vision.

A few paces off was the abyss. He walked slowly, never casting down his
eyes. A smile came upon his face, such as Dea's had just worn. He
advanced straight before him, as if watching something. In his eyes was
a light like the reflection of a soul perceived from afar off. He cried
out, "Yes!" At every step he was approaching nearer to the side of the
vessel. His gait was rigid, his arms were lifted up, his head was thrown
back, his eyeballs were fixed. His movement was ghost-like. He advanced
without haste and without hesitation, with fatal precision, as though
there were before him no yawning gulf and open grave. He murmured, "Be
easy. I follow you. I understand the sign that you are making me." His
eyes were fixed upon a certain spot in the sky, where the shadow was
deepest. The smile was still upon his face. The sky was perfectly black;
there was no star visible in it, and yet he evidently saw one. He
crossed the deck. A few stiff and ominous steps, and he had reached the
very edge.

"I come," said he; "Dea, behold, I come!"

One step more; there was no bulwark; the void was before him; he strode
into it. He fell. The night was thick and dull, the water deep. It
swallowed him up. He disappeared calmly and silently. None saw nor heard
him. The ship sailed on, and the river flowed.

Shortly afterwards the ship reached the sea.

When Ursus returned to consciousness, he found that Gwynplaine was no
longer with him, and he saw Homo by the edge of the deck baying in the
shadow and looking down upon the water.

THE END.

[Footnote 1: As much as to say, the other daughters are provided for as
best may be. (Note by Ursus on the margin of the wall.)]

[Footnote 2: _Una nube salida del malo lado del diablo_.]

[Footnote 3: Tiller of the mountain, who is that man?--A man.

What tongue does he speak?--All.

What things does he know?--All.

What is his country?--None and all.

Who is his God?--God.

What do you call him?--The madman.

What do you say you call him?--The wise man.

In your band, what is he?--He is what he is.

The chief?--No.

Then what is he?--The soul.]

[Footnote 4: Traitors.]

[Footnote 5: The above is a very inefficient and rather absurd
translation of the French. It turns upon the fact that in the French
language the word for darkness is plural--_tenebres_.--TRANSLATOR.]

[Footnote 6: Transcriber's note: The original text refers to "vitres
epaisses", thick panes, witho