Prevod
Črni piramidasti pomorski svetilnik, imenovan Nix's Mate, je dobro znan jadralcem, mornarjem in izletnikom v bostonskem pristanišču. Dviga se nad plitvino — vsem, kar je ostalo od lepega, zelenega otoka, ki je že davno izginil v morju. Leta 1636 je meril dvanajst akrov, na njegovi najvišji točki pa so stale vislice, na katerih so pirate obešali v verigah. Neke noči so se z ladje, zasidrane nedaleč od obale, zaslišali kriki, in ko se je straža s čolnom odpravila pogledat, kaj se je zgodilo, so kapitana po imenu Nix našli umorjenega v njegovi postelji. Neposrednih dokazov ni bilo, pa tudi motiva za dejanje niso mogli najti, razen če je prvi častnik upal na napredovanje v primeru smrti svojega poveljnika.
Vendar so ugotovili, da je ta možnost dajala poseben pomen nekaterim častnikovim dejanjem in besedam med plovbo, in na podlagi tako pičlih posrednih dokazov so ga spoznali za krivega ter obsodili na smrt. Ko so ga peljali na morišče, je prisegal, da ni kriv, kakor je zatrjeval že prej, z odra pod vislicami pa je glasno zaklical: »Bog, pokaži, da sem nedolžen. Naj se ta otok pogrezne in dokaže tem ljudem, da si nikoli nisem omadeževal rok s človeško krvjo.« Kmalu po izvršitvi kazni so opazili, da valovi segajo vse više na obalo in da nekatere skale ob oseki nič več ne pogledajo iz vode; sčasoma je otok povsem izginil. Kolonisti so s strahospoštovanjem gledali to znamenje in priznali, da jim je Bog pokazal, kako so se motili.
Izvirnik
The black, pyramidal beacon, called Nix's Mate, is well known to yachtsmen, sailors, and excursionists in Boston harbor. It rises above a shoal,--all that is left of a fair, green island which long ago disappeared in the sea. In 1636 it had an extent of twelve acres, and on its highest point was a gallows where pirates were hanged in chains. One night cries were heard on board of a ship that lay at anchor a little way off shore, and when the watch put off, to see what might be amiss, the captain, named Nix, was found murdered in his bed. There was no direct evidence in the case, and no motive could be assigned for the deed, unless it was the expectancy of promotion on the part of the mate, in case of his commander's death.
It was found, however, that this possibility gave significance to certain acts and sayings of that officer during the voyage, and on circumstantial evidence so slight as this he was convicted and sentenced to death. As he was led to execution he swore that he was not guilty, as he had done before, and from the scaffold he cried aloud, “God, show that I am innocent. Let this island sink and prove to these people that I have never stained my hands with human blood.” Soon after the execution of his sentence it was noticed that the surf was going higher on the shore, that certain rocks were no longer uncovered at low tide, and in time the island wasted away. The colonists looked with awe on this manifestation and confessed that God had shown their wrong.
