The Man Who Laughs Part I, Book the First, Chapter I - Portland Bill

In which a harsh north wind and bitter winter envelop the desolate English coast, painting a picture of nature’s relentless severity and human hardship upon the rugged shore of Portland. Amidst the shadowy twilight, a mysterious group clad in ragged garments embarks furtively upon an ancient Biscayan hooker, their indistinct forms mingling with the encroaching gloom and the wild cries of sea birds.