It　would　seem　that　this　man　and　woman　had　arrived　here　from　opposite
  directions；　in　hope　of　catching　a　glimpse　of　one　another；　across　the　arm
  of　the　sea　dividing　the　two　worldsthe　Old　and　the　New。
  More　strange　still！　the　man　and　the　woman　have　crossed　the　solitudes
  during　a　terrific　storm！　　Black　pines；　the　growth　of　centuries；　pointing
  their　bent　heads　in　different　parts　of　the　solitude　like　crosses　in　a
  churchyard；　have　been　uprooted；　rent；　and　hurled　aside　by　the　blasts！
  Yet　the　two　travellers　face　this　furious　tempest；　which　has　plucked　up
  trees；　and　pounded　the　frozen　masses　into　splinters；　with　the　roar　of
  thunder。
  They　face　it；　without　for　one　single　instant　deviating　from　the　straight
  line　hitherto　followed　by　them。
  Who　then　are　these　two　beings　who　advance　thus　calmly　amidst　the　storms
  and　convulsions　of　nature？
  Is　it　by　chance；　or　design；　or　destiny；　that　the　seven　nails　in　the　sole
  of　the　man's　shoe　form　a　crossthus：
  *
  ***
  *
  *
  *
  Everywhere　he　leaves　this　impress　behind　him。
  On　the　smooth　and　polished　snow；　these　footmarks　seem　imprinted　by　a　foot
  of　brass　on　a　marble　floor。
  Night　without　twilight　has　soon　succeeded　daya　night　of　foreboding
  gloom。
  The　brilliant　reflection　of　the　snow　renders　the　white　steppes　still
  visible　beneath　the　azure　darkness　of　the　sky；　and　the　pale　stars　glimmer
  on　the　obscure　and　frozen　dome。
  Solemn　silence　reigns。
  But；　towards　the　Straits；　a　faint　light　appears。
  At　first；　a　gentle；　bluish　light；　such　as　precedes　moonrise；　it　increases
  in　brightness；　and　assumes　a　ruddy　hue。
  Darkness　thickens　in　every　other　direction；　the　white　wilds　of　the　desert
  are　now　scarcely　visible　under　the　black　vault　of　the　firmament。
  Strange　and　confused　noises　are　heard　amidst　this　obscurity。
  They　sound　like　the　flight　of　large　nightbirdsnow　flapping　now
  heavily　skimming　over　the　steppes…now　descending。
  But　no　cry　is　heard。
  This　silent　terror　heralds　the　approach　of　one　of　those　imposing
  phenomena　that　awe　alike　the　most　ferocious　and　the　most　harmless；　of
  animated　beings。　　An　Aurora　Borealis　（magnificent　sight！）　common　in　the
  polar　regions；　suddenly　beams　forth。
  A　half　circle　of　dazzling　whiteness　becomes　visible　in　the　horizon。
  Immense　columns　of　light　stream　forth　from　this　dazzling　centre；　rising
  to　a　great　height；　illuminating　earth；　sea；　and　sky。　　Then　a　brilliant
  reflection；　like　the　blaze　of　a　conflagration；　steals　over　the　snow　of
  the　desert；　purples　the　summits　of　the　mountains　of　ice；　and　imparts　a
  dark　red　hue　to　the　black　rocks　of　both　continents。
  After　attaining　this　magnificent　brilliancy；　the　Northern　Lights　fade
  away　gradually；　and　their　vivid　glow　is　lost　in　a　luminous　fog。
  Just　then；　by　a　wondrous　mirage　an　effect　very　common　in　high　latitudes；
  the　American　Coast；　though　separated　from　Siberia　by　a　broad　arm　of　the
  sea；　loomed　so　close　that　a　bridge　might　seemingly　be　thrown　from　one
  world　to　other。
  Then　human　forms　appeared　in　the　transparent　azure　haze　overspreading
  both　forelands。
  On　the　Siberian　Cape；　a　man　on　his　knees；　stretched　his　arms　towards
  America；　with　an　expression　of　inconceivable　despair。
  On　the　American　promontory；　a　young　and　handsome　woman　replied　to　the
  man's　despairing　gesture　by　pointing　to　heaven。
  For　some　seconds；　these　two　tall　figures　stood　out；　pale　and　shadowy；　in
  the　farewell　gleams　of　the　Aurora。
  But　the　fog　thickens；　and　all　is　lost　in　the　darkness。
  Whence　came　the　two　beings；　who　met　thus　amidst　polar　glaciers；　at　the
  extremities　of　the　Old　and　New　worlds？
  Who　were　the　two　creatures；　brought　near　for　a　moment　by　a　deceitful
  mirage；　but　who　seemed　eternally　separated？
  CHAPTER　I。
  MOROK。
  The　month　of　October；　1831；　draws　to　its　close。
  Though　it　is　still　day；　a　brass　lamp；　with　four　burners；　illumines　the
  cracked　walls　of　a　large　loft；　whose　solitary　window　is　closed　against
  outer　light。　　A　ladder；　with　its　top　rungs　coming　up　through　an　open　trap
  leads　to　it。
  Here　and　there　at　random　on　the　floor　lie　iron　chains；　spiked　collars；
  saw…toothed　snaffles；　muzzles　bristling　with　nails；　and　long　iron　rods
  set　in　wooden　handles。　　In　one　corner　stands　a　portable　furnace；　such　as
  tinkers　use　to　melt　their　spelter；　charcoal　and　dry　chips　fill　it；　so
  that　a　spark　would　suffice　to　kindle　this　furnace　in　a　minute。
  Not　far　from　this　collection　of　ugly　instruments；　putting　one　in　mind　of
  a　torturer's　kit　of　tools；　there　are　some　articles　of　defence　and　offence
  of　a　bygone　age。　　A　coat　of　mail；　with　links　so　flexible；　close；　and
  light；　that　it　resembles　steel　tissue；　hangs　from　a　box　beside　iron
  cuishes　and　arm…pieces；　in　good　condition；　even　to　being　properly　fitted
  with　straps。　　A　mace；　and　two　long　three…cornered…headed　pikes；　with　ash
  handles；　strong；　and　light　at　the　same　time；　spotted　with　lately…shed
  blood；　complete　the　armory；　modernized　somewhat　by　the　presence　of　two
  Tyrolese　rifles；　loaded　and　primed。
  Along　with　this　arsenal　of　murderous　weapons　and　out…of…date　instruments；
  is　strangely　mingled　a　collection　of　very　different　objects；　being　small
  glass…lidded　boxes；　full　of　rosaries；　chaplets；　medals；　AGNUS　DEI；　holy…
  water　bottles；　framed　pictures　of　saints；　etc。；　not　to　forget　a　goodly
  number　of　those　chapbooks；　struck　off　in　Friburg　on　coarse　bluish　paper；
  in　which　you　can　hear　about　miracles　of　our　own　time；　or　〃Jesus　Christ's
  Letter　to　a　true　believer；〃　containing　awful　predictions；　as　for　the
  years　1831　and　'32；　about　impious　revolutionary　France。
  One　of　those　canvas　daubs；　with　which　strolling　showmen　adorn　their
  booths；　hangs　from　a　rafter；　no　doubt　to　prevent　its　being　spoilt　by　too
  long　rolling　up。　　It　bore　the　following　legend：
  〃THE　DOWNRIGHT　TRUE　AND　MOST　MEMORABLE　CONVERSION　OF　IGNATIUS　MOROK；
  KNOWN　AS　THE　PROPHET；　HAPPENING　IN　FRIBURG；　1828TH　YEAR　OF　GRACE。〃
  This　picture；　of　a　size　larger　than　natural；　of　gaudy　color；　and　in　bad
  taste；　is　divided　into　three　parts；　each　presenting　an　important　phase
  in　the　life　of　the　convert；　surnamed　〃The　Prophet。〃　　In　the　first；
  behold　a　long…bearded　man；　the　hair　almost　white；　with　uncouth　face；　and
  clad　in　reindeer　skin；　like　the　Siberian　savage。　　His　black　foreskin　cap
  is　topped　with　a　raven's　head；　his　features　express　terror。　　Bent
  forward　in　his　sledge；　which　half…a…dozen　huge　tawny　dogs　draw　over　the
  snow；　he　is　fleeing　from　the　pursuit　of　a　pack　of　foxes；　wolves；　and　big
  bears；　whose　gaping　jaws；　and　formidable　teeth；　seem　quite　capable　of
  devouring　man；　sledge；　and　dogs；　a　hundred　times　over。　　Beneath　this
  section；　reads：
  〃IN　1810；　MOROK；　THE　IDOLATER；　FLED　FROM　WILD　BEASTS。〃
  In　the　second　picture；　Morok；　decently　clad　in　a　catechumen's　white　gown
  kneels；　with　clasped　hands；　to　a　man　who　wears　a　white　neckcloth；　and
  flowing　black　robe。　　In　a　corner；　a　tall　angel；　of　repulsive　aspect；
  holds　a　trumpet　in　one　hand；　and　flourishes　a　flaming　sword　with　the
  other；　while　the　words　which　follow　flow　out　of　his　mouth；　in　red
  letters　on　a　black　ground：
  〃MOROK；　THE　IDOLATER；　FLED　FROM　WILD　BEASTS；　BUT　WILD　BEASTS　WILL　FLEE
  FROM　IGNATIUS　MOROK；　CONVERTED　AND　BAPTIZED　IN　FRIBURG。〃
  Thus；　in　the　last　compartment；　the　new　convert　proudly；　boastfully；　and
  triumphantly　parades　himself　in　a　flowing　robe　of　blue；　head　up；　left
  arm　akimbo；　right　hand　outstretched；　he　seems　to　scare　the　wits　out　of　a
  multitude　of　lions；　tigers；　hyenas；　and　bears；　who；　with　sheathed　claws；
  and　masked　teeth；　crouch　at　his　feet；　awestricken；　and　submissive。
  Under　this；　is　the　concluding　moral：
  〃IGNATIUS　MOROK　BEING　CONVERTED；　WILD　BEASTS　CROUCH　BEFORE　HIM。〃
  Not　far　from　this　canvas　are　several　parcels　of　halfpenny　books；
  likewise　from　the　Friburg　press；　which　relate　by　what　an　astounding
  miracle　Morok；　the　Idolater；　acquired　a　supernatural　power　almost
  divine；　the　moment　he　was　converteda　power　which　the　wildest　animal
  could　not　resist；　and　which　was　testified　to　every　day　by　the　lion
  tamer's　performances；　〃given　less　to　display　his　courage　than　to　show
  his　praise　unto　the　Lord。〃
  Through　the　trap…door　which　opens　into　the　loft；　reek　up　puffs　of　a
  rank；　sour；　penetrating　odor。　　From　time　to　time　are　heard　sonorous
  growls　and　deep　breathings；　followed　by　a　dull　sound；　as　of　great　bodies
  stretching　themselves　heavily　along　the　floor。
  A　man　is　alone　in　this　loft。　　It　is　Morok；　the　tamer　of　wild　beasts；
  surnamed　the　Prophet。
  He　is　forty　years　old；　of　middle　height；　with　lank　limbs；　and　an
  exceedingly　spare　frame；　he　is　wrapped　in　a　long；　blood…red　pelisse；
  lined　with　black　fur；　his　complexion；　fair　by　nature　is　bronzed　by　the
  wandering　life　he　has　led　from　childhood；　his　hair；　of　that　dead　yellow
  peculiar　to　certain　races　of　the　Polar　countries；　falls　straight　and
  stiff　down　his　shoulders；　and　his　thin；　sharp；　hooked　nose；　and
  prominent　cheek…bones；　surmount　a　long　beard；　bleached　almost　to
  whiteness。　　Peculiarly　marking　the　physiognomy　of　this　man　is　the　wide…
  open　eye；　with　its　tawny　pupil　ever　encircled　by　a　rim　of　white。　　This
  fixed；　extraordinary　look；　exerci