great way in enforci

me anxious to turn ti
every revolution, we
else the yard or the mast
things which had been o
my eyes upon the wonde
high up above us and see
from their original station.

I no longer hesitated whi
myself securely to the water
tevcut it loose from the count
it into the water. I attracted
signs, pointed to the floating
and did everything in my powe
what I was about to do.

I thought at length that he c but, whether this was the case despairingly, and refused to mo ringbolt. It was impossible to admitted of no delay; and so, signed him to his fate, fasten means of the lashings which se precipitated myself with it in moment's hesitation.

The result was precisely w As it is myself who now te that I did escape, and as yo the mode in which this esca fore antici

expression of my countenance had changed. I told them my story; they did not believe it. I now tell it to you, and I can scarcely expect you to put more faith in it than did the merry fishermen of Lofoden.

THE RAVEN

BY EDGAR ALLAN POE

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,

Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten

lore,

While I pondered, nearly napping, suddenly there came a

tapping,

As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.

"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door:

Only this and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December, And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.

Eagerly I wished the morrow; vainly I had sought to borrow

For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name

Lenore:

Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple

curtain

Thrilled me

before;

filled me with fantastic terrors never felt

So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood

repeating,

"'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door,

Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door:

This it is and nothing more."

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,

"Sir," said I, "or madam, truly your forgiveness I im

plore;

But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came

rapping,

And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber

door,

That I scarce was sure I heard you-" here I opened wide the door:

Darkness there and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,

Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before;

But the silence was unbroken and the stillness gave no token,

LEE FIFTH RDR. — - 13

And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore?"

This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore":

Merely this and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,

Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.

"Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window

lattice;

Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore; Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore: 'Tis the wind and nothing more."

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,

In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore. Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;

But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door:

Perched upon a bust of Pallas, just above my chamber door:

Perched and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebon bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it

wore,