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岩岛奇遇 An Adventure on Island Rock02（第1页）

岩岛奇遇AureonIslandRock02

Thislatterwasaremarkablylargeaifulairelybladsagacioustoanastonishingdegree。Inspeakingofhisintelligence，mywife，whoatheartwasnotalittletihsuperstitioallusiopopularnotion，whichregardedallblackcatsaswitdisguise。Notthatshewaseverseriousuponthispoint-ahematteratallforerreasonthanthatithappens，justnow，toberemembered。

Pluto-thiswastheame-etandplaymate。Ialonefedhim，aendedmewhereverIwentaboutthehouse。ItwasevenwithdiffcultythatIcouldpreventhimfromfollowihroughthestreets。

Ourfriendshiplasted，inthismanner，forseveralyears，duringwhieraltemperamentandcharacter-throughtheiyoftheFiendIntemperance-had（Iblushtofessit）experiencedaradicalalterationfrew，daybyday，moremoody，moreirritable，mardlessofthefeelingsofothers。Isufferedmyselftouseielaomywife。Atlength，Ievenofferedherpersonalvioles，ofcourse，weremadetofeelthemydisposition。Inotoill-usedthem。ForPluto，however，Istillretainedsuffitregardtorestrainmefrhim，asImadereatis，themohedog，whenbyat，haffe，theymyway。ButmydiseasegrewupodiseaseislikeAldatleo，beingold，alysomeeevish-eveoexperiesofmyilltemper。

&，returninghome，mutoxioneofmyhauntsabouttown，Ifaheypresence。Iseizedhim；when，inhisfrightatmyvioleedaslightwounduponmyhandwithhisteeth。Thefuryofademoninstantlypossessedme。Iknewmyselfninalsoulseemed，atoakeitsflightfrommybodyahanfiendishmalevolenurtured，thrilledeveryfbreofmyframe。Itookfrommyo-k，graspedthepoorbeastbythethroat，aelyeofitseyesfromthesocket！Iblush，Iburn，Ishudder，whileIpenthedamy。

Wheurhem-toffthefumesofthenightsdebauch-Iexperiehalfofhorror，halfofremorse，forthecrimeofwhichIhadbeenguilty；butitwas，atbest，afeebleandequivog，andthesoulremaiouched。Iagaioexdsoondrownedinwihedeed。

Ihecatslowlyrecovered。Thesocketofthelosteyepreseistrue，afrightfulappearahenoloosufferanypaithehouseasusual，but，asmightbeexpected，fledierroratmyapproach。Ihadsomuyoldheartleft，astrievedbythisevidehepartofacreaturewhie。Butthisfeelingsoooirritation。Andtheomyfinalandirrevocableoverthrow，thespiritofPERVERSEhisspiritphilosophytakesnoat。YetIamhatmysoullives，thanIamthatperversenessisoiveimpulsesofthehuma-oheindivisibleprimaryfaents，whichgivediretothecharaan。Whohasnot，ahuimes，foutingavileorasillya，fornootherreasonthanbecauseheknowsheshouldaperpetualin，ihofourbestjudgment，toviolatethatwhichisLaw，merelybecauseweutobesuch?Thisspiritofperverseness，Isay，yfhrow。Itwasthisunfathomablelongiovexitself-toofferviolesowfssakeonly-thaturgedmetoueandfnallytoatetheinjuryIhadiheunoffendingbrute。，incoolblood，Islippedasnegittothelimbitwiththetearsstreamingfrommyeyes，andwiththebitterestremorseatmyheart；-hungitbeewthatithadlovedme，aithadgivenmenoreasonofoffebeewthatinsodoingIwasittingasin-adeadlysinthatwouldsojeopardizemyimmortalsoulastoplaceit-ifsugwerepossible-evehereachoftheiheMostMerdMod。

Oofthedayonwhichthiscrueldeedwasdone，Iwasarousedfromsleepbythecryoffire。Theybedwereihewholehousewasblazing。Itwaswithgreatdiffcultythatmywife，aservant，andmyself，madeouresthefagratioionlete。Myentireass，andIresigheodespair。

Iamabovetheweakoestablishasequenceofdeffect，betweeeray。ButIamdetailingaoffadwishnottoleaveevenapossiblelihedaysugthefire，Ivisitedtheruins。Thewalls，withoion，hadfalleniionwasfoundinaentwall，hick，whichstoodaboutthemiddleofthehouse，andagainstwhichhadrestedtheheadofmybed。Theplasteringhadhere，imeasure，resistedtheaofthefre-afactwhichIattributedtoitshavilyspread。Aboutthiswalladensecrowdwerecolledmanypersoobeexaminingaparticularportionofitwitheverymierange！”，“singular！”andothersimilarexpressioedmycuriosity。Iapproadsaw，asifgraveninbasreliefupoesurface，thefgureofagiganticcat。Theimpressiohanaccuracytrulymarvellous。Thereeabouttheanimalsneck。

&beheldthisapparition-forIcarditasless-mywonderandmyterrorwereextreme。Butatleioomyaid。Thecat，Iremembered，hadbeenhunginagardehehouse。Uponthealarmardenhadbeeelyfilledbytheeoneofwhomtheanimalmusthavebeenthetreeandthrhanopenwindow，intomychamber。Thishadprobablybeeheviewmefromsleep。Thefallingofotherressedtheviytothesubstahefreshly-spreadplaster；thelimeofwhich，hadthenwiththefames，andtheammoniafromthecarplishedtheportraitureasIsawit。

AlthoughIthusreadilyatedtomyreason，ifomyce，forthestartlingfactjustdetailed，itdidomakeadeepimpressionuponmyfanonthsIyselfofthephantasmofthed，duriherecamebayspiritahalf-seseemed，butwasnot，remorse。Iwentsofarastretthelossoftheanimal，andtolookaboutme，amongthevilehauntswhiowhabituallyfrequented，forahesamespedofsomewhatsimilarappearahwhichtosupplyitsplace。

&asIsat，halfstupefed，inadehaninfamy，myattentionwassuddenlydrawntosomeblackupontheheadofoheimmensehogsheadsofGin，orofRum，whistitutedtheitureoftheapartment。Ihadbeenlookithetopofthishogsheadforsomeminutes，andwhatnowcausedmesurprisewasthefactthatIhadnotsooheobjectthereupon。Iapproachedit，ahmyhand。Itwasablackcat-averylargeone-fullyaslargeasPluto，andclhimioohadnotaonanyportionofhisbody；butthiscathadalarge，althoughichofwhite，earlythewhio。

Uponmytoughim，heimmediatelyarose，purredlainstmyhand，aedwithmyhen，wastheverycreatureofwhichIwasinsearch。Iatoopurchaseitofthelandlord；butthispersonmadenoclaimtoit-khingofit-hadbefore。

Iycaresses，and，wheogohome，theanimalevincedadispositiontoae。Ipermittedittodoso；oallystoopingandpattingitasIproceeded。Whehehouseitdomesticateditselfatondbecameimmediatelyagreatfavoritewithmywife。

Formyownpart，Isoonfoundadisliketwithihiswasjustthereverseofated；butIknohyitwas-itsevidentfondnessformyselfratherdisgustedandannoyed。Byslowdegrees，thesefeelingsofdisgustandaothebitterred。Iavoidedthecreature；asenseofshame，andtheremembranerdeedofcruelty，preventingmefromphysicallyabusingit。Ididnot，forsomeweeks，strike，orotherwiseviolentlyilluseit；butgradually-verygradually-Icametolookuponitwithuhing，alyfromitsodiouspresenthebreathofapestilence。

Whatadded，nodoubt，tomyhatredofthebeast，wasthedisafterIbroughtithome，that，likePluto，italsohadbeendeprivedofoseyes。Thisce，however，oomywife，who，asIhavealreadysaid，possessed，inahighdegree，thathumanityoffeelingwhimydistinguishingtrait，andthesouranyofmysimplestapleasures。

Withmyaversiontothiscat，however，itspartialityformyselfseemedtoifollowedmyfootstepsertinacitywhichitwouldbediffakethereaderprehe，itwouldeathmychair，uponmyknees，ewithitsloathsomecaresses。IfIarosetowalkitwouldgetbetweehushrowmedown，or，fasteningitslongandsharpmydress，clamber，inthismaomybreast。Atsuchtimes，althoughIlowithabloithheldfromsodoing，partlybyamemoryofmyformercrime，butchiefy-letmefessitatonce-byabsolutedreadofthebeast。

Thisdreadwaslyadreadofphysicalevil-aIshouldbeatalosshowotherwisetodef。Iamalmostashamedtoowhisfelonscell，Iamalmostashamedtoowerrorandhorrorwithwhiimalinspiredme，hadbeeehemerestchimaerasitwouldbepossibletoywifehadcalledmyattentiohahecharaarkofwhitehair，ofoken，andwhistitutedthesolevisiblediffereraheoneIhaddestroyed。Thereaderwillrememberthatthismark，althe，hadbeeninallyveryi，byslreesnearlyimperceptible，andwhichftimemyreasledtorejeciful-ithad，atlength，assumedarigorousdistiliwasionofaIshuddertoname-andforthis，aboveall，Iloathed，anddreaded，andwouldhaveridmyselfofthemonsterhadIdared-itwasnow，Isay，theimageofahideous-ofaghastlything-oftheGallows！-oh，mournfulandterribleengineofHorrorandonyah！

AndnowwasIidthewretereHumanity。A-whosefellotuouslydestroyed-abrutebeasttoworkoutforme-formeaman，fashioheimageoftheHighGod-somusufferablewo！Alas！herbydaynhtkheblessiaheformerthecreatureleftmealone；aer，Istarted，hourly，fromdreamsofuofbreathofthethinguposvastweight-ani-MarethatIhadoshakeoff-iernallyupo！

&hepressureoftormentssuchasthese，thefeebleremnahinmesuccumbed。Evilthoughtsbeates-thedarkestahoughts。Themoodinessofmyusualtemperiredofallthingsandofallmankihesudde，andungoversofafurytowhiowblindlyabandonedmyself，myunplainingwife，shewasthemostusualaientofsufferers。

Onedaysheae，uponsomehouseholderrand，iheoldbuildingwhipelledustoinhabit。Theedowairs，ahrowingmeheadloedmetomadness。Upliftinganaxe，aing，inmywrath，thechildishdreadwhichhadhithertostayedmyhand，Iaimedablowattheanimalwhich，ofcourse，rovedinstantlyfatalhaditdesdedasIwished。Butthisblowwasarrestedbythehandofmywife。Goaded，bytheiemorethandemoniacal，Iwithdrewmyarmfrraspaheaxeinherbrain。Shefelldeadupo，withoutagroan。

Thishideousmurderaplished，Isetmyselfforthwith，airedeliberatioaskofgthebody。IkIoveitfromthehouse，eitherbydayht，withouttheriskofbeiheneighbors。Maeredmymind。Atohoughtofgthetomis，aroyingthembyfre。Atanother，Iresolvedtodigagraveforitinthefloorofthecellar。Agaiedaboutgitiheyard-aboutpagitinabox，asifmerdize，withtheusualarras，aiakeitfromthehouse。FinallyIhituponwhatIsideredafarbetterexpedieherofthese。Idetermioihemonksofthemiddleagesarerecordedtohavetheirvictims。

Forapurposesuchasthisthecellarted。Itswallswerelooselystrudhadlatelybeehroughoutlaster，whichthedampheatmospherehadpreventedfr。Moreover，iheroje，causedbyafalseey，orfreplace，thathadbeenflledup，aoresembletherestofthecellar。ImadenodoubtthatIcouldreadilydisplacetheatthispoihedwallthewholeupasbefore，sothatnoeyecoulddetegsuspicious。

AndinthiscalIwasnotdeceived。Bymeansofacrow-barIeasilydislodgedthebrid，havingcarefullydepositedthebodyagainsttheinnerroppeditinthatpositiohlittletrouble，Ire-laidthewholestructureasitinallystood。Haviar，sand，andhair，witheverypossiblepre，Ipreparedaplasteroteverypossbedistiheold，andwiththisIverycarefullywehenehenIhadfsatisfedthatallwasright。Thewalldidheslightestappearanceofhaviurbed。Therubbishonthefloorickedupwiththemicare。Ilookedaroundtriumphantly，andsaidtomyself-“Hereatleast，then，mylaborhasnotbeeninvain。”

&epwastolookforthebeastwhichhadbeentheuchwretess；forIhad，atlength，frmlyresolvedtoputittodeath。HadIbeewithit，atthemoment，therecouldhavebeennodoubtofitsfate；butitappearedthattheimalhadbeeheviolenypreviousanger，aopresentitselfimood。Itisimpossibletodesagiheblissfulsenseofreliefwhichtheabseedcreatureoybosom。Itdidsappearahenight-andthusfhtatleast，sirodutothehouse，Isoundlyandtranquillyslept；sleptevenwiththeburdenofmurderuponmysoul！

Thesedthethirddaypassed，andstillmytorme。OnIbreathedasafree-maer，interror，hadfedthepremisesforever！Ishouldbeholditnomore！Myhappinessreme！Theguiltofmydarkdeeddisturbedmebutlittle。Somefewinquirieshadbeehesehadbeenreadilyanswered。Evenasearchhadbeeniofothingwastobediscovered。Ilookeduponmyfuturefelicityassecured。

Upohdayoftheassassination，apartyofthepolicecame，veryuothehouse，andproceededagaintorousiionofthepremises。Secure，however，iabilityofmyplaenoembarrassmeheofficersbademeapaheirsearch。Theyleftnonookorexplored。Atlength，forthethirdorfourthtime，theydestothecellar。Iquiverednotinamuscle。Myheartbeatcalmlyasthatofonewhoslumbersininnoce。Iwalkedtheendtoend。Ifoldedmyarmsuponmybosom，androamedeasilytoandfro。Thephlysatisfiedaleeatmyheartwasttoberestrained。Iburosayifbutoneword，bywayoftriumph，andtorenderdoublysuretheirassuranyguiltlessness。

&lemen，”Isaidatlast，asthepartyasdedthesteps，“Idelighttohaveallayedyoursuspis。Iwishyouallhealth，andalittlemorecourtesy。Bytheway，gehisisaverywellstructedhouse。”（Intherabiddesiretosaysomethingeasily，IsewwhatIutteredatall。）-“Imaysayalywellstructedhouse。Thesewalls-areyougoihesewallsaresolidlyputtogether”；ahroughthemerephreicofbravado，Irappedheavily，withaewhichIheldinmyhand，upoionofthebrick-workbehindwhichstoodthecorpseofthewifeofmybosom。

ButmayGodshieldanddelivermefromthefangsoftheArosoohereverberationofmyblowssunkihanIwasansweredbyavoiwithiomb！-byacry，atfirstmuffledahesobbingofadthenquicklyswellingintoonelong，loud，and，utterlyanomalousandinhuman-ahowl-awailingshriek，halfofhorrorandhalfoftriumph，suchasmighthavearisenonlyoutofhell，tlyfromthethroatsofthedamheiragonyahatexultiion。

Ofmyownthoughtsitisfollytospeak。Swooning，Istaggeredtotheoppositewall。Forothepartyupoairsremaiiohroughextremityofterrorahe，adozenstoutarmsweretollifellbodily。Thecreatlydedclottedwithgore，stooderectbeforetheeyesofthespectators。Upohredextehandsolitaryeyeoffire，satthehideousbeastwhosecrafthadsedutomurder，andwhvoietothehangman。Ihadwalledthemohiomb！