14 THE OCTOPUS, 



some weeping for sorrow, and all regarding him as an hero, and 

 the most honest man that ever sailed the seas. Here, then, was 

 Clubin, alone in the very position he desired, with 75,000 francs 

 in his pocket, and having succeeded, whilst perpetrating all his 

 villany, in gaining, instead of losing, the esteem of his fellow-men. 

 He would give the over-crowded boat time to get away — to be 

 lost, perhaps, Avith all on board. The short mile to the shore 

 would be nothing for a swimmer like him to traverse ; he would 

 soon gain the land, conceal himself for a time, and then quit the 

 neighbourhood ; whilst he would be supposed to be dead, and would 

 leave an honoured name behind him. He waited, and exulted 

 over his success. Suddenly, through a rift in the fog, a huge 

 object attracted his horrified gaze. He had been deceived in his 

 position. Instead of having run the " Durande " on the Hanois, 

 before him was the formidable " Rocher Douvres " — the " Man- 

 Rock." Hideous and instant is the change in his condition — 

 five leagues of sea, instead of one mile, between him and the 

 main ! To swim that distance is impossible ; he can never reach 

 the land. Death from cold and hunger stare him in the face. 

 His 75,000 francs will not here purchase him a crust of bread. 

 His only hope now lies in his being seen by some passing ship, 

 and eagerly he looks to seaward. A sail appears — approaches — 

 the vessel is a cutter. But those on board will never see him 

 where he stands. If he can but reach the rock he will no doubt 

 be perceived. There is not a minute to lose ; he will try ; two 

 hundred strokes will do it, and he will be saved. He throws 

 off all his clothes, buckles around his naked body the leather 

 belt in which is the tobacco-box containing the notes, and 

 plunges into the sea. He touches the bottom, grazes for a 

 moment the side of a submerged rock, then makes an effort to 

 rise to the surface. At this instant he feels himself seized by 

 the foot. 



In this horrible situation the author leaves him for a time, and 

 follows the course of events on the island which the miserable 



