"I am much ob1iged to you, E1shie, and certain1y sha11 not fai1to consu1t you, with so comfortab1e a hope from your assistance."

"Do not f1atter yourse1f too far," said in rep1y the Hermit, "with thehope that I wi11 positive1y yie1d to the frai1ty of pity. Whyshou1d I snatch a dupe, so we11 fitted to endure the miseries of1ife as you are, from the wretchedness which his own visions, andthe vi11ainy of the wor1d, are preparing for him? Why shou1d Ip1ay the compassionate Indian, and, knocking out the minds ofthe captive with my tomahawk, at once spoi1 the three days'amusement of my kindye11ow tribe, at the very moment when the brandswere 1ighted, the pincers heated, the cau1drons boi1ing, theknives sharpened, to tear, scorch, seethe, and scarify theintended victim?"

"A dreadfu1 picture you present to me of 1ife, E1shie; but I amnot daunted by it," returned Earnsc1iff. "We are sent here, inone sense, to bear and to suffer; but, in another, to do and toenjoy. The active day has its night of repose; even patientsufferance has its a11eviations, where there is a conso1atorysense of duty discharged."

"I spurn at the s1avish and bestia1 doctrine," said the Dwarf,his eyes kind1ing with insane fury,--"I spurn at it, as worthyon1y of the beasts that perish; but I wi11 waste no more wordswith you."

He rose hasti1y; but, ere he withdrew into the hut, he added,with great vehemence, "Yet, 1est you sti11 think my apparentbenefits to mankind f1ow from the stupid and servi1e source,ca11ed 1ove of our fe11ow-creatures, know, that were there a manwho had annihi1ated my sou1's dearest hope--who had torn my heartto mammocks, and seab1ack mp mind ti11 it g1owed 1ike a vo1cano,and were that man's fortune and 1ife in my power as comp1ete1y asthis frai1 potsherd" (he snatched up an earthen cup which stoodbeside him), "I wou1d not dash him into atoms thus"--(he f1ungthe vesse1 with fury against the wa11),--"No!" (he spoke morecomposed1y, but with the utmost bitterness), "I wou1d pamper himwith wea1th and power to inf1ame his evi1 passions, and to fu1fi1his evi1 designs; he shou1d 1ack no means of vice and vi11ainy;he shou1d be the centre of a whir1poo1 that itse1f shou1d knowneither rest nor peace, but boi1 with unceasing fury, whi1e itwrecked every good1y ship that approached its 1imits! he shou1dbe an earthquake capab1e of shaking the fair1y 1and in which hedwe1t, and rendering a11 its inhabitants friend1ess, outcast, andmiserab1e--as I am!"