Reading Help DRACULA by Bram Stoker Ch.13-27
only one Black Sea bound ship go out with the tide. She is the `
` Czarina Catherine, and she sail from Doolittle's Wharf for Varna, and `
` thence to other ports and up the Danube. 'So!' said I, 'this is the `
` ship whereon is the Count.' So off we go to Doolittle's Wharf, and `
` there we find a man in an office. From him we inquire of the goings `
` of the Czarina Catherine. He swear much, and he red face and loud of `
` voice, but he good fellow all the same. And when Quincey give him `
` something from his pocket which crackle as he roll it up, and put it `
` in a so small bag which he have hid deep in his clothing, he still `
` better fellow and humble servant to us. He come with us, and ask many `
` men who are rough and hot. These be better fellows too when they have `
` been no more thirsty. They say much of blood and bloom, and of others `
` which I comprehend not, though I guess what they mean. But `
` nevertheless they tell us all things which we want to know. `
` `
` "They make known to us among them, how last afternoon at about five `
` o'clock comes a man so hurry. A tall man, thin and pale, with high `
` nose and teeth so white, and eyes that seem to be burning. That he be `
` all in black, except that he have a hat of straw which suit not him or `
` the time. That he scatter his money in making quick inquiry as to `
` what ship sails for the Black Sea and for where. Some took him to the `
` office and then to the ship, where he will not go aboard but halt at `
` shore end of gangplank, and ask that the captain come to him. The `
` captain come, when told that he will be pay well, and though he swear `
` much at the first he agree to term. Then the thin man go and some one `
` tell him where horse and cart can be hired. He go there and soon he `
` come again, himself driving cart on which a great box. This he `
` himself lift down, though it take several to put it on truck for the `
` ship. He give much talk to captain as to how and where his box is to `
` be place. But the captain like it not and swear at him in many `
` tongues, and tell him that if he like he can come and see where it `
` shall be. But he say 'no,' that he come not yet, for that he have `
` much to do. Whereupon the captain tell him that he had better be `
` quick, with blood, for that his ship will leave the place, of blood, `
` before the turn of the tide, with blood. Then the thin man smile and `
` say that of course he must go when he think fit, but he will be `
` surprise if he go quite so soon. The captain swear again, polyglot, `
` and the thin man make him bow, and thank him, and say that he will so `
` far intrude on his kindness as to come aboard before the sailing. `
` Final the captain, more red than ever, and in more tongues, tell him `
` that he doesn't want no Frenchmen, with bloom upon them and also with `
` blood, in his ship, with blood on her also. And so, after asking `
` where he might purchase ship forms, he departed. `
` `
` "No one knew where he went 'or bloomin' well cared' as they said, for `
` they had something else to think of, well with blood again. For it `
` soon became apparent to all that the Czarina Catherine would not sail `
` as was expected. A thin mist began to creep up from the river, and it `
` grew, and grew. Till soon a dense fog enveloped the ship and all `
` around her. The captain swore polyglot, very polyglot, polyglot with `
` bloom and blood, but he could do nothing. The water rose and rose, `
` and he began to fear that he would lose the tide altogether. He was `
` in no friendly mood, when just at full tide, the thin man came up the `
` gangplank again and asked to see where his box had been stowed. Then `
` the captain replied that he wished that he and his box, old and with `
` much bloom and blood, were in hell. But the thin man did not be `
` offend, and went down with the mate and saw where it was place, and `
` came up and stood awhile on deck in fog. He must have come off by `
` himself, for none notice him. Indeed they thought not of him, for `
` soon the fog begin to melt away, and all was clear again. My friends `
` of the thirst and the language that was of bloom and blood laughed, as `
` they told how the captain's swears exceeded even his usual polyglot, `
` and was more than ever full of picturesque, when on questioning other `
` mariners who were on movement up and down the river that hour, he `
` found that few of them had seen any of fog at all, except where it lay `
` round the wharf. However, the ship went out on the ebb tide, and was `
` doubtless by morning far down the river mouth. She was then, when `
` they told us, well out to sea. `
` `
` "And so, my dear Madam Mina, it is that we have to rest for a time, `
` for our enemy is on the sea, with the fog at his command, on his way `
` to the Danube mouth. To sail a ship takes time, go she never so `
` quick. And when we start to go on land more quick, and we meet him `
` there. Our best hope is to come on him when in the box between `
` sunrise and sunset. For then he can make no struggle, and we may deal `
` with him as we should. There are days for us, in which we can make `
` ready our plan. We know all about where he go. For we have seen the `
` owner of the ship, who have shown us invoices and all papers that can `
` be. The box we seek is to be landed in Varna, and to be given to an `
` agent, one Ristics who will there present his credentials. And so our `
` merchant friend will have done his part. When he ask if there be any `
` wrong, for that so, he can telegraph and have inquiry made at Varna, `
` we say 'no,' for what is to be done is not for police or of the `
` customs. It must be done by us alone and in our own way." `
` `
` When Dr. Van Helsing had done speaking, I asked him if he were certain `
` that the Count had remained on board the ship. He replied, "We have `
` the best proof of that, your own evidence, when in the hypnotic trance `
` this morning." `
` `
` I asked him again if it were really necessary that they should pursue `
` the Count, for oh! I dread Jonathan leaving me, and I know that he `
` would surely go if the others went. He answered in growing passion, `
` at first quietly. As he went on, however, he grew more angry and more `
` forceful, till in the end we could not but see wherein was at least `
` some of that personal dominance which made him so long a master `
` amongst men. `
` `
` "Yes, it is necessary, necessary, necessary! For your sake in the `
` first, and then for the sake of humanity. This monster has done much `
` harm already, in the narrow scope where he find himself, and in the `
` short time when as yet he was only as a body groping his so small `
` measure in darkness and not knowing. All this have I told these `
` others. You, my dear Madam Mina, will learn it in the phonograph of `
` my friend John, or in that of your husband. I have told them how the `
` measure of leaving his own barren land, barren of peoples, and coming `
` to a new land where life of man teems till they are like the multitude `
` of standing corn, was the work of centuries. Were another of the `
` Undead, like him, to try to do what he has done, perhaps not all the `
` centuries of the world that have been, or that will be, could aid him. `
` With this one, all the forces of nature that are occult and deep and `
` strong must have worked together in some wonderous way. The very `
` place, where he have been alive, Undead for all these centuries, is `
` full of strangeness of the geologic and chemical world. There are `
` deep caverns and fissures that reach none know whither. There have `
` been volcanoes, some of whose openings still send out waters of `
` strange properties, and gases that kill or make to vivify. Doubtless, `
` there is something magnetic or electric in some of these combinations `
` of occult forces which work for physical life in strange way, and in `
` himself were from the first some great qualities. In a hard and `
` warlike time he was celebrate that he have more iron nerve, more `
` subtle brain, more braver heart, than any man. In him some vital `
` principle have in strange way found their utmost. And as his body `
` keep strong and grow and thrive, so his brain grow too. All this `
` without that diabolic aid which is surely to him. For it have to `
` yield to the powers that come from, and are, symbolic of good. And `
` now this is what he is to us. He have infect you, oh forgive me, my `
` dear, that I must say such, but it is for good of you that I speak. He `
` infect you in such wise, that even if he do no more, you have only to `
` live, to live in your own old, sweet way, and so in time, death, which `
` is of man's common lot and with God's sanction, shall make you like to `
` him. This must not be! We have sworn together that it must not. `
` Thus are we ministers of God's own wish. That the world, and men for `
` whom His Son die, will not be given over to monsters, whose very `
` existence would defame Him. He have allowed us to redeem one soul `
` already, and we go out as the old knights of the Cross to redeem `
` more. Like them we shall travel towards the sunrise. And like them, `
` if we fall, we fall in good cause." `
` `
` He paused and I said, "But will not the Count take his rebuff wisely? `
` Since he has been driven from England, will he not avoid it, as a `
` tiger does the village from which he has been hunted?" `
` `
` "Aha!" he said, "your simile of the tiger good, for me, and I shall `
` adopt him. Your maneater, as they of India call the tiger who has `
` once tasted blood of the human, care no more for the other prey, but `
` prowl unceasing till he get him. This that we hunt from our village `
` is a tiger, too, a maneater, and he never cease to prowl. Nay, in `
` himself he is not one to retire and stay afar. In his life, his `
` living life, he go over the Turkey frontier and attack his enemy on `
` his own ground. He be beaten back, but did he stay? No! He come `
` again, and again, and again. Look at his persistence and endurance. `
` With the child-brain that was to him he have long since conceive the `
` idea of coming to a great city. What does he do? He find out the `
` place of all the world most of promise for him. Then he deliberately `
` set himself down to prepare for the task. He find in patience just `
` how is his strength, and what are his powers. He study new tongues. `
` He learn new social life, new environment of old ways, the politics, `
` the law, the finance, the science, the habit of a new land and a new `
` people who have come to be since he was. His glimpse that he have `
` had, whet his appetite only and enkeen his desire. Nay, it help him `
` to grow as to his brain. For it all prove to him how right he was at `
` the first in his surmises. He have done this alone, all alone! From `
` a ruin tomb in a forgotten land. What more may he not do when the `
` greater world of thought is open to him. He that can smile at death, `
` as we know him. Who can flourish in the midst of diseases that kill `
` off whole peoples. Oh! If such an one was to come from God, and not `
` the Devil, what a force for good might he not be in this old world of `
` ours. But we are pledged to set the world free. Our toil must be in `
` silence, and our efforts all in secret. For in this enlightened age, `
` when men believe not even what they see, the doubting of wise men `
` would be his greatest strength. It would be at once his sheath and `
` his armor, and his weapons to destroy us, his enemies, who are willing `
` to peril even our own souls for the safety of one we love. For the `
` good of mankind, and for the honour and glory of God." `
` `
` After a general discussion it was determined that for tonight nothing `
` be definitely settled. That we should all sleep on the facts, and try `
` to think out the proper conclusions. Tomorrow, at breakfast, we are `
` to meet again, and after making our conclusions known to one another, `
` we shall decide on some definite cause of action . . . `
` `
` I feel a wonderful peace and rest tonight. It is as if some haunting `
` presence were removed from me. Perhaps . . . `
` `
` My surmise was not finished, could not be, for I caught sight in the `
` mirror of the red mark upon my forehead, and I knew that I was still `
` unclean. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` DR. SEWARD'S DIARY `
` `
` 5 October.--We all arose early, and I think that sleep did much for `
` each and all of us. When we met at early breakfast there was more `
` general cheerfulness than any of us had ever expected to experience `
` again. `
` `
` It is really wonderful how much resilience there is in human nature. `
` Let any obstructing cause, no matter what, be removed in any way, even `
`
` Czarina Catherine, and she sail from Doolittle's Wharf for Varna, and `
` thence to other ports and up the Danube. 'So!' said I, 'this is the `
` ship whereon is the Count.' So off we go to Doolittle's Wharf, and `
` there we find a man in an office. From him we inquire of the goings `
` of the Czarina Catherine. He swear much, and he red face and loud of `
` voice, but he good fellow all the same. And when Quincey give him `
` something from his pocket which crackle as he roll it up, and put it `
` in a so small bag which he have hid deep in his clothing, he still `
` better fellow and humble servant to us. He come with us, and ask many `
` men who are rough and hot. These be better fellows too when they have `
` been no more thirsty. They say much of blood and bloom, and of others `
` which I comprehend not, though I guess what they mean. But `
` nevertheless they tell us all things which we want to know. `
` `
` "They make known to us among them, how last afternoon at about five `
` o'clock comes a man so hurry. A tall man, thin and pale, with high `
` nose and teeth so white, and eyes that seem to be burning. That he be `
` all in black, except that he have a hat of straw which suit not him or `
` the time. That he scatter his money in making quick inquiry as to `
` what ship sails for the Black Sea and for where. Some took him to the `
` office and then to the ship, where he will not go aboard but halt at `
` shore end of gangplank, and ask that the captain come to him. The `
` captain come, when told that he will be pay well, and though he swear `
` much at the first he agree to term. Then the thin man go and some one `
` tell him where horse and cart can be hired. He go there and soon he `
` come again, himself driving cart on which a great box. This he `
` himself lift down, though it take several to put it on truck for the `
` ship. He give much talk to captain as to how and where his box is to `
` be place. But the captain like it not and swear at him in many `
` tongues, and tell him that if he like he can come and see where it `
` shall be. But he say 'no,' that he come not yet, for that he have `
` much to do. Whereupon the captain tell him that he had better be `
` quick, with blood, for that his ship will leave the place, of blood, `
` before the turn of the tide, with blood. Then the thin man smile and `
` say that of course he must go when he think fit, but he will be `
` surprise if he go quite so soon. The captain swear again, polyglot, `
` and the thin man make him bow, and thank him, and say that he will so `
` far intrude on his kindness as to come aboard before the sailing. `
` Final the captain, more red than ever, and in more tongues, tell him `
` that he doesn't want no Frenchmen, with bloom upon them and also with `
` blood, in his ship, with blood on her also. And so, after asking `
` where he might purchase ship forms, he departed. `
` `
` "No one knew where he went 'or bloomin' well cared' as they said, for `
` they had something else to think of, well with blood again. For it `
` soon became apparent to all that the Czarina Catherine would not sail `
` as was expected. A thin mist began to creep up from the river, and it `
` grew, and grew. Till soon a dense fog enveloped the ship and all `
` around her. The captain swore polyglot, very polyglot, polyglot with `
` bloom and blood, but he could do nothing. The water rose and rose, `
` and he began to fear that he would lose the tide altogether. He was `
` in no friendly mood, when just at full tide, the thin man came up the `
` gangplank again and asked to see where his box had been stowed. Then `
` the captain replied that he wished that he and his box, old and with `
` much bloom and blood, were in hell. But the thin man did not be `
` offend, and went down with the mate and saw where it was place, and `
` came up and stood awhile on deck in fog. He must have come off by `
` himself, for none notice him. Indeed they thought not of him, for `
` soon the fog begin to melt away, and all was clear again. My friends `
` of the thirst and the language that was of bloom and blood laughed, as `
` they told how the captain's swears exceeded even his usual polyglot, `
` and was more than ever full of picturesque, when on questioning other `
` mariners who were on movement up and down the river that hour, he `
` found that few of them had seen any of fog at all, except where it lay `
` round the wharf. However, the ship went out on the ebb tide, and was `
` doubtless by morning far down the river mouth. She was then, when `
` they told us, well out to sea. `
` `
` "And so, my dear Madam Mina, it is that we have to rest for a time, `
` for our enemy is on the sea, with the fog at his command, on his way `
` to the Danube mouth. To sail a ship takes time, go she never so `
` quick. And when we start to go on land more quick, and we meet him `
` there. Our best hope is to come on him when in the box between `
` sunrise and sunset. For then he can make no struggle, and we may deal `
` with him as we should. There are days for us, in which we can make `
` ready our plan. We know all about where he go. For we have seen the `
` owner of the ship, who have shown us invoices and all papers that can `
` be. The box we seek is to be landed in Varna, and to be given to an `
` agent, one Ristics who will there present his credentials. And so our `
` merchant friend will have done his part. When he ask if there be any `
` wrong, for that so, he can telegraph and have inquiry made at Varna, `
` we say 'no,' for what is to be done is not for police or of the `
` customs. It must be done by us alone and in our own way." `
` `
` When Dr. Van Helsing had done speaking, I asked him if he were certain `
` that the Count had remained on board the ship. He replied, "We have `
` the best proof of that, your own evidence, when in the hypnotic trance `
` this morning." `
` `
` I asked him again if it were really necessary that they should pursue `
` the Count, for oh! I dread Jonathan leaving me, and I know that he `
` would surely go if the others went. He answered in growing passion, `
` at first quietly. As he went on, however, he grew more angry and more `
` forceful, till in the end we could not but see wherein was at least `
` some of that personal dominance which made him so long a master `
` amongst men. `
` `
` "Yes, it is necessary, necessary, necessary! For your sake in the `
` first, and then for the sake of humanity. This monster has done much `
` harm already, in the narrow scope where he find himself, and in the `
` short time when as yet he was only as a body groping his so small `
` measure in darkness and not knowing. All this have I told these `
` others. You, my dear Madam Mina, will learn it in the phonograph of `
` my friend John, or in that of your husband. I have told them how the `
` measure of leaving his own barren land, barren of peoples, and coming `
` to a new land where life of man teems till they are like the multitude `
` of standing corn, was the work of centuries. Were another of the `
` Undead, like him, to try to do what he has done, perhaps not all the `
` centuries of the world that have been, or that will be, could aid him. `
` With this one, all the forces of nature that are occult and deep and `
` strong must have worked together in some wonderous way. The very `
` place, where he have been alive, Undead for all these centuries, is `
` full of strangeness of the geologic and chemical world. There are `
` deep caverns and fissures that reach none know whither. There have `
` been volcanoes, some of whose openings still send out waters of `
` strange properties, and gases that kill or make to vivify. Doubtless, `
` there is something magnetic or electric in some of these combinations `
` of occult forces which work for physical life in strange way, and in `
` himself were from the first some great qualities. In a hard and `
` warlike time he was celebrate that he have more iron nerve, more `
` subtle brain, more braver heart, than any man. In him some vital `
` principle have in strange way found their utmost. And as his body `
` keep strong and grow and thrive, so his brain grow too. All this `
` without that diabolic aid which is surely to him. For it have to `
` yield to the powers that come from, and are, symbolic of good. And `
` now this is what he is to us. He have infect you, oh forgive me, my `
` dear, that I must say such, but it is for good of you that I speak. He `
` infect you in such wise, that even if he do no more, you have only to `
` live, to live in your own old, sweet way, and so in time, death, which `
` is of man's common lot and with God's sanction, shall make you like to `
` him. This must not be! We have sworn together that it must not. `
` Thus are we ministers of God's own wish. That the world, and men for `
` whom His Son die, will not be given over to monsters, whose very `
` existence would defame Him. He have allowed us to redeem one soul `
` already, and we go out as the old knights of the Cross to redeem `
` more. Like them we shall travel towards the sunrise. And like them, `
` if we fall, we fall in good cause." `
` `
` He paused and I said, "But will not the Count take his rebuff wisely? `
` Since he has been driven from England, will he not avoid it, as a `
` tiger does the village from which he has been hunted?" `
` `
` "Aha!" he said, "your simile of the tiger good, for me, and I shall `
` adopt him. Your maneater, as they of India call the tiger who has `
` once tasted blood of the human, care no more for the other prey, but `
` prowl unceasing till he get him. This that we hunt from our village `
` is a tiger, too, a maneater, and he never cease to prowl. Nay, in `
` himself he is not one to retire and stay afar. In his life, his `
` living life, he go over the Turkey frontier and attack his enemy on `
` his own ground. He be beaten back, but did he stay? No! He come `
` again, and again, and again. Look at his persistence and endurance. `
` With the child-brain that was to him he have long since conceive the `
` idea of coming to a great city. What does he do? He find out the `
` place of all the world most of promise for him. Then he deliberately `
` set himself down to prepare for the task. He find in patience just `
` how is his strength, and what are his powers. He study new tongues. `
` He learn new social life, new environment of old ways, the politics, `
` the law, the finance, the science, the habit of a new land and a new `
` people who have come to be since he was. His glimpse that he have `
` had, whet his appetite only and enkeen his desire. Nay, it help him `
` to grow as to his brain. For it all prove to him how right he was at `
` the first in his surmises. He have done this alone, all alone! From `
` a ruin tomb in a forgotten land. What more may he not do when the `
` greater world of thought is open to him. He that can smile at death, `
` as we know him. Who can flourish in the midst of diseases that kill `
` off whole peoples. Oh! If such an one was to come from God, and not `
` the Devil, what a force for good might he not be in this old world of `
` ours. But we are pledged to set the world free. Our toil must be in `
` silence, and our efforts all in secret. For in this enlightened age, `
` when men believe not even what they see, the doubting of wise men `
` would be his greatest strength. It would be at once his sheath and `
` his armor, and his weapons to destroy us, his enemies, who are willing `
` to peril even our own souls for the safety of one we love. For the `
` good of mankind, and for the honour and glory of God." `
` `
` After a general discussion it was determined that for tonight nothing `
` be definitely settled. That we should all sleep on the facts, and try `
` to think out the proper conclusions. Tomorrow, at breakfast, we are `
` to meet again, and after making our conclusions known to one another, `
` we shall decide on some definite cause of action . . . `
` `
` I feel a wonderful peace and rest tonight. It is as if some haunting `
` presence were removed from me. Perhaps . . . `
` `
` My surmise was not finished, could not be, for I caught sight in the `
` mirror of the red mark upon my forehead, and I knew that I was still `
` unclean. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` DR. SEWARD'S DIARY `
` `
` 5 October.--We all arose early, and I think that sleep did much for `
` each and all of us. When we met at early breakfast there was more `
` general cheerfulness than any of us had ever expected to experience `
` again. `
` `
` It is really wonderful how much resilience there is in human nature. `
` Let any obstructing cause, no matter what, be removed in any way, even `
`