Reading Help DRACULA by Bram Stoker Ch.13-27
there was no distraction. For had it occurred whilst we were at a `
` station, we might not have secured the necessary calm and isolation. `
` Mrs. Harker yielded to the hypnotic influence even less readily than `
` this morning. I am in fear that her power of reading the Count's `
` sensations may die away, just when we want it most. It seems to me `
` that her imagination is beginning to work. Whilst she has been in the `
` trance hitherto she has confined herself to the simplest of facts. If `
` this goes on it may ultimately mislead us. If I thought that the `
` Count's power over her would die away equally with her power of `
` knowledge it would be a happy thought. But I am afraid that it may `
` not be so. `
` `
` When she did speak, her words were enigmatical, "Something is going `
` out. I can feel it pass me like a cold wind. I can hear, far off, `
` confused sounds, as of men talking in strange tongues, fierce falling `
` water, and the howling of wolves." She stopped and a shudder ran `
` through her, increasing in intensity for a few seconds, till at the `
` end, she shook as though in a palsy. She said no more, even in answer `
` to the Professor's imperative questioning. When she woke from the `
` trance, she was cold, and exhausted, and languid, but her mind was all `
` alert. She could not remember anything, but asked what she had said. `
` When she was told, she pondered over it deeply for a long time and in `
` silence. `
` `
` `
` 30 October, 7 A.M.--We are near Galatz now, and I may not have time to `
` write later. Sunrise this morning was anxiously looked for by us all. `
` Knowing of the increasing difficulty of procuring the hypnotic trance, `
` Van Helsing began his passes earlier than usual. They produced no `
` effect, however, until the regular time, when she yielded with a still `
` greater difficulty, only a minute before the sun rose. The Professor `
` lost no time in his questioning. `
` `
` Her answer came with equal quickness, "All is dark. I hear water `
` swirling by, level with my ears, and the creaking of wood on wood. `
` Cattle low far off. There is another sound, a queer one like . . ." `
` She stopped and grew white, and whiter still. `
` `
` "Go on, go on! Speak, I command you!" said Van Helsing in an agonized `
` voice. At the same time there was despair in his eyes, for the risen `
` sun was reddening even Mrs. Harker's pale face. She opened her eyes, `
` and we all started as she said, sweetly and seemingly with the utmost `
` unconcern. `
` `
` "Oh, Professor, why ask me to do what you know I can't? I don't `
` remember anything." Then, seeing the look of amazement on our faces, `
` she said, turning from one to the other with a troubled look, "What `
` have I said? What have I done? I know nothing, only that I was lying `
` here, half asleep, and heard you say 'go on! speak, I command you!' It `
` seemed so funny to hear you order me about, as if I were a bad child!" `
` `
` "Oh, Madam Mina," he said, sadly, "it is proof, if proof be needed, of `
` how I love and honour you, when a word for your good, spoken more `
` earnest than ever, can seem so strange because it is to order her whom `
` I am proud to obey!" `
` `
` The whistles are sounding. We are nearing Galatz. We are on fire `
` with anxiety and eagerness. `
` `
` `
` `
` MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL `
` `
` 30 October.--Mr. Morris took me to the hotel where our rooms had been `
` ordered by telegraph, he being the one who could best be spared, since `
` he does not speak any foreign language. The forces were distributed `
` much as they had been at Varna, except that Lord Godalming went to the `
` Vice Consul, as his rank might serve as an immediate guarantee of some `
` sort to the official, we being in extreme hurry. Jonathan and the two `
` doctors went to the shipping agent to learn particulars of the arrival `
` of the Czarina Catherine. `
` `
` `
` Later.--Lord Godalming has returned. The Consul is away, and the Vice `
` Consul sick. So the routine work has been attended to by a clerk. He `
` was very obliging, and offered to do anything in his power. `
` `
` `
` `
` JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL `
` `
` 30 October.--At nine o'clock Dr. Van Helsing, Dr. Seward, and I called `
` on Messrs. Mackenzie & Steinkoff, the agents of the London firm of `
` Hapgood. They had received a wire from London, in answer to Lord `
` Godalming's telegraphed request, asking them to show us any civility `
` in their power. They were more than kind and courteous, and took us `
` at once on board the Czarina Catherine, which lay at anchor out in the `
` river harbor. There we saw the Captain, Donelson by name, who told us `
` of his voyage. He said that in all his life he had never had so `
` favourable a run. `
` `
` "Man!" he said, "but it made us afeard, for we expect it that we `
` should have to pay for it wi' some rare piece o' ill luck, so as to `
` keep up the average. It's no canny to run frae London to the Black `
` Sea wi' a wind ahint ye, as though the Deil himself were blawin' on `
` yer sail for his ain purpose. An' a' the time we could no speer a `
` thing. Gin we were nigh a ship, or a port, or a headland, a fog fell `
` on us and travelled wi' us, till when after it had lifted and we `
` looked out, the deil a thing could we see. We ran by Gibraltar wi' `
` oot bein' able to signal. An' til we came to the Dardanelles and had `
` to wait to get our permit to pass, we never were within hail o' `
` aught. At first I inclined to slack off sail and beat about till the `
` fog was lifted. But whiles, I thocht that if the Deil was minded to `
` get us into the Black Sea quick, he was like to do it whether we would `
` or no. If we had a quick voyage it would be no to our miscredit `
` wi' the owners, or no hurt to our traffic, an' the Old Mon who had `
` served his ain purpose wad be decently grateful to us for no hinderin' `
` him." `
` `
` This mixture of simplicity and cunning, of superstition and commercial `
` reasoning, aroused Van Helsing, who said, "Mine friend, that Devil is `
` more clever than he is thought by some, and he know when he meet his `
` match!" `
` `
` The skipper was not displeased with the compliment, and went on, "When `
` we got past the Bosphorus the men began to grumble. Some o' them, the `
` Roumanians, came and asked me to heave overboard a big box which had `
` been put on board by a queer lookin' old man just before we had `
` started frae London. I had seen them speer at the fellow, and put out `
` their twa fingers when they saw him, to guard them against the evil `
` eye. Man! but the supersteetion of foreigners is pairfectly `
` rideeculous! I sent them aboot their business pretty quick, but as `
` just after a fog closed in on us I felt a wee bit as they did anent `
` something, though I wouldn't say it was again the big box. Well, on `
` we went, and as the fog didn't let up for five days I joost let the `
` wind carry us, for if the Deil wanted to get somewheres, well, he `
` would fetch it up a'reet. An' if he didn't, well, we'd keep a sharp `
` lookout anyhow. Sure eneuch, we had a fair way and deep water all the `
` time. And two days ago, when the mornin' sun came through the fog, we `
` found ourselves just in the river opposite Galatz. The Roumanians `
` were wild, and wanted me right or wrong to take out the box and fling `
` it in the river. I had to argy wi' them aboot it wi' a handspike. An' `
` when the last o' them rose off the deck wi' his head in his hand, I `
` had convinced them that, evil eye or no evil eye, the property and the `
` trust of my owners were better in my hands than in the river Danube. `
` They had, mind ye, taken the box on the deck ready to fling in, and as `
` it was marked Galatz via Varna, I thocht I'd let it lie till we `
` discharged in the port an' get rid o't althegither. We didn't do much `
` clearin' that day, an' had to remain the nicht at anchor. But in the `
` mornin', braw an' airly, an hour before sunup, a man came aboard wi' `
` an order, written to him from England, to receive a box marked for one `
` Count Dracula. Sure eneuch the matter was one ready to his hand. He `
` had his papers a' reet, an' glad I was to be rid o' the dam' thing, `
` for I was beginnin' masel' to feel uneasy at it. If the Deil did have `
` any luggage aboord the ship, I'm thinkin' it was nane ither than that `
` same!" `
` `
` "What was the name of the man who took it?" asked Dr. Van Helsing with `
` restrained eagerness. `
` `
` "I'll be tellin' ye quick!" he answered, and stepping down to his `
` cabin, produced a receipt signed "Immanuel Hildesheim." Burgen-strasse `
` 16 was the address. We found out that this was all the Captain knew, `
` so with thanks we came away. `
` `
` We found Hildesheim in his office, a Hebrew of rather the Adelphi `
` Theatre type, with a nose like a sheep, and a fez. His arguments were `
` pointed with specie, we doing the punctuation, and with a little `
` bargaining he told us what he knew. This turned out to be simple but `
` important. He had received a letter from Mr. de Ville of London, `
` telling him to receive, if possible before sunrise so as to avoid `
` customs, a box which would arrive at Galatz in the Czarina Catherine. `
` This he was to give in charge to a certain Petrof Skinsky, who dealt `
` with the Slovaks who traded down the river to the port. He had been `
` paid for his work by an English bank note, which had been duly cashed `
` for gold at the Danube International Bank. When Skinsky had come to `
` him, he had taken him to the ship and handed over the box, so as to `
` save porterage. That was all he knew. `
` `
` We then sought for Skinsky, but were unable to find him. One of his `
` neighbors, who did not seem to bear him any affection, said that he `
` had gone away two days before, no one knew whither. This was `
` corroborated by his landlord, who had received by messenger the key of `
` the house together with the rent due, in English money. This had been `
` between ten and eleven o'clock last night. We were at a standstill `
` again. `
` `
` Whilst we were talking one came running and breathlessly gasped out `
` that the body of Skinsky had been found inside the wall of the `
` churchyard of St. Peter, and that the throat had been torn open as if `
` by some wild animal. Those we had been speaking with ran off to see `
` the horror, the women crying out. "This is the work of a Slovak!" We `
` hurried away lest we should have been in some way drawn into the `
` affair, and so detained. `
` `
` As we came home we could arrive at no definite conclusion. We were `
` all convinced that the box was on its way, by water, to somewhere, but `
` where that might be we would have to discover. With heavy hearts we `
` came home to the hotel to Mina. `
` `
` When we met together, the first thing was to consult as to taking Mina `
` again into our confidence. Things are getting desperate, and it is at `
` least a chance, though a hazardous one. As a preliminary step, I was `
` released from my promise to her. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL `
` `
`
` station, we might not have secured the necessary calm and isolation. `
` Mrs. Harker yielded to the hypnotic influence even less readily than `
` this morning. I am in fear that her power of reading the Count's `
` sensations may die away, just when we want it most. It seems to me `
` that her imagination is beginning to work. Whilst she has been in the `
` trance hitherto she has confined herself to the simplest of facts. If `
` this goes on it may ultimately mislead us. If I thought that the `
` Count's power over her would die away equally with her power of `
` knowledge it would be a happy thought. But I am afraid that it may `
` not be so. `
` `
` When she did speak, her words were enigmatical, "Something is going `
` out. I can feel it pass me like a cold wind. I can hear, far off, `
` confused sounds, as of men talking in strange tongues, fierce falling `
` water, and the howling of wolves." She stopped and a shudder ran `
` through her, increasing in intensity for a few seconds, till at the `
` end, she shook as though in a palsy. She said no more, even in answer `
` to the Professor's imperative questioning. When she woke from the `
` trance, she was cold, and exhausted, and languid, but her mind was all `
` alert. She could not remember anything, but asked what she had said. `
` When she was told, she pondered over it deeply for a long time and in `
` silence. `
` `
` `
` 30 October, 7 A.M.--We are near Galatz now, and I may not have time to `
` write later. Sunrise this morning was anxiously looked for by us all. `
` Knowing of the increasing difficulty of procuring the hypnotic trance, `
` Van Helsing began his passes earlier than usual. They produced no `
` effect, however, until the regular time, when she yielded with a still `
` greater difficulty, only a minute before the sun rose. The Professor `
` lost no time in his questioning. `
` `
` Her answer came with equal quickness, "All is dark. I hear water `
` swirling by, level with my ears, and the creaking of wood on wood. `
` Cattle low far off. There is another sound, a queer one like . . ." `
` She stopped and grew white, and whiter still. `
` `
` "Go on, go on! Speak, I command you!" said Van Helsing in an agonized `
` voice. At the same time there was despair in his eyes, for the risen `
` sun was reddening even Mrs. Harker's pale face. She opened her eyes, `
` and we all started as she said, sweetly and seemingly with the utmost `
` unconcern. `
` `
` "Oh, Professor, why ask me to do what you know I can't? I don't `
` remember anything." Then, seeing the look of amazement on our faces, `
` she said, turning from one to the other with a troubled look, "What `
` have I said? What have I done? I know nothing, only that I was lying `
` here, half asleep, and heard you say 'go on! speak, I command you!' It `
` seemed so funny to hear you order me about, as if I were a bad child!" `
` `
` "Oh, Madam Mina," he said, sadly, "it is proof, if proof be needed, of `
` how I love and honour you, when a word for your good, spoken more `
` earnest than ever, can seem so strange because it is to order her whom `
` I am proud to obey!" `
` `
` The whistles are sounding. We are nearing Galatz. We are on fire `
` with anxiety and eagerness. `
` `
` `
` `
` MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL `
` `
` 30 October.--Mr. Morris took me to the hotel where our rooms had been `
` ordered by telegraph, he being the one who could best be spared, since `
` he does not speak any foreign language. The forces were distributed `
` much as they had been at Varna, except that Lord Godalming went to the `
` Vice Consul, as his rank might serve as an immediate guarantee of some `
` sort to the official, we being in extreme hurry. Jonathan and the two `
` doctors went to the shipping agent to learn particulars of the arrival `
` of the Czarina Catherine. `
` `
` `
` Later.--Lord Godalming has returned. The Consul is away, and the Vice `
` Consul sick. So the routine work has been attended to by a clerk. He `
` was very obliging, and offered to do anything in his power. `
` `
` `
` `
` JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL `
` `
` 30 October.--At nine o'clock Dr. Van Helsing, Dr. Seward, and I called `
` on Messrs. Mackenzie & Steinkoff, the agents of the London firm of `
` Hapgood. They had received a wire from London, in answer to Lord `
` Godalming's telegraphed request, asking them to show us any civility `
` in their power. They were more than kind and courteous, and took us `
` at once on board the Czarina Catherine, which lay at anchor out in the `
` river harbor. There we saw the Captain, Donelson by name, who told us `
` of his voyage. He said that in all his life he had never had so `
` favourable a run. `
` `
` "Man!" he said, "but it made us afeard, for we expect it that we `
` should have to pay for it wi' some rare piece o' ill luck, so as to `
` keep up the average. It's no canny to run frae London to the Black `
` Sea wi' a wind ahint ye, as though the Deil himself were blawin' on `
` yer sail for his ain purpose. An' a' the time we could no speer a `
` thing. Gin we were nigh a ship, or a port, or a headland, a fog fell `
` on us and travelled wi' us, till when after it had lifted and we `
` looked out, the deil a thing could we see. We ran by Gibraltar wi' `
` oot bein' able to signal. An' til we came to the Dardanelles and had `
` to wait to get our permit to pass, we never were within hail o' `
` aught. At first I inclined to slack off sail and beat about till the `
` fog was lifted. But whiles, I thocht that if the Deil was minded to `
` get us into the Black Sea quick, he was like to do it whether we would `
` or no. If we had a quick voyage it would be no to our miscredit `
` wi' the owners, or no hurt to our traffic, an' the Old Mon who had `
` served his ain purpose wad be decently grateful to us for no hinderin' `
` him." `
` `
` This mixture of simplicity and cunning, of superstition and commercial `
` reasoning, aroused Van Helsing, who said, "Mine friend, that Devil is `
` more clever than he is thought by some, and he know when he meet his `
` match!" `
` `
` The skipper was not displeased with the compliment, and went on, "When `
` we got past the Bosphorus the men began to grumble. Some o' them, the `
` Roumanians, came and asked me to heave overboard a big box which had `
` been put on board by a queer lookin' old man just before we had `
` started frae London. I had seen them speer at the fellow, and put out `
` their twa fingers when they saw him, to guard them against the evil `
` eye. Man! but the supersteetion of foreigners is pairfectly `
` rideeculous! I sent them aboot their business pretty quick, but as `
` just after a fog closed in on us I felt a wee bit as they did anent `
` something, though I wouldn't say it was again the big box. Well, on `
` we went, and as the fog didn't let up for five days I joost let the `
` wind carry us, for if the Deil wanted to get somewheres, well, he `
` would fetch it up a'reet. An' if he didn't, well, we'd keep a sharp `
` lookout anyhow. Sure eneuch, we had a fair way and deep water all the `
` time. And two days ago, when the mornin' sun came through the fog, we `
` found ourselves just in the river opposite Galatz. The Roumanians `
` were wild, and wanted me right or wrong to take out the box and fling `
` it in the river. I had to argy wi' them aboot it wi' a handspike. An' `
` when the last o' them rose off the deck wi' his head in his hand, I `
` had convinced them that, evil eye or no evil eye, the property and the `
` trust of my owners were better in my hands than in the river Danube. `
` They had, mind ye, taken the box on the deck ready to fling in, and as `
` it was marked Galatz via Varna, I thocht I'd let it lie till we `
` discharged in the port an' get rid o't althegither. We didn't do much `
` clearin' that day, an' had to remain the nicht at anchor. But in the `
` mornin', braw an' airly, an hour before sunup, a man came aboard wi' `
` an order, written to him from England, to receive a box marked for one `
` Count Dracula. Sure eneuch the matter was one ready to his hand. He `
` had his papers a' reet, an' glad I was to be rid o' the dam' thing, `
` for I was beginnin' masel' to feel uneasy at it. If the Deil did have `
` any luggage aboord the ship, I'm thinkin' it was nane ither than that `
` same!" `
` `
` "What was the name of the man who took it?" asked Dr. Van Helsing with `
` restrained eagerness. `
` `
` "I'll be tellin' ye quick!" he answered, and stepping down to his `
` cabin, produced a receipt signed "Immanuel Hildesheim." Burgen-strasse `
` 16 was the address. We found out that this was all the Captain knew, `
` so with thanks we came away. `
` `
` We found Hildesheim in his office, a Hebrew of rather the Adelphi `
` Theatre type, with a nose like a sheep, and a fez. His arguments were `
` pointed with specie, we doing the punctuation, and with a little `
` bargaining he told us what he knew. This turned out to be simple but `
` important. He had received a letter from Mr. de Ville of London, `
` telling him to receive, if possible before sunrise so as to avoid `
` customs, a box which would arrive at Galatz in the Czarina Catherine. `
` This he was to give in charge to a certain Petrof Skinsky, who dealt `
` with the Slovaks who traded down the river to the port. He had been `
` paid for his work by an English bank note, which had been duly cashed `
` for gold at the Danube International Bank. When Skinsky had come to `
` him, he had taken him to the ship and handed over the box, so as to `
` save porterage. That was all he knew. `
` `
` We then sought for Skinsky, but were unable to find him. One of his `
` neighbors, who did not seem to bear him any affection, said that he `
` had gone away two days before, no one knew whither. This was `
` corroborated by his landlord, who had received by messenger the key of `
` the house together with the rent due, in English money. This had been `
` between ten and eleven o'clock last night. We were at a standstill `
` again. `
` `
` Whilst we were talking one came running and breathlessly gasped out `
` that the body of Skinsky had been found inside the wall of the `
` churchyard of St. Peter, and that the throat had been torn open as if `
` by some wild animal. Those we had been speaking with ran off to see `
` the horror, the women crying out. "This is the work of a Slovak!" We `
` hurried away lest we should have been in some way drawn into the `
` affair, and so detained. `
` `
` As we came home we could arrive at no definite conclusion. We were `
` all convinced that the box was on its way, by water, to somewhere, but `
` where that might be we would have to discover. With heavy hearts we `
` came home to the hotel to Mina. `
` `
` When we met together, the first thing was to consult as to taking Mina `
` again into our confidence. Things are getting desperate, and it is at `
` least a chance, though a hazardous one. As a preliminary step, I was `
` released from my promise to her. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL `
` `
`