at that yard-arm. But the loss reared himself haughtily up

Starting point is 02:06:08 And looked him in the face, And the captain was abashed. He turned to the men. My lads, said he, waitily and slow. Whether there be treachery here, I know not. Look you to that. Look well to it if you'll live And drag out the villainous man.

Starting point is 02:06:27 As for me, witness all, I am contriving and fending for you No less than for myself. If any man have a grievance, against me. Let him out with it now. Aye, cried he hotly as they began to press upon him. And if you'd depose me, even so, I care not a jot, you're but a scullion crew. Choose ye another captain. I grow wary of it, wary of it. His challenge rang loud, but they held silent while many moments passed, and when one of them said humbly, we make no quarrel against you,

Starting point is 02:06:58 captain, we be mazed men, the rest answered with a great heartiness. Yet took they heed of what the captain had said concerning treachery, looking narrowly one upon another, and there fell a dispute in questioning among them. The conclamation was broken off suddenly on a man crying out that we were coming among the very breakers of the shore, and scarce his voice had died away, when, with a lamentable dull grating sound of the ship struck, plowing long and deep into the bottom of sand. The breakers swayed her languidly from side to side with a dismal motion, while the despairing cry arose. "'Now we beg on indeed, the Lord have mercy on us. We shall never see our homes again!'

Starting point is 02:07:37 And the crazy lad took up the word, crying, "'We shall never see our homes again. Never, never, never, never, never, Jack, poor Jack. Never, never, never, never, wants to become a poor Jack, home again, home from sea, never, never, never, never, never, mother, I brought ye a parrot.' But here upon the boatswain, stepping to him, laid hold on the poor antic, and with a silken band which he had gagged him effectually. At the same time, my brother put a period to the dejection and amazement,

Starting point is 02:08:07 with blustering words driving the men to labor. He caused a great match to be contrived, that we might learn how far we lay from the shore, and when they had set light to the tender bound about the end of a boarding pike and held it forth over the sea, we descried the shore about a cable's length away. Hereupon the captain turns to the men, and, well, my lads, says he, who will proffer for a shore party.

Starting point is 02:08:33 But no man answered, save only, Surgeon Burke, Delas, and myself, we being even eager to go. And looking scornfully on the timorous men, my brother said shortly, Out with the boat, I'll go alone. Hereupon he went to his cabin to provide himself for the adventure, and having returned, put himself immediately into the cockboat,

Starting point is 02:08:53 which had been hoisted out and lay tumbling in the languid breakers. He began to row towards the shore, We watched him pass over the black waters in the lurid matchlight. End of Chapter 14. Chapter 15 of The Haunted Island by E.H. Viziac. The Slibbervox recording is in the public domain. Read by Ben Tucker. Chapter 15. The Island of the Holy.

Starting point is 02:09:26 For what time my brother should be gone, Wallace, the master Gunner, was left in command, and he presently ordered the lighted match to be fastened in the waist, and three more matches to be made and disposed severally on the larboard, at the head and on the poop. Sentinels, moreover, were posted all round the ship. An hour passed. Silence was fallen upon the ship. For some had gone below, and the rest,

Starting point is 02:09:50 saving the sentinels, lay sleeping and waking between the guns. The waterfall sounded but faint, and the breakers beat with a low clamor that seemed muffled by the cloak of the darkness. Suddenly from a point close at hand on the shore came a sound, of singing. Sweet and tuneful was the note, and full and lovely as the voice of a celestial being, an exceeding melodious high treble, so that it seemed to be no mortal that sang but a spirit from high heaven.

Starting point is 02:10:19 And thus it was. Stay not in the land of sighing, stay not in the veil of tears, where the phantom of the years haunts the weary and the dying, Lo, the island of the holy And suddenly it ceased Clear on the silent night was born a cry A loud, long-drawn quavering cry

Starting point is 02:10:43 That told of terror and suffering And the plucking forth of a life Falling at that season And amid those dark and dreadful mysteries It was a thing to make the blood of the boldest run cold Yet sorrow took hold on me at the sound For I knew the voice It was the death cry of my brother

Starting point is 02:11:01 The rest of the night passed uneventful. I remained on deck, weeping and brooding. I was sensible of having grown suddenly older, of having from a lad changed into a careworn man. End of Chapter 15. Chapter 16 of the Ha. H. Vizziak. The Sliberbox recording is in the public domain. Read by Ben Tucker.

Starting point is 02:11:34 Chapter 16. Spies of Canaan Day dawned in crimson and gold, uprose the sun, and showed us the haunted island. There was a narrow shore of white sand, curving and twisting with stupendous cliffs, the sheer and beetling fronts of which could not have had less than fifteen hundred feet. A little to the left we spied an opening, wherein a river ran spating down to the sea, making a great indraft of the water, and occasioning, no doubt, the current that had horsed us. sin. It was now flood of tide, yet the depth of water was increased but little, and to our dismay

Starting point is 02:12:13 the ship remained fast. On seeing this, Wallace, the new captain, caused a great store of heavy gear to be hove overboard to lighten her, yet twas all one. The ship would not budge. Thereupon we got out the boats and fastened tow lines to have rowed her off, but we could not. Nay, it had been all one even if we could have floated her, for soon the land-breed. sunk and then the wind came from the sea. So they gave over the attempt, and their anxiety being somewhat abated with the labor they turned into breakfast. I fared with Wallace and the great cabin, his mate, one Peter Burroughs remaining with the watch on deck. Wallace was very moody and cross, and I dwelt heavily on the death of my brother, so that the meal passed with but scant speech.

Starting point is 02:13:00 Wallace afterwards going to the quarter deck called lustily for all hands, and when they were come together, he made them a small. sort of rambling speech. Shipmates, said he, There ain't no manner of need for me to tell you how we lay. You know what we fell yusternight, that there be dark things hatching yonder. We be fallen in on the devil's island by the look-ont. Aye, but we don't properly know that yet.

Starting point is 02:13:26 We aren't got the bearings of this business, and maybe we're like children frighted with tricks and shows. Howsoever this here ain't no sort of berth for you and me, and I'd scamper away full sail if I could, but I can't. We'd be stuck here as fast as so many limpets, And when the wind rises, she'll split, And we'll be scurrying ashore like rats. Well, then, I'm for leaving over now, afore the break-up comes,

Starting point is 02:13:52 Aye, and afore the night comes too, There be the boats, but this here aren't the English Channel, And yonder, aren't the cliffs of Dover, And what we might look for, and the boats aren't pleasant to think. No, there's no way out, aren't that course, sure. So I'll give my vote for going ashore And boarding them while there's light And then the treasure

Starting point is 02:14:12 You ha'n't forgot the treasure, mates As we've come so far to afford to get it Well, then who will offer for a shore party to spy him out? The words were brave and meddlesome enough But there was no weight in them, All was hollow, and the seamen listening were Nothing slow to divine this. The speech fell short of the mark moving no man.

Starting point is 02:14:34 Wallace indeed was weighed in the balance and found wanting there and then, for when a seaman asked, "'And would you go along with us, Wallace?' He halted out. "'Nigh, ship, mate, for I must mine the ship!' An answer which put a period to that enterprise. The seaman held off glum and murmuring,

Starting point is 02:14:52 no man offering. If, however, they had no stomach for the work, Thelos and I were eager to set foot on the island. And when Wallace and the rest perceived this, they were nothing backward to encourage us, giving us good words, proffering us small arms in ammunition, whilst some ran to the cookroom to fetch victuals for us, and others put themselves into the jolly boat to row us ashore.

Starting point is 02:15:15 Surgeon Burke would have gone with us, but it seemed to him and to us also that his duty lay rather in remaining on the ship. Our first care on landing was to search the parts of shore for the dead body of the captain, for we doubted not that he was dead, but found nothing. After that we turned along shore to the southward, looking out for an opening into the island. Thelos told me that he was able to guide me to the habitation of the pirates, but, however, that it was far distant at the south side of the island, and the journey in return not possibly to be accomplished before night, to say nothing of the risk we would run by attempting it. I answered that, therefore, we should not attempt it, but take instead a random course, making what discoveries we could. We advanced warily, having each of us a loaded pistol in his hand, and coming round an elbow of the cliff beneath a gigantic headland, we lost sight of the ship.

Starting point is 02:16:08 The character of the prospect remained unchanged, the bleached white sands stretching away to the next bend, the towering cliffs frowning upon us. The Indian marched briskly at my side, perfectly at his ease as it should seem, and fearing no evil. But I went harassed with a thousand apprehensions, and was sometimes brought to a stand by. by fantastical alarms. The dreadful death cry of my brother still sounded in my ears. And even more than the apparition on the shore, it put a fear on me.

Starting point is 02:16:39 One while, glancing back fearfully over my shoulder, another while looking aloft at those stupendous summits, I went indeed like a haunted man. At length, being gotten about a league along the shore, we spied that we were looking out for. An opening in the cliffs. For a little in advance of us as we coasted round beneath a headland,

Starting point is 02:17:03 the cliffs were quite broken off about two ships' links, leaving an inlet of the island indeed. A spacious and gentle valley it was, sloping from the shore between the ends of the cliffs, which were all hung about with vines, and adorned with waving groves and rustling tall tufted grasses and flowers crimson, blue, and green. We immediately began to ascend,

Starting point is 02:17:25 making towards a colossal boulder of rock near 40 feet in height. Coming up to it we climbed by jagged ridges, creepers, and rockweed, to the top, and there stood to view the country. Twas a charming panorama. Champagne, woody, and rocky and grateful alternation, or confused and intermingled as in some silent conflict, but of man or man's habitation not a trace. I asked the loss whether this part of the island was really

Starting point is 02:17:55 uninhabited. He answered, after his broken manner, This side only him, spirit, great, big look. Here he made a grimace that gave me a scare, so like it was to that dreadful visage. And him, little spirit, sing. Stay not in the land of sighing, stay not in the veil of tears. But hereupon I cut him short for indeed, he sang so marvelously mimicking that other voice that I could not bear it. We descended the Great Boulder,

Starting point is 02:18:25 and the hour being about midday in the sun shining hot, we looked out for a place to rest in, and found it beneath the shade of a banana tree. The tree was full of fruit, and we ate of it very deliciously, and quenched our thirst at a clear spring that was near. We returned to our journey, or rather ramble of discovery,

Starting point is 02:18:46 but lighted on nothing remarkable, nor saw we any appearance of man, so the afternoon beginning to be far spent, and we a great way from the shore, I thought it time to be jogging from thence. For this finding no men in the island had in no wise allayed, but rather increased my apprehensions. And the thought of being overtaken by night there went very much against my inclination.

Starting point is 02:19:10 Accordingly we turned about, stepping out briskly towards the shore. Meanwhile the sky became overcast with clouds. We came through the ravine to the shore, and soon to our great content inside of the ship. Drawing near, I hailed her, but there came no answer, nor could we describe a man upon her decks. I thought this looked very strangely. I hallooed a second time, but again no answer.

Starting point is 02:19:34 And now a nameless fear began to take hold on me, but stepping to the marge of the shore, I tried a third time, giving a great halloo, yet came there no answer. There was no sound nor motion, there was not a sign of life on the ship. But twilight had fallen this while, and the clouds looked black, and even as my voice yet echoed from the cliff, there fell a shadow, vast and vague,

Starting point is 02:19:59 and dark shut down upon us like a lid. Then I grew afraid, indeed, drawing closer to the Indian, who, too, I think, felt the terror now. The place is enchanted, said I. We are lost. But the cockboat lay where the captain had left her upon the shore, and getting her down we launched forth, intending to row out in a beeline and shoot for the ship. for though concealed by the darkness we knew how she lay. We began to row, steering with the greatest heed,

Starting point is 02:20:29 until by our reckoning we had made way enough, and should be up to the ship. Yet no ship appeared. We went a little farther, yet no sign of her. Peering fearfully into the darkness, we ceased to row. I took my pistol and fired it in the air, listening for an answering hail or gunshot, but none came.

Starting point is 02:20:51 "'Tis a wonder I never thought to contrive a flare with some tinder "'or other in my flint and steel. "'But the truth is, my mind was completely overrun "'and confused with innumerable fluttering thoughts and whimsies "'and frightful apprehensions. "'It came to me indeed that the ship was no longer there, "'but had been spirited away by enchantment, "'nor in view of the dreadful mysteries of the place

Starting point is 02:21:15 "'will the reader be likely to censure me. "'The lass thrust his hand into the sea. It was immediately whelmed, the water gushing up over his wrist. The boat was being borne along by a swift current. The night was very dark, the sea moderately calm. It was becoming cold so that we were very glad of the liquor in our flasks. Breach, taking a dram, it warmed and spirited us. Soon I observed the Indian to nod for his eyes were heavy,

Starting point is 02:21:45 and I told him that he might sleep for I would watch. He sunk to slumber immediately. but I was sore fatigued and the cockboat rocked with a gentle motion, sleep stole upon me like an enemy, making at the last, as it were, a stealthy spring. In short, before ever I could take thought to have waked the Indian, I too slept. Suddenly we were awakened. There had come a great sound of cannonading on the sea. The last of it was still in my waking ears.

Starting point is 02:22:14 It seemed to have come from close by. The night drew on towards the dawn and was not so pitchy dark. I thought I made out the loom of a large ship. Aye, it was a ship, but not for long. Scarce indeed had she hazily taken form before our eyes, but, with a prodigious sound, she blew up. Stunned by the concussion, I swooned in the boat. End of Chapter 16.

Starting point is 02:22:46 Chapter 17 of the Ha. H. Vizziak. It's Libervox Recordings in the public domain. Read by Ben Tucker. Chapter 17 Dr. Copacus How long I lay in the swoon I know not But on my coming out of it A strange shrill voice sounded in my ears

Starting point is 02:23:08 I looked up to behold a man Who stood by the side of a settee Whereon I lay He was a very tall, lean, aged man dressed in a scarlet robe And I knew him Does he whom the Englishman had called The Doctor

Starting point is 02:23:24 I was fallen into the hands of the master of the haunted island. The place was a little chamber, or cell, of stone. There was another there, and him also I recognized from the Englishman's account. A young man, slender and pale, habited in black, who but the secretary Ambrose. The doctor observed me, So, said he softly, The spirit hath returned to his ark of flesh, He hath returned, void.

Starting point is 02:23:56 No slightest olive branch of knowledge. He smiled on me. Then, beckoning Ambrose after him, he went stoopingly from the place, the door shutting to upon them almost without sound. I looked about me. The cell was plainly but handsomely furnished. The sette whereupon I lay having coverings of china silk,

Starting point is 02:24:17 wrought in many colors with pictures of dragons. A little table of cedar stood beside. The floor was covered with a man. mat of grasses, woven in strands of red and green. There was no lamp, the light which was bright as day, proceeding I knew not wince. The cell was provided with air. It appeared by a row of round holes, the size of musket-bores, pierced along the walls. Soon Ambrose returned, bearing upon a salver a dainty repast of fish, fowl, and fruit, and having set it down upon the little table he asked me pleasantly how I did.

Starting point is 02:24:51 "'Very well, I think you,' said I. "'But you Ambrose do scarce look as hearty as you ought, dwelling as you do in the promised land.' He stared at me, then laughed a shrill laugh. "'So you know of us,' said he. "'Who told you, ovary?' "'No,' said I, but another.' "'Another, and who was he? But tell me, pray, how Uvry died. He was a notable villain.' "'He was so,' said I.

Starting point is 02:25:21 But who told you he was dead? Why? said he. The doctor had it from one of your men. They are then fallen into his hands, said I. They have joined us, said he. The doctor spoke with them whilst you and your Indian were gone away into the island, and they came over to us. He must be a wondrous talker, then, said I. He must have a golden tongue, said he.

Starting point is 02:25:48 But what of the Indian, said I? He is not dead? Nay, we found him with you in the boat. Both of you lay swooning, but the Indian revived a pace and is now with the rest of your company. On that a phantom hope came upon my mind, and I said, Is my brother? Is the captain alive also? I do not know, said Ambrose, but I thought he lied to me, and I said hotly. He was foully murdered in this evil. Soft, soft, said he, cutting me short, if he will take my counsel, said he in a lowly.

Starting point is 02:26:21 voice. You'll chasten your tongue. If the doctor had heard you, you'll not have an hour to live. And let me tell you death is most dreadful here. I shuddered, but tried to conceal it, asking quickly, what manner of man is Dr. Copacus? Is he a magician? Is the island enchanted? What do you do here? But he answered, I may not tell you these things. The doctor will do so in his own good time. And I stay too long. Farewell, for the present. farewell. And deaf to the importunities that I made, he rose and went from the cell. I reckoned up what I had learnt. It was but little. One mystery indeed was resolved, that of the deserted ship. But of the island, and its master, save his name, I had learnt nothing.

Starting point is 02:27:10 It did appear, however, that the presence of the man overy amongst us at our first setting out was known to Dr. Coppicus. Whence in all probability it followed he was, by him sent to my brother, to ensnare him, and to occasion the mutiny in our voyaging hither. But to what end, what motives had persuaded Dr. Copacus to cause the coming of a renegade king's ship? Perhaps I thought he might want the ship, her ordinance, her men. I next turned my thoughts upon the ghostly figure that had frightened us. Was it supernatural? Sure, it must be. For what cunning, short of sorcery could possibly have contrived of that horrible and diabolical appearance.

Starting point is 02:27:54 Nay, had the thing been contrived by Dr. Coppicus to terrify us, how was it feasible that he wished to frighten us away after, by my surmise, having enticed us to the island? I was deep in these cogitations when, on a sudden, a shadow, and a fear fell upon me, and looking round I saw that Dr. Coppicus again stood within the cell. I met his gaze, but could not support it, so searching, was it? So, my lad. said he in mild and gentle tones,

Starting point is 02:28:24 "'Has made a good recovery. A sound mind and a sound body, Nature mens a pace. Welcome, Francis Clayton. Welcome to the promised land.' "'Sir,' replied I, "'I thank you, but ask your pardon if I know not what you mean by the promised land.'

Starting point is 02:28:44 "'Ha! And yet I suppose you not utterly unversed in holy writ?' But a sudden anger for the man came upon me, as I recalled my brother's death, and I said passionately, But what hath holy writ forsooth to do with an island in the South Sea, and a horde of cutthroat pirates? I was mad to have said it. A spasm crossed the face of Dr. Copacus and left it terrible. His hands shook. He was silent, and the silence was to me as the gathering of doom. Just, just insult me! cried he at last, hissing out the words,

Starting point is 02:29:22 "'Durst insult my disciples and my work! Durst out-brave me, ye viper, I'll cure you. Ha!' He took a step towards the door, but a sudden faintness came over him. He staggered and had fallen, but I sprang forward and bore him up supporting him to the set he. He lay there heavily and still. The countenance of the doctor looked very old and haggard then,

Starting point is 02:29:45 and white as the venerable locks that fell straggling upon his lofty forehead. His eyes were dim. His breathing came in gasps. Verily I thought his hour was come. But while I stood wondering how the death of the man would work on my fortunes, a change came over him. He fetched a deep breath and his brows drew together. He made, as I could see, a mighty effort of his will. He collected his powers.

Starting point is 02:30:10 He rose up from the sette, standing firmly upon his feet. It was masterful. It was magnificent. The man who but a moment passed, had been, as it should seem, upon the threshold of death, did now stand up with the vigor of an iron strength. But his anger was passed, and he said, even gently as he turned to me, "'Lad, why do you vex me, courting death than worse than death, my intents toward you are fair and fairer than you could possibly imagine? Arkin, I would give you riches and fame and

Starting point is 02:30:45 knowledge, the knowledge that lieth at the door of life.' But hereupon Ambrose returned. The doctor spoke to him briefly in the Latin tongue and betook himself from the cell. End of Chapter 17. Chapter 18 of The Haunted Island by E. H. Viziac. This Librivox recording is in the public domain. Read by Ben Tucker. Chapter 18. The Running Man

Starting point is 02:31:18 Ambrose immediately after bade me rise and make ready to follow him, for he had in charge, he said, to take me to the cloister. I was nothing loth. The curiosity I had to learn more of the island was now indeed swollen to the highest pitch, so within a brief space we went from the cell coming into a passage of stone. This passage was in all points like to that

Starting point is 02:31:42 which the Englishman had given me an account of. There was, however, this difference in our experiences, that, whereas he had started in darkness to come by degrees into the shining of a dazzling white light, I, on the contrary, did meet with that sort of, strange illumination at the outset, finding it to decrease as we proceeded until twas but a glimmer, and so on into thickest darkness. But soon in the distance appeared a faint brightness, like to the dim reflection of a mirror. We went a little farther, twas the light of day. A door stood wide

Starting point is 02:32:17 at the end of the corridor, so came I forth from that mysterious prison house, and stood again under the open heaven. Before and on either side were thick woods. Behind was the cavernous entry, yet having no appearance of masonry for a tangle of many blossomed creepers covered all. But Ambrose, looking to see that I followed, stepped straightway to that which had all the look of a pathless thicket. When, however, we were gotten within, brushing a side brush and break, there opened before us a path of the woods, yet so slender a path that t'was scarce to be discerned, Following it, the distance of about a quarter of a mile, we came forth upon the cliff. A battery stood against the sea, a huge rampart, long and large, hewed out of the rock,

Starting point is 02:33:06 and pierced at intervals and embrasures to accommodate the great brass guns. They were indeed of prodigious size that bore upon the waters fifty feet below. The guns were mounted upon carriages of iron so as they could be, turned this way or that to bear at large upon the sea. About thirty feet behind them stood a long house, built of massive blocks of stone, divided into storerooms for the powder. The roof of it was thatched with wattle and felt against the reins. Beside it on end stood another house, wherein were many pipes of muskets. At the other end of the rampart men wrought to extend it, a crew of Bandits they were, dressed very slovenly and gay in silk and Indian cotton stuff of many bright

Starting point is 02:33:54 colors. Amongst them I saw divers of our men who wrought along with the others, and spying us, one or two, allude to me with hearty good cheer, but some looked ill at ease and very sullen. We turned, making to the Norward along the cliffs, having thick woods on our landward. I looked to the seaboard, but could spy no ships. I asked Ambrose concerning the tiger. He told me men were at work upon her getting ashore her guns, munition, and such other things as the doctor needed. I heard him to my small content. But the men will not brook to this, said I. They'll rise. They must brook it, said he, as to rising.

Starting point is 02:34:36 The doctor, be sure, has not failed to provide himself for that. What force hath he? asked I, if you mean as to the number of his men, replied. he, not much, and yet abundance for your matter, but his strength is not in numbers. In what, then, asked I? You'll learn that by observation, said he shortly. Hereupon being come to a place where the ground slanted steeply up, we turned and went inland beneath the slope. Say, are you learned? asked Ambrose. Can you read Latin?

Starting point is 02:35:14 Indifferent well, said I. But why, has that? Dr. Copacus, peradventure, a charity school in his island? He laughed his singular laugh. Charity school, said he. Is good. Yay, we shall put you to school. And do you see to it that you be industrious? Behold the marks of the rod! And suddenly, bearing his forearm, he stretched it forth before me. The flesh was scarred with the marks of heated irons.

Starting point is 02:35:45 Merciful heaven! cried I. "'Take warning, then,' said Ambrose. "'Take warning!' And covered his arm again. This put a fear upon me, and I went on in a heavy muse. Suddenly I was aroused sufficiently. There had come, on a sudden, a most dreadful roaring sound, long drawn out and proceeding as it should seem from the abysms of the earth.

Starting point is 02:36:08 As if the earth had given tongue like a great savage, wild beast, and was ready to open her jaws and swallow us in a moment. Shaking, as with an ague, I asked him what it was. You are pale, said he. Nor do I wonder if this is the first time you have heard it. It is the voice of the Mount of Dread. A Vulcan? cried I with swift understanding. There is then a Vulcan in the island.

Starting point is 02:36:38 But where? I see no height of a great mountain. The mightiness of the Mount of Dread, replied Ambrose, "'appeareth not by height. "'Greatest and mightiest things look mean and ordinary. "'Is not so?' "'With high spiritual things,' said I. "'It may often be so, but with common things—' "'Nay, nay,' said he,

Starting point is 02:37:02 "'you are in the wrong. "'Consider gunpowder, that sooty grain. "'How much of it think you should suffice to uproot "'and shake to pieces, the firm foundation on which we stand.' "'We were now come to woods in lowland. We entered in following a secret path. Fain would I tell you of the beauty of these woods, but unless you could behold them,

Starting point is 02:37:22 to where impossible you would understand. I passed through them entranced. The woods on the shore of the island of Hispaniola were beautiful, but not as these were. The foliage was not so shining green, nor so delicately rare. How can I tell you of the immense, massy leaves of the breadfruit trees? Of the great feathery ferns,

Starting point is 02:37:44 Of the climbing ferns, knit in a network between the polished stems of the cocoaa palms, or hanging in air on their long, tremulous, hair-like trails. Here and there the undergrowth was decked with blossoming shrubs, pale primrose and gorgeous crimson. High overhead, close and intertwined, hung the fronds of the palm trees, gently stirred by the breeze, glinting and flashing in the green sunlight, like a roof wrought in jade. As we passed, a bevy of blue and scarlet birds started in the thicket amongst the tall grasses

Starting point is 02:38:21 and flew scattering up through the palm fronds like winged blossoms, but with scarce any cry. Indeed, as I learnt after, all the birds in the island were dumb. But there came continually a humming and chirruping of insects, and sudden stirrings and rustlings as little creatures of the undergrowth took flight.

Starting point is 02:38:42 Our way was entangled with cross-shoots and the snake-like tendrils of creepers. The doctor would like this ill, said Ambrose as he lopped a branch off. I shall warn barley corn tis like to save his life. Who is barley corn? asked I. He who hasten charge to keep the paths of the woods, said he. Presently we reach the heart of the wood, which was a tangle of great stalks and creepers and marshy ground. Here plants did grow on the very bowels of the trees, having the strangest flowers that ever I saw. For one was in shape like a jug, another like a panicking. Others were as monstrous

Starting point is 02:39:25 insect creatures seen in dreams. The trees looked starved and wan. The air was hot and heavy, as in a close, sick chamber. Soon the wood became clearer and lighter, and coming presently around a thicket, I spied a glimmering portal of day. As we emerged, there came a man running. His clothes were ragged and slovenly. He came on running and panting like a hunted creature. His face shone with sweat that glistened upon his beard and drops like dew. His eyes were bright and roamed about. Thus he came on directly towards me, and had I not stepped to one side, he would have run me down. He went on without taking any notice of us. he hath been terror-struck, said Ambrose, as I stood staring round on the man.

Starting point is 02:40:15 He was a traitor. Twas his punishment. And he told me the man had tried to escape by night to a merchant ship that lay off the island, and that the ghost had appeared to him while he swam in the sea. The running man was now screened by a promontory of the wood, but his voice sounded intermittently in a sort of shrieking, very horrible to hear. I felt a weight come over me, and a sort of, horror of the sunlight. End of chapter 18.

Starting point is 02:40:50 Chapter 19 of the Haunted Island by E.H. Viziac. This Librevox recordings in the public domain. Read by Ben Tucker. Chapter 19. The Cloisters, the Doctor and the Vulcane. We went on in silence through a tract of low-level land, void of trees, but clothed with a sort of monstrous tall grasses. And having gone about a mile and a half, we came to further woods which skirted the scarpes of mountains. These mountains, or rather high hills, rose not above 200 feet, but on either side they ranged along

Starting point is 02:41:28 almost to the cliff, making as it were a spine to the island with their pointed tops. Hard by the woods we had left run a little swift river having on its banks many shrubs with scarlet blossoms, the leaves whereof made sunning places for red and blue butterflies. Thus for about a mile, the river run to the westward, to pour itself through a ferny grotto, into a little lake, a lake scarce larger than one of our English duck ponds. It was almost circular in shape, and being perfectly free from water plants and clear as crystal, it shone in the sun glare like a mirror. We went this way, and had nigh reached the margin of the lake when Ambrose on a sudden,

Starting point is 02:42:10 stooped forward on his bended knee upon the ground where a patch of withered moss appeared like a scab in the tall grasses. Bidding me to stand clear, he reached forth and set his finger upon what I took for a little pebble there. Next moment, a square slab opened in the ground in manner of a trap door. T'was an iron hatch cunningly masked with moss. This, said Ambrose, is the entry to the cloisters. And stepping to the cavity he began to descend into it. "'Follow,' said he. "'Have no fear.'

Starting point is 02:42:42 When he was gotten down sufficiently, I set my foot upon a ladder within the pit. But when I had descended a good way in the darkness, I saw that the lid above me was slowly shutting down. I cried aloud, supposing that we were entombed, but Ambrose laughed his shrill voice, sounding eerily from below. Next moment there shone a dazzling light. "'Twas the strange white light which I had known in the stone passage, and it revealed such another passage of stone. I leaped the remaining steps of the ladder, and followed Ambrose, who having gone a little way along, opened a door and passed within. He pressed a little knob on the wall,

Starting point is 02:43:19 and immediately the place was filled with the white light, but not so bright with all as in the passage. I beheld a great circular chamber of stone, and the painted walls and roof, and the mat of plated grasses upon the floor made a harmony of green, very comfortable to the eyes. A cushioned seat, or divan, of green silk ran all round the wall, and above it here and there were shelves containing books bound in green calf. In the midst stood three tall tables for standing and writing at. Ambrose stepped to the divan, and opening a drawer beneath he took out clean parchments. From another drawer he took parchments covered with writing. The writing was in Latin, roughly scrawled and scarce legible.

Starting point is 02:44:05 He set them side by side upon one of the table. tables, saying, this is your task, you must make their copies of these. And what, said I, if I will not? He smiled grimly, but you will, said he, unless perad venture you would pass through the door, that... He broke off staring with a sudden fear. I forgot the sulfur, he said hoarsely. Come! And he turned and run from the place.

Starting point is 02:44:34 We came without. Twilight was fallen this while, in the woods. looked desolate. Quickly the sky turned violet blue and the stars rushed out. Whither go we, said I as Ambrose led the way through a clump of breadfruit trees. To gather sulfur, said he. Heaven help me! I had forgot. Haste! Let us haste! Many bats flew in the shadowy air, and there came continually a horse croaking frogs and weird rat-like voices. Fireflies flitted among the trees like a slow-fallen snow of fire. On old logs and tree stumps blue fire flickered in flying traces.

Starting point is 02:45:10 Ambrose went so fast that I had much ado to keep up with him. There was no moon, and the constellations of the stars were abridged with somber clouds. But when we had gone about a mile, the darkness began to be tinged with a faint, lurid glow. The air was hot and smelt sulfurous. The vegetation grew sparse and stunted, on a dark hard ground cracked and fissure. Suddenly the voice of the volcano boomed, like a terrible toxin in the night. It came from close and front. We went a little farther, but on a sudden Ambrose clutched hold on my arm.

Starting point is 02:45:49 Hiss, said he in my ear, and drew me behind a curtain of withered trees. He pointed between the branches. I looked, and what I saw was this. In an open space, the earth being bare and blasted in black, was a little round hill, dark red and color, but pink about the top. hop, in height about fifty feet, and shaped like an inverted bowl. White and pearly vapor ascended from it thinly encircling wraiths. At the foot thereof stood, Dr. Copicus. He stood motionless, his face towards the volcano. He began to speak. "'I grow likeer and liker to thee,' said he with passion in his shrill voice. "'Liker to thy hollow heart, thy hollow fiery heart. I too am a

Starting point is 02:46:36 A volcano, on fire, on fire, waiting. That I should be baffled, denied, the secret which holds me from my revenge. Yet it cannot be for long, a little while. But a little while, and I shall come at it. I shall find my combustible. Then tremble, thou a cursed race. You cast me out, you cast me out, ha! You proud cities, your bigot universities, your palace,

Starting point is 02:47:06 the very cottages upon your fields shall be shattered, shall be shattered. I'll make them like to this place of ashes. His voice rose and quavered and broke. The strong, tortured note of its sounds even yet in my ears. He shook his clenched fist above him, and as he turned in the weird light, I saw that his brow was ribbed and stricken, like the twisted lava stones that strewed his path.

Starting point is 02:47:34 He scarce had ended, but enough. another figure, a little lad, appeared from behind the volcano. His face was wild and mazed, his long brown hair fell, straggling upon his forehead. His body was thin like a skeleton. He was dressed in the rags and tatters of a seaman's watch cloak. I knew him. It was the little antic lad whom the Englishman had told me of. He came stepping, Tripoli, to the doctor's side and said in a shrill voice, "'I heard the toad shriek, and his golden eggs are ruffled!' the doctor turned. The doctor turned and stamping his foot, he asked. When was this?

Starting point is 02:48:09 The lad answered, Like a swallow I fly. I saw, and I flew. Is he escaped? said the doctor. Is he tracked? Is the white one out? He is out, he is out!

Starting point is 02:48:22 And tracking about? cried the lad. There was silence while the antic land turned and looked directly towards us. Then he began, Two is two and four is four. Away, said Ambrose in my ear. Soft, now. We stole away on tiptoe in the shadow of the blasted trees.

Starting point is 02:48:43 To the right, said Ambrose in a whisper, and as we came upon turfy ground, Run, soft and swift, for your life, said he, And we set off on silent foot, hearkening and fear and trembling. End of Chapter 19. Chapter 20 of the Haunted Island by E.A. H. Viziac. This Librevox recording is in the public domain. Read by Ben Tucker.

Starting point is 02:49:16 Chapter 20, The Phantom Voice The night was become darker. We took the darkest ways. When we had run for about a quarter of an hour, and were come panting to the side of a wood, Ambrose stood and hearkened intently. Then he cast himself upon the ground, setting his hand to his heart. "'Do you suffer pain?' asked I.

Starting point is 02:49:42 "'I,' said he, and groaned. "'Do not speak to me,' added he with a woeful pain. His face was white and drawn, and he kept clutching at the prickly boughs of a bramble-bush, tearing the flesh of his hand all bloody. "'What can I do?' said I. "'Is there anything I can do?' "'No, no,' said he. "'It will pass.'

Starting point is 02:50:04 I sat down by his side, hearkening dismally to the croaking of the frog. watching the somber flying bats. Suddenly there came a sound of singing. It was that magical, high, treble voice which had sung before my brother died. Thus it came small and faint, yet perfectly clear. He let his pilgrim band, in thirst and hunger, frost and fire,

Starting point is 02:50:29 into a very pleasant land, until the land of heart's desire. It affected me with a sort of awe, so that when it ceased I was as one spellbound and could not at first move or speak. What is it? said I. It came before my brother died. Aye, said Ambrose in a quaking voice. It means death. To whom? To you or me? Nay, it is too far off, said he.

Starting point is 02:50:58 Is to spirit, said I. Aye, said he getting to his feet. Let us be gone. Whither? asked I. To the cells. As we set off, I asked him why he was so much afraid at the volcano. The lad described us, said he. Did you not see it? If he told the doctor, we may say good night.

Starting point is 02:51:21 Can't we escape? said I. Escape? Said he. From this island? Why should we not abscond into the woods near to the shore and live on fruits and shellfish until we could make us a boat? And where would you voyage to in your boat? the nearest land is a hundred miles away.

Starting point is 02:51:41 We might be taken up, said I. A chance in a thousand thousands. And then by one of the doctor's ships, black, you speak as a child. Well then, said I desperately. Why should we not abscond into the woods until a ship leaves and smuggle us away on board of her and take our chance? Of being tormented to death? said Ambrose.

Starting point is 02:52:03 I could answer nothing to this, and I left that discourse to ask him. Is that lad crazy? The doctor conversed him as though he was rational. The lad is a demon or familiar of the doctor, answered Ambrose. He is, as I may say, super-rational. He hath strange powers. He can see spirits. What meant he by saying the toad was out? It makes a sort of shrieking sound, said he. What do you mean? said I. Is it a wild beast? I think it's a wild beast of hell, said he.

Starting point is 02:52:43 I know not of it. The island is full of mysteries, ask me no more questions. I am sick at heart. We went a little farther and then stomped, for a lamentable and piercing cry was lifted in the night. What is it? cried I aghast, but Ambrose answered not. The cry had sounded from in front of us.

Starting point is 02:53:05 We began to advance again, but had not gone. thirty paces when we heard a sort of gasping sound that came from the side of a thicket in our path. Hasting thither, we spied the form of a man lying huddled upon the ground. We bent over him, peering into his face. T'was ghastly white, and all twisted to one side as with strong pain. His eyes were shut. Presently they opened, glazed and staring, and we perceived that he was dead. I looked to see where he was stricken, but found no hurt upon him. "'Let us be gone,' said Ambrose, and immediately started off. He went swiftly, but retired into the inward of his mind,

Starting point is 02:53:46 so that he returned me no answer when at any time I spoke to him, nor gave any sign that he heard me. So we came at last through the second wood, to the entry of the cells, having met with no man nor with any further adventure. And indeed, what we had met with all was enough for me. Ambrose opened the great door, pressing a knob beneath the hanging creepers, and we passed in, going straightway to the cell which was allotted to me. There Ambrose set his finger to a little brass button upon the wall,

Starting point is 02:54:18 telling me that this would ring a bell in the kitchen. However, he had to ring again before a servant was summoned. At last he came rubbing his sleepy eyes. He was a short, thick, swarthy man, dressed, cleanly in a shirt and breeches of Indian cotton stuff. He wore his black mustachios long and curled "'Supper, rock!' said Ambrose, and the man made a bow to him, grinning so that his moustachios did stick up on his face like a ram's horns,

Starting point is 02:54:46 and went swiftly from the cell without opening his mouth. I asked Ambrose why the man spoke not. He told me that he could not, being a mute. I asked whether he was so born. He told me no, but that his tongue had been cut out for a punishment. End of Chapter 20 Chapter 21 of the Haunted Island by E. H. Viziac. This Librevox recordings in the public domain read by Ben Tucker.

Starting point is 02:55:20 Chapter 21. The Manuscripts I got up by times on the morrow, being awakened by Ambrose, and after breakfast set out with him for the cloisters. The secretary was very gloomy and brooded in his mind. Nothing worth remark fell out on the way. Until we came to the second wood when, pointing to the right, Ambrose said, I ought to have told you. You see that region of the wood. Tis, forbidden ground. The doctor will have none go there, and woe to the man who disobeyeth him. I may tell you, added he, that a deadly swamp is there. I was silent for a moment. Then I asked him, is nothing there besides the swamp?

Starting point is 02:56:03 I do not know, said he, looking at me strangely, and turned his head away. We came to the trapdoor in the tall grasses, and having descended and entered into the subterraneous hall, we set to work with the manuscripts. The script I had to make a fair copy of was a treatise of philosophical ideas, being disposed in many several essays. The matter was profound, the style plain and perspicuous. I took these extracts following. 1. The body is the shadow of the soul. It is but the state, or medium, whereby immature souls know and are known of one another.

Starting point is 02:56:43 They that judge after the appearance do take the creatures of the material universe for the products and progeny thereof. Yet it indeed is the product and progeny of them, if a mere shadow, which only it is, may rightly be so called. For the material universe, the sum and crisis of bodies, is the shadow cast by the spiritual universe, the sum and crisis of souls. It's a picture cast upon the curtain of the darkness, as when the sun shining through a colored casement throws a picture upon a wall, and that which doth limb out this picture of the material universe

Starting point is 02:57:23 is, as it were, the colored casement of minds and experiences. The light whereof proceedeth from the deity, wherein all live and move and have their being, wherein rather all asleep or sleeping dream or dreaming fitfully awake. Yet this aggregate of minds and experiences that casts the shadow and maketh the picture is not the reasoning nor the sensible nor the carnal part, but is that elemental region and those abysms of being plumbing deep as the souls of plants and stones and underlying in men and animals the conscious part.

Starting point is 02:58:01 As to the other regions, the provinces of human reason and feeling and contemplation, these two do picture forth. Sometimes in gleams and glimpses, they portray images of heaven, sometimes darkly and distortingly they conjure up visions of hell. Two, God is the only power, principle, and reality. All else is but emptiness and distortion and shadow. If he should withdraw himself, the universe would disappear and leave not a rack behind. The universe in sooth may be likened to a prism, having many facets revealing God. Love is the light thereof, and is gathered by affinities betwixt persons, and shineth in many colored traits. He, therefore, that loveth man with understanding also loveth God, and his love shall increase.

Starting point is 02:58:55 but he that loveth dotingly and without understanding is an idolater. And his love is like to a candle set up in a deep cavern. Presently there shall be darkness. Ambrose wrought at a manuscript of poetry which he embellished in color with strange and beautiful pictures. As he wrought, he became lost and out of himself, and if I spoke to him he was angry. I took a copy of this poem following. Once I built a palace, far from any land, far from any shipway, T'was most grim and grand. Glass I had for sunlight, colored glass for blinds, glass to garner sunshine against the wintry winds.

Starting point is 02:59:39 T'was most grim and quiet, twas most grand and free, sky-blue glass or star-blue, glass and sky and sea. Gone all gone forever, wonder homeless man. Came that crooked serpent, came Leviathan, smote my pleasure palace, whirled in flashing foam, split in stars of crystal, floor and walls and dome. Ambrose told me it was written by the doctor in his youth. Thus the morning passed, and at midday we left the cloisters to return to the cells. End of Chapter 21. Chapter 22 of the Ha. Vizziac.

Starting point is 03:00:27 Liparvox recording is in the public domain. Read by Ben Tucker. Chapter 22. The Glorious Pirate On our way as we entered the first wood, we came upon the man Barleycorn, who trimmed the path with a musheet. He was a small, hairy man,

Starting point is 03:00:45 bowed with toil and parched in the sun. He was a man of few words, as the saying is. Ambrose passed him the time of day, and he did but nod his head as he lopped off a tree-shoot. And when I asked him pleasantly if his work liked him, he merely winked at me with his eye. As we stood by him, another approached through the wood. This was a great topping pirate, dressed in sky-blue clothes, with scarlet and green feathers in his hat. He did shine all-glorious in the sun with his silver buttons, rings, pendants, bracelets, brooch, and buckle to his belt.

Starting point is 03:01:22 He came swearing as the lapels of his coat caught in the thicket, and having drawn near he dealt barley-corn a kick with his foot, asking, Why the devil he kept not a better gangway? The poor man rolled under a bush and lay rubbing himself with a rueful look on his wizened countenance. Then he got up and fell to work again, saying meekly, Never be treading on old barley-corn, mate. The poor old fellow's got his work to do.

Starting point is 03:01:48 This made me laugh, and the pirate said, "'All's well, old fellow, if this here was Port Royal, I'd physique your bruise with the right tipple, but there, it ain't. No, said Ambrose, there's no taverns here for you. I'll speak nothing against the doctor, said the pirate, but tis a thirsty soil, on thirsty toil, and I wants my tipple. Water's well enough for wild Indians, but... He broke off, fetching a deep sigh. You mean to say? began Ambrose, but the other took him up short, saying fiercely,

Starting point is 03:02:24 belay with putting words in my mouth. What I means to say, and what I don't mean to say, Ain't none of your business, but like you'll be baron tails to the doctor. Nay, said Ambrose, you should know me better than to say so. The other was as easily pacified as before he had been incensed. All's well, said he. I'll treat you too in Port Royal. How goes the work? asked Ambrose. The shipwork, cried the pirate.

Starting point is 03:02:54 Trust me not, if I ain't a dog's sick of it. the blasted work of hail and the king's ship ashore above the tide mark. Have you careened her? said Ambrose. Aye, tis done, praise the saints. What's next to do? Why haven't you heard? We're set to work with the carpenters to build another king's ship. John Rance hath his orders.

Starting point is 03:03:17 Indeed, said Ambrose, much astonished. I indeed am pretty work we're like to have with it. I marvel what the doctor hath in mind, said Ambrose. You do not know, do you? No, by St. Marta, answered he, crossing himself. The doctor's intents and purposes are above us, seaman. We aren't worth that, ink. We got our work to do, like old barley corn there.

Starting point is 03:03:39 Say, old fellow, cried he. Bring two for another kick. But the forester merely grumbled as he plied his machete further along the path. But who's this brave young gentleman? said the pirate turning to me. How do you do, mister? Holding his hand out, my name's Jack Roger. I took the great hard hand with a fit remark.

Starting point is 03:04:01 You come into the kingship, didn't you? asked he. I, said I, I thought you did, said he. Well, I must weigh. Far you whale, Mr. Clayton. Far you whale, Mr. Ambrose. And with this, doffing his hat to us, and bowing with a handsome congey, he went his way. Presently we heard him swearing as a coat caught in the thicket. End of Chapter 22 Chapter 23 of The Haunted Island By E. H. Viziac

Starting point is 03:04:37 This Librevox recording is in the public domain. Read by Ben Tucker. Chapter 23. Hey, Diddle Diddle. We came to the cells where Ambrose took me into a cell just within the passage. I was startled and stood perfectly astonished on the threshold, for the walls were all carved out in figures of beautiful sculpture. The subject was really.

Starting point is 03:05:01 religious, depicting the martyrdoms of Christian saints. But, oh, profanity, all prominent among those August visages, was the sculptured head of Dr. Copacus. Ambrose observed my admiration well-pleased, and seemed to forget his gloom. You wrought these works? I asked. I, said he, I wrought them. Tis my talent, my delight. I love beauty overmuch.

Starting point is 03:05:29 Overmuch, he added heavily. It obscures religion in me. I am taken with the shape and outward form. And yet that shape and outward form is inherent in the soul. And yet I know, thanks to the doctor, I know and understand that all is of the soul. What mean you by the soul? asked I. The soul, said he, is the all-pervading, all-constituting,

Starting point is 03:05:57 all-loving power and substance, in whom all souls do live and move and have their being. Thus spake the doctor, said I scoffing. But Ambrose answered nothing. A seer, a prophet, quoth I, a just man, and a merciful. How many thousands of poor mariners pray have this righteous preacher slain? Ambrose smote his forehead. Have a care, said he.

Starting point is 03:06:24 What did I tell you? If the doctor heard you. Oh, but you tempt me, cried I. You tempt me. What? Would you have me to believe that this pirate chief, this murderer? I broke off, for the door of the cell was thrown violently open, and there entered bursting in upon us the little lad whom we had seen near the volcano. Tera!

Starting point is 03:06:44 cried he in his shrill voice and stood stock and silent before us. I looked at Ambrose, who stared on the lad. Well, Dominique, said he in a quavering voice. The lad fell to capering about the cell. His eyes glowed like lamps, and on a sudden he cried. The mighty from their seats! The mighty from their seats! Death is a pendulum. Death is a swing.

Starting point is 03:07:06 Up, down, seesaw! It pulls down the mighty from their seats. An exalteth, the humble, and meek. The clown is up, and the king is down. Hey, dittle, dittle for king and clown. And stepping to Ambrose, he put a slip of paper in his hands. Ambrose looked on it. After twenty days, said he quietly.

Starting point is 03:07:28 After twenty days I die. I looked upon the parchment. Thereon in fierce, scrawled characters was writ. Post-Viginti dies. Why, what is this? said I. The mandate of the doctor, because I fetched not his sulfur, said Ambrose. Tira! cried the lad, and with a hop and a skip sped from the cell.

Starting point is 03:07:55 Ambrose sat silent, his haggard gaze, bent upon the floor, and I also was silent. At length he spoke. Nay, but I am wary, said he, wary of it all. Over the rocks, over the flinty rocks, have lain all the courses of my life. Always uneasy, miserable, tormented, tormented. But when the doctor revealed to me the hidden truth,

Starting point is 03:08:24 then came joy into my soul, no longer tormented with those dark, in hideous thoughts, no longer plunged in deep-down gulfs of terror and despair. Let him then kill my body, since he h h h h. I, let him kill me, for I am a wary. Awairy! End of chapter 23. Chapter 24 of the Haunted Island by E. H. Vizziac.

Starting point is 03:08:58 This Librevox recording is in the public domain. Read by Ben Tucker. Chapter 24. A curse. falls upon the wolves. I parted from him to go to my cell. Later before dusk fell I went out to take an evening jaunt, but taking myself to the cliff. At the fortifications I stood to watch divers men who cleaned the great guns.

Starting point is 03:09:22 They were Frenchmen and chattered over their work with much gesticulation. I spoke to them, but they would not be troubled with me, and returned me no answer. So I left them to go my way. I rambled on along another cliff about half an hour without observing anything remarkable, and was going about to return when, on a sudden, I heard a sound of branches shaken in a little thicket that skirted my path, and to my great joy beheld Thalas, the mosquito Indian. And for his part the faithful, affectionate creature was so rejoiced to see me that he knew not how to express it sufficiently, casting himself flat at my feet, or embracing me

Starting point is 03:10:00 with a thousand extravagant antics. Hereafter, he winded beside me along the cliff, but on a sudden he came to a stand, looking fixedly to the seaboard. He turned, and plucking my arm pointed to the horizon. I looked, straining my sight to have made out what he described, but I could not. He told me it was the topsails of a ship.

Starting point is 03:10:23 This put me in a ferment to know what manner of ship it was. A king's ship, I hoped, but doubted she would prove to be, but a vessel of the pirates returning home. However, the wind coming briskly to the shore, and the ship bearing directly in, soon I descried her. But now the shades of night began to fall so that she was no longer visible to us.

Starting point is 03:10:44 On this we turned and started back along the cliff. As we drew near to the fortifications, there came a sound of voices, and soon we beheld a gang of pirates gathered about the guns. A small man, having a scarlet feather stuck in his hat, stood a little apart from the rest. He beckoned to Thelas, who went to him. But I, bethinking me of Ambrose and of how the news of this coming of a ship might avail to distract his melancholy thoughts, determined to go to him. Accordingly, I took the path of the woods, following it to the cells.

Starting point is 03:11:18 I found the knob beneath the creepers, and tried to open the door, but I could not. Thereupon I cast about for a stone, to have knocked upon the door with it. Whilst I did so, there came the dull booming of cannonading out at sea. It cease. Then like a dread answer, the volcano roared, loud and long. Presently the cannonading began again. This made me mighty eager to learn what these cannon shots might mean. I was willing also to find out what was doing at the fortifications. Accordingly, I gave over trying to open the door and started back to the cliff, the caninating meanwhile being continued. The heavens were splendid. with the hosts of the stars.

Starting point is 03:12:01 The moon was not yet risen. I reached the outward of the wood and looked keenly forth upon the fortifications. They were full of men, and every gunner was plainly to be distinguished by a point of yellow flame that shone at the end of his linstock.

Starting point is 03:12:17 But there came no longer sound of voices, and at that I wondered until I spied the form of Dr. Copacus. He stood at the nearer end of the battery, looking out to the seaboard, and his tall, bowed figure, dressed in the scarlet robe upon which his white locks fell glistening, had an eldritch look in the starlight. I stepped boldly forth and took my station by his side. He turned on my approach, and I saw that his face was all alight with excitement, like an eager child's.

Starting point is 03:12:49 But he said not to me. I looked upon the starlit sea and was amazed. For instead of one ship, as I had expected, there were four, and three were in chase of the other. The pursuers sailed almost abreast of one another, were close upon their quarry and kept firing at her. The ships were about a mile and a half from the shore. None had any flag abroad. Thus they came on straight under the fortifications.

Starting point is 03:13:17 Suddenly the doctor turned and spoke to me. See you, my little lamb? Said he, soft and low. See you, my little lamb, pursued by wolves. not weep, doth not your heart burn within you to behold this thing? But is there none to help, must I then stand by to see my children devoured by ravenous beasts? And suddenly plucking hold on my shoulder. He turned about and strode on before the fortifications, drawing me after him. "'Oh, Benedict!' cried he to the master-gunner. "'Here's a little lad come to see our pretty things,

Starting point is 03:13:56 our wondrous toys, our pop guns. Show him how they shoot, Benedict. Let him see them hit a mark, Benedict. The small man grinned with his teeth and shouted in order. There fell a stir in business and a clang, clang, clang, metal. It ceased, and there was silence. For no sound of cannonading came from the ships at sea. The small man passed his gaze along the line.

Starting point is 03:14:23 Then, Fire! cried he. There was a sound of cannonading. a crash and a roar. To me it seemed the very earth did split and quake and stagger. Stunned I fell to the ground. The doctor himself raised me up and, See, see? cried he, pointing out beneath the lifting cannon smoke. A curse is fallen upon the wolves. They die. They die. They go down, down. There shall not a one of them escape.

Starting point is 03:14:51 The ship that had been pursued sailed slowly in. And I could see the the men crowding in the bows, waving scarfs to us, and doubtless, cheering. But of the other craft there remained but a confused rack, driving in the waves, swarmed over with struggling seamen as with rats. I turned from the spectacles sick at heart. I knew not, and I know not to this day, what the murdered men were, whether pirates or honest merchantmen, but the fact of that disaster smote upon me like a private calamity. I returned to the cells, and contriving this time to open the door, passed within, and made my way to Ambrose's chamber.

Starting point is 03:15:32 The poor man sat as I had left him, sunk into a dull dejection so that he scarce took any notice of my entering in. I told him what had befallen, but he merely said, That's the vandal, I suppose, come home. She had a stormy homecoming, then, said I. "'Aye,' said he. "'What were the other ships, I wonder?' said I. But he returned me in no answer. End of Chapter 24.

Starting point is 03:16:08 Chapter 25 of the Haunted Island by E. H. Viziac. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Read by Ben Tucker. Chapter 25. A gaudy picture in a dark frame. The common sort of pirates had their dwelling both in the cells and in a system of caves, and part natural, and part excavated out of the cliff on the further shore of the island. The doctor had both a cell and a cave, sometimes taking up his abode in one, sometimes in the other.

Starting point is 03:16:40 Adjacent to his cell was his laboratory, which was described sufficiently by the Englishman in his narrative. As concerning the caves, I was never in them, nor so much as set eyes on them in all my sojourn on the island, being kept pretty busy from day to day with Ambrose and the cloisters. On this account also, I can tell you nothing of the shipbuilding which went on at the other side of the island. But as that topping pirate told us, they built the ship on the pattern of the tiger, wherein doth appear the main of the doctor's intent in enticing us to the island. And what we overheard him say at the volcano as to the hatred he had for some nation, and his search for a combustible may hint us he designed to cruise upon that nation,

Starting point is 03:17:23 and with that combustible, when it was found, to destroy it. Further, as I surmise that nation was none other than England. But leaving this in the midst, I continue my relation. Looking down from the cliff, then, on the morning after the destruction of the four ships, as I winded with Ambrose to the cloisters, I spied the pirate ship lying at an anchor close in, and her longboat, heavy laden, was being rowed to the shore, to a point where some six or seven pirates stood ready to unlade her.

Starting point is 03:17:57 But of the shipwrax there was never a trace. Returning at midday, we fell in on the cliff with Surgeon Burke. He stood in converse with the surgeon of the pirate ship and introduced me to him. I, in return, introduced Ambrose. We might have been at a country ball. There was such a ducking and bowing and doffing of hats. When the last, Your Servant, sir, had been spoken, I asked the pirate surgeon whether his voyage had prospered. He answered grimly that they had gotten more blood than purchase,

Starting point is 03:18:27 whereupon Burke clapped him on the shoulder for a joll. "'Lolly leg and joint carver for Jack Shark.' "'But come, come, Frank,' says Burke, turning to me and croaking his arm and mine, "'come you for a jaunt with me. It's long since we had sweet converse, you and I. "'And Mr. Ambrose, I warrant will not be hard-hearted enough to withhold you.' "'Nay,' said Ambrose, "'you may take your jaunt for me.' "'You have me leave,' hereupon thrust in the pirate, "'and would have taken my other arm, but I stepped on one side and put him off,

Starting point is 03:18:58 "'whereupon he laid hold on Burke instead. Now it was evident that Burke was willing to converse me in private and wanted none of the other, yet he was so nice and genial by nature that to tell the man plainly so he would not, but must be still mincing the matter, throwing out one glancing hint or another, which upon the tough hide of the pirate proved but glancing indeed. But I who could not away with such trifling put a period to it presently. Mr. Harper, says I, for such was the pirate's name, two are company, three are none, tis an old saying,

Starting point is 03:19:30 He stared at me, then he flared up. What you mean by that, you prating fool? cried he. I mean, quoth I, since you're so dull that your room is better than your company. On that he drew his hanger and made a pass on me. But I too could sail on that course. Not for nothing had I wrought at Clayton Manor and learnt to hold a foil under one of the cunningest sorders of Italy.

Starting point is 03:19:54 I stepped swiftly aside and drew my rapier. And as sword and pirate came blundering by me, I caught the one a tricksy turn beneath the haft, so that it sped hurtling in the air, and gave the other so shrewd a taste of rapier point as set him howling. He recovered himself, and, firing off a volley of threats and imprecations at me, turned furiously and cast about for his hanger. It was fallen, however, into a cane break. We left him to fish it out as best he could, and parted from him not without laughter.

Starting point is 03:20:23 I doubted not, he wished he had his pistols. "'Twas Jolly Sport,' cried I. giving him a parting shot. Another day will to it again. And Burke, who had got over his queasiness, added, As good as quits, your faith, and bent double with a laughter fit. Indeed, we were gotten quite out of sight of the pirate, ere Burke ceased to make merry over him.

Starting point is 03:20:47 Burke was ever inclined to hilarity, but never, me thought, so high as this. As we swung along arm in arm and taking no heed of the way, he began to tell me many a merry tale and many a jolly jest. But sure his jollity was, a malignant jollity, an elf in intoxication. The island was most witchingly beautiful, the woodland being a harmony of green and gold, a checker work of mellow light and flashing arcs, whilst golden shadows waved, and jeweled moats danced in the shade of the bowering trees. Of all the merry japes that Burke told me then, but one remains in my memory,

Starting point is 03:21:24 like a gaudy picture in a dark frame. It was the last jest he was to make in this world. Did I ever tell you, Frank, said he, Of old John Ballister and the fun we had with him when I was a boy? No, well, this Ballister, you must know, was a miserly flint of a man, and, with all as guzzling and greedy as a cardinal, he contrived to stuff his paunch and husband his money-bags by quartering himself upon his acquaintances, friends he had none,

Starting point is 03:21:52 and kept flitting from one easy-going soul to another, of such as would suffer him. Of these was my father, a country doctor he, but one more busied with his garden, his plum-trees, his dahlias, his roses, than with the sick of which to speak sooth. He dealt with but a few, and of that few, near man, killed as many as he cured.

Starting point is 03:22:14 Well, on a day when Ballister was thus battening upon us, having already stayed above a month, my brother, Dirk and I resolved, by fair means or foul, to fire him out from thence. We stole into the parlour, where twas his custom of an afternoon to snore off the surface of his midday meal. There of a surety lay, John, a tonne belly of a man, a weary burden for my mother's dainty's setty. His bald paint was covered about with a crimson scarf. Lord, I can see him now.

Starting point is 03:22:44 His vast mouth sagged open like a cods. The horrible sound that issued therefrom frighted off the flies. For a space we stood, Dirk and I looking on him, then stole up and betwixt those. Covern's jaws each one after t'other did empty a black draught. We did this thing again on the next day, and on the next we gave him the equal of three black drafts. A change came over, John Ballister. He lost great part of his equanimity. He became a trouble to my father, followed him about, a consulting importunity.

Starting point is 03:23:16 My father administered unto him many various drugs. My father bled him. Meanwhile, by some device or other, contrived by Dirk and me, he never wanted for his black He had tendance enough. At last he took a notion that some one of the servants was poisoning him had his trunk packed the self-same day and departed. Burke ended with a loud laughter in which I joined.

Starting point is 03:23:43 For he had a droll-dry manner of telling a tale. Also, I had contracted this while much of his outrageous jollity. Hereafter as though spent with such laughter we fell silent. But it seemed to me that upon the wood, woods also a silence fell, and a shadow, and a fear. I looked up, but the sky was deep blue and no cloud obscured the sun. Suddenly we came to a stop. There had come a sound of singing in the woods and the voice that saying was that unearthly, magical high treble. And thus it was.

Starting point is 03:24:19 The whole heart is sick and the whole life is weary. There rides an island in the central sea. "'Lord of the island, lo the magician, "'he knows the secret, he hath the key.' "'What is that?' cried Burke. "'Where is it?' "'Hereupon he set off running in the direction "'whince the singing had appeared to come. "'I followed, but I run,

Starting point is 03:24:47 "'lurching to this side and that like a drunken man. "'We came within a thick wood, "'Suddenly I, who had taken no thought of the way hitherto, "'espied close at hand a curious triad of palm-trees, which I remembered to have seen before. I thought swiftly as I went, asking myself where I had seen those trees, and the answer was borne in upon my mind with a gush of fear.

Starting point is 03:25:08 I remarked them in my second passing with Ambrose through the second wood, and they stood in that region of the wood which he had warned me against venturing into. I hallooed de Burke, who was gotten some way in advance of me. Come back, cried I. Come back!

Starting point is 03:25:25 But too late, for having found his way obstructed by, a sort of hedge or clump of mangrove roots. He had leapt over it, and his voice came to me in a note of fear. Help! cried he. I sink! Climb the hedge! Nay, cut a stick and hold it forth to me. Haste! Haste!

Starting point is 03:25:42 I spied a strong sapling, whipped out my knife, and cut it through. With this in my hand, I mounted to a fork in the hedge, and looked over. There lay a tract of flat ground all grown over with shimmering green and yellow moss, and mottled with lichen and fungi, which, strapped. stretched away to tall reeds, and thence to woods. A mist hung over it, and a cloud of buzzing insects. On the marge stood Burke, sunk to his thighs and ooze and sinking still. His face as he turned it towards me, was drawn in gray and moist with the sweat of fear.

Starting point is 03:26:16 Staying myself upon the fork, I held the sapling forth to him. He clutched it, and I pulled away. But though I used my utmost endeavors, straining to the last bent I could not hail him out, The morass held him like a live thing Indeed my efforts did but hasten his fate For when my strength being spent I desisted It began to suck him in faster than before At length I yielded the attempt

Starting point is 03:26:43 Thereupon Burke bethought him to cast himself flat That his body might offer the greater obstruction to the swamp But it was too late He was sunk too deep At last he ceased to destroy the restructed struggle and yielded himself for lost. And conquering his terror as well as he could, he entrusted to me certain charges in respect of his wife and child to enact, if ever I should return to England. He died bravely, committing his spirit unto God. But this dreadful passage wrought a strange effect in me.

Starting point is 03:27:23 It filled me full of anger against Dr. Coppicus in all his works. As I gazed upon the morass, which lay all shimmering and steaming in the sun glare, I swore that I would bring the man to the bar of justice and judgment. I stood there in the dank wood and the dismal shade of the mangrove trees, and I raged, I a weak, futile lad, against the man whose might was like a strong tower. And suddenly, as though deriding me, the voice of the Vulcan, roared in thunder. It came into my mind that the Vulcan was a demoniac,

Starting point is 03:28:00 creature of the doctor enforcing and bodying forth his power. And on the thought, I shook my clenched fist towards the place where it stood concealed. But ah, if I had but known! It was becoming late, so I turned and set off, wending slowly and heavily to the cells. As I came forth from the wood, I spied divers of our men, gathered together and talk, lying, sprawling upon the cliff, and coasting over to the wood. to them, I sat down in the midst and began to question them upon their lot in the island, and how it liked them, for I was willing to learn whether there might be any possibility

Starting point is 03:28:40 of banding them together an adventure against the doctor. It appeared, however, that they were all well content with the new state of things, and to consort with the pirates. Nay, they looked eagerly forward to go out on the account, as the saying is, and to take part in many a brave corrals at Caracas or at Port Royal. End of Chapter 25. Chapter 26 of The Haunted Island by E. H. Viziac. This Librevox recording is in the public domain.

Starting point is 03:29:17 Read by Ben Tucker. Chapter 26. The Treasure Chamber. There passed some 16 days, in which happened nothing remarkable, nor learnt I in that time anything more of the mysteries of the island. Ambrose could or would tell me nothing. Indeed, he was become so taciturn and out of humor that scarce he spoke to me ever at all. And then came the day, when I hit upon the secret path, over the morass. That there was such a pass, and that it conducted to something remarkable I had from the first received a persuasion.

Starting point is 03:29:56 But though in several visits to the morass, I had sounded the marge of it well nigh all round, encompass about six miles, I could never come at it. And no wonder, for thus the thing was revealed to me. I had come to the place in the afternoon of that day, of a morning I still wrought in the cloisters, and was working along in a maze of mangrove trees, when close by me a young kid leaped from the wood, and went bounding along upon the morass as if upon perfectly firm ground. I was surprised, but when I thrust my stick upon the slew at the point where I thought the creature lighted,

Starting point is 03:30:33 and the ground did yield as soft as anywhere else, I stood like one perfectly dumbfounded. However, I assayed again, thrusting a little farther forth, and this time found firm, solid ground. I tried to the right hand and to the left, but in both places found swamp. Here at this very point then began the secret path across the morass. But what a piece of cunning it was, or rather perhaps how wondrous was nature's cunning heron subservient to man's. However, I stayed not to wonder, but having looked carefully round to make sure that none was near,

Starting point is 03:31:11 sprang boldly forth upon the path, and began warily to tread it, feeling out before me with my staff. It held good, and I came safe to the other side where thick fern trees grew in the skirts of woods. Setting up my staff to mark the place, I entered the woods, coming soon to a delicious little green hollow. The ground was glossy green moss, in the midst of the forest. it was all withered in a square piece. "'Oh, ho,' said I, looking on it, "'I know I think what this means, "'for I recalled the withered patch of moss above the cloisters,

Starting point is 03:31:48 "'and stooping down, I felt about the roots of it. "'It proved as I expected, "'the moss adhered to the iron lid of a trap-door. "'I found the spring and pressed it, "'and the contrivance slowly opened. "'Now, during my stay on the island I had furnished, myself with, and carried always about with me, the material for contriving matches, namely, a good length of dead cocoa fiber, steeped in oil and dried in the sun. Accordingly, having cut a

Starting point is 03:32:17 stick and broken it in twain, I bound some of my fiber about the ends of both pieces. I set one of my matches upright in the pocket of my coat, lest I should want it, and having kindled the other with my flint and steel, I held it down into the pit. The match burnt brightly, which told me the air was wholesome, so I set my foot upon the ladder within, and having the lighted match in my hand began to descend. I reached the base to find myself in a great well, or cylindrical shaft, the walls of which were clay hardened with fire. I looked for a tunnel or passage leading off from the place, but in vain. I was in the act of mounting the ladder and despair of making any discovery. when I spied a tiny knob of brass on the wall.

Starting point is 03:33:07 To this I set my finger and pressed it. Immediately a door flew open in the wall, revealing the dark-arched orifice of a passage. I ventured within. My matchlight shone flickering upon bare clay walls at first, but when I was gotten a little way, I neared dropped the torch, startled at what I suddenly beheld,

Starting point is 03:33:29 for heaped up in a medley before me was a great vast treasure. Candlesticks and flagons and jeweled sword-hilts and plate and bars of gold, half-sunk-in jewels without number and without price, some of them being set in beautiful ornaments, but the most part loose, and many uncut and unpolished as they had been taken up out of the earth. I stood at gaze whilst diamonds, opals, and emeralds,

Starting point is 03:33:57 gleamed and flashed in the matchlight, like rainbowed lightning. Suddenly a dreadful fear seized hold on me, and I dropped the match, which flickered for a moment and went out. A ghostly, clucking, laughter had sounded through the passage. For a moment there was silence while I stood quaking, and then I knew who was with me in that secret place. "'Are you then come as a robber?' came, the mocking voice of Dr. Coppicus. "'Wost, despoil me of my wretched dull, the scanty's sainty-same. and substance of my old age? What shall the young tread down the aged,

Starting point is 03:34:38 the strong and lusty trample upon the infirm? I have taken nothing, said I in a quavering voice. So, and are they worth taking, think you? I answered that it was an incalculable treasure. So, and what could it buy you? said he. "'Love, wisdom, freedom, power?' "'I replied that it could buy none of these. "'What, then, I will tell you?

Starting point is 03:35:11 "'Shadows, houses and lands, shadow, luxury, shadow, domination, shadow, shadows, shadows, shadows, shadows, "'Vanity, trouble and vexation of spirit. "'Set your heart on shadow and become shadow.' "'I tell you, my lad,' added he, with passion in his voice and deep despair. I tell you that if... He ceased, and there was silence. A hollow and throbbing silence, like the pulse of the darkness.

Starting point is 03:35:43 Then the doctor spoke again. How came you here? said he. I told him how I had found the path across the morass. It remains, said he, for you to die. And yet... He touched a knob upon the wall, and immediately my sight was dazzled with the bright white light, which flooded the passage. "'Come forth,' said the doctor.

Starting point is 03:36:12 I obeyed trembling and stood with him in the cylindrical chamber. I looked up, and the great white, rugged face came into my vision and filled it, but I could not endure his piercing gaze, which searched into my soul. "'I am not willing to have you put to death,' said he at last. Nay, look on me. Lo, your life is in my hands, and I spare it. You have transgressed my weightiest command, and I pardon you. Only swear to me that you will not divulge to any man the secret of the path,

Starting point is 03:36:46 nor throw out the slightest hint as to the treasure. I pass my word on it, said I, looking him in the face. So I will set my shining mark upon. you. He took from an inner pocket of his robe, a tiny box, wrought out of a single outch of emerald. And having opened it, he dipped his finger within, and struck it on me, from my chin and jowl round to the back of my neck. Get you gone, said he, and return no more. And he looked upon me terribly and pointed to the trap door. I stepped to the ladder and began to climb. I was amazed. My run in a whirl. The power of the man's personality overshadowed me. One thing alone I perceived,

Starting point is 03:37:36 I had found favor in his sight. But with the thought came another. I would build upon that favor to make intercession for Ambrose. I stayed my ascent and looked down. Dr. Copacus stood observing me, and there was a strange, lamentable look in his eyes. Sir, said I, I would speak with you. "'Well?' asked he as I stopped. "'Ambrose, your secretary?' I began and stuck again. "'Well?' said he. "'What of Ambrose?'

Starting point is 03:38:09 "'Spaer him.' I broke off from my heart died of the terrors of his aspect, at the fearful anger that suddenly blazed in his eyes. "'Begone!' cried he, and I threw myself up the remaining steps of the ladder, and staggered out into the wood. End of Chapter 26. Chapter 27 of the Haunted Island by E. H. Viziac.

Starting point is 03:38:41 This Librevox recording is in the public domain, read by Ben Tucker. Chapter 27. Francis finds his brother's watch. Night had fallen this while, and the hollow in the thicket was black as pitch. I groped my way forth, and coming to the verge of the swamp, searched for and found my stick that I had set up there. Hereupon I stood and looked about me, dazed and trembling. The air was thick and fetid with the mist from the swamp. The heavens were overcast with black clouds.

Starting point is 03:39:13 Two shadowy nightbirds flew continually in wavering and interlacing curves. A sort of rat-like creatures scuttled in and out of the woods. A loud screeching cry, having a strange, vicious note in it, thrust in every now and again upon the continual croaking of frogs. It was borne in upon my mind with terror that this was the voice of the toad. From the back of me came the murmuring sound of the sea. Suddenly the moon appeared betwixt ragged clouds, casting the livid light upon the misty surface of the morass, and vanished.

Starting point is 03:39:51 In the daytime, in the warmth and light of the sun, I cared little for the ghostly mysteries of the island. I said that the thing which had frighted us on the ship, the dreadful ghostly figure, had nothing spectral in it, but was contrived after some wondrous manner by Dr. Copacus. But here at night in this weird and desolate situation, my boldness proved to be but a daylight boldness. What, I ask myself, if the thing should arise before me here and now? What was that screeching cry? I took thought which way to go.

Starting point is 03:40:29 It were a drear thing to cross the morass in the dark. What then? I must at all adventures act, and act quickly, or a panic terror, would come upon me. But whilst I stood thus in doubt, the voice of the sea came to me, and turning that way I thrust desperately in amongst the woods. They were dark and dank like a cavern. Unknown creatures started at my feet, uttering weird cries. They were full of bats which fluttered about my head,

Starting point is 03:41:00 and something winged and heavy darted up from the undergrowth, and tore and bit at my face. Perchance it was but a flying fox, but I screamed with fright. I tore the thing from me and dashed myself headlong through the thick covert. You may call me a craven, but on coming forth from that wood I sobbed like a terrified child. I proceeded, wading and staggering through tall reeds matted with creepers,

Starting point is 03:41:26 "'Twas a desolate situation, and as I went staggering on through the reeds, "'I looked this way and that, fearful of beholding the face of some dreadful devil. "'It seemed to me that unearthly things did peer at me upon every side. "'I fought against the frenzy of my fear. "'Suddenly I caught the sound of a rustling in the tall grasses at the back of me. "'I drew my rapier, and stood, looking back, harkening intently, "'but could hear it no more. I strove to persuade myself that twas but an alarum of my fluttering heart, and continued on my way.

Starting point is 03:42:04 But presently it came again, and louder, doubtful no longer, but a sure token that someone or something did follow me. At last, being able no longer to endure the suspense, I turned, and casting away my stick with my drawn sword in my hand, I began to move that way. I had not gone a dozen paces, but I beheld the form of an Indian who crouched in the reeds. He had a deadly blowpipe in his hand. I was ready to have fallen upon him with my rapier, but on a sudden, seeing, I suppose, the doctor's mark upon me, he turned and betook himself off, running swiftly, and so disappeared in the darkness. In the same moment I heard something fall amongst the reeds. Stepping to the place, I sought for it and found it.

Starting point is 03:42:52 It was a gold watch, and on the back thereof was graven the arms of my house. I knew it to have been my brothers. Now, since it had been let slip by the Indian, he, it was, in all probability, who had murdered my brother, the sense whereof stirred a lust of vengeance in me, supplanting my late terror, and I would have essayed to have followed that Indian. However I soon perceived I would have been quite frustrate. Accordingly, I turned and prosecuted my way,

Starting point is 03:43:20 reaching the cliff at last and descending to the shore by way of a gully. End of Chapter 27. Chapter 28 of The Haunted Island by E.H. Viziac. This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Read by Ben Tucker. Chapter 28, The Ghost Face. The tide was at Ebb, but I walked down the shore until I could see, faint and ashen, the curled crests of the breakers and the foam.

Starting point is 03:43:55 writhing upon the sand. I began to make along to the northward. There came a flash of lightning, glimmering upon the face of the high cliff. It was followed a little after by another, a blinding flash, and so continued, intermittent. Presently a sort of hoarse, rolling sound came to me above the clamor of the breakers. It waxed louder as I proceeded, and soon I knew what it was. The sound of waters falling from a blowhole high up on the lofty cliff, But as I drew nearer, for the fourth time that night, terror laid hold on me. For as a flash of lightning fell upon the waterfall, from above it there looked forth that frightful visage, which had struck terror to the heart of every man on board the tiger.

Starting point is 03:44:43 I beheld the thing but for a moment, yet the horror of it was more than I could bear. A dizziness came over me, and I sank down in a swooned. It was early morning when I came to myself, a tumultuous. and thunderous sound was in my ears. It was the clamor of the great waterfall, joined with the roaring of the sea. A wind was sprung up, a high and rocking wind

Starting point is 03:45:06 that came in flurries, and swept round and round and in and out the bends and indentations of the cliff, to leap howling upon the giant headland. The sea, risen high upon the shore, gnashed and foamed in great breakers. But the sky was cloudless blue,

Starting point is 03:45:23 and the firmament, clear like crystal. My face was wet with the flying scud. My clothes had dried upon me. I felt fresh and vigorous, as after deep sleep. I lay recalling the grisly happenings of the night, and, on the thought of the ghost face, a shadow and a chill came over me, yea, even in the warmth and light of the sun. Yet on a sudden I took another kind of thought. Getting to my feet, I looked directly upon the cliff above the waterfall, and there was the face, I, even as I suspected. For now I knew what it really was. A sculptured face, vast and horrible, hewed out of the rock.

Starting point is 03:46:05 Yet even so, scarce I could bear to look upon it. It was vast. It was prodigious. It was a hellish thing. Never hideous gargoyle, never infernal ghost or chimera seen in dreams, looked with an aspect so frightful and malign. Who, I wondered, had conceived it, and whose hand had wrought it. And immediately I remembered those wondrous works of sculpture on the walls of Ambrose's cell. Ambrose was the man.

Starting point is 03:46:37 This then was what had scared us on board the ship, near out of our wits. And no doubt many other ships company besides. A sculptured face, the phantasm of a mind diseased, a nightmare made stone. and by the same token I perceived what we had taken for flowing white robes of the figure was nothing else but flowing water, the water falling from the blowhole beneath the visage from the high cliff. As to the illumination, that did not stumble me. I had made it my playgame often when a child to cast a light reflected on a mirror,

Starting point is 03:47:12 so an arc of the strange white light. Cast upon a mirror and reflected upon the face and falling water, might well have served to create that ghostly appearance. Footnote. How this white light was contrived I never could learn. Original footnote. Perhaps by means of a radioactive earth discovered by Dr. Copacus. End footnote.

Starting point is 03:47:38 But where was the mirror? There was a cave nearby. I stepped to it and entered in. It was deep and dark, but I felt about the walls of it, and sure enough found the mirror. It stood set up against the rock. wrapped in a canvas case. Thus then, the great mystery stood revealed.

Starting point is 03:47:55 A chance, albeit a wondrous chance, had unmasked the trickery. For if the lightning had not fallen as it did directly upon the face, and in that very moment of time, tis a thousand to one I had never seen it. For on removing a little to one side, I found that the face was no longer to be described. It was the same when I essayed the other way. The thing appeared only by direct observation.

Starting point is 03:48:20 By means of this ghostly scarecrow I apprehend Dr. Copacus had sought to preserve his island inviolate of strangers, friding away any ships save those he wanted, which happened to wander near, scattering reports and rumors of terror building on the superstitions of the sea. But why should he have employed the thing to terrify us, whom, by means of Uvery, he had enticed hither, I could not at first understand? However, casting back my thoughts upon past events, I saw the fact. In suborning ovary to the work, Dr. Copacus no doubt had given him a sign to show forth on his returning in our ship, which sign being wanting at our coming to the island.

Starting point is 03:49:05 He had been deceived as to what we were. End of Chapter 28. Chapter 29 of the Ha. Vizziac. The Slibrovoc's recording is in the public domain, read by Ben Tucker. Chapter 29. The Float. The Walking Lad. But hunger and thirst, which began to work in me, diverted my thoughts. My thirst, I quenched with a draught from the water of the cataract, though it tasted brackish. Hereupon I began to walk back along the shore towards the gully by which I had descended.

Starting point is 03:49:49 Footnote. This gully could not have been the ravine by which Clayton and Talas ascended in their shore adventure. The gully must have been farther north. End footnote. But the sun began to shine scorching hot, and I had not gone far, but I was fain to turn in to a cave to shelter from the glare. This cave was pretty deep,

Starting point is 03:50:09 and the farther parts were dark. Now by this time of my sojourn on the island, the instinct of curiosity was become habitual with me, and I prepared to search the cave, taking out my cocoa fiber to have set fire to it, with my flint and steel. But I found it would not kindle being damp. However, my sight becoming something accustomed to the dim light,

Starting point is 03:50:32 I began to rummage amongst the pieces of fallen rock that blocked the cave at the farther end. Here I came upon the end of a ship's cable, which lay coiled in a hollow place behind a boulder, twas fastened to a horse's hide. I was perplexed as to what the thing might be, but presently knew it for afloat. The horse's hide being blown up before use.

Starting point is 03:50:55 And by the same token, it's use in office and the business of scaring poor mariners. For recollecting the episode of the cut cable in the night of our coming to the island, I made small doubt that one had been sent out on the float to do the work. Footnote, the episode of the cut cable and the driving ship remains obscure. The many indrafts of water caused by the creeks and waterfalls on this side of the island, however must have occasioned many currents converging upon the shore. Accordingly the cutting of the cable or cables of a ship anchored within the current zone, the wind being subservient or neutral, would cause that ship to drive ashore.

Starting point is 03:51:34 End footnote. From the cave I made my way towards the gully, and so up to the higher land. Here were woods wherein I found a banana tree full of fruit and did eat of it very heartily. Hereupon I turned along on the summit of the summit of the land. cliffs, towards the south where the battery stood. But within half a mile from thence I heard the clamor of another cliff waterfall, and having come to the place and looking over, I beheld another great stone visage. Certainly Dr. Copacus had slipped no opportunity to fashion out his images of terror.

Starting point is 03:52:10 I laughed as I thought of it, laughed at myself, and at so many others thus befooled. We had been as birds frighted with scarecrow's. But on a sudden I became sensible that I was not alone, and looking up I spied the skeleton lad, Dominic, who had come out from a little thick wood in front of me. He came towards me, walking with a slow and dreamy motion, and as he drew near I saw that his eyes had a lifeless look, and, as it were, a film upon them.

Starting point is 03:52:39 I took the occasion to converse with him, being curious to know many things concerning him. Well, Dominic, said I pleasantly, How do you do this fine day? But he continued on his way, and did pass me by without answering or taking any notice of me. Nor indeed did he seem so much as sensible of my presence. I stood, staring angrily round upon him, thinking he affronted me. Why don't you answer me? cried I.

Starting point is 03:53:09 Are you then deaf or dumb? But he went on as before. Hereupon I called upon him to stand, and when that That also was of none effect I run and overtook him, and clutched him by the sleeve of his ragged coat. On this he started, sighed deeply and looked wildly round on me. This gave me a scare, so that I let go of his sleeve and took a step back from him. I perceived I had awakened the lad from a sort of trance. I beg your pardon, I began.

Starting point is 03:53:43 Tirillera! cried he in his shrill voice. He begs pardon of Dominic! "'You ought to beg pardon of the great magician.' "'What mean you?' asked I. "'But he stood stock still, his head fallen upon his breast, "'and when I bent forward, peering into his eyes, "'I saw that the lifeless and filmy look had returned upon them, "'and that the lad was fallen back into his strange trance.

Starting point is 03:54:09 "'Presently he stirred and began to walk on "'with the same slow and dreamy motion as before. "'I let him go his way, and went mine, End of Chapter 29 Chapter 30 of The Haunted Island by E. H. Viziac. The Slibervox Recordings in the Public Domain, read by Ben Tucker. Chapter 30 How now?

Starting point is 03:54:41 As I awoke on the morrow I felt a wait to come over me. It was the day on which, by order of the doctor, Ambrose, was to die. Nay, I could have wept to think that the poor man was already dead. I got up and, not staying for breakfast, hasted forth. I went to Ambrose's cell but found it empty, and nobody in the passage. I went out, and quickly traversed the wood. Coming forth upon the cliff I saw a strange sight. The nearer slope of the rising ground hard by the fortifications,

Starting point is 03:55:11 and a great semicircle of the ground below, was all covered with pirates standing or seated on the grass. I ran to them, and then I saw what this meant, for, in the midst, that is on the rise of the hill, stood Ambrose, and two pirates had guard over him bearing muskets. Those looking on made sport of the doomed man. "'He be gone a long voyage, sure,' said one. "'What, as Parson say, tis blast in hot in that port. Well, then boys, give him a rum-punching, can't ye, for to take along with him?'

Starting point is 03:55:48 "'Aye, aye,' said a second. there be some jolly mates yonder will be right glad aunt fire joll and bully cracker bones and bullfrog and i'll warrant they aren't hotter than we put in a third why his slope be blazing like a grill if the doctor come not soon i shall weigh what apart from old black coat returned the other why ho-ha turning to ambrose shot pass for a vicar in that gob do but troll over a little Latin, I know you can, with a Pax bobbiscom withal, and you'll make the other port. But Ambrose answered not a word, standing with folded arms and stern gaze bent on the ground. Hest, cried one on a sudden, The doctor! On this, every man got immediately to his feet. Every voice was hushed. The guards ported their muskets.

Starting point is 03:56:47 Dr. Copacus approached with slow steps. leaning upon a staff of ivory and gold. His scarlet robe and broad-brimmed hat shone glorious in the sunlight. As he drew near, I observed that every man looked this way and that but never on him. Abashed they stood, though stalwart and swarthy pirates, like a crew of chidden schoolboys. As for Ambrose, he gave no sign. The doctor regarded them with fiery eyes, and he cried fiercely, You mad-brained, lugger-headed crew, what do you hear?

Starting point is 03:57:25 May not one depart this life? Pointing to Ambrose, Without being gazed by apes? What shall I be poisoned with your pestilent breath, ye cattle? Away, away, and hide you into the woods and caves and cover you out of my sight. And on a sudden he fell upon them with his ivory stout. staff with incredible fury. Bruised and near-blinded with the thick coming blows,

Starting point is 03:57:53 those who stood within reach of them fell confusedly back, thrusting upon those behind, forcing them in upon Ambrose and the guards. The crowd swayed back and forth. Away! cried the doctor in a terrible voice, and as one man all fled. Born onward by the scurrying crew, I was halfway up the hill before ever I could recover to stand ground,

Starting point is 03:58:18 whilst the last fugitives went straggling by me. Yet three others also did there separate themselves off from the rest. They were Ambrose and the guards. The four of us winded slowly down towards the doctor. How now? said he when we were come to him. How now, Ambrose, my child. Are you ready to depart, passing through the secret door? I am ready, answered Ambrose.

Starting point is 03:58:50 So, and fain would I follow you if seeing and hearing and understanding I might go. Make ready, to the guards. Up with your muskets, and when I give ye the word, when I give ye the word, repeated he, shoot him through the head. Thereupon they set light to their matches, and removing a little way from Ambrose. Ambrose, leveled their guns upon him. His face was white like paper, but he held perfectly still and gave no sign. "'Are you ready, Ambrose?' said the doctor presently.

Starting point is 03:59:27 "'I see that you are ready. Have you nothing to ask of me? No boon.' "'Nay,' answered the other, "'for hathen outworn garment ought to ask of him who casts it away.' There was silence, and there was silence, and there Thereupon I, who had stood by until then, like one spellbound, recovered myself. I was ready to have drawn my rapier, and madly to have fallen upon the guards. But, chancing to look at Dr. Copacus, I stopped. His face was all twisted like a child that is about to burst forth into strong weeping.

Starting point is 04:00:05 It held but for a moment and passed. "'Let the man go,' said Dr. Copacus. But Ambrose sank swooning upon the grass. End of Chapter 30 Chapter 31 of the Haunted Island by E. H. Viziac. This Libravox recording is in the public domain, read by Ben Tucker. Chapter 31, neither one nor the other. That night I dreamt a monstrous dream, and it seemed to me that a ship anchored off the island on a dark midnight.

Starting point is 04:00:46 Then rose up the dreadful figure on the shore, and stretched forth an arm of stone, and with a stone hand laid hold on the ship and lifted her aloft and dropped her all shattered into the crater of the volcano. Whereupon with a blast of sulfurous fire, the ship was blown in appalling great height into the air. With that I awoke, but though the fantasy of my dream passed away, I knew as by an instinct that something monstrous had indeed happened on the island.

Starting point is 04:01:16 I felt along the wall for the little brass knob, and having found in Preston, I looked round and the lighted cell. One of the walls was rent in a long fissure. Scarce I had seen the thing, but the door was thrown violently open and Ambrose came dashing in. Clayton!

Starting point is 04:01:33 cried he terror in his staring eyes. Clayton! An earthquake, cried I. Weston, earthquake? Aye, answered he. Hase, come on! If there come another, we shall be entombed. I put on a great cloak and we hastened out.

Starting point is 04:01:50 The passage was full. of men scantily dressed, making towards the door. They cursed and swore as they shoved one another along Helter-Skelter. Ambrose and I reached the great door and in a trice stood without in the darkness of the night. T'was dark indeed. There was no moon nor stars. The air was hot and heavy and seemed to throb in our ears. Suddenly there came a jag of lightning that rent the black heaven like a scroll. And the thunder scarce had ceased to roll, but flash upon flash and jag upon jag. The lightning came continuously, as if it would seem and sear and melt the firmament. The earth did crack and crack as it came to the ground. There came a sudden, mighty flaw of wind,

Starting point is 04:02:39 and then fell the rain. It fell in flows and cataracts, crashing upon the trees of the wood like an avalanche, driving the fugitives back into the passage. Yet the outrageous tempest held not long, ceasing as suddenly as it had begun. Hereupon some were for returning to their beds, but all trembled, wavering in their minds. Ambrose and I made towards the wood, which was all shattered and tumbled together, and the path quite gone. With much ado, however, we contrive to get through it, or rather over it, for often we were obliged to climb. I am apt to think, said I as we emerged upon the cliff, that twas no earthquake, the lightning struck the place.

Starting point is 04:03:23 Nay, you are in the wrong, replied Ambrose. The earth shook, twas certainly an earthquake. It was neither one nor the other, came the voice of Dr. Copacus, who stepped suddenly into our path. I say that it was neither one nor the other, said he again. But there was no anger in his voice, nay, he smiled on us, as he added, "'Harken, my children. Come, walk with me and harken, for theirs, somewhat I'd have you to know.' So, wondering greatly, we began to walk with him alongside to the cliff. For a while we went without speech.

Starting point is 04:04:01 Then the doctor spoke again, but his voice was strange and remote, as if he spoke to himself. "'Much injustice,' said he. much contumely, much wrong, I suffered at their hands. I, a scholar such as cometh, not in many generations, a thinker compared with whom their subtlest heads were as wooden blocks, I, whose insight was piercing to the soul, they despised me, rejected me, cast me out. To destroy the nation, to destroy it root and branch,

Starting point is 04:04:38 to raise the populous cities, to blast the countryside, to find out a combustible, an explosive searching as lightning, mighty that blasting gunpowder would be compared to it but a puny breath. Such motives, such intense, became henceforth the poles and axle of my transported mind. This night, my children, turning to us, was that mighty thing discovered, and the combustion of but a grain of it wrought the convulsion that shook this island. A cockboat's burden would shake me a greater island. Thus the power is given, and the will is taken away. How is my hatred broken, dissolved and broken, like a bubble broken? My firm purpose, tempered in the fires of hell, is no more, no more!

Starting point is 04:05:33 It went from me, Ambrose, when I pardoned you on the hill. He fell silent, but we continued to pace along in the somber night. But hearken, mark me well. Ambrose, you have the keeping of my parchments. What be they? The book of science, the book of poetry, the book of life, answered Ambrose. So, therein is my wisdom stored, Therein is laid upon the efficacy of my genius.

Starting point is 04:06:03 Therein is traced and penciled out my orbit and circling all. He broke off, for there came a dreadful, subterraneous, rumbling sound. The ground did heave beneath our feet. I was thrown staggering down. The dread portent ceased. The earth fell quiet. But from a point in the interior of the island, a blast of flame belched forth into the night.

Starting point is 04:06:28 Footnote. Perhaps the explosion of the grain of the doctor's combustible, which had wrought the convulsion, had at the same time released the pent-up forces of the night. the volcano. End of footnote. End of chapter 31. Chapter 32 of the Haunted Island by E. H. Viziac.

Starting point is 04:06:53 This Libervox recording is in the public domain. Read by Ben Tucker. Chapter 32. Hell, sure. But the dread geyser gave no light, and the darkness about me was black. I could see neither the doctor nor Ambrose, and when I called to them there came no answer. Suddenly, something leaped forth from the thicket and seized hold on me. It was a man. It was the loss.

Starting point is 04:07:21 Quickly, quickly, cried he. I keep you safe. I have boat. Hereupon he began to hurry me along faster and faster. The air became sulfurous and laden with heated dust and ashes. A rumbling, low and ominous, sounded intermittently from the region of the volcano. The woods were full of the crying of terrified beasts, and presently from afar came the voices of. men. The darkness became tinged with a ruddy glow, a fierce, roaring sound arose. I looked up to

Starting point is 04:07:52 see that all about the volcano which continued to belch forth fire, the woods were kindled and roaring in a holocaust. Scouring hard behind the Indian, I presently descended with him a gully of the cliff, coming safe to the shore. There he led me to a cave wherein lay housed a little stout cockleboat, hewn all out of a great trunk tree. And the stern, was a leathern sack full of bread and a jar of water. I helped him to hail her down the narrow strip of shore. The breakers foamed and gnashed like things possessed, and now began the island to quake and to be shaken to pieces.

Starting point is 04:08:28 The cliffs split in flaws and fissures with stupendous sounds, the roar that came to us from the woodland bespoke a deluge of fire, over which, no doubt, the volcano reared high its infernal plume. Quickly, quickly! cried Thalas when the boat was gotten down. Get ye in! Get he in! Her good fine boat! No sink, no break! I'm making you! Beautiful! But you, said I, there's no room! For I perceived that the little boat would hold but one. But there came a dreadful thundering of the cliff, and fragments of rock fell about us like hail.

Starting point is 04:09:05 Lifting me bodily into the boat, Thelas launched her forward, running out through the breakers and giving her at the last a mighty impulse. I beheld for a moment his stern, hard-favored face, shining like bronze in the livid light, and saw it no more forever. Tost in the turmoil at the boiling sea, the boat blundered out beyond the breakers, vaulting nimbly over the surges. I clutched her sides, seared and scalded and near-stifled with the smoke and fiery spume and dust that blew whirling down upon me from the erupting and burning island. A giddiness came over me.

Starting point is 04:09:40 I fought against it hard, with shut eyes, bringing the whole force of my will on the resolve to endure and live. There came the sound of singing. The roar of the Holocaust in the woods was abated, the wind coming about from the sea. The cliffs for a space had ceased to thunder, and faint and small but clear and serene and bewitching sweet, there sounded that phantom voice singing.

Starting point is 04:10:05 Struck out of myself with amazement, I forgot all my peril as I listened, and thus it was. Stay not in the land of sighing, Stay not in the veil of tears, Where the phantom of the years Hants the weary and the dying, Lo the island of the holy, Are you hither presently,

Starting point is 04:10:29 From a land of melancholy, From a land of misery, Straining my eyes upon the livid, Looming cliffs, vaulted with fire, I made out a meager form standing upon the shore. As the singing ceased there came a sheet of light, a tongue of flame, that serpent-like wound coiling down, and then I saw the singer.

Starting point is 04:10:52 Twas the skeleton antic lad! For a moment the lull in the inferno storm continued. Then on a sudden there came a stupendous, loud report, and wave upon wave and sheet upon sheet, a sulphurous blue flame swept, coiling and writhing, Down the face of the cliff, down upon the little lad. It leapt upon him, it lapped him round and clinging, entwining, wraiths. It encircled his floating hair with tongues of flame.

Starting point is 04:11:21 Thus for a moment he stood transfigured, and then came the end. A giant boulder crashed from the summit of the lofty cliff headlong down, and rebounding upon a spur of rock that projected almost to the place where the lad stood, it took him upon the head and on the instant killed him. But this was a merciful thing For hard upon the falling boulder There came an avalanche, an avalanche of molten stone It roared down the cliff, it swept over the shore

Starting point is 04:11:50 At its touch the sea reared madly up in an appalling great wave Hissing out clouds of steam that veil the livid light And upon me then there had fallen a dreadful fate To be whelmed in burning lava I saw it coming the wave of torment and of death I gazed with a horrid fascination on its livid front, livid and black and shimmering like silver slime, and that instant was swollen, thousandfold with agony. In the next, by a sudden strong rebuff of the clashing seas,

Starting point is 04:12:24 my boat was jerked, slanting up, and cast upon the beakhead of the pirate bark. She had lashed away from her moorings, and unchecked by her drunken and amazed custodians had blundered round to save me. End of Chapter 32 Supplement to the Haunted Island by E.H. Vizziac. This Librevox recording is in the public domain. Read by Ben Tucker. Supplement.

Starting point is 04:12:56 The manner of my preservation from the haunted island as well as other particulars may seem to many of my readers incredible, and some perhaps will not stickle to brand the whole relation as a fabulous tale. I can only say, and I do aver it, that here In I have set down nothing but what really fell out in my experience, described nothing but what I really saw in my brief sojourn on the island, which is a misfortune one way, leaving some things inevitably obscure. As to what happened to me after my escape in the pirate bark, tis beyond the drift of my relation, since nothing further transpired concerning the island itself. Indeed, as I believe, twas not only utterly devastated by that dreadful eruption and conflagration, but sunk to the bottom of the sea. and, as one returned from those parts did tell me, there goes a rumor amongst seafaring men of an enchanted island at the bottom of the sea. Perchance it was set on foot by those pirates who escaped with me, for certainly we alone survived. I owed my preservation from their hands at first, mainly to the fact that they were always fuddled with drink.

Starting point is 04:14:04 Like a drunken ship, she drove in fair weather and foul, with only her topsails abroad. our course, if a course it can be called, being generally westward. At length after many days and when both our drink and victuals were nigh consumed, we drove blundering ashore upon an unknown and uninhabited island. This brought the pirates to their senses, and having no more drink to befuddle themselves with, they began to amend and took thought how to preserve their lives. In this time also they took a notion into their superstitious heads,

Starting point is 04:14:35 that t'was for my sake they had been morosephersonous, miraculously preserved, so that I was, as it were, the contrary to a Jonah unto them. The ship had grounded on a shoal in calm weather, and not being stuck very fast, we contrived to float her off. Having anchored her, we went all on shore, to fill our jars and to laid cocoa-nuts and plantains, and afterwards loosed to sea again, committing ourselves to the conduct of God, for there was not a navigator among us, and we had quite lost our reckoning. At length we came to another island, where we anchored again, filled our jars, and laded more cocoa nuts and plantains, and so on from island to island, sometimes suffering dreadful privations in the vast desolate sea, when we despaired in our minds of seeing land any more, sometimes at imminent peril of our lives from savages and cannibals, yet marvelously preserved until at last having wandered about for above two years, by the mercy of God we came to the island of Mindanao of the Philippine Islands, whence we stretched across to the coast of China towards the

Starting point is 04:15:43 Isle of Macau. Here was a Portuguese ship about to sail, and I went on board of her. But the pirates remained behind. From Lisbon, I got me a passage to Plymouth, and so home to Clayton Manor, where with my father the squire I dwell unto this day. End of Supplement of the Haunted Island. End of the Haunted Island by E. H. Viziac.

Classic Audiobook Collection - The Haunted Island by Edward Harold Visiak ~ Full Audiobook [adventure]

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