One day, as I was gathering lichens and algae on the northern coast, with the drag on my boots, a bear suddenly made his appearance, and was stealing towards me round the corner of a rock.  After throwing away my slippers, I attempted to step across to an island, by means of a rock, projecting from the waves in the intermediate space, that served as a stepping-stone.  I reached the rock safely with one foot, but instantly fell into the sea with the other, one of my slippers having inadvertently remained on.  The cold was intense; and I escaped this imminent peril at the risk of my life.  On coming ashore, I hastened to the Libyan sands to dry myself in the sun; but the heat affected my head so much, that, in a fit of illness, I staggered back to the north.  In vain I sought relief by change of place—­hurrying from east to west, and from west to east—­now in climes of the south, now in those of the north; sometimes I rushed into daylight, sometimes into the shades of night.  I know not how long this lasted.  A burning fever raged in my veins; with extreme anguish I felt my senses leaving me.  Suddenly, by an unlucky accident, I trod upon some one’s foot, whom I had hurt, and received a blow in return which laid me senseless.

On recovering, I found myself lying comfortably in a good bed, which, with many other beds, stood in a spacious and handsome apartment.  Some one was watching by me; people seemed to be walking from one bed to another; they came beside me, and spoke of me as number twelve.  On the wall, at the foot of my bed—­it was no dream, for I distinctly read it—­on a black-marble tablet was inscribed my name, in large letters of gold

PETER SCHLEMIHL

Underneath were two rows of letters in smaller characters, which I was too feeble to connect together, and closed my eyes again.

I now heard something read aloud, in which I distinctly noted the words, “Peter Schlemihl,” but could not collect the full meaning.  I saw a man of benevolent aspect, and a very beautiful female dressed in black, standing near my bed; their countenances were not unknown to me, but in my weak state I could not remember who they were.  Some time elapsed, and I began to regain my strength.  I was called Number Twelve, and, from my long beard, was supposed to be a Jew, but was not the less carefully nursed on that account.  No one seemed to perceive that I was destitute of a shadow.  My boots, I was assured, together with everything found on me when I was brought here, were in safe keeping, and would be given up to me on my restoration to health.  This place was called the SCHLMEIHLIUM:  the daily recitation I had heard, was an exhortation to pray for Peter Schlemihl as the founder and benefactor of this institution.  The benevolent-looking man whom I had seen by my bedside was Bendel; the beautiful lady in black was Minna.