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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6b3f6b6 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #51060 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/51060) diff --git a/old/51060-0.txt b/old/51060-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 66a7ca2..0000000 --- a/old/51060-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6522 +0,0 @@ -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 51060 *** - - - - -THE NARRATIVE OF ARTHUR GORDON PYM. - -OF NANTUCKET. - - -COMPRISING THE DETAILS OF A MUTINY AND ATROCIOUS BUTCHERY ON BOARD THE -AMERICAN BRIG GRAMPUS, ON HER WAY TO THE SOUTH SEAS, IN THE MONTH OF -JUNE, 1827. - -WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE RECAPTURE OF THE VESSEL BY THE SURVIVERS; THEIR -SHIPWRECK AND SUBSEQUENT HORRIBLE SUFFERINGS FROM FAMINE; THEIR -DELIVERANCE BY MEANS OF THE BRITISH SCHOONER JANE GUY; THE BRIEF CRUISE -OF THIS LATTER VESSEL IN THE ANTARCTIC OCEAN; HER CAPTURE, AND THE -MASSACRE OF HER CREW AMONG A GROUP OF ISLANDS IN THE EIGHTY-FOURTH -PARALLEL OF SOUTHERN LATITUDE; TOGETHER WITH THE INCREDIBLE ADVENTURES -AND DISCOVERIES STILL FARTHER SOUTH TO WHICH THAT DISTRESSING CALAMITY -GAVE RISE. - - - - -NEW-YORK: -HARPER & BROTHERS, 82 CLIFF-ST. -1838. - - - - -Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1838, by - -HARPER & BROTHERS, - -in the Clerk's Office of the Southern District of New-York. - - - - -PREFACE. - - -Upon my return to the United States a few months ago, after the -extraordinary series of adventure in the South Seas and elsewhere, of -which an account is given in the following pages, accident threw me -into the society of several gentlemen in Richmond, Va., who felt deep -interest in all matters relating to the regions I had visited, and who -were constantly urging it upon me, as a duty, to give my narrative to -the public. I had several reasons, however, for declining to do so, -some of which were of a nature altogether private, and concern no -person but myself; others not so much so. One consideration which -deterred me was, that, having kept no journal during a greater portion -of the time in which I was absent, I feared I should not be able to -write, from mere memory, a statement so minute and connected as to have -the _appearance_ of that truth it would really possess, barring only -the natural and unavoidable exaggeration to which all of us are prone -when detailing events which have had powerful influence in exciting the -imaginative faculties. Another reason was, that the incidents to be -narrated were of a nature so positively marvellous, that, unsupported -as my assertions must necessarily be (except by the evidence of a -single individual, and he a half-breed Indian), I could only hope for -belief among my family, and those of my friends who have had reason, -through life, to put faith in my veracity--the probability being that -the public at large would regard what I should put forth as merely an -impudent and ingenious fiction. A distrust in my own abilities as a -writer was, nevertheless, one of the principal causes which prevented -me from complying with the suggestions of my advisers. - -Among those gentlemen in Virginia who expressed the greatest interest -in my statement, more particularly in regard to that portion of it -which related to the Antarctic Ocean, was Mr. Poe, lately editor of the -Southern Literary Messenger, a monthly magazine, published by Mr. -Thomas W. White, in the city of Richmond. He strongly advised me, among -others, to prepare at once a full account of what I had seen and -undergone, and trust to the shrewdness and common sense of the -public--insisting, with great plausibility, that however roughly, as -regards mere authorship, my book should be got up, its very -uncouthness, if there were any, would give it all the better chance of -being received as truth. - -Notwithstanding this representation, I did not make up my mind to do as -he suggested. He afterward proposed (finding that I would not stir in -the matter) that I should allow him to draw up, in his own words, a -narrative of the earlier portion of my adventures, from facts afforded -by myself, publishing it in the Southern Messenger _under the garb of -fiction_. To this, perceiving no objection, I consented, stipulating -only that my real name should be retained. Two numbers of the pretended -fiction appeared, consequently, in the Messenger for January and -February (1837), and, in order that it might certainly be regarded as -fiction, the name of Mr. Poe was affixed to the articles in the table -of contents of the magazine. - -The manner in which this _ruse_ was received has induced me at length -to undertake a regular compilation and publication of the adventures in -question; for I found that, in spite of the air of fable which had been -so ingeniously thrown around that portion of my statement which -appeared in the Messenger (without altering or distorting a single -fact), the public were still not at all disposed to receive it as -fable, and several letters were sent to Mr. P.'s address distinctly -expressing a conviction to the contrary. I thence concluded that the -facts of my narrative would prove of such a nature as to carry with -them sufficient evidence of their own authenticity, and that I had -consequently little to fear on the score of popular incredulity. - -This _exposé_ being made, it will be seen at once how much of what -follows I claim to be my own writing; and it will also be understood -that no fact is misrepresented in the first few pages which were -written by Mr. Poe. Even to those readers who have not seen the -Messenger, it will be unnecessary to point out where his portion ends -and my own commences; the difference in point of style will be readily -perceived. - -A. G. PYM. - -New-York, July, 1838. - - - - -NARRATIVE OF A. GORDON PYM. - - -My name is Arthur Gordon Pym. My father was a respectable trader in -sea-stores at Nantucket, where I was born. My maternal grandfather was -an attorney in good practice. He was fortunate in everything, and had -speculated very successfully in stocks of the Edgarton New-Bank, as it -was formerly called. By these and other means he had managed to lay by -a tolerable sum of money. He was more attached to myself, I believe, -than to any other person in the world, and I expected to inherit the -most of his property at his death. He sent me, at six years of age, to -the school of old Mr. Ricketts, a gentleman with only one arm, and of -eccentric manners--he is well known to almost every person who has -visited New Bedford. I stayed at his school until I was sixteen, when I -left him for Mr. E. Ronald's academy on the hill. Here I became -intimate with the son of Mr. Barnard, a sea captain, who generally -sailed in the employ of Lloyd and Vredenburgh--Mr. Barnard is also very -well known in New Bedford, and has many relations, I am certain, in -Edgarton. His son was named Augustus, and he was nearly two years older -than myself. He had been on a whaling voyage with his father in the -John Donaldson, and was always talking to me of his adventures in the -South Pacific Ocean. I used frequently to go home with him, and remain -all day, and sometimes all night. We occupied the same bed, and he -would be sure to keep me awake until almost light, telling me stories -of the natives of the Island of Tinian, and other places he had visited -in his travels. At last I could not help being interested in what he -said, and by degrees I felt the greatest desire to go to sea. I owned a -sail-boat called the Ariel, and worth about seventy-five dollars. She -had a half-deck or cuddy, and was rigged sloop-fashion--I forget her -tonnage, but she would hold ten persons without much crowding. In this -boat we were in the habit of going on some of the maddest freaks in the -world; and, when I now think of them, it appears to me a thousand -wonders that I am alive to-day. - -I will relate one of these adventures by way of introduction to a -longer and more momentous narrative. One night there was a party at Mr. -Barnard's, and both Augustus and myself were not a little intoxicated -towards the close of it. As usual, in such cases, I took part of his -bed in preference to going home. He went to sleep, as I thought, very -quietly (it being near one when the party broke up), and without saying -a word on his favourite topic. It might have been half an hour from the -time of our getting in bed, and I was just about falling into a doze, -when he suddenly started up, and swore with a terrible oath that he -would not go to sleep for any Arthur Pym in Christendom, when there was -so glorious a breeze from the southwest. I never was so astonished in -my life, not knowing what he intended, and thinking that the wines and -liquors he had drunk had set him entirely beside himself. He proceeded -to talk very coolly, however, saying he knew that I supposed him -intoxicated, but that he was never more sober in his life. He was only -tired, he added, of lying in bed on such a fine night like a dog, and -was determined to get up and dress, and go out on a frolic with the -boat. I can hardly tell what possessed me, but the words were no sooner -out of his mouth than I felt a thrill of the greatest excitement and -pleasure, and thought his mad idea one of the most delightful and most -reasonable things in the world. It was blowing almost a gale, and the -weather was very cold--it being late in October. I sprang out of bed, -nevertheless, in a kind of ecstasy, and told him I was quite as brave -as himself, and quite as tired as he was of lying in bed like a dog, -and quite as ready for any fun or frolic as any Augustus Barnard in -Nantucket. - -We lost no time in getting on our clothes and hurrying down to the -boat. She was lying at the old decayed wharf by the lumber-yard of -Pankey & Co., and almost thumping her sides out against the rough logs. -Augustus got into her and bailed her, for she was nearly half full of -water. This being done, we hoisted jib and mainsail, kept full, and -started boldly out to sea. - -The wind, as I before said, blew freshly from the southwest. The night -was very clear and cold. Augustus had taken the helm, and I stationed -myself by the mast, on the deck of the cuddy. We flew along at a great -rate--neither of us having said a word since casting loose from the -wharf. I now asked my companion what course he intended to steer, and -what time he thought it probable we should get back. He whistled for a -few minutes, and then said crustily, "_I_ am going to sea--_you_ may go -home if you think proper." Turning my eyes upon him, I perceived at -once that, in spite of his assumed _nonchalance_, he was greatly -agitated. I could see him distinctly by the light of the moon--his face -was paler than any marble, and his hand shook so excessively that he -could scarcely retain hold of the tiller. I found that something had -gone wrong, and became seriously alarmed. At this period I knew little -about the management of a boat, and was now depending entirely upon the -nautical skill of my friend. The wind, too, had suddenly increased, as -we were fast getting out of the lee of the land--still I was ashamed to -betray any trepidation, and for almost half an hour maintained a -resolute silence. I could stand it no longer, however, and spoke to -Augustus about the propriety of turning back. As before, it was nearly -a minute before he made answer, or took any notice of my suggestion. -"By-and-by," said he at length--"time enough--home by-and-by." I had -expected a similar reply, but there was something in the tone of these -words which filled me with an indescribable feeling of dread. I again -looked at the speaker attentively. His lips were perfectly livid, and -his knees shook so violently together that he seemed scarcely able to -stand. "For God's sake, Augustus," I screamed, now heartily frightened, -"what ails you?--what is the matter?--what _are_ you going to do?" -"Matter!" he stammered, in the greatest apparent surprise, letting go -the tiller at the same moment, and falling forward into the bottom of -the boat--"matter!--why, nothing is the--matter--going -home--d--d--don't you see?" The whole truth now flashed upon me. I flew -to him and raised him up. He was drunk--beastly drunk--he could no -longer either stand, speak, or see. His eyes were perfectly glazed; and -as I let him go in the extremity of my despair, he rolled like a mere -log into the bilge-water from which I had lifted him. It was evident -that, during the evening, he had drunk far more than I suspected, and -that his conduct in bed had been the result of a highly-concentrated -state of intoxication--a state which, like madness, frequently enables -the victim to imitate the outward demeanour of one in perfect -possession of his senses. The coolness of the night air, however, had -had its usual effect--the mental energy began to yield before its -influence--and the confused perception which he no doubt then had of -his perilous situation had assisted in hastening the catastrophe. He -was now thoroughly insensible, and there was no probability that he -would be otherwise for many hours. - -It is hardly possible to conceive the extremity of my terror. The fumes -of the wine lately taken had evaporated, leaving me doubly timid and -irresolute. I knew that I was altogether incapable of managing the -boat, and that a fierce wind and strong ebb tide were hurrying us to -destruction. A storm was evidently gathering behind us; we had neither -compass nor provisions; and it was clear that, if we held our present -course, we should be out of sight of land before daybreak. These -thoughts, with a crowd of others equally fearful, flashed through my -mind with a bewildering rapidity, and for some moments paralyzed me -beyond the possibility of making any exertion. The boat was going -through the water at a terrible rate--full before the wind--no reef in -either jib or mainsail--running her bows completely under the foam. It -was a thousand wonders she did not broach to--Augustus having let go -the tiller, as I said before, and I being too much agitated to think of -taking it myself. By good luck, however, she kept steady, and gradually -I recovered some degree of presence of mind. Still the wind was -increasing fearfully; and whenever we rose from a plunge forward, the -sea behind fell combing over our counter, and deluged us with water. I -was so utterly benumbed, too, in every limb, as to be nearly -unconscious of sensation. At length I summoned up the resolution of -despair, and rushing to the mainsail, let it go by the run. As might -have been expected, it flew over the bows, and, getting drenched with -water, carried away the mast short off by the board. This latter -accident alone saved me from instant destruction. Under the jib only, I -now boomed along before the wind, shipping heavy seas occasionally over -the counter, but relieved from the terror of immediate death. I took -the helm, and breathed with greater freedom as I found that there yet -remained to us a chance of ultimate escape. Augustus still lay -senseless in the bottom of the boat; and as there was imminent danger -of his drowning (the water being nearly a foot deep just where he -fell), I contrived to raise him partially up, and keep him in a sitting -position, by passing a rope round his waist, and lashing it to a -ringbolt in the deck of the cuddy. Having thus arranged everything as -well as I could in my chilled and agitated condition, I recommended -myself to God, and made up my mind to bear whatever might happen with -all the fortitude in my power. - -Hardly had I come to this resolution, when, suddenly, a loud and long -scream or yell, as if from the throats of a thousand demons, seemed to -pervade the whole atmosphere around and above the boat. Never while I -live shall I forget the intense agony of terror I experienced at that -moment. My hair stood erect on my head--I felt the blood congealing in -my veins--my heart ceased utterly to beat, and without having once -raised my eyes to learn the source of my alarm, I tumbled headlong and -insensible upon the body of my fallen companion. - -I found myself, upon reviving, in the cabin of a large whaling-ship -(the Penguin) bound to Nantucket. Several persons were standing over -me, and Augustus, paler than death, was busily occupied in chafing my -hands. Upon seeing me open my eyes, his exclamations of gratitude and -joy excited alternate laughter and tears from the rough-looking -personages who were present. The mystery of our being in existence was -now soon explained. We had been run down by the whaling-ship, which was -close hauled, beating up to Nantucket with every sail she could venture -to set, and consequently running almost at right angles to our own -course. Several men were on the look-out forward, but did not perceive -our boat until it was an impossibility to avoid coming in -contact--their shouts of warning upon seeing us were what so terribly -alarmed me. The huge ship, I was told, rode immediately over us with as -much ease as our own little vessel would have passed over a feather, -and without the least perceptible impediment to her progress. Not a -scream arose from the deck of the victim--there was a slight grating -sound to be heard mingling with the roar of wind and water, as the -frail bark which was swallowed up rubbed for a moment along the keel of -her destroyer--but this was all. Thinking our boat (which it will be -remembered was dismasted) some mere shell cut adrift as useless, the -captain (Captain E. T. V. Block of New London) was for proceeding on -his course without troubling himself further about the matter. Luckily, -there were two of the look-out who swore positively to having seen some -person at our helm, and represented the possibility of yet saving him. -A discussion ensued, when Block grew angry, and, after a while, said -that "it was no business of his to be eternally watching for -egg-shells; that the ship should _not_ put about for any such nonsense; -and if there was a man run down, it was nobody's fault but his own--he -might drown and be d----d," or some language to that effect. Henderson, -the first mate, now took the matter up, being justly indignant, as well -as the whole ship's crew, at a speech evincing so base a degree of -heartless atrocity. He spoke plainly, seeing himself upheld by the men, -told the captain he considered him a fit subject for the gallows, and -that he would disobey his orders if he were hanged for it the moment he -set his foot on shore. He strode aft, jostling Block (who turned very -pale and made no answer) on one side, and seizing the helm, gave the -word, in a firm voice, _Hard-a-lee!_ The men flew to their posts, and -the ship went cleverly about. All this had occupied nearly five -minutes, and it was supposed to be hardly within the bounds of -possibility that any individual could be saved--allowing any to have -been on board the boat. Yet, as the reader has seen, both Augustus and -myself were rescued; and our deliverance seemed to have been brought -about by two of those almost inconceivable pieces of good fortune which -are attributed by the wise and pious to the special interference of -Providence. - -While the ship was yet in stays, the mate lowered the jolly-boat and -jumped into her with the very two men, I believe, who spoke up as -having seen me at the helm. They had just left the lee of the vessel -(the moon still shining brightly) when she made a long and heavy roll -to windward, and Henderson, at the same moment, starting up in his -seat, bawled out to his crew to _back water_. He would say nothing -else--repeating his cry impatiently, _back water! back water!_ The men -put back as speedily as possible; but by this time the ship had gone -round, and gotten fully under headway, although all hands on board were -making great exertions to take in sail. In despite of the danger of the -attempt, the mate clung to the main-chains as soon as they came within -his reach. Another huge lurch now brought the starboard side of the -vessel out of water nearly as far as her keel, when the cause of his -anxiety was rendered obvious enough. The body of a man was seen to be -affixed in the most singular manner to the smooth and shining bottom -(the Penguin was coppered and copper-fastened), and beating violently -against it with every movement of the hull. After several ineffectual -efforts, made during the lurches of the ship, and at the imminent risk -of swamping the boat, I was finally disengaged from my perilous -situation and taken on board--for the body proved to be my own. It -appeared that one of the timber-bolts having started and broken a -passage through the copper, it had arrested my progress as I passed -under the ship, and fastened me in so extraordinary a manner to her -bottom. The head of the bolt had made its way through the collar of the -green baize jacket I had on, and through the back part of my neck, -forcing itself out between two sinews and just below the right ear. I -was immediately put to bed--although life seemed to be totally extinct. -There was no surgeon on board. The captain, however, treated me with -every attention--to make amends, I presume, in the eyes of his crew, -for his atrocious behaviour in the previous portion of the adventure. - -In the meantime, Henderson had again put off from the ship, although -the wind was now blowing almost a hurricane. He had not been gone many -minutes when he fell in with some fragments of our boat, and shortly -afterward one of the men with him asserted that he could distinguish a -cry for help at intervals amid the roaring of the tempest. This induced -the hardy seamen to persevere in their search for more than half an -hour, although repeated signals to return were made them by Captain -Block, and although every moment on the water in so frail a boat was -fraught to them with the most imminent and deadly peril. Indeed, it is -nearly impossible to conceive how the small jolly they were in could -have escaped destruction for a single instant. She was built, however, -for the whaling service, and was fitted, as I have since had reason to -believe, with air-boxes, in the manner of some life-boats used on the -coast of Wales. - -After searching in vain for about the period of time just mentioned, it -was determined to get back to the ship. They had scarcely made this -resolve when a feeble cry arose from a dark object which floated -rapidly by. They pursued and soon overtook it. It proved to be the -entire deck of the Ariel's cuddy. Augustus was struggling near it, -apparently in the last agonies. Upon getting hold of him it was found -that he was attached by a rope to the floating timber. This rope, it -will be remembered, I had myself tied round his waist, and made fast to -a ringbolt, for the purpose of keeping him in an upright position, and -my so doing, it appeared, had been ultimately the means of preserving -his life. The Ariel was slightly put together, and in going down her -frame naturally went to pieces; the deck of the cuddy, as might be -expected, was lifted, by the force of the water rushing in, entirely -from the main timbers, and floated (with other fragments, no doubt) to -the surface--Augustus was buoyed up with it, and thus escaped a -terrible death. - -It was more than an hour after being taken on board the Penguin before -he could give any account of himself, or be made to comprehend the -nature of the accident which had befallen our boat. At length he became -thoroughly aroused, and spoke much of his sensations while in the -water. Upon his first attaining any degree of consciousness, he found -himself beneath the surface, whirling round and round with -inconceivable rapidity, and with a rope wrapped in three or four folds -tightly about his neck. In an instant afterward he felt himself going -rapidly upward, when, his head striking violently against a hard -substance, he again relapsed into insensibility. Upon once more -reviving he was in fuller possession of his reason--this was still, -however, in the greatest degree clouded and confused. He now knew that -some accident had occurred, and that he was in the water, although his -mouth was above the surface, and he could breathe with some freedom. -Possibly, at this period, the deck was drifting rapidly before the -wind, and drawing him after it, as he floated upon his back. Of course, -as long as he could have retained this position, it would have been -nearly impossible that he should be drowned. Presently a surge threw -him directly athwart the deck; and this post he endeavoured to -maintain, screaming at intervals for help. Just before he was -discovered by Mr. Henderson, he had been obliged to relax his hold -through exhaustion, and, falling into the sea, had given himself up for -lost. During the whole period of his struggles he had not the faintest -recollection of the Ariel, nor of any matters in connexion with the -source of his disaster. A vague feeling of terror and despair had taken -entire possession of his faculties. When he was finally picked up, -every power of his mind had failed him; and, as before said, it was -nearly an hour after getting on board the Penguin before he became -fully aware of his condition. In regard to myself--I was resuscitated -from a state bordering very nearly upon death (and after every other -means had been tried in vain for three hours and a half) by vigorous -friction with flannels bathed in hot oil--a proceeding suggested by -Augustus. The wound in my neck, although of an ugly appearance, proved -of little real consequence, and I soon recovered from its effects. - -The Penguin got into port about nine o'clock in the morning, after -encountering one of the severest gales ever experienced off Nantucket. -Both Augustus and myself managed to appear at Mr. Barnard's in time for -breakfast--which, luckily, was somewhat late, owing to the party over -night. I suppose all at the table were too much fatigued themselves to -notice our jaded appearance--of course, it would not have borne a very -rigid scrutiny. Schoolboys, however, can accomplish wonders in the way -of deception, and I verily believe not one of our friends in Nantucket -had the slightest suspicion that the terrible story told by some -sailors in town of their having run down a vessel at sea and drowned -some thirty or forty poor devils, had reference either to the Ariel, my -companion, or myself. We two have since very frequently talked the -matter over--but never without a shudder. In one of our conversations -Augustus frankly confessed to me, that in his whole life he had at no -time experienced so excruciating a sense of dismay, as when on board -our little boat he first discovered the extent of his intoxication, and -felt himself sinking beneath its influence. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - - -In no affairs of mere prejudice, pro or con, do we deduce inferences -with entire certainty even from the most simple data. It might be -supposed that a catastrophe such as I have just related would have -effectually cooled my incipient passion for the sea. On the contrary, I -never experienced a more ardent longing for the wild adventures -incident to the life of a navigator than within a week after our -miraculous deliverance. This short period proved amply long enough to -erase from my memory the shadows, and bring out in vivid light all the -pleasurably exciting points of colour, all the picturesqueness of the -late perilous accident. My conversations with Augustus grew daily more -frequent and more intensely full of interest. He had a manner of -relating his stories of the ocean (more than one half of which I now -suspect to have been sheer fabrications) well adapted to have weight -with one of my enthusiastic temperament, and somewhat gloomy, although -glowing imagination. It is strange, too, that he most strongly enlisted -my feelings in behalf of the life of a seaman, when he depicted his -more terrible moments of suffering and despair. For the bright side of -the painting I had a limited sympathy. My visions were of shipwreck and -famine; of death or captivity among barbarian hordes; of a lifetime -dragged out in sorrow and tears, upon some gray and desolate rock, in -an ocean unapproachable and unknown. Such visions or desires--for they -amounted to desires--are common, I have since been assured, to the -whole numerous race of the melancholy among men--at the time of which I -speak I regarded them only as prophetic glimpses of a destiny which I -felt myself in a measure bound to fulfil. Augustus thoroughly entered -into my state of mind. It is probable, indeed, that our intimate -communion had resulted in a partial interchange of character. - -About eighteen months after the period of the Ariel's disaster, the -firm of Lloyd and Vredenburgh (a house connected in some manner with -the Messieurs Enderby, I believe, of Liverpool) were engaged in -repairing and fitting out the brig Grampus for a whaling voyage. She -was an old hulk, and scarcely seaworthy when all was done to her that -could be done. I hardly know why she was chosen in preference to other -good vessels belonging to the same owners--but so it was. Mr. Barnard -was appointed to command her, and Augustus was going with him. While -the brig was getting ready, he frequently urged upon me the excellency -of the opportunity now offered for indulging my desire of travel. He -found me by no means an unwilling listener--yet the matter could not be -so easily arranged. My father made no direct opposition; but my mother -went into hysterics at the bare mention of the design; and, more than -all, my grandfather, from whom I expected much, vowed to cut me off -with a shilling if I should ever broach the subject to him again. These -difficulties, however, so far from abating my desire, only added fuel -to the flame. I determined to go at all hazards; and, having made known -my intention to Augustus, we set about arranging a plan by which it -might be accomplished. In the meantime I forbore speaking to any of my -relations in regard to the voyage, and, as I busied myself ostensibly -with my usual studies, it was supposed that I had abandoned the design. -I have since frequently examined my conduct on this occasion with -sentiments of displeasure as well as of surprise. The intense hypocrisy -I made use of for the furtherance of my project--an hypocrisy pervading -every word and action of my life for so long a period of time--could -only have been rendered tolerable to myself by the wild and burning -expectation with which I looked forward to the fulfilment of my -long-cherished visions of travel. - -In pursuance of my scheme of deception, I was necessarily obliged to -leave much to the management of Augustus, who was employed for the -greater part of every day on board the Grampus, attending to some -arrangements for his father in the cabin and cabin hold. At night, -however, we were sure to have a conference, and talk over our hopes. -After nearly a month passed in this manner, without our hitting upon -any plan we thought likely to succeed, he told me at last that he had -determined upon everything necessary. I had a relation living in New -Bedford, a Mr. Ross, at whose house I was in the habit of spending -occasionally two or three weeks at a time. The brig was to sail about -the middle of June (June, 1827), and it was agreed that, a day or two -before her putting to sea, my father was to receive a note, as usual, -from Mr. Ross, asking me to come over and spend a fortnight with Robert -and Emmet (his sons). Augustus charged himself with the enditing of -this note and getting it delivered. Having set out, as supposed, for -New Bedford, I was then to report myself to my companion, who would -contrive a hiding-place for me in the Grampus. This hiding-place, he -assured me, would be rendered sufficiently comfortable for a residence -of many days, during which I was not to make my appearance. When the -brig had proceeded so far on her course as to make any turning back a -matter out of question, I should then, he said, be formally installed -in all the comforts of the cabin; and as to his father, he would only -laugh heartily at the joke. Vessels enough would be met with by which a -letter might be sent home explaining the adventure to my parents. - -The middle of June at length arrived, and everything had been matured. -The note was written and delivered, and on a Monday morning I left the -house for the New Bedford packet, as supposed. I went, however, -straight to Augustus, who was waiting for me at the corner of a street. -It had been our original plan that I should keep out of the way until -dark, and then slip on board the brig; but, as there was now a thick -fog in our favour, it was agreed to lose no time in secreting me. -Augustus led the way to the wharf, and I followed at a little distance, -enveloped in a thick seaman's cloak, which he had brought with him, so -that my person might not be easily recognised. Just as we turned the -second corner, after passing Mr. Edmund's well, who should appear, -standing right in front of me, and looking me full in the face, but old -Mr. Peterson, my grandfather. "Why, bless my soul, Gordon," said he, -after a long pause, "why, why--_whose_ dirty cloak is that you have -on?" "Sir!" I replied, assuming, as well as I could, in the exigency of -the moment, an air of offended surprise, and talking in the gruffest of -all imaginable tones--"sir! you are a sum'mat mistaken--my name, in the -first place, bee'nt nothing at all like Goddin, and I'd want you for to -know better, you blackguard, than to call my new obercoat a darty one!" -For my life I could hardly refrain from screaming with laughter at the -odd manner in which the old gentleman received this handsome rebuke. He -started back two or three steps, turned first pale and then excessively -red, threw up his spectacles, then, putting them down, ran full tilt at -me, with his umbrella uplifted. He stopped short, however, in his -career, as if struck with a sudden recollection; and presently, turning -round, hobbled off down the street, shaking all the while with rage, -and muttering between his teeth, "Won't do--new glasses--thought it was -Gordon--d----d good-for-nothing salt water Long Tom." - -After this narrow escape we proceeded with greater caution, and arrived -at our point of destination in safety. There were only one or two of -the hands on board, and these were busy forward, doing something to the -forecastle combings. Captain Barnard, we knew very well, was engaged at -Lloyd and Vredenburgh's, and would remain there until late in the -evening, so we had little to apprehend on his account. Augustus went -first up the vessel's side, and in a short while I followed him, -without being noticed by the men at work. We proceeded at once into the -cabin, and found no person there. It was fitted up in the most -comfortable style--a thing somewhat unusual in a whaling-vessel. There -were four very excellent staterooms, with wide and convenient berths. -There was also a large stove, I took notice, and a remarkably thick and -valuable carpet covering the floor of both the cabin and staterooms. -The ceiling was full seven feet high, and, in short, everything -appeared of a more roomy and agreeable nature than I had anticipated. -Augustus, however, would allow me but little time for observation, -insisting upon the necessity of my concealing myself as soon as -possible. He led the way into his own stateroom, which was on the -starboard side of the brig, and next to the bulkheads. Upon entering, -he closed the door and bolted it. I thought I had never seen a nicer -little room than the one in which I now found myself. It was about ten -feet long, and had only one berth, which, as I said before, was wide -and convenient. In that portion of the closet nearest the bulkheads -there was a space of four feet square, containing a table, a chair, and -a set of hanging shelves full of books, chiefly books of voyages and -travels. There were many other little comforts in the room, among which -I ought not to forget a kind of safe or refrigerator, in which Augustus -pointed out to me a host of delicacies, both in the eating and drinking -department. - -He now pressed with his knuckles upon a certain spot of the carpet in -one corner of the space just mentioned, letting me know that a portion -of the flooring, about sixteen inches square, had been neatly cut out -and again adjusted. As he pressed, this portion rose up at one end -sufficiently to allow the passage of his finger beneath. In this manner -he raised the mouth of the trap (to which the carpet was still fastened -by tacks), and I found that it led into the after hold. He next lit a -small taper by means of a phosphorus match, and, placing the light in a -dark lantern, descended with it through the opening, bidding me follow. -I did so, and he then pulled the cover upon the hole, by means of a -nail driven into the under side--the carpet, of course, resuming its -original position on the floor of the stateroom, and all traces of the -aperture being concealed. - -The taper gave out so feeble a ray, that it was with the greatest -difficulty I could grope my way through the confused mass of lumber -among which I now found myself. By degrees, however, my eyes became -accustomed to the gloom, and I proceeded with less trouble, holding on -to the skirts of my friend's coat. He brought me, at length, after -creeping and winding through innumerable narrow passages, to an -iron-bound box, such as is used sometimes for packing fine earthenware. -It was nearly four feet high, and full six long, but very narrow. Two -large empty oil-casks lay on the top of it, and above these, again, a -vast quantity of straw matting, piled up as high as the floor of the -cabin. In every other direction around was wedged as closely as -possible, even up to the ceiling, a complete chaos of almost every -species of ship-furniture, together with a heterogeneous medley of -crates, hampers, barrels, and bales, so that it seemed a matter no less -than miraculous that we had discovered any passage at all to the box. I -afterward found that Augustus had purposely arranged the stowage in -this hold with a view to affording me a thorough concealment, having -had only one assistant in the labour, a man not going out in the brig. - -My companion now showed me that one of the ends of the box could be -removed at pleasure. He slipped it aside and displayed the interior, at -which I was excessively amused. A mattress from one of the cabin berths -covered the whole of its bottom, and it contained almost every article -of mere comfort which could be crowded into so small a space, allowing -me, at the same time, sufficient room for my accommodation, either in a -sitting position or lying at full length. Among other things, there -were some books, pen, ink, and paper, three blankets, a large jug full -of water, a keg of sea-biscuit, three or four immense Bologna sausages, -an enormous ham, a cold leg of roast mutton, and half a dozen bottles -of cordials and liqueurs. I proceeded immediately to take possession of -my little apartment, and this with feelings of higher satisfaction, I -am sure, than any monarch ever experienced upon entering a new palace. -Augustus now pointed out to me the method of fastening the open end of -the box, and then, holding the taper close to the deck, showed me a -piece of dark whipcord lying along it. This, he said, extended from my -hiding-place throughout all the necessary windings among the lumber, to -a nail which was driven into the deck of the hold, immediately beneath -the trapdoor leading into his stateroom. By means of this cord I should -be enabled readily to trace my way out without his guidance, provided -any unlooked-for accident should render such a step necessary. He now -took his departure, leaving with me the lantern, together with a -copious supply of tapers and phosphorus, and promising to pay me a -visit as often as he could contrive to do so without observation. This -was on the seventeenth of June. - -I remained three days and nights (as nearly as I could guess) in my -hiding-place without getting out of it at all, except twice for the -purpose of stretching my limbs by standing erect between two crates -just opposite the opening. During the whole period I saw nothing of -Augustus; but this occasioned me little uneasiness, as I knew the brig -was expected to put to sea every hour, and in the bustle he would not -easily find opportunities of coming down to me. At length I heard the -trap open and shut, and presently he called in a low voice, asking if -all was well, and if there was anything I wanted. "Nothing," I replied; -"I am as comfortable as can be; when will the brig sail?" "She will be -under weigh in less than half an hour," he answered. "I came to let you -know, and for fear you should be uneasy at my absence. I shall not have -a chance of coming down again for some time--perhaps for three or four -days more. All is going on right aboveboard. After I go up and close -the trap, do you creep along by the whipcord to where the nail is -driven in. You will find my watch there--it may be useful to you, as -you have no daylight to keep time by. I suppose you can't tell how long -you have been buried--only three days--this is the twentieth. I would -bring the watch to your box, but am afraid of being missed." With this -he went up. - -In about an hour after he had gone I distinctly felt the brig in -motion, and congratulated myself upon having at length fairly commenced -a voyage. Satisfied with this idea, I determined to make my mind as -easy as possible, and await the course of events until I should be -permitted to exchange the box for the more roomy, although hardly more -comfortable, accommodations of the cabin. My first care was to get the -watch. Leaving the taper burning, I groped along in the dark, following -the cord through windings innumerable, in some of which I discovered -that, after toiling a long distance, I was brought back within a foot -or two of a former position. At length I reached the nail, and, -securing the object of my journey, returned with it in safety. I now -looked over the books which had been so thoughtfully provided, and -selected the expedition of Lewis and Clarke to the mouth of the -Columbia. With this I amused myself for some time, when, growing -sleepy, I extinguished the light with great care, and soon fell into a -sound slumber. - -Upon awaking I felt strangely confused in mind, and some time elapsed -before I could bring to recollection all the various circumstances of -my situation. By degrees, however, I remembered all. Striking a light, -I looked at the watch; but it was run down, and there were, -consequently, no means of determining how long I had slept. My limbs -were greatly cramped, and I was forced to relieve them by standing -between the crates. Presently, feeling an almost ravenous appetite, I -bethought myself of the cold mutton, some of which I had eaten just -before going to sleep, and found excellent. What was my astonishment at -discovering it to be in a state of absolute putrefaction! This -circumstance occasioned me great disquietude; for, connecting it with -the disorder of mind I experienced upon awaking, I began to suppose -that I must have slept for an inordinately long period of time. The -close atmosphere of the hold might have had something to do with this, -and might, in the end, be productive of the most serious results. My -head ached excessively; I fancied that I drew every breath with -difficulty; and, in short, I was oppressed with a multitude of gloomy -feelings. Still I could not venture to make any disturbance by opening -the trap or otherwise, and, having wound up the watch, contented myself -as well as possible. - -Throughout the whole of the next tedious twenty-four hours no person -came to my relief, and I could not help accusing Augustus of the -grossest inattention. What alarmed me chiefly was, that the water in my -jug was reduced to about half a pint, and I was suffering much from -thirst, having eaten freely of the Bologna sausages after the loss of -my mutton. I became very uneasy, and could no longer take any interest -in my books. I was overpowered, too, with a desire to sleep, yet -trembled at the thought of indulging it, lest there might exist some -pernicious influence, like that of burning charcoal, in the confined -air of the hold. In the mean time the roll of the brig told me that we -were far in the main ocean, and a dull humming sound, which reached my -ears as if from an immense distance, convinced me no ordinary gale was -blowing. I could not imagine a reason for the absence of Augustus. We -were surely far enough advanced on our voyage to allow of my going up. -Some accident might have happened to him--but I could think of none -which would account for his suffering me to remain so long a prisoner, -except, indeed, his having suddenly died or fallen overboard, and upon -this idea I could not dwell with any degree of patience. It was -possible that we had been baffled by head winds, and were still in the -near vicinity of Nantucket. This notion, however, I was forced to -abandon; for, such being the case, the brig must have frequently gone -about; and I was entirely satisfied, from her continual inclination to -the larboard, that she had been sailing all along with a steady breeze -on her starboard quarter. Besides, granting that we were still in the -neighbourhood of the island, why should not Augustus have visited me -and informed me of the circumstance? Pondering in this manner upon the -difficulties of my solitary and cheerless condition, I resolved to wait -yet another twenty-four hours, when, if no relief were obtained, I -would make my way to the trap, and endeavour either to hold a parley -with my friend, or get at least a little fresh air through the opening, -and a further supply of water from his stateroom. While occupied with -this thought, however, I fell, in spite of every exertion to the -contrary, into a state of profound sleep, or rather stupor. My dreams -were of the most terrific description. Every species of calamity and -horror befell me. Among other miseries, I was smothered to death -between huge pillows, by demons of the most ghastly and ferocious -aspect. Immense serpents held me in their embrace, and looked earnestly -in my face with their fearfully shining eyes. Then deserts, limitless, -and of the most forlorn and awe-inspiring character, spread themselves -out before me. Immensely tall trunks of trees, gray and leafless, rose -up in endless succession as far as the eye could reach. Their roots -were concealed in wide-spreading morasses, whose dreary water lay -intensely black, still, and altogether terrible, beneath. And the -strange trees seemed endowed with a human vitality, and, waving to and -fro their skeleton arms, were crying to the silent waters for mercy, in -the shrill and piercing accents of the most acute agony and despair. -The scene changed; and I stood, naked and alone, amid the burning -sand-plains of Zahara. At my feet lay crouched a fierce lion of the -tropics. Suddenly his wild eyes opened and fell upon me. With a -convulsive bound he sprang to his feet, and laid bare his horrible -teeth. In another instant there burst from his red throat a roar like -the thunder of the firmament, and I fell impetuously to the earth. -Stifling in a paroxysm of terror, I at last found myself partially -awake. My dream, then, was not all a dream. Now, at least, I was in -possession of my senses. The paws of some huge and real monster were -pressing heavily upon my bosom--his hot breath was in my ear--and his -white and ghastly fangs were gleaming upon me through the gloom. - -Had a thousand lives hung upon the movement of a limb or the utterance -of a syllable, I could have neither stirred nor spoken. The beast, -whatever it was, retained his position without attempting any immediate -violence, while I lay in an utterly helpless, and, I fancied, a dying -condition beneath him. I felt that my powers of body and mind were fast -leaving me--in a word, that I was perishing, and perishing of sheer -fright. My brain swam--I grew deadly sick--my vision failed--even the -glaring eyeballs above me grew dim. Making a last strong effort, I at -length breathed a faint ejaculation to God, and resigned myself to die. -The sound of my voice seemed to arouse all the latent fury of the -animal. He precipitated himself at full length upon my body; but what -was my astonishment, when, with a long and low whine, he commenced -licking my face and hands with the greatest eagerness, and with the -most extravagant demonstrations of affection and joy! I was bewildered, -utterly lost in amazement--but I could not forget the peculiar whine of -my Newfoundland dog Tiger, and the odd manner of his caresses I well -knew. It was he. I experienced a sudden rush of blood to my temples--a -giddy and overpowering sense of deliverance and reanimation. I rose -hurriedly from the mattress upon which I had been lying, and, throwing -myself upon the neck of my faithful follower and friend, relieved the -long oppression of my bosom in a flood of the most passionate tears. - -As upon a former occasion, my conceptions were in a state of the -greatest indistinctness and confusion after leaving the mattress. For a -long time I found it nearly impossible to connect any ideas--but, by -very slow degrees, my thinking faculties returned, and I again called -to memory the several incidents of my condition. For the presence of -Tiger I tried in vain to account; and after busying myself with a -thousand different conjectures respecting him, was forced to content -myself with rejoicing that he was with me to share my dreary solitude, -and render me comfort by his caresses. Most people love their dogs--but -for Tiger I had an affection far more ardent than common; and never, -certainly, did any creature more truly deserve it. For seven years he -had been my inseparable companion, and in a multitude of instances had -given evidence of all the noble qualities for which we value the -animal. I had rescued him, when a puppy, from the clutches of a -malignant little villain in Nantucket, who was leading him, with a rope -around his neck, to the water; and the grown dog repaid the obligation, -about three years afterward, by saving me from the bludgeon of a -street-robber. - -Getting now hold of the watch, I found, upon applying it to my ear, -that it had again run down; but at this I was not at all surprised, -being convinced, from the peculiar state of my feelings, that I had -slept, as before, for a very long period of time; how long, it was of -course impossible to say. I was burning up with fever, and my thirst -was almost intolerable. I felt about the box for my little remaining -supply of water; for I had no light, the taper having burnt to the -socket of the lantern, and the phosphorus-box not coming readily to -hand. Upon finding the jug, however, I discovered it to be -empty--Tiger, no doubt, having been tempted to drink it, as well as to -devour the remnant of mutton, the bone of which lay, well picked, by -the opening of the box. The spoiled meat I could well spare, but my -heart sank as I thought of the water. I was feeble in the extreme--so -much so that I shook all over, as with an ague, at the slightest -movement or exertion. To add to my troubles, the brig was pitching and -rolling with great violence, and the oil-casks which lay upon my box -were in momentary danger of falling down, so as to block up the only -way of ingress or egress. I felt, also, terrible sufferings from -sea-sickness. These considerations determined me to make my way, at all -hazards, to the trap, and obtain immediate relief, before I should be -incapacitated from doing so altogether. Having come to this resolve, I -again felt about for the phosphorus-box and tapers. The former I found -after some little trouble; but, not discovering the tapers as soon as I -had expected (for I remembered very nearly the spot in which I had -placed them), I gave up the search for the present, and bidding Tiger -lie quiet, began at once my journey towards the trap. - -In this attempt my great feebleness became more than ever apparent. It -was with the utmost difficulty I could crawl along at all, and very -frequently my limbs sank suddenly from beneath me; when, falling -prostrate on my face, I would remain for some minutes in a state -bordering on insensibility. Still I struggled forward by slow degrees, -dreading every moment that I should swoon amid the narrow and intricate -windings of the lumber, in which event I had nothing but death to -expect as the result. At length, upon making a push forward with all -the energy I could command, I struck my forehead violently against the -sharp corner of an iron-bound crate. The accident only stunned me for a -few moments; but I found, to my inexpressible grief, that the quick and -violent roll of the vessel had thrown the crate entirely across my -path, so as effectually to block up the passage. With my utmost -exertions I could not move it a single inch from its position, it being -closely wedged in among the surrounding boxes and ship-furniture. It -became necessary, therefore, enfeebled as I was, either to leave the -guidance of the whipcord and seek out a new passage, or to climb over -the obstacle, and resume the path on the other side. The former -alternative presented too many difficulties and dangers to be thought -of without a shudder. In my present weak state of both mind and body, I -should infallibly lose my way if I attempted it, and perish miserably -amid the dismal and disgusting labyrinths of the hold. I proceeded, -therefore, without hesitation, to summon up all my remaining strength -and fortitude, and endeavour, as I best might, to clamber over the -crate. - -Upon standing erect, with this end in view, I found the undertaking -even a more serious task than my fears had led me to imagine. On each -side of the narrow passage arose a complete wall of various heavy -lumber, which the least blunder on my part might be the means of -bringing down upon my head; or, if this accident did not occur, the -path might be effectually blocked up against my return by the -descending mass, as it was in front by the obstacle there. The crate -itself was a long and unwieldy box, upon which no foothold could be -obtained. In vain I attempted, by every means in my power, to reach the -top, with the hope of being thus enabled to draw myself up. Had I -succeeded in reaching it, it is certain that my strength would have -proved utterly inadequate to the task of getting over, and it was -better in every respect that I failed. At length, in a desperate effort -to force the crate from its ground, I felt a strong vibration in the -side next me. I thrust my hand eagerly to the edge of the planks, and -found that a very large one was loose. With my pocket-knife, which -luckily I had with me, I succeeded, after great labour, in prying it -entirely off; and, getting through the aperture, discovered, to my -exceeding joy, that there were no boards on the opposite side--in other -words, that the top was wanting, it being the bottom through which I -had forced my way. I now met with no important difficulty in proceeding -along the line until I finally reached the nail. With a beating heart I -stood erect, and with a gentle touch pressed against the cover of the -trap. It did not rise as soon as I had expected, and I pressed it with -somewhat more determination, still dreading lest some other person than -Augustus might be in his stateroom. The door, however, to my -astonishment, remained steady, and I became somewhat uneasy, for I knew -that it had formerly required little or no effort to remove it. I -pushed it strongly--it was nevertheless firm: with all my strength--it -still did not give way: with rage, with fury, with despair--it set at -defiance my utmost efforts; and it was evident, from the unyielding -nature of the resistance, that the hole had either been discovered and -effectually nailed up, or that some immense weight had been placed upon -it, which it was useless to think of removing. - -My sensations were those of extreme horror and dismay. In vain I -attempted to reason on the probable cause of my being thus entombed. I -could summon up no connected chain of reflection, and, sinking on the -floor, gave way, unresistingly, to the most gloomy imaginings, in which -the dreadful deaths of thirst, famine, suffocation, and premature -interment, crowded upon me as the prominent disasters to be -encountered. At length there returned to me some portion of presence of -mind. I arose, and felt with my fingers for the seams or cracks of the -aperture. Having found them, I examined them closely to ascertain if -they emitted any light from the stateroom; but none was visible. I then -forced the penblade of my knife through them, until I met with some -hard obstacle. Scraping against it, I discovered it to be a solid mass -of iron, which, from its peculiar wavy feel as I passed the blade along -it, I concluded to be a chain-cable. The only course now left me was to -retrace my way to the box, and there either yield to my sad fate, or -try so to tranquillize my mind as to admit of my arranging some plan of -escape. I immediately set about the attempt, and succeeded, after -innumerable difficulties, in getting back. As I sank, utterly -exhausted, upon the mattress, Tiger threw himself at full length by my -side, and seemed as if desirous, by his caresses, of consoling me in my -troubles, and urging me to bear them with fortitude. - -The singularity of his behaviour at length forcibly arrested my -attention. After licking my face and hands for some minutes, he would -suddenly cease doing so, and utter a low whine. Upon reaching out my -hand towards him, I then invariably found him lying on his back, with -his paws uplifted. This conduct, so frequently repeated, appeared -strange, and I could in no manner account for it. As the dog seemed -distressed, I concluded that he had received some injury; and, taking -his paws in my hands, I examined them one by one, but found no sign of -any hurt. I then supposed him hungry, and gave him a large piece of -ham, which he devoured with avidity--afterward, however, resuming his -extraordinary manoeuvres. I now imagined that he was suffering, like -myself, the torments of thirst, and was about adopting this conclusion -as the true one, when the idea occurred to me that I had as yet only -examined his paws, and that there might possibly be a wound upon some -portion of his body or head. The latter I felt carefully over, but -found nothing. On passing my hand, however, along his back, I perceived -a slight erection of the hair extending completely across it. Probing -this with my finger, I discovered a string, and, tracing it up, found -that it encircled the whole body. Upon a closer scrutiny, I came across -a small slip of what had the feeling of letter paper, through which the -string had been fastened in such a manner as to bring it immediately -beneath the left shoulder of the animal. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - - -The thought instantly occurred to me that the paper was a note from -Augustus, and that some unaccountable accident having happened to -prevent his relieving me from my dungeon, he had devised this method of -acquainting me with the true state of affairs. Trembling with -eagerness, I now commenced another search for my phosphorus matches and -tapers. I had a confused recollection of having put them carefully away -just before falling asleep; and, indeed, previously to my last journey -to the trap, I had been able to remember the exact spot where I had -deposited them. But now I endeavoured in vain to call it to mind, and -busied myself for a full hour in a fruitless and vexatious search for -the missing articles; never, surely, was there a more tantalizing state -of anxiety and suspense. At length, while groping about, with my head -close to the ballast, near the opening of the box, and outside of it, I -perceived a faint glimmering of light in the direction of the steerage. -Greatly surprised, I endeavoured to make my way towards it, as it -appeared to be but a few feet from my position. Scarcely had I moved -with this intention, when I lost sight of the glimmer entirely, and, -before I could bring it into view again, was obliged to feel along by -the box until I had exactly resumed my original situation. Now, moving -my head with caution to and fro, I found that, by proceeding slowly, -with great care, in an opposite direction to that in which I had at -first started, I was enabled to draw near the light, still keeping it -in view. Presently I came directly upon it (having squeezed my way -through innumerable narrow windings), and found that it proceeded from -some fragments of my matches lying in an empty barrel turned upon its -side. I was wondering how they came in such a place, when my hand fell -upon two or three pieces of taper-wax, which had been evidently mumbled -by the dog. I concluded at once that he had devoured the whole of my -supply of candles, and I felt hopeless of being ever able to read the -note of Augustus. The small remnants of the wax were so mashed up among -other rubbish in the barrel, that I despaired of deriving any service -from them, and left them as they were. The phosphorus, of which there -was only a speck or two, I gathered up as well as I could, and returned -with it, after much difficulty, to my box, where Tiger had all the -while remained. - -What to do next I could not tell. The hold was so intensely dark that I -could not see my hand, however close I would hold it to my face. The -white slip of paper could barely be discerned, and not even that when I -looked at it directly; by turning the exterior portions of the retina -towards it, that is to say, by surveying it slightly askance, I found -that it became in some measure perceptible. Thus the gloom of my prison -may be imagined, and the note of my friend, if indeed it were a note -from him, seemed only likely to throw me into further trouble, by -disquieting to no purpose my already enfeebled and agitated mind. In -vain I revolved in my brain a multitude of absurd expedients for -procuring light--such expedients precisely as a man in the perturbed -sleep occasioned by opium would be apt to fall upon for a similar -purpose--each and all of which appear by turns to the dreamer the most -reasonable and the most preposterous of conceptions, just as the -reasoning or imaginative faculties flicker, alternately, one above the -other. At last an idea occurred to me which seemed rational, and which -gave me cause to wonder, very justly, that I had not entertained it -before. I placed the slip of paper on the back of a book, and, -collecting the fragments of the phosphorus matches which I had brought -from the barrel, laid them together upon the paper. I then, with the -palm of my hand, rubbed the whole over quickly yet steadily. A clear -light diffused itself immediately throughout the whole surface; and had -there been any writing upon it, I should not have experienced the least -difficulty, I am sure, in reading it. Not a syllable was there, -however--nothing but a dreary and unsatisfactory blank; the -illumination died away in a few seconds, and my heart died away within -me as it went. - -I have before stated more than once that my intellect, for some period -prior to this, had been in a condition nearly bordering on idiocy. -There were, to be sure, momentary intervals of perfect sanity, and, now -and then, even of energy; but these were few. It must be remembered -that I had been, for many days certainly, inhaling the almost -pestilential atmosphere of a close hold in a whaling vessel, and a long -portion of that time but scantily supplied with water. For the last -fourteen or fifteen hours I had none--nor had I slept during that time. -Salt provisions of the most exciting kind had been my chief, and, -indeed, since the loss of the mutton, my only supply of food, with the -exception of the sea-biscuit; and these latter were utterly useless to -me, as they were too dry and hard to be swallowed in the swollen and -parched condition of my throat. I was now in a high state of fever, and -in every respect exceedingly ill. This will account for the fact that -many miserable hours of despondency elapsed after my last adventure -with the phosphorus, before the thought suggested itself that I had -examined only one side of the paper. I shall not attempt to describe my -feelings of rage (for I believe I was more angry than anything else) -when the egregious oversight I had committed flashed suddenly upon my -perception. The blunder itself would have been unimportant, had not my -own folly and impetuosity rendered it otherwise--in my disappointment -at not finding some words upon the slip, I had childishly torn it in -pieces and thrown it away, it was impossible to say where. - -From the worst part of this dilemma I was relieved by the sagacity of -Tiger. Having got, after a long search, a small piece of the note, I -put it to the dog's nose, and endeavoured to make him understand that -he must bring me the rest of it. To my astonishment (for I had taught -him none of the usual tricks for which his breed are famous), he seemed -to enter at once into my meaning, and, rummaging about for a few -moments, soon found another considerable portion. Bringing me this, he -paused a while, and, rubbing his nose against my hand, appeared to be -waiting for my approval of what he had done. I patted him on the head, -when he immediately made off again. It was now some minutes before he -came back--but when he did come, he brought with him a large slip, -which proved to be all the paper missing--it having been torn, it -seems, only into three pieces. Luckily, I had no trouble in finding -what few fragments of the phosphorus were left--being guided by the -indistinct glow one or two of the particles still emitted. My -difficulties had taught me the necessity of caution, and I now took -time to reflect upon what I was about to do. It was very probable, I -considered, that some words were written upon that side of the paper -which had not been examined--but which side was that? Fitting the -pieces together gave me no clew in this respect, although it assured me -that the words (if there were any) would be found all on one side, and -connected in a proper manner, as written. There was the greater -necessity of ascertaining the point in question beyond a doubt, as the -phosphorus remaining would be altogether insufficient for a third -attempt, should I fail in the one I was now about to make. I placed the -paper on a book as before, and sat for some minutes thoughtfully -revolving the matter over in my mind. At last I thought it barely -possible that the written side might have some unevenness on its -surface, which a delicate sense of feeling might enable me to detect. I -determined to make the experiment, and passed my finger very carefully -over the side which first presented itself--nothing, however, was -perceptible, and I turned the paper, adjusting it on the book. I now -again carried my forefinger cautiously along, when I was aware of an -exceedingly slight, but still discernible glow, which followed as it -proceeded. This, I knew, must arise from some very minute remaining -particles of the phosphorus with which I had covered the paper in my -previous attempt. The other, or under side, then, was that on which lay -the writing, if writing there should finally prove to be. Again I -turned the note, and went to work as I had previously done. Having -rubbed in the phosphorus, a brilliancy ensued as before--but this time -several lines of MS. in a large hand, and apparently in red ink, became -distinctly visible. The glimmer, although sufficiently bright, was but -momentary. Still, had I not been too greatly excited, there would have -been ample time enough for me to peruse the whole three sentences -before me--for I saw there were three. In my anxiety, however, to read -all at once, I succeeded only in reading the seven concluding words, -which thus appeared: _"blood--your life depends upon lying close."_ - -Had I been able to ascertain the entire contents of the note--the full -meaning of the admonition which my friend had thus attempted to convey, -that admonition, even although it should have revealed a story of -disaster the most unspeakable, could not, I am firmly convinced, have -imbued my mind with one tithe of the harrowing and yet indefinable -horror with which I was inspired by the fragmentary warning thus -received. And _"blood"_ too, that word of all words--so rife at all -times with mystery, and suffering, and terror--how trebly full of -import did it now appear--how chillily and heavily (disjointed, as it -thus was, from any foregoing words to qualify or render it distinct) -did its vague syllables fall, amid the deep gloom of my prison, into -the innermost recesses of my soul! - -Augustus had, undoubtedly, good reasons for wishing me to remain -concealed, and I formed a thousand surmises as to what they could -be--but I could think of nothing affording a satisfactory solution of -the mystery. Just after returning from my last journey to the trap, and -before my attention had been otherwise directed by the singular conduct -of Tiger, I had come to the resolution of making myself heard at all -events by those on board, or, if I could not succeed in this directly, -of trying to cut my way through the orlop deck. The half certainty -which I felt of being able to accomplish one of these two purposes in -the last emergency, had given me courage (which I should not otherwise -have had) to endure the evils of my situation. The few words I had been -able to read, however, had cut me off from these final resources, and I -now, for the first time, felt all the misery of my fate. In a paroxysm -of despair I threw myself again upon the mattress, where, for about the -period of a day and night, I lay in a kind of stupor, relieved only by -momentary intervals of reason and recollection. - -At length I once more arose, and busied myself in reflection upon the -horrors which encompassed me. For another twenty-four hours it was -barely possible that I might exist without water--for a longer time I -could not do so. During the first portion of my imprisonment I had made -free use of the cordials with which Augustus had supplied me, but they -only served to excite fever, without in the least degree assuaging my -thirst. I had now only about a gill left, and this was of a species of -strong peach liqueur at which my stomach revolted. The sausages were -entirely consumed; of the ham nothing remained but a small piece of the -skin; and all the biscuit, except a few fragments of one, had been -eaten by Tiger. To add to my troubles, I found that my headache was -increasing momentarily, and with it the species of delirium which had -distressed me more or less since my first falling asleep. For some -hours past it had been with the greatest difficulty I could breathe at -all, and now each attempt at so doing was attended with the most -distressing spasmodic action of the chest. But there was still another -and very different source of disquietude, and one, indeed, whose -harassing terrors had been the chief means of arousing me to exertion -from my stupor on the mattress. It arose from the demeanour of the dog. - -I first observed an alteration in his conduct while rubbing in the -phosphorus on the paper in my last attempt. As I rubbed, he ran his -nose against my hand with a slight snarl; but I was too greatly excited -at the time to pay much attention to the circumstance. Soon afterward, -it will be remembered, I threw myself on the mattress, and fell into a -species of lethargy. Presently I became aware of a singular hissing -sound close at my ears, and discovered it to proceed from Tiger, who -was panting and wheezing in a state of the greatest apparent -excitement, his eyeballs flashing fiercely through the gloom. I spoke -to him, when he replied with a low growl, and then remained quiet. -Presently I relapsed into my stupor, from which I was again awakened in -a similar manner. This was repeated three or four times, until finally -his behaviour inspired me with so great a degree of fear that I became -fully aroused. He was now lying close by the door of the box, snarling -fearfully, although in a kind of under tone, and grinding his teeth as -if strongly convulsed. I had no doubt whatever that the want of water -or the confined atmosphere of the hold had driven him mad, and I was at -a loss what course to pursue. I could not endure the thought of killing -him, yet it seemed absolutely necessary for my own safety. I could -distinctly perceive his eyes fastened upon me with an expression of the -most deadly animosity, and I expected every instant that he would -attack me. At last I could endure my terrible situation no longer, and -determined to make my way from the box at all hazards, and despatch -him, if his opposition should render it necessary for me to do so. To -get out, I had to pass directly over his body, and he already seemed to -anticipate my design--raising himself upon his fore legs (as I -perceived by the altered position of his eyes), and displaying the -whole of his white fangs, which were easily discernible. I took the -remains of the ham-skin, and the bottle containing the liqueur, and -secured them about my person, together with a large carving-knife which -Augustus had left me--then, folding my cloak as closely around me as -possible, I made a movement towards the mouth of the box. No sooner did -I do this than the dog sprang with a loud growl towards my throat. The -whole weight of his body struck me on the right shoulder, and I fell -violently to the left, while the enraged animal passed entirely over -me. I had fallen upon my knees, with my head buried among the blankets, -and these protected me from a second furious assault, during which I -felt the sharp teeth pressing vigorously upon the woollen which -enveloped my neck--yet, luckily, without being able to penetrate all -the folds. I was now beneath the dog, and a few moments would place me -completely in his power. Despair gave me strength, and I rose bodily -up, shaking him from me by main force, and dragging with me the -blankets from the mattress. These I now threw over him, and before he -could extricate himself I had got through the door and closed it -effectually against his pursuit. In this struggle, however, I had been -forced to drop the morsel of ham-skin, and I now found my whole stock -of provisions reduced to a single gill of liqueur. As this reflection -crossed my mind, I felt myself actuated by one of those fits of -perverseness which might be supposed to influence a spoiled child in -similar circumstances, and, raising the bottle to my lips, I drained it -to the last drop, and dashed it furiously upon the floor. - -Scarcely had the echo of the crash died away, when I heard my name -pronounced in an eager but subdued voice, issuing from the direction of -the steerage. So unexpected was anything of the kind, and so intense -was the emotion excited within me by the sound, that I endeavoured in -vain to reply. My powers of speech totally failed, and, in an agony of -terror lest my friend should conclude me dead, and return without -attempting to reach me, I stood up between the crates near the door of -the box, trembling convulsively, and gasping and struggling for -utterance. Had a thousand worlds depended upon a syllable, I could not -have spoken it. There was a slight movement now audible among the -lumber somewhere forward of my station. The sound presently grew less -distinct, then again less so, and still less. Shall I ever forget my -feelings at this moment? He was going--my friend--my companion, from -whom I had a right to expect so much--he was going--he would abandon -me--he was gone! He would leave me to perish miserably, to expire in -the most horrible and loathsome of dungeons--and one word--one little -syllable would save me--yet that single syllable I could not utter! I -felt, I am sure, more than ten thousand times the agonies of death -itself. My brain reeled, and I fell, deadly sick, against the end of -the box. - -As I fell, the carving-knife was shaken out from the waistband of my -pantaloons, and dropped with a rattling sound to the floor. Never did -any strain of the richest melody come so sweetly to my ears! With the -intensest anxiety I listened to ascertain the effect of the noise upon -Augustus--for I knew that the person who called my name could be no one -but himself. All was silent for some moments. At length I again heard -the word _Arthur!_ repeated in a low tone, and one full of hesitation. -Reviving hope loosened at once my powers of speech, and I now screamed, -at the top of my voice, _"Augustus! oh Augustus!"_ "Hush--for God's -sake be silent!" he replied, in a voice trembling with agitation; "I -will be with you immediately--as soon as I can make my way through the -hold." For a long time I heard him moving among the lumber, and every -moment seemed to me an age. At length I felt his hand upon my shoulder, -and he placed at the same moment a bottle of water to my lips. Those -only who have been suddenly redeemed from the jaws of the tomb, or who -have known the insufferable torments of thirst under circumstances as -aggravated as those which encompassed me in my dreary prison, can form -any idea of the unutterable transports which that one long draught of -the richest of all physical luxuries afforded. - -When I had in some degree satisfied my thirst, Augustus produced from -his pocket three or four cold boiled potatoes, which I devoured with -the greatest avidity. He had brought with him a light in a dark -lantern, and the grateful rays afforded me scarcely less comfort than -the food and drink. But I was impatient to learn the cause of his -protracted absence, and he proceeded to recount what had happened on -board during my incarceration. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - - -The brig put to sea, as I had supposed, in about an hour after he had -left the watch. This was on the twentieth of June. It will be -remembered that I had then been in the hold for three days; and, during -this period, there was so constant a bustle on board, and so much -running to and fro, especially in the cabin and staterooms, that he had -had no chance of visiting me without the risk of having the secret of -the trap discovered. When at length he did come, I had assured him that -I was doing as well as possible; and, therefore, for the two next days -he felt but little uneasiness on my account--still, however, watching -an opportunity of going down. It was not _until the fourth day_ that he -found one. Several times during this interval he had made up his mind -to let his father know of the adventure, and have me come up at once; -but we were still within reaching distance of Nantucket, and it was -doubtful, from some expressions which had escaped Captain Barnard, -whether he would not immediately put back if he discovered me to be on -board. Besides, upon thinking the matter over, Augustus, so he told me, -could not imagine that I was in immediate want, or that I would -hesitate, in such case, to make myself heard at the trap. When, -therefore, he considered everything, he concluded to let me stay until -he could meet with an opportunity of visiting me unobserved. This, as I -said before, did not occur until the fourth day after his bringing me -the watch, and the seventh since I had first entered the hold. He then -went down without taking with him any water or provisions, intending in -the first place merely to call my attention, and get me to come from -the box to the trap--when he would go up to the stateroom and thence -hand me down a supply. When he descended for this purpose he found that -I was asleep, for it seems that I was snoring very loudly. From all the -calculations I can make on the subject, this must have been the slumber -into which I fell just after my return from the trap with the watch, -and which, consequently, must have lasted _for more than three entire -days and nights_ at the very least. Latterly, I have had reason, both -from my own experience and the assurance of others, to be acquainted -with the strong soporific effects of the stench arising from old -fish-oil when closely confined; and when I think of the condition of -the hold in which I was imprisoned, and the long period during which -the brig had been used as a whaling vessel, I am more inclined to -wonder that I awoke at all, after once falling asleep, than that I -should have slept uninterruptedly for the period specified above. - -Augustus called to me at first in a low voice and without closing the -trap--but I made him no reply. He then shut the trap, and spoke to me -in a louder, and finally in a very loud tone--still I continued to -snore. He was now at a loss what to do. It would take him some time to -make his way through the lumber to my box, and in the mean while his -absence would be noticed by Captain Barnard, who had occasion for his -services every minute, in arranging and copying papers connected with -the business of the voyage. He determined, therefore, upon reflection, -to ascend, and await another opportunity of visiting me. He was the -more easily induced to this resolve, as my slumber appeared to be of -the most tranquil nature, and he could not suppose that I had undergone -any inconvenience from my incarceration. He had just made up his mind -on these points when his attention was arrested by an unusual bustle, -the sound of which proceeded apparently from the cabin. He sprang -through the trap as quickly as possible, closed it, and threw open the -door of his stateroom. No sooner had he put his foot over the threshold -than a pistol flashed in his face, and he was knocked down, at the same -moment, by a blow from a handspike. - -A strong hand held him on the cabin floor, with a tight grasp upon his -throat--still he was able to see what was going on around him. His -father was tied hand and foot, and lying along the steps of the -companion-way with his head down, and a deep wound in the forehead, -from which the blood was flowing in a continued stream. He spoke not a -word, and was apparently dying. Over him stood the first mate, eying -him with an expression of fiendish derision, and deliberately searching -his pockets, from which he presently drew forth a large wallet and a -chronometer. Seven of the crew (among whom was the cook, a negro) were -rummaging the staterooms on the larboard for arms, where they soon -equipped themselves with muskets and ammunition. Besides Augustus and -Captain Barnard, there were nine men altogether in the cabin, and these -among the most ruffianly of the brig's company. The villains now went -upon deck, taking my friend with them, after having secured his arms -behind his back. They proceeded straight to the forecastle, which was -fastened down--two of the mutineers standing by it with axes--two also -at the main hatch. The mate called out in a loud voice, "Do you hear -there below? tumble up with you--one by one, now, mark that--and no -grumbling." It was some minutes before any one appeared: at last an -Englishman, who had shipped as a raw hand, came up, weeping piteously, -and entreating the mate in the most humble manner to spare his life. -The only reply was a blow on the forehead from an axe. The poor fellow -fell to the deck without a groan, and the black cook lifted him up in -his arms as he would a child, and tossed him deliberately into the sea. -Hearing the blow and the plunge of the body, the men below could now be -induced to venture on deck neither by threats nor promises, until a -proposition was made to smoke them out. A general rush then ensued, and -for a moment it seemed possible that the brig might be retaken. The -mutineers, however, succeeded at last in closing the forecastle -effectually before more than six of their opponents could get up. These -six, finding themselves so greatly outnumbered and without arms, -submitted after a brief struggle. The mate gave them fair words--no -doubt with a view of inducing those below to yield, for they had no -difficulty in hearing all that was said on deck. The result proved his -sagacity, no less than his diabolical villany. All in the forecastle -presently signified their intention of submitting, and, ascending one -by one, were pinioned and thrown on their backs together with the first -six--there being in all, of the crew who were not concerned in the -mutiny, twenty-seven. - -A scene of the most horrible butchery ensued. The bound seamen were -dragged to the gangway. Here the cook stood with an axe, striking each -victim on the head as he was forced over the side of the vessel by the -other mutineers. In this manner twenty-two perished, and Augustus had -given himself up for lost, expecting every moment his own turn to come -next. But it seemed that the villains were now either weary, or in some -measure disgusted with their bloody labour; for the four remaining -prisoners, together with my friend, who had been thrown on the deck -with the rest, were respited while the mate sent below for rum, and the -whole murderous party held a drunken carouse, which lasted until -sunset. They now fell to disputing in regard to the fate of the -survivers, who lay not more than four paces off, and could distinguish -every word said. Upon some of the mutineers the liquor appeared to have -a softening effect, for several voices were heard in favour of -releasing the captives altogether, on condition of joining the mutiny -and sharing the profits. The black cook, however (who in all respects -was a perfect demon, and who seemed to exert as much influence, if not -more, than the mate himself), would listen to no proposition of the -kind, and rose repeatedly for the purpose of resuming his work at the -gangway. Fortunately, he was so far overcome by intoxication as to be -easily restrained by the less bloodthirsty of the party, among whom was -a line-manager, who went by the name of Dirk Peters. This man was the -son of an Indian squaw of the tribe of Upsarokas, who live among the -fastnesses of the Black Hills near the source of the Missouri. His -father was a fur-trader, I believe, or at least connected in some -manner with the Indian trading-posts on Lewis river. Peters himself was -one of the most purely ferocious-looking men I ever beheld. He was -short in stature--not more than four feet eight inches high--but his -limbs were of the most Herculean mould. His hands, especially, were so -enormously thick and broad as hardly to retain a human shape. His arms, -as well as legs, were _bowed_ in the most singular manner, and appeared -to possess no flexibility whatever. His head was equally deformed, -being of immense size, with an indentation on the crown (like that on -the head of most negroes), and entirely bald. To conceal this latter -deficiency, which did not proceed from old age, he usually wore a wig -formed of any hair-like material which presented itself--occasionally -the skin of a Spanish dog or American grizzly bear. At the time spoken -of he had on a portion of one of these bearskins; and it added no -little to the natural ferocity of his countenance, which betook of the -Upsaroka character. The mouth extended nearly from ear to ear; the lips -were thin, and seemed, like some other portions of his frame, to be -devoid of natural pliancy, so that the ruling expression never varied -under the influence of any emotion whatever. This ruling expression may -be conceived when it is considered that the teeth were exceedingly long -and protruding, and never even partially covered, in any instance, by -the lips. To pass this man with a casual glance, one might imagine him -to be convulsed with laughter--but a second look would induce a -shuddering acknowledgment, that if such an expression were indicative -of merriment, the merriment must be that of a demon. Of this singular -being many anecdotes were prevalent among the seafaring men of -Nantucket. These anecdotes went to prove his prodigious strength when -under excitement, and some of them had given rise to a doubt of his -sanity. But on board the Grampus, it seems, he was regarded at the time -of the mutiny with feelings more of derision than of anything else. I -have been thus particular in speaking of Dirk Peters, because, -ferocious as he appeared, he proved the main instrument in preserving -the life of Augustus, and because I shall have frequent occasion to -mention him hereafter in the course of my narrative--a narrative, let -me here say, which, in its latter portions, will be found to include -incidents of a nature so entirely out of the range of human experience, -and for this reason so far beyond the limits of human credulity, that I -proceed in utter hopelessness of obtaining credence for all that I -shall tell, yet confidently trusting in time and progressing science to -verify some of the most important and most improbable of my statements. - -After much indecision and two or three violent quarrels, it was -determined at last that all the prisoners (with the exception of -Augustus, whom Peters insisted in a jocular manner upon keeping as his -clerk) should be set adrift in one of the smallest whaleboats. The mate -went down into the cabin to see if Captain Barnard was still -living--for, it will be remembered, he was left below when the -mutineers came up. Presently the two made their appearance, the captain -pale as death, but somewhat recovered from the effects of his wound. He -spoke to the men in a voice hardly articulate, entreated them not to -set him adrift, but to return to their duty, and promising to land them -wherever they chose, and to take no steps for bringing them to justice. -He might as well have spoken to the winds. Two of the ruffians seized -him by the arms and hurled him over the brig's side into the boat, -which had been lowered while the mate went below. The four men who were -lying on the deck were then untied and ordered to follow, which they -did without attempting any resistance--Augustus being still left in his -painful position, although he struggled and prayed only for the poor -satisfaction of being permitted to bid his father farewell. A handful -of sea-biscuit and a jug of water were now handed down; but neither -mast, sail, oar, nor compass. The boat was towed astern for a few -minutes, during which the mutineers held another consultation--it was -then finally cut adrift. By this time night had come on--there were -neither moon nor stars visible--and a short and ugly sea was running, -although there was no great deal of wind. The boat was instantly out of -sight, and little hope could be entertained for the unfortunate -sufferers who were in it. This event happened, however, in latitude 35° -30' north, longitude 61° 20' west, and consequently at no very great -distance from the Bermuda Islands. Augustus therefore endeavoured to -console himself with the idea that the boat might either succeed in -reaching the land, or come sufficiently near to be fallen in with by -vessels off the coast. - -All sail was now put upon the brig, and she continued her original -course to the southwest--the mutineers being bent upon some piratical -expedition, in which, from all that could be understood, a ship was to -be intercepted on her way from the Cape Verd Islands to Porto Rico. No -attention was paid to Augustus, who was untied and suffered to go about -anywhere forward of the cabin companion-way. Dirk Peters treated him -with some degree of kindness, and on one occasion saved him from the -brutality of the cook. His situation was still one of the most -precarious, as the men were continually intoxicated, and there was no -relying upon their continued good-humour or carelessness in regard to -himself. His anxiety on my account he represented, however, as the most -distressing result of his condition; and, indeed, I had never reason to -doubt the sincerity of his friendship. More than once he had resolved -to acquaint the mutineers with the secret of my being on board, but was -restrained from so doing, partly through recollection of the atrocities -he had already beheld, and partly through a hope of being able soon to -bring me relief. For the latter purpose he was constantly on the watch; -but, in spite of the most constant vigilance, three days elapsed after -the boat was cut adrift before any chance occurred. At length, on the -night of the third day, there came on a heavy blow from the eastward, -and all hands were called up to take in sail. During the confusion -which ensued, he made his way below unobserved, and into the stateroom. -What was his grief and horror in discovering that the latter had been -rendered a place of deposite for a variety of sea-stores and -ship-furniture, and that several fathoms of old chain-cable, which had -been stowed away beneath the companion-ladder, had been dragged thence -to make room for a chest, and were now lying immediately upon the trap! -To remove it without discovery was impossible, and he returned on deck -as quickly as he could. As he came up the mate seized him by the -throat, and demanding what he had been doing in the cabin, was about -flinging him over the larboard bulwark, when his life was again -preserved through the interference of Dirk Peters. Augustus was now put -in handcuffs (of which there were several pairs on board), and his feet -lashed tightly together. He was then taken into the steerage, and -thrown into a lower berth next to the forecastle bulkheads, with the -assurance that he should never put his foot on deck again "until the -brig was no longer a brig." This was the expression of the cook, who -threw him into the berth--it is hardly possible to say what precise -meaning was intended by the phrase. The whole affair, however, proved -the ultimate means of my relief, as will presently appear. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - - -For some minutes after the cook had left the forecastle, Augustus -abandoned himself to despair, never hoping to leave the berth alive. He -now came to the resolution of acquainting the first of the men who -should come down with my situation, thinking it better to let me take -my chance with the mutineers than perish of thirst in the hold--for it -had been ten days since I was first imprisoned, and my jug of water was -not a plentiful supply even for four. As he was thinking on this -subject, the idea came all at once into his head that it might be -possible to communicate with me by the way of the main hold. In any -other circumstances, the difficulty and hazard of the undertaking would -have prevented him from attempting it; but now he had, at all events, -little prospect of life, and consequently little to lose--he bent his -whole mind, therefore, upon the task. - -His handcuffs were the first consideration. At first he saw no method -of removing them, and feared that he should thus be baffled in the very -outset; but, upon a closer scrutiny, he discovered that the irons could -be slipped off and on at pleasure with very little effort or -inconvenience, merely by squeezing his hands through them--this species -of manacle being altogether ineffectual in confining young persons, in -whom the smaller bones readily yield to pressure. He now untied his -feet, and, leaving the cord in such a manner that it could easily be -readjusted in the event of any person's coming down, proceeded to -examine the bulkhead where it joined the berth. The partition here was -of soft pine board, an inch thick, and he saw that he should have -little trouble in cutting his way through. A voice was now heard at the -forecastle companion-way, and he had just time to put his right hand -into its handcuff (the left had not been removed), and to draw the rope -in a slipknot around his ankle, when Dirk Peters came below, followed -by Tiger, who immediately leaped into the berth and lay down. The dog -had been brought on board by Augustus, who knew my attachment to the -animal, and thought it would give me pleasure to have him with me -during the voyage. He went up to our house for him immediately after -first taking me into the hold, but did not think of mentioning the -circumstance upon his bringing the watch. Since the mutiny, Augustus -had not seen him before his appearance with Dirk Peters, and had given -him up for lost, supposing him to have been thrown overboard by some of -the malignant villains belonging to the mate's gang. It appeared -afterward that he had crawled into a hole beneath a whaleboat, from -which, not having room to turn round, he could not extricate himself. -Peters at last let him out, and with a species of good feeling which my -friend knew well how to appreciate, had now brought him to him in the -forecastle as a companion, leaving at the same time some salt junk and -potatoes, with a can of water; he then went on deck, promising to come -down with something more to eat on the next day. - -When he had gone, Augustus freed both hands from the manacles and -unfastened his feet. He then turned down the head of the mattress on -which he had been lying, and with his penknife (for the ruffians had -not thought it worth while to search him) commenced cutting vigorously -across one of the partition planks, as closely as possible to the floor -of the berth. He chose to cut here, because, if suddenly interrupted, -he would be able to conceal what had been done by letting the head of -the mattress fall into its proper position. For the remainder of the -day, however, no disturbance occurred, and by night he had completely -divided the plank. It should here be observed, that none of the crew -occupied the forecastle as a sleeping-place, living altogether in the -cabin since the mutiny, drinking the wines, and feasting on the sea -stores of Captain Barnard, and giving no more heed than was absolutely -necessary to the navigation of the brig. These circumstances proved -fortunate both for myself and Augustus; for, had matters been -otherwise, he would have found it impossible to reach me. As it was, he -proceeded with confidence in his design. It was near daybreak, however, -before he completed the second division of the board (which was about a -foot above the first cut), thus making an aperture quite large enough -to admit his passage through with facility to the main orlop deck. -Having got here, he made his way with but little trouble to the lower -main hatch, although in so doing he had to scramble over tiers of -oil-casks piled nearly as high as the upper deck, there being barely -room enough left for his body. Upon reaching the hatch, he found that -Tiger had followed him below, squeezing between two rows of the casks. -It was now too late, however, to attempt getting to me before dawn, as -the chief difficulty lay in passing through the close stowage in the -lower hold. He therefore resolved to return, and wait till the next -night. With this design he proceeded to loosen the hatch, so that he -might have as little detention as possible when he should come again. -No sooner had he loosened it than Tiger sprang eagerly to the small -opening produced, snuffed for a moment, and then uttered a long whine, -scratching at the same time, as if anxious to remove the covering with -his paws. There could be no doubt, from his behaviour, that he was -aware of my being in the hold, and Augustus thought it possible that he -would be able to get to me if he put him down. He now hit upon the -expedient of sending the note, as it was especially desirable that I -should make no attempt at forcing my way out, at least under existing -circumstances, and there could be no certainty of his getting to me -himself on the morrow as he intended. After events proved how fortunate -it was that the idea occurred to him as it did: for, had it not been -for the receipt of the note, I should undoubtedly have fallen upon some -plan, however desperate, of alarming the crew, and both our lives would -most probably have been sacrificed in consequence. - -Having concluded to write, the difficulty was now to procure the -materials for so doing. An old toothpick was soon made into a pen; and -this by means of feeling altogether, for the between-decks were as dark -as pitch. Paper enough was obtained from the back of a letter--a -duplicate of the forged letter from Mr. Ross. This had been the -original draught; but the handwriting not being sufficiently well -imitated, Augustus had written another, thrusting the first, by good -fortune, into his coat-pocket, where it was now most opportunely -discovered. Ink alone was thus wanting, and a substitute was -immediately found for this by means of a slight incision with the -penknife on the back of a finger just above the nail--a copious flow of -blood ensuing, as usual from wounds in that vicinity. The note was now -written, as well as it could be in the dark and under the -circumstances. It briefly explained that a mutiny had taken place; that -Captain Barnard was set adrift; and that I might expect immediate -relief as far as provisions were concerned, but must not venture upon -making any disturbance. It concluded with these words, _"I have -scrawled this with blood--your life depends upon lying close."_ - -The slip of paper being tied upon the dog, he was now put down the -hatchway, and Augustus made the best of his way back to the forecastle, -where he found no reason to believe that any of the crew had been in -his absence. To conceal the hole in the partition, he drove his knife -in just above it, and hung up a pea-jacket which he found in the berth. -His handcuffs were then replaced, and also the rope around his ankles. - -These arrangements were scarcely completed when Dirk Peters came below, -very drunk, but in excellent humour, and bringing with him my friend's -allowance of provision for the day. This consisted of a dozen large -Irish potatoes roasted, and a pitcher of water. He sat for some time on -a chest by the berth, and talked freely about the mate, and the general -concerns of the brig. His demeanour was exceedingly capricious and even -grotesque. At one time Augustus was much alarmed by his odd conduct. At -last, however, he went on deck, muttering a promise to bring his -prisoner a good dinner on the morrow. During the day two of the crew -(harpooners) came down, accompanied by the cook, all three in nearly -the last stage of intoxication. Like Peters, they made no scruple of -talking unreservedly about their plans. It appeared that they were much -divided among themselves as to their ultimate course, agreeing in no -point except the attack on the ship from the Cape Verd Islands, with -which they were in hourly expectation of meeting. As far as could be -ascertained, the mutiny had not been brought about altogether for the -sake of booty; a private pique of the chief mate's against Captain -Barnard having been the main instigation. There now seemed to be two -principal factions among the crew--one headed by the mate, the other by -the cook. The former party were for seizing the first suitable vessel -which should present itself, and equipping it at some of the West India -Islands for a piratical cruise. The latter division, however, which was -the stronger, and included Dirk Peters among its partisans, were bent -upon pursuing the course originally laid out for the brig into the -South Pacific; there either to take whale, or act otherwise, as -circumstances should suggest. The representations of Peters, who had -frequently visited these regions, had great weight, apparently, with -the mutineers, wavering as they were between half-engendered notions of -profit and pleasure. He dwelt on the world of novelty and amusement to -be found among the innumerable islands of the Pacific, on the perfect -security and freedom from all restraint to be enjoyed, but, more -particularly, on the deliciousness of the climate, on the abundant -means of good living, and on the voluptuous beauty of the women. As -yet, nothing had been absolutely determined upon; but the pictures of -the hybrid line-manager were taking strong hold upon the ardent -imaginations of the seamen, and there was every probability that his -intentions would be finally carried into effect. - -The three men went away in about an hour, and no one else entered the -forecastle all day. Augustus lay quiet until nearly night. He then -freed himself from the rope and irons, and prepared for his attempt. A -bottle was found in one of the berths, and this he filled with water -from the pitcher left by Peters, storing his pockets at the same time -with cold potatoes. To his great joy he also came across a lantern, -with a small piece of tallow candle in it. This he could light at any -moment, as he had in his possession a box of phosphorus matches. When -it was quite dark, he got through the hole in the bulkhead, having -taken the precaution to arrange the bedclothes in the berth so as to -convey the idea of a person covered up. When through, he hung up the -pea-jacket on his knife, as before, to conceal the aperture--this -manoeuvre being easily effected, as he did not readjust the piece of -plank taken out until afterward. He was now on the main orlop deck, and -proceeded to make his way, as before, between the upper deck and the -oil-casks to the main hatchway. Having reached this, he lit the piece -of candle, and descended, groping with extreme difficulty among the -compact stowage of the hold. In a few moments he became alarmed at the -insufferable stench and the closeness of the atmosphere. He could not -think it possible that I had survived my confinement for so long a -period breathing so oppressive an air. He called my name repeatedly, -but I made him no reply, and his apprehensions seemed thus to be -confirmed. The brig was rolling violently, and there was so much noise -in consequence, that it was useless to listen for any weak sound, such -as those of my breathing or snoring. He threw open the lantern, and -held it as high as possible, whenever an opportunity occurred, in order -that, by observing the light, I might, if alive, be aware that succour -was approaching. Still nothing was heard from me, and the supposition -of my death began to assume the character of certainty. He determined, -nevertheless, to force a passage, if possible, to the box, and at least -ascertain beyond a doubt the truth of his surmises. He pushed on for -some time in a most pitiable state of anxiety, until, at length, he -found the pathway utterly blocked up, and that there was no possibility -of making any farther way by the course in which he had set out. -Overcome now by his feelings, he threw himself among the lumber in -despair, and wept like a child. It was at this period that he heard the -crash occasioned by the bottle which I had thrown down. Fortunate, -indeed, was it that the incident occurred--for, upon this incident, -trivial as it appears, the thread of my destiny depended. Many years -elapsed, however, before I was aware of this fact. A natural shame and -regret for his weakness and indecision prevented Augustus from -confiding to me at once what a more intimate and unreserved communion -afterward induced him to reveal. Upon finding his further progress in -the hold impeded by obstacles which he could not overcome, he had -resolved to abandon his attempt at reaching me, and return at once to -the forecastle. Before condemning him entirely on this head, the -harassing circumstances which embarrassed him should be taken into -consideration. The night was fast wearing away, and his absence from -the forecastle might be discovered; and, indeed, would necessarily be -so, if he should fail to get back to the berth by daybreak. His candle -was expiring in the socket, and there would be the greatest difficulty -in retracing his way to the hatchway in the dark. It must be allowed, -too, that he had every good reason to believe me dead; in which event -no benefit could result to me from his reaching the box, and a world of -danger would be encountered to no purpose by himself. He had repeatedly -called, and I had made him no answer. I had been now eleven days and -nights with no more water than that contained in the jug which he had -left with me, a supply which it was not at all probable I had hoarded -in the beginning of my confinement, as I had had every cause to expect -a speedy release. The atmosphere of the hold, too, must have appeared -to him, coming from the comparatively open air of the steerage, of a -nature absolutely poisonous, and by far more intolerable than it had -seemed to me upon my first taking up my quarters in the box--the -hatchways at that time having been constantly open for many months -previous. Add to these considerations that of the scene of bloodshed -and terror so lately witnessed by my friend; his confinement, -privations, and narrow escapes from death; together with the frail and -equivocal tenure by which he still existed--circumstances all so well -calculated to prostrate every energy of mind--and the reader will be -easily brought, as I have been, to regard his apparent falling off in -friendship and in faith with sentiments rather of sorrow than of anger. - -The crash of the bottle was distinctly heard, yet Augustus was not sure -that it proceeded from the hold. The doubt, however, was sufficient -inducement to persevere. He clambered up nearly to the orlop deck by -means of the stowage, and then watching for a lull in the pitchings of -the vessel, he called out to me in as loud a tone as he could -command--regardless, for the moment, of the danger of being overheard -by the crew. It will be remembered that on this occasion the voice -reached me, but I was so entirely overcome by violent agitation as to -be incapable of reply. Confident, now, that his worst apprehensions -were well founded, he descended, with a view of getting back to the -forecastle without loss of time. In his haste some small boxes were -thrown down, the noise occasioned by which I heard, as will be -recollected. He had made considerable progress on his return when the -fall of the knife again caused him to hesitate. He retraced his steps -immediately, and, clambering up the stowage a second time, called out -my name, loudly as before, having watched for a lull. This time I found -voice to answer. Overjoyed at discovering me to be still alive, he now -resolved to brave every difficulty and danger in reaching me. Having -extricated himself as quickly as possible from the labyrinth of lumber -by which he was hemmed in, he at length struck into an opening which -promised better, and finally, after a series of struggles, arrived at -the box in a state of utter exhaustion. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - - -The leading particulars of this narration were all that Augustus -communicated to me while we remained near the box. It was not until -afterward that he entered fully into all the details. He was -apprehensive of being missed, and I was wild with impatience to leave -my detested place of confinement. We resolved to make our way at once -to the hole in the bulkhead, near which I was to remain for the -present, while he went through to reconnoitre. To leave Tiger in the -box was what neither of us could endure to think of; yet, how to act -otherwise was the question. He now seemed to be perfectly quiet, and we -could not even distinguish the sound of his breathing upon applying our -ears closely to the box. I was convinced that he was dead, and -determined to open the door. We found him lying at full length, -apparently in a deep stupor, yet still alive. No time was to be lost, -yet I could not bring myself to abandon an animal who had now been -twice instrumental in saving my life, without some attempt at -preserving him. We therefore dragged him along with us as well as we -could, although with the greatest difficulty and fatigue; Augustus, -during part of the time, being forced to clamber over the impediments -in our way with the huge dog in his arms--a feat to which the -feebleness of my frame rendered me totally inadequate. At length we -succeeded in reaching the hole, when Augustus got through, and Tiger -was pushed in afterward. All was found to be safe, and we did not fail -to return sincere thanks to God for our deliverance from the imminent -danger we had escaped. For the present it was agreed that I should -remain near the opening, through which my companion could readily -supply me with a part of his daily provision, and where I could have -the advantages of breathing an atmosphere comparatively pure. - -In explanation of some portions of this narrative wherein I have spoken -of the stowage of the brig, and which may appear ambiguous to some of -my readers who may have seen a proper or regular stowage, I must here -state that the manner in which this most important duty had been -performed on board the Grampus was a most shameful piece of neglect on -the part of Captain Barnard, who was by no means as careful or as -experienced a seaman as the hazardous nature of the service on which he -was employed would seem necessarily to demand. A proper stowage cannot -be accomplished in a careless manner, and many most disastrous -accidents, even within the limits of my own experience, have arisen -from neglect or ignorance in this particular. Coasting vessels, in the -frequent hurry and bustle attendant upon taking in or discharging -cargo, are the most liable to mishap from the want of a proper -attention to stowage. The great point is to allow no possibility of the -cargo or ballast's shifting position even in the most violent rollings -of the vessel. With this end, great attention must be paid, not only to -the bulk taken in, but to the nature of the bulk, and whether there be -a full or only a partial cargo. In most kinds of freight the stowage is -accomplished by means of a screw. Thus, in a load of tobacco or flour, -the whole is screwed so tightly into the hold of the vessel that the -barrels or hogsheads upon discharging are found to be completely -flattened, and take some time to regain their original shape. This -screwing, however, is resorted to principally with a view of obtaining -more room in the hold; for in a _full_ load of any such commodities as -flour or tobacco, there can be no danger of any shifting whatever, at -least none from which inconvenience can result. There have been -instances, indeed, where this method of screwing has resulted in the -most lamentable consequences, arising from a cause altogether distinct -from the danger attendant upon a shifting of cargo. A load of cotton, -for example, tightly screwed while in certain conditions, has been -known, through the expansion of its bulk, to rend a vessel asunder at -sea. There can be no doubt, either, that the same result would ensue in -the case of tobacco, while undergoing its usual course of fermentation, -were it not for the interstices consequent upon the rotundity of the -hogsheads. - -It is when a partial cargo is received that danger is chiefly to be -apprehended from shifting, and that precautions should be always taken -to guard against such misfortune. Only those who have encountered a -violent gale of wind, or, rather, who have experienced the rolling of a -vessel in a sudden calm after the gale, can form an idea of the -tremendous force of the plunges, and of the consequent terrible impetus -given to all loose articles in the vessel. It is then that the -necessity of a cautious stowage, when there is a partial cargo, becomes -obvious. When lying to (especially with a small head sail), a vessel -which is not properly modelled in the bows is frequently thrown upon -her beam-ends; this occurring even every fifteen or twenty minutes upon -an average, yet without any serious consequences resulting, _provided -there be a proper stowage_. If this, however, has not been strictly -attended to, in the first of these heavy lurches the whole of the cargo -tumbles over to the side of the vessel which lies upon the water, and, -being thus prevented from regaining her equilibrium, as she would -otherwise necessarily do, she is certain to fill in a few seconds and -go down. It is not too much to say that at least one half of the -instances in which vessels have foundered in heavy gales at sea may be -attributed to a shifting of cargo or of ballast. - -When a partial cargo of any kind is taken on board, the whole, after -being first stowed as compactly as may be, should be covered with a -layer of stout shifting-boards, extending completely across the vessel. -Upon these boards strong temporary stanchions should be erected, -reaching to the timbers above, and thus securing everything in its -place. In cargoes consisting of grain, or any similar matter, -additional precautions are requisite. A hold filled entirely with grain -upon leaving port will be found not more than three fourths full upon -reaching its destination--this, too, although the freight, when -measured bushel by bushel by the consignee, will overrun by a vast deal -(on account of the swelling of the grain) the quantity consigned. This -result is occasioned by _settling_ during the voyage, and is the more -perceptible in proportion to the roughness of the weather experienced. -If grain loosely thrown in a vessel, then, is ever so well secured by -shifting-boards and stanchions, it will be liable to shift in a long -passage so greatly as to bring about the most distressing calamities. -To prevent these, every method should be employed before leaving port -to _settle_ the cargo as much as possible; and for this there are many -contrivances, among which may be mentioned the driving of wedges into -the grain. Even after all this is done, and unusual pains taken to -secure the shifting-boards, no seaman who knows what he is about will -feel altogether secure in a gale of any violence with a cargo of grain -on board, and, least of all, with a partial cargo. Yet there are -hundreds of our coasting vessels, and, it is likely, many more from the -ports of Europe, which sail daily with partial cargoes, even of the -most dangerous species, and without any precautions whatever. The -wonder is that no more accidents occur than do actually happen. A -lamentable instance of this heedlessness occurred to my knowledge in -the case of Captain Joel Rice of the schooner Firefly, which sailed -from Richmond, Virginia, to Madeira, with a cargo of corn, in the year -1825. The captain had gone many voyages without serious accident, -although he was in the habit of paying no attention whatever to his -stowage, more than to secure it in the ordinary manner. He had never -before sailed with a cargo of grain, and on this occasion had the corn -thrown on board loosely, when it did not much more than half fill the -vessel. For the first portion of the voyage he met with nothing more -than light breezes; but when within a day's sail of Madeira there came -on a strong gale from the N. N. E. which forced him to lie to. He -brought the schooner to the wind under a double-reefed foresail alone, -when she rode as well as any vessel could be expected to do, and -shipped not a drop of water. Towards night the gale somewhat abated, -and she rolled with more unsteadiness than before, but still did very -well, until a heavy lurch threw her upon her beam-ends to starboard. -The corn was then heard to shift bodily, the force of the movement -bursting open the main hatchway. The vessel went down like a shot. This -happened within hail of a small sloop from Madeira, which picked up one -of the crew (the only person saved), and which rode out the gale in -perfect security, as indeed a jollyboat might have done under proper -management. - -The stowage on board the Grampus was most clumsily done, if stowage -that could be called which was little better than a promiscuous -huddling together of oil-casks[1] and ship furniture. I have already -spoken of the condition of articles in the hold. On the orlop deck -there was space enough for my body (as I have stated) between the -oil-casks and the upper deck; a space was left open around the main -hatchway; and several other large spaces were left in the stowage. Near -the hole cut through the bulkhead by Augustus there was room enough for -an entire cask, and in this space I found myself comfortably situated -for the present. - -[Footnote 1: Whaling vessels are usually fitted with iron -oil-tanks--why the Grampus was not I have never been able to -ascertain.] - -By the time my friend had got safely into the berth, and readjusted his -handcuffs and the rope, it was broad daylight. We had made a narrow -escape indeed; for scarcely had he arranged all matters, when the mate -came below, with Dirk Peters and the cook. They talked for some time -about the vessel from the Cape Verds, and seemed to be excessively -anxious for her appearance. At length the cook came to the berth in -which Augustus was lying, and seated himself in it near the head. I -could see and hear everything from my hiding-place, for the piece cut -out had not been put back, and I was in momentary expectation that the -negro would fall against the pea-jacket, which was hung up to conceal -the aperture, in which case all would have been discovered, and our -lives would, no doubt, have been instantly sacrificed. Our good fortune -prevailed, however; and although he frequently touched it as the vessel -rolled, he never pressed against it sufficiently to bring about a -discovery. The bottom of the jacket had been carefully fastened to the -bulkhead, so that the hole might not be seen by its swinging to one -side. All this time Tiger was lying in the foot of the berth, and -appeared to have recovered in some measure his faculties, for I could -see him occasionally open his eyes and draw a long breath. - -After a few minutes the mate and cook went above, leaving Dirk Peters -behind, who, as soon as they were gone, came and sat himself down in -the place just occupied by the mate. He began to talk very sociably -with Augustus, and we could now see that the greater part of his -apparent intoxication, while the two others were with him, was a feint. -He answered all my companion's questions with perfect freedom; told him -that he had no doubt of his father's having been picked up, as there -were no less than five sail in sight just before sundown on the day he -was cut adrift; and used other language of a consolatory nature, which -occasioned me no less surprise than pleasure. Indeed, I began to -entertain hopes, that through the instrumentality of Peters we might be -finally enabled to regain possession of the brig, and this idea I -mentioned to Augustus as soon as I found an opportunity. He thought the -matter possible, but urged the necessity of the greatest caution in -making the attempt, as the conduct of the hybrid appeared to be -instigated by the most arbitrary caprice alone; and, indeed, it was -difficult to say if he was at any moment of sound mind. Peters went -upon deck in about an hour, and did not return again until noon, when -he brought Augustus a plentiful supply of junk beef and pudding. Of -this, when we were left alone, I partook heartily, without returning -through the hole. No one else came down into the forecastle during the -day, and at night I got into Augustus's berth, where I slept soundly -and sweetly until nearly daybreak, when he awakened me upon hearing a -stir upon deck, and I regained my hiding-place as quickly as possible. -When the day was fully broke, we found that Tiger had recovered his -strength almost entirely, and gave no indications of hydrophobia, -drinking a little water that was offered him with great apparent -eagerness. During the day he regained all his former vigour and -appetite. His strange conduct had been brought on, no doubt, by the -deleterious quality of the air of the hold, and had no connexion with -canine madness. I could not sufficiently rejoice that I had persisted -in bringing him with me from the box. This day was the thirtieth of -June, and the thirteenth since the Grampus made sail from Nantucket. - -On the second of July the mate came below, drunk as usual, and in an -excessively good-humour. He came to Augustus's berth, and, giving him a -slap on the back, asked him if he thought he could behave himself if he -let him loose, and whether he would promise not to be going into the -cabin again. To this, of course, my friend answered in the affirmative, -when the ruffian set him at liberty, after making him drink from a -flask of rum which he drew from his coat-pocket. Both now went on deck, -and I did not see Augustus for about three hours. He then came below -with the good news that he had obtained permission to go about the brig -as he pleased anywhere forward of the mainmast, and that he had been -ordered to sleep, as usual, in the forecastle. He brought me, too, a -good dinner, and a plentiful supply of water. The brig was still -cruising for the vessel from the Cape Verds, and a sail was now in -sight which was thought to be the one in question. As the events of the -ensuing eight days were of little importance, and had no direct bearing -upon the main incidents of my narrative, I will here throw them into -the form of a journal, as I do not wish to omit them altogether. - -_July 3._ Augustus furnished me with three blankets, with which I -contrived a comfortable bed in my hiding-place. No one came below, -except my companion, during the day. Tiger took his station in the -berth just by the aperture, and slept heavily, as if not yet entirely -recovered from the effects of his sickness. Towards night a flaw of -wind struck the brig before sail could be taken in, and very nearly -capsized her. The puff died away immediately, however, and no damage -was done beyond the splitting of the foretopsail. Dirk Peters treated -Augustus all this day with great kindness, and entered into a long -conversation with him respecting the Pacific Ocean, and the islands he -had visited in that region. He asked him whether he would not like to -go with the mutineers on a kind of exploring and pleasure voyage in -those quarters, and said that the men were gradually coming over to the -mate's views. To this Augustus thought it best to reply that he would -be glad to go on such an adventure, since nothing better could be done, -and that anything was preferable to a piratical life. - -_July 4th._ The vessel in sight proved to be a small brig from -Liverpool, and was allowed to pass unmolested. Augustus spent most of -his time on deck, with a view of obtaining all the information in his -power respecting the intentions of the mutineers. They had frequent and -violent quarrels among themselves, in one of which a harpooner, Jim -Bonner, was thrown overboard. The party of the mate was gaining ground. -Jim Bonner belonged to the cook's gang, of which Peters was a partisan. - -_July 5th._ About daybreak there came on a stiff breeze from the west, -which at noon freshened into a gale, so that the brig could carry -nothing more than her trysail and foresail. In taking in the -foretopsail, Simms, one of the common hands, and belonging also to the -cook's gang, fell overboard, being very much in liquor, and was -drowned--no attempt being made to save him. The whole number of persons -on board was now thirteen, to wit: Dirk Peters; Seymour, the black -cook; ---- Jones; ---- Greely; Hartman Rogers; and William Allen, of -the cook's party; the mate, whose name I never learned; Absalom Hicks; ----- Wilson; John Hunt; and Richard Parker, of the mate's -party--besides Augustus and myself. - -_July 6th._ The gale lasted all this day, blowing in heavy squalls, -accompanied with rain. The brig took in a good deal of water through -her seams, and one of the pumps was kept continually going, Augustus -being forced to take his turn. Just at twilight a large ship passed -close by us, without having been discovered until within hail. This -ship was supposed to be the one for which the mutineers were on the -look-out. The mate hailed her, but the reply was drowned in the roaring -of the gale. At eleven, a sea was shipped amid-ships, which tore away a -great portion of the larboard bulwarks, and did some other slight -damage. Towards morning the weather moderated, and at sunrise there was -very little wind. - -_July 7th._ There was a heavy swell running all this day, during which -the brig, being light, rolled excessively, and many articles broke -loose in the hold, as I could hear distinctly from my hiding-place. I -suffered a great deal from sea-sickness. Peters had a long conversation -this day with Augustus, and told him that two of his gang, Greely and -Allen, had gone over to the mate, and were resolved to turn pirates. He -put several questions to Augustus which he did not then exactly -understand. During a part of this evening the leak gained upon the -vessel; and little could be done to remedy it, as it was occasioned by -the brig's straining, and taking in the water through her seams. A sail -was thrummed, and got under the bows, which aided us in some measure, -so that we began to gain upon the leak. - -_July 8th._ A light breeze sprung up at sunrise from the eastward, when -the mate headed the brig to the southwest, with the intention of making -some of the West India islands, in pursuance of his piratical designs. -No opposition was made by Peters or the cook; at least none in the -hearing of Augustus. All idea of taking the vessel from the Cape Verds -was abandoned. The leak was now easily kept under by one pump going -every three quarters of an hour. The sail was drawn from beneath the -bows. Spoke two small schooners during the day. - -_July 9th._ Fine weather. All hands employed in repairing bulwarks. -Peters had again a long conversation with Augustus, and spoke more -plainly than he had done heretofore. He said nothing should induce him -to come into the mate's views, and even hinted his intention of taking -the brig out of his hands. He asked my friend if he could depend upon -his aid in such case, to which Augustus said, "Yes," without -hesitation. Peters then said he would sound the others of his party -upon the subject, and went away. During the remainder of the day -Augustus had no opportunity of speaking with him privately. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - - -_July 10._ Spoke a brig from Rio, bound to Norfolk. Weather hazy, with -a light baffling wind from the eastward. To-day Hartman Rogers died, -having been attacked on the eighth with spasms after drinking a glass -of grog. This man was of the cook's party, and one upon whom Peters -placed his main reliance. He told Augustus that he believed the mate -had poisoned him, and that he expected, if he did not be on the -look-out, his own turn would come shortly. There were now only himself, -Jones, and the cook belonging to his own gang--on the other side there -were five. He had spoken to Jones about taking the command from the -mate; but the project having been coolly received, he had been deterred -from pressing the matter any further, or from saying anything to the -cook. It was well, as it happened, that he was so prudent, for in the -afternoon the cook expressed his determination of siding with the mate, -and went over formally to that party; while Jones took an opportunity -of quarrelling with Peters, and hinted that he would let the mate know -of the plan in agitation. There was now, evidently, no time to be lost, -and Peters expressed his determination of attempting to take the vessel -at all hazards, provided Augustus would lend him his aid. My friend at -once assured him of his willingness to enter into any plan for that -purpose, and, thinking the opportunity a favourable one, made known the -fact of my being on board. At this the hybrid was not more astonished -than delighted, as he had no reliance whatever upon Jones, whom he -already considered as belonging to the party of the mate. They went -below immediately, when Augustus called to me by name, and Peters and -myself were soon made acquainted. It was agreed that we should attempt -to retake the vessel upon the first good opportunity, leaving Jones -altogether out of our councils. In the event of success we were to run -the brig into the first port that offered, and deliver her up. The -desertion of his party had frustrated Peters's design of going into the -Pacific--an adventure which could not be accomplished without a crew, -and he depended upon either getting acquitted upon trial on the score -of insanity (which he solemnly averred had actuated him in lending his -aid to the mutiny), or upon obtaining a pardon, if found guilty, -through the representations of Augustus and myself. Our deliberations -were interrupted for the present by the cry of "All hands take in -sail," and Peters and Augustus ran up on deck. - -As usual, the crew were nearly all drunk; and, before sail could be -properly taken in, a violent squall laid the brig on her beam-ends. By -keeping her away, however, she righted, having shipped a good deal of -water. Scarcely was everything secure, when another squall took the -vessel, and immediately afterward another--no damage being done. There -was every appearance of a gale of wind, which, indeed, shortly came on, -with great fury, from the northward and westward. All was made as snug -as possible, and we laid to, as usual, under a close-reefed foresail. -As night drew on, the wind increased in violence, with a remarkably -heavy sea. Peters now came into the forecastle with Augustus, and we -resumed our deliberations. - -We agreed that no opportunity could be more favourable than the present -for carrying our design into effect, as an attempt at such a moment -would never be anticipated. As the brig was snugly laid to, there would -be no necessity of manoeuvring her until good weather, when, if we -succeeded in our attempt, we might liberate one, or perhaps two of the -men, to aid us in taking her into port. The main difficulty was the -great disproportion in our forces. There were only three of us, and in -the cabin there were nine. All the arms on board, too, were in their -possession, with the exception of a pair of small pistols which Peters -had concealed about his person, and the large seaman's knife which he -always wore in the waistband of his pantaloons. From certain -indications, too, such, for example, as there being no such thing as an -axe or a handspike lying in their customary places, we began to fear -that the mate had his suspicions, at least in regard to Peters, and -that he would let slip no opportunity of getting rid of him. It was -clear, indeed, that what we should determine to do could not be done -too soon. Still the odds were too much against us to allow of our -proceeding without the greatest caution. - -Peters proposed that he should go up on deck, and enter into -conversation with the watch (Allen), when he would be able to throw him -into the sea without trouble, and without making any disturbance, by -seizing a good opportunity; that Augustus and myself should then come -up, and endeavour to provide ourselves with some kind of weapons from -the deck; and that we should then make a rush together, and secure the -companion-way before any opposition could be offered. I objected to -this, because I could not believe that the mate (who was a cunning -fellow in all matters which did not affect his superstitious -prejudices) would suffer himself to be so easily entrapped. The very -fact of there being a watch on deck at all was sufficient proof that he -was upon the alert--it not being usual, except in vessels where -discipline is most rigidly enforced, to station a watch on deck when a -vessel is lying to in a gale of wind. As I address myself principally, -if not altogether, to persons who have never been to sea, it may be as -well to state the exact condition of a vessel under such circumstances. -Lying to, or, in sea-parlance "laying to," is a measure resorted to for -various purposes, and effected in various manners. In moderate weather, -it is frequently done with a view of merely bringing the vessel to a -stand-still, to wait for another vessel, or any similar object. If the -vessel which lies to is under full sail, the manoeuvre is usually -accomplished by throwing round some portion of her sails so as to let -the wind take them aback, when she becomes stationary. But we are now -speaking of lying to in a gale of wind. This is done when the wind is -ahead, and too violent to admit of carrying sail without danger of -capsizing; and sometimes even when the wind is fair, but the sea too -heavy for the vessel to be put before it. If a vessel be suffered to -scud before the wind in a very heavy sea, much damage is usually done -her by the shipping of water over her stern, and sometimes by the -violent plunges she makes forward. This manoeuvre, then, is seldom -resorted to in such case, unless through necessity. When the vessel is -in a leaky condition, she is often put before the wind even in the -heaviest seas; for, when lying to, her seams are sure to be greatly -opened by her violent straining, and it is not so much the case when -scudding. Often, too, it becomes necessary to scud a vessel, either -when the blast is so exceedingly furious as to tear in pieces the sail -which is employed with a view of bringing her head to the wind, or -when, through the false modelling of the frame or other causes, this -main object cannot be effected. - -Vessels in a gale of wind are laid to in different manners, according -to their peculiar construction. Some lie to best under a foresail, and -this, I believe, is the sail most usually employed. Large square-rigged -vessels have sails for the express purpose, called storm-staysails. But -the jib is occasionally employed by itself--sometimes the jib and -foresail, or a double-reefed foresail, and not unfrequently the -after-sails, are made use of. Foretopsails are very often found to -answer the purpose better than any other species of sail. The Grampus -was generally laid to under a close-reefed foresail. - -When a vessel is to be laid to, her head is brought up to the wind just -so nearly as to fill the sail under which she lies, when hauled flat -aft, that is, when brought diagonally across the vessel. This being -done, the bows point within a few degrees of the direction from which -the wind issues, and the windward bow of course receives the shock of -the waves. In this situation a good vessel will ride out a very heavy -gale of wind without shipping a drop of water, and without any further -attention being requisite on the part of the crew. The helm is usually -lashed down, but this is altogether unnecessary (except on account of -the noise it makes when loose), for the rudder has no effect upon the -vessel when lying to. Indeed, the helm had far better be left loose -than lashed very fast, for the rudder is apt to be torn off by heavy -seas if there be no room for the helm to play. As long as the sail -holds, a well-modelled vessel will maintain her situation, and ride -every sea, as if instinct with life and reason. If the violence of the -wind, however, should tear the sail into pieces (a feat which it -requires a perfect hurricane to accomplish under ordinary -circumstances), there is then imminent danger. The vessel falls off -from the wind, and, coming broadside to the sea, is completely at its -mercy: the only resource in this case is to put her quickly before the -wind, letting her scud until some other sail can be set. Some vessels -will lie to under no sail whatever, but such are not to be trusted at -sea. - -But to return from this digression. It had never been customary with -the mate to have any watch on deck when lying to in a gale of wind, and -the fact that he had now one, coupled with the circumstance of the -missing axes and handspikes, fully convinced us that the crew were too -well on the watch to be taken by surprise in the manner Peters had -suggested. Something, however, was to be done, and that with as little -delay as practicable, for there could be no doubt that a suspicion -having been once entertained against Peters, he would be sacrificed -upon the earliest occasion, and one would certainly be either found or -made upon the breaking of the gale. - -Augustus now suggested that if Peters could contrive to remove, under -any pretext, the piece of chain-cable which lay over the trap in the -stateroom, we might possibly be able to come upon them unawares by -means of the hold; but a little reflection convinced us that the vessel -rolled and pitched too violently for any attempt of that nature. - -By good fortune I at length hit upon the idea of working upon the -superstitious terrors and guilty conscience of the mate. It will be -remembered that one of the crew, Hartman Rogers, had died during the -morning, having been attacked two days before with spasms after -drinking some spirits and water. Peters had expressed to us his opinion -that this man had been poisoned by the mate, and for this belief he had -reasons, so he said, which were incontrovertible, but which he could -not be prevailed upon to explain to us--this wayward refusal being only -in keeping with other points of his singular character. But whether or -not he had any better grounds for suspecting the mate than we had -ourselves, we were easily led to fall in with his suspicion, and -determined to act accordingly. - -Rogers had died about eleven in the forenoon, in violent convulsions; -and the corpse presented in a few minutes after death one of the most -horrid and loathsome spectacles I ever remember to have seen. The -stomach was swollen immensely, like that of a man who has been drowned -and lain under water for many weeks. The hands were in the same -condition, while the face was shrunken, shrivelled, and of a chalky -whiteness, except where relieved by two or three glaring red splotches, -like those occasioned by the erysipelas: one of these splotches -extended diagonally across the face, completely covering up an eye as -if with a band of red velvet. In this disgusting condition the body had -been brought up from the cabin at noon to be thrown overboard, when the -mate getting a glimpse of it (for he now saw it for the first time), -and being either touched with remorse for his crime or struck with -terror at so horrible a sight, ordered the men to sew the body up in -its hammock, and allow it the usual rites of sea-burial. Having given -these directions he went below, as if to avoid any further sight of his -victim. While preparations were making to obey his orders, the gale -came on with great fury, and the design was abandoned for the present. -The corpse, left to itself, was washed into the larboard scuppers, -where it still lay at the time of which I speak, floundering about with -the furious lurches of the brig. - -Having arranged our plan, we set about putting it in execution as -speedily as possible. Peters went upon deck, and, as he had -anticipated, was immediately accosted by Allen, who appeared to be -stationed more as a watch upon the forecastle than for any other -purpose. The fate of this villain, however, was speedily and silently -decided; for Peters, approaching him in a careless manner, as if about -to address him, seized him by the throat, and, before he could utter a -single cry, tossed him over the bulwarks. He then called to us, and we -came up. Our first precaution was to look about for something with -which to arm ourselves, and in doing this we had to proceed with great -care, for it was impossible to stand on deck an instant without holding -fast, and violent seas broke over the vessel at every plunge forward. -It was indispensable, too, that we should be quick in our operations, -for every minute we expected the mate to be up to set the pumps going, -as it was evident the brig must be taking in water very fast. After -searching about for some time, we could find nothing more fit for our -purpose than the two pump-handles, one of which Augustus took, and I -the other. Having secured these, we stripped off the shirt of the -corpse and dropped the body overboard. Peters and myself then went -below, leaving Augustus to watch upon deck, where he took his station -just where Allen had been placed, and with his back to the cabin -companion-way, so that, if any one of the mate's gang should come up, -he might suppose it was the watch. - -As soon as I got below I commenced disguising myself so as to represent -the corpse of Rogers. The shirt which we had taken from the body aided -us very much, for it was of a singular form and character, and easily -recognisable--a kind of smock, which the deceased wore over his other -clothing. It was a blue stockinett, with large white stripes running -across. Having put this on, I proceeded to equip myself with a false -stomach, in imitation of the horrible deformity of the swollen corpse. -This was soon effected by means of stuffing with some bedclothes. I -then gave the same appearance to my hands by drawing on a pair of white -woollen mittens, and filling them in with any kind of rags that offered -themselves. Peters then arranged my face, first rubbing it well over -with white chalk, and afterward splotching it with blood, which he took -from a cut in his finger. The streak across the eye was not forgotten, -and presented a most shocking appearance. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - - -As I viewed myself in a fragment of looking-glass which hung up in the -cabin, and by the dim light of a kind of battle-lantern, I was so -impressed with a sense of vague awe at my appearance, and at the -recollection of the terrific reality which I was thus representing, -that I was seized with a violent tremour, and could scarcely summon -resolution to go on with my part. It was necessary, however, to act -with decision, and Peters and myself went upon deck. - -We there found everything safe, and, keeping close to the bulwarks, the -three of us crept to the cabin companion-way. It was only partially -closed, precautions having been taken to prevent its being suddenly -pushed to from without, by means of placing billets of wood on the -upper step so as to interfere with the shutting. We found no difficulty -in getting a full view of the interior of the cabin through the cracks -where the hinges were placed. It now proved to have been very fortunate -for us that we had not attempted to take them by surprise, for they -were evidently on the alert. Only one was asleep, and he lying just at -the foot of the companion-ladder, with a musket by his side. The rest -were seated on several mattresses, which had been taken from the berths -and thrown on the floor. They were engaged in earnest conversation; and -although they had been carousing, as appeared from two empty jugs, with -some tin tumblers which lay about, they were not as much intoxicated as -usual. All had knives, one or two of them pistols, and a great many -muskets were lying in a berth close at hand. - -We listened to their conversation for some time before we could make up -our minds how to act, having as yet resolved on nothing determinate, -except that we would attempt to paralyze their exertions, when we -should attack them, by means of the apparition of Rogers. They were -discussing their piratical plans, in which all we could hear distinctly -was, that they would unite with the crew of a schooner Hornet, and, if -possible, get the schooner herself into their possession preparatory to -some attempt on a large scale, the particulars of which could not be -made out by either of us. - -One of the men spoke of Peters, when the mate replied to him in a low -voice which could not be distinguished, and afterward added more -loudly, that "he could not understand his being so much forward with -the captain's brat in the forecastle, and he thought the sooner both of -them were overboard the better." To this no answer was made, but we -could easily perceive that the hint was well received by the whole -party, and more particularly by Jones. At this period I was excessively -agitated, the more so as I could see that neither Augustus nor Peters -could determine how to act. I made up my mind, however, to sell my life -as dearly as possible, and not to suffer myself to be overcome by any -feelings of trepidation. - -The tremendous noise made by the roaring of the wind in the rigging and -the washing of the sea over the deck prevented us from hearing what was -said except during momentary lulls. In one of these we all distinctly -heard the mate tell one of the men to "go forward, and order the d----d -lubbers to come into the cabin, where he could have an eye upon them, -for he wanted no such secret doings on board the brig." It was well for -us that the pitching of the vessel at this moment was so violent as to -prevent this order from being carried into instant execution. The cook -got up from his mattress to go for us, when a tremendous lurch, which I -thought would carry away the masts, threw him headlong against one of -the larboard stateroom doors, bursting it open, and creating a good -deal of other confusion. Luckily, neither of our party was thrown from -his position, and we had time to make a precipitate retreat to the -forecastle, and arrange a hurried plan of action before the messenger -made his appearance, or rather before he put his head out of the -companion-hatch, for he did not come on deck. From this station he -could not notice the absence of Allen, and he accordingly bawled out as -if to him, repeating the orders of the mate. Peters cried out, "Ay, -ay," in a disguised voice, and the cook immediately went below, without -entertaining a suspicion that all was not right. - -My two companions now proceeded boldly aft and down into the cabin, -Peters closing the door after him in the same manner he had found it. -The mate received them with feigned cordiality, and told Augustus that, -since he had behaved himself so well of late, he might take up his -quarters in the cabin, and be one of them for the future. He then -poured him out a tumbler half full of rum, and made him drink it. All -this I saw and heard, for I followed my friends to the cabin as soon as -the door was shut, and took up my old point of observation. I had -brought with me the two pump-handles, one of which I secured near the -companion-way, to be ready for use when required. - -I now steadied myself as well as possible so as to have a good view of -all that was passing within, and endeavoured to nerve myself to the -task of descending among the mutineers when Peters should make a signal -to me as agreed upon. Presently he contrived to turn the conversation -upon the bloody deeds of the mutiny, and, by degrees, led the men to -talk of the thousand superstitions which are so universally current -among seamen. I could not make out all that was said, but I could -plainly see the effects of the conversation in the countenances of -those present. The mate was evidently much agitated, and presently, -when some one mentioned the terrific appearance of Rogers's corpse, I -thought he was upon the point of swooning. Peters now asked him if he -did not think it would be better to have the body thrown overboard at -once, as it was too horrible a sight to see it floundering about in the -scuppers. At this the villain absolutely gasped for breath, and turned -his head slowly round upon his companions, as if imploring some one to -go up and perform the task. No one, however, stirred, and it was quite -evident that the whole party were wound up to the highest pitch of -nervous excitement. Peters now made me the signal. I immediately threw -open the door of the companion-way, and, descending without uttering a -syllable, stood erect in the midst of the party. - -The intense effect produced by this sudden apparition is not at all to -be wondered at when the various circumstances are taken into -consideration. Usually, in cases of a similar nature, there is left in -the mind of the spectator some glimmering of doubt as to the reality of -the vision before his eyes; a degree of hope, however feeble, that he -is the victim of chicanery, and that the apparition is not actually a -visitant from the world of shadows. It is not too much to say that such -remnants of doubt have been at the bottom of almost every such -visitation, and that the appalling horror which has sometimes been -brought about, is to be attributed, even in the cases most in point, -and where most suffering has been experienced, more to a kind of -anticipative horror, lest the apparition _might possibly be_ real, than -to an unwavering belief in its reality. But, in the present instance, -it will be seen immediately, that in the minds of the mutineers there -was not even the shadow of a basis upon which to rest a doubt that the -apparition of Rogers was indeed a revivification of his disgusting -corpse, or at least its spiritual image. The isolated situation of the -brig, with its entire inaccessibility on account of the gale, confined -the apparently possible means of deception within such narrow and -definite limits, that they must have thought themselves enabled to -survey them all at a glance. They had now been at sea twenty-four days, -without holding more than a speaking communication with any vessel -whatever. The whole of the crew, too, at least all whom they had the -most remote reason for suspecting to be on board, were assembled in the -cabin, with the exception of Allen, the watch; and his gigantic stature -(he was six feet six inches high) was too familiar in their eyes to -permit the notion that he was the apparition before them to enter their -minds even for an instant. Add to these considerations the -awe-inspiring nature of the tempest, and that of the conversation -brought about by Peters; the deep impression which the loathsomeness of -the actual corpse had made in the morning upon the imaginations of the -men; the excellence of the imitation in my person; and the uncertain -and wavering light in which they beheld me, as the glare of the cabin -lantern, swinging violently to and fro, fell dubiously and fitfully -upon my figure, and there will be no reason to wonder that the -deception had even more than the entire effect which we had -anticipated. The mate sprang up from the mattress on which he was -lying, and, without uttering a syllable, fell back, stone dead, upon -the cabin floor, and was hurled to the leeward like a log by a heavy -roll of the brig. Of the remaining seven there were but three who had -at first any degree of presence of mind. The four others sat for some -time rooted apparently to the floor, the most pitiable objects of -horror and utter despair my eyes ever encountered. The only opposition -we experienced at all was from the cook, John Hunt, and Richard Parker; -but they made but a feeble and irresolute defence. The two former were -shot instantly by Peters, and I felled Parker with a blow on the head -from the pump-handle which I had brought with me. In the mean time -Augustus seized one of the muskets lying on the floor, and shot another -mutineer (---- Wilson) through the breast. There were now but three -remaining; but by this time they had become aroused from their -lethargy, and perhaps began to see that a deception had been practised -upon them, for they fought with great resolution and fury, and, but for -the immense muscular strength of Peters, might have ultimately got the -better of us. These three men were ---- Jones, ---- Greely, and Absalom -Hicks. Jones had thrown Augustus on the floor, stabbed him in several -places along the right arm, and would no doubt have soon despatched him -(as neither Peters nor myself could immediately get rid of our own -antagonists), had it not been for the timely aid of a friend upon whose -assistance we surely had never depended. This friend was no other than -Tiger. With a low growl he bounded into the cabin, at a most critical -moment for Augustus, and throwing himself upon Jones, pinned him to the -floor in an instant. My friend, however, was now too much injured to -render us any aid whatever, and I was so encumbered with my disguise -that I could do but little. The dog would not leave his hold upon the -throat of Jones--Peters, nevertheless, was far more than a match for -the two men who remained, and would, no doubt, have despatched them -sooner, had it not been for the narrow space in which he had to act, -and the tremendous lurches of the vessel. Presently he was enabled to -get hold of a heavy stool, several of which lay about the floor. With -this he beat out the brains of Greely as he was in the act of -discharging a musket at me, and immediately afterward a roll of the -brig throwing him in contact with Hicks, he seized him by the throat, -and, by dint of sheer strength, strangled him instantaneously. Thus, in -far less time than I have taken to tell it, we found ourselves masters -of the brig. - -The only person of our opponents who was left alive was Richard Parker. -This man, it will be remembered, I had knocked down with a blow from -the pump-handle at the commencement of the attack. He now lay -motionless by the door of the shattered stateroom; but, upon Peters -touching him with his foot, he spoke, and entreated for mercy. His head -was only slightly cut, and otherwise he had received no injury, having -been merely stunned by the blow. He now got up, and, for the present, -we secured his hands behind his back. The dog was still growling over -Jones; but, upon examination, we found him completely dead, the blood -issuing in a stream from a deep wound in the throat, inflicted, no -doubt, by the sharp teeth of the animal. - -It was now about one o'clock in the morning, and the wind was still -blowing tremendously. The brig evidently laboured much more than usual, -and it became absolutely necessary that something should be done with a -view of easing her in some measure. At almost every roll to leeward she -shipped a sea, several of which came partially down into the cabin -during our scuffle, the hatchway having been left open by myself when I -descended. The entire range of bulwarks to larboard had been swept -away, as well as the caboose, together with the jollyboat from the -counter. The creaking and working of the mainmast, too, gave indication -that it was nearly sprung. To make room for more stowage in the after -hold, the heel of this mast had been stepped between decks (a very -reprehensible practice, occasionally resorted to by ignorant -ship-builders), so that it was in imminent danger of working from its -step. But, to crown all our difficulties, we plummed the well, and -found no less than seven feet water. - -Leaving the bodies of the crew lying in the cabin, we got to work -immediately at the pumps--Parker, of course, being set at liberty to -assist us in the labour. Augustus's arm was bound up as well as we -could effect it, and he did what he could, but that was not much. -However, we found that we could just manage to keep the leak from -gaining upon us by having one pump constantly going. As there were only -four of us, this was severe labour; but we endeavoured to keep up our -spirits, and looked anxiously for daybreak, when we hoped to lighten -the brig by cutting away the mainmast. - -In this manner we passed a night of terrible anxiety and fatigue, and, -when the day at length broke, the gale had neither abated in the least, -nor were there any signs of its abating. We now dragged the bodies on -deck and threw them overboard. Our next care was to get rid of the -mainmast. The necessary preparations having been made, Peters cut away -at the mast (having found axes in the cabin), while the rest of us -stood by the stays and lanyards. As the brig gave a tremendous -lee-lurch, the word was given to cut away the weather-lanyards, which -being done, the whole mass of wood and rigging plunged into the sea, -clear of the brig, and without doing any material injury. We now found -that the vessel did not labour quite as much as before, but our -situation was still exceedingly precarious, and, in spite of the utmost -exertions, we could not gain upon the leak without the aid of both -pumps. The little assistance which Augustus could render us was not -really of any importance. To add to our distress, a heavy sea, striking -the brig to windward, threw her off several points from the wind, and, -before she could regain her position, another broke completely over -her, and hurled her full upon her beam-ends. The ballast now shifted in -a mass to leeward (the stowage had been knocking about perfectly at -random for some time), and for a few moments we thought nothing could -save us from capsizing. Presently, however, we partially righted; but -the ballast still retaining its place to larboard, we lay so much along -that it was useless to think of working the pumps, which indeed we -could not have done much longer in any case, as our hands were entirely -raw with the excessive labour we had undergone, and were bleeding in -the most horrible manner. - -Contrary to Parker's advice, we now proceeded to cut away the foremast, -and at length accomplished it after much difficulty, owing to the -position in which we lay. In going overboard the wreck took with it the -bowsprit, and left us a complete hulk. - -So far we had had reason to rejoice in the escape of our longboat, -which had received no damage from any of the huge seas which had come -on board. But we had not long to congratulate ourselves; for the -foremast having gone, and, of course, the foresail with it, by which -the brig had been steadied, every sea now made a complete breach over -us, and in five minutes our deck was swept from stem to stern, the -longboat and starboard bulwarks torn off, and even the windlass -shattered into fragments. It was, indeed, hardly possible for us to be -in a more pitiable condition. - -At noon there seemed to be some slight appearance of the gale's -abating, but in this we were sadly disappointed, for it only lulled for -a few minutes to blow with redoubled fury. About four in the afternoon -it was utterly impossible to stand up against the violence of the -blast; and, as the night closed in upon us, I had not a shadow of hope -that the vessel would hold together until morning. - -By midnight we had settled very deep in the water, which was now up to -the orlop deck. The rudder went soon afterward, the sea which tore it -away lifting the after portion of the brig entirely from the water, -against which she thumped in her descent with such a concussion as -would be occasioned by going ashore. We had all calculated that the -rudder would hold its own to the last, as it was unusually strong, -being rigged as I have never seen one rigged either before or since. -Down its main timber there ran a succession of stout iron hooks, and -others in the same manner down the stern-post. Through these hooks -there extended a very thick wrought-iron rod, the rudder being thus -held to the stern-post, and swinging freely on the rod. The tremendous -force of the sea which tore it off may be estimated by the fact, that -the hooks in the stern-post, which ran entirely through it, being -clinched on the inside, were drawn every one of them completely out of -the solid wood. - -We had scarcely time to draw breath after the violence of this shock, -when one of the most tremendous waves I had then ever known broke right -on board of us, sweeping the companion-way clear off, bursting in the -hatchways, and filling every inch of the vessel with water. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - - -Luckily, just before night, all four of us had lashed ourselves firmly -to the fragments of the windlass, lying in this manner as flat upon the -deck as possible. This precaution alone saved us from destruction. As -it was, we were all more or less stunned by the immense weight of water -which tumbled upon us, and which did not roll from above us until we -were nearly exhausted. As soon as I could recover breath, I called -aloud to my companions. Augustus alone replied, saying, "It is all over -with us, and may God have mercy upon our souls." By-and-by both the -others were enabled to speak, when they exhorted us to take courage, as -there was still hope; it being impossible, from the nature of the -cargo, that the brig could go down, and there being every chance that -the gale would blow over by the morning. These words inspired me with -new life; for, strange as it may seem, although it was obvious that a -vessel with a cargo of empty oil-casks would not sink, I had been -hitherto so confused in mind as to have overlooked this consideration -altogether; and the danger which I had for some time regarded as the -most imminent was that of foundering. As hope revived within me, I made -use of every opportunity to strengthen the lashings which held me to -the remains of the windlass, and in this occupation I soon discovered -that my companions were also busy. The night was as dark as it could -possibly be, and the horrible shrieking din and confusion which -surrounded us it is useless to attempt describing. Our deck lay level -with the sea, or rather we were encircled with a towering ridge of -foam, a portion of which swept over us every instant. It is not too -much to say that our heads were not fairly out of water more than one -second in three. Although we lay close together, no one of us could see -the other, or, indeed, any portion of the brig itself, upon which we -were so tempestuously hurled about. At intervals we called one to the -other, thus endeavouring to keep alive hope, and render consolation and -encouragement to such of us as stood most in need of it. The feeble -condition of Augustus made him an object of solicitude with us all; and -as, from the lacerated condition of his right arm, it must have been -impossible for him to secure his lashings with any degree of firmness, -we were in momentary expectation of finding that he had gone -overboard--yet to render him aid was a thing altogether out of the -question. Fortunately, his station was more secure than that of any of -the rest of us; for the upper part of his body lying just beneath a -portion of the shattered windlass, the seas, as they tumbled in upon -him, were greatly broken in their violence. In any other situation than -this (into which he had been accidentally thrown after having lashed -himself in a very exposed spot) he must inevitably have perished before -morning. Owing to the brig's lying so much along, we were all less -liable to be washed off than otherwise would have been the case. The -heel, as I have before stated, was to larboard, about one half of the -deck being constantly under water. The seas, therefore, which struck us -to starboard were much broken by the vessel's side, only reaching us in -fragments as we lay flat on our faces; while those which came from -larboard, being what are called back-water seas, and obtaining little -hold upon us on account of our posture, had not sufficient force to -drag us from our fastenings. - -In this frightful situation we lay until the day broke so as to show us -more fully the horrors which surrounded us. The brig was a mere log, -rolling about at the mercy of every wave; the gale was upon the -increase, if anything, blowing indeed a complete hurricane, and there -appeared to us no earthly prospect of deliverance. For several hours we -held on in silence, expecting every moment that our lashings would -either give way, that the remains of the windlass would go by the -board, or that some of the huge seas, which roared in every direction -around us and above us, would drive the hulk so far beneath the water -that we should be drowned before it could regain the surface. By the -mercy of God, however, we were preserved from these imminent dangers, -and about midday were cheered by the light of the blessed sun. Shortly -afterward we could perceive a sensible diminution in the force of the -wind, when, now for the first time since the latter part of the evening -before, Augustus spoke, asking Peters, who lay closest to him, if he -thought there was any possibility of our being saved. As no reply was -at first made to this question, we all concluded that the hybrid had -been drowned where he lay; but presently, to our great joy, he spoke, -although very feebly, saying that he was in great pain, being so cut by -the tightness of his lashings across the stomach, that he must either -find means of loosening them or perish, as it was impossible that he -could endure his misery much longer. This occasioned us great distress, -as it was altogether useless to think of aiding him in any manner while -the sea continued washing over us as it did. We exhorted him to bear -his sufferings with fortitude, and promised to seize the first -opportunity which should offer itself to relieve him. He replied that -it would soon be too late; that it would be all over with him before we -could help him; and then, after moaning for some minutes, lay silent, -when we concluded that he had perished. - -As the evening drew on, the sea had fallen so much that scarcely more -than one wave broke over the hulk from windward in the course of five -minutes, and the wind had abated a great deal, although still blowing a -severe gale. I had not heard any of my companions speak for hours, and -now called to Augustus. He replied, although very feebly, so that I -could not distinguish what he said. I then spoke to Peters and to -Parker, neither of whom returned any answer. - -Shortly after this period I fell into a state of partial insensibility, -during which the most pleasing images floated in my imagination; such -as green trees, waving meadows of ripe grain, processions of dancing -girls, troops of cavalry, and other phantasies. I now remember that, in -all which passed before my mind's eye, _motion_ was a predominant idea. -Thus, I never fancied any stationary object, such as a house, a -mountain, or anything of that kind; but windmills, ships, large birds, -balloons, people on horseback, carriages driving furiously, and similar -moving objects, presented themselves in endless succession. When I -recovered from this state, the sun was, as near as I could guess, an -hour high. I had the greatest difficulty in bringing to recollection -the various circumstances connected with my situation, and for some -time remained firmly convinced that I was still in the hold of the -brig, near the box, and that the body of Parker was that of Tiger. - -When I at length completely came to my senses, I found that the wind -blew no more than a moderate breeze, and that the sea was comparatively -calm; so much so that it only washed over the brig amidships. My left -arm had broken loose from its lashings, and was much cut about the -elbow; my right was entirely benumbed, and the hand and wrist swollen -prodigiously by the pressure of the rope, which had worked from the -shoulder downward. I was also in great pain from another rope which -went about my waist, and had been drawn to an insufferable degree of -tightness. Looking round upon my companions, I saw that Peters still -lived, although a thick line was pulled so forcibly around his loins as -to give him the appearance of being cut nearly in two; as I stirred, he -made a feeble motion to me with his hand, pointing to the rope. -Augustus gave no indication of life whatever, and was bent nearly -double across a splinter of the windlass. Parker spoke to me when he -saw me moving, and asked me if I had not sufficient strength to release -him from his situation; saying, that if I would summon up what spirits -I could, and contrive to untie him, we might yet save our lives; but -that otherwise we must all perish. I told him to take courage, and I -would endeavour to free him. Feeling in my pantaloons' pocket, I got -hold of my penknife, and, after several ineffectual attempts, at length -succeeded in opening it. I then, with my left hand, managed to free my -right from its fastenings, and afterward cut the other ropes which held -me. Upon attempting, however, to move from my position, I found that my -legs failed me altogether, and that I could not get up; neither could I -move my right arm in any direction. Upon mentioning this to Parker, he -advised me to lie quiet for a few minutes, holding on to the windlass -with my left hand, so as to allow time for the blood to circulate. -Doing this, the numbness presently began to die away, so that I could -move first one of my legs, and then the other; and, shortly afterward, -I regained the partial use of my right arm. I now crawled with great -caution towards Parker, without getting on my legs, and soon cut loose -all the lashings about him, when, after a short delay, he also -recovered the partial use of his limbs. We now lost no time in getting -loose the rope from Peters. It had cut a deep gash through the -waistband of his woollen pantaloons, and through two shirts, and made -its way into his groin, from which the blood flowed out copiously as we -removed the cordage. No sooner had we removed it, however, than he -spoke, and seemed to experience instant relief--being able to move with -much greater ease than either Parker or myself--this was no doubt owing -to the discharge of blood. - -We had little hope that Augustus would recover, as he evinced no signs -of life; but, upon getting to him, we discovered that he had merely -swooned from loss of blood, the bandages we had placed around his -wounded arm having been torn off by the water; none of the ropes which -held him to the windlass were drawn sufficiently tight to occasion his -death. Having relieved him from the fastenings, and got him clear of -the broken wood about the windlass, we secured him in a dry place to -windward, with his head somewhat lower than his body, and all three of -us busied ourselves in chafing his limbs. In about half an hour he came -to himself, although it was not until the next morning that he gave -signs of recognising any of us, or had sufficient strength to speak. By -the time we had thus got clear of our lashings it was quite dark, and -it began to cloud up, so that we were again in the greatest agony lest -it should come on to blow hard, in which event nothing could have saved -us from perishing, exhausted as we were. By good fortune it continued -very moderate during the night, the sea subsiding every minute, which -gave us great hopes of ultimate preservation. A gentle breeze still -blew from the N. W., but the weather was not at all cold. Augustus was -lashed carefully to windward in such a manner as to prevent him from -slipping overboard with the rolls of the vessel, as he was still too -weak to hold on at all. For ourselves there was no such necessity. We -sat close together, supporting each other with the aid of the broken -ropes about the windlass, and devising methods of escape from our -frightful situation. We derived much comfort from taking off our -clothes and wringing the water from them. When we put them on after -this, they felt remarkably warm and pleasant, and served to invigorate -us in no little degree. We helped Augustus off with his, and wrung them -for him, when he experienced the same comfort. - -Our chief sufferings were now those of hunger and thirst, and, when we -looked forward to the means of relief in this respect, our hearts sunk -within us, and we were induced to regret that we had escaped the less -dreadful perils of the sea. We endeavoured, however, to console -ourselves with the hope of being speedily picked up by some vessel, and -encouraged each other to bear with fortitude the evils that might -happen. - -The morning of the fourteenth at length dawned, and the weather still -continued clear and pleasant, with a steady but very light breeze from -the N. W. The sea was now quite smooth, and as, from some cause which -we could not determine, the brig did not lie so much along as she had -done before, the deck was comparatively dry, and we could move about -with freedom. We had now been better than three entire days and nights -without either food or drink, and it became absolutely necessary that -we should make an attempt to get up something from below. As the brig -was completely full of water, we went to this work despondingly, and -with but little expectation of being able to obtain anything. We made a -kind of drag by driving some nails which we broke out from the remains -of the companion-hatch into two pieces of wood. Tying these across each -other, and fastening them to the end of a rope, we threw them into the -cabin, and dragged them to and fro, in the faint hope of being thus -able to entangle some article which might be of use to us for food, or -which might at least render us assistance in getting it. We spent the -greater part of the morning in this labour without effect, fishing up -nothing more than a few bedclothes, which were readily caught by the -nails. Indeed, our contrivance was so very clumsy, that any greater -success was hardly to be anticipated. - -We now tried the forecastle, but equally in vain, and were upon the -brink of despair, when Peters proposed that we should fasten a rope to -his body, and let him make an attempt to get up something by diving -into the cabin. This proposition we hailed with all the delight which -reviving hope could inspire. He proceeded immediately to strip off his -clothes with the exception of his pantaloons; and a strong rope was -then carefully fastened around his middle, being brought up over his -shoulders in such a manner that there was no possibility of its -slipping. The undertaking was one of great difficulty and danger; for, -as we could hardly expect to find much, if any provision in the cabin -itself, it was necessary that the diver, after letting himself down, -should make a turn to the right, and proceed under water a distance of -ten or twelve feet, in a narrow passage, to the storeroom, and return, -without drawing breath. - -Everything being ready, Peters now descended into the cabin, going down -the companion-ladder until the water reached his chin. He then plunged -in, head first, turning to the right as he plunged, and endeavouring to -make his way to the storeroom. In this first attempt, however, he was -altogether unsuccessful. In less than half a minute after his going -down we felt the rope jerked violently (the signal we had agreed upon -when he desired to be drawn up). We accordingly drew him up instantly, -but so incautiously as to bruise him badly against the ladder. He had -brought nothing with him, and had been unable to penetrate more than a -very little way into the passage, owing to the constant exertions he -found it necessary to make in order to keep himself from floating up -against the deck. Upon getting out he was very much exhausted, and had -to rest full fifteen minutes before he could again venture to descend. - -The second attempt met with even worse success; for he remained so long -under water without giving the signal, that, becoming alarmed for his -safety, we drew him out without it, and found that he was almost at the -last gasp, having, as he said, repeatedly jerked at the rope without -our feeling it. This was probably owing to a portion of it having -become entangled in the balustrade at the foot of the ladder. This -balustrade was, indeed, so much in the way, that we determined to -remove it, if possible, before proceeding with our design. As we had no -means of getting it away except by main force, we all descended into -the water as far as we could on the ladder, and, giving a pull against -it with our united strength, succeeded in breaking it down. - -The third attempt was equally unsuccessful with the two first, and it -now became evident that nothing could be done in this manner without -the aid of some weight with which the diver might steady himself, and -keep to the floor of the cabin while making his search. For a long time -we looked about in vain for something which might answer this purpose; -but at length, to our great joy, we discovered one of the -weather-forechains so loose that we had not the least difficulty in -wrenching it off. Having fastened this securely to one of his ancles, -Peters now made his fourth descent into the cabin, and this time -succeeded in making his way to the door of the steward's room. To his -inexpressible grief, however, he found it locked, and was obliged to -return without effecting an entrance, as, with the greatest exertion, -he could remain under water not more, at the utmost extent, than a -single minute. Our affairs now looked gloomy indeed, and neither -Augustus nor myself could refrain from bursting into tears, as we -thought of the host of difficulties which encompassed us, and the -slight probability which existed of our finally making an escape. But -this weakness was not of long duration. Throwing ourselves on our knees -to God, we implored his aid in the many dangers which beset us; and -arose with renewed hope and vigour to think what could yet be done by -mortal means towards accomplishing our deliverance. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - - -Shortly afterward an incident occurred which I am induced to look upon -as more intensely productive of emotion, as far more replete with the -extremes first of delight and then of horror, than even any of the -thousand chances which afterward befell me in nine long years, crowded -with events of the most startling, and, in many cases, of the most -unconceived and unconceivable character. We were lying on the deck near -the companion-way, and debating the possibility of yet making our way -into the storeroom, when, looking towards Augustus, who lay fronting -myself, I perceived that he had become all at once deadly pale, and -that his lips were quivering in the most singular and unaccountable -manner. Greatly alarmed, I spoke to him, but he made me no reply, and I -was beginning to think that he was suddenly taken ill, when I took -notice of his eyes, which were glaring apparently at some object behind -me. I turned my head, and shall never forget the ecstatic joy which -thrilled through every particle of my frame, when I perceived a large -brig bearing down upon us, and not more than a couple of miles off. I -sprung to my feet as if a musket bullet had suddenly struck me to the -heart; and, stretching out my arms in the direction of the vessel, -stood in this manner, motionless, and unable to articulate a syllable. -Peters and Parker were equally affected, although in different ways. -The former danced about the deck like a madman, uttering the most -extravagant rhodomontades, intermingled with howls and imprecations, -while the latter burst into tears, and continued for many minutes -weeping like a child. - -The vessel in sight was a large hermaphrodite brig, of a Dutch build, -and painted black, with a tawdry gilt figurehead. She had evidently -seen a good deal of rough weather, and, we supposed, had suffered much -in the gale which had proved so disastrous to ourselves; for her -foretopmast was gone, and some of her starboard bulwarks. When we first -saw her, she was, as I have already said, about two miles off and to -windward, bearing down upon us. The breeze was very gentle, and what -astonished us chiefly was, that she had no other sails set than her -foresail and mainsail, with a flying jib--of course she came down but -slowly, and our impatience amounted nearly to phrensy. The awkward -manner in which she steered, too, was remarked by all of us, even -excited as we were. She yawed about so considerably, that once or twice -we thought it impossible she could see us, or imagined that, having -seen us, and discovered no person on board, she was about to tack and -make off in another direction. Upon each of these occasions we screamed -and shouted at the top of our voices, when the stranger would appear to -change for a moment her intention, and again hold on towards us--this -singular conduct being repeated two or three times, so that at last we -could think of no other manner of accounting for it than by supposing -the helmsman to be in liquor. - -No person was seen upon her decks until she arrived within about a -quarter of a mile of us. We then saw three seamen, whom by their dress -we took to be Hollanders. Two of these were lying on some old sails -near the forecastle, and the third, who appeared to be looking at us -with great curiosity, was leaning over the starboard bow near the -bowsprit. This last was a stout and tall man, with a very dark skin. He -seemed by his manner to be encouraging us to have patience, nodding to -us in a cheerful although rather odd way, and smiling constantly so as -to display a set of the most brilliantly white teeth. As his vessel -drew nearer, we saw a red flannel cap which he had on fall from his -head into the water; but of this he took little or no notice, -continuing his odd smiles and gesticulations. I relate these things and -circumstances minutely, and I relate them, it must be understood, -precisely as they _appeared_ to us. - -The brig came on slowly, and now more steadily than before, and--I -cannot speak calmly of this event--our hearts leaped up wildly within -us, and we poured out our whole souls in shouts and thanksgiving to God -for the complete, unexpected, and glorious deliverance that was so -palpably at hand. Of a sudden, and all at once, there came wafted over -the ocean from the strange vessel (which was now close upon us) a -smell, a stench, such as the whole world has no name for--no conception -of--hellish--utterly suffocating--insufferable, inconceivable. I gasped -for breath, and, turning to my companions, perceived that they were -paler than marble. But we had now no time left for question or -surmise--the brig was within fifty feet of us, and it seemed to be her -intention to run under our counter, that we might board her without her -putting out a boat. We rushed aft, when, suddenly, a wide yaw threw her -off full five or six points from the course she had been running, and, -as she passed under our stern at the distance of about twenty feet, we -had a full view of her decks. Shall I ever forget the triple horror of -that spectacle? Twenty-five or thirty human bodies, among whom were -several females, lay scattered about between the counter and the -galley, in the last and most loathsome state of putrefaction! We -plainly saw that not a soul lived in that fated vessel! Yet we could -not help shouting to the dead for help! Yes, long and loudly did we -beg, in the agony of the moment, that those silent and disgusting -images would stay for us, would not abandon us to become like them, -would receive us among their goodly company! We were raving with horror -and despair--thoroughly mad through the anguish of our grievous -disappointment. - -As our first loud yell of terror broke forth, it was replied to by -something, from near the bowsprit of the stranger, so closely -resembling the scream of a human voice that the nicest ear might have -been startled and deceived. At this instant another sudden yaw brought -the region of the forecastle for a moment into view, and we beheld at -once the origin of the sound. We saw the tall stout figure still -leaning on the bulwark, and still nodding his head to and fro, but his -face was now turned from us so that we could not behold it. His arms -were extended over the rail, and the palms of his hands fell outward. -His knees were lodged upon a stout rope, tightly stretched, and -reaching from the heel of the bowsprit to a cathead. On his back, from -which a portion of the shirt had been torn, leaving it bare, there sat -a huge seagull, busily gorging itself with the horrible flesh, its bill -and talons deep buried, and its white plumage spattered all over with -blood. As the brig moved further round so as to bring us close in view, -the bird, with much apparent difficulty, drew out its crimsoned head, -and, after eying us for a moment as if stupified, arose lazily from the -body upon which it had been feasting, and, flying directly above our -deck, hovered there a while with a portion of clotted and liver-like -substance in its beak. The horrid morsel dropped at length with a -sullen splash immediately at the feet of Parker. May God forgive me, -but now, for the first time, there flashed through my mind a thought, a -thought which I will not mention, and I felt myself making a step -towards the ensanguined spot. I looked upward, and the eyes of Augustus -met my own with a degree of intense and eager meaning which immediately -brought me to my senses. I sprang forward quickly, and, with a deep -shudder, threw the frightful thing into the sea. - -The body from which it had been taken, resting as it did upon the rope, -had been easily swayed to and fro by the exertions of the carnivorous -bird, and it was this motion which had at first impressed us with the -belief of its being alive. As the gull relieved it of its weight, it -swung round and fell partially over, so that the face was fully -discovered. Never, surely, was any object so terribly full of awe! The -eyes were gone, and the whole flesh around the mouth, leaving the teeth -utterly naked. This, then, was the smile which had cheered us on to -hope! this the--but I forbear. The brig, as I have already told, passed -under our stern, and made its way slowly but steadily to leeward. With -her and with her terrible crew went all our gay visions of deliverance -and joy. Deliberately as she went by, we might possibly have found -means of boarding her, had not our sudden disappointment, and the -appalling nature of the discovery which accompanied it, laid entirely -prostrate every active faculty of mind and body. We had seen and felt, -but we could neither think nor act, until, alas, too late. How much our -intellects had been weakened by this incident may be estimated by the -fact, that, when the vessel had proceeded so far that we could perceive -no more than the half of her hull, the proposition was seriously -entertained of attempting to overtake her by swimming! - -I have, since this period, vainly endeavoured to obtain some clew to -the hideous uncertainty which enveloped the fate of the stranger. Her -build and general appearance, as I have before stated, led us to the -belief that she was a Dutch trader, and the dresses of the crew also -sustained this opinion. We might have easily seen the name upon her -stern, and, indeed, taken other observations which would have guided us -in making out her character; but the intense excitement of the moment -blinded us to everything of that nature. From the saffron-like hue of -such of the corpses as were not entirely decayed, we concluded that the -whole of her company had perished by the yellow fever, or some other -virulent disease of the same fearful kind. If such were the case (and I -know not what else to imagine), death, to judge from the positions of -the bodies, must have come upon them in a manner awfully sudden and -overwhelming, in a way totally distinct from that which generally -characterizes even the most deadly pestilences with which mankind are -acquainted. It is possible, indeed, that poison, accidentally -introduced into some of their sea-stores, may have brought about the -disaster; or that the eating some unknown venomous species of fish, or -other marine animal, or oceanic bird, might have induced it--but it is -utterly useless to form conjectures where all is involved, and will, no -doubt, remain for ever involved, in the most appalling and unfathomable -mystery. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - - -We spent the remainder of the day in a condition of stupid lethargy, -gazing after the retreating vessel until the darkness, hiding her from -our sight, recalled us in some measure to our senses. The pangs of -hunger and thirst then returned, absorbing all other cares and -considerations. Nothing, however, could be done until the morning, and, -securing ourselves as well as possible, we endeavoured to snatch a -little repose. In this I succeeded beyond my expectation, sleeping -until my companions, who had not been so fortunate, aroused me at -daybreak to renew our attempts at getting up provision from the hull. - -It was now a dead calm, with the sea as smooth as I have ever known -it--the weather warm and pleasant. The brig was out of sight. We -commenced our operations by wrenching off, with some trouble, another -of the forechains; and having fastened both to Peters's feet, he again -made an endeavour to reach the door of the storeroom, thinking it -possible that he might be able to force it open, provided he could get -at it in sufficient time; and this he hoped to do, as the hulk lay much -more steadily than before. - -He succeeded very quickly in reaching the door, when, loosening one of -the chains from his ankle, he made every exertion to force a passage -with it, but in vain, the framework of the room being far stronger than -was anticipated. He was quite exhausted with his long stay under water, -and it became absolutely necessary that some other one of us should -take his place. For this service Parker immediately volunteered; but, -after making three ineffectual efforts, found that he could never even -succeed in getting near the door. The condition of Augustus's wounded -arm rendered it useless for him to attempt going down, as he would be -unable to force the room open should he reach it, and it accordingly -now devolved upon me to exert myself for our common deliverance. - -Peters had left one of the chains in the passage, and I found, upon -plunging in, that I had not sufficient ballast to keep me firmly down. -I determined, therefore, to attempt no more, in my first effort, than -merely to recover the other chain. In groping along the floor of the -passage for this I felt a hard substance, which I immediately grasped, -not having time to ascertain what it was, but returning and ascending -instantly to the surface. The prize proved to be a bottle, and our joy -may be conceived when I say that it was found to be full of Port wine. -Giving thanks to God for this timely and cheering assistance, we -immediately drew the cork with my penknife, and, each taking a moderate -sup, felt the most indescribable comfort from the warmth, strength, and -spirits with which it inspired us. We then carefully recorked the -bottle, and, by means of a handkerchief, swung it in such a manner that -there was no possibility of its getting broken. - -Having rested a while after this fortunate discovery, I again -descended, and now recovered the chain, with which I instantly came up. -I then fastened it on and went down for the third time, when I became -fully satisfied that no exertions whatever, in that situation, would -enable me to force open the door of the storeroom. I therefore returned -in despair. - -There seemed now to be no longer any room for hope, and I could -perceive in the countenances of my companions that they had made up -their minds to perish. The wine had evidently produced in them a -species of delirium, which, perhaps, I had been prevented from feeling -by the immersion I had undergone since drinking it. They talked -incoherently, and about matters unconnected with our condition, Peters -repeatedly asking me questions about Nantucket. Augustus, too, I -remember, approached me with a serious air, and requested me to lend -him a pocket-comb, as his hair was full of fish scales, and he wished -to get them out before going on shore. Parker appeared somewhat less -affected, and urged me to dive at random into the cabin, and bring up -any article which might come to hand. To this I consented, and, in the -first attempt, after staying under a full minute, brought up a small -leather trunk belonging to Captain Barnard. This was immediately opened -in the faint hope that it might contain something to eat or drink. We -found nothing, however, except a box of razors and two linen shirts. I -now went down again, and returned without any success. As my head came -above water I heard a crash on deck, and, upon getting up, saw that my -companions had ungratefully taken advantage of my absence to drink the -remainder of the wine, having let the bottle fall in the endeavour to -replace it before I saw them. I remonstrated with them on the -heartlessness of their conduct, when Augustus burst into tears. The -other two endeavoured to laugh the matter off as a joke, but I hope -never again to behold laughter of such a species: the distortion of -countenance was absolutely frightful. Indeed, it was apparent that the -stimulus, in the empty state of their stomachs, had taken instant and -violent effect, and that they were all exceedingly intoxicated. With -great difficulty I prevailed upon them to lie down, when they fell very -soon into a heavy slumber, accompanied with loud stertorous breathing. - -I now found myself, as it were, alone in the brig, and my reflections, -to be sure, were of the most fearful and gloomy nature. No prospect -offered itself to my view but a lingering death by famine, or, at the -best, by being overwhelmed in the first gale which should spring up, -for in our present exhausted condition we could have no hope of living -through another. - -The gnawing hunger which I now experienced was nearly insupportable, -and I felt myself capable of going to any lengths in order to appease -it. With my knife I cut off a small portion of the leather trunk, and -endeavoured to eat it, but found it utterly impossible to swallow a -single morsel, although I fancied that some little alleviation of my -suffering was obtained by chewing small pieces of it and spitting them -out. Towards night my companions awoke, one by one, each in an -indescribable state of weakness and horror, brought on by the wine, -whose fumes had now evaporated. They shook as if with a violent ague, -and uttered the most lamentable cries for water. Their condition -affected me in the most lively degree, at the same time causing me to -rejoice in the fortunate train of circumstances which had prevented me -from indulging in the wine, and consequently from sharing their -melancholy and most distressing sensations. Their conduct, however, -gave me great uneasiness and alarm; for it was evident that, unless -some favourable change took place, they could afford me no assistance -in providing for our common safety. I had not yet abandoned all idea of -being able to get up something from below; but the attempt could not -possibly be resumed until some one of them was sufficiently master of -himself to aid me by holding the end of the rope while I went down. -Parker appeared to be somewhat more in possession of his senses than -the others, and I endeavoured, by every means in my power, to arouse -him. Thinking that a plunge in the seawater might have a beneficial -effect, I contrived to fasten the end of a rope around his body, and -then, leading him to the companion-way (he remaining quite passive all -the while), pushed him in, and immediately drew him out. I had good -reason to congratulate myself upon having made this experiment; for he -appeared much revived and invigorated, and, upon getting out, asked me, -in a rational manner, why I had so served him. Having explained my -object, he expressed himself indebted to me, and said that he felt -greatly better from the immersion, afterward conversing sensibly upon -our situation. We then resolved to treat Augustus and Peters in the -same way, which we immediately did, when they both experienced much -benefit from the shock. This idea of sudden immersion had been -suggested to me by reading in some medical work the good effect of the -shower-bath in a case where the patient was suffering from _mania à -potu_. - -Finding that I could now trust my companions to hold the end of the -rope, I again made three or four plunges into the cabin, although it -was now quite dark, and a gentle but long swell from the northward -rendered the hulk somewhat unsteady. In the course of these attempts I -succeeded in bringing up two case-knives, a three-gallon jug, empty, -and a blanket, but nothing which could serve us for food. I continued -my efforts, after getting these articles, until I was completely -exhausted, but brought up nothing else. During the night Parker and -Peters occupied themselves by turns in the same manner; but nothing -coming to hand, we now gave up this attempt in despair, concluding that -we were exhausting ourselves in vain. - -We passed the remainder of this night in a state of the most intense -mental and bodily anguish that can possibly be imagined. The morning of -the sixteenth at length dawned, and we looked eagerly around the -horizon for relief, but to no purpose. The sea was still smooth, with -only a long swell from the northward, as on yesterday. This was the -sixth day since we had tasted either food or drink, with the exception -of the bottle of Port wine, and it was clear that we could hold out but -a very little while longer unless something could be obtained. I never -saw before, nor wish to see again, human beings so utterly emaciated as -Peters and Augustus. Had I met them on shore in their present condition -I should not have had the slightest suspicion that I had ever beheld -them. Their countenances were totally changed in character, so that I -could not bring myself to believe them really the same individuals with -whom I had been in company but a few days before. Parker, although -sadly reduced, and so feeble that he could not raise his head from his -bosom, was not so far gone as the other two. He suffered with great -patience, making no complaint, and endeavouring to inspire us with hope -in every manner he could devise. For myself, although at the -commencement of the voyage I had been in bad health, and was at all -times of a delicate constitution, I suffered less than any of us, being -much less reduced in frame, and retaining my powers of mind in a -surprising degree, while the rest were completely prostrated in -intellect, and seemed to be brought to a species of second childhood, -generally simpering in their expressions, with idiotic smiles, and -uttering the most absurd platitudes. At intervals, however, they would -appear to revive suddenly, as if inspired all at once with a -consciousness of their condition, when they would spring upon their -feet in a momentary flash of vigour, and speak, for a short period, of -their prospects, in a manner altogether rational, although full of the -most intense despair. It is possible, however, that my companions may -have entertained the same opinion of their own condition as I did of -mine, and that I may have unwittingly been guilty of the same -extravagances and imbecilities as themselves--this is a matter which -cannot be determined. - -About noon Parker declared that he saw land off the larboard quarter, -and it was with the utmost difficulty I could restrain him from -plunging into the sea with the view of swimming towards it. Peters and -Augustus took little notice of what he said, being apparently wrapped -up in moody contemplation. Upon looking in the direction pointed out I -could not perceive the faintest appearance of the shore--indeed, I was -too well aware that we were far from any land to indulge in a hope of -that nature. It was a long time, nevertheless, before I could convince -Parker of his mistake. He then burst into a flood of tears, weeping -like a child, with loud cries and sobs, for two or three hours, when, -becoming exhausted, he fell asleep. - -Peters and Augustus now made several ineffectual efforts to swallow -portions of the leather. I advised them to chew it and spit it out; but -they were too excessively debilitated to be able to follow my advice. I -continued to chew pieces of it at intervals, and found some relief from -so doing; my chief distress was for water, and I was only prevented -from taking a draught from the sea by remembering the horrible -consequences which thus have resulted to others who were similarly -situated with ourselves. - -The day wore on in this manner, when I suddenly discovered a sail to -the eastward, and on our larboard bow. She appeared to be a large ship, -and was coming nearly athwart us, being probably twelve or fifteen -miles distant. None of my companions had as yet discovered her, and I -forbore to tell them of her for the present, lest we might again be -disappointed of relief. At length, upon her getting nearer, I saw -distinctly that she was heading immediately for us, with her light -sails filled. I could now contain myself no longer, and pointed her out -to my fellow-sufferers. They immediately sprang to their feet, again -indulging in the most extravagant demonstrations of joy, weeping, -laughing in an idiotic manner, jumping, stamping upon the deck, tearing -their hair, and praying and cursing by turns. I was so affected by -their conduct, as well as by what I now considered a sure prospect of -deliverance, that I could not refrain from joining in with their -madness, and gave way to the impulses of my gratitude and ecstasy by -lying and rolling on the deck, clapping my hands, shouting, and other -similar acts, until I was suddenly called to my recollection, and once -more to the extreme of human misery and despair, by perceiving the ship -all at once with her stern fully presented towards us, and steering in -a direction nearly opposite to that in which I had at first perceived -her. - -It was some time before I could induce my poor companions to believe -that this sad reverse in our prospects had actually taken place. They -replied to all my assertions with a stare and a gesture implying that -they were not to be deceived by such misrepresentations. The conduct of -Augustus most sensibly affected me. In spite of all I could say or do -to the contrary, he persisted in saying that the ship was rapidly -nearing us, and in making preparations to go on board of her. Some -seaweed floating by the brig, he maintained that it was the ship's -boat, and endeavoured to throw himself upon it, howling and shrieking -in the most heartrending manner, when I forcibly restrained him from -thus casting himself into the sea. - -Having become in some degree pacified, we continued to watch the ship -until we finally lost sight of her, the weather becoming hazy, with a -light breeze springing up. As soon as she was entirely gone, Parker -turned suddenly towards me with an expression of countenance which made -me shudder. There was about him an air of self-possession which I had -not noticed in him until now, and before he opened his lips my heart -told me what he would say. He proposed, in a few words, that one of us -should die to preserve the existence of the others. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - - -I had, for some time past, dwelt upon the prospect of our being reduced -to this last horrible extremity, and had secretly made up my mind to -suffer death in any shape or under any circumstances rather than resort -to such a course. Nor was this resolution in any degree weakened by the -present intensity of hunger under which I laboured. The proposition had -not been heard by either Peters or Augustus. I therefore took Parker -aside; and mentally praying to God for power to dissuade him from the -horrible purpose he entertained, I expostulated with him for a long -time and in the most supplicating manner, begging him in the name of -everything which he held sacred, and urging him by every species of -argument which the extremity of the case suggested, to abandon the -idea, and not to mention it to either of the other two. - -He heard all I said without attempting to controvert any of my -arguments, and I had begun to hope that he would be prevailed upon to -do as I desired. But when I had ceased speaking, he said that he knew -very well all I had said was true, and that to resort to such a course -was the most horrible alternative which could enter into the mind of -man; but that he had now held out as long as human nature could be -sustained; that it was unnecessary for all to perish, when, by the -death of one, it was possible, and even probable, that the rest might -be finally preserved; adding that I might save myself the trouble of -trying to turn him from his purpose, his mind having been thoroughly -made up on the subject even before the appearance of the ship, and that -only her heaving in sight had prevented him from mentioning his -intention at an earlier period. - -I now begged him, if he would not be prevailed upon to abandon his -design, at least to defer it for another day, when some vessel might -come to our relief; again reiterating every argument I could devise, -and which I thought likely to have influence with one of his rough -nature. He said, in reply, that he had not spoken until the very last -possible moment; that he could exist no longer without sustenance of -some kind; and that therefore in another day his suggestion would be -too late, as regarded himself at least. - -Finding that he was not to be moved by anything I could say in a mild -tone, I now assumed a different demeanour, and told him that he must be -aware I had suffered less than any of us from our calamities; that my -health and strength, consequently, were at that moment far better than -his own, or than that either of Peters or Augustus; in short, that I -was in a condition to have my own way by force if I found it necessary; -and that, if he attempted in any manner to acquaint the others with his -bloody and cannibal designs, I would not hesitate to throw him into the -sea. Upon this he immediately seized me by the throat, and drawing a -knife, made several ineffectual efforts to stab me in the stomach; an -atrocity which his excessive debility alone prevented him from -accomplishing. In the mean time, being roused to a high pitch of anger, -I forced him to the vessel's side, with the full intention of throwing -him overboard. He was saved from this fate, however, by the -interference of Peters, who now approached and separated us, asking the -cause of the disturbance. This Parker told before I could find means in -any manner to prevent him. - -The effect of his words was even more terrible than what I had -anticipated. Both Augustus and Peters, who, it seems, had long secretly -entertained the same fearful idea which Parker had been merely the -first to broach, joined with him in his design, and insisted upon its -being immediately carried into effect. I had calculated that one at -least of the two former would be found still possessed of sufficient -strength of mind to side with myself in resisting any attempt to -execute so dreadful a purpose; and, with the aid of either one of them, -I had no fear of being able to prevent its accomplishment. Being -disappointed in this expectation, it became absolutely necessary that I -should attend to my own safety, as a further resistance on my part -might possibly be considered by men in their frightful condition a -sufficient excuse for refusing me fair play in the tragedy that I knew -would speedily be enacted. - -I now told them I was willing to submit to the proposal, merely -requesting a delay of about one hour, in order that the fog which had -gathered around us might have an opportunity of lifting, when it was -possible that the ship we had seen might be again in sight. After great -difficulty I obtained from them a promise to wait thus long; and, as I -had anticipated (a breeze rapidly coming in), the fog lifted before the -hour had expired, when, no vessel appearing in sight, we prepared to -draw lots. - -It is with extreme reluctance that I dwell upon the appalling scene -which ensued; a scene which, with its minutest details, no after events -have been able to efface in the slightest degree from my memory, and -whose stern recollection will imbitter every future moment of my -existence. Let me run over this portion of my narrative with as much -haste as the nature of the events to be spoken of will permit. The only -method we could devise for the terrific lottery, in which we were to -take each a chance, was that of drawing straws. Small splinters of wood -were made to answer our purpose, and it was agreed that I should be the -holder. I retired to one end of the hulk, while my poor companions -silently took up their station in the other with their backs turned -towards me. The bitterest anxiety which I endured at any period of this -fearful drama was while I occupied myself in the arrangement of the -lots. There are few conditions into which man can possibly fall where -he will not feel a deep interest in the preservation of his existence; -an interest momentarily increasing with the frailness of the tenure by -which that existence may be held. But now that the silent, definite, -and stern nature of the business in which I was engaged (so different -from the tumultuous dangers of the storm or the gradually approaching -horrors of famine) allowed me to reflect on the few chances I had of -escaping the most appalling of deaths--a death for the most appalling -of purposes--every particle of that energy which had so long buoyed me -up departed like feathers before the wind, leaving me a helpless prey -to the most abject and pitiable terror. I could not, at first, even -summon up sufficient strength to tear and fit together the small -splinters of wood, my fingers absolutely refusing their office, and my -knees knocking violently against each other. My mind ran over rapidly a -thousand absurd projects by which to avoid becoming a partner in the -awful speculation. I thought of falling on my knees to my companions, -and entreating them to let me escape this necessity; of suddenly -rushing upon them, and, by putting one of them to death, of rendering -the decision by lot useless--in short, of everything but of going -through with the matter I had in hand. At last, after wasting a long -time in this imbecile conduct, I was recalled to my senses by the voice -of Parker, who urged me to relieve them at once from the terrible -anxiety they were enduring. Even then I could not bring myself to -arrange the splinters upon the spot, but thought over every species of -finesse by which I could trick some one of my fellow-sufferers to draw -the short straw, as it had been agreed that whoever drew the shortest -of four splinters from my hand was to die for the preservation of the -rest. Before any one condemn me for this apparent heartlessness, let -him be placed in a situation precisely similar to my own. - -At length delay was no longer possible, and, with a heart almost -bursting from my bosom, I advanced to the region of the forecastle, -where my companions were awaiting me. I held out my hand with the -splinters, and Peters immediately drew. He was free--_his_, at least, -was not the shortest; and there was now another chance against my -escape. I summoned up all my strength, and passed the lots to Augustus. -He also drew immediately, and he also was free; and now, whether I -should live or die, the chances were no more than precisely even. At -this moment all the fierceness of the tiger possessed my bosom, and I -felt towards my poor fellow-creature, Parker, the most intense, the -most diabolical hatred. But the feeling did not last; and, at length, -with a convulsive shudder and closed eyes, I held out the two remaining -splinters towards him. It was full five minutes before he could summon -resolution to draw, during which period of heartrending suspense I -never once opened my eyes. Presently one of the two lots was quickly -drawn from my hand. The decision was then over, yet I knew not whether -it was for me or against me. No one spoke, and still I dared not -satisfy myself by looking at the splinter I held. Peters at length took -me by the hand, and I forced myself to look up, when I immediately saw -by the countenance of Parker that I was safe, and that he it was who -had been doomed to suffer. Gasping for breath, I fell senseless to the -deck. - -I recovered from my swoon in time to behold the consummation of the -tragedy in the death of him who had been chiefly instrumental in -bringing it about. He made no resistance whatever, and was stabbed in -the back by Peters, when he fell instantly dead. I must not dwell upon -the fearful repast which immediately ensued. Such things may be -imagined, but words have no power to impress the mind with the -exquisite horror of their reality. Let it suffice to say that, having -in some measure appeased the raging thirst which consumed us by the -blood of the victim, and having by common consent taken off the hands, -feet, and head, throwing them, together with the entrails, into the -sea, we devoured the rest of the body, piecemeal, during the four ever -memorable days of the seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth, and -twentieth of the month. - -On the nineteenth, there coming on a smart shower which lasted fifteen -or twenty minutes, we contrived to catch some water by means of a sheet -which had been fished up from the cabin by our drag just after the -gale. The quantity we took in all did not amount to more than half a -gallon; but even this scanty allowance supplied us with comparative -strength and hope. - -On the twenty-first we were again reduced to the last necessity. The -weather still remained warm and pleasant, with occasional fogs and -light breezes, most usually from N. to W. - -On the twenty-second, as we were sitting close huddled together, -gloomily revolving over our lamentable condition, there flashed through -my mind all at once an idea which inspired me with a bright gleam of -hope. I remembered that, when the foremast had been cut away, Peters, -being in the windward chains, passed one of the axes into my hand, -requesting me to put it, if possible, in a place of security, and that -a few minutes before the last heavy sea struck the brig and filled her -I had taken this axe into the forecastle, and laid it in one of the -larboard berths. I now thought it possible that, by getting at this -axe, we might cut through the deck over the storeroom, and thus readily -supply ourselves with provisions. - -When I communicated this project to my companions, they uttered a -feeble shout of joy, and we all proceeded forthwith to the forecastle. -The difficulty of descending here was greater than that of going down -in the cabin, the opening being much smaller, for it will be remembered -that the whole framework about the cabin companion-hatch had been -carried away, whereas the forecastle-way, being a simple hatch of only -about three feet square, had remained uninjured. I did not hesitate, -however, to attempt the descent; and, a rope being fastened round my -body as before, I plunged boldly in, feet foremost, made my way quickly -to the berth, and, at the very first attempt, brought up the axe. It -was hailed with the most ecstatic joy and triumph, and the ease with -which it had been obtained was regarded as an omen of our ultimate -preservation. - -We now commenced cutting at the deck with all the energy of rekindled -hope, Peters and myself taking the axe by turns, Augustus's wounded arm -not permitting him to aid us in any degree. As we were still so feeble -as to be scarcely able to stand unsupported, and could consequently -work but a minute or two without resting, it soon became evident that -many long hours would be requisite to accomplish our task--that is, to -cut an opening sufficiently large to admit of a free access to the -storeroom. This consideration, however, did not discourage us; and, -working all night by the light of the moon, we succeeded in effecting -our purpose by daybreak on the morning of the twenty-third. - -Peters now volunteered to go down; and, having made all arrangements as -before, he descended, and soon returned, bringing up with him a small -jar, which, to our great joy, proved to be full of olives. Having -shared these among us, and devoured them with the greatest avidity, we -proceeded to let him down again. This time he succeeded beyond our -utmost expectations, returning instantly with a large ham and a bottle -of Madeira wine. Of the latter we each took a moderate sup, having -learned by experience the pernicious consequences of indulging too -freely. The ham, except about two pounds near the bone, was not in a -condition to be eaten, having been entirely spoiled by the salt water. -The sound part was divided among us. Peters and Augustus, not being -able to restrain their appetite, swallowed theirs upon the instant; but -I was more cautious, and ate but a small portion of mine, dreading the -thirst which I knew would ensue. We now rested a while from our -labours, which had been intolerably severe. - -By noon, feeling somewhat strengthened and refreshed, we again renewed -our attempt at getting up provision, Peters and myself going down -alternately, and always with more or less success, until sundown. -During this interval we had the good fortune to bring up, altogether, -four more small jars of olives, another ham, a carboy containing nearly -three gallons of excellent Cape Madeira wine, and, what gave us still -more delight, a small tortoise of the Gallipago breed, several of which -had been taken on board by Captain Barnard, as the Grampus was leaving -port, from the schooner Mary Pitts, just returned from a sealing voyage -in the Pacific. - -In a subsequent portion of this narrative I shall have frequent -occasion to mention this species of tortoise. It is found principally, -as most of my readers may know, in the group of islands called the -Gallipagos, which, indeed, derive their name from the animal--the -Spanish word Gallipago meaning a fresh-water terapin. From the -peculiarity of their shape and action they have been sometimes called -the elephant tortoise. They are frequently found of an enormous size. I -have myself seen several which would weigh from twelve to fifteen -hundred pounds, although I do not remember that any navigator speaks of -having seen them weighing more than eight hundred. Their appearance is -singular, and even disgusting. Their steps are very slow, measured, and -heavy, their bodies being carried about a foot from the ground. Their -neck is long, and exceedingly slender; from eighteen inches to two feet -is a very common length, and I killed one, where the distance from the -shoulder to the extremity of the head was no less than three feet ten -inches. The head has a striking resemblance to that of a serpent. They -can exist without food for an almost incredible length of time, -instances having been known where they have been thrown into the hold -of a vessel and lain two years without nourishment of any kind--being -as fat, and, in every respect, in as good order at the expiration of -the time as when they were first put in. In one particular these -extraordinary animals bear a resemblance to the dromedary, or camel of -the desert. In a bag at the root of the neck they carry with them a -constant supply of water. In some instances, upon killing them after a -full year's deprivation of all nourishment, as much as three gallons of -perfectly sweet and fresh water have been found in their bags. Their -food is chiefly wild parsley and celery, with purslain, sea-kelp, and -prickly pears, upon which latter vegetable they thrive wonderfully, a -great quantity of it being usually found on the hillsides near the -shore wherever the animal itself is discovered. They are excellent and -highly nutritious food, and have, no doubt, been the means of -preserving the lives of thousands of seamen employed in the -whale-fishery and other pursuits in the Pacific. - -The one which we had the good fortune to bring up from the storeroom -was not of a large size, weighing probably sixty-five or seventy -pounds. It was a female, and in excellent condition, being exceedingly -fat, and having more than a quart of limpid and sweet water in its bag. -This was indeed a treasure; and, falling on our knees with one accord, -we returned fervent thanks to God for so seasonable a relief. - -We had great difficulty in getting the animal up through the opening, -as its struggles were fierce and its strength prodigious. It was upon -the point of making its escape from Peters's grasp, and slipping back -into the water, when Augustus, throwing a rope with a slip-knot around -its throat, held it up in this manner until I jumped into the hole by -the side of Peters, and assisted him in lifting it out. - -The water we drew carefully from the bag into the jug, which, it will -be remembered, had been brought up before from the cabin. Having done -this, we broke off the neck of a bottle so as to form, with the cork, a -kind of glass, holding not quite half a gill. We then each drank one of -these measures full, and resolved to limit ourselves to this quantity -per day as long as it should hold out. - -During the last two or three days, the weather having been dry and -pleasant, the bedding we had obtained from the cabin, as well as our -clothing, had become thoroughly dry, so that we passed this night (that -of the twenty-third) in comparative comfort, enjoying a tranquil -repose, after having supped plentifully on olives and ham, with a small -allowance of the wine. Being afraid of losing some of our stores -overboard during the night, in the event of a breeze springing up, we -secured them as well as possible with cordage to the fragments of the -windlass. Our tortoise, which we were anxious to preserve alive as long -as we could, we threw on his back, and otherwise carefully fastened. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - - -_July 24._ This morning saw us wonderfully recruited in spirits and -strength. Notwithstanding the perilous situation in which we were still -placed, ignorant of our position, although certainly at a great -distance from land, without more food than would last us for a -fortnight even with great care, almost entirely without water, and -floating about at the mercy of every wind and wave, on the merest wreck -in the world, still the infinitely more terrible distresses and dangers -from which we had so lately and so providentially been delivered caused -us to regard what we now endured as but little more than an ordinary -evil--so strictly comparative is either good or ill. - -At sunrise we were preparing to renew our attempts at getting up -something from the storeroom, when, a smart shower coming on, with some -lightning, we turned our attention to the catching of water by means of -the sheet we had used before for this purpose. We had no other means of -collecting the rain than by holding the sheet spread out with one of -the forechain-plates in the middle of it. The water, thus conducted to -the centre, was drained through into our jug. We had nearly filled it -in this manner, when, a heavy squall coming on from the northward, -obliged us to desist, as the hulk began once more to roll so violently -that we could no longer keep our feet. We now went forward, and, -lashing ourselves securely to the remnant of the windlass as before, -awaited the event with far more calmness than could have been -anticipated, or would have been imagined possible under the -circumstances. At noon the wind had freshened into a two-reef breeze, -and by night into a stiff gale, accompanied with a tremendously heavy -swell. Experience having taught us, however, the best method of -arranging our lashings, we weathered this dreary night in tolerable -security, although thoroughly drenched at almost every instant by the -sea, and in momentary dread of being washed off. Fortunately, the -weather was so warm as to render the water rather grateful than -otherwise. - -_July 25._ This morning the gale had diminished to a mere ten-knot -breeze, and the sea had gone down with it so considerably that we were -able to keep ourselves dry upon the deck. To our great grief, however, -we found that two jars of our olives, as well as the whole of our ham, -had been washed overboard, in spite of the careful manner in which they -had been fastened. We determined not to kill the tortoise as yet, and -contented ourselves for the present with a breakfast on a few of the -olives, and a measure of water each, which latter we mixed, half and -half, with wine, finding great relief and strength from the mixture, -without the distressing intoxication which had ensued upon drinking the -Port. The sea was still far too rough for the renewal of our efforts at -getting up provision from the storeroom. Several articles, of no -importance to us in our present situation, floated up through the -opening during the day, and were immediately washed overboard. We also -now observed that the hulk lay more along than ever, so that we could -not stand an instant without lashing ourselves. On this account we -passed a gloomy and uncomfortable day. At noon the sun appeared to be -nearly vertical, and we had no doubt that we had been driven down by -the long succession of northward and northwesterly winds into the near -vicinity of the equator. Towards evening saw several sharks, and were -somewhat alarmed by the audacious manner in which an enormously large -one approached us. At one time, a lurch throwing the deck very far -beneath the water, the monster actually swam in upon us, floundering -for some moments just over the companion-hatch, and striking Peters -violently with his tail. A heavy sea at length hurled him overboard, -much to our relief. In moderate weather we might have easily captured -him. - -_July 26._ This morning, the wind having greatly abated, and the sea -not being very rough, we determined to renew our exertions in the -storeroom. After a great deal of hard labour during the whole day, we -found that nothing further was to be expected from this quarter, the -partitions of the room having been stove during the night, and its -contents swept into the hold. This discovery, as may be supposed, -filled us with despair. - -_July 27._ The sea nearly smooth, with a light wind, and still from the -northward and westward. The sun coming out hotly in the afternoon, we -occupied ourselves in drying our clothes. Found great relief from -thirst, and much comfort otherwise, by bathing in the sea; in this, -however, we were forced to use great caution, being afraid of sharks, -several of which were seen swimming around the brig during the day. - -_July 28._ Good weather still. The brig now began to lie along so -alarmingly that we feared she would eventually roll bottom up. Prepared -ourselves as well as we could for this emergency, lashing our tortoise, -water-jug, and two remaining jars of olives as far as possible over to -the windward, placing them outside the hull, below the main-chains. The -sea very smooth all day, with little or no wind. - -_July 29._ A continuance of the same weather. Augustus's wounded arm -began to evince symptoms of mortification. He complained of drowsiness -and excessive thirst, but no acute pain. Nothing could be done for his -relief beyond rubbing his wounds with a little of the vinegar from the -olives, and from this no benefit seemed to be experienced. We did -everything in our power for his comfort, and trebled his allowance of -water. - -_July 30._ An excessively hot day, with no wind. An enormous shark kept -close by the hulk during the whole of the forenoon. We made several -unsuccessful attempts to capture him by means of a noose. Augustus much -worse, and evidently sinking as much from want of proper nourishment as -from the effect of his wounds. He constantly prayed to be released from -his sufferings, wishing for nothing but death. This evening we ate the -last of our olives, and found the water in our jug so putrid that we -could not swallow it at all without the addition of wine. Determined to -kill our tortoise in the morning. - -_July 31._ After a night of excessive anxiety and fatigue, owing to the -position of the hulk, we set about killing and cutting up our tortoise. -He proved to be much smaller than we had supposed, although in good -condition--the whole meat about him not amounting to more than ten -pounds. With a view of preserving a portion of this as long as -possible, we cut it into fine pieces, and filled with them our three -remaining olive-jars and the wine-bottle (all of which had been kept), -pouring in afterward the vinegar from the olives. In this manner we put -away about three pounds of the tortoise, intending not to touch it -until we had consumed the rest. We concluded to restrict ourselves to -about four ounces of the meat per day; the whole would thus last us -thirteen days. A brisk shower, with severe thunder and lightning, came -on about dusk, but lasted so short a time that we only succeeded in -catching about half a pint of water. The whole of this, by common -consent, was given to Augustus, who now appeared to be in the last -extremity. He drank the water from the sheet as we caught it (we -holding it above him as he lay so as to let it run into his mouth), for -we had now nothing left capable of holding water, unless we had chosen -to empty out our wine from the carboy, or the stale water from the jug. -Either of these expedients would have been resorted to had the shower -lasted. - -The sufferer seemed to derive but little benefit from the draught. His -arm was completely black from the wrist to the shoulder, and his feet -were like ice. We expected every moment to see him breathe his last. He -was frightfully emaciated; so much so that, although he weighed a -hundred and twenty-seven pounds upon his leaving Nantucket, he now did -not weigh more than _forty or fifty at the farthest_. His eyes were -sunk far in his head, being scarcely perceptible, and the skin of his -cheeks hung so loosely as to prevent his masticating any food, or even -swallowing any liquid, without great difficulty. - -_August 1._ A continuance of the same calm weather, with an -oppressively hot sun. Suffered exceedingly from thirst, the water in -the jug being absolutely putrid and swarming with vermin. We contrived, -nevertheless, to swallow a portion of it by mixing it with wine--our -thirst, however, was but little abated. We found more relief by bathing -in the sea, but could not avail ourselves of this expedient except at -long intervals, on account of the continual presence of sharks. We now -saw clearly that Augustus could not be saved; that he was evidently -dying. We could do nothing to relieve his sufferings, which appeared to -be great. About twelve o'clock he expired in strong convulsions, and -without having spoken for several hours. His death filled us with the -most gloomy forebodings, and had so great an effect upon our spirits -that we sat motionless by the corpse during the whole day, and never -addressed each other except in a whisper. It was not until some time -after dark that we took courage to get up and throw the body overboard. -It was then loathsome beyond expression, and so far decayed that, as -Peters attempted to lift it, an entire leg came off in his grasp. As -the mass of putrefaction slipped over the vessel's side into the water, -the glare of phosphoric light with which it was surrounded plainly -discovered to us seven or eight large sharks, the clashing of whose -horrible teeth, as their prey was torn to pieces among them, might have -been heard at the distance of a mile. We shrunk within ourselves in the -extremity of horror at the sound. - -_August 2._ The same fearfully calm and hot weather. The dawn found us -in a state of pitiable dejection as well as bodily exhaustion. The -water in the jug was now absolutely useless, being a thick gelatinous -mass; nothing but frightful-looking worms mingled with slime. We threw -it out, and washed the jug well in the sea, afterward pouring a little -vinegar in it from our bottles of pickled tortoise. Our thirst could -now scarcely be endured, and we tried in vain to relieve it by wine, -which seemed only to add fuel to the flame, and excited us to a high -degree of intoxication. We afterward endeavoured to relieve our -sufferings by mixing the wine with seawater; but this instantly brought -about the most violent retchings, so that we never again attempted it. -During the whole day we anxiously sought an opportunity of bathing, but -to no purpose; for the hulk was now entirely besieged on all sides with -sharks--no doubt the identical monsters who had devoured our poor -companion on the evening before, and who were in momentary expectation -of another similar feast. This circumstance occasioned us the most -bitter regret, and filled us with the most depressing and melancholy -forebodings. We had experienced indescribable relief in bathing, and to -have this resource cut off in so frightful a manner was more than we -could bear. Nor, indeed, were we altogether free from the apprehension -of immediate danger, for the least slip or false movement would have -thrown us at once within reach of these voracious fish, who frequently -thrust themselves directly upon us, swimming up to leeward. No shouts -or exertions on our part seemed to alarm them. Even when one of the -largest was struck with an axe by Peters, and much wounded, he -persisted in his attempts to push in where we were. A cloud came up at -dusk, but, to our extreme anguish, passed over without discharging -itself. It is quite impossible to conceive our sufferings from thirst -at this period. We passed a sleepless night, both on this account and -through dread of the sharks. - -_August 3._ No prospect of relief, and the brig lying still more and -more along, so that now we could not maintain a footing upon deck at -all. Busied ourselves in securing our wine and tortoise-meat, so that -we might not lose them in the event of our rolling over. Got out two -stout spikes from the forechains, and, by means of the axe, drove them -into the hull to windward within a couple of feet of the water; this -not being very far from the keel, as we were nearly upon our beam-ends. -To these spikes we now lashed our provisions, as being more secure than -their former position beneath the chains. Suffered great agony from -thirst during the whole day--no chance of bathing on account of the -sharks, which never left us for a moment. Found it impossible to sleep. - -_August 4._ A little before daybreak we perceived that the hulk was -heeling over, and aroused ourselves to prevent being thrown off by the -movement. At first the roll was slow and gradual, and we contrived to -clamber over to windward very well, having taken the precaution to -leave ropes hanging from the spikes we had driven in for the provision. -But we had not calculated sufficiently upon the acceleration of the -impetus; for presently the heel became too violent to allow of our -keeping pace with it; and, before either of us knew what was to happen, -we found ourselves hurled furiously into the sea, and struggling -several fathoms beneath the surface, with the huge hull immediately -above us. - -In going under the water I had been obliged to let go my hold upon the -rope; and finding that I was completely beneath the vessel, and my -strength utterly exhausted, I scarcely made a struggle for life, and -resigned myself, in a few seconds, to die. But here again I was -deceived, not having taken into consideration the natural rebound of -the hull to windward. The whirl of the water upward, which the vessel -occasioned in rolling partially back, brought me to the surface still -more violently than I had been plunged beneath. Upon coming up, I found -myself about twenty yards from the hulk, as near as I could judge. She -was lying keel up, rocking furiously from side to side, and the sea in -all directions around was much agitated, and full of strong whirlpools. -I could see nothing of Peters. An oil-cask was floating within a few -feet of me, and various other articles from the brig were scattered -about. - -My principal terror was now on account of the sharks, which I knew to -be in my vicinity. In order to deter these, if possible, from -approaching me, I splashed the water vigorously with both hands and -feet as I swam towards the hulk, creating a body of foam. I have no -doubt that to this expedient, simple as it was, I was indebted for my -preservation; for the sea all around the brig, just before her rolling -over, was so crowded with these monsters, that I must have been, and -really was, in actual contact with some of them during my progress. By -great good fortune, however, I reached the side of the vessel in -safety, although so utterly weakened by the violent exertion I had used -that I should never have been able to get upon it but for the timely -assistance of Peters, who now, to my great joy, made his appearance -(having scrambled up to the keel from the opposite side of the hull), -and threw me the end of a rope--one of those which had been attached to -the spikes. - -Having barely escaped this danger, our attention was now directed to -the dreadful imminency of another; that of absolute starvation. Our -whole stock of provision had been swept overboard in spite of all our -care in securing it; and seeing no longer the remotest possibility of -obtaining more, we gave way both of us to despair, weeping aloud like -children, and neither of us attempting to offer consolation to the -other. Such weakness can scarcely be conceived, and to those who have -never been similarly situated will, no doubt, appear unnatural; but it -must be remembered that our intellects were so entirely disordered by -the long course of privation and terror to which we had been subjected, -that we could not justly be considered, at that period, in the light of -rational beings. In subsequent perils, nearly as great, if not greater, -I bore up with fortitude against all the evils of my situation, and -Peters, it will be seen, evinced a stoical philosophy nearly as -incredible as his present childlike supineness and imbecility--the -mental condition made the difference. - -The overturning of the brig, even with the consequent loss of the wine -and turtle, would not, in fact, have rendered our situation more -deplorable than before, except for the disappearance of the bedclothes -by which we had been hitherto enabled to catch rainwater, and of the -jug in which we had kept it when caught; for we found the whole bottom, -from within two or three feet of the bends as far as the keel, together -with the keel itself, _thickly covered with large barnacles, which -proved to be excellent and highly nutritious food_. Thus, in two -important respects, the accident we had so greatly dreaded proved a -benefit rather than an injury; it had opened to us a supply of -provisions, which we could not have exhausted, using it moderately, in -a month; and it had greatly contributed to our comfort as regards -position, we being much more at our ease, and in infinitely less -danger, than before. - -The difficulty, however, of now obtaining water blinded us to all the -benefits of the change in our condition. That we might be ready to -avail ourselves, as far as possible, of any shower which might fall, we -took off our shirts, to make use of them as we had of the sheets--not -hoping, of course, to get more in this way, even under the most -favourable circumstances, than half a gill at a time. No signs of a -cloud appeared during the day, and the agonies of our thirst were -nearly intolerable. At night Peters obtained about an hour's disturbed -sleep, but my intense sufferings would not permit me to close my eyes -for a single moment. - -_August 5._ To-day, a gentle breeze springing up carried us through a -vast quantity of seaweed, among which we were so fortunate as to find -eleven small crabs, which afforded us several delicious meals. Their -shells being quite soft, we ate them entire, and found that they -irritated our thirst far less than the barnacles. Seeing no trace of -sharks among the seaweed, we also ventured to bathe, and remained in -the water for four or five hours, during which we experienced a very -sensible diminution of our thirst. Were greatly refreshed, and spent -the night somewhat more comfortably than before, both of us snatching a -little sleep. - -_August 6._ This day we were blessed by a brisk and continual rain, -lasting from about noon until after dark. Bitterly did we now regret -the loss of our jug and carboy; for, in spite of the little means we -had of catching the water, we might have filled one, if not both of -them. As it was, we contrived to satisfy the cravings of thirst by -suffering the shirts to become saturated, and then wringing them so as -to let the grateful fluid trickle into our mouths. In this occupation -we passed the entire day. - -_August 7._ Just at daybreak we both at the same instant descried a -sail to the eastward, and _evidently coming towards us!_ We hailed the -glorious sight with a long, although feeble shout of rapture; and began -instantly to make every signal in our power, by flaring the shirts in -the air, leaping as high as our weak condition would permit, and even -by hallooing with all the strength of our lungs, although the vessel -could not have been less than fifteen miles distant. However, she still -continued to near our hulk, and we felt that, if she but held her -present course, she must eventually come so close as to perceive us. In -about an hour after we first discovered her we could clearly see the -people on her decks. She was a long, low, and rakish-looking topsail -schooner, with a black ball in her foretopsail, and had, apparently, a -full crew. We now became alarmed, for we could hardly imagine it -possible that she did not observe us, and were apprehensive that she -meant to leave us to perish as we were--an act of fiendish barbarity, -which, however incredible it may appear, has been repeatedly -perpetrated at sea, under circumstances very nearly similar, and by -beings who were regarded as belonging to the human species.[2] In this -instance, however, by the mercy of God, we were destined to be most -happily deceived; for presently we were aware of a sudden commotion on -the deck of the stranger, who immediately afterward run up a British -flag, and, hauling her wind, bore up directly upon us. In half an hour -more we found ourselves in her cabin. She proved to be the Jane Guy, of -Liverpool, Captain Guy, bound on a sealing and trading voyage to the -South Seas and Pacific. - -[Footnote 2: The case of the brig Polly, of Boston, is one so much in -point, and her fate, in many respects, so remarkably similar to our -own, that I cannot forbear alluding to it here. This vessel, of one -hundred and thirty tons burden, sailed from Boston, with a cargo of -lumber and provisions, for Santa Croix, on the twelfth of December, -1811, under the command of Captain Casneau. There were eight souls on -board besides the captain--the mate, four seamen, and the cook, -together with a Mr. Hunt, and a negro girl belonging to him. On the -fifteenth, having cleared the shoal of Georges, she sprung a leak in a -gale of wind from the southeast, and was finally capsized; but, the -mast going by the board, she afterward righted. They remained in this -situation, without fire, and with very little provision, for the period -of _one hundred and ninety-one days_ (from December the fifteenth to -June the twentieth) when Captain Casneau and Samuel Badger, the only -survivers, were taken off the wreck by the Fame, of Hull, Captain -Featherstone, bound home from Rio Janeiro. When picked up they were in -latitude _28 N., longitude 13 W., having drifted above two thousand -miles_. On the ninth of July the Fame fell in with the brig Dromeo, -Captain Perkins, who landed the two sufferers in Kennebeck. The -narrative from which we gather these details ends in the following -words. - -"It is natural to inquire how they could float such a vast distance, -upon the most frequented part of the Atlantic, and not be discovered -all this time. _They were passed by more than a dozen sail, one of -which came so nigh them that they could distinctly see the people on -deck and on the rigging looking at them; but, to the inexpressible -disappointment of the starving and freezing men, they stifled the -dictates of compassion, hoisted sail, and cruelly abandoned them to -their fate._"] - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - - -The Jane Guy was a fine-looking topsail schooner of a hundred and -eighty tons burden. She was unusually sharp in the bows, and on a wind, -in moderate weather, the fastest sailer I have ever seen. Her -qualities, however, as a rough sea-boat, were not so good, and her -draught of water was by far too great for the trade to which she was -destined. For this peculiar service a larger vessel, and one of a light -proportionate draught, is desirable--say a vessel of from three to -three hundred and fifty tons. She should be barque-rigged, and in other -respects of a different construction from the usual South Sea ships. It -is absolutely necessary that she should be well armed. She should have, -say ten or twelve twelve pound carronades, and two or three long -twelves, with brass blunderbusses, and water-tight arm-chests for each -top. Her anchors and cables should be of far greater strength than is -required for any other species of trade, and, above all, her crew -should be numerous and efficient--not less, for such a vessel as I have -described, than fifty or sixty able-bodied men. The Jane Guy had a crew -of thirty-five, all able seamen, besides the captain and mate, but she -was not altogether as well armed or otherwise equipped as a navigator -acquainted with the difficulties and dangers of the trade could have -desired. - -Captain Guy was a gentleman of great urbanity of manner, and of -considerable experience in the southern traffic, to which he had -devoted a great portion of his life. He was deficient, however, in -energy, and, consequently, in that spirit of enterprise which is here -so absolutely requisite. He was part owner of the vessel in which he -sailed, and was invested with discretionary powers to cruise in the -South Seas for any cargo which might come most readily to hand. He had -on board, as usual in such voyages, beads, looking-glasses, -tinder-works, axes, hatchets, saws, adzes, planes, chisels, gouges, -gimlets, files, spokeshaves, rasps, hammers, nails, knives, scissors, -razors, needles, thread, crockery-ware, calico, trinkets, and other -similar articles. - -The schooner sailed from Liverpool on the tenth of July, crossed the -Tropic of Cancer on the twenty-fifth, in longitude twenty degrees west, -and reached Sal, one of the Cape Verd Islands, on the twenty-ninth, -where she took in salt and other necessaries for the voyage. On the -third of August she left the Cape Verds and steered southwest, -stretching over towards the coast of Brazil so as to cross the equator -between the meridians of twenty-eight and thirty degrees west -longitude. This is the course usually taken by vessels bound from -Europe to the Cape of Good Hope, or by that route to the East Indies. -By proceeding thus they avoid the calms and strong contrary currents -which continually prevail on the coast of Guinea, while, in the end, it -is found to be the shortest track, as westerly winds are never wanting -afterward by which to reach the Cape. It was Captain Guy's intention to -make his first stoppage at Kerguelen's Land--I hardly know for what -reason. On the day we were picked up the schooner was off Cape St. -Roque, in longitude 31 W.; so that, when found, we had drifted -probably, from north to south, _not less than five-and-twenty degrees_. - -On board the Jane Guy we were treated with all the kindness our -distressed situation demanded. In about a fortnight, during which time -we continued steering to the southeast, with gentle breezes and fine -weather, both Peters and myself recovered entirely from the effects of -our late privation and dreadful suffering, and we began to remember -what had passed rather as a frightful dream from which we had been -happily awakened, than as events which had taken place in sober and -naked reality. I have since found that this species of partial oblivion -is usually brought about by sudden transition, whether from joy to -sorrow or from sorrow to joy--the degree of forgetfulness being -proportioned to the degree of difference in the exchange. Thus, in my -own case, I now feel it impossible to realize the full extent of the -misery which I endured during the days spent upon the hulk. The -incidents are remembered, but not the feelings which the incidents -elicited at the time of their occurrence. I only know that, when they -did occur, I _then_ thought human nature could sustain nothing more of -agony. - -We continued our voyage for some weeks without any incidents of greater -moment than the occasional meeting with whaling-ships, and more -frequently with the black or right whale, so called in -contradistinction to the spermaceti. These, however, were chiefly found -south of the twenty-fifth parallel. On the sixteenth of September, -being in the vicinity of the Cape of Good Hope, the schooner -encountered her first gale of any violence since leaving Liverpool. In -this neighbourhood, but more frequently to the south and east of the -promontory (we were to the westward), navigators have often to contend -with storms from the northward which rage with great fury. They always -bring with them a heavy sea, and one of their most dangerous features -is the instantaneous chopping round of the wind, an occurrence almost -certain to take place during the greatest force of the gale. A perfect -hurricane will be blowing at one moment from the northward or -northeast, and in the next not a breath of wind will be felt in that -direction, while from the southwest it will come out all at once with a -violence almost inconceivable. A bright spot to the southward is the -sure forerunner of the change, and vessels are thus enabled to take the -proper precautions. - -It was about six in the morning when the blow came on with a white -squall, and, as usual, from the northward. By eight it had increased -very much, and brought down upon us one of the most tremendous seas I -had then ever beheld. Everything had been made as snug as possible, but -the schooner laboured excessively, and gave evidence of her bad -qualities as a seaboat, pitching her forecastle under at every plunge, -and with the greatest difficulty struggling up from one wave before she -was buried in another. Just before sunset the bright spot for which we -had been on the lookout made its appearance in the southwest, and in an -hour afterward we perceived the little headsail we carried flapping -listlessly against the mast. In two minutes more, in spite of every -preparation, we were hurled on our beam-ends as if by magic, and a -perfect wilderness of foam made a clear breach over us as we lay. The -blow from the southwest, however, luckily proved to be nothing more -than a squall, and we had the good fortune to right the vessel without -the loss of a spar. A heavy cross sea gave us great trouble for a few -hours after this, but towards morning we found ourselves in nearly as -good condition as before the gale. Captain Guy considered that he had -made an escape little less than miraculous. - -On the thirteenth of October we came in sight of Prince Edward's -Island, in latitude 46° 53' S., longitude 37° 46' E. Two days afterward -we found ourselves near Possession Island, and presently passed the -islands of Crozet, in latitude 42° 59' S., longitude 48° E. On the -eighteenth we made Kerguelen's or Desolation Island, in the Southern -Indian Ocean, and came to anchor in Christmas Harbour, having four -fathoms of water. - -This island, or rather group of islands, bears southeast from the Cape -of Good Hope, and is distant therefrom nearly eight hundred leagues. It -was first discovered in 1772, by the Baron de Kergulen, or Kerguelen, a -Frenchman, who, thinking the land to form a portion of an extensive -southern continent, carried home information to that effect, which -produced much excitement at the time. The government, taking the matter -up, sent the baron back in the following year for the purpose of giving -his new discovery a critical examination, when the mistake was -discovered. In 1777, Captain Cook fell in with the same group, and gave -to the principal one the name of Desolation Island, a title which it -certainly well deserves. Upon approaching the land, however, the -navigator might be induced to suppose otherwise, as the sides of most -of the hills, from September to March, are clothed with very brilliant -verdure. This deceitful appearance is caused by a small plant -resembling saxifrage, which is abundant, growing in large patches on a -species of crumbling moss. Besides this plant there is scarcely a sign -of vegetation on the island, if we except some coarse rank grass near -the harbour, some lichen, and a shrub which bears resemblance to a -cabbage shooting into seed, and which has a bitter and acrid taste. - -The face of the country is hilly, although none of the hills can be -called lofty. Their tops are perpetually covered with snow. There are -several harbours, of which Christmas Harbour is the most convenient. It -is the first to be met with on the northeast side of the island after -passing Cape François, which forms the northern shore, and, by its -peculiar shape, serves to distinguish the harbour. Its projecting point -terminates in a high rock, through which is a large hole, forming a -natural arch. The entrance is in latitude 48° 40' S., longitude 69° 6' -E. Passing in here, good anchorage may be found under the shelter of -several small islands, which form a sufficient protection from all -easterly winds. Proceeding on eastwardly from this anchorage you come -to Wasp Bay, at the head of the harbour. This is a small basin, -completely landlocked, into which you can go with four fathoms, and -find anchorage in from ten to three, hard clay bottom. A ship might lie -here with her best bower ahead all the year round without risk. To the -westward, at the head of Wasp Bay, is a small stream of excellent -water, easily procured. - -Some seal of the fur and hair species are still to be found on -Kerguelen's Island, and sea elephants abound. The feathered tribes are -discovered in great numbers. Penguins are very plenty, and of these -there are four different kinds. The royal penguin, so called from its -size and beautiful plumage, is the largest. The upper part of the body -is usually gray, sometimes of a lilach tint; the under portion of the -purest white imaginable. The head is of a glossy and most brilliant -black, the feet also. The chief beauty of the plumage, however, -consists in two broad stripes of a gold colour, which pass along from -the head to the breast. The bill is long, and either pink or bright -scarlet. These birds walk erect, with a stately carriage. They carry -their heads high, with their wings drooping like two arms, and, as -their tails project from their body in a line with the legs, the -resemblance to a human figure is very striking, and would be apt to -deceive the spectator at a casual glance or in the gloom of the -evening. The royal penguins which we met with on Kerguelen's Land were -rather larger than a goose. The other kinds are the macaroni, the -jackass, and the rookery penguin. These are much smaller, less -beautiful in plumage, and different in other respects. - -Besides the penguin many other birds are here to be found, among which -may be mentioned seahens, blue peterels, teal, ducks, Port Egmont hens, -shags, Cape pigeons, the nelly, seaswallows, terns, seagulls, Mother -Carey's chickens, Mother Carey's geese, or the great peterel, and, -lastly, the albatross. - -The great peterel is as large as the common albatross, and is -carnivorous. It is frequently called the break-bones, or osprey -peterel. They are not at all shy, and, when properly cooked, are -palatable food. In flying they sometimes sail very close to the surface -of the water, with the wings expanded, without appearing to move them -in the least degree, or make any exertion with them whatever. - -The albatross is one of the largest and fiercest of the South Sea -birds. It is of the gull species, and takes its prey on the wing, never -coming on land except for the purpose of breeding. Between this bird -and the penguin the most singular friendship exists. Their nests are -constructed with great uniformity, upon a plan concerted between the -two species--that of the albatross being placed in the centre of a -little square formed by the nests of four penguins. Navigators have -agreed in calling an assemblage of such encampments _a rookery_. These -rookeries have been often described, but, as my readers may not all -have seen these descriptions, and as I shall have occasion hereafter to -speak of the penguin and albatross, it will not be amiss to say -something here of their mode of building and living. - -When the season for incubation arrives, the birds assemble in vast -numbers, and for some days appear to be deliberating upon the proper -course to be pursued. At length they proceed to action. A level piece -of ground is selected, of suitable extent, usually comprising three or -four acres, and situated as near the sea as possible, being still -beyond its reach. The spot is chosen with reference to its evenness of -surface, and that is preferred which is the least encumbered with -stones. This matter being arranged, the birds proceed, with one accord, -and actuated apparently by one mind, to trace out, with mathematical -accuracy, either a square or other parallelogram, as may best suit the -nature of the ground, and of just sufficient size to accommodate easily -all the birds assembled, and no more--in this particular seeming -determined upon preventing the access of future stragglers who have not -participated in the labour of the encampment. One side of the place -thus marked out runs parallel with the water's edge, and is left open -for ingress or egress. - -Having defined the limits of the rookery, the colony now begin to clear -it of every species of rubbish, picking up stone by stone, and carrying -them outside of the lines, and close by them, so as to form a wall on -the three inland sides. Just within this wall a perfectly level and -smooth walk is formed, from six to eight feet wide, and extending -around the encampment--thus serving the purpose of a general promenade. - -The next process is to partition out the whole area into small squares -exactly equal in size. This is done by forming narrow paths, very -smooth, and crossing each other at right angles throughout the entire -extent of the rookery. At each intersection of these paths the nest of -an albatross is constructed, and a penguin's nest in the centre of each -square--thus every penguin is surrounded by four albatrosses, and each -albatross by a like number of penguins. The penguin's nest consists of -a hole in the earth, very shallow, being only just of sufficient depth -to keep her single egg from rolling. The albatross is somewhat less -simple in her arrangements, erecting a hillock about a foot high and -two in diameter. This is made of earth, seaweed, and shells. On its -summit she builds her nest. - -The birds take especial care never to leave their nests unoccupied for -an instant during the period of incubation, or, indeed, until the young -progeny are sufficiently strong to take care of themselves. While the -male is absent at sea in search of food, the female remains on duty, -and it is only upon the return of her partner that she ventures abroad. -The eggs are never left uncovered at all--while one bird leaves the -nest, the other nestling in by its side. This precaution is rendered -necessary by the thievish propensities prevalent in the rookery, the -inhabitants making no scruple to purloin each other's eggs at every -good opportunity. - -Although there are some rookeries in which the penguin and albatross -are the sole population, yet in most of them a variety of oceanic birds -are to be met with, enjoying all the privileges of citizenship, and -scattering their nests here and there, wherever they can find room, -never interfering, however, with the stations of the larger species. -The appearance of such encampments, when seen from a distance, is -exceedingly singular. The whole atmosphere just above the settlement is -darkened with the immense number of the albatross (mingled with the -smaller tribes) which are continually hovering over it, either going to -the ocean or returning home. At the same time a crowd of penguins are -to be observed, some passing to and fro in the narrow alleys, and some -marching, with the military strut so peculiar to them, around the -general promenade-ground which encircles the rookery. In short, survey -it as we will, nothing can be more astonishing than the spirit of -reflection evinced by these feathered beings, and nothing surely can be -better calculated to elicit reflection in every well-regulated human -intellect. - -On the morning after our arrival in Christmas Harbour the chief mate, -Mr. Patterson, took the boats, and (although it was somewhat early in -the season) went in search of seal, leaving the captain and a young -relation of his on a point of barren land to the westward, they having -some business, whose nature I could not ascertain, to transact in the -interior of the island. Captain Guy took with him a bottle, in which -was a sealed letter, and made his way from the point on which he was -set on shore towards one of the highest peaks in the place. It is -probable that his design was to leave the letter on that height for -some vessel which he expected to come after him. As soon as we lost -sight of him we proceeded (Peters and myself being in the mate's boat) -on our cruise around the coast, looking for seal. In this business we -were occupied about three weeks, examining with great care every nook -and corner, not only of Kerguelen's Land, but of the several small -islands in the vicinity. Our labours, however, were not crowned with -any important success. We saw a great many fur seal, but they were -exceedingly shy, and, with the greatest exertions, we could only -procure three hundred and fifty skins in all. Sea elephants were -abundant, especially on the western coast of the main island, but of -these we killed only twenty, and this with great difficulty. On the -smaller islands we discovered a good many of the hair seal, but did not -molest them. We returned to the schooner on the eleventh, where we -found Captain Guy and his nephew, who gave a very bad account of the -interior, representing it as one of the most dreary and utterly barren -countries in the world. They had remained two nights on the island, -owing to some misunderstanding, on the part of the second mate, in -regard to the sending a jollyboat from the schooner to take them off. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - - -On the twelfth we made sail from Christmas Harbour, retracing our way -to the westward, and leaving Marion's Island, one of Crozet's group, on -the larboard. We afterward passed Prince Edward's Island, leaving it -also on our left; then, steering more to the northward, made, in -fifteen days, the islands of Tristan d'Acunha, in latitude 37° 8' S., -longitude 12° 8' W. - -This group, now so well known, and which consists of three circular -islands, was first discovered by the Portuguese, and was visited -afterward by the Dutch in 1643, and by the French in 1767. The three -islands together form a triangle, and are distant from each other about -ten miles, there being fine open passages between. The land in all of -them is very high, especially in Tristan d'Acunha, properly so called. -This is the largest of the group, being fifteen miles in circumference, -and so elevated that it can be seen in clear weather at the distance of -eighty or ninety miles. A part of the land towards the north rises more -than a thousand feet perpendicularly from the sea. A tableland at this -height extends back nearly to the centre of the island, and from this -tableland arises a lofty cone like that of Teneriffe. The lower half of -this cone is clothed with trees of good size, but the upper region is -barren rock, usually hidden among the clouds, and covered with snow -during the greater part of the year. There are no shoals or other -dangers about the island, the shores being remarkably bold and the -water deep. On the northwestern coast is a bay, with a beach of black -sand, where a landing with boats can be easily effected, provided there -be a southerly wind. Plenty of excellent water may here be readily -procured; also cod, and other fish, may be taken with hook and line. - -The next island in point of size, and the most westwardly of the group, -is that called the Inaccessible. Its precise situation is 37° 17' S. -latitude, longitude 12° 24' W. It is seven or eight miles in -circumference, and on all sides presents a forbidding and precipitous -aspect. Its top is perfectly flat, and the whole region is steril, -nothing growing upon it except a few stunted shrubs. - -Nightingale Island, the smallest and most southerly, is in latitude 37° -26' S., longitude 12° 12' W. Off its southern extremity is a high ledge -of rocky islets; a few also of a similar appearance are seen to the -northeast. The ground is irregular and steril, and a deep valley -partially separates it. - -The shores of these islands abound, in the proper season, with sea -lions, sea elephants, the hair and fur seal, together with a great -variety of oceanic birds. Whales are also plenty in their vicinity. -Owing to the ease with which these various animals were here formerly -taken, the group has been much visited since its discovery. The Dutch -and French frequented it at a very early period. In 1790, Captain -Patten, of the ship Industry, of Philadelphia, made Tristan d'Acunha, -where he remained seven months (from August, 1790, to April, 1791) for -the purpose of collecting sealskins. In this time he gathered no less -than five thousand six hundred, and says that he would have had no -difficulty in loading a large ship with oil in three weeks. Upon his -arrival he found no quadrupeds, with the exception of a few wild -goats--the island now abounds with all our most valuable domestic -animals, which have been introduced by subsequent navigators. - -I believe it was not long after Captain Patten's visit that Captain -Colquhoun, of the American brig Betsey, touched at the largest of the -islands for the purpose of refreshment. He planted onions, potatoes, -cabbages, and a great many other vegetables, an abundance of all which -are now to be met with. - -In 1811, a Captain Heywood, in the Nereus, visited Tristan. He found -there three Americans, who were residing upon the islands to prepare -sealskins and oil. One of these men was named Jonathan Lambert, and he -called himself the sovereign of the country. He had cleared and -cultivated about sixty acres of land, and turned his attention to -raising the coffee-plant and sugar-cane, with which he had been -furnished by the American minister at Rio Janeiro. This settlement, -however, was finally abandoned, and in 1817 the islands were taken -possession of by the British government, who sent a detachment for that -purpose from the Cape of Good Hope. They did not, however, retain them -long; but, upon the evacuation of the country as a British possession, -two or three English families took up their residence there -independently of the government. On the twenty-fifth of March, 1824, -the Berwick, Captain Jeffrey, from London to Van Diemen's Land, arrived -at the place, where they found an Englishman of the name of Glass, -formerly a corporal in the British artillery. He claimed to be supreme -governor of the islands, and had under his control twenty-one men and -three women. He gave a very favourable account of the salubrity of the -climate and of the productiveness of the soil. The population occupied -themselves chiefly in collecting sealskins and sea elephant oil, with -which they traded to the Cape of Good Hope, Glass owning a small -schooner. At the period of our arrival the governor was still a -resident, but his little community had multiplied, there being -fifty-six persons upon Tristan, besides a smaller settlement of seven -on Nightingale Island. We had no difficulty in procuring almost every -kind of refreshment which we required--sheep, hogs, bullocks, rabbits, -poultry, goats, fish in great variety, and vegetables were abundant. -Having come to anchor close in with the large island, in eighteen -fathoms, we took all we wanted on board very conveniently. Captain Guy -also purchased of Glass five hundred sealskins and some ivory. We -remained here a week, during which the prevailing winds were from the -northward and westward, and the weather somewhat hazy. On the fifth of -November we made sail to the southward and westward, with the intention -of having a thorough search for a group of islands called the Auroras, -respecting whose existence a great diversity of opinion has existed. - -These islands are said to have been discovered as early as 1762, by the -commander of the ship Aurora. In 1790, Captain Manuel de Oyarvido, in -the ship Princess, belonging to the Royal Philippine Company, sailed, -as he asserts, directly among them. In 1794, the Spanish corvette -Atrevida went with the determination of ascertaining their precise -situation, and, in a paper published by the Royal Hydrographical -Society of Madrid in the year 1809, the following language is used -respecting this expedition. "The corvette Atrevida practised, in their -immediate vicinity, from the twenty-first to the twenty-seventh of -January, all the necessary observations, and measured by chronometers -the difference of longitude between these islands and the port of -Soledad in the Malninas. The islands are three; they are very nearly in -the same meridian; the centre one is rather low, and the other two may -be seen at nine leagues distance." The observations made on board the -Atrevida give the following results as the precise situation of each -island. The most northern is in latitude 52° 37' 24" S., longitude 47° -43' 15" W.; the middle one in latitude 53° 2' 40" S., longitude 47° 55' -15" W.; and the most southern in latitude 53° 15' 22" S., longitude 47° -57' 15" W. - -On the twenty-seventh of January, 1820, Captain James Weddel, of the -British navy, sailed from Staten Land also in search of the Auroras. He -reports that, having made the most diligent search, and passed not only -immediately over the spots indicated by the commander of the Atrevida, -but in every direction throughout the vicinity of these spots, he could -discover no indication of land. These conflicting statements have -induced other navigators to look out for the islands; and, strange to -say, while some have sailed through every inch of sea where they are -supposed to lie without finding them, there have been not a few who -declare positively that they have seen them, and even been close in -with their shores. It was Captain Guy's intention to make every -exertion within his power to settle the question so oddly in -dispute.[3] - -[Footnote 3: Among the vessels which at various times have professed to -meet with the Auroras may be mentioned the ship San Miguel, in 1769; -the ship Aurora, in 1774; the brig Pearl, in 1779; and the ship -Dolores, in 1790. They all agree in giving the mean latitude -fifty-three degrees south.] - -We kept on our course, between the south and west, with variable -weather, until the twentieth of the month, when we found ourselves on -the debated ground, being in latitude 53° 15' S., longitude 47° 58' -W.--that is to say, very nearly upon the spot indicated as the -situation of the most southern of the group. Not perceiving any sign of -land, we continued to the westward in the parallel of fifty-three -degrees south, as far as the meridian of fifty degrees west. We then -stood to the north as far as the parallel of fifty-two degrees south, -when we turned to the eastward, and kept our parallel by double -altitudes, morning and evening, and meridian altitudes of the planets -and moon. Having thus gone eastwardly to the meridian of the western -coast of Georgia, we kept that meridian until we were in the latitude -from which we set out. We then took diagonal courses throughout the -entire extent of sea circumscribed, keeping a lookout constantly at the -masthead, and repeating our examination with the greatest care for a -period of three weeks, during which the weather was remarkably pleasant -and fair, with no haze whatsoever. Of course we were thoroughly -satisfied that, whatever islands might have existed in this vicinity at -any former period, no vestige of them remained at the present day. -Since my return home I find that the same ground was traced over with -equal care in 1822 by Captain Johnson, of the American schooner Henry, -and by Captain Morrell, in the American schooner Wasp--in both cases -with the same result as in our own. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - - -It had been Captain Guy's original intention, after satisfying himself -about the Auroras, to proceed through the Strait of Magellan, and up -along the western coast of Patagonia; but information received at -Tristan d'Acunha induced him to steer to the southward, in the hope of -falling in with some small islands said to lie about the parallel of -60° S., longitude 41° 20' W. In the event of his not discovering these -lands, he designed, should the season prove favourable, to push on -towards the pole. Accordingly, on the twelfth of December, we made sail -in that direction. On the eighteenth we found ourselves about the -station indicated by Glass, and cruised for three days in that -neighbourhood without finding any traces of the islands he had -mentioned. On the twenty-first, the weather being unusually pleasant, -we again made sail to the southward, with the resolution of penetrating -in that course as far as possible. Before entering upon this portion of -my narrative, it may be as well, for the information of those readers -who have paid little attention to the progress of discovery in these -regions, to give some brief account of the very few attempts at -reaching the southern pole which have hitherto been made. - -That of Captain Cook was the first of which we have any distinct -account. In 1772 he sailed to the south in the Resolution, accompanied -by Lieutenant Furneaux in the Adventure. In December he found himself -as far as the fifty-eighth parallel of south latitude, and in longitude -26° 57' E. Here he met with narrow fields of ice, about eight or ten -inches thick, and running northwest and southeast. This ice was in -large cakes, and usually it was packed so closely that the vessels had -great difficulty in forcing a passage. At this period Captain Cook -supposed, from the vast number of birds to be seen, and from other -indications, that he was in the near vicinity of land. He kept on to -the southward, the weather being exceedingly cold, until he reached the -sixty-fourth parallel, in longitude 38° 14' E. Here he had mild -weather, with gentle breezes, for five days, the thermometer being at -thirty-six. In January, 1773, the vessels crossed the Antarctic circle, -but did not succeed in penetrating much farther; for, upon reaching -latitude 67° 15', they found all farther progress impeded by an immense -body of ice, extending all along the southern horizon as far as the eye -could reach. This ice was of every variety--and some large floes of it, -miles in extent, formed a compact mass, rising eighteen or twenty feet -above the water. It being late in the season, and no hope entertained -of rounding these obstructions, Captain Cook now reluctantly turned to -the northward. - -In the November following he renewed his search in the Antarctic. In -latitude 59° 40' he met with a strong current setting to the southward. -In December, when the vessels were in latitude 67° 31', longitude 142° -54' W., the cold was excessive, with heavy gales and fog. Here also -birds were abundant; the albatross, the penguin, and the peterel -especially. In latitude 70° 23' some large islands of ice were -encountered, and shortly afterward, the clouds to the southward were -observed to be of a snowy whiteness, indicating the vicinity of field -ice. In latitude 71° 10', longitude 106° 54' W., the navigators were -stopped, as before, by an immense frozen expanse, which filled the -whole area of the southern horizon. The northern edge of this expanse -was ragged and broken, so firmly wedged together as to be utterly -impassable, and extending about a mile to the southward. Behind it the -frozen surface was comparatively smooth for some distance, until -terminated in the extreme back-ground by gigantic ranges of ice -mountains, the one towering above the other. Captain Cook concluded -that this vast field reached the southern pole or was joined to a -continent. Mr. J. N. Reynolds, whose great exertions and perseverance -have at length succeeded in getting set on foot a national expedition, -partly for the purpose of exploring these regions, thus speaks of the -attempt of the Resolution. "We are not surprised that Captain Cook was -unable to go beyond 71° 10', but we are astonished that he did attain -that point on the meridian of 106° 54' west longitude. Palmer's Land -lies south of the Shetland, latitude sixty-four degrees, and tends to -the southward and westward farther than any navigator has yet -penetrated. Cook was standing for this land when his progress was -arrested by the ice; which, we apprehend, must always be the case in -that point, and so early in the season as the sixth of January--and we -should not be surprised if a portion of the icy mountains described was -attached to the main body of Palmer's Land, or to some other portions -of land lying farther to the southward and westward." - -In 1803, Captains Kreutzenstern and Lisiausky were despatched by -Alexander of Russia for the purpose of circumnavigating the globe. In -endeavouring to get south, they made no farther than 59° 58', in -longitude 70° 15' W. They here met with strong currents setting -eastwardly. Whales were abundant, but they saw no ice. In regard to -this voyage, Mr. Reynolds observes that, if Kreutzenstern had arrived -where he did earlier in the season, he must have encountered ice--it -was March when he reached the latitude specified. The winds prevailing, -as they do, from the southward and westward, had carried the floes, -aided by currents, into that icy region bounded on the north by -Georgia, east by Sandwich Land and the South Orkneys, and west by the -South Shetland Islands. - -In 1822, Captain James Weddell, of the British navy, with two very -small vessels, penetrated farther to the south than any previous -navigator, and this too, without encountering extraordinary -difficulties. He states that although he was frequently hemmed in by -ice _before_ reaching the seventy-second parallel, yet, upon attaining -it, not a particle was to be discovered, and that, upon arriving at the -latitude of 74° 15', no fields, and only three islands of ice were -visible. It is somewhat remarkable that, although vast flocks of birds -were seen, and other usual indications of land, and although, south of -the Shetlands, unknown coasts were observed from the masthead tending -southwardly, Weddell discourages the idea of land existing in the polar -regions of the south. - -On the eleventh of January, 1823, Captain Benjamin Morrell, of the -American schooner Wasp, sailed from Kerguelen's Land with a view of -penetrating as far south as possible. On the first of February he found -himself in latitude 64° 52' S., longitude 118° 27' E. The following -passage is extracted from his journal of that date. "The wind soon -freshened to an eleven-knot breeze, and we embraced this opportunity of -making to the west; being however convinced that the farther we went -south beyond latitude sixty-four degrees the less ice was to be -apprehended, we steered a little to the southward, until we crossed the -Antarctic circle, and were in latitude 69° 15' E. In this latitude -there was _no field ice_, and very few ice islands in sight." - -Under the date of March fourteenth I find also this entry. "The sea was -now entirely free of field ice, and there were not more than a dozen -ice islands in sight. At the same time the temperature of the air and -water was at least thirteen degrees higher (more mild) than we had ever -found it between the parallels of sixty and sixty-two south. We were -now in latitude 70° 14' S., and the temperature of the air was -forty-seven, and that of the water forty-four. In this situation I -found the variation to be 14° 27' easterly, per azimuth.... I have -several times passed within the Antarctic circle on different -meridians, and have uniformly found the temperature, both of the air -and the water, to become more and more mild the farther I advanced -beyond the sixty-fifth degree of south latitude, and that the variation -decreases in the same proportion. While north of this latitude, say -between sixty and sixty-five south, we frequently had great difficulty -in finding a passage for the vessel between the immense and almost -innumerable ice islands, some of which were from one to two miles in -circumference, and more than five hundred feet above the surface of the -water." - -Being nearly destitute of fuel and water, and without proper -instruments, it being also late in the season, Captain Morrell was now -obliged to put back, without attempting any farther progress to the -southward, although an entirely open sea lay before him. He expresses -the opinion that, had not these overruling considerations obliged him -to retreat, he could have penetrated, if not to the pole itself, at -least to the eighty-fifth parallel. I have given his ideas respecting -these matters somewhat at length, that the reader may have an -opportunity of seeing how far they were borne out by my own subsequent -experience. - -In 1831, Captain Briscoe, in the employ of the Messieurs Enderby, -whale-ship owners of London, sailed in the brig Lively for the South -Seas, accompanied by the cutter Tula. On the twenty-eighth of February, -being in latitude 66° 30' S., longitude 47° 31' E., he descried land, -and "clearly discovered through the snow the black peaks of a range of -mountains running E. S. E." He remained in this neighbourhood during -the whole of the following month, but was unable to approach the coast -nearer than within ten leagues, owing to the boisterous state of the -weather. Finding it impossible to make farther discovery during this -season, he returned northward to winter in Van Diemen's Land. - -In the beginning of 1832 he again proceeded southwardly, and on the -fourth of February land was seen to the southeast in latitude 67° 15', -longitude 69° 29' W. This was soon found to be an island near the -headland of the country he had first discovered. On the twenty-first of -the month he succeeded in landing on the latter, and took possession of -it in the name of William IV., calling it Adelaide's Island, in honour -of the English queen. These particulars being made known to the Royal -Geographical Society of London, the conclusion was drawn by that body -"that there is a continuous tract of land extending from 47° 30' E. to -69° 29' W. longitude, running the parallel of from sixty-six to -sixty-seven degrees south latitude." In respect to this conclusion Mr. -Reynolds observes, "In the correctness of it we by no means concur; nor -do the discoveries of Briscoe warrant any such inference. It was within -these limits that Weddell proceeded south on a meridian to the east of -Georgia, Sandwich Land, and the South Orkney and Shetland Islands." My -own experience will be found to testify most directly to the falsity of -the conclusion arrived at by the society. - -These are the principal attempts which have been made at penetrating to -a high southern latitude, and it will now be seen that there remained, -previous to the voyage of the Jane, nearly three hundred degrees of -longitude in which the Antarctic circle had not been crossed at all. Of -course a wide field lay before us for discovery, and it was with -feelings of most intense interest that I heard Captain Guy express his -resolution of pushing boldly to the southward. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - - -We kept our course southwardly for four days after giving up the search -for Glass's Islands, without meeting with any ice at all. On the -twenty-sixth, at noon, we were in latitude 63° 23' S., longitude 41° -25' W. We now saw several large ice islands, and a floe of field ice, -not, however, of any great extent. The winds generally blew from the -southeast, or the northeast, but were very light. Whenever we had a -westerly wind, which was seldom, it was invariably attended with a rain -squall. Every day we had more or less snow. The thermometer, on the -twenty-seventh, stood at thirty-five. - -_January 1, 1828._ This day we found ourselves completely hemmed in by -the ice, and our prospects looked cheerless indeed. A strong gale blew, -during the whole forenoon, from the northeast, and drove large cakes of -the drift against the rudder and counter with such violence that we all -trembled for the consequences. Towards evening, the gale still blowing -with fury, a large field in front separated, and we were enabled, by -carrying a press of sail, to force a passage through the smaller flakes -into some open water beyond. As we approached this space we took in -sail by degrees, and having at length got clear, lay to under a single -reefed foresail. - -_January 2._ We had now tolerably pleasant weather. At noon we found -ourselves in latitude 69° 10' S., longitude 42° 20' W., having crossed -the Antarctic circle. Very little ice was to be seen to the southward, -although large fields of it lay behind us. This day we rigged some -sounding gear, using a large iron pot capable of holding twenty -gallons, and a line of two hundred fathoms. We found the current -setting to the north, about a quarter of a mile per hour. The -temperature of the air was now about thirty-three. Here we found the -variation to be 14° 28' easterly, per azimuth. - -_January 5._ We had still held on to the southward without any very -great impediments. On this morning, however, being in latitude 73° 15' -E., longitude 42° 10' W., we were again brought to a stand by an -immense expanse of firm ice. We saw, nevertheless, much open water to -the southward, and felt no doubt of being able to reach it eventually. -Standing to the eastward along the edge of the floe, we at length came -to a passage of about a mile in width, through which we warped our way -by sundown. The sea in which we now were was thickly covered with ice -islands, but had no field ice, and we pushed on boldly as before. The -cold did not seem to increase, although we had snow very frequently, -and now and then hail squalls of great violence. Immense flocks of the -albatross flew over the schooner this day, going from southeast to -northwest. - -_January 7._ The sea still remained pretty well open, so that we had no -difficulty in holding on our course. To the westward we saw some -icebergs of incredible size, and in the afternoon passed very near one -whose summit could not have been less than four hundred fathoms from -the surface of the ocean. Its girth was probably, at the base, three -quarters of a league, and several streams of water were running from -crevices in its sides. We remained in sight of this island two days, -and then only lost it in a fog. - -_January 10._ Early this morning we had the misfortune to lose a man -overboard. He was an American, named Peter Vredenburgh, a native of -New-York, and was one of the most valuable hands on board the schooner. -In going over the bows his foot slipped, and he fell between two cakes -of ice, never rising again. At noon of this day we were in latitude 78° -30', longitude 40° 15' W. The cold was now excessive, and we had hail -squalls continually from the northward and eastward. In this direction -also we saw several more immense icebergs, and the whole horizon to the -eastward appeared to be blocked up with field ice, rising in tiers, one -mass above the other. Some driftwood floated by during the evening, and -a great quantity of birds flew over, among which were Nellies, -peterels, albatrosses, and a large bird of a brilliant blue plumage. -The variation here, per azimuth, was less than it had been previously -to our passing the Antarctic circle. - -_January 12._ Our passage to the south again looked doubtful, as -nothing was to be seen in the direction of the pole but one apparently -limitless floe, backed by absolute mountains of ragged ice, one -precipice of which arose frowningly above the other. We stood to the -westward until the fourteenth, in the hope of finding an entrance. - -_January 14._ This morning we reached the western extremity of the -field which had impeded us, and, weathering it, came to an open sea, -without a particle of ice. Upon sounding with two hundred fathoms, we -here found a current setting southwardly at the rate of half a mile per -hour. The temperature of the air was forty-seven, that of the water -thirty-four. We now sailed to the southward, without meeting any -interruption of moment until the sixteenth, when, at noon, we were in -latitude 81° 21', longitude 42° W. We here again sounded, and found a -current setting still southwardly, and at the rate of three quarters of -a mile per hour. The variation per azimuth had diminished, and the -temperature of the air was mild and pleasant, the thermometer being as -high as fifty-one. At this period not a particle of ice was to be -discovered. All hands on board now felt certain of attaining the pole. - -_January 17._ This day was full of incident. Innumerable flights of -birds flew over us from the southward, and several were shot from the -deck; one of them, a species of pelican, proved to be excellent eating. -About midday a small floe of ice was seen from the masthead off the -larboard bow, and upon it there appeared to be some large animal. As -the weather was good and nearly calm, Captain Guy ordered out two of -the boats to see what it was. Dirk Peters and myself accompanied the -mate in the larger boat. Upon coming up with the floe, we perceived -that it was in the possession of a gigantic creature of the race of the -Arctic bear, but far exceeding in size the largest of these animals. -Being well armed, we made no scruple of attacking it at once. Several -shots were fired in quick succession, the most of which took effect, -apparently, in the head and body. Nothing discouraged, however, the -monster threw himself from the ice, and swam, with open jaws, to the -boat in which were Peters and myself. Owing to the confusion which -ensued among us at this unexpected turn of the adventure, no person was -ready immediately with a second shot, and the bear had actually -succeeded in getting half his vast bulk across our gunwale, and seizing -one of the men by the small of his back, before any efficient means -were taken to repel him. In this extremity nothing but the promptness -and agility of Peters saved us from destruction. Leaping upon the back -of the huge beast, he plunged the blade of a knife behind the neck, -reaching the spinal marrow at a blow. The brute tumbled into the sea -lifeless, and without a struggle, rolling over Peters as he fell. The -latter soon recovered himself, and a rope being thrown him, he secured -the carcass before entering the boat. We then returned in triumph to -the schooner, towing our trophy behind us. This bear, upon -admeasurement, proved to be full fifteen feet in his greatest length. -His wool was perfectly white, and very coarse, curling tightly. The -eyes were of a blood red, and larger than those of the Arctic bear--the -snout also more rounded, rather resembling the snout of the bulldog. -The meat was tender, but excessively rank and fishy, although the men -devoured it with avidity, and declared it excellent eating. - -Scarcely had we got our prize alongside, when the man at the masthead -gave the joyful shout of _"land on the starboard bow!"_ All hands were -now upon the alert, and, a breeze springing up very opportunely from -the northward and eastward, we were soon close in with the coast. It -proved to be a low rocky islet, of about a league in circumference, and -altogether destitute of vegetation, if we except a species of prickly -pear. In approaching it from the northward, a singular ledge of rock is -seen projecting into the sea, and bearing a strong resemblance to -corded bales of cotton. Around this ledge to the westward is a small -bay, at the bottom of which our boats effected a convenient landing. - -It did not take us long to explore every portion of the island, but, -with one exception, we found nothing worthy of observation. In the -southern extremity, we picked up near the shore, half buried in a pile -of loose stones, a piece of wood, which seemed to have formed the prow -of a canoe. There had been evidently some attempt at carving upon it, -and Captain Guy fancied that he made out the figure of a tortoise, but -the resemblance did not strike me very forcibly. Besides this prow, if -such it were, we found no other token that any living creature had ever -been here before. Around the coast we discovered occasional small floes -of ice--but these were very few. The exact situation of this islet (to -which Captain Guy gave the name of Bennet's Islet, in honour of his -partner in the ownership of the schooner) is 82° 50' S. latitude, 42° -20' W. longitude. - -We had now advanced to the southward more than eight degrees farther -than any previous navigators, and the sea still lay perfectly open -before us. We found, too, that the variation uniformly decreased as we -proceeded, and, what was still more surprising, that the temperature of -the air, and latterly of the water, became milder. The weather might -even be called pleasant, and we had a steady but very gentle breeze -always from some northern point of the compass. The sky was usually -clear, with now and then a slight appearance of thin vapour in the -southern horizon--this, however, was invariably of brief duration. Two -difficulties alone presented themselves to our view; we were getting -short of fuel, and symptoms of scurvy had occurred among several of the -crew. These considerations began to impress upon Captain Guy the -necessity of returning, and he spoke of it frequently. For my own part, -confident as I was of soon arriving at land of some description upon -the course we were pursuing, and having every reason to believe, from -present appearances, that we should not find it the steril soil met -with in the higher Arctic latitudes, I warmly pressed upon him the -expediency of persevering, at least for a few days longer, in the -direction we were now holding. So tempting an opportunity of solving -the great problem in regard to an Antarctic continent had never yet -been afforded to man, and I confess that I felt myself bursting with -indignation at the timid and ill-timed suggestions of our commander. I -believe, indeed, that what I could not refrain from saying to him on -this head had the effect of inducing him to push on. While, therefore, -I cannot but lament the most unfortunate and bloody events which -immediately arose from my advice, I must still be allowed to feel some -degree of gratification at having been instrumental, however remotely, -in opening to the eye of science one of the most intensely exciting -secrets which has ever engrossed its attention. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - - -_January 18._ This morning[4] we continued to the southward, with the -same pleasant weather as before. The sea was entirely smooth, the air -tolerably warm and from the northeast, the temperature of the water -fifty-three. We now again got our sounding-gear in order, and, with a -hundred and fifty fathoms of line, found the current setting towards -the pole at the rate of a mile an hour. This constant tendency to the -southward, both in the wind and current, caused some degree of -speculation, and even of alarm, in different quarters of the schooner, -and I saw distinctly that no little impression had been made upon the -mind of Captain Guy. He was exceedingly sensitive to ridicule, however, -and I finally succeeded in laughing him out of his apprehensions. The -variation was now very trivial. In the course of the day we saw several -large whales of the right species, and innumerable flights of the -albatross passed over the vessel. We also picked up a bush, full of red -berries, like those of the hawthorn, and the carcass of a -singular-looking land-animal. It was three feet in length, and but six -inches in height, with four very short legs, the feet armed with long -claws of a brilliant scarlet, and resembling coral in substance. The -body was covered with a straight silky hair, perfectly white. The tail -was peaked like that of a rat, and about a foot and a half long. The -head resembled a cat's, with the exception of the ears--these were -flapped like the ears of a dog. The _teeth_ were of the same brilliant -scarlet as the claws. - -[Footnote 4: The terms _morning_ and _evening_, which I have made use -of to avoid confusion in my narrative, as far as possible, must not, of -course, be taken in their ordinary sense. For a long time past we had -had no night at all, the daylight being continual. The dates throughout -are according to nautical time, and the bearings must be understood as -per compass. I would also remark in this place, that I cannot, in the -first portion of what is here written, pretend to strict accuracy in -respect to dates, or latitudes and longitudes, having kept no regular -journal until after the period of which this first portion treats. In -many instances I have relied altogether upon memory.] - -_January 19._ To-day, being in latitude 83° 20', longitude 43° 5' W. -(the sea being of an extraordinarily dark colour), we again saw land -from the masthead, and, upon a closer scrutiny, found it to be one of a -group of very large islands. The shore was precipitous, and the -interior seemed to be well wooded, a circumstance which occasioned us -great joy. In about four hours from our first discovering the land we -came to anchor in ten fathoms, sandy bottom, a league from the coast, -as a high surf, with strong ripples here and there, rendered a nearer -approach of doubtful expediency. The two largest boats were now ordered -out, and a party, well armed (among whom were Peters and myself), -proceeded to look for an opening in the reef which appeared to encircle -the island. After searching about for some time, we discovered an -inlet, which we were entering, when we saw four large canoes put off -from the shore, filled with men who seemed to be well armed. We waited -for them to come up, and, as they moved with great rapidity, they were -soon within hail. Captain Guy now held up a white handkerchief on the -blade of an oar, when the strangers made a full stop, and commenced a -loud jabbering all at once, intermingled with occasional shouts, in -which we could distinguish the words _Anamoo-moo!_ and _Lama-Lama!_ -They continued this for at least half an hour, during which we had a -good opportunity of observing their appearance. - -In the four canoes, which might have been fifty feet long and five -broad, there were a hundred and ten savages in all. They were about the -ordinary stature of Europeans, but of a more muscular and brawny frame. -Their complexion a jet black, with thick and long woolly hair. They -were clothed in skins of an unknown black animal, shaggy and silky, and -made to fit the body with some degree of skill, the hair being inside, -except where turned out about the neck, wrists, and ankles. Their arms -consisted principally of clubs, of a dark, and apparently very heavy -wood. Some spears, however, were observed among them, headed with -flint, and a few slings. The bottoms of the canoes were full of black -stones about the size of a large egg. - -When they had concluded their harangue (for it was clear they intended -their jabbering for such), one of them who seemed to be the chief stood -up in the prow of his canoe, and made signs for us to bring our boats -alongside of him. This hint we pretended not to understand, thinking it -the wiser plan to maintain, if possible, the interval between us, as -their number more than quadrupled our own. Finding this to be the case, -the chief ordered the three other canoes to hold back, while he -advanced towards us with his own. As soon as he came up with us he -leaped on board the largest of our boats, and seated himself by the -side of Captain Guy, pointing at the same time to the schooner, and -repeating the words _Anamoo-moo!_ and _Lama-Lama!_ We now put back to -the vessel, the four canoes following at a little distance. - -Upon getting alongside the chief evinced symptoms of extreme surprise -and delight, clapping his hands, slapping his thighs and breast, and -laughing obstreperously. His followers behind joined in his merriment, -and for some minutes the din was so excessive as to be absolutely -deafening. Quiet being at length restored, Captain Guy ordered the -boats to be hoisted up, as a necessary precaution, and gave the chief -(whose name we soon found to be _Too-wit_) to understand that we could -admit no more than twenty of his men on deck at one time. With this -arrangement he appeared perfectly satisfied, and gave some directions -to the canoes, when one of them approached, the rest remaining about -fifty yards off. Twenty of the savages now got on board, and proceeded -to ramble over every part of the deck, and scramble about among the -rigging, making themselves much at home, and examining every article -with great inquisitiveness. - -It was quite evident that they had never before seen any of the white -race--from whose complexion, indeed, they appeared to recoil. They -believed the Jane to be a living creature, and seemed to be afraid of -hurting it with the points of their spears, carefully turning them up. -Our crew were much amused with the conduct of Too-wit in one instance. -The cook was splitting some wood near the galley, and, by accident, -struck his axe into the deck, making a gash of considerable depth. The -chief immediately ran up, and pushing the cook on one side rather -roughly, commenced a half whine, half howl, strongly indicative of -sympathy in what he considered the sufferings of the schooner, patting -and smoothing the gash with his hand, and washing it from a bucket of -seawater which stood by. This was a degree of ignorance for which we -were not prepared, and for my part I could not help thinking some of it -affected. - -When the visiters had satisfied, as well as they could, their curiosity -in regard to our upper works, they were admitted below, when their -amazement exceeded all bounds. Their astonishment now appeared to be -far too deep for words, for they roamed about in silence, broken only -by low ejaculations. The arms afforded them much food for speculation, -and they were suffered to handle and examine them at leisure. I do not -believe that they had the least suspicion of their actual use, but -rather took them for idols, seeing the care we had of them, and the -attention with which we watched their movements while handling them. At -the great guns their wonder was redoubled. They approached them with -every mark of the profoundest reverence and awe, but forbore to examine -them minutely. There were two large mirrors in the cabin, and here was -the acme of their amazement. Too-wit was the first to approach them, -and he had got in the middle of the cabin, with his face to one and his -back to the other, before he fairly perceived them. Upon raising his -eyes and seeing his reflected self in the glass, I thought the savage -would go mad; but, upon turning short round to make a retreat, and -beholding himself a second time in the opposite direction, I was afraid -he would expire upon the spot. No persuasions could prevail upon him to -take another look; but, throwing himself upon the floor, with his face -buried in his hands, he remained thus until we were obliged to drag him -upon deck. - -The whole of the savages were admitted on board in this manner, twenty -at a time, Too-wit being suffered to remain during the entire period. -We saw no disposition to thievery among them, nor did we miss a single -article after their departure. Throughout the whole of their visit they -evinced the most friendly manner. There were, however, some points in -their demeanour which we found it impossible to understand: for -example, we could not get them to approach several very harmless -objects--such as the schooner's sails, an egg, an open book, or a pan -of flour. We endeavoured to ascertain if they had among them any -articles which might be turned to account in the way of traffic, but -found great difficulty in being comprehended. We made out, -nevertheless, what greatly astonished us, that the islands abounded in -the large tortoise of the Gallipagos, one of which we saw in the canoe -of Too-wit. We saw also some _biche de mer_ in the hands of one of the -savages, who was greedily devouring it in its natural state. These -anomalies, for they were such when considered in regard to the -latitude, induced Captain Guy to wish for a thorough investigation of -the country, in the hope of making a profitable speculation in his -discovery. For my own part, anxious as I was to know something more of -these islands, I was still more earnestly bent on prosecuting the -voyage to the southward without delay. We had now fine weather, but -there was no telling how long it would last; and being already in the -eighty-fourth parallel, with an open sea before us, a current setting -strongly to the southward, and the wind fair, I could not listen with -any patience to a proposition of stopping longer than was absolutely -necessary for the health of the crew and the taking on board a proper -supply of fuel and fresh provisions. I represented to the captain that -we might easily make this group on our return, and winter here in the -event of being blocked up by the ice. He at length came into my views -(for in some way, hardly known to myself, I had acquired much influence -over him), and it was finally resolved that, even in the event of our -finding _biche de mer_, we should only stay here a week to recruit, and -then push on to the southward while we might. Accordingly we made every -necessary preparation, and, under the guidance of Too-wit, got the Jane -through the reef in safety, coming to anchor about a mile from the -shore, in an excellent bay, completely landlocked, on the southeastern -coast of the main island, and in ten fathoms of water, black sandy -bottom. At the head of this bay there were three fine springs (we were -told) of good water, and we saw abundance of wood in the vicinity. The -four canoes followed us in, keeping, however, at a respectful distance. -Too-wit himself remained on board, and, upon our dropping anchor, -invited us to accompany him on shore, and visit his village in the -interior. To this Captain Guy consented; and ten savages being left on -board as hostages, a party of us, twelve in all, got in readiness to -attend the chief. We took care to be well armed, yet without evincing -any distrust. The schooner had her guns run out, her boarding-nettings -up, and every other proper precaution was taken to guard against -surprise. Directions were left with the chief mate to admit no person -on board during our absence, and, in the event of our not appearing in -twelve hours, to send the cutter, with a swivel, round the island in -search of us. - -At every step we took inland the conviction forced itself upon us that -we were in a country differing essentially from any hitherto visited by -civilized men. We saw nothing with which we had been formerly -conversant. The trees resembled no growth of either the torrid, the -temperate, or the northern frigid zones, and were altogether unlike -those of the lower southern latitudes we had already traversed. The -very rocks were novel in their mass, their colour, and their -stratification; and the streams themselves, utterly incredible as it -may appear, had so little in common with those of other climates, that -we were scrupulous of tasting them, and, indeed, had difficulty in -bringing ourselves to believe that their qualities were purely those of -nature. At a small brook which crossed our path (the first we had -reached) Too-wit and his attendants halted to drink. On account of the -singular character of the water, we refused to taste it, supposing it -to be polluted; and it was not until some time afterward we came to -understand that such was the appearance of the streams throughout the -whole group. I am at a loss to give a distinct idea of the nature of -this liquid, and cannot do so without many words. Although it flowed -with rapidity in all declivities where common water would do so, yet -never, except when falling in a cascade, had it the customary -appearance of _limpidity_. It was, nevertheless, in point of fact, as -perfectly limpid as any limestone water in existence, the difference -being only in appearance. At first sight, and especially in cases where -little declivity was found, it bore resemblance, as regards -consistency, to a thick infusion of gum Arabic in common water. But -this was only the least remarkable of its extraordinary qualities. It -was _not_ colourless, nor was it of any one uniform colour--presenting -to the eye, as it flowed, every possible shade of purple, like the hues -of a changeable silk. This variation in shade was produced in a manner -which excited as profound astonishment in the minds of our party as the -mirror had done in the case of Too-wit. Upon collecting a basinful, and -allowing it to settle thoroughly, we perceived that the whole mass of -liquid was made up of a number of distinct veins, each of a distinct -hue; that these veins did not commingle; and that their cohesion was -perfect in regard to their own particles among themselves, and -imperfect in regard to neighbouring veins. Upon passing the blade of a -knife athwart the veins, the water closed over it immediately, as with -us, and also, in withdrawing it, all traces of the passage of the knife -were instantly obliterated. If, however, the blade was passed down -accurately between two veins, a perfect separation was effected, which -the power of cohesion did not immediately rectify. The phenomena of -this water formed the first definite link in that vast chain of -apparent miracles with which I was destined to be at length encircled. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - - -We were nearly three hours in reaching the village, it being more than -nine miles in the interior, and the path lying through a rugged -country. As we passed along, the party of Too-wit (the whole hundred -and ten savages of the canoes) was momentarily strengthened by smaller -detachments, of from two to six or seven, which joined us, as if by -accident, at different turns in the road. There appeared so much of -system in this that I could not help feeling distrust, and I spoke to -Captain Guy of my apprehensions. It was now too late, however, to -recede, and we concluded that our best security lay in evincing a -perfect confidence in the good faith of Too-wit. We accordingly went -on, keeping a wary eye upon the manoeuvres of the savages, and not -permitting them to divide our numbers by pushing in between. In this -way, passing through a precipitous ravine, we at length reached what we -were told was the only collection of habitations upon the island. As we -came in sight of them, the chief set up a shout, and frequently -repeated the word _Klock-Klock_; which we supposed to be the name of -the village, or perhaps the generic name for villages. - -The dwellings were of the most miserable description imaginable, and, -unlike those of even the lowest of the savage races with which mankind -are acquainted, were of no uniform plan. Some of them (and these we -found belonged to the _Wampoos_ or _Yampoos_, the great men of the -land) consisted of a tree cut down at about four feet from the root, -with a large black skin thrown over it, and hanging in loose folds upon -the ground. Under this the savage nestled. Others were formed by means -of rough limbs of trees, with the withered foliage upon them, made to -recline, at an angle of forty-five degrees, against a bank of clay, -heaped up, without regular form, to the height of five or six feet. -Others, again, were mere holes dug in the earth perpendicularly, and -covered over with similar branches, these being removed when the tenant -was about to enter, and pulled on again when he had entered. A few were -built among the forked limbs of trees as they stood, the upper limbs -being partially cut through, so as to bend over upon the lower, thus -forming thicker shelter from the weather. The greater number, however, -consisted of small shallow caverns, apparently scratched in the face of -a precipitous ledge of dark stone, resembling fuller's earth, with -which three sides of the village was bounded. At the door of each of -these primitive caverns was a small rock, which the tenant carefully -placed before the entrance upon leaving his residence, for what purpose -I could not ascertain, as the stone itself was never of sufficient size -to close up more than a third of the opening. - -This village, if it were worthy of the name, lay in a valley of some -depth, and could only be approached from the southward, the precipitous -ledge of which I have already spoken cutting off all access in other -directions. Through the middle of the valley ran a brawling stream of -the same magical-looking water which has been described. We saw several -strange animals about the dwellings, all appearing to be thoroughly -domesticated. The largest of these creatures resembled our common hog -in the structure of the body and snout; the tail, however, was bushy, -and the legs slender as those of the antelope. Its motion was -exceedingly awkward and indecisive, and we never saw it attempt to run. -We noticed also several animals very similar in appearance, but of a -greater length of body, and covered with a black wool. There were a -great variety of tame fowls running about, and these seemed to -constitute the chief food of the natives. To our astonishment we saw -black albatross among these birds in a state of entire domestication, -going to sea periodically for food, but always returning to the village -as a home, and using the southern shore in the vicinity as a place of -incubation. There they were joined by their friends the pelicans as -usual, but these latter never followed them to the dwellings of the -savages. Among the other kinds of tame fowls were ducks, differing very -little from the canvass-back of our own country, black gannets, and a -large bird not unlike the buzzard in appearance, but not carnivorous. -Of fish there seemed to be a great abundance. We saw, during our visit, -a quantity of dried salmon, rock cod, blue dolphins, mackerel, -blackfish, skate, conger eels, elephant-fish, mullets, soles, -parrotfish, leather-jackets, gurnards, hake, flounders, paracutas, and -innumerable other varieties. We noticed, too, that most of them were -similar to the fish about the group of the Lord Auckland Islands, in a -latitude as low as fifty-one degrees south. The Gallipago tortoise was -also very plentiful. We saw but few wild animals, and none of a large -size, or of a species with which we were familiar. One or two serpents -of a formidable aspect crossed our path, but the natives paid them -little attention, and we concluded that they were not venomous. - -As we approached the village with Too-wit and his party, a vast crowd -of the people rushed out to meet us, with loud shouts, among which we -could only distinguish the everlasting _Anamoo-moo!_ and _Lama-Lama!_ -We were much surprised at perceiving that, with one or two exceptions, -these new comers were entirely naked, the skins being used only by the -men of the canoes. All the weapons of the country seemed also to be in -the possession of the latter, for there was no appearance of any among -the villagers. There were a great many women and children, the former -not altogether wanting in what might be termed personal beauty. They -were straight, tall, and well formed, with a grace and freedom of -carriage not to be found in civilized society. Their lips, however, -like those of the men, were thick and clumsy, so that, even when -laughing, the teeth were never disclosed. Their hair was of a finer -texture than that of the males. Among these naked villagers there might -have been ten or twelve who were clothed, like the party of Too-wit, in -dresses of black skin, and armed with lances and heavy clubs. These -appeared to have great influence among the rest, and were always -addressed by the title _Wampoo_. These, too, were the tenants of the -black skin palaces. That of Too-wit was situated in the centre of the -village, and was much larger and somewhat better constructed than -others of its kind. The tree which formed its support was cut off at a -distance of twelve feet or thereabout from the root, and there were -several branches left just below the cut, these serving to extend the -covering, and in this way prevent its flapping about the trunk. The -covering, too, which consisted of four very large skins fastened -together with wooden skewers, was secured at the bottom with pegs -driven through it and into the ground. The floor was strewed with a -quantity of dry leaves by way of carpet. - -To this hut we were conducted with great solemnity, and as many of the -natives crowded in after us as possible. Too-wit seated himself on the -leaves, and made signs that we should follow his example. This we did, -and presently found ourselves in a situation peculiarly uncomfortable, -if not indeed critical. We were on the ground, twelve in number, with -the savages, as many as forty, sitting on their hams so closely around -us that, if any disturbance had arisen, we should have found it -impossible to make use of our arms, or indeed to have risen on our -feet. The pressure was not only inside the tent, but outside, where -probably was every individual on the whole island, the crowd being -prevented from trampling us to death only by the incessant exertions -and vociferations of Too-wit. Our chief security lay, however, in the -presence of Too-wit himself among us, and we resolved to stick by him -closely, as the best chance of extricating ourselves from the dilemma, -sacrificing him immediately upon the first appearance of hostile -design. - -After some trouble a certain degree of quiet was restored, when the -chief addressed us in a speech of great length, and very nearly -resembling the one delivered in the canoes, with the exception that the -_Anamoo-moos!_ were now somewhat more strenuously insisted upon than -the _Lama-Lamas!_ We listened in profound silence until the conclusion -of his harangue, when Captain Guy replied by assuring the chief of his -eternal friendship and good-will, concluding what he had to say by a -present of several strings of blue beads and a knife. At the former the -monarch, much to our surprise, turned up his nose with some expression -of contempt; but the knife gave him the most unlimited satisfaction, -and he immediately ordered dinner. This was handed into the tent over -the heads of the attendants, and consisted of the palpitating entrails -of a species of unknown animal, probably one of the slim-legged hogs -which we had observed in our approach to the village. Seeing us at a -loss how to proceed, he began, by way of setting us an example, to -devour yard after yard of the enticing food, until we could positively -stand it no longer, and evinced such manifest symptoms of rebellion of -stomach as inspired his majesty with a degree of astonishment only -inferior to that brought about by the looking-glasses. We declined, -however, partaking of the delicacies before us, and endeavoured to make -him understand that we had no appetite whatever, having just finished a -hearty _déjeuner_. - -When the monarch had made an end of his meal, we commenced a series of -cross-questioning in every ingenious manner we could devise, with a -view of discovering what were the chief productions of the country, and -whether any of them might be turned to profit. At length he seemed to -have some idea of our meaning, and offered to accompany us to a part of -the coast where he assured us the _biche de mer_ (pointing to a -specimen of that animal) was to be found in great abundance. We were -glad at this early opportunity of escaping from the oppression of the -crowd, and signified our eagerness to proceed. We now left the tent, -and, accompanied by the whole population of the village, followed the -chief to the southeastern extremity of the island, not far from the bay -where our vessel lay at anchor. We waited here for about an hour, until -the four canoes were brought round by some of the savages to our -station. The whole of our party then getting into one of them, we were -paddled along the edge of the reef before mentioned, and of another -still farther out, where we saw a far greater quantity of _biche de -mer_ than the oldest seaman among us had ever seen in those groups of -the lower latitudes most celebrated for this article of commerce. We -stayed near these reefs only long enough to satisfy ourselves that we -could easily load a dozen vessels with the animal if necessary, when we -were taken alongside the schooner, and parted with Too-wit after -obtaining from him a promise that he would bring us, in the course of -twenty-four hours, as many of the canvass-back ducks and Gallipago -tortoises as his canoes would hold. In the whole of this adventure we -saw nothing in the demeanour of the natives calculated to create -suspicion, with the single exception of the systematic manner in which -their party was strengthened during our route from the schooner to the -village. - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - - -The chief was as good as his word, and we were soon plentifully -supplied with fresh provision. We found the tortoises as fine as we had -ever seen, and the ducks surpassed our best species of wild fowl, being -exceedingly tender, juicy, and well-flavoured. Besides these, the -savages brought us, upon our making them comprehend our wishes, a vast -quantity of brown celery and scurvy grass, with a canoe-load of fresh -fish and some dried. The celery was a treat indeed, and the scurvy -grass proved of incalculable benefit in restoring those of our men who -had shown symptoms of disease. In a very short time we had not a single -person on the sick-list. We had also plenty of other kinds of fresh -provision, among which may be mentioned a species of shellfish -resembling the muscle in shape, but with the taste of an oyster. -Shrimps, too, and prawns were abundant, and albatross and other birds' -eggs with dark shells. We took in, too, a plentiful stock of the flesh -of the hog which I have mentioned before. Most of the men found it a -palatable food, but I thought it fishy and otherwise disagreeable. In -return for these good things we presented the natives with blue beads, -brass trinkets, nails, knives, and pieces of red cloth, they being -fully delighted in the exchange. We established a regular market on -shore, just under the guns of the schooner, where our barterings were -carried on with every appearance of good faith, and a degree of order -which their conduct at the village of _Klock-klock_ had not led us to -expect from the savages. - -Matters went on thus very amicably for several days, during which -parties of the natives were frequently on board the schooner, and -parties of our men frequently on shore, making long excursions into the -interior, and receiving no molestation whatever. Finding the ease with -which the vessel might be loaded with _biche de mer_, owing to the -friendly disposition of the islanders, and the readiness with which -they would render us assistance in collecting it, Captain Guy resolved -to enter into negotiation with Too-wit for the erection of suitable -houses in which to cure the article, and for the services of himself -and tribe in gathering as much as possible, while he himself took -advantage of the fine weather to prosecute his voyage to the southward. -Upon mentioning this project to the chief he seemed very willing to -enter into an agreement. A bargain was accordingly struck, perfectly -satisfactory to both parties, by which it was arranged that, after -making the necessary preparations, such as laying off the proper -grounds, erecting a portion of the buildings, and doing some other work -in which the whole of our crew would be required, the schooner should -proceed on her route, leaving three of her men on the island to -superintend the fulfilment of the project, and instruct the natives in -drying the _biche de mer_. In regard to terms, these were made to -depend upon the exertions of the savages in our absence. They were to -receive a stipulated quantity of blue beads, knives, red cloth, and so -forth, for every certain number of piculs of the _biche de mer_ which -should be ready on our return. - -A description of the nature of this important article of commerce, and -the method of preparing it, may prove of some interest to my readers, -and I can find no more suitable place than this for introducing an -account of it. The following comprehensive notice of the substance is -taken from a modern history of a voyage to the South Seas. - -"It is that _mollusca_ from the Indian Seas which is known in commerce -by the French name _bouche de mer_ (a nice morsel from the sea). If I -am not much mistaken, the celebrated Cuvier calls it _gasteropeda -pulmonifera_. It is abundantly gathered in the coasts of the Pacific -Islands, and gathered especially for the Chinese market, where it -commands a great price, perhaps as much as their much-talked of edible -bird's nests, which are probably made up of the gelatinous matter -picked up by a species of swallow from the body of these molluscæ. They -have no shell, no legs, nor any prominent part, except an _absorbing_ -and an _excretory_, opposite organs; but, by their elastic wings, like -caterpillars or worms, they creep in shallow waters, in which, when -low, they can be seen by a kind of swallow, the sharp bill of which, -inserted in the soft animal, draws a gummy and filamentous substance, -which, by drying, can be wrought into the solid walls of their nest. -Hence the name of _gasteropeda pulmonifera_. - -"This mollusca is oblong, and of different sizes, from three to -eighteen inches in length; and I have seen a few that were not less -than two feet long. They are nearly round, a little flattish on one -side, which lies next the bottom of the sea; and they are from one to -eight inches thick. They crawl up into shallow water at particular -seasons of the year, probably for the purpose of gendering, as we often -find them in pairs. It is when the sun has the most power on the water, -rendering it tepid, that they approach the shore; and they often go up -into places so shallow, that, on the tide's receding, they are left -dry, exposed to the heat of the sun. But they do not bring forth their -young in shallow water, as we never see any of their progeny, and the -full-grown ones are always observed coming in from deep water. They -feed principally on that class of zoophytes which produce the coral. - -"The _biche de mer_ is generally taken in three or four feet water; -after which they are brought on shore, and split at one end with a -knife, the incision being one inch or more, according to the size of -the mollusca. Through this opening the entrails are forced out by -pressure, and they are much like those of any other small tenant of the -deep. The article is then washed, and afterward boiled to a certain -degree, which must not be too much or too little. They are then buried -in the ground for four hours, then boiled again for a short time, after -which they are dried, either by the fire or the sun. Those cured by the -sun are worth the most; but where one picul (133-1/3 lbs.) can be cured -that way, I can cure thirty piculs by the fire. When once properly -cured, they can be kept in a dry place for two or three years without -any risk; but they should be examined once in every few months, say -four times a year, to see if any dampness is likely to affect them. - -"The Chinese, as before stated, consider _biche de mer_ a very great -luxury, believing that it wonderfully strengthens and nourishes the -system, and renews the exhausted system of the immoderate voluptuary. -The first quality commands a high price in Canton, being worth ninety -dollars a picul; the second quality seventy-five dollars; the third -fifty dollars; the fourth thirty dollars; the fifth twenty dollars; the -sixth twelve dollars; the seventh eight dollars; and the eighth four -dollars; small cargoes, however, will often bring more in Manilla, -Singapore, and Batavia." - -An agreement having been thus entered into, we proceeded immediately to -land everything necessary for preparing the buildings and clearing the -ground. A large flat space near the eastern shore of the bay was -selected, where there was plenty both of wood and water, and within a -convenient distance of the principal reefs on which the _biche de mer_ -was to be procured. We now all set to work in good earnest, and soon, -to the great astonishment of the savages, had felled a sufficient -number of trees for our purpose, getting them quickly in order for the -framework of the houses, which in two or three days were so far under -way that we could safely trust the rest of the work to the three men -whom we intended to leave behind. These were John Carson, Alfred -Harris, and ---- Peterson (all natives of London, I believe), who -volunteered their services in this respect. - -By the last of the month we had everything in readiness for departure. -We had agreed, however, to pay a formal visit of leavestaking to the -village, and Too-wit insisted so pertinaciously upon our keeping the -promise, that we did not think it advisable to run the risk of -offending him by a final refusal. I believe that not one of us had at -this time the slightest suspicion of the good faith of the savages. -They had uniformly behaved with the greatest decorum, aiding us with -alacrity in our work, offering us their commodities frequently without -price, and never, in any instance, pilfering a single article, although -the high value they set upon the goods we had with us was evident by -the extravagant demonstrations of joy always manifested upon our making -them a present. The women especially were most obliging in every -respect, and, upon the whole, we should have been the most suspicious -of human beings had we entertained a single thought of perfidy on the -part of a people who treated us so well. A very short while sufficed to -prove that this apparent kindness of disposition was only the result of -a deeply-laid plan for our destruction, and that the islanders for whom -we entertained such inordinate feelings of esteem were among the most -barbarous, subtle, and bloodthirsty wretches that ever contaminated the -face of the globe. - -It was on the first of February that we went on shore for the purpose -of visiting the village. Although, as said before, we entertained not -the slightest suspicion, still no proper precaution was neglected. Six -men were left in the schooner with instructions to permit none of the -savages to approach the vessel during our absence, under any pretence -whatever, and to remain constantly on deck. The boarding-nettings were -up, the guns double-shotted with grape and canister, and the swivels -loaded with canisters of musket-balls. She lay, with her anchor apeak, -about a mile from the shore, and no canoe could approach her in any -direction without being distinctly seen and exposed to the full fire of -our swivels immediately. - -The six men being left on board, our shore-party consisted of -thirty-two persons in all. We were armed to the teeth, having with us -muskets, pistols, and cutlasses, besides each a long kind of seaman's -knife, somewhat resembling the Bowie knife now so much used throughout -our western and southern country. A hundred of the black skin warriors -met us at the landing for the purpose of accompanying us on our way. We -noticed, however, with some surprise, that they were now entirely -without arms; and, upon questioning Too-wit in relation to this -circumstance, he merely answered that _Mattee non we pa pa si_--meaning -that there was no need of arms where all were brothers. We took this in -good part, and proceeded. - -We had passed the spring and rivulet of which I before spoke, and were -now entering upon a narrow gorge leading through the chain of soapstone -hills among which the village was situated. This gorge was very rocky -and uneven, so much so that it was with no little difficulty we -scrambled through it on our first visit to Klock-klock. The whole -length of the ravine might have been a mile and a half, or probably two -miles. It wound in every possible direction through the hills (having -apparently formed, at some remote period, the bed of a torrent), in no -instance proceeding more than twenty yards without an abrupt turn. The -sides of this dell would have averaged, I am sure, seventy or eighty -feet in perpendicular altitude throughout the whole of their extent, -and in some portions they arose to an astonishing height, overshadowing -the pass so completely that but little of the light of day could -penetrate. The general width was about forty feet, and occasionally it -diminished so as not to allow the passage of more than five or six -persons abreast. In short, there could be no place in the world better -adapted for the consummation of an ambuscade, and it was no more than -natural that we should look carefully to our arms as we entered upon -it. When I now think of our egregious folly, the chief subject of -astonishment seems to be, that we should have ever ventured, under any -circumstances, so completely into the power of unknown savages as to -permit them to march both before and behind us in our progress through -this ravine. Yet such was the order we blindly took up, trusting -foolishly to the force of our party, the unarmed condition of Too-wit -and his men, the certain efficacy of our fire-arms (whose effect was -yet a secret to the natives), and, more than all, to the long-sustained -pretension of friendship kept up by these infamous wretches. Five or -six of them went on before, as if to lead the way, ostentatiously -busying themselves in removing the larger stones and rubbish from the -path. Next came our own party. We walked closely together, taking care -only to prevent separation. Behind followed the main body of the -savages, observing unusual order and decorum. - -Dirk Peters, a man named Wilson Allen, and myself were on the right of -our companions, examining, as we went along, the singular -stratification of the precipice which overhung us. A fissure in the -soft rock attracted our attention. It was about wide enough for one -person to enter without squeezing, and extended back into the hill some -eighteen or twenty feet in a straight course, sloping afterward to the -left. The height of the opening, as far as we could see into it from -the main gorge, was perhaps sixty or seventy feet. There were one or -two stunted shrubs growing from the crevices, bearing a species of -filbert, which I felt some curiosity to examine, and pushed in briskly -for that purpose, gathering five or six of the nuts at a grasp, and -then hastily retreating. As I turned, I found that Peters and Allen had -followed me. I desired them to go back, as there was not room for two -persons to pass, saying they should have some of my nuts. They -accordingly turned, and were scrambling back, Allen being close to the -mouth of the fissure, when I was suddenly aware of a concussion -resembling nothing I had ever before experienced, and which impressed -me with a vague conception, if indeed I then thought of anything, that -the whole foundations of the solid globe were suddenly rent asunder, -and that the day of universal dissolution was at hand. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. - - -As soon as I could collect my scattered senses, I found myself nearly -suffocated, and grovelling in utter darkness among a quantity of loose -earth, which was also falling upon me heavily in every direction, -threatening to bury me entirely. Horribly alarmed at this idea, I -struggled to gain my feet, and at length succeeded. I then remained -motionless for some moments, endeavouring to conceive what had happened -to me, and where I was. Presently I heard a deep groan just at my ear, -and afterward the smothered voice of Peters calling to me for aid in -the name of God. I scrambled one or two paces forward, when I fell -directly over the head and shoulders of my companion, who, I soon -discovered, was buried in a loose mass of earth as far as his middle, -and struggling desperately to free himself from the pressure. I tore -the dirt from around him with all the energy I could command, and at -length succeeded in getting him out. - -As soon as we sufficiently recovered from our fright and surprise to be -capable of conversing rationally, we both came to the conclusion that -the walls of the fissure in which we had ventured had, by some -convulsion of nature, or probably from their own weight, caved in -overhead, and that we were consequently lost for ever, being thus -entombed alive. For a long time we gave up supinely to the most intense -agony and despair, such as cannot be adequately imagined by those who -have never been in a similar situation. I firmly believe that no -incident ever occurring in the course of human events is more adapted -to inspire the supremeness of mental and bodily distress than a case -like our own, of living inhumation. The blackness of darkness which -envelops the victim, the terrific oppression of lungs, the stifling -fumes from the damp earth, unite with the ghastly considerations that -we are beyond the remotest confines of hope, and that such is the -allotted portion of _the dead_, to carry into the human heart a degree -of appalling awe and horror not to be tolerated--never to be conceived. - -At length Peters proposed that we should endeavour to ascertain -precisely the extent of our calamity, and grope about our prison; it -being barely possible, he observed, that some opening might be yet left -us for escape. I caught eagerly at this hope, and, arousing myself to -exertion, attempted to force my way through the loose earth. Hardly had -I advanced a single step before a glimmer of light became perceptible, -enough to convince me that, at all events, we should not immediately -perish for want of air. We now took some degree of heart, and -encouraged each other to hope for the best. Having scrambled over a -bank of rubbish which impeded our farther progress in the direction of -the light, we found less difficulty in advancing, and also experienced -some relief from the excessive oppression of lungs which had tormented -us. Presently we were enabled to obtain a glimpse of the objects -around, and discovered that we were near the extremity of the straight -portion of the fissure, where it made a turn to the left. A few -struggles more, and we reached the bend, when, to our inexpressible -joy, there appeared a long seam or crack extending upward a vast -distance, generally at an angle of about forty-five degrees, although -sometimes much more precipitous. We could not see through the whole -extent of this opening; but, as a good deal of light came down it, we -had little doubt of finding at the top of it (if we could by any means -reach the top) a clear passage into the open air. - -I now called to mind that three of us had entered the fissure from the -main gorge, and that our companion, Allen, was still missing; we -determined at once to retrace our steps and look for him. After a long -search, and much danger from the farther caving in of the earth above -us, Peters at length cried out to me that he had hold of our -companion's foot, and that his whole body was deeply buried beneath the -rubbish, beyond a possibility of extricating him. I soon found that -what he said was too true, and that, of course, life had been long -extinct. With sorrowful hearts, therefore, we left the corpse to its -fate, and again made our way to the bend. - -The breadth of the seam was barely sufficient to admit us, and, after -one or two ineffectual efforts at getting up, we began once more to -despair. I have before said that the chain of hills through which ran -the main gorge was composed of a species of soft rock resembling -soapstone. The sides of the cleft we were now attempting to ascend were -of the same material, and so excessively slippery, being wet, that we -could get but little foothold upon them even in their least precipitous -parts; in some places, where the ascent was nearly perpendicular, the -difficulty was, of course, much aggravated; and, indeed, for some time -we thought it insurmountable. We took courage, however, from despair; -and what, by dint of cutting steps in the soft stone with our Bowie -knives, and swinging, at the risk of our lives, to small projecting -points of a harder species of slaty rock which now and then protruded -from the general mass, we at length reached a natural platform, from -which was perceptible a patch of blue sky, at the extremity of a -thickly-wooded ravine. Looking back now, with somewhat more leisure, at -the passage through which we had thus far proceeded, we clearly saw, -from the appearance of its sides, that it was of late formation, and we -concluded that the concussion, whatever it was, which had so -unexpectedly overwhelmed us, had also, at the same moment, laid open -this path for escape. Being quite exhausted with exertion, and, indeed, -so weak that we were scarcely able to stand or articulate, Peters now -proposed that we should endeavour to bring our companions to the rescue -by firing the pistols which still remained in our girdles--the muskets -as well as cutlasses had been lost among the loose earth at the bottom -of the chasm. Subsequent events proved that, had we fired, we should -have sorely repented it; but, luckily, a half suspicion of foul play -had by this time arisen in my mind, and we forbore to let the savages -know of our whereabouts. - -After having reposed for about an hour, we pushed on slowly up the -ravine, and had gone no great way before we heard a succession of -tremendous yells. At length we reached what might be called the surface -of the ground; for our path hitherto, since leaving the platform, had -lain beneath an archway of high rock and foliage, at a vast distance -overhead. With great caution we stole to a narrow opening, through -which we had a clear sight of the surrounding country, when the whole -dreadful secret of the concussion broke upon us in one moment and at -one view. - -The spot from which we looked was not far from the summit of the -highest peak in the range of the soapstone hills. The gorge in which -our party of thirty-two had entered ran within fifty feet to the left -of us. But, for at least one hundred yards, the channel or bed of this -gorge was entirely filled up with the chaotic ruins of more than a -million tons of earth and stone that had been artificially tumbled -within it. The means by which the vast mass had been precipitated were -not more simple than evident, for sure traces of the murderous work -were yet remaining. In several spots along the top of the eastern side -of the gorge (we were now on the western) might be seen stakes of wood -driven into the earth. In these spots the earth had not given way; but -throughout the whole extent of the face of the precipice from which the -mass _had_ fallen, it was clear, from marks left in the soil resembling -those made by the drill of the rock-blaster, that stakes similar to -those we saw standing had been inserted, at not more than a yard apart, -for the length of perhaps three hundred feet, and ranging at about ten -feet back from the edge of the gulf. Strong cords of grape vine were -attached to the stakes still remaining on the hill, and it was evident -that such cords had also been attached to each of the other stakes. I -have already spoken of the singular stratification of these soapstone -hills; and the description just given of the narrow and deep fissure -through which we effected our escape from inhumation will afford a -further conception of its nature. This was such that almost every -natural convulsion would be sure to split the soil into perpendicular -layers or ridges running parallel with one another; and a very moderate -exertion of art would be sufficient for effecting the same purpose. Of -this stratification the savages had availed themselves to accomplish -their treacherous ends. There can be no doubt that, by the continuous -line of stakes, a partial rupture of the soil had been brought about, -probably to the depth of one or two feet, when, by means of a savage -pulling at the end of each of the cords (these cords being attached to -the tops of the stakes, and extending back from the edge of the cliff), -a vast leverage power was obtained, capable of hurling the whole face -of the hill, upon a given signal, into the bosom of the abyss below. -The fate of our poor companions was no longer a matter of uncertainty. -We alone had escaped from the tempest of that overwhelming destruction. -We were the only living white men upon the island. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII. - - -Our situation, as it now appeared, was scarcely less dreadful than when -we had conceived ourselves entombed for ever. We saw before us no -prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging -out a miserable existence in captivity among them. We might, to be -sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the -fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from -which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long Polar -winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our -efforts to obtain relief. - -The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds -of whom, we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the -southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in -the capture and plunder of the Jane. The vessel still lay calmly at -anchor in the bay, those on board being apparently quite unconscious of -any danger awaiting them. How we longed at that moment to be with them! -either to aid in effecting their escape, or to perish with them in -attempting a defence. We saw no chance even of warning them of their -danger without bringing immediate destruction upon our own heads, with -but a remote hope of benefit to them. A pistol fired might suffice to -apprize them that something wrong had occurred; but the report could -not possibly inform them that their only prospect of safety lay in -getting out of the harbour forthwith--it could not tell them that no -principles of honour now bound them to remain, that their companions -were no longer among the living. Upon hearing the discharge they could -not be more thoroughly prepared to meet the foe, who were now getting -ready to attack, than they already were, and always had been. No good, -therefore, and infinite harm, would result from our firing, and, after -mature deliberation, we forbore. - -Our next thought was to attempt a rush towards the vessel, to seize one -of the four canoes which lay at the head of the bay, and endeavour to -force a passage on board. But the utter impossibility of succeeding in -this desperate task soon became evident. The country, as I said before, -was literally swarming with the natives, skulking among the bushes and -recesses of the hills, so as not to be observed from the schooner. In -our immediate vicinity especially, and blockading the sole path by -which we could hope to attain the shore in the proper point, were -stationed the whole party of the black skin warriors, with Too-wit at -their head, and apparently only waiting for some re-enforcement to -commence his onset upon the Jane. The canoes, too, which lay at the -head of the bay were manned with savages, unarmed, it is true, but who -undoubtedly had arms within reach. We were forced, therefore, however -unwillingly, to remain in our place of concealment, mere spectators of -the conflict which presently ensued. - -In about half an hour we saw some sixty or seventy rafts, or flatboats, -with outriggers, filled with savages, and coming round the southern -bight of the harbour. They appeared to have no arms except short clubs, -and stones which lay in the bottom of the rafts. Immediately afterward -another detachment, still larger, approached in an opposite direction, -and with similar weapons. The four canoes, too, were now quickly filled -with natives, starting up from the bushes at the head of the bay, and -put off swiftly to join the other parties. Thus, in less time than I -have taken to tell it, and as if by magic, the Jane saw herself -surrounded by an immense multitude of desperadoes evidently bent upon -capturing her at all hazards. - -That they would succeed in so doing could not be doubted for an -instant. The six men left in the vessel, however resolutely they might -engage in her defence, were altogether unequal to the proper management -of the guns, or in any manner to sustain a contest at such odds. I -could hardly imagine that they would make resistance at all, but in -this was deceived; for presently I saw them get springs upon the cable, -and bring the vessel's starboard broadside to bear upon the canoes, -which by this time were within pistol range, the rafts being nearly a -quarter of a mile to windward. Owing to some cause unknown, but most -probably to the agitation of our poor friends at seeing themselves in -so hopeless a situation, the discharge was an entire failure. Not a -canoe was hit or a single savage injured, the shots striking short and -_ricochêting_ over their heads. The only effect produced upon them was -astonishment at the unexpected report and smoke, which was so excessive -that for some moments I almost thought they would abandon their design -entirely, and return to the shore. And this they would most likely have -done had our men followed up their broadside by a discharge of small -arms, in which, as the canoes were now so near at hand, they could not -have failed in doing some execution, sufficient, at least, to deter -this party from a farther advance, until they could have given the -rafts also a broadside. But, in place of this, they left the canoe -party to recover from their panic, and, by looking about them, to see -that no injury had been sustained, while they flew to the larboard to -get ready for the rafts. - -The discharge to larboard produced the most terrible effect. The star -and double-headed shot of the large guns cut seven or eight of the -rafts completely asunder, and killed, perhaps, thirty or forty of the -savages outright, while a hundred of them, at least, were thrown into -the water, the most of them dreadfully wounded. The remainder, -frightened out of their senses, commenced at once a precipitate -retreat, not even waiting to pick up their maimed companions, who were -swimming about in every direction, screaming and yelling for aid. This -great success, however, came too late for the salvation of our devoted -people. The canoe party were already on board the schooner to the -number of more than a hundred and fifty, the most of them having -succeeded in scrambling up the chains and over the boarding nettings -even before the matches had been applied to the larboard guns. Nothing -could now withstand their brute rage. Our men were borne down at once, -overwhelmed, trodden under foot, and absolutely torn to pieces in an -instant. - -Seeing this, the savages on the rafts got the better of their fears, -and came up in shoals to the plunder. In five minutes the Jane was a -pitiable scene indeed of havoc and tumultuous outrage. The decks were -split open and ripped up; the cordage, sails, and everything moveable -on deck demolished as if by magic; while, by dint of pushing at the -stern, towing with the canoes, and hauling at the sides, as they swam -in thousands around the vessel, the wretches finally forced her on -shore (the cable having been slipped), and delivered her over to the -good offices of Too-wit, who, during the whole of the engagement, had -maintained, like a skilful general, his post of security and -reconnoissance among the hills, but, now that the victory was completed -to his satisfaction, condescended to scamper down with his warriors of -the black skin, and become a partaker in the spoils. - -Too-wit's descent left us at liberty to quit our hiding-place and -reconnoitre the hill in the vicinity of the chasm. At about fifty yards -from the mouth of it we saw a small spring of water, at which we slaked -the burning thirst that now consumed us. Not far from the spring we -discovered several of the filbert-bushes which I mentioned before. Upon -tasting the nuts we found them palatable, and very nearly resembling in -flavour the common English filbert. We collected our hats full -immediately, deposited them within the ravine, and returned for more. -While we were busily employed in gathering these, a rustling in the -bushes alarmed us, and we were upon the point of stealing back to our -covert, when a large black bird of the bittern species strugglingly and -slowly arose above the shrubs. I was so much startled that I could do -nothing, but Peters had sufficient presence of mind to run up to it -before it could make its escape, and seize it by the neck. Its -struggles and screams were tremendous, and we had thoughts of letting -it go, lest the noise should alarm some of the savages who might be -still lurking in the neighbourhood. A stab with a Bowie knife, however, -at length brought it to the ground, and we dragged it into the ravine, -congratulating ourselves that, at all events, we had thus obtained a -supply of food enough to last us for a week. - -We now went out again to look about us, and ventured a considerable -distance down the southern declivity of the hill, but met with nothing -else which could serve us for food. We therefore collected a quantity -of dry wood and returned, seeing one or two large parties of the -natives on their way to the village, laden with the plunder of the -vessel, and who, we were apprehensive, might discover us in passing -beneath the hill. - -Our next care was to render our place of concealment as secure as -possible, and, with this object, we arranged some brushwood over the -aperture which I have before spoken of as the one through which we saw -the patch of blue sky, on reaching the platform from the interior of -the chasm. We left only a very small opening, just wide enough to admit -of our seeing the bay, without the risk of being discovered from below. -Having done this, we congratulated ourselves upon the security of the -position; for we were now completely excluded from observation, as long -as we chose to remain within the ravine itself, and not venture out -upon the hill. We could perceive no traces of the savages having ever -been within this hollow; but, indeed, when we came to reflect upon the -probability that the fissure through which we attained it had been only -just now created by the fall of the cliff opposite, and that no other -way of attaining it could be perceived, we were not so much rejoiced at -the thought of being secure from molestation as fearful lest there -should be absolutely no means left us for descent. We resolved to -explore the summit of the hill thoroughly, when a good opportunity -should offer. In the mean time we watched the motions of the savages -through our loophole. - -They had already made a complete wreck of the vessel, and were now -preparing to set her on fire. In a little while we saw the smoke -ascending in huge volumes from her main-hatchway, and, shortly -afterward, a dense mass of flame burst up from the forecastle. The -rigging, masts, and what remained of the sails caught immediately, and -the fire spread rapidly along the decks. Still a great many of the -savages retained their stations about her, hammering with large stones, -axes, and cannon balls at the bolts and other copper and iron work. On -the beach, and in canoes and rafts, there were not less, altogether, in -the immediate vicinity of the schooner, than ten thousand natives, -besides the shoals of them who, laden with booty, were making their way -inland and over to the neighbouring islands. We now anticipated a -catastrophe, and were not disappointed. First of all there came a smart -shock (which we felt distinctly where we were as if we had been -slightly galvanized), but unattended with any visible signs of an -explosion. The savages were evidently startled, and paused for an -instant from their labours and yellings. They were upon the point of -recommencing, when suddenly a mass of smoke puffed up from the decks, -resembling a black and heavy thunder-cloud--then, as if from its -bowels, arose a tall stream of vivid fire to the height, apparently, of -a quarter of a mile--then there came a sudden circular expansion of the -flame--then the whole atmosphere was magically crowded, in a single -instant, with a wild chaos of wood, and metal, and human limbs--and, -lastly, came the concussion in its fullest fury, which hurled us -impetuously from our feet, while the hills echoed and re-echoed the -tumult, and a dense shower of the minutest fragments of the ruins -tumbled headlong in every direction around us. - -The havoc among the savages far exceeded our utmost expectation, and -they had now, indeed, reaped the full and perfect fruits of their -treachery. Perhaps a thousand perished by the explosion, while at least -an equal number were desperately mangled. The whole surface of the bay -was literally strewn with the struggling and drowning wretches, and on -shore matters were even worse. They seemed utterly appalled by the -suddenness and completeness of their discomfiture, and made no efforts -at assisting one another. At length we observed a total change in their -demeanour. From absolute stupor they appeared to be, all at once, -aroused to the highest pitch of excitement, and rushed wildly about, -going to and from a certain point on the beach, with the strangest -expressions of mingled horror, rage, and intense curiosity depicted on -their countenances, and shouting, at the top of their voices, -_Tekeli-li! Tekeli-li!_ - -Presently we saw a large body go off into the hills, whence they -returned in a short time, carrying stakes of wood. These they brought -to the station where the crowd was the thickest, which now separated so -as to afford us a view of the object of all this excitement. We -perceived something white lying on the ground, but could not -immediately make out what it was. At length we saw that it was the -carcass of the strange animal with the scarlet teeth and claws which -the schooner had picked up at sea on the eighteenth of January. Captain -Guy had had the body preserved for the purpose of stuffing the skin and -taking it to England. I remember he had given some directions about it -just before our making the island, and it had been brought into the -cabin and stowed away in one of the lockers. It had now been thrown on -shore by the explosion; but why it had occasioned so much concern among -the savages was more than we could comprehend. Although they crowded -around the carcass at a little distance, none of them seemed willing to -approach it closely. By-and-by the men with the stakes drove them in a -circle around it, and, no sooner was this arrangement completed, than -the whole of the vast assembly rushed into the interior of the island, -with loud screams of _Tekeli-li! Tekeli-li!_ - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII. - - -During the six or seven days immediately following we remained in our -hiding-place upon the hill, going out only occasionally, and then with -the greatest precaution, for water and filberts. We had made a kind of -pent-house on the platform, furnishing it with a bed of dry leaves, and -placing in it three large flat stones, which served us for both -fireplace and table. We kindled a fire without difficulty by rubbing -two pieces of dry wood together, the one soft, the other hard. The bird -we had taken in such good season proved excellent eating, although -somewhat tough. It was not an oceanic fowl, but a species of bittern, -with jet black and grizzly plumage, and diminutive wings in proportion -to its bulk. We afterward saw three of the same kind in the vicinity of -the ravine, apparently seeking for the one we had captured; but, as -they never alighted, we had no opportunity of catching them. - -As long as this fowl lasted we suffered nothing from our situation; but -it was now entirely consumed, and it became absolutely necessary that -we should look out for provision. The filberts would not satisfy the -cravings of hunger, afflicting us, too, with severe gripings of the -bowels, and, if freely indulged in, with violent headache. We had seen -several large tortoises near the seashore to the eastward of the hill, -and perceived they might be easily taken, if we could get at them -without the observation of the natives. It was resolved, therefore, to -make an attempt at descending. - -We commenced by going down the southern declivity, which seemed to -offer the fewest difficulties, but had not proceeded a hundred yards -before (as we had anticipated from appearances on the hill-top) our -progress was entirely arrested by a branch of the gorge in which our -companions had perished. We now passed along the edge of this for about -a quarter of a mile, when we were again stopped by a precipice of -immense depth, and, not being able to make our way along the brink of -it, we were forced to retrace our steps by the main ravine. - -We now pushed over to the eastward, but with precisely similar fortune. -After an hour's scramble, at the risk of breaking our necks, we -discovered that we had merely descended into a vast pit of black -granite, with fine dust at the bottom, and whence the only egress was -by the rugged path in which we had come down. Toiling again up this -path, we now tried the northern edge of the hill. Here we were obliged -to use the greatest possible caution in our manoeuvres, as the least -indiscretion would expose us to the full view of the savages in the -village. We crawled along, therefore, on our hands and knees, and, -occasionally, were even forced to throw ourselves at full length, -dragging our bodies along by means of the shrubbery. In this careful -manner we had proceeded but a little way, when we arrived at a chasm -far deeper than any we had yet seen, and leading directly into the main -gorge. Thus our fears were fully confirmed, and we found ourselves cut -off entirely from access to the world below. Thoroughly exhausted by -our exertions, we made the best of our way back to the platform, and, -throwing ourselves upon the bed of leaves, slept sweetly and soundly -for some hours. - -For several days after this fruitless search we were occupied in -exploring every part of the summit of the hill, in order to inform -ourselves of its actual resources. We found that it would afford us no -food, with the exception of the unwholesome filberts, and a rank -species of scurvy grass which grew in a little patch of not more than -four rods square, and would be soon exhausted. On the fifteenth of -February, as near as I can remember, there was not a blade of this -left, and the nuts were growing scarce; our situation, therefore, could -hardly be more lamentable.[5] On the sixteenth we again went round the -walls of our prison, in hope of finding some avenue of escape, but to -no purpose. We also descended the chasm in which we had been -overwhelmed, with the faint expectation of discovering, through this -channel, some opening to the main ravine. Here, too, we were -disappointed, although we found and brought up with us a musket. - -[Footnote 5: This day was rendered remarkable by our observing in the -south several huge wreaths of the grayish vapour I have before spoken -of.] - -On the seventeenth we set out with the determination of examining more -thoroughly the chasm of black granite into which we had made our way in -the first search. We remembered that one of the fissures in the sides -of this pit had been but partially looked into, and we were anxious to -explore it, although with no expectation of discovering here any -opening. - -We found no great difficulty in reaching the bottom of the hollow as -before, and were now sufficiently calm to survey it with some -attention. It was, indeed, one of the most singular-looking places -imaginable, and we could scarcely bring ourselves to believe it -altogether the work of nature. The pit, from its eastern to its western -extremity, was about five hundred yards in length, when all its -windings were threaded; the distance from east to west in a straight -line not being more (I should suppose, having no means of accurate -examination) than forty or fifty yards. Upon first descending into the -chasm, that is to say, for a hundred feet downward from the summit of -the hill, the sides of the abyss bore little resemblance to each other, -and, apparently, had at no time been connected, the one surface being -of the soapstone and the other of marl, granulated with some metallic -matter. The average breadth, or interval between the two cliffs, was -probably here sixty feet, but there seemed to be no regularity of -formation. Passing down, however, beyond the limit spoken of, the -interval rapidly contracted, and the sides began to run parallel, -although, for some distance farther, they were still dissimilar in -their material and form of surface. Upon arriving within fifty feet of -the bottom, a perfect regularity commenced. The sides were now entirely -uniform in substance, in colour, and in lateral direction, the material -being a very black and shining granite, and the distance between the -two sides, at all points facing each other, exactly twenty yards. The -precise formation of the chasm will be best understood by means of a -delineation taken upon the spot; for I had luckily with me a pocketbook -and pencil, which I preserved with great care through a long series of -subsequent adventure, and to which I am indebted for memoranda of many -subjects which would otherwise have been crowded from my remembrance. - -[Illustration: _Figure 1_.] - -This figure (see figure 1) gives the general outlines of the chasm, -without the minor cavities in the sides, of which there were several, -each cavity having a corresponding protuberance opposite. The bottom of -the gulf was covered to the depth of three or four inches with a powder -almost impalpable, beneath which we found a continuation of the black -granite. To the right, at the lower extremity, will be noticed the -appearance of a small opening; this is the fissure alluded to above, -and to examine which more minutely than before was the object of our -second visit. We now pushed into it with vigour, cutting away a -quantity of brambles which impeded us, and removing a vast heap of -sharp flints somewhat resembling arrowheads in shape. We were -encouraged to persevere, however, by perceiving some little light -proceeding from the farther end. We at length squeezed our way for -about thirty feet, and found that the aperture was a low and -regularly-formed arch, having a bottom of the same impalpable powder as -that in the main chasm. A strong light now broke upon us, and, turning -a short bend, we found ourselves in another lofty chamber, similar to -the one we had left in every respect but longitudinal form. Its general -figure is here given. (See figure 2.) - -[Illustration: _Figure 2_.] - -The total length of this chasm, commencing at the opening _a_ and -proceeding round the curve _b_ to the extremity _d_, is five hundred -and fifty yards. At _c_ we discovered a small aperture similar to the -one through which we had issued from the other chasm, and this was -choked up in the same manner with brambles and a quantity of the white -arrowhead flints. We forced our way through it, finding it about forty -feet long, and emerged into a third chasm. This, too, was precisely -like the first, except in its longitudinal shape, which was thus. (See -figure 3.) - -[Illustration: _Figure 3_.] - -[Illustration: _Figure 5_.] - -We found the entire length of the third chasm three hundred and twenty -yards. At the point _a_ was an opening about six feet wide, and -extending fifteen feet into the rock, where it terminated in a bed of -marl, there being no other chasm beyond, as we had expected. We were -about leaving this fissure, into which very little light was admitted, -when Peters called my attention to a range of singular-looking -indentures in the surface of the marl forming the termination of the -_cul-de-sac_. With a very slight exertion of the imagination, the left, -or most northerly of these indentures might have been taken for the -intentional, although rude, representation of a human figure standing -erect, with outstretched arm. The rest of them bore also some little -resemblance to alphabetical characters, and Peters was willing, at all -events, to adopt the idle opinion that they were really such. I -convinced him of his error, finally, by directing his attention to the -floor of the fissure, where, among the powder, we picked up, piece by -piece, several large flakes of the marl, which had evidently been -broken off by some convulsion from the surface where the indentures -were found, and which had projecting points exactly fitting the -indentures; thus proving them to have been the work of nature. Figure -4. presents an accurate copy of the whole. - -[Illustration: _Figure 4_.] - -After satisfying ourselves that these singular caverns afforded us no -means of escape from our prison, we made our way back, dejected and -dispirited, to the summit of the hill. Nothing worth mentioning -occurred during the next twenty-four hours, except that, in examining -the ground to the eastward of the third chasm, we found two triangular -holes of great depth, and also with black granite sides. Into these -holes we did not think it worth while to attempt descending, as they -had the appearance of mere natural wells, without outlet. They were -each about twenty yards in circumference, and their shape, as well as -relative position in regard to the third chasm, is shown in figure 5, -preceding page. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV. - - -On the twentieth of the month, finding it altogether impossible to -subsist any longer upon the filberts, the use of which occasioned us -the most excruciating torment, we resolved to make a desperate attempt -at descending the southern declivity of the hill. The face of the -precipice was here of the softest species of soapstone, although nearly -perpendicular throughout its whole extent (a depth of a hundred and -fifty feet at the least), and in many places even overarching. After -long search we discovered a narrow ledge about twenty feet below the -brink of the gulf; upon this Peters contrived to leap, with what -assistance I could render him by means of our pocket-handkerchiefs tied -together. With somewhat more difficulty I also got down; and we then -saw the possibility of descending the whole way by the process in which -we had clambered up from the chasm when we had been buried by the fall -of the hill--that is, by cutting steps in the face of the soapstone -with our knives. The extreme hazard of the attempt can scarcely be -conceived; but, as there was no other resource, we determined to -undertake it. - -Upon the ledge where we stood there grew some filbert-bushes; and to -one of these we made fast an end of our rope of handkerchiefs. The -other end being tied round Peters's waist, I lowered him down over the -edge of the precipice until the handkerchiefs were stretched tight. He -now proceeded to dig a deep hole in the soapstone (as far in as eight -or ten inches), sloping away the rock above to the height of a foot, or -thereabout, so as to allow of his driving, with the butt of a pistol, a -tolerably strong peg into the levelled surface. I then drew him up for -about four feet, when he made a hole similar to the one below, driving -in a peg as before, and having thus a resting-place for both feet and -hands. I now unfastened the handkerchiefs from the bush, throwing him -the end, which he tied to the peg in the uppermost hole, letting -himself down gently to a station about three feet lower than he had yet -been, that is, to the full extent of the handkerchiefs. Here he dug -another hole, and drove another peg. He then drew himself up, so as to -rest his feet in the hole just cut, taking hold with his hands upon the -peg in the one above. It was now necessary to untie the handkerchiefs -from the topmost peg, with the view of fastening them to the second; -and here he found that an error had been committed in cutting the holes -at so great a distance apart. However, after one or two unsuccessful -and dangerous attempts at reaching the knot (having to hold on with his -left hand while he laboured to undo the fastening with his right), he -at length cut the string, leaving six inches of it affixed to the peg. -Tying the handkerchiefs now to the second peg, he descended to a -station below the third, taking care not to go too far down. By these -means (means which I should never have conceived of myself, and for -which we were indebted altogether to Peters's ingenuity and resolution) -my companion finally succeeded, with the occasional aid of projections -in the cliff, in reaching the bottom without accident. - -It was some time before I could summon sufficient resolution to follow -him; but I did at length attempt it. Peters had taken off his shirt -before descending, and this, with my own, formed the rope necessary for -the adventure. After throwing down the musket found in the chasm, I -fastened this rope to the bushes, and let myself down rapidly, -striving, by the vigour of my movements, to banish the trepidation -which I could overcome in no other manner. This answered sufficiently -well for the first four or five steps; but presently I found my -imagination growing terribly excited by thoughts of the vast depth yet -to be descended, and the precarious nature of the pegs and soapstone -holes which were my only support. It was in vain I endeavoured to -banish these reflections, and to keep my eyes steadily bent upon the -flat surface of the cliff before me. The more earnestly I struggled -_not to think_, the more intensely vivid became my conceptions, and the -more horribly distinct. At length arrived that crisis of fancy, so -fearful in all similar cases, the crisis in which we begin to -anticipate the feelings with which we _shall_ fall--to picture to -ourselves the sickness, and dizziness, and the last struggle, and the -half swoon, and the final bitterness of the rushing and headlong -descent. And now I found these fancies creating their own realities, -and all imagined horrors crowding upon me in fact. I felt my knees -strike violently together, while my fingers were gradually yet -certainly relaxing their grasp. There was a ringing in my ears, and I -said, "This is my knell of death!" And now I was consumed with the -irrepressible desire of looking below. I could not, I would not, -confine my glances to the cliff; and, with a wild, indefinable emotion -half of horror, half of a relieved oppression, I threw my vision far -down into the abyss. For one moment my fingers clutched convulsively -upon their hold, while, with the movement, the faintest possible idea -of ultimate escape wandered, like a shadow, through my mind--in the -next my whole soul was pervaded with _a longing to fall_; a desire, a -yearning, a passion utterly uncontrollable. I let go at once my grasp -upon the peg, and, turning half round from the precipice, remained -tottering for an instant against its naked face. But now there came a -spinning of the brain; a shrill-sounding and phantom voice screamed -within my ears; a dusky, fiendish, and filmy figure stood immediately -beneath me; and, sighing, I sunk down with a bursting heart, and -plunged within its arms. - -I had swooned, and Peters had caught me as I fell. He had observed my -proceedings from his station at the bottom of the cliff; and, -perceiving my imminent danger, had endeavoured to inspire me with -courage by every suggestion he could devise; although my confusion of -mind had been so great as to prevent my hearing what he said, or being -conscious that he had even spoken to me at all. At length, seeing me -totter, he hastened to ascend to my rescue, and arrived just in time -for my preservation. Had I fallen with my full weight, the rope of -linen would inevitably have snapped, and I should have been -precipitated into the abyss; as it was, he contrived to let me down -gently, so as to remain suspended without danger until animation -returned. This was in about fifteen minutes. On recovery, my -trepidation had entirely vanished; I felt a new being, and, with some -little further aid from my companion, reached the bottom also in -safety. - -We now found ourselves not far from the ravine which had proved the -tomb of our friends, and to the southward of the spot where the hill -had fallen. The place was one of singular wildness, and its aspect -brought to my mind the descriptions given by travellers of those dreary -regions marking the site of degraded Babylon. Not to speak of the ruins -of the disruptured cliff, which formed a chaotic barrier in the vista -to the northward, the surface of the ground in every other direction -was strewn with huge tumuli, apparently the wreck of some gigantic -structures of art; although, in detail, no semblance of art could be -detected. Scoria were abundant, and large shapeless blocks of the black -granite, intermingled with others of marl,[6] and both granulated with -metal. Of vegetation there were no traces whatsoever throughout the -whole of the desolate area within sight. Several immense scorpions were -seen, and various reptiles not elsewhere to be found in the high -latitudes. - -[Footnote 6: The marl was also black; indeed, we noticed no -light-coloured substances of any kind upon the island.] - -As food was our most immediate object, we resolved to make our way to -the seacoast, distant not more than half a mile, with a view of -catching turtle, several of which we had observed from our place of -concealment on the hill. We had proceeded some hundred yards, threading -our route cautiously between the huge rocks and tumuli, when, upon -turning a corner, five savages sprung upon us from a small cavern, -felling Peters to the ground with a blow from a club. As he fell the -whole party rushed upon him to secure their victim, leaving me time to -recover from my astonishment. I still had the musket, but the barrel -had received so much injury in being thrown from the precipice that I -cast it aside as useless, preferring to trust my pistols, which had -been carefully preserved in order. With these I advanced upon the -assailants, firing one after the other in quick succession. Two savages -fell, and one, who was in the act of thrusting a spear into Peters, -sprung to his feet without accomplishing his purpose. My companion -being thus released, we had no further difficulty. He had his pistols -also, but prudently declined using them, confiding in his great -personal strength, which far exceeded that of any person I have ever -known. Seizing a club from one of the savages who had fallen, he dashed -out the brains of the three who remained, killing each instantaneously -with a single blow of the weapon, and leaving us completely masters of -the field. - -So rapidly had these events passed, that we could scarcely believe in -their reality, and were standing over the bodies of the dead in a -species of stupid contemplation, when we were brought to recollection -by the sound of shouts in the distance. It was clear that the savages -had been alarmed by the firing, and that we had little chance of -avoiding discovery. To regain the cliff, it would be necessary to -proceed in the direction of the shouts; and even should we succeed in -arriving at its base, we should never be able to ascend it without -being seen. Our situation was one of the greatest peril, and we were -hesitating in which path to commence a flight, when one of the savages -whom I had shot, and supposed dead, sprang briskly to his feet, and -attempted to make his escape. We overtook him, however, before he had -advanced many paces, and were about to put him to death, when Peters -suggested that we might derive some benefit from forcing him to -accompany us in our attempt at escape. We therefore dragged him with -us, making him understand that we would shoot him if he offered -resistance. In a few minutes he was perfectly submissive, and ran by -our sides as we pushed in among the rocks, making for the seashore. - -So far, the irregularities of the ground we had been traversing hid the -sea, except at intervals, from our sight, and, when we first had it -fairly in view, it was, perhaps, two hundred yards distant. As we -emerged into the open beach we saw, to our great dismay, an immense -crowd of the natives pouring from the village, and from all visible -quarters of the island, making towards us with gesticulations of -extreme fury, and howling like wild beasts. We were upon the point of -turning upon our steps, and trying to secure a retreat among the -fastnesses of the rougher ground, when I discovered the bows of two -canoes projecting from behind a large rock which ran out into the -water. Towards these we now ran with all speed, and, reaching them, -found them unguarded, and without any other freight than three of the -large Gallipago turtles and the usual supply of paddles for sixty -rowers. We instantly took possession of one of them, and, forcing our -captive on board, pushed out to sea with all the strength we could -command. - -We had not made, however, more than fifty yards from the shore before -we became sufficiently calm to perceive the great oversight of which we -had been guilty in leaving the other canoe in the power of the savages, -who, by this time, were not more than twice as far from the beach as -ourselves, and were rapidly advancing to the pursuit. No time was now -to be lost. Our hope was, at best, a forlorn one, but we had none -other. It was very doubtful whether, with the utmost exertion, we could -get back in time to anticipate them in taking possession of the canoe; -but yet there was a chance that we could. We might save ourselves if we -succeeded, while not to make the attempt was to resign ourselves to -inevitable butchery. - -The canoe was modelled with the bow and stern alike, and, in place of -turning it round, we merely changed our position in paddling. As soon -as the savages perceived this they redoubled their yells, as well as -their speed, and approached with inconceivable rapidity. We pulled, -however, with all the energy of desperation, and arrived at the -contested point before more than one of the natives had attained it. -This man paid dearly for his superior agility, Peters shooting him -through the head with a pistol as he approached the shore. The foremost -among the rest of his party were probably some twenty or thirty paces -distant as we seized upon the canoe. We at first endeavoured to pull -her into the deep water, beyond the reach of the savages, but, finding -her too firmly aground, and there being no time to spare, Peters, with -one or two heavy strokes from the butt of the musket, succeeded in -dashing out a large portion of the bow and of one side. We then pushed -off. Two of the natives by this time had got hold of our boat, -obstinately refusing to let go, until we were forced to despatch them -with our knives. We were now clear off, and making great way out to -sea. The main body of the savages, upon reaching the broken canoe, set -up the most tremendous yell of rage and disappointment conceivable. In -truth, from everything I could see of these wretches, they appeared to -be the most wicked, hypocritical, vindictive, bloodthirsty, and -altogether fiendish race of men upon the face of the globe. It is clear -we should have had no mercy had we fallen into their hands. They made a -mad attempt at following us in the fractured canoe, but, finding it -useless, again vented their rage in a series of hideous vociferations, -and rushed up into the hills. - -We were thus relieved from immediate danger, but our situation was -still sufficiently gloomy. We knew that four canoes of the kind we had -were at one time in the possession of the savages, and were not aware -of the fact (afterward ascertained from our captive) that two of these -had been blown to pieces in the explosion of the Jane Guy. We -calculated, therefore, upon being yet pursued, as soon as our enemies -could get round to the bay (distant about three miles) where the boats -were usually laid up. Fearing this, we made every exertion to leave the -island behind us, and went rapidly through the water, forcing the -prisoner to take a paddle. In about half an hour, when we had gained, -probably, five or six miles to the southward, a large fleet of the -flat-bottomed canoes or rafts was seen to emerge from the bay, -evidently with the design of pursuit. Presently they put back, -despairing to overtake us. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV. - - -We now found ourselves in the wide and desolate Antarctic Ocean, in a -latitude exceeding eighty-four degrees, in a frail canoe, and with no -provision but the three turtles. The long Polar winter, too, could not -be considered as far distant, and it became necessary that we should -deliberate well upon the course to be pursued. There were six or seven -islands in sight belonging to the same group, and distant from each -other about five or six leagues; but upon neither of these had we any -intention to venture. In coming from the northward in the Jane Guy we -had been gradually leaving behind us the severest regions of ice--this, -however little it may be in accordance with the generally-received -notions respecting the Antarctic, was a fact experience would not -permit us to deny. To attempt, therefore, getting back, would be -folly--especially at so late a period of the season. Only one course -seemed to be left open for hope. We resolved to steer boldly to the -southward, where there was at least a probability of discovering other -lands, and more than a probability of finding a still milder climate. - -So far we had found the Antarctic, like the Arctic Ocean, peculiarly -free from violent storms or immoderately rough water; but our canoe -was, at best, of frail structure, although large, and we set busily to -work with a view of rendering her as safe as the limited means in our -possession would admit. The body of the boat was of no better material -than bark--the bark of a tree unknown. The ribs were of a tough osier, -well adapted to the purpose for which it was used. We had fifty feet -room from stem to stern, from four to six in breadth, and in depth -throughout four feet and a half--the boats thus differing vastly in -shape from those of any other inhabitants of the Southern Ocean with -whom civilized nations are acquainted. We never did believe them the -workmanship of the ignorant islanders who owned them; and some days -after this period discovered, by questioning our captive, that they -were in fact made by the natives of a group to the southwest of the -country where we found them, having fallen accidentally into the hands -of our barbarians. What we could do for the security of our boat was -very little indeed. Several wide rents were discovered near both ends, -and these we contrived to patch up with pieces of woollen jacket. With -the help of the superfluous paddles, of which there were a great many, -we erected a kind of framework about the bow, so as to break the force -of any seas which might threaten to fill us in that quarter. We also -set up two paddle-blades for masts, placing them opposite each other, -one by each gunwale, thus saving the necessity of a yard. To these -masts we attached a sail made of our shirts--doing this with some -difficulty, as here we could get no assistance from our prisoner -whatever, although he had been willing enough to labour in all the -other operations. The sight of the linen seemed to affect him in a very -singular manner. He could not be prevailed upon to touch it or go near -it, shuddering when we attempted to force him, and shrieking out -_Tekeli-li!_ - -Having completed our arrangements in regard to the security of the -canoe, we now set sail to the south southeast for the present, with the -view of weathering the most southerly of the group in sight. This being -done, we turned the bow full to the southward. The weather could by no -means be considered disagreeable. We had a prevailing and very gentle -wind from the northward, a smooth sea, and continual daylight. No ice -whatever was to be seen; _nor did I ever see one particle of this after -leaving the parallel of Bennet's Islet_. Indeed, the temperature of the -water was here far too warm for its existence in any quantity. Having -killed the largest of our tortoises, and obtained from him not only -food, but a copious supply of water, we continued on our course, -without any incident of moment, for perhaps seven or eight days, during -which period we must have proceeded a vast distance to the southward, -as the wind blew constantly with us, and a very strong current set -continually in the direction we were pursuing. - -_March 1._[7] Many unusual phenomena now indicated that we were -entering upon a region of novelty and wonder. A high range of light -gray vapour appeared constantly in the southern horizon, flaring up -occasionally in lofty streaks, now darting from east to west, now from -west to east, and again presenting a level and uniform summit--in -short, having all the wild variations of the Aurora Borealis. The -average height of this vapour, as apparent from our station, was about -twenty-five degrees. The temperature of the sea seemed to be increasing -momentarily, and there was a very perceptible alteration in its colour. - -[Footnote 7: For obvious reasons I cannot pretend to strict accuracy in -these dates. They are given principally with a view to perspicuity of -narration, and as set down in my pencil memoranda.] - -_March 2._ To-day, by repeated questioning of our captive, we came to -the knowledge of many particulars in regard to the island of the -massacre, its inhabitants, and customs--but with these how can I _now_ -detain the reader? I may say, however, that we learned there were eight -islands in the group--that they were governed by a common king, named -_Tsalemon_ or _Psalemoun_, who resided in one of the smallest of the -islands--that the black skins forming the dress of the warriors came -from an animal of huge size to be found only in a valley near the court -of the king--that the inhabitants of the group fabricated no other -boats than the flat-bottomed rafts; the four canoes being all of the -kind in their possession, and these having been obtained, by mere -accident, from some large island to the southwest--that his own name -was Nu-Nu--that he had no knowledge of Bennet's Islet--and that the -appellation of the island we had left was _Tsalal_. The commencement of -the words _Tsalemon_ and _Tsalal_ was given with a prolonged hissing -sound, which we found it impossible to imitate, even after repeated -endeavours, and which was precisely the same with the note of the black -bittern we had eaten upon the summit of the hill. - -_March 3._ The heat of the water was now truly remarkable, and its -colour was undergoing a rapid change, being no longer transparent, but -of a milky consistency and hue. In our immediate vicinity it was -usually smooth, never so rough as to endanger the canoe--but we were -frequently surprised at perceiving, to our right and left, at different -distances, sudden and extensive agitations of the surface--these, we at -length noticed, were always preceded by wild flickerings in the region -of vapour to the southward. - -_March 4._ To-day, with the view of widening our sail, the breeze from -the northward dying away perceptibly, I took from my coat-pocket a -white handkerchief. Nu-Nu was seated at my elbow, and the linen -accidentally flaring in his face, he became violently affected with -convulsions. These were succeeded by drowsiness and stupor, and low -murmurings of Tekeli-li! Tekeli-li! - -_March 5._ The wind had entirely ceased, but it was evident that we -were still hurrying on to the southward, under the influence of a -powerful current. And now, indeed, it would seem reasonable that we -should experience some alarm at the turn events were taking--but we -felt none. The countenance of Peters indicated nothing of this nature, -although it wore at times an expression I could not fathom. The Polar -winter appeared to be coming on--but coming without its terrors. I felt -a _numbness_ of body and mind--a dreaminess of sensation--but this was -all. - -_March 6._ The gray vapour had now arisen many more degrees above the -horizon, and was gradually losing its grayness of tint. The heat of the -water was extreme, even unpleasant to the touch, and its milky hue was -more evident than ever. To-day a violent agitation of the water -occurred very close to the canoe. It was attended, as usual, with a -wild flaring up of the vapour at its summit, and a momentary division -at its base. A fine white powder, resembling ashes--but certainly not -such--fell over the canoe and over a large surface of the water, as the -flickering died away among the vapour and the commotion subsided in the -sea. Nu-Nu now threw himself on his face in the bottom of the boat, and -no persuasions could induce him to arise. - -_March 7._ This day we questioned Nu-Nu concerning the motives of his -countrymen in destroying our companions; but he appeared to be too -utterly overcome by terror to afford us any rational reply. He still -obstinately lay in the bottom of the boat; and, upon our reiterating -the questions as to the motive, made use only of idiotic -gesticulations, such as raising with his forefinger the upper lip, and -displaying the teeth which lay beneath it. These were black. We had -never before seen the teeth of an inhabitant of Tsalal. - -_March 8._ To-day there floated by us one of the white animals whose -appearance upon the beach at Tsalal had occasioned so wild a commotion -among the savages. I would have picked it up, but there came over me a -sudden listlessness, and I forbore. The heat of the water still -increased, and the hand could no longer be endured within it. Peters -spoke little, and I knew not what to think of his apathy. Nu-Nu -breathed, and no more. - -_March 9._ The white ashy material fell now continually around us, and -in vast quantities. The range of vapour to the southward had arisen -prodigiously in the horizon, and began to assume more distinctness of -form. I can liken it to nothing but a limitless cataract, rolling -silently into the sea from some immense and far-distant rampart in the -heaven. The gigantic curtain ranged along the whole extent of the -southern horizon. It emitted no sound. - -_March 21._ A sullen darkness now hovered above us--but from out the -milky depths of the ocean a luminous glare arose, and stole up along -the bulwarks of the boat. We were nearly overwhelmed by the white ashy -shower which settled upon us and upon the canoe, but melted into the -water as it fell. The summit of the cataract was utterly lost in the -dimness and the distance. Yet we were evidently approaching it with a -hideous velocity. At intervals there were visible in it wide, yawning, -but momentary rents, and from out these rents, within which was a chaos -of flitting and indistinct images, there came rushing and mighty, but -soundless winds, tearing up the enkindled ocean in their course. - -_March 22._ The darkness had materially increased, relieved only by the -glare of the water thrown back from the white curtain before us. Many -gigantic and pallidly white birds flew continuously now from beyond the -veil, and their scream was the eternal _Tekeli-li!_ as they retreated -from our vision. Hereupon Nu-Nu stirred in the bottom of the boat; but, -upon touching him, we found his spirit departed. And now we rushed into -the embraces of the cataract, where a chasm threw itself open to -receive us. But there arose in our pathway a shrouded human figure, -very far larger in its proportions than any dweller among men. And the -hue of the skin of the figure was of the perfect whiteness of the snow. - - - - -NOTE. - - -The circumstances connected with the late sudden and distressing death -of Mr. Pym are already well known to the public through the medium of -the daily press. It is feared that the few remaining chapters which -were to have completed his narrative, and which were retained by him, -while the above were in type, for the purpose of revision, have been -irrecoverably lost through the accident by which he perished himself. -This, however, may prove not to be the case, and the papers, if -ultimately found, will be given to the public. - -No means have been left untried to remedy the deficiency. The gentleman -whose name is mentioned in the preface, and who, from the statement -there made, might be supposed able to fill the vacuum, has declined the -task--this for satisfactory reasons connected with the general -inaccuracy of the details afforded him, and his disbelief in the entire -truth of the latter portions of the narration. Peters, from whom some -information might be expected, is still alive, and a resident of -Illinois, but cannot be met with at present. He may hereafter be found, -and will, no doubt, afford material for a conclusion of Mr. Pym's -account. - -The loss of the two or three final chapters (for there were but two or -three) is the more deeply to be regretted, as, it cannot be doubted, -they contained matter relative to the Pole itself, or at least to -regions in its very near proximity; and as, too, the statements of the -author in relation to these regions may shortly be verified or -contradicted by means of the governmental expedition now preparing for -the Southern Ocean. - -On one point in the Narrative some remarks may be well offered; and it -would afford the writer of this appendix much pleasure if what he may -here observe should have a tendency to throw credit, in any degree, -upon the very singular pages now published. We allude to the chasms -found in the island of Tsalal, and to the whole of the figures in the -latter portion of Chapter XXIII. - -Mr. Pym has given the figures of the chasms without comment, and speaks -decidedly of the _indentures_ found at the extremity of the most -easterly of these chasms as having but a fanciful resemblance to -alphabetical characters, and, in short, as being positively _not such_. -This assertion is made in a manner so simple, and sustained by a -species of demonstration so conclusive (viz., the fitting of the -projections of the fragments found among the dust into the indentures -upon the wall), that we are forced to believe the writer in earnest; -and no reasonable reader should suppose otherwise. But as the facts in -relation to _all_ the figures are most singular (especially when taken -in connexion with statements made in the body of the narrative), it may -be as well to say a word or two concerning them all--this, too, the -more especially as the facts in question have, beyond doubt, escaped -the attention of Mr. Poe. - -Figure 1, then, figure 2, figure 3, and figure 5, when conjoined with -one another in the precise order which the chasms themselves presented, -and when deprived of the small lateral branches or arches (which, it -will be remembered, served only as means of communication between the -main chambers, and were of totally distinct character), constitute an -Ethiopian verbal root--the root [Illustration] "To be shady"--whence -all the inflections of shadow or darkness. - -In regard to the "left or most northwardly" of the indentures in figure -4, it is more than probable that the opinion of Peters was correct, and -that the hieroglyphical appearance was really the work of art, and -intended as the representation of a human form. The delineation is -before the reader, and he may, or may not, perceive the resemblance -suggested; but the rest of the indentures afford strong confirmation of -Peters's idea. The upper range is evidently the Arabic verbal root -[Illustration] "To be white," whence all the inflections of brilliancy -and whiteness. The lower range is not so immediately perspicuous. The -characters are somewhat broken and disjointed; nevertheless, it cannot -be doubted that, in their perfect state, they formed the full Egyptian -word [Illustration] "The region of the south." It should be observed -that these interpretations confirm the opinion of Peters in regard to -the "most northwardly" of the figures. The arm is outstretched towards -the south. - -Conclusions such as these open a wide field for speculation and -exciting conjecture. They should be regarded, perhaps, in connexion -with some of the most faintly-detailed incidents of the narrative; -although in no visible manner is this chain of connexion complete. -Tekeli-li! was the cry of the affrighted natives of Tsalal upon -discovering the carcass of the _white_ animal picked up at sea. This -also was the shuddering exclamation of the captive Tsalalian upon -encountering the _white_ materials in possession of Mr. Pym. This also -was the shriek of the swift-flying, _white_, and gigantic birds which -issued from the vapoury _white_ curtain of the South. Nothing _white_ -was to be found at Tsalal, and nothing otherwise in the subsequent -voyage to the region beyond. It is not impossible that "Tsalal," the -appellation of the island of the chasms, may be found, upon minute -philological scrutiny, to betray either some alliance with the chasms -themselves, or some reference to the Ethiopian characters so -mysteriously written in their windings. - -_"I have graven it within the hills, and my vengeance upon the dust -within the rock."_ - - -THE END. - - - - -[Transcriber's Note: The last two chapters, Chapters XXIV and XXV were -named, respectively, XXIII and XXIV in the original publication, with, -therefore, two chapters XXIII. This has been corrected in this -transcription.] - - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 51060 *** diff --git a/old/51060-h/51060-h.htm b/old/51060-h/51060-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index d77bfc8..0000000 --- a/old/51060-h/51060-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6622 +0,0 @@ - -<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> - -<html> -<head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> - <title>The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym | Project Gutenberg</title> - <style type="text/css"> - <!-- - body {margin:10%; text-align:justify} - h1 {text-align:center} - h2 {text-align:center} - h3 {text-align:center} - h4 {text-align:center} --> - </style> -</head> -<body> -<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 51060 ***</div> - -<h2>THE NARRATIVE</h2> -<h4>OF</h4> -<h1>ARTHUR GORDON PYM.</h1> - -<h3>OF NANTUCKET.</h3> - - -<h4>COMPRISING THE DETAILS OF A MUTINY AND ATROCIOUS BUTCHERY ON BOARD THE -AMERICAN BRIG GRAMPUS, ON HER WAY TO THE SOUTH SEAS, IN THE MONTH OF -JUNE, 1827.</h4> - -<h4>WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE RECAPTURE OF THE VESSEL BY THE SURVIVERS; THEIR -SHIPWRECK AND SUBSEQUENT HORRIBLE SUFFERINGS FROM FAMINE; THEIR -DELIVERANCE BY MEANS OF THE BRITISH SCHOONER JANE GUY; THE BRIEF CRUISE -OF THIS LATTER VESSEL IN THE ANTARCTIC OCEAN; HER CAPTURE, AND THE -MASSACRE OF HER CREW AMONG A GROUP OF ISLANDS IN THE</h4> - -<h3>EIGHTY-FOURTH PARALLEL OF SOUTHERN LATITUDE;</h3> - -<h4>TOGETHER WITH THE INCREDIBLE ADVENTURES -AND DISCOVERIES</h4> - -<h3>STILL FARTHER SOUTH</h3> - -<h4>TO WHICH THAT DISTRESSING CALAMITY GAVE RISE.</h4> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4>NEW-YORK:</h4> -<center>HARPER & BROTHERS, 82 CLIFF-ST.</center> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<center><b>1838.</b></center> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<center>Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1838, by<br> -<br> -H<small>ARPER</small> & B<small>ROTHERS</small>,<br> -<br> -in the Clerk's Office of the Southern District of New-York.</center> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<table align="center" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="10" summary="contents"> - <tr><td colspan="5" align="center">C<small>HAPTERS</small></td></tr> - <tr><td align="center"><a href="#preface">Preface</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap6">VI</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap12">XII</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap18">XVIII</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap24">XXIV</a></td></tr> - <tr><td align="center"><a href="#chap1">I</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap7">VII</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap13">XIII</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap19">XIX</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap25">XXV</a></td></tr> - <tr><td align="center"><a href="#chap2">II</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap8">VIII</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap14">XIV</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap20">XX</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#note">Note</a></td></tr> - <tr><td align="center"><a href="#chap3">III</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap9">IX</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap15">XV</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap21">XXI</a></td> - <td align="center"> </td></tr> - <tr><td align="center"><a href="#chap4">IV</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap10">X</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap16">XVI</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap22">XXII</a></td> - <td align="center"> </td></tr> - <tr><td align="center"><a href="#chap5">V</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap11">XI</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap17">XVII</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap23">XXIII</a></td> - <td align="center"> </td></tr> -</table> -<br> -<br><a name="preface"></a> -<br> -<br> -<h3>PREFACE.</h3> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="100"> -<br> -<p>Upon my return to the United States a few months ago, after the -extraordinary series of adventure in the South Seas and elsewhere, of -which an account is given in the following pages, accident threw me -into the society of several gentlemen in Richmond, Va., who felt deep -interest in all matters relating to the regions I had visited, and who -were constantly urging it upon me, as a duty, to give my narrative to -the public. I had several reasons, however, for declining to do so, -some of which were of a nature altogether private, and concern no -person but myself; others not so much so. One consideration which -deterred me was, that, having kept no journal during a greater portion -of the time in which I was absent, I feared I should not be able to -write, from mere memory, a statement so minute and connected as to have -the <i>appearance</i> of that truth it would really possess, barring only -the natural and unavoidable exaggeration to which all of us are prone -when detailing events which have had powerful influence in exciting the -imaginative faculties. Another reason was, that the incidents to be -narrated were of a nature so positively marvellous, that, unsupported -as my assertions must necessarily be (except by the evidence of a -single individual, and he a half-breed Indian), I could only hope for -belief among my family, and those of my friends who have had reason, -through life, to put faith in my veracity—the probability being that -the public at large would regard what I should put forth as merely an -impudent and ingenious fiction. A distrust in my own abilities as a -writer was, nevertheless, one of the principal causes which prevented -me from complying with the suggestions of my advisers.</p> - -<p>Among those gentlemen in Virginia who expressed the greatest interest -in my statement, more particularly in regard to that portion of it -which related to the Antarctic Ocean, was Mr. Poe, lately editor of the -Southern Literary Messenger, a monthly magazine, published by Mr. -Thomas W. White, in the city of Richmond. He strongly advised me, among -others, to prepare at once a full account of what I had seen and -undergone, and trust to the shrewdness and common sense of the -public—insisting, with great plausibility, that however roughly, as -regards mere authorship, my book should be got up, its very -uncouthness, if there were any, would give it all the better chance of -being received as truth.</p> - -<p>Notwithstanding this representation, I did not make up my mind to do as -he suggested. He afterward proposed (finding that I would not stir in -the matter) that I should allow him to draw up, in his own words, a -narrative of the earlier portion of my adventures, from facts afforded -by myself, publishing it in the Southern Messenger <i>under the garb of -fiction</i>. To this, perceiving no objection, I consented, stipulating -only that my real name should be retained. Two numbers of the pretended -fiction appeared, consequently, in the Messenger for January and -February (1837), and, in order that it might certainly be regarded as -fiction, the name of Mr. Poe was affixed to the articles in the table -of contents of the magazine.</p> - -<p>The manner in which this <i>ruse</i> was received has induced me at length -to undertake a regular compilation and publication of the adventures in -question; for I found that, in spite of the air of fable which had been -so ingeniously thrown around that portion of my statement which -appeared in the Messenger (without altering or distorting a single -fact), the public were still not at all disposed to receive it as -fable, and several letters were sent to Mr. P.'s address distinctly -expressing a conviction to the contrary. I thence concluded that the -facts of my narrative would prove of such a nature as to carry with -them sufficient evidence of their own authenticity, and that I had -consequently little to fear on the score of popular incredulity.</p> - -<p>This <i>exposé</i> being made, it will be seen at once how much of what -follows I claim to be my own writing; and it will also be understood -that no fact is misrepresented in the first few pages which were -written by Mr. Poe. Even to those readers who have not seen the -Messenger, it will be unnecessary to point out where his portion ends -and my own commences; the difference in point of style will be readily -perceived.</p> - -<div align="right">A. G. P<small>YM</small>. </div> - -<blockquote><small>New-York, July, 1838.</small></blockquote> -<br> -<br><a name="chap1"></a> -<br> -<br> -<center>NARRATIVE<br> -<br> -<small>OF</small></center> -<h3>A. GORDON PYM.</h3> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="100"> -<br> -<p>My name is Arthur Gordon Pym. My father was a respectable trader in -sea-stores at Nantucket, where I was born. My maternal grandfather was -an attorney in good practice. He was fortunate in everything, and had -speculated very successfully in stocks of the Edgarton New-Bank, as it -was formerly called. By these and other means he had managed to lay by -a tolerable sum of money. He was more attached to myself, I believe, -than to any other person in the world, and I expected to inherit the -most of his property at his death. He sent me, at six years of age, to -the school of old Mr. Ricketts, a gentleman with only one arm, and of -eccentric manners—he is well known to almost every person who has -visited New Bedford. I stayed at his school until I was sixteen, when I -left him for Mr. E. Ronald's academy on the hill. Here I became -intimate with the son of Mr. Barnard, a sea captain, who generally -sailed in the employ of Lloyd and Vredenburgh—Mr. Barnard is also very -well known in New Bedford, and has many relations, I am certain, in -Edgarton. His son was named Augustus, and he was nearly two years older -than myself. He had been on a whaling voyage with his father in the -John Donaldson, and was always talking to me of his adventures in the -South Pacific Ocean. I used frequently to go home with him, and remain -all day, and sometimes all night. We occupied the same bed, and he -would be sure to keep me awake until almost light, telling me stories -of the natives of the Island of Tinian, and other places he had visited -in his travels. At last I could not help being interested in what he -said, and by degrees I felt the greatest desire to go to sea. I owned a -sail-boat called the Ariel, and worth about seventy-five dollars. She -had a half-deck or cuddy, and was rigged sloop-fashion—I forget her -tonnage, but she would hold ten persons without much crowding. In this -boat we were in the habit of going on some of the maddest freaks in the -world; and, when I now think of them, it appears to me a thousand -wonders that I am alive to-day.</p> - -<p>I will relate one of these adventures by way of introduction to a -longer and more momentous narrative. One night there was a party at Mr. -Barnard's, and both Augustus and myself were not a little intoxicated -towards the close of it. As usual, in such cases, I took part of his -bed in preference to going home. He went to sleep, as I thought, very -quietly (it being near one when the party broke up), and without saying -a word on his favourite topic. It might have been half an hour from the -time of our getting in bed, and I was just about falling into a doze, -when he suddenly started up, and swore with a terrible oath that he -would not go to sleep for any Arthur Pym in Christendom, when there was -so glorious a breeze from the southwest. I never was so astonished in -my life, not knowing what he intended, and thinking that the wines and -liquors he had drunk had set him entirely beside himself. He proceeded -to talk very coolly, however, saying he knew that I supposed him -intoxicated, but that he was never more sober in his life. He was only -tired, he added, of lying in bed on such a fine night like a dog, and -was determined to get up and dress, and go out on a frolic with the -boat. I can hardly tell what possessed me, but the words were no sooner -out of his mouth than I felt a thrill of the greatest excitement and -pleasure, and thought his mad idea one of the most delightful and most -reasonable things in the world. It was blowing almost a gale, and the -weather was very cold—it being late in October. I sprang out of bed, -nevertheless, in a kind of ecstasy, and told him I was quite as brave -as himself, and quite as tired as he was of lying in bed like a dog, -and quite as ready for any fun or frolic as any Augustus Barnard in -Nantucket.</p> - -<p>We lost no time in getting on our clothes and hurrying down to the -boat. She was lying at the old decayed wharf by the lumber-yard of -Pankey & Co., and almost thumping her sides out against the rough logs. -Augustus got into her and bailed her, for she was nearly half full of -water. This being done, we hoisted jib and mainsail, kept full, and -started boldly out to sea.</p> - -<p>The wind, as I before said, blew freshly from the southwest. The night -was very clear and cold. Augustus had taken the helm, and I stationed -myself by the mast, on the deck of the cuddy. We flew along at a great -rate—neither of us having said a word since casting loose from the -wharf. I now asked my companion what course he intended to steer, and -what time he thought it probable we should get back. He whistled for a -few minutes, and then said crustily, "<i>I</i> am going to sea—<i>you</i> may go -home if you think proper." Turning my eyes upon him, I perceived at -once that, in spite of his assumed <i>nonchalance</i>, he was greatly -agitated. I could see him distinctly by the light of the moon—his face -was paler than any marble, and his hand shook so excessively that he -could scarcely retain hold of the tiller. I found that something had -gone wrong, and became seriously alarmed. At this period I knew little -about the management of a boat, and was now depending entirely upon the -nautical skill of my friend. The wind, too, had suddenly increased, as -we were fast getting out of the lee of the land—still I was ashamed to -betray any trepidation, and for almost half an hour maintained a -resolute silence. I could stand it no longer, however, and spoke to -Augustus about the propriety of turning back. As before, it was nearly -a minute before he made answer, or took any notice of my suggestion. -"By-and-by," said he at length—"time enough—home by-and-by." I had -expected a similar reply, but there was something in the tone of these -words which filled me with an indescribable feeling of dread. I again -looked at the speaker attentively. His lips were perfectly livid, and -his knees shook so violently together that he seemed scarcely able to -stand. "For God's sake, Augustus," I screamed, now heartily frightened, -"what ails you?—what is the matter?—what <i>are</i> you going to do?" -"Matter!" he stammered, in the greatest apparent surprise, letting go -the tiller at the same moment, and falling forward into the bottom of -the boat—"matter!—why, nothing is the—matter—going -home—d—d—don't you see?" The whole truth now flashed upon me. I flew -to him and raised him up. He was drunk—beastly drunk—he could no -longer either stand, speak, or see. His eyes were perfectly glazed; and -as I let him go in the extremity of my despair, he rolled like a mere -log into the bilge-water from which I had lifted him. It was evident -that, during the evening, he had drunk far more than I suspected, and -that his conduct in bed had been the result of a highly-concentrated -state of intoxication—a state which, like madness, frequently enables -the victim to imitate the outward demeanour of one in perfect -possession of his senses. The coolness of the night air, however, had -had its usual effect—the mental energy began to yield before its -influence—and the confused perception which he no doubt then had of -his perilous situation had assisted in hastening the catastrophe. He -was now thoroughly insensible, and there was no probability that he -would be otherwise for many hours.</p> - -<p>It is hardly possible to conceive the extremity of my terror. The fumes -of the wine lately taken had evaporated, leaving me doubly timid and -irresolute. I knew that I was altogether incapable of managing the -boat, and that a fierce wind and strong ebb tide were hurrying us to -destruction. A storm was evidently gathering behind us; we had neither -compass nor provisions; and it was clear that, if we held our present -course, we should be out of sight of land before daybreak. These -thoughts, with a crowd of others equally fearful, flashed through my -mind with a bewildering rapidity, and for some moments paralyzed me -beyond the possibility of making any exertion. The boat was going -through the water at a terrible rate—full before the wind—no reef in -either jib or mainsail—running her bows completely under the foam. It -was a thousand wonders she did not broach to—Augustus having let go -the tiller, as I said before, and I being too much agitated to think of -taking it myself. By good luck, however, she kept steady, and gradually -I recovered some degree of presence of mind. Still the wind was -increasing fearfully; and whenever we rose from a plunge forward, the -sea behind fell combing over our counter, and deluged us with water. I -was so utterly benumbed, too, in every limb, as to be nearly -unconscious of sensation. At length I summoned up the resolution of -despair, and rushing to the mainsail, let it go by the run. As might -have been expected, it flew over the bows, and, getting drenched with -water, carried away the mast short off by the board. This latter -accident alone saved me from instant destruction. Under the jib only, I -now boomed along before the wind, shipping heavy seas occasionally over -the counter, but relieved from the terror of immediate death. I took -the helm, and breathed with greater freedom as I found that there yet -remained to us a chance of ultimate escape. Augustus still lay -senseless in the bottom of the boat; and as there was imminent danger -of his drowning (the water being nearly a foot deep just where he -fell), I contrived to raise him partially up, and keep him in a sitting -position, by passing a rope round his waist, and lashing it to a -ringbolt in the deck of the cuddy. Having thus arranged everything as -well as I could in my chilled and agitated condition, I recommended -myself to God, and made up my mind to bear whatever might happen with -all the fortitude in my power.</p> - -<p>Hardly had I come to this resolution, when, suddenly, a loud and long -scream or yell, as if from the throats of a thousand demons, seemed to -pervade the whole atmosphere around and above the boat. Never while I -live shall I forget the intense agony of terror I experienced at that -moment. My hair stood erect on my head—I felt the blood congealing in -my veins—my heart ceased utterly to beat, and without having once -raised my eyes to learn the source of my alarm, I tumbled headlong and -insensible upon the body of my fallen companion.</p> - -<p>I found myself, upon reviving, in the cabin of a large whaling-ship -(the Penguin) bound to Nantucket. Several persons were standing over -me, and Augustus, paler than death, was busily occupied in chafing my -hands. Upon seeing me open my eyes, his exclamations of gratitude and -joy excited alternate laughter and tears from the rough-looking -personages who were present. The mystery of our being in existence was -now soon explained. We had been run down by the whaling-ship, which was -close hauled, beating up to Nantucket with every sail she could venture -to set, and consequently running almost at right angles to our own -course. Several men were on the look-out forward, but did not perceive -our boat until it was an impossibility to avoid coming in -contact—their shouts of warning upon seeing us were what so terribly -alarmed me. The huge ship, I was told, rode immediately over us with as -much ease as our own little vessel would have passed over a feather, -and without the least perceptible impediment to her progress. Not a -scream arose from the deck of the victim—there was a slight grating -sound to be heard mingling with the roar of wind and water, as the -frail bark which was swallowed up rubbed for a moment along the keel of -her destroyer—but this was all. Thinking our boat (which it will be -remembered was dismasted) some mere shell cut adrift as useless, the -captain (Captain E. T. V. Block of New London) was for proceeding on -his course without troubling himself further about the matter. Luckily, -there were two of the look-out who swore positively to having seen some -person at our helm, and represented the possibility of yet saving him. -A discussion ensued, when Block grew angry, and, after a while, said -that "it was no business of his to be eternally watching for -egg-shells; that the ship should <i>not</i> put about for any such nonsense; -and if there was a man run down, it was nobody's fault but his own—he -might drown and be d——d," or some language to that effect. Henderson, -the first mate, now took the matter up, being justly indignant, as well -as the whole ship's crew, at a speech evincing so base a degree of -heartless atrocity. He spoke plainly, seeing himself upheld by the men, -told the captain he considered him a fit subject for the gallows, and -that he would disobey his orders if he were hanged for it the moment he -set his foot on shore. He strode aft, jostling Block (who turned very -pale and made no answer) on one side, and seizing the helm, gave the -word, in a firm voice, <i>Hard-a-lee!</i> The men flew to their posts, and -the ship went cleverly about. All this had occupied nearly five -minutes, and it was supposed to be hardly within the bounds of -possibility that any individual could be saved—allowing any to have -been on board the boat. Yet, as the reader has seen, both Augustus and -myself were rescued; and our deliverance seemed to have been brought -about by two of those almost inconceivable pieces of good fortune which -are attributed by the wise and pious to the special interference of -Providence.</p> - -<p>While the ship was yet in stays, the mate lowered the jolly-boat and -jumped into her with the very two men, I believe, who spoke up as -having seen me at the helm. They had just left the lee of the vessel -(the moon still shining brightly) when she made a long and heavy roll -to windward, and Henderson, at the same moment, starting up in his -seat, bawled out to his crew to <i>back water</i>. He would say nothing -else—repeating his cry impatiently, <i>back water! back water!</i> The men -put back as speedily as possible; but by this time the ship had gone -round, and gotten fully under headway, although all hands on board were -making great exertions to take in sail. In despite of the danger of the -attempt, the mate clung to the main-chains as soon as they came within -his reach. Another huge lurch now brought the starboard side of the -vessel out of water nearly as far as her keel, when the cause of his -anxiety was rendered obvious enough. The body of a man was seen to be -affixed in the most singular manner to the smooth and shining bottom -(the Penguin was coppered and copper-fastened), and beating violently -against it with every movement of the hull. After several ineffectual -efforts, made during the lurches of the ship, and at the imminent risk -of swamping the boat, I was finally disengaged from my perilous -situation and taken on board—for the body proved to be my own. It -appeared that one of the timber-bolts having started and broken a -passage through the copper, it had arrested my progress as I passed -under the ship, and fastened me in so extraordinary a manner to her -bottom. The head of the bolt had made its way through the collar of the -green baize jacket I had on, and through the back part of my neck, -forcing itself out between two sinews and just below the right ear. I -was immediately put to bed—although life seemed to be totally extinct. -There was no surgeon on board. The captain, however, treated me with -every attention—to make amends, I presume, in the eyes of his crew, -for his atrocious behaviour in the previous portion of the adventure.</p> - -<p>In the meantime, Henderson had again put off from the ship, although -the wind was now blowing almost a hurricane. He had not been gone many -minutes when he fell in with some fragments of our boat, and shortly -afterward one of the men with him asserted that he could distinguish a -cry for help at intervals amid the roaring of the tempest. This induced -the hardy seamen to persevere in their search for more than half an -hour, although repeated signals to return were made them by Captain -Block, and although every moment on the water in so frail a boat was -fraught to them with the most imminent and deadly peril. Indeed, it is -nearly impossible to conceive how the small jolly they were in could -have escaped destruction for a single instant. She was built, however, -for the whaling service, and was fitted, as I have since had reason to -believe, with air-boxes, in the manner of some life-boats used on the -coast of Wales.</p> - -<p>After searching in vain for about the period of time just mentioned, it -was determined to get back to the ship. They had scarcely made this -resolve when a feeble cry arose from a dark object which floated -rapidly by. They pursued and soon overtook it. It proved to be the -entire deck of the Ariel's cuddy. Augustus was struggling near it, -apparently in the last agonies. Upon getting hold of him it was found -that he was attached by a rope to the floating timber. This rope, it -will be remembered, I had myself tied round his waist, and made fast to -a ringbolt, for the purpose of keeping him in an upright position, and -my so doing, it appeared, had been ultimately the means of preserving -his life. The Ariel was slightly put together, and in going down her -frame naturally went to pieces; the deck of the cuddy, as might be -expected, was lifted, by the force of the water rushing in, entirely -from the main timbers, and floated (with other fragments, no doubt) to -the surface—Augustus was buoyed up with it, and thus escaped a -terrible death.</p> - -<p>It was more than an hour after being taken on board the Penguin before -he could give any account of himself, or be made to comprehend the -nature of the accident which had befallen our boat. At length he became -thoroughly aroused, and spoke much of his sensations while in the -water. Upon his first attaining any degree of consciousness, he found -himself beneath the surface, whirling round and round with -inconceivable rapidity, and with a rope wrapped in three or four folds -tightly about his neck. In an instant afterward he felt himself going -rapidly upward, when, his head striking violently against a hard -substance, he again relapsed into insensibility. Upon once more -reviving he was in fuller possession of his reason—this was still, -however, in the greatest degree clouded and confused. He now knew that -some accident had occurred, and that he was in the water, although his -mouth was above the surface, and he could breathe with some freedom. -Possibly, at this period, the deck was drifting rapidly before the -wind, and drawing him after it, as he floated upon his back. Of course, -as long as he could have retained this position, it would have been -nearly impossible that he should be drowned. Presently a surge threw -him directly athwart the deck; and this post he endeavoured to -maintain, screaming at intervals for help. Just before he was -discovered by Mr. Henderson, he had been obliged to relax his hold -through exhaustion, and, falling into the sea, had given himself up for -lost. During the whole period of his struggles he had not the faintest -recollection of the Ariel, nor of any matters in connexion with the -source of his disaster. A vague feeling of terror and despair had taken -entire possession of his faculties. When he was finally picked up, -every power of his mind had failed him; and, as before said, it was -nearly an hour after getting on board the Penguin before he became -fully aware of his condition. In regard to myself—I was resuscitated -from a state bordering very nearly upon death (and after every other -means had been tried in vain for three hours and a half) by vigorous -friction with flannels bathed in hot oil—a proceeding suggested by -Augustus. The wound in my neck, although of an ugly appearance, proved -of little real consequence, and I soon recovered from its effects.</p> - -<p>The Penguin got into port about nine o'clock in the morning, after -encountering one of the severest gales ever experienced off Nantucket. -Both Augustus and myself managed to appear at Mr. Barnard's in time for -breakfast—which, luckily, was somewhat late, owing to the party over -night. I suppose all at the table were too much fatigued themselves to -notice our jaded appearance—of course, it would not have borne a very -rigid scrutiny. Schoolboys, however, can accomplish wonders in the way -of deception, and I verily believe not one of our friends in Nantucket -had the slightest suspicion that the terrible story told by some -sailors in town of their having run down a vessel at sea and drowned -some thirty or forty poor devils, had reference either to the Ariel, my -companion, or myself. We two have since very frequently talked the -matter over—but never without a shudder. In one of our conversations -Augustus frankly confessed to me, that in his whole life he had at no -time experienced so excruciating a sense of dismay, as when on board -our little boat he first discovered the extent of his intoxication, and -felt himself sinking beneath its influence.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap2"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER II.</h3> -<br> - -<p>In no affairs of mere prejudice, pro or con, do we deduce inferences -with entire certainty even from the most simple data. It might be -supposed that a catastrophe such as I have just related would have -effectually cooled my incipient passion for the sea. On the contrary, I -never experienced a more ardent longing for the wild adventures -incident to the life of a navigator than within a week after our -miraculous deliverance. This short period proved amply long enough to -erase from my memory the shadows, and bring out in vivid light all the -pleasurably exciting points of colour, all the picturesqueness of the -late perilous accident. My conversations with Augustus grew daily more -frequent and more intensely full of interest. He had a manner of -relating his stories of the ocean (more than one half of which I now -suspect to have been sheer fabrications) well adapted to have weight -with one of my enthusiastic temperament, and somewhat gloomy, although -glowing imagination. It is strange, too, that he most strongly enlisted -my feelings in behalf of the life of a seaman, when he depicted his -more terrible moments of suffering and despair. For the bright side of -the painting I had a limited sympathy. My visions were of shipwreck and -famine; of death or captivity among barbarian hordes; of a lifetime -dragged out in sorrow and tears, upon some gray and desolate rock, in -an ocean unapproachable and unknown. Such visions or desires—for they -amounted to desires—are common, I have since been assured, to the -whole numerous race of the melancholy among men—at the time of which I -speak I regarded them only as prophetic glimpses of a destiny which I -felt myself in a measure bound to fulfil. Augustus thoroughly entered -into my state of mind. It is probable, indeed, that our intimate -communion had resulted in a partial interchange of character.</p> - -<p>About eighteen months after the period of the Ariel's disaster, the -firm of Lloyd and Vredenburgh (a house connected in some manner with -the Messieurs Enderby, I believe, of Liverpool) were engaged in -repairing and fitting out the brig Grampus for a whaling voyage. She -was an old hulk, and scarcely seaworthy when all was done to her that -could be done. I hardly know why she was chosen in preference to other -good vessels belonging to the same owners—but so it was. Mr. Barnard -was appointed to command her, and Augustus was going with him. While -the brig was getting ready, he frequently urged upon me the excellency -of the opportunity now offered for indulging my desire of travel. He -found me by no means an unwilling listener—yet the matter could not be -so easily arranged. My father made no direct opposition; but my mother -went into hysterics at the bare mention of the design; and, more than -all, my grandfather, from whom I expected much, vowed to cut me off -with a shilling if I should ever broach the subject to him again. These -difficulties, however, so far from abating my desire, only added fuel -to the flame. I determined to go at all hazards; and, having made known -my intention to Augustus, we set about arranging a plan by which it -might be accomplished. In the meantime I forbore speaking to any of my -relations in regard to the voyage, and, as I busied myself ostensibly -with my usual studies, it was supposed that I had abandoned the design. -I have since frequently examined my conduct on this occasion with -sentiments of displeasure as well as of surprise. The intense hypocrisy -I made use of for the furtherance of my project—an hypocrisy pervading -every word and action of my life for so long a period of time—could -only have been rendered tolerable to myself by the wild and burning -expectation with which I looked forward to the fulfilment of my -long-cherished visions of travel.</p> - -<p>In pursuance of my scheme of deception, I was necessarily obliged to -leave much to the management of Augustus, who was employed for the -greater part of every day on board the Grampus, attending to some -arrangements for his father in the cabin and cabin hold. At night, -however, we were sure to have a conference, and talk over our hopes. -After nearly a month passed in this manner, without our hitting upon -any plan we thought likely to succeed, he told me at last that he had -determined upon everything necessary. I had a relation living in New -Bedford, a Mr. Ross, at whose house I was in the habit of spending -occasionally two or three weeks at a time. The brig was to sail about -the middle of June (June, 1827), and it was agreed that, a day or two -before her putting to sea, my father was to receive a note, as usual, -from Mr. Ross, asking me to come over and spend a fortnight with Robert -and Emmet (his sons). Augustus charged himself with the enditing of -this note and getting it delivered. Having set out, as supposed, for -New Bedford, I was then to report myself to my companion, who would -contrive a hiding-place for me in the Grampus. This hiding-place, he -assured me, would be rendered sufficiently comfortable for a residence -of many days, during which I was not to make my appearance. When the -brig had proceeded so far on her course as to make any turning back a -matter out of question, I should then, he said, be formally installed -in all the comforts of the cabin; and as to his father, he would only -laugh heartily at the joke. Vessels enough would be met with by which a -letter might be sent home explaining the adventure to my parents.</p> - -<p>The middle of June at length arrived, and everything had been matured. -The note was written and delivered, and on a Monday morning I left the -house for the New Bedford packet, as supposed. I went, however, -straight to Augustus, who was waiting for me at the corner of a street. -It had been our original plan that I should keep out of the way until -dark, and then slip on board the brig; but, as there was now a thick -fog in our favour, it was agreed to lose no time in secreting me. -Augustus led the way to the wharf, and I followed at a little distance, -enveloped in a thick seaman's cloak, which he had brought with him, so -that my person might not be easily recognised. Just as we turned the -second corner, after passing Mr. Edmund's well, who should appear, -standing right in front of me, and looking me full in the face, but old -Mr. Peterson, my grandfather. "Why, bless my soul, Gordon," said he, -after a long pause, "why, why—<i>whose</i> dirty cloak is that you have -on?" "Sir!" I replied, assuming, as well as I could, in the exigency of -the moment, an air of offended surprise, and talking in the gruffest of -all imaginable tones—"sir! you are a sum'mat mistaken—my name, in the -first place, bee'nt nothing at all like Goddin, and I'd want you for to -know better, you blackguard, than to call my new obercoat a darty one!" -For my life I could hardly refrain from screaming with laughter at the -odd manner in which the old gentleman received this handsome rebuke. He -started back two or three steps, turned first pale and then excessively -red, threw up his spectacles, then, putting them down, ran full tilt at -me, with his umbrella uplifted. He stopped short, however, in his -career, as if struck with a sudden recollection; and presently, turning -round, hobbled off down the street, shaking all the while with rage, -and muttering between his teeth, "Won't do—new glasses—thought it was -Gordon—d——d good-for-nothing salt water Long Tom."</p> - -<p>After this narrow escape we proceeded with greater caution, and arrived -at our point of destination in safety. There were only one or two of -the hands on board, and these were busy forward, doing something to the -forecastle combings. Captain Barnard, we knew very well, was engaged at -Lloyd and Vredenburgh's, and would remain there until late in the -evening, so we had little to apprehend on his account. Augustus went -first up the vessel's side, and in a short while I followed him, -without being noticed by the men at work. We proceeded at once into the -cabin, and found no person there. It was fitted up in the most -comfortable style—a thing somewhat unusual in a whaling-vessel. There -were four very excellent staterooms, with wide and convenient berths. -There was also a large stove, I took notice, and a remarkably thick and -valuable carpet covering the floor of both the cabin and staterooms. -The ceiling was full seven feet high, and, in short, everything -appeared of a more roomy and agreeable nature than I had anticipated. -Augustus, however, would allow me but little time for observation, -insisting upon the necessity of my concealing myself as soon as -possible. He led the way into his own stateroom, which was on the -starboard side of the brig, and next to the bulkheads. Upon entering, -he closed the door and bolted it. I thought I had never seen a nicer -little room than the one in which I now found myself. It was about ten -feet long, and had only one berth, which, as I said before, was wide -and convenient. In that portion of the closet nearest the bulkheads -there was a space of four feet square, containing a table, a chair, and -a set of hanging shelves full of books, chiefly books of voyages and -travels. There were many other little comforts in the room, among which -I ought not to forget a kind of safe or refrigerator, in which Augustus -pointed out to me a host of delicacies, both in the eating and drinking -department.</p> - -<p>He now pressed with his knuckles upon a certain spot of the carpet in -one corner of the space just mentioned, letting me know that a portion -of the flooring, about sixteen inches square, had been neatly cut out -and again adjusted. As he pressed, this portion rose up at one end -sufficiently to allow the passage of his finger beneath. In this manner -he raised the mouth of the trap (to which the carpet was still fastened -by tacks), and I found that it led into the after hold. He next lit a -small taper by means of a phosphorus match, and, placing the light in a -dark lantern, descended with it through the opening, bidding me follow. -I did so, and he then pulled the cover upon the hole, by means of a -nail driven into the under side—the carpet, of course, resuming its -original position on the floor of the stateroom, and all traces of the -aperture being concealed.</p> - -<p>The taper gave out so feeble a ray, that it was with the greatest -difficulty I could grope my way through the confused mass of lumber -among which I now found myself. By degrees, however, my eyes became -accustomed to the gloom, and I proceeded with less trouble, holding on -to the skirts of my friend's coat. He brought me, at length, after -creeping and winding through innumerable narrow passages, to an -iron-bound box, such as is used sometimes for packing fine earthenware. -It was nearly four feet high, and full six long, but very narrow. Two -large empty oil-casks lay on the top of it, and above these, again, a -vast quantity of straw matting, piled up as high as the floor of the -cabin. In every other direction around was wedged as closely as -possible, even up to the ceiling, a complete chaos of almost every -species of ship-furniture, together with a heterogeneous medley of -crates, hampers, barrels, and bales, so that it seemed a matter no less -than miraculous that we had discovered any passage at all to the box. I -afterward found that Augustus had purposely arranged the stowage in -this hold with a view to affording me a thorough concealment, having -had only one assistant in the labour, a man not going out in the brig.</p> - -<p>My companion now showed me that one of the ends of the box could be -removed at pleasure. He slipped it aside and displayed the interior, at -which I was excessively amused. A mattress from one of the cabin berths -covered the whole of its bottom, and it contained almost every article -of mere comfort which could be crowded into so small a space, allowing -me, at the same time, sufficient room for my accommodation, either in a -sitting position or lying at full length. Among other things, there -were some books, pen, ink, and paper, three blankets, a large jug full -of water, a keg of sea-biscuit, three or four immense Bologna sausages, -an enormous ham, a cold leg of roast mutton, and half a dozen bottles -of cordials and liqueurs. I proceeded immediately to take possession of -my little apartment, and this with feelings of higher satisfaction, I -am sure, than any monarch ever experienced upon entering a new palace. -Augustus now pointed out to me the method of fastening the open end of -the box, and then, holding the taper close to the deck, showed me a -piece of dark whipcord lying along it. This, he said, extended from my -hiding-place throughout all the necessary windings among the lumber, to -a nail which was driven into the deck of the hold, immediately beneath -the trapdoor leading into his stateroom. By means of this cord I should -be enabled readily to trace my way out without his guidance, provided -any unlooked-for accident should render such a step necessary. He now -took his departure, leaving with me the lantern, together with a -copious supply of tapers and phosphorus, and promising to pay me a -visit as often as he could contrive to do so without observation. This -was on the seventeenth of June.</p> - -<p>I remained three days and nights (as nearly as I could guess) in my -hiding-place without getting out of it at all, except twice for the -purpose of stretching my limbs by standing erect between two crates -just opposite the opening. During the whole period I saw nothing of -Augustus; but this occasioned me little uneasiness, as I knew the brig -was expected to put to sea every hour, and in the bustle he would not -easily find opportunities of coming down to me. At length I heard the -trap open and shut, and presently he called in a low voice, asking if -all was well, and if there was anything I wanted. "Nothing," I replied; -"I am as comfortable as can be; when will the brig sail?" "She will be -under weigh in less than half an hour," he answered. "I came to let you -know, and for fear you should be uneasy at my absence. I shall not have -a chance of coming down again for some time—perhaps for three or four -days more. All is going on right aboveboard. After I go up and close -the trap, do you creep along by the whipcord to where the nail is -driven in. You will find my watch there—it may be useful to you, as -you have no daylight to keep time by. I suppose you can't tell how long -you have been buried—only three days—this is the twentieth. I would -bring the watch to your box, but am afraid of being missed." With this -he went up.</p> - -<p>In about an hour after he had gone I distinctly felt the brig in -motion, and congratulated myself upon having at length fairly commenced -a voyage. Satisfied with this idea, I determined to make my mind as -easy as possible, and await the course of events until I should be -permitted to exchange the box for the more roomy, although hardly more -comfortable, accommodations of the cabin. My first care was to get the -watch. Leaving the taper burning, I groped along in the dark, following -the cord through windings innumerable, in some of which I discovered -that, after toiling a long distance, I was brought back within a foot -or two of a former position. At length I reached the nail, and, -securing the object of my journey, returned with it in safety. I now -looked over the books which had been so thoughtfully provided, and -selected the expedition of Lewis and Clarke to the mouth of the -Columbia. With this I amused myself for some time, when, growing -sleepy, I extinguished the light with great care, and soon fell into a -sound slumber.</p> - -<p>Upon awaking I felt strangely confused in mind, and some time elapsed -before I could bring to recollection all the various circumstances of -my situation. By degrees, however, I remembered all. Striking a light, -I looked at the watch; but it was run down, and there were, -consequently, no means of determining how long I had slept. My limbs -were greatly cramped, and I was forced to relieve them by standing -between the crates. Presently, feeling an almost ravenous appetite, I -bethought myself of the cold mutton, some of which I had eaten just -before going to sleep, and found excellent. What was my astonishment at -discovering it to be in a state of absolute putrefaction! This -circumstance occasioned me great disquietude; for, connecting it with -the disorder of mind I experienced upon awaking, I began to suppose -that I must have slept for an inordinately long period of time. The -close atmosphere of the hold might have had something to do with this, -and might, in the end, be productive of the most serious results. My -head ached excessively; I fancied that I drew every breath with -difficulty; and, in short, I was oppressed with a multitude of gloomy -feelings. Still I could not venture to make any disturbance by opening -the trap or otherwise, and, having wound up the watch, contented myself -as well as possible.</p> - -<p>Throughout the whole of the next tedious twenty-four hours no person -came to my relief, and I could not help accusing Augustus of the -grossest inattention. What alarmed me chiefly was, that the water in my -jug was reduced to about half a pint, and I was suffering much from -thirst, having eaten freely of the Bologna sausages after the loss of -my mutton. I became very uneasy, and could no longer take any interest -in my books. I was overpowered, too, with a desire to sleep, yet -trembled at the thought of indulging it, lest there might exist some -pernicious influence, like that of burning charcoal, in the confined -air of the hold. In the mean time the roll of the brig told me that we -were far in the main ocean, and a dull humming sound, which reached my -ears as if from an immense distance, convinced me no ordinary gale was -blowing. I could not imagine a reason for the absence of Augustus. We -were surely far enough advanced on our voyage to allow of my going up. -Some accident might have happened to him—but I could think of none -which would account for his suffering me to remain so long a prisoner, -except, indeed, his having suddenly died or fallen overboard, and upon -this idea I could not dwell with any degree of patience. It was -possible that we had been baffled by head winds, and were still in the -near vicinity of Nantucket. This notion, however, I was forced to -abandon; for, such being the case, the brig must have frequently gone -about; and I was entirely satisfied, from her continual inclination to -the larboard, that she had been sailing all along with a steady breeze -on her starboard quarter. Besides, granting that we were still in the -neighbourhood of the island, why should not Augustus have visited me -and informed me of the circumstance? Pondering in this manner upon the -difficulties of my solitary and cheerless condition, I resolved to wait -yet another twenty-four hours, when, if no relief were obtained, I -would make my way to the trap, and endeavour either to hold a parley -with my friend, or get at least a little fresh air through the opening, -and a further supply of water from his stateroom. While occupied with -this thought, however, I fell, in spite of every exertion to the -contrary, into a state of profound sleep, or rather stupor. My dreams -were of the most terrific description. Every species of calamity and -horror befell me. Among other miseries, I was smothered to death -between huge pillows, by demons of the most ghastly and ferocious -aspect. Immense serpents held me in their embrace, and looked earnestly -in my face with their fearfully shining eyes. Then deserts, limitless, -and of the most forlorn and awe-inspiring character, spread themselves -out before me. Immensely tall trunks of trees, gray and leafless, rose -up in endless succession as far as the eye could reach. Their roots -were concealed in wide-spreading morasses, whose dreary water lay -intensely black, still, and altogether terrible, beneath. And the -strange trees seemed endowed with a human vitality, and, waving to and -fro their skeleton arms, were crying to the silent waters for mercy, in -the shrill and piercing accents of the most acute agony and despair. -The scene changed; and I stood, naked and alone, amid the burning -sand-plains of Zahara. At my feet lay crouched a fierce lion of the -tropics. Suddenly his wild eyes opened and fell upon me. With a -convulsive bound he sprang to his feet, and laid bare his horrible -teeth. In another instant there burst from his red throat a roar like -the thunder of the firmament, and I fell impetuously to the earth. -Stifling in a paroxysm of terror, I at last found myself partially -awake. My dream, then, was not all a dream. Now, at least, I was in -possession of my senses. The paws of some huge and real monster were -pressing heavily upon my bosom—his hot breath was in my ear—and his -white and ghastly fangs were gleaming upon me through the gloom.</p> - -<p>Had a thousand lives hung upon the movement of a limb or the utterance -of a syllable, I could have neither stirred nor spoken. The beast, -whatever it was, retained his position without attempting any immediate -violence, while I lay in an utterly helpless, and, I fancied, a dying -condition beneath him. I felt that my powers of body and mind were fast -leaving me—in a word, that I was perishing, and perishing of sheer -fright. My brain swam—I grew deadly sick—my vision failed—even the -glaring eyeballs above me grew dim. Making a last strong effort, I at -length breathed a faint ejaculation to God, and resigned myself to die. -The sound of my voice seemed to arouse all the latent fury of the -animal. He precipitated himself at full length upon my body; but what -was my astonishment, when, with a long and low whine, he commenced -licking my face and hands with the greatest eagerness, and with the -most extravagant demonstrations of affection and joy! I was bewildered, -utterly lost in amazement—but I could not forget the peculiar whine of -my Newfoundland dog Tiger, and the odd manner of his caresses I well -knew. It was he. I experienced a sudden rush of blood to my temples—a -giddy and overpowering sense of deliverance and reanimation. I rose -hurriedly from the mattress upon which I had been lying, and, throwing -myself upon the neck of my faithful follower and friend, relieved the -long oppression of my bosom in a flood of the most passionate tears.</p> - -<p>As upon a former occasion, my conceptions were in a state of the -greatest indistinctness and confusion after leaving the mattress. For a -long time I found it nearly impossible to connect any ideas—but, by -very slow degrees, my thinking faculties returned, and I again called -to memory the several incidents of my condition. For the presence of -Tiger I tried in vain to account; and after busying myself with a -thousand different conjectures respecting him, was forced to content -myself with rejoicing that he was with me to share my dreary solitude, -and render me comfort by his caresses. Most people love their dogs—but -for Tiger I had an affection far more ardent than common; and never, -certainly, did any creature more truly deserve it. For seven years he -had been my inseparable companion, and in a multitude of instances had -given evidence of all the noble qualities for which we value the -animal. I had rescued him, when a puppy, from the clutches of a -malignant little villain in Nantucket, who was leading him, with a rope -around his neck, to the water; and the grown dog repaid the obligation, -about three years afterward, by saving me from the bludgeon of a -street-robber.</p> - -<p>Getting now hold of the watch, I found, upon applying it to my ear, -that it had again run down; but at this I was not at all surprised, -being convinced, from the peculiar state of my feelings, that I had -slept, as before, for a very long period of time; how long, it was of -course impossible to say. I was burning up with fever, and my thirst -was almost intolerable. I felt about the box for my little remaining -supply of water; for I had no light, the taper having burnt to the -socket of the lantern, and the phosphorus-box not coming readily to -hand. Upon finding the jug, however, I discovered it to be -empty—Tiger, no doubt, having been tempted to drink it, as well as to -devour the remnant of mutton, the bone of which lay, well picked, by -the opening of the box. The spoiled meat I could well spare, but my -heart sank as I thought of the water. I was feeble in the extreme—so -much so that I shook all over, as with an ague, at the slightest -movement or exertion. To add to my troubles, the brig was pitching and -rolling with great violence, and the oil-casks which lay upon my box -were in momentary danger of falling down, so as to block up the only -way of ingress or egress. I felt, also, terrible sufferings from -sea-sickness. These considerations determined me to make my way, at all -hazards, to the trap, and obtain immediate relief, before I should be -incapacitated from doing so altogether. Having come to this resolve, I -again felt about for the phosphorus-box and tapers. The former I found -after some little trouble; but, not discovering the tapers as soon as I -had expected (for I remembered very nearly the spot in which I had -placed them), I gave up the search for the present, and bidding Tiger -lie quiet, began at once my journey towards the trap.</p> - -<p>In this attempt my great feebleness became more than ever apparent. It -was with the utmost difficulty I could crawl along at all, and very -frequently my limbs sank suddenly from beneath me; when, falling -prostrate on my face, I would remain for some minutes in a state -bordering on insensibility. Still I struggled forward by slow degrees, -dreading every moment that I should swoon amid the narrow and intricate -windings of the lumber, in which event I had nothing but death to -expect as the result. At length, upon making a push forward with all -the energy I could command, I struck my forehead violently against the -sharp corner of an iron-bound crate. The accident only stunned me for a -few moments; but I found, to my inexpressible grief, that the quick and -violent roll of the vessel had thrown the crate entirely across my -path, so as effectually to block up the passage. With my utmost -exertions I could not move it a single inch from its position, it being -closely wedged in among the surrounding boxes and ship-furniture. It -became necessary, therefore, enfeebled as I was, either to leave the -guidance of the whipcord and seek out a new passage, or to climb over -the obstacle, and resume the path on the other side. The former -alternative presented too many difficulties and dangers to be thought -of without a shudder. In my present weak state of both mind and body, I -should infallibly lose my way if I attempted it, and perish miserably -amid the dismal and disgusting labyrinths of the hold. I proceeded, -therefore, without hesitation, to summon up all my remaining strength -and fortitude, and endeavour, as I best might, to clamber over the -crate.</p> - -<p>Upon standing erect, with this end in view, I found the undertaking -even a more serious task than my fears had led me to imagine. On each -side of the narrow passage arose a complete wall of various heavy -lumber, which the least blunder on my part might be the means of -bringing down upon my head; or, if this accident did not occur, the -path might be effectually blocked up against my return by the -descending mass, as it was in front by the obstacle there. The crate -itself was a long and unwieldy box, upon which no foothold could be -obtained. In vain I attempted, by every means in my power, to reach the -top, with the hope of being thus enabled to draw myself up. Had I -succeeded in reaching it, it is certain that my strength would have -proved utterly inadequate to the task of getting over, and it was -better in every respect that I failed. At length, in a desperate effort -to force the crate from its ground, I felt a strong vibration in the -side next me. I thrust my hand eagerly to the edge of the planks, and -found that a very large one was loose. With my pocket-knife, which -luckily I had with me, I succeeded, after great labour, in prying it -entirely off; and, getting through the aperture, discovered, to my -exceeding joy, that there were no boards on the opposite side—in other -words, that the top was wanting, it being the bottom through which I -had forced my way. I now met with no important difficulty in proceeding -along the line until I finally reached the nail. With a beating heart I -stood erect, and with a gentle touch pressed against the cover of the -trap. It did not rise as soon as I had expected, and I pressed it with -somewhat more determination, still dreading lest some other person than -Augustus might be in his stateroom. The door, however, to my -astonishment, remained steady, and I became somewhat uneasy, for I knew -that it had formerly required little or no effort to remove it. I -pushed it strongly—it was nevertheless firm: with all my strength—it -still did not give way: with rage, with fury, with despair—it set at -defiance my utmost efforts; and it was evident, from the unyielding -nature of the resistance, that the hole had either been discovered and -effectually nailed up, or that some immense weight had been placed upon -it, which it was useless to think of removing.</p> - -<p>My sensations were those of extreme horror and dismay. In vain I -attempted to reason on the probable cause of my being thus entombed. I -could summon up no connected chain of reflection, and, sinking on the -floor, gave way, unresistingly, to the most gloomy imaginings, in which -the dreadful deaths of thirst, famine, suffocation, and premature -interment, crowded upon me as the prominent disasters to be -encountered. At length there returned to me some portion of presence of -mind. I arose, and felt with my fingers for the seams or cracks of the -aperture. Having found them, I examined them closely to ascertain if -they emitted any light from the stateroom; but none was visible. I then -forced the penblade of my knife through them, until I met with some -hard obstacle. Scraping against it, I discovered it to be a solid mass -of iron, which, from its peculiar wavy feel as I passed the blade along -it, I concluded to be a chain-cable. The only course now left me was to -retrace my way to the box, and there either yield to my sad fate, or -try so to tranquillize my mind as to admit of my arranging some plan of -escape. I immediately set about the attempt, and succeeded, after -innumerable difficulties, in getting back. As I sank, utterly -exhausted, upon the mattress, Tiger threw himself at full length by my -side, and seemed as if desirous, by his caresses, of consoling me in my -troubles, and urging me to bear them with fortitude.</p> - -<p>The singularity of his behaviour at length forcibly arrested my -attention. After licking my face and hands for some minutes, he would -suddenly cease doing so, and utter a low whine. Upon reaching out my -hand towards him, I then invariably found him lying on his back, with -his paws uplifted. This conduct, so frequently repeated, appeared -strange, and I could in no manner account for it. As the dog seemed -distressed, I concluded that he had received some injury; and, taking -his paws in my hands, I examined them one by one, but found no sign of -any hurt. I then supposed him hungry, and gave him a large piece of -ham, which he devoured with avidity—afterward, however, resuming his -extraordinary manoeuvres. I now imagined that he was suffering, like -myself, the torments of thirst, and was about adopting this conclusion -as the true one, when the idea occurred to me that I had as yet only -examined his paws, and that there might possibly be a wound upon some -portion of his body or head. The latter I felt carefully over, but -found nothing. On passing my hand, however, along his back, I perceived -a slight erection of the hair extending completely across it. Probing -this with my finger, I discovered a string, and, tracing it up, found -that it encircled the whole body. Upon a closer scrutiny, I came across -a small slip of what had the feeling of letter paper, through which the -string had been fastened in such a manner as to bring it immediately -beneath the left shoulder of the animal.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap3"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER III.</h3> -<br> - -<p>The thought instantly occurred to me that the paper was a note from -Augustus, and that some unaccountable accident having happened to -prevent his relieving me from my dungeon, he had devised this method of -acquainting me with the true state of affairs. Trembling with -eagerness, I now commenced another search for my phosphorus matches and -tapers. I had a confused recollection of having put them carefully away -just before falling asleep; and, indeed, previously to my last journey -to the trap, I had been able to remember the exact spot where I had -deposited them. But now I endeavoured in vain to call it to mind, and -busied myself for a full hour in a fruitless and vexatious search for -the missing articles; never, surely, was there a more tantalizing state -of anxiety and suspense. At length, while groping about, with my head -close to the ballast, near the opening of the box, and outside of it, I -perceived a faint glimmering of light in the direction of the steerage. -Greatly surprised, I endeavoured to make my way towards it, as it -appeared to be but a few feet from my position. Scarcely had I moved -with this intention, when I lost sight of the glimmer entirely, and, -before I could bring it into view again, was obliged to feel along by -the box until I had exactly resumed my original situation. Now, moving -my head with caution to and fro, I found that, by proceeding slowly, -with great care, in an opposite direction to that in which I had at -first started, I was enabled to draw near the light, still keeping it -in view. Presently I came directly upon it (having squeezed my way -through innumerable narrow windings), and found that it proceeded from -some fragments of my matches lying in an empty barrel turned upon its -side. I was wondering how they came in such a place, when my hand fell -upon two or three pieces of taper-wax, which had been evidently mumbled -by the dog. I concluded at once that he had devoured the whole of my -supply of candles, and I felt hopeless of being ever able to read the -note of Augustus. The small remnants of the wax were so mashed up among -other rubbish in the barrel, that I despaired of deriving any service -from them, and left them as they were. The phosphorus, of which there -was only a speck or two, I gathered up as well as I could, and returned -with it, after much difficulty, to my box, where Tiger had all the -while remained.</p> - -<p>What to do next I could not tell. The hold was so intensely dark that I -could not see my hand, however close I would hold it to my face. The -white slip of paper could barely be discerned, and not even that when I -looked at it directly; by turning the exterior portions of the retina -towards it, that is to say, by surveying it slightly askance, I found -that it became in some measure perceptible. Thus the gloom of my prison -may be imagined, and the note of my friend, if indeed it were a note -from him, seemed only likely to throw me into further trouble, by -disquieting to no purpose my already enfeebled and agitated mind. In -vain I revolved in my brain a multitude of absurd expedients for -procuring light—such expedients precisely as a man in the perturbed -sleep occasioned by opium would be apt to fall upon for a similar -purpose—each and all of which appear by turns to the dreamer the most -reasonable and the most preposterous of conceptions, just as the -reasoning or imaginative faculties flicker, alternately, one above the -other. At last an idea occurred to me which seemed rational, and which -gave me cause to wonder, very justly, that I had not entertained it -before. I placed the slip of paper on the back of a book, and, -collecting the fragments of the phosphorus matches which I had brought -from the barrel, laid them together upon the paper. I then, with the -palm of my hand, rubbed the whole over quickly yet steadily. A clear -light diffused itself immediately throughout the whole surface; and had -there been any writing upon it, I should not have experienced the least -difficulty, I am sure, in reading it. Not a syllable was there, -however—nothing but a dreary and unsatisfactory blank; the -illumination died away in a few seconds, and my heart died away within -me as it went.</p> - -<p>I have before stated more than once that my intellect, for some period -prior to this, had been in a condition nearly bordering on idiocy. -There were, to be sure, momentary intervals of perfect sanity, and, now -and then, even of energy; but these were few. It must be remembered -that I had been, for many days certainly, inhaling the almost -pestilential atmosphere of a close hold in a whaling vessel, and a long -portion of that time but scantily supplied with water. For the last -fourteen or fifteen hours I had none—nor had I slept during that time. -Salt provisions of the most exciting kind had been my chief, and, -indeed, since the loss of the mutton, my only supply of food, with the -exception of the sea-biscuit; and these latter were utterly useless to -me, as they were too dry and hard to be swallowed in the swollen and -parched condition of my throat. I was now in a high state of fever, and -in every respect exceedingly ill. This will account for the fact that -many miserable hours of despondency elapsed after my last adventure -with the phosphorus, before the thought suggested itself that I had -examined only one side of the paper. I shall not attempt to describe my -feelings of rage (for I believe I was more angry than anything else) -when the egregious oversight I had committed flashed suddenly upon my -perception. The blunder itself would have been unimportant, had not my -own folly and impetuosity rendered it otherwise—in my disappointment -at not finding some words upon the slip, I had childishly torn it in -pieces and thrown it away, it was impossible to say where.</p> - -<p>From the worst part of this dilemma I was relieved by the sagacity of -Tiger. Having got, after a long search, a small piece of the note, I -put it to the dog's nose, and endeavoured to make him understand that -he must bring me the rest of it. To my astonishment (for I had taught -him none of the usual tricks for which his breed are famous), he seemed -to enter at once into my meaning, and, rummaging about for a few -moments, soon found another considerable portion. Bringing me this, he -paused a while, and, rubbing his nose against my hand, appeared to be -waiting for my approval of what he had done. I patted him on the head, -when he immediately made off again. It was now some minutes before he -came back—but when he did come, he brought with him a large slip, -which proved to be all the paper missing—it having been torn, it -seems, only into three pieces. Luckily, I had no trouble in finding -what few fragments of the phosphorus were left—being guided by the -indistinct glow one or two of the particles still emitted. My -difficulties had taught me the necessity of caution, and I now took -time to reflect upon what I was about to do. It was very probable, I -considered, that some words were written upon that side of the paper -which had not been examined—but which side was that? Fitting the -pieces together gave me no clew in this respect, although it assured me -that the words (if there were any) would be found all on one side, and -connected in a proper manner, as written. There was the greater -necessity of ascertaining the point in question beyond a doubt, as the -phosphorus remaining would be altogether insufficient for a third -attempt, should I fail in the one I was now about to make. I placed the -paper on a book as before, and sat for some minutes thoughtfully -revolving the matter over in my mind. At last I thought it barely -possible that the written side might have some unevenness on its -surface, which a delicate sense of feeling might enable me to detect. I -determined to make the experiment, and passed my finger very carefully -over the side which first presented itself—nothing, however, was -perceptible, and I turned the paper, adjusting it on the book. I now -again carried my forefinger cautiously along, when I was aware of an -exceedingly slight, but still discernible glow, which followed as it -proceeded. This, I knew, must arise from some very minute remaining -particles of the phosphorus with which I had covered the paper in my -previous attempt. The other, or under side, then, was that on which lay -the writing, if writing there should finally prove to be. Again I -turned the note, and went to work as I had previously done. Having -rubbed in the phosphorus, a brilliancy ensued as before—but this time -several lines of MS. in a large hand, and apparently in red ink, became -distinctly visible. The glimmer, although sufficiently bright, was but -momentary. Still, had I not been too greatly excited, there would have -been ample time enough for me to peruse the whole three sentences -before me—for I saw there were three. In my anxiety, however, to read -all at once, I succeeded only in reading the seven concluding words, -which thus appeared: <i>"blood—your life depends upon lying close."</i></p> - -<p>Had I been able to ascertain the entire contents of the note—the full -meaning of the admonition which my friend had thus attempted to convey, -that admonition, even although it should have revealed a story of -disaster the most unspeakable, could not, I am firmly convinced, have -imbued my mind with one tithe of the harrowing and yet indefinable -horror with which I was inspired by the fragmentary warning thus -received. And <i>"blood"</i> too, that word of all words—so rife at all -times with mystery, and suffering, and terror—how trebly full of -import did it now appear—how chillily and heavily (disjointed, as it -thus was, from any foregoing words to qualify or render it distinct) -did its vague syllables fall, amid the deep gloom of my prison, into -the innermost recesses of my soul!</p> - -<p>Augustus had, undoubtedly, good reasons for wishing me to remain -concealed, and I formed a thousand surmises as to what they could -be—but I could think of nothing affording a satisfactory solution of -the mystery. Just after returning from my last journey to the trap, and -before my attention had been otherwise directed by the singular conduct -of Tiger, I had come to the resolution of making myself heard at all -events by those on board, or, if I could not succeed in this directly, -of trying to cut my way through the orlop deck. The half certainty -which I felt of being able to accomplish one of these two purposes in -the last emergency, had given me courage (which I should not otherwise -have had) to endure the evils of my situation. The few words I had been -able to read, however, had cut me off from these final resources, and I -now, for the first time, felt all the misery of my fate. In a paroxysm -of despair I threw myself again upon the mattress, where, for about the -period of a day and night, I lay in a kind of stupor, relieved only by -momentary intervals of reason and recollection.</p> - -<p>At length I once more arose, and busied myself in reflection upon the -horrors which encompassed me. For another twenty-four hours it was -barely possible that I might exist without water—for a longer time I -could not do so. During the first portion of my imprisonment I had made -free use of the cordials with which Augustus had supplied me, but they -only served to excite fever, without in the least degree assuaging my -thirst. I had now only about a gill left, and this was of a species of -strong peach liqueur at which my stomach revolted. The sausages were -entirely consumed; of the ham nothing remained but a small piece of the -skin; and all the biscuit, except a few fragments of one, had been -eaten by Tiger. To add to my troubles, I found that my headache was -increasing momentarily, and with it the species of delirium which had -distressed me more or less since my first falling asleep. For some -hours past it had been with the greatest difficulty I could breathe at -all, and now each attempt at so doing was attended with the most -distressing spasmodic action of the chest. But there was still another -and very different source of disquietude, and one, indeed, whose -harassing terrors had been the chief means of arousing me to exertion -from my stupor on the mattress. It arose from the demeanour of the dog.</p> - -<p>I first observed an alteration in his conduct while rubbing in the -phosphorus on the paper in my last attempt. As I rubbed, he ran his -nose against my hand with a slight snarl; but I was too greatly excited -at the time to pay much attention to the circumstance. Soon afterward, -it will be remembered, I threw myself on the mattress, and fell into a -species of lethargy. Presently I became aware of a singular hissing -sound close at my ears, and discovered it to proceed from Tiger, who -was panting and wheezing in a state of the greatest apparent -excitement, his eyeballs flashing fiercely through the gloom. I spoke -to him, when he replied with a low growl, and then remained quiet. -Presently I relapsed into my stupor, from which I was again awakened in -a similar manner. This was repeated three or four times, until finally -his behaviour inspired me with so great a degree of fear that I became -fully aroused. He was now lying close by the door of the box, snarling -fearfully, although in a kind of under tone, and grinding his teeth as -if strongly convulsed. I had no doubt whatever that the want of water -or the confined atmosphere of the hold had driven him mad, and I was at -a loss what course to pursue. I could not endure the thought of killing -him, yet it seemed absolutely necessary for my own safety. I could -distinctly perceive his eyes fastened upon me with an expression of the -most deadly animosity, and I expected every instant that he would -attack me. At last I could endure my terrible situation no longer, and -determined to make my way from the box at all hazards, and despatch -him, if his opposition should render it necessary for me to do so. To -get out, I had to pass directly over his body, and he already seemed to -anticipate my design—raising himself upon his fore legs (as I -perceived by the altered position of his eyes), and displaying the -whole of his white fangs, which were easily discernible. I took the -remains of the ham-skin, and the bottle containing the liqueur, and -secured them about my person, together with a large carving-knife which -Augustus had left me—then, folding my cloak as closely around me as -possible, I made a movement towards the mouth of the box. No sooner did -I do this than the dog sprang with a loud growl towards my throat. The -whole weight of his body struck me on the right shoulder, and I fell -violently to the left, while the enraged animal passed entirely over -me. I had fallen upon my knees, with my head buried among the blankets, -and these protected me from a second furious assault, during which I -felt the sharp teeth pressing vigorously upon the woollen which -enveloped my neck—yet, luckily, without being able to penetrate all -the folds. I was now beneath the dog, and a few moments would place me -completely in his power. Despair gave me strength, and I rose bodily -up, shaking him from me by main force, and dragging with me the -blankets from the mattress. These I now threw over him, and before he -could extricate himself I had got through the door and closed it -effectually against his pursuit. In this struggle, however, I had been -forced to drop the morsel of ham-skin, and I now found my whole stock -of provisions reduced to a single gill of liqueur. As this reflection -crossed my mind, I felt myself actuated by one of those fits of -perverseness which might be supposed to influence a spoiled child in -similar circumstances, and, raising the bottle to my lips, I drained it -to the last drop, and dashed it furiously upon the floor.</p> - -<p>Scarcely had the echo of the crash died away, when I heard my name -pronounced in an eager but subdued voice, issuing from the direction of -the steerage. So unexpected was anything of the kind, and so intense -was the emotion excited within me by the sound, that I endeavoured in -vain to reply. My powers of speech totally failed, and, in an agony of -terror lest my friend should conclude me dead, and return without -attempting to reach me, I stood up between the crates near the door of -the box, trembling convulsively, and gasping and struggling for -utterance. Had a thousand worlds depended upon a syllable, I could not -have spoken it. There was a slight movement now audible among the -lumber somewhere forward of my station. The sound presently grew less -distinct, then again less so, and still less. Shall I ever forget my -feelings at this moment? He was going—my friend—my companion, from -whom I had a right to expect so much—he was going—he would abandon -me—he was gone! He would leave me to perish miserably, to expire in -the most horrible and loathsome of dungeons—and one word—one little -syllable would save me—yet that single syllable I could not utter! I -felt, I am sure, more than ten thousand times the agonies of death -itself. My brain reeled, and I fell, deadly sick, against the end of -the box.</p> - -<p>As I fell, the carving-knife was shaken out from the waistband of my -pantaloons, and dropped with a rattling sound to the floor. Never did -any strain of the richest melody come so sweetly to my ears! With the -intensest anxiety I listened to ascertain the effect of the noise upon -Augustus—for I knew that the person who called my name could be no one -but himself. All was silent for some moments. At length I again heard -the word <i>Arthur!</i> repeated in a low tone, and one full of hesitation. -Reviving hope loosened at once my powers of speech, and I now screamed, -at the top of my voice, <i>"Augustus! oh Augustus!"</i> "Hush—for God's -sake be silent!" he replied, in a voice trembling with agitation; "I -will be with you immediately—as soon as I can make my way through the -hold." For a long time I heard him moving among the lumber, and every -moment seemed to me an age. At length I felt his hand upon my shoulder, -and he placed at the same moment a bottle of water to my lips. Those -only who have been suddenly redeemed from the jaws of the tomb, or who -have known the insufferable torments of thirst under circumstances as -aggravated as those which encompassed me in my dreary prison, can form -any idea of the unutterable transports which that one long draught of -the richest of all physical luxuries afforded.</p> - -<p>When I had in some degree satisfied my thirst, Augustus produced from -his pocket three or four cold boiled potatoes, which I devoured with -the greatest avidity. He had brought with him a light in a dark -lantern, and the grateful rays afforded me scarcely less comfort than -the food and drink. But I was impatient to learn the cause of his -protracted absence, and he proceeded to recount what had happened on -board during my incarceration.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap4"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER IV.</h3> -<br> - -<p>The brig put to sea, as I had supposed, in about an hour after he had -left the watch. This was on the twentieth of June. It will be -remembered that I had then been in the hold for three days; and, during -this period, there was so constant a bustle on board, and so much -running to and fro, especially in the cabin and staterooms, that he had -had no chance of visiting me without the risk of having the secret of -the trap discovered. When at length he did come, I had assured him that -I was doing as well as possible; and, therefore, for the two next days -he felt but little uneasiness on my account—still, however, watching -an opportunity of going down. It was not <i>until the fourth day</i> that he -found one. Several times during this interval he had made up his mind -to let his father know of the adventure, and have me come up at once; -but we were still within reaching distance of Nantucket, and it was -doubtful, from some expressions which had escaped Captain Barnard, -whether he would not immediately put back if he discovered me to be on -board. Besides, upon thinking the matter over, Augustus, so he told me, -could not imagine that I was in immediate want, or that I would -hesitate, in such case, to make myself heard at the trap. When, -therefore, he considered everything, he concluded to let me stay until -he could meet with an opportunity of visiting me unobserved. This, as I -said before, did not occur until the fourth day after his bringing me -the watch, and the seventh since I had first entered the hold. He then -went down without taking with him any water or provisions, intending in -the first place merely to call my attention, and get me to come from -the box to the trap—when he would go up to the stateroom and thence -hand me down a supply. When he descended for this purpose he found that -I was asleep, for it seems that I was snoring very loudly. From all the -calculations I can make on the subject, this must have been the slumber -into which I fell just after my return from the trap with the watch, -and which, consequently, must have lasted <i>for more than three entire -days and nights</i> at the very least. Latterly, I have had reason, both -from my own experience and the assurance of others, to be acquainted -with the strong soporific effects of the stench arising from old -fish-oil when closely confined; and when I think of the condition of -the hold in which I was imprisoned, and the long period during which -the brig had been used as a whaling vessel, I am more inclined to -wonder that I awoke at all, after once falling asleep, than that I -should have slept uninterruptedly for the period specified above.</p> - -<p>Augustus called to me at first in a low voice and without closing the -trap—but I made him no reply. He then shut the trap, and spoke to me -in a louder, and finally in a very loud tone—still I continued to -snore. He was now at a loss what to do. It would take him some time to -make his way through the lumber to my box, and in the mean while his -absence would be noticed by Captain Barnard, who had occasion for his -services every minute, in arranging and copying papers connected with -the business of the voyage. He determined, therefore, upon reflection, -to ascend, and await another opportunity of visiting me. He was the -more easily induced to this resolve, as my slumber appeared to be of -the most tranquil nature, and he could not suppose that I had undergone -any inconvenience from my incarceration. He had just made up his mind -on these points when his attention was arrested by an unusual bustle, -the sound of which proceeded apparently from the cabin. He sprang -through the trap as quickly as possible, closed it, and threw open the -door of his stateroom. No sooner had he put his foot over the threshold -than a pistol flashed in his face, and he was knocked down, at the same -moment, by a blow from a handspike.</p> - -<p>A strong hand held him on the cabin floor, with a tight grasp upon his -throat—still he was able to see what was going on around him. His -father was tied hand and foot, and lying along the steps of the -companion-way with his head down, and a deep wound in the forehead, -from which the blood was flowing in a continued stream. He spoke not a -word, and was apparently dying. Over him stood the first mate, eying -him with an expression of fiendish derision, and deliberately searching -his pockets, from which he presently drew forth a large wallet and a -chronometer. Seven of the crew (among whom was the cook, a negro) were -rummaging the staterooms on the larboard for arms, where they soon -equipped themselves with muskets and ammunition. Besides Augustus and -Captain Barnard, there were nine men altogether in the cabin, and these -among the most ruffianly of the brig's company. The villains now went -upon deck, taking my friend with them, after having secured his arms -behind his back. They proceeded straight to the forecastle, which was -fastened down—two of the mutineers standing by it with axes—two also -at the main hatch. The mate called out in a loud voice, "Do you hear -there below? tumble up with you—one by one, now, mark that—and no -grumbling." It was some minutes before any one appeared: at last an -Englishman, who had shipped as a raw hand, came up, weeping piteously, -and entreating the mate in the most humble manner to spare his life. -The only reply was a blow on the forehead from an axe. The poor fellow -fell to the deck without a groan, and the black cook lifted him up in -his arms as he would a child, and tossed him deliberately into the sea. -Hearing the blow and the plunge of the body, the men below could now be -induced to venture on deck neither by threats nor promises, until a -proposition was made to smoke them out. A general rush then ensued, and -for a moment it seemed possible that the brig might be retaken. The -mutineers, however, succeeded at last in closing the forecastle -effectually before more than six of their opponents could get up. These -six, finding themselves so greatly outnumbered and without arms, -submitted after a brief struggle. The mate gave them fair words—no -doubt with a view of inducing those below to yield, for they had no -difficulty in hearing all that was said on deck. The result proved his -sagacity, no less than his diabolical villany. All in the forecastle -presently signified their intention of submitting, and, ascending one -by one, were pinioned and thrown on their backs together with the first -six—there being in all, of the crew who were not concerned in the -mutiny, twenty-seven.</p> - -<p>A scene of the most horrible butchery ensued. The bound seamen were -dragged to the gangway. Here the cook stood with an axe, striking each -victim on the head as he was forced over the side of the vessel by the -other mutineers. In this manner twenty-two perished, and Augustus had -given himself up for lost, expecting every moment his own turn to come -next. But it seemed that the villains were now either weary, or in some -measure disgusted with their bloody labour; for the four remaining -prisoners, together with my friend, who had been thrown on the deck -with the rest, were respited while the mate sent below for rum, and the -whole murderous party held a drunken carouse, which lasted until -sunset. They now fell to disputing in regard to the fate of the -survivers, who lay not more than four paces off, and could distinguish -every word said. Upon some of the mutineers the liquor appeared to have -a softening effect, for several voices were heard in favour of -releasing the captives altogether, on condition of joining the mutiny -and sharing the profits. The black cook, however (who in all respects -was a perfect demon, and who seemed to exert as much influence, if not -more, than the mate himself), would listen to no proposition of the -kind, and rose repeatedly for the purpose of resuming his work at the -gangway. Fortunately, he was so far overcome by intoxication as to be -easily restrained by the less bloodthirsty of the party, among whom was -a line-manager, who went by the name of Dirk Peters. This man was the -son of an Indian squaw of the tribe of Upsarokas, who live among the -fastnesses of the Black Hills near the source of the Missouri. His -father was a fur-trader, I believe, or at least connected in some -manner with the Indian trading-posts on Lewis river. Peters himself was -one of the most purely ferocious-looking men I ever beheld. He was -short in stature—not more than four feet eight inches high—but his -limbs were of the most Herculean mould. His hands, especially, were so -enormously thick and broad as hardly to retain a human shape. His arms, -as well as legs, were <i>bowed</i> in the most singular manner, and appeared -to possess no flexibility whatever. His head was equally deformed, -being of immense size, with an indentation on the crown (like that on -the head of most negroes), and entirely bald. To conceal this latter -deficiency, which did not proceed from old age, he usually wore a wig -formed of any hair-like material which presented itself—occasionally -the skin of a Spanish dog or American grizzly bear. At the time spoken -of he had on a portion of one of these bearskins; and it added no -little to the natural ferocity of his countenance, which betook of the -Upsaroka character. The mouth extended nearly from ear to ear; the lips -were thin, and seemed, like some other portions of his frame, to be -devoid of natural pliancy, so that the ruling expression never varied -under the influence of any emotion whatever. This ruling expression may -be conceived when it is considered that the teeth were exceedingly long -and protruding, and never even partially covered, in any instance, by -the lips. To pass this man with a casual glance, one might imagine him -to be convulsed with laughter—but a second look would induce a -shuddering acknowledgment, that if such an expression were indicative -of merriment, the merriment must be that of a demon. Of this singular -being many anecdotes were prevalent among the seafaring men of -Nantucket. These anecdotes went to prove his prodigious strength when -under excitement, and some of them had given rise to a doubt of his -sanity. But on board the Grampus, it seems, he was regarded at the time -of the mutiny with feelings more of derision than of anything else. I -have been thus particular in speaking of Dirk Peters, because, -ferocious as he appeared, he proved the main instrument in preserving -the life of Augustus, and because I shall have frequent occasion to -mention him hereafter in the course of my narrative—a narrative, let -me here say, which, in its latter portions, will be found to include -incidents of a nature so entirely out of the range of human experience, -and for this reason so far beyond the limits of human credulity, that I -proceed in utter hopelessness of obtaining credence for all that I -shall tell, yet confidently trusting in time and progressing science to -verify some of the most important and most improbable of my statements.</p> - -<p>After much indecision and two or three violent quarrels, it was -determined at last that all the prisoners (with the exception of -Augustus, whom Peters insisted in a jocular manner upon keeping as his -clerk) should be set adrift in one of the smallest whaleboats. The mate -went down into the cabin to see if Captain Barnard was still -living—for, it will be remembered, he was left below when the -mutineers came up. Presently the two made their appearance, the captain -pale as death, but somewhat recovered from the effects of his wound. He -spoke to the men in a voice hardly articulate, entreated them not to -set him adrift, but to return to their duty, and promising to land them -wherever they chose, and to take no steps for bringing them to justice. -He might as well have spoken to the winds. Two of the ruffians seized -him by the arms and hurled him over the brig's side into the boat, -which had been lowered while the mate went below. The four men who were -lying on the deck were then untied and ordered to follow, which they -did without attempting any resistance—Augustus being still left in his -painful position, although he struggled and prayed only for the poor -satisfaction of being permitted to bid his father farewell. A handful -of sea-biscuit and a jug of water were now handed down; but neither -mast, sail, oar, nor compass. The boat was towed astern for a few -minutes, during which the mutineers held another consultation—it was -then finally cut adrift. By this time night had come on—there were -neither moon nor stars visible—and a short and ugly sea was running, -although there was no great deal of wind. The boat was instantly out of -sight, and little hope could be entertained for the unfortunate -sufferers who were in it. This event happened, however, in latitude 35° -30' north, longitude 61° 20' west, and consequently at no very great -distance from the Bermuda Islands. Augustus therefore endeavoured to -console himself with the idea that the boat might either succeed in -reaching the land, or come sufficiently near to be fallen in with by -vessels off the coast.</p> - -<p>All sail was now put upon the brig, and she continued her original -course to the southwest—the mutineers being bent upon some piratical -expedition, in which, from all that could be understood, a ship was to -be intercepted on her way from the Cape Verd Islands to Porto Rico. No -attention was paid to Augustus, who was untied and suffered to go about -anywhere forward of the cabin companion-way. Dirk Peters treated him -with some degree of kindness, and on one occasion saved him from the -brutality of the cook. His situation was still one of the most -precarious, as the men were continually intoxicated, and there was no -relying upon their continued good-humour or carelessness in regard to -himself. His anxiety on my account he represented, however, as the most -distressing result of his condition; and, indeed, I had never reason to -doubt the sincerity of his friendship. More than once he had resolved -to acquaint the mutineers with the secret of my being on board, but was -restrained from so doing, partly through recollection of the atrocities -he had already beheld, and partly through a hope of being able soon to -bring me relief. For the latter purpose he was constantly on the watch; -but, in spite of the most constant vigilance, three days elapsed after -the boat was cut adrift before any chance occurred. At length, on the -night of the third day, there came on a heavy blow from the eastward, -and all hands were called up to take in sail. During the confusion -which ensued, he made his way below unobserved, and into the stateroom. -What was his grief and horror in discovering that the latter had been -rendered a place of deposite for a variety of sea-stores and -ship-furniture, and that several fathoms of old chain-cable, which had -been stowed away beneath the companion-ladder, had been dragged thence -to make room for a chest, and were now lying immediately upon the trap! -To remove it without discovery was impossible, and he returned on deck -as quickly as he could. As he came up the mate seized him by the -throat, and demanding what he had been doing in the cabin, was about -flinging him over the larboard bulwark, when his life was again -preserved through the interference of Dirk Peters. Augustus was now put -in handcuffs (of which there were several pairs on board), and his feet -lashed tightly together. He was then taken into the steerage, and -thrown into a lower berth next to the forecastle bulkheads, with the -assurance that he should never put his foot on deck again "until the -brig was no longer a brig." This was the expression of the cook, who -threw him into the berth—it is hardly possible to say what precise -meaning was intended by the phrase. The whole affair, however, proved -the ultimate means of my relief, as will presently appear.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap5"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER V.</h3> -<br> - -<p>For some minutes after the cook had left the forecastle, Augustus -abandoned himself to despair, never hoping to leave the berth alive. He -now came to the resolution of acquainting the first of the men who -should come down with my situation, thinking it better to let me take -my chance with the mutineers than perish of thirst in the hold—for it -had been ten days since I was first imprisoned, and my jug of water was -not a plentiful supply even for four. As he was thinking on this -subject, the idea came all at once into his head that it might be -possible to communicate with me by the way of the main hold. In any -other circumstances, the difficulty and hazard of the undertaking would -have prevented him from attempting it; but now he had, at all events, -little prospect of life, and consequently little to lose—he bent his -whole mind, therefore, upon the task.</p> - -<p>His handcuffs were the first consideration. At first he saw no method -of removing them, and feared that he should thus be baffled in the very -outset; but, upon a closer scrutiny, he discovered that the irons could -be slipped off and on at pleasure with very little effort or -inconvenience, merely by squeezing his hands through them—this species -of manacle being altogether ineffectual in confining young persons, in -whom the smaller bones readily yield to pressure. He now untied his -feet, and, leaving the cord in such a manner that it could easily be -readjusted in the event of any person's coming down, proceeded to -examine the bulkhead where it joined the berth. The partition here was -of soft pine board, an inch thick, and he saw that he should have -little trouble in cutting his way through. A voice was now heard at the -forecastle companion-way, and he had just time to put his right hand -into its handcuff (the left had not been removed), and to draw the rope -in a slipknot around his ankle, when Dirk Peters came below, followed -by Tiger, who immediately leaped into the berth and lay down. The dog -had been brought on board by Augustus, who knew my attachment to the -animal, and thought it would give me pleasure to have him with me -during the voyage. He went up to our house for him immediately after -first taking me into the hold, but did not think of mentioning the -circumstance upon his bringing the watch. Since the mutiny, Augustus -had not seen him before his appearance with Dirk Peters, and had given -him up for lost, supposing him to have been thrown overboard by some of -the malignant villains belonging to the mate's gang. It appeared -afterward that he had crawled into a hole beneath a whaleboat, from -which, not having room to turn round, he could not extricate himself. -Peters at last let him out, and with a species of good feeling which my -friend knew well how to appreciate, had now brought him to him in the -forecastle as a companion, leaving at the same time some salt junk and -potatoes, with a can of water; he then went on deck, promising to come -down with something more to eat on the next day.</p> - -<p>When he had gone, Augustus freed both hands from the manacles and -unfastened his feet. He then turned down the head of the mattress on -which he had been lying, and with his penknife (for the ruffians had -not thought it worth while to search him) commenced cutting vigorously -across one of the partition planks, as closely as possible to the floor -of the berth. He chose to cut here, because, if suddenly interrupted, -he would be able to conceal what had been done by letting the head of -the mattress fall into its proper position. For the remainder of the -day, however, no disturbance occurred, and by night he had completely -divided the plank. It should here be observed, that none of the crew -occupied the forecastle as a sleeping-place, living altogether in the -cabin since the mutiny, drinking the wines, and feasting on the sea -stores of Captain Barnard, and giving no more heed than was absolutely -necessary to the navigation of the brig. These circumstances proved -fortunate both for myself and Augustus; for, had matters been -otherwise, he would have found it impossible to reach me. As it was, he -proceeded with confidence in his design. It was near daybreak, however, -before he completed the second division of the board (which was about a -foot above the first cut), thus making an aperture quite large enough -to admit his passage through with facility to the main orlop deck. -Having got here, he made his way with but little trouble to the lower -main hatch, although in so doing he had to scramble over tiers of -oil-casks piled nearly as high as the upper deck, there being barely -room enough left for his body. Upon reaching the hatch, he found that -Tiger had followed him below, squeezing between two rows of the casks. -It was now too late, however, to attempt getting to me before dawn, as -the chief difficulty lay in passing through the close stowage in the -lower hold. He therefore resolved to return, and wait till the next -night. With this design he proceeded to loosen the hatch, so that he -might have as little detention as possible when he should come again. -No sooner had he loosened it than Tiger sprang eagerly to the small -opening produced, snuffed for a moment, and then uttered a long whine, -scratching at the same time, as if anxious to remove the covering with -his paws. There could be no doubt, from his behaviour, that he was -aware of my being in the hold, and Augustus thought it possible that he -would be able to get to me if he put him down. He now hit upon the -expedient of sending the note, as it was especially desirable that I -should make no attempt at forcing my way out, at least under existing -circumstances, and there could be no certainty of his getting to me -himself on the morrow as he intended. After events proved how fortunate -it was that the idea occurred to him as it did: for, had it not been -for the receipt of the note, I should undoubtedly have fallen upon some -plan, however desperate, of alarming the crew, and both our lives would -most probably have been sacrificed in consequence.</p> - -<p>Having concluded to write, the difficulty was now to procure the -materials for so doing. An old toothpick was soon made into a pen; and -this by means of feeling altogether, for the between-decks were as dark -as pitch. Paper enough was obtained from the back of a letter—a -duplicate of the forged letter from Mr. Ross. This had been the -original draught; but the handwriting not being sufficiently well -imitated, Augustus had written another, thrusting the first, by good -fortune, into his coat-pocket, where it was now most opportunely -discovered. Ink alone was thus wanting, and a substitute was -immediately found for this by means of a slight incision with the -penknife on the back of a finger just above the nail—a copious flow of -blood ensuing, as usual from wounds in that vicinity. The note was now -written, as well as it could be in the dark and under the -circumstances. It briefly explained that a mutiny had taken place; that -Captain Barnard was set adrift; and that I might expect immediate -relief as far as provisions were concerned, but must not venture upon -making any disturbance. It concluded with these words, <i>"I have -scrawled this with blood—your life depends upon lying close."</i></p> - -<p>The slip of paper being tied upon the dog, he was now put down the -hatchway, and Augustus made the best of his way back to the forecastle, -where he found no reason to believe that any of the crew had been in -his absence. To conceal the hole in the partition, he drove his knife -in just above it, and hung up a pea-jacket which he found in the berth. -His handcuffs were then replaced, and also the rope around his ankles.</p> - -<p>These arrangements were scarcely completed when Dirk Peters came below, -very drunk, but in excellent humour, and bringing with him my friend's -allowance of provision for the day. This consisted of a dozen large -Irish potatoes roasted, and a pitcher of water. He sat for some time on -a chest by the berth, and talked freely about the mate, and the general -concerns of the brig. His demeanour was exceedingly capricious and even -grotesque. At one time Augustus was much alarmed by his odd conduct. At -last, however, he went on deck, muttering a promise to bring his -prisoner a good dinner on the morrow. During the day two of the crew -(harpooners) came down, accompanied by the cook, all three in nearly -the last stage of intoxication. Like Peters, they made no scruple of -talking unreservedly about their plans. It appeared that they were much -divided among themselves as to their ultimate course, agreeing in no -point except the attack on the ship from the Cape Verd Islands, with -which they were in hourly expectation of meeting. As far as could be -ascertained, the mutiny had not been brought about altogether for the -sake of booty; a private pique of the chief mate's against Captain -Barnard having been the main instigation. There now seemed to be two -principal factions among the crew—one headed by the mate, the other by -the cook. The former party were for seizing the first suitable vessel -which should present itself, and equipping it at some of the West India -Islands for a piratical cruise. The latter division, however, which was -the stronger, and included Dirk Peters among its partisans, were bent -upon pursuing the course originally laid out for the brig into the -South Pacific; there either to take whale, or act otherwise, as -circumstances should suggest. The representations of Peters, who had -frequently visited these regions, had great weight, apparently, with -the mutineers, wavering as they were between half-engendered notions of -profit and pleasure. He dwelt on the world of novelty and amusement to -be found among the innumerable islands of the Pacific, on the perfect -security and freedom from all restraint to be enjoyed, but, more -particularly, on the deliciousness of the climate, on the abundant -means of good living, and on the voluptuous beauty of the women. As -yet, nothing had been absolutely determined upon; but the pictures of -the hybrid line-manager were taking strong hold upon the ardent -imaginations of the seamen, and there was every probability that his -intentions would be finally carried into effect.</p> - -<p>The three men went away in about an hour, and no one else entered the -forecastle all day. Augustus lay quiet until nearly night. He then -freed himself from the rope and irons, and prepared for his attempt. A -bottle was found in one of the berths, and this he filled with water -from the pitcher left by Peters, storing his pockets at the same time -with cold potatoes. To his great joy he also came across a lantern, -with a small piece of tallow candle in it. This he could light at any -moment, as he had in his possession a box of phosphorus matches. When -it was quite dark, he got through the hole in the bulkhead, having -taken the precaution to arrange the bedclothes in the berth so as to -convey the idea of a person covered up. When through, he hung up the -pea-jacket on his knife, as before, to conceal the aperture—this -manoeuvre being easily effected, as he did not readjust the piece of -plank taken out until afterward. He was now on the main orlop deck, and -proceeded to make his way, as before, between the upper deck and the -oil-casks to the main hatchway. Having reached this, he lit the piece -of candle, and descended, groping with extreme difficulty among the -compact stowage of the hold. In a few moments he became alarmed at the -insufferable stench and the closeness of the atmosphere. He could not -think it possible that I had survived my confinement for so long a -period breathing so oppressive an air. He called my name repeatedly, -but I made him no reply, and his apprehensions seemed thus to be -confirmed. The brig was rolling violently, and there was so much noise -in consequence, that it was useless to listen for any weak sound, such -as those of my breathing or snoring. He threw open the lantern, and -held it as high as possible, whenever an opportunity occurred, in order -that, by observing the light, I might, if alive, be aware that succour -was approaching. Still nothing was heard from me, and the supposition -of my death began to assume the character of certainty. He determined, -nevertheless, to force a passage, if possible, to the box, and at least -ascertain beyond a doubt the truth of his surmises. He pushed on for -some time in a most pitiable state of anxiety, until, at length, he -found the pathway utterly blocked up, and that there was no possibility -of making any farther way by the course in which he had set out. -Overcome now by his feelings, he threw himself among the lumber in -despair, and wept like a child. It was at this period that he heard the -crash occasioned by the bottle which I had thrown down. Fortunate, -indeed, was it that the incident occurred—for, upon this incident, -trivial as it appears, the thread of my destiny depended. Many years -elapsed, however, before I was aware of this fact. A natural shame and -regret for his weakness and indecision prevented Augustus from -confiding to me at once what a more intimate and unreserved communion -afterward induced him to reveal. Upon finding his further progress in -the hold impeded by obstacles which he could not overcome, he had -resolved to abandon his attempt at reaching me, and return at once to -the forecastle. Before condemning him entirely on this head, the -harassing circumstances which embarrassed him should be taken into -consideration. The night was fast wearing away, and his absence from -the forecastle might be discovered; and, indeed, would necessarily be -so, if he should fail to get back to the berth by daybreak. His candle -was expiring in the socket, and there would be the greatest difficulty -in retracing his way to the hatchway in the dark. It must be allowed, -too, that he had every good reason to believe me dead; in which event -no benefit could result to me from his reaching the box, and a world of -danger would be encountered to no purpose by himself. He had repeatedly -called, and I had made him no answer. I had been now eleven days and -nights with no more water than that contained in the jug which he had -left with me, a supply which it was not at all probable I had hoarded -in the beginning of my confinement, as I had had every cause to expect -a speedy release. The atmosphere of the hold, too, must have appeared -to him, coming from the comparatively open air of the steerage, of a -nature absolutely poisonous, and by far more intolerable than it had -seemed to me upon my first taking up my quarters in the box—the -hatchways at that time having been constantly open for many months -previous. Add to these considerations that of the scene of bloodshed -and terror so lately witnessed by my friend; his confinement, -privations, and narrow escapes from death; together with the frail and -equivocal tenure by which he still existed—circumstances all so well -calculated to prostrate every energy of mind—and the reader will be -easily brought, as I have been, to regard his apparent falling off in -friendship and in faith with sentiments rather of sorrow than of anger.</p> - -<p>The crash of the bottle was distinctly heard, yet Augustus was not sure -that it proceeded from the hold. The doubt, however, was sufficient -inducement to persevere. He clambered up nearly to the orlop deck by -means of the stowage, and then watching for a lull in the pitchings of -the vessel, he called out to me in as loud a tone as he could -command—regardless, for the moment, of the danger of being overheard -by the crew. It will be remembered that on this occasion the voice -reached me, but I was so entirely overcome by violent agitation as to -be incapable of reply. Confident, now, that his worst apprehensions -were well founded, he descended, with a view of getting back to the -forecastle without loss of time. In his haste some small boxes were -thrown down, the noise occasioned by which I heard, as will be -recollected. He had made considerable progress on his return when the -fall of the knife again caused him to hesitate. He retraced his steps -immediately, and, clambering up the stowage a second time, called out -my name, loudly as before, having watched for a lull. This time I found -voice to answer. Overjoyed at discovering me to be still alive, he now -resolved to brave every difficulty and danger in reaching me. Having -extricated himself as quickly as possible from the labyrinth of lumber -by which he was hemmed in, he at length struck into an opening which -promised better, and finally, after a series of struggles, arrived at -the box in a state of utter exhaustion.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap6"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER VI.</h3> -<br> - -<p>The leading particulars of this narration were all that Augustus -communicated to me while we remained near the box. It was not until -afterward that he entered fully into all the details. He was -apprehensive of being missed, and I was wild with impatience to leave -my detested place of confinement. We resolved to make our way at once -to the hole in the bulkhead, near which I was to remain for the -present, while he went through to reconnoitre. To leave Tiger in the -box was what neither of us could endure to think of; yet, how to act -otherwise was the question. He now seemed to be perfectly quiet, and we -could not even distinguish the sound of his breathing upon applying our -ears closely to the box. I was convinced that he was dead, and -determined to open the door. We found him lying at full length, -apparently in a deep stupor, yet still alive. No time was to be lost, -yet I could not bring myself to abandon an animal who had now been -twice instrumental in saving my life, without some attempt at -preserving him. We therefore dragged him along with us as well as we -could, although with the greatest difficulty and fatigue; Augustus, -during part of the time, being forced to clamber over the impediments -in our way with the huge dog in his arms—a feat to which the -feebleness of my frame rendered me totally inadequate. At length we -succeeded in reaching the hole, when Augustus got through, and Tiger -was pushed in afterward. All was found to be safe, and we did not fail -to return sincere thanks to God for our deliverance from the imminent -danger we had escaped. For the present it was agreed that I should -remain near the opening, through which my companion could readily -supply me with a part of his daily provision, and where I could have -the advantages of breathing an atmosphere comparatively pure.</p> - -<p>In explanation of some portions of this narrative wherein I have spoken -of the stowage of the brig, and which may appear ambiguous to some of -my readers who may have seen a proper or regular stowage, I must here -state that the manner in which this most important duty had been -performed on board the Grampus was a most shameful piece of neglect on -the part of Captain Barnard, who was by no means as careful or as -experienced a seaman as the hazardous nature of the service on which he -was employed would seem necessarily to demand. A proper stowage cannot -be accomplished in a careless manner, and many most disastrous -accidents, even within the limits of my own experience, have arisen -from neglect or ignorance in this particular. Coasting vessels, in the -frequent hurry and bustle attendant upon taking in or discharging -cargo, are the most liable to mishap from the want of a proper -attention to stowage. The great point is to allow no possibility of the -cargo or ballast's shifting position even in the most violent rollings -of the vessel. With this end, great attention must be paid, not only to -the bulk taken in, but to the nature of the bulk, and whether there be -a full or only a partial cargo. In most kinds of freight the stowage is -accomplished by means of a screw. Thus, in a load of tobacco or flour, -the whole is screwed so tightly into the hold of the vessel that the -barrels or hogsheads upon discharging are found to be completely -flattened, and take some time to regain their original shape. This -screwing, however, is resorted to principally with a view of obtaining -more room in the hold; for in a <i>full</i> load of any such commodities as -flour or tobacco, there can be no danger of any shifting whatever, at -least none from which inconvenience can result. There have been -instances, indeed, where this method of screwing has resulted in the -most lamentable consequences, arising from a cause altogether distinct -from the danger attendant upon a shifting of cargo. A load of cotton, -for example, tightly screwed while in certain conditions, has been -known, through the expansion of its bulk, to rend a vessel asunder at -sea. There can be no doubt, either, that the same result would ensue in -the case of tobacco, while undergoing its usual course of fermentation, -were it not for the interstices consequent upon the rotundity of the -hogsheads.</p> - -<p>It is when a partial cargo is received that danger is chiefly to be -apprehended from shifting, and that precautions should be always taken -to guard against such misfortune. Only those who have encountered a -violent gale of wind, or, rather, who have experienced the rolling of a -vessel in a sudden calm after the gale, can form an idea of the -tremendous force of the plunges, and of the consequent terrible impetus -given to all loose articles in the vessel. It is then that the -necessity of a cautious stowage, when there is a partial cargo, becomes -obvious. When lying to (especially with a small head sail), a vessel -which is not properly modelled in the bows is frequently thrown upon -her beam-ends; this occurring even every fifteen or twenty minutes upon -an average, yet without any serious consequences resulting, <i>provided -there be a proper stowage</i>. If this, however, has not been strictly -attended to, in the first of these heavy lurches the whole of the cargo -tumbles over to the side of the vessel which lies upon the water, and, -being thus prevented from regaining her equilibrium, as she would -otherwise necessarily do, she is certain to fill in a few seconds and -go down. It is not too much to say that at least one half of the -instances in which vessels have foundered in heavy gales at sea may be -attributed to a shifting of cargo or of ballast.</p> - -<p>When a partial cargo of any kind is taken on board, the whole, after -being first stowed as compactly as may be, should be covered with a -layer of stout shifting-boards, extending completely across the vessel. -Upon these boards strong temporary stanchions should be erected, -reaching to the timbers above, and thus securing everything in its -place. In cargoes consisting of grain, or any similar matter, -additional precautions are requisite. A hold filled entirely with grain -upon leaving port will be found not more than three fourths full upon -reaching its destination—this, too, although the freight, when -measured bushel by bushel by the consignee, will overrun by a vast deal -(on account of the swelling of the grain) the quantity consigned. This -result is occasioned by <i>settling</i> during the voyage, and is the more -perceptible in proportion to the roughness of the weather experienced. -If grain loosely thrown in a vessel, then, is ever so well secured by -shifting-boards and stanchions, it will be liable to shift in a long -passage so greatly as to bring about the most distressing calamities. -To prevent these, every method should be employed before leaving port -to <i>settle</i> the cargo as much as possible; and for this there are many -contrivances, among which may be mentioned the driving of wedges into -the grain. Even after all this is done, and unusual pains taken to -secure the shifting-boards, no seaman who knows what he is about will -feel altogether secure in a gale of any violence with a cargo of grain -on board, and, least of all, with a partial cargo. Yet there are -hundreds of our coasting vessels, and, it is likely, many more from the -ports of Europe, which sail daily with partial cargoes, even of the -most dangerous species, and without any precautions whatever. The -wonder is that no more accidents occur than do actually happen. A -lamentable instance of this heedlessness occurred to my knowledge in -the case of Captain Joel Rice of the schooner Firefly, which sailed -from Richmond, Virginia, to Madeira, with a cargo of corn, in the year -1825. The captain had gone many voyages without serious accident, -although he was in the habit of paying no attention whatever to his -stowage, more than to secure it in the ordinary manner. He had never -before sailed with a cargo of grain, and on this occasion had the corn -thrown on board loosely, when it did not much more than half fill the -vessel. For the first portion of the voyage he met with nothing more -than light breezes; but when within a day's sail of Madeira there came -on a strong gale from the N. N. E. which forced him to lie to. He -brought the schooner to the wind under a double-reefed foresail alone, -when she rode as well as any vessel could be expected to do, and -shipped not a drop of water. Towards night the gale somewhat abated, -and she rolled with more unsteadiness than before, but still did very -well, until a heavy lurch threw her upon her beam-ends to starboard. -The corn was then heard to shift bodily, the force of the movement -bursting open the main hatchway. The vessel went down like a shot. This -happened within hail of a small sloop from Madeira, which picked up one -of the crew (the only person saved), and which rode out the gale in -perfect security, as indeed a jollyboat might have done under proper -management.</p> - -<p>The stowage on board the Grampus was most clumsily done, if stowage -that could be called which was little better than a promiscuous -huddling together of oil-casks<small><small><sup>1</sup></small></small> -and ship furniture. I have already -spoken of the condition of articles in the hold. On the orlop deck -there was space enough for my body (as I have stated) between the -oil-casks and the upper deck; a space was left open around the main -hatchway; and several other large spaces were left in the stowage. Near -the hole cut through the bulkhead by Augustus there was room enough for -an entire cask, and in this space I found myself comfortably situated -for the present.</p> - -<blockquote><small><small><sup>1</sup></small> Whaling vessels are usually fitted with iron -oil-tanks—why the Grampus was not I have never been able to -ascertain.</small></blockquote> - -<p>By the time my friend had got safely into the berth, and readjusted his -handcuffs and the rope, it was broad daylight. We had made a narrow -escape indeed; for scarcely had he arranged all matters, when the mate -came below, with Dirk Peters and the cook. They talked for some time -about the vessel from the Cape Verds, and seemed to be excessively -anxious for her appearance. At length the cook came to the berth in -which Augustus was lying, and seated himself in it near the head. I -could see and hear everything from my hiding-place, for the piece cut -out had not been put back, and I was in momentary expectation that the -negro would fall against the pea-jacket, which was hung up to conceal -the aperture, in which case all would have been discovered, and our -lives would, no doubt, have been instantly sacrificed. Our good fortune -prevailed, however; and although he frequently touched it as the vessel -rolled, he never pressed against it sufficiently to bring about a -discovery. The bottom of the jacket had been carefully fastened to the -bulkhead, so that the hole might not be seen by its swinging to one -side. All this time Tiger was lying in the foot of the berth, and -appeared to have recovered in some measure his faculties, for I could -see him occasionally open his eyes and draw a long breath.</p> - -<p>After a few minutes the mate and cook went above, leaving Dirk Peters -behind, who, as soon as they were gone, came and sat himself down in -the place just occupied by the mate. He began to talk very sociably -with Augustus, and we could now see that the greater part of his -apparent intoxication, while the two others were with him, was a feint. -He answered all my companion's questions with perfect freedom; told him -that he had no doubt of his father's having been picked up, as there -were no less than five sail in sight just before sundown on the day he -was cut adrift; and used other language of a consolatory nature, which -occasioned me no less surprise than pleasure. Indeed, I began to -entertain hopes, that through the instrumentality of Peters we might be -finally enabled to regain possession of the brig, and this idea I -mentioned to Augustus as soon as I found an opportunity. He thought the -matter possible, but urged the necessity of the greatest caution in -making the attempt, as the conduct of the hybrid appeared to be -instigated by the most arbitrary caprice alone; and, indeed, it was -difficult to say if he was at any moment of sound mind. Peters went -upon deck in about an hour, and did not return again until noon, when -he brought Augustus a plentiful supply of junk beef and pudding. Of -this, when we were left alone, I partook heartily, without returning -through the hole. No one else came down into the forecastle during the -day, and at night I got into Augustus's berth, where I slept soundly -and sweetly until nearly daybreak, when he awakened me upon hearing a -stir upon deck, and I regained my hiding-place as quickly as possible. -When the day was fully broke, we found that Tiger had recovered his -strength almost entirely, and gave no indications of hydrophobia, -drinking a little water that was offered him with great apparent -eagerness. During the day he regained all his former vigour and -appetite. His strange conduct had been brought on, no doubt, by the -deleterious quality of the air of the hold, and had no connexion with -canine madness. I could not sufficiently rejoice that I had persisted -in bringing him with me from the box. This day was the thirtieth of -June, and the thirteenth since the Grampus made sail from Nantucket.</p> - -<p>On the second of July the mate came below, drunk as usual, and in an -excessively good-humour. He came to Augustus's berth, and, giving him a -slap on the back, asked him if he thought he could behave himself if he -let him loose, and whether he would promise not to be going into the -cabin again. To this, of course, my friend answered in the affirmative, -when the ruffian set him at liberty, after making him drink from a -flask of rum which he drew from his coat-pocket. Both now went on deck, -and I did not see Augustus for about three hours. He then came below -with the good news that he had obtained permission to go about the brig -as he pleased anywhere forward of the mainmast, and that he had been -ordered to sleep, as usual, in the forecastle. He brought me, too, a -good dinner, and a plentiful supply of water. The brig was still -cruising for the vessel from the Cape Verds, and a sail was now in -sight which was thought to be the one in question. As the events of the -ensuing eight days were of little importance, and had no direct bearing -upon the main incidents of my narrative, I will here throw them into -the form of a journal, as I do not wish to omit them altogether.</p> - -<p><i>July 3.</i> Augustus furnished me with three blankets, with which I -contrived a comfortable bed in my hiding-place. No one came below, -except my companion, during the day. Tiger took his station in the -berth just by the aperture, and slept heavily, as if not yet entirely -recovered from the effects of his sickness. Towards night a flaw of -wind struck the brig before sail could be taken in, and very nearly -capsized her. The puff died away immediately, however, and no damage -was done beyond the splitting of the foretopsail. Dirk Peters treated -Augustus all this day with great kindness, and entered into a long -conversation with him respecting the Pacific Ocean, and the islands he -had visited in that region. He asked him whether he would not like to -go with the mutineers on a kind of exploring and pleasure voyage in -those quarters, and said that the men were gradually coming over to the -mate's views. To this Augustus thought it best to reply that he would -be glad to go on such an adventure, since nothing better could be done, -and that anything was preferable to a piratical life.</p> - -<p><i>July 4th.</i> The vessel in sight proved to be a small brig from -Liverpool, and was allowed to pass unmolested. Augustus spent most of -his time on deck, with a view of obtaining all the information in his -power respecting the intentions of the mutineers. They had frequent and -violent quarrels among themselves, in one of which a harpooner, Jim -Bonner, was thrown overboard. The party of the mate was gaining ground. -Jim Bonner belonged to the cook's gang, of which Peters was a partisan.</p> - -<p><i>July 5th.</i> About daybreak there came on a stiff breeze from the west, -which at noon freshened into a gale, so that the brig could carry -nothing more than her trysail and foresail. In taking in the -foretopsail, Simms, one of the common hands, and belonging also to the -cook's gang, fell overboard, being very much in liquor, and was -drowned—no attempt being made to save him. The whole number of persons -on board was now thirteen, to wit: Dirk Peters; Seymour, the black -cook; —— Jones; —— Greely; Hartman Rogers; and William Allen, of -the cook's party; the mate, whose name I never learned; Absalom Hicks; -—— Wilson; John Hunt; and Richard Parker, of the mate's -party—besides Augustus and myself.</p> - -<p><i>July 6th.</i> The gale lasted all this day, blowing in heavy squalls, -accompanied with rain. The brig took in a good deal of water through -her seams, and one of the pumps was kept continually going, Augustus -being forced to take his turn. Just at twilight a large ship passed -close by us, without having been discovered until within hail. This -ship was supposed to be the one for which the mutineers were on the -look-out. The mate hailed her, but the reply was drowned in the roaring -of the gale. At eleven, a sea was shipped amid-ships, which tore away a -great portion of the larboard bulwarks, and did some other slight -damage. Towards morning the weather moderated, and at sunrise there was -very little wind.</p> - -<p><i>July 7th.</i> There was a heavy swell running all this day, during which -the brig, being light, rolled excessively, and many articles broke -loose in the hold, as I could hear distinctly from my hiding-place. I -suffered a great deal from sea-sickness. Peters had a long conversation -this day with Augustus, and told him that two of his gang, Greely and -Allen, had gone over to the mate, and were resolved to turn pirates. He -put several questions to Augustus which he did not then exactly -understand. During a part of this evening the leak gained upon the -vessel; and little could be done to remedy it, as it was occasioned by -the brig's straining, and taking in the water through her seams. A sail -was thrummed, and got under the bows, which aided us in some measure, -so that we began to gain upon the leak.</p> - -<p><i>July 8th.</i> A light breeze sprung up at sunrise from the eastward, when -the mate headed the brig to the southwest, with the intention of making -some of the West India islands, in pursuance of his piratical designs. -No opposition was made by Peters or the cook; at least none in the -hearing of Augustus. All idea of taking the vessel from the Cape Verds -was abandoned. The leak was now easily kept under by one pump going -every three quarters of an hour. The sail was drawn from beneath the -bows. Spoke two small schooners during the day.</p> - -<p><i>July 9th.</i> Fine weather. All hands employed in repairing bulwarks. -Peters had again a long conversation with Augustus, and spoke more -plainly than he had done heretofore. He said nothing should induce him -to come into the mate's views, and even hinted his intention of taking -the brig out of his hands. He asked my friend if he could depend upon -his aid in such case, to which Augustus said, "Yes," without -hesitation. Peters then said he would sound the others of his party -upon the subject, and went away. During the remainder of the day -Augustus had no opportunity of speaking with him privately.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap7"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER VII.</h3> -<br> - -<p><i>July 10.</i> Spoke a brig from Rio, bound to Norfolk. Weather hazy, with -a light baffling wind from the eastward. To-day Hartman Rogers died, -having been attacked on the eighth with spasms after drinking a glass -of grog. This man was of the cook's party, and one upon whom Peters -placed his main reliance. He told Augustus that he believed the mate -had poisoned him, and that he expected, if he did not be on the -look-out, his own turn would come shortly. There were now only himself, -Jones, and the cook belonging to his own gang—on the other side there -were five. He had spoken to Jones about taking the command from the -mate; but the project having been coolly received, he had been deterred -from pressing the matter any further, or from saying anything to the -cook. It was well, as it happened, that he was so prudent, for in the -afternoon the cook expressed his determination of siding with the mate, -and went over formally to that party; while Jones took an opportunity -of quarrelling with Peters, and hinted that he would let the mate know -of the plan in agitation. There was now, evidently, no time to be lost, -and Peters expressed his determination of attempting to take the vessel -at all hazards, provided Augustus would lend him his aid. My friend at -once assured him of his willingness to enter into any plan for that -purpose, and, thinking the opportunity a favourable one, made known the -fact of my being on board. At this the hybrid was not more astonished -than delighted, as he had no reliance whatever upon Jones, whom he -already considered as belonging to the party of the mate. They went -below immediately, when Augustus called to me by name, and Peters and -myself were soon made acquainted. It was agreed that we should attempt -to retake the vessel upon the first good opportunity, leaving Jones -altogether out of our councils. In the event of success we were to run -the brig into the first port that offered, and deliver her up. The -desertion of his party had frustrated Peters's design of going into the -Pacific—an adventure which could not be accomplished without a crew, -and he depended upon either getting acquitted upon trial on the score -of insanity (which he solemnly averred had actuated him in lending his -aid to the mutiny), or upon obtaining a pardon, if found guilty, -through the representations of Augustus and myself. Our deliberations -were interrupted for the present by the cry of "All hands take in -sail," and Peters and Augustus ran up on deck.</p> - -<p>As usual, the crew were nearly all drunk; and, before sail could be -properly taken in, a violent squall laid the brig on her beam-ends. By -keeping her away, however, she righted, having shipped a good deal of -water. Scarcely was everything secure, when another squall took the -vessel, and immediately afterward another—no damage being done. There -was every appearance of a gale of wind, which, indeed, shortly came on, -with great fury, from the northward and westward. All was made as snug -as possible, and we laid to, as usual, under a close-reefed foresail. -As night drew on, the wind increased in violence, with a remarkably -heavy sea. Peters now came into the forecastle with Augustus, and we -resumed our deliberations.</p> - -<p>We agreed that no opportunity could be more favourable than the present -for carrying our design into effect, as an attempt at such a moment -would never be anticipated. As the brig was snugly laid to, there would -be no necessity of manoeuvring her until good weather, when, if we -succeeded in our attempt, we might liberate one, or perhaps two of the -men, to aid us in taking her into port. The main difficulty was the -great disproportion in our forces. There were only three of us, and in -the cabin there were nine. All the arms on board, too, were in their -possession, with the exception of a pair of small pistols which Peters -had concealed about his person, and the large seaman's knife which he -always wore in the waistband of his pantaloons. From certain -indications, too, such, for example, as there being no such thing as an -axe or a handspike lying in their customary places, we began to fear -that the mate had his suspicions, at least in regard to Peters, and -that he would let slip no opportunity of getting rid of him. It was -clear, indeed, that what we should determine to do could not be done -too soon. Still the odds were too much against us to allow of our -proceeding without the greatest caution.</p> - -<p>Peters proposed that he should go up on deck, and enter into -conversation with the watch (Allen), when he would be able to throw him -into the sea without trouble, and without making any disturbance, by -seizing a good opportunity; that Augustus and myself should then come -up, and endeavour to provide ourselves with some kind of weapons from -the deck; and that we should then make a rush together, and secure the -companion-way before any opposition could be offered. I objected to -this, because I could not believe that the mate (who was a cunning -fellow in all matters which did not affect his superstitious -prejudices) would suffer himself to be so easily entrapped. The very -fact of there being a watch on deck at all was sufficient proof that he -was upon the alert—it not being usual, except in vessels where -discipline is most rigidly enforced, to station a watch on deck when a -vessel is lying to in a gale of wind. As I address myself principally, -if not altogether, to persons who have never been to sea, it may be as -well to state the exact condition of a vessel under such circumstances. -Lying to, or, in sea-parlance "laying to," is a measure resorted to for -various purposes, and effected in various manners. In moderate weather, -it is frequently done with a view of merely bringing the vessel to a -stand-still, to wait for another vessel, or any similar object. If the -vessel which lies to is under full sail, the manoeuvre is usually -accomplished by throwing round some portion of her sails so as to let -the wind take them aback, when she becomes stationary. But we are now -speaking of lying to in a gale of wind. This is done when the wind is -ahead, and too violent to admit of carrying sail without danger of -capsizing; and sometimes even when the wind is fair, but the sea too -heavy for the vessel to be put before it. If a vessel be suffered to -scud before the wind in a very heavy sea, much damage is usually done -her by the shipping of water over her stern, and sometimes by the -violent plunges she makes forward. This manoeuvre, then, is seldom -resorted to in such case, unless through necessity. When the vessel is -in a leaky condition, she is often put before the wind even in the -heaviest seas; for, when lying to, her seams are sure to be greatly -opened by her violent straining, and it is not so much the case when -scudding. Often, too, it becomes necessary to scud a vessel, either -when the blast is so exceedingly furious as to tear in pieces the sail -which is employed with a view of bringing her head to the wind, or -when, through the false modelling of the frame or other causes, this -main object cannot be effected.</p> - -<p>Vessels in a gale of wind are laid to in different manners, according -to their peculiar construction. Some lie to best under a foresail, and -this, I believe, is the sail most usually employed. Large square-rigged -vessels have sails for the express purpose, called storm-staysails. But -the jib is occasionally employed by itself—sometimes the jib and -foresail, or a double-reefed foresail, and not unfrequently the -after-sails, are made use of. Foretopsails are very often found to -answer the purpose better than any other species of sail. The Grampus -was generally laid to under a close-reefed foresail.</p> - -<p>When a vessel is to be laid to, her head is brought up to the wind just -so nearly as to fill the sail under which she lies, when hauled flat -aft, that is, when brought diagonally across the vessel. This being -done, the bows point within a few degrees of the direction from which -the wind issues, and the windward bow of course receives the shock of -the waves. In this situation a good vessel will ride out a very heavy -gale of wind without shipping a drop of water, and without any further -attention being requisite on the part of the crew. The helm is usually -lashed down, but this is altogether unnecessary (except on account of -the noise it makes when loose), for the rudder has no effect upon the -vessel when lying to. Indeed, the helm had far better be left loose -than lashed very fast, for the rudder is apt to be torn off by heavy -seas if there be no room for the helm to play. As long as the sail -holds, a well-modelled vessel will maintain her situation, and ride -every sea, as if instinct with life and reason. If the violence of the -wind, however, should tear the sail into pieces (a feat which it -requires a perfect hurricane to accomplish under ordinary -circumstances), there is then imminent danger. The vessel falls off -from the wind, and, coming broadside to the sea, is completely at its -mercy: the only resource in this case is to put her quickly before the -wind, letting her scud until some other sail can be set. Some vessels -will lie to under no sail whatever, but such are not to be trusted at -sea.</p> - -<p>But to return from this digression. It had never been customary with -the mate to have any watch on deck when lying to in a gale of wind, and -the fact that he had now one, coupled with the circumstance of the -missing axes and handspikes, fully convinced us that the crew were too -well on the watch to be taken by surprise in the manner Peters had -suggested. Something, however, was to be done, and that with as little -delay as practicable, for there could be no doubt that a suspicion -having been once entertained against Peters, he would be sacrificed -upon the earliest occasion, and one would certainly be either found or -made upon the breaking of the gale.</p> - -<p>Augustus now suggested that if Peters could contrive to remove, under -any pretext, the piece of chain-cable which lay over the trap in the -stateroom, we might possibly be able to come upon them unawares by -means of the hold; but a little reflection convinced us that the vessel -rolled and pitched too violently for any attempt of that nature.</p> - -<p>By good fortune I at length hit upon the idea of working upon the -superstitious terrors and guilty conscience of the mate. It will be -remembered that one of the crew, Hartman Rogers, had died during the -morning, having been attacked two days before with spasms after -drinking some spirits and water. Peters had expressed to us his opinion -that this man had been poisoned by the mate, and for this belief he had -reasons, so he said, which were incontrovertible, but which he could -not be prevailed upon to explain to us—this wayward refusal being only -in keeping with other points of his singular character. But whether or -not he had any better grounds for suspecting the mate than we had -ourselves, we were easily led to fall in with his suspicion, and -determined to act accordingly.</p> - -<p>Rogers had died about eleven in the forenoon, in violent convulsions; -and the corpse presented in a few minutes after death one of the most -horrid and loathsome spectacles I ever remember to have seen. The -stomach was swollen immensely, like that of a man who has been drowned -and lain under water for many weeks. The hands were in the same -condition, while the face was shrunken, shrivelled, and of a chalky -whiteness, except where relieved by two or three glaring red splotches, -like those occasioned by the erysipelas: one of these splotches -extended diagonally across the face, completely covering up an eye as -if with a band of red velvet. In this disgusting condition the body had -been brought up from the cabin at noon to be thrown overboard, when the -mate getting a glimpse of it (for he now saw it for the first time), -and being either touched with remorse for his crime or struck with -terror at so horrible a sight, ordered the men to sew the body up in -its hammock, and allow it the usual rites of sea-burial. Having given -these directions he went below, as if to avoid any further sight of his -victim. While preparations were making to obey his orders, the gale -came on with great fury, and the design was abandoned for the present. -The corpse, left to itself, was washed into the larboard scuppers, -where it still lay at the time of which I speak, floundering about with -the furious lurches of the brig.</p> - -<p>Having arranged our plan, we set about putting it in execution as -speedily as possible. Peters went upon deck, and, as he had -anticipated, was immediately accosted by Allen, who appeared to be -stationed more as a watch upon the forecastle than for any other -purpose. The fate of this villain, however, was speedily and silently -decided; for Peters, approaching him in a careless manner, as if about -to address him, seized him by the throat, and, before he could utter a -single cry, tossed him over the bulwarks. He then called to us, and we -came up. Our first precaution was to look about for something with -which to arm ourselves, and in doing this we had to proceed with great -care, for it was impossible to stand on deck an instant without holding -fast, and violent seas broke over the vessel at every plunge forward. -It was indispensable, too, that we should be quick in our operations, -for every minute we expected the mate to be up to set the pumps going, -as it was evident the brig must be taking in water very fast. After -searching about for some time, we could find nothing more fit for our -purpose than the two pump-handles, one of which Augustus took, and I -the other. Having secured these, we stripped off the shirt of the -corpse and dropped the body overboard. Peters and myself then went -below, leaving Augustus to watch upon deck, where he took his station -just where Allen had been placed, and with his back to the cabin -companion-way, so that, if any one of the mate's gang should come up, -he might suppose it was the watch.</p> - -<p>As soon as I got below I commenced disguising myself so as to represent -the corpse of Rogers. The shirt which we had taken from the body aided -us very much, for it was of a singular form and character, and easily -recognisable—a kind of smock, which the deceased wore over his other -clothing. It was a blue stockinett, with large white stripes running -across. Having put this on, I proceeded to equip myself with a false -stomach, in imitation of the horrible deformity of the swollen corpse. -This was soon effected by means of stuffing with some bedclothes. I -then gave the same appearance to my hands by drawing on a pair of white -woollen mittens, and filling them in with any kind of rags that offered -themselves. Peters then arranged my face, first rubbing it well over -with white chalk, and afterward splotching it with blood, which he took -from a cut in his finger. The streak across the eye was not forgotten, -and presented a most shocking appearance.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap8"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER VIII.</h3> -<br> - -<p>As I viewed myself in a fragment of looking-glass which hung up in the -cabin, and by the dim light of a kind of battle-lantern, I was so -impressed with a sense of vague awe at my appearance, and at the -recollection of the terrific reality which I was thus representing, -that I was seized with a violent tremour, and could scarcely summon -resolution to go on with my part. It was necessary, however, to act -with decision, and Peters and myself went upon deck.</p> - -<p>We there found everything safe, and, keeping close to the bulwarks, the -three of us crept to the cabin companion-way. It was only partially -closed, precautions having been taken to prevent its being suddenly -pushed to from without, by means of placing billets of wood on the -upper step so as to interfere with the shutting. We found no difficulty -in getting a full view of the interior of the cabin through the cracks -where the hinges were placed. It now proved to have been very fortunate -for us that we had not attempted to take them by surprise, for they -were evidently on the alert. Only one was asleep, and he lying just at -the foot of the companion-ladder, with a musket by his side. The rest -were seated on several mattresses, which had been taken from the berths -and thrown on the floor. They were engaged in earnest conversation; and -although they had been carousing, as appeared from two empty jugs, with -some tin tumblers which lay about, they were not as much intoxicated as -usual. All had knives, one or two of them pistols, and a great many -muskets were lying in a berth close at hand.</p> - -<p>We listened to their conversation for some time before we could make up -our minds how to act, having as yet resolved on nothing determinate, -except that we would attempt to paralyze their exertions, when we -should attack them, by means of the apparition of Rogers. They were -discussing their piratical plans, in which all we could hear distinctly -was, that they would unite with the crew of a schooner Hornet, and, if -possible, get the schooner herself into their possession preparatory to -some attempt on a large scale, the particulars of which could not be -made out by either of us.</p> - -<p>One of the men spoke of Peters, when the mate replied to him in a low -voice which could not be distinguished, and afterward added more -loudly, that "he could not understand his being so much forward with -the captain's brat in the forecastle, and he thought the sooner both of -them were overboard the better." To this no answer was made, but we -could easily perceive that the hint was well received by the whole -party, and more particularly by Jones. At this period I was excessively -agitated, the more so as I could see that neither Augustus nor Peters -could determine how to act. I made up my mind, however, to sell my life -as dearly as possible, and not to suffer myself to be overcome by any -feelings of trepidation.</p> - -<p>The tremendous noise made by the roaring of the wind in the rigging and -the washing of the sea over the deck prevented us from hearing what was -said except during momentary lulls. In one of these we all distinctly -heard the mate tell one of the men to "go forward, and order the d——d -lubbers to come into the cabin, where he could have an eye upon them, -for he wanted no such secret doings on board the brig." It was well for -us that the pitching of the vessel at this moment was so violent as to -prevent this order from being carried into instant execution. The cook -got up from his mattress to go for us, when a tremendous lurch, which I -thought would carry away the masts, threw him headlong against one of -the larboard stateroom doors, bursting it open, and creating a good -deal of other confusion. Luckily, neither of our party was thrown from -his position, and we had time to make a precipitate retreat to the -forecastle, and arrange a hurried plan of action before the messenger -made his appearance, or rather before he put his head out of the -companion-hatch, for he did not come on deck. From this station he -could not notice the absence of Allen, and he accordingly bawled out as -if to him, repeating the orders of the mate. Peters cried out, "Ay, -ay," in a disguised voice, and the cook immediately went below, without -entertaining a suspicion that all was not right.</p> - -<p>My two companions now proceeded boldly aft and down into the cabin, -Peters closing the door after him in the same manner he had found it. -The mate received them with feigned cordiality, and told Augustus that, -since he had behaved himself so well of late, he might take up his -quarters in the cabin, and be one of them for the future. He then -poured him out a tumbler half full of rum, and made him drink it. All -this I saw and heard, for I followed my friends to the cabin as soon as -the door was shut, and took up my old point of observation. I had -brought with me the two pump-handles, one of which I secured near the -companion-way, to be ready for use when required.</p> - -<p>I now steadied myself as well as possible so as to have a good view of -all that was passing within, and endeavoured to nerve myself to the -task of descending among the mutineers when Peters should make a signal -to me as agreed upon. Presently he contrived to turn the conversation -upon the bloody deeds of the mutiny, and, by degrees, led the men to -talk of the thousand superstitions which are so universally current -among seamen. I could not make out all that was said, but I could -plainly see the effects of the conversation in the countenances of -those present. The mate was evidently much agitated, and presently, -when some one mentioned the terrific appearance of Rogers's corpse, I -thought he was upon the point of swooning. Peters now asked him if he -did not think it would be better to have the body thrown overboard at -once, as it was too horrible a sight to see it floundering about in the -scuppers. At this the villain absolutely gasped for breath, and turned -his head slowly round upon his companions, as if imploring some one to -go up and perform the task. No one, however, stirred, and it was quite -evident that the whole party were wound up to the highest pitch of -nervous excitement. Peters now made me the signal. I immediately threw -open the door of the companion-way, and, descending without uttering a -syllable, stood erect in the midst of the party.</p> - -<p>The intense effect produced by this sudden apparition is not at all to -be wondered at when the various circumstances are taken into -consideration. Usually, in cases of a similar nature, there is left in -the mind of the spectator some glimmering of doubt as to the reality of -the vision before his eyes; a degree of hope, however feeble, that he -is the victim of chicanery, and that the apparition is not actually a -visitant from the world of shadows. It is not too much to say that such -remnants of doubt have been at the bottom of almost every such -visitation, and that the appalling horror which has sometimes been -brought about, is to be attributed, even in the cases most in point, -and where most suffering has been experienced, more to a kind of -anticipative horror, lest the apparition <i>might possibly be</i> real, than -to an unwavering belief in its reality. But, in the present instance, -it will be seen immediately, that in the minds of the mutineers there -was not even the shadow of a basis upon which to rest a doubt that the -apparition of Rogers was indeed a revivification of his disgusting -corpse, or at least its spiritual image. The isolated situation of the -brig, with its entire inaccessibility on account of the gale, confined -the apparently possible means of deception within such narrow and -definite limits, that they must have thought themselves enabled to -survey them all at a glance. They had now been at sea twenty-four days, -without holding more than a speaking communication with any vessel -whatever. The whole of the crew, too, at least all whom they had the -most remote reason for suspecting to be on board, were assembled in the -cabin, with the exception of Allen, the watch; and his gigantic stature -(he was six feet six inches high) was too familiar in their eyes to -permit the notion that he was the apparition before them to enter their -minds even for an instant. Add to these considerations the -awe-inspiring nature of the tempest, and that of the conversation -brought about by Peters; the deep impression which the loathsomeness of -the actual corpse had made in the morning upon the imaginations of the -men; the excellence of the imitation in my person; and the uncertain -and wavering light in which they beheld me, as the glare of the cabin -lantern, swinging violently to and fro, fell dubiously and fitfully -upon my figure, and there will be no reason to wonder that the -deception had even more than the entire effect which we had -anticipated. The mate sprang up from the mattress on which he was -lying, and, without uttering a syllable, fell back, stone dead, upon -the cabin floor, and was hurled to the leeward like a log by a heavy -roll of the brig. Of the remaining seven there were but three who had -at first any degree of presence of mind. The four others sat for some -time rooted apparently to the floor, the most pitiable objects of -horror and utter despair my eyes ever encountered. The only opposition -we experienced at all was from the cook, John Hunt, and Richard Parker; -but they made but a feeble and irresolute defence. The two former were -shot instantly by Peters, and I felled Parker with a blow on the head -from the pump-handle which I had brought with me. In the mean time -Augustus seized one of the muskets lying on the floor, and shot another -mutineer (—— Wilson) through the breast. There were now but three -remaining; but by this time they had become aroused from their -lethargy, and perhaps began to see that a deception had been practised -upon them, for they fought with great resolution and fury, and, but for -the immense muscular strength of Peters, might have ultimately got the -better of us. These three men were —— Jones, —— Greely, and Absalom -Hicks. Jones had thrown Augustus on the floor, stabbed him in several -places along the right arm, and would no doubt have soon despatched him -(as neither Peters nor myself could immediately get rid of our own -antagonists), had it not been for the timely aid of a friend upon whose -assistance we surely had never depended. This friend was no other than -Tiger. With a low growl he bounded into the cabin, at a most critical -moment for Augustus, and throwing himself upon Jones, pinned him to the -floor in an instant. My friend, however, was now too much injured to -render us any aid whatever, and I was so encumbered with my disguise -that I could do but little. The dog would not leave his hold upon the -throat of Jones—Peters, nevertheless, was far more than a match for -the two men who remained, and would, no doubt, have despatched them -sooner, had it not been for the narrow space in which he had to act, -and the tremendous lurches of the vessel. Presently he was enabled to -get hold of a heavy stool, several of which lay about the floor. With -this he beat out the brains of Greely as he was in the act of -discharging a musket at me, and immediately afterward a roll of the -brig throwing him in contact with Hicks, he seized him by the throat, -and, by dint of sheer strength, strangled him instantaneously. Thus, in -far less time than I have taken to tell it, we found ourselves masters -of the brig.</p> - -<p>The only person of our opponents who was left alive was Richard Parker. -This man, it will be remembered, I had knocked down with a blow from -the pump-handle at the commencement of the attack. He now lay -motionless by the door of the shattered stateroom; but, upon Peters -touching him with his foot, he spoke, and entreated for mercy. His head -was only slightly cut, and otherwise he had received no injury, having -been merely stunned by the blow. He now got up, and, for the present, -we secured his hands behind his back. The dog was still growling over -Jones; but, upon examination, we found him completely dead, the blood -issuing in a stream from a deep wound in the throat, inflicted, no -doubt, by the sharp teeth of the animal.</p> - -<p>It was now about one o'clock in the morning, and the wind was still -blowing tremendously. The brig evidently laboured much more than usual, -and it became absolutely necessary that something should be done with a -view of easing her in some measure. At almost every roll to leeward she -shipped a sea, several of which came partially down into the cabin -during our scuffle, the hatchway having been left open by myself when I -descended. The entire range of bulwarks to larboard had been swept -away, as well as the caboose, together with the jollyboat from the -counter. The creaking and working of the mainmast, too, gave indication -that it was nearly sprung. To make room for more stowage in the after -hold, the heel of this mast had been stepped between decks (a very -reprehensible practice, occasionally resorted to by ignorant -ship-builders), so that it was in imminent danger of working from its -step. But, to crown all our difficulties, we plummed the well, and -found no less than seven feet water.</p> - -<p>Leaving the bodies of the crew lying in the cabin, we got to work -immediately at the pumps—Parker, of course, being set at liberty to -assist us in the labour. Augustus's arm was bound up as well as we -could effect it, and he did what he could, but that was not much. -However, we found that we could just manage to keep the leak from -gaining upon us by having one pump constantly going. As there were only -four of us, this was severe labour; but we endeavoured to keep up our -spirits, and looked anxiously for daybreak, when we hoped to lighten -the brig by cutting away the mainmast.</p> - -<p>In this manner we passed a night of terrible anxiety and fatigue, and, -when the day at length broke, the gale had neither abated in the least, -nor were there any signs of its abating. We now dragged the bodies on -deck and threw them overboard. Our next care was to get rid of the -mainmast. The necessary preparations having been made, Peters cut away -at the mast (having found axes in the cabin), while the rest of us -stood by the stays and lanyards. As the brig gave a tremendous -lee-lurch, the word was given to cut away the weather-lanyards, which -being done, the whole mass of wood and rigging plunged into the sea, -clear of the brig, and without doing any material injury. We now found -that the vessel did not labour quite as much as before, but our -situation was still exceedingly precarious, and, in spite of the utmost -exertions, we could not gain upon the leak without the aid of both -pumps. The little assistance which Augustus could render us was not -really of any importance. To add to our distress, a heavy sea, striking -the brig to windward, threw her off several points from the wind, and, -before she could regain her position, another broke completely over -her, and hurled her full upon her beam-ends. The ballast now shifted in -a mass to leeward (the stowage had been knocking about perfectly at -random for some time), and for a few moments we thought nothing could -save us from capsizing. Presently, however, we partially righted; but -the ballast still retaining its place to larboard, we lay so much along -that it was useless to think of working the pumps, which indeed we -could not have done much longer in any case, as our hands were entirely -raw with the excessive labour we had undergone, and were bleeding in -the most horrible manner.</p> - -<p>Contrary to Parker's advice, we now proceeded to cut away the foremast, -and at length accomplished it after much difficulty, owing to the -position in which we lay. In going overboard the wreck took with it the -bowsprit, and left us a complete hulk.</p> - -<p>So far we had had reason to rejoice in the escape of our longboat, -which had received no damage from any of the huge seas which had come -on board. But we had not long to congratulate ourselves; for the -foremast having gone, and, of course, the foresail with it, by which -the brig had been steadied, every sea now made a complete breach over -us, and in five minutes our deck was swept from stem to stern, the -longboat and starboard bulwarks torn off, and even the windlass -shattered into fragments. It was, indeed, hardly possible for us to be -in a more pitiable condition.</p> - -<p>At noon there seemed to be some slight appearance of the gale's -abating, but in this we were sadly disappointed, for it only lulled for -a few minutes to blow with redoubled fury. About four in the afternoon -it was utterly impossible to stand up against the violence of the -blast; and, as the night closed in upon us, I had not a shadow of hope -that the vessel would hold together until morning.</p> - -<p>By midnight we had settled very deep in the water, which was now up to -the orlop deck. The rudder went soon afterward, the sea which tore it -away lifting the after portion of the brig entirely from the water, -against which she thumped in her descent with such a concussion as -would be occasioned by going ashore. We had all calculated that the -rudder would hold its own to the last, as it was unusually strong, -being rigged as I have never seen one rigged either before or since. -Down its main timber there ran a succession of stout iron hooks, and -others in the same manner down the stern-post. Through these hooks -there extended a very thick wrought-iron rod, the rudder being thus -held to the stern-post, and swinging freely on the rod. The tremendous -force of the sea which tore it off may be estimated by the fact, that -the hooks in the stern-post, which ran entirely through it, being -clinched on the inside, were drawn every one of them completely out of -the solid wood.</p> - -<p>We had scarcely time to draw breath after the violence of this shock, -when one of the most tremendous waves I had then ever known broke right -on board of us, sweeping the companion-way clear off, bursting in the -hatchways, and filling every inch of the vessel with water.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap9"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER IX.</h3> -<br> - -<p>Luckily, just before night, all four of us had lashed ourselves firmly -to the fragments of the windlass, lying in this manner as flat upon the -deck as possible. This precaution alone saved us from destruction. As -it was, we were all more or less stunned by the immense weight of water -which tumbled upon us, and which did not roll from above us until we -were nearly exhausted. As soon as I could recover breath, I called -aloud to my companions. Augustus alone replied, saying, "It is all over -with us, and may God have mercy upon our souls." By-and-by both the -others were enabled to speak, when they exhorted us to take courage, as -there was still hope; it being impossible, from the nature of the -cargo, that the brig could go down, and there being every chance that -the gale would blow over by the morning. These words inspired me with -new life; for, strange as it may seem, although it was obvious that a -vessel with a cargo of empty oil-casks would not sink, I had been -hitherto so confused in mind as to have overlooked this consideration -altogether; and the danger which I had for some time regarded as the -most imminent was that of foundering. As hope revived within me, I made -use of every opportunity to strengthen the lashings which held me to -the remains of the windlass, and in this occupation I soon discovered -that my companions were also busy. The night was as dark as it could -possibly be, and the horrible shrieking din and confusion which -surrounded us it is useless to attempt describing. Our deck lay level -with the sea, or rather we were encircled with a towering ridge of -foam, a portion of which swept over us every instant. It is not too -much to say that our heads were not fairly out of water more than one -second in three. Although we lay close together, no one of us could see -the other, or, indeed, any portion of the brig itself, upon which we -were so tempestuously hurled about. At intervals we called one to the -other, thus endeavouring to keep alive hope, and render consolation and -encouragement to such of us as stood most in need of it. The feeble -condition of Augustus made him an object of solicitude with us all; and -as, from the lacerated condition of his right arm, it must have been -impossible for him to secure his lashings with any degree of firmness, -we were in momentary expectation of finding that he had gone -overboard—yet to render him aid was a thing altogether out of the -question. Fortunately, his station was more secure than that of any of -the rest of us; for the upper part of his body lying just beneath a -portion of the shattered windlass, the seas, as they tumbled in upon -him, were greatly broken in their violence. In any other situation than -this (into which he had been accidentally thrown after having lashed -himself in a very exposed spot) he must inevitably have perished before -morning. Owing to the brig's lying so much along, we were all less -liable to be washed off than otherwise would have been the case. The -heel, as I have before stated, was to larboard, about one half of the -deck being constantly under water. The seas, therefore, which struck us -to starboard were much broken by the vessel's side, only reaching us in -fragments as we lay flat on our faces; while those which came from -larboard, being what are called back-water seas, and obtaining little -hold upon us on account of our posture, had not sufficient force to -drag us from our fastenings.</p> - -<p>In this frightful situation we lay until the day broke so as to show us -more fully the horrors which surrounded us. The brig was a mere log, -rolling about at the mercy of every wave; the gale was upon the -increase, if anything, blowing indeed a complete hurricane, and there -appeared to us no earthly prospect of deliverance. For several hours we -held on in silence, expecting every moment that our lashings would -either give way, that the remains of the windlass would go by the -board, or that some of the huge seas, which roared in every direction -around us and above us, would drive the hulk so far beneath the water -that we should be drowned before it could regain the surface. By the -mercy of God, however, we were preserved from these imminent dangers, -and about midday were cheered by the light of the blessed sun. Shortly -afterward we could perceive a sensible diminution in the force of the -wind, when, now for the first time since the latter part of the evening -before, Augustus spoke, asking Peters, who lay closest to him, if he -thought there was any possibility of our being saved. As no reply was -at first made to this question, we all concluded that the hybrid had -been drowned where he lay; but presently, to our great joy, he spoke, -although very feebly, saying that he was in great pain, being so cut by -the tightness of his lashings across the stomach, that he must either -find means of loosening them or perish, as it was impossible that he -could endure his misery much longer. This occasioned us great distress, -as it was altogether useless to think of aiding him in any manner while -the sea continued washing over us as it did. We exhorted him to bear -his sufferings with fortitude, and promised to seize the first -opportunity which should offer itself to relieve him. He replied that -it would soon be too late; that it would be all over with him before we -could help him; and then, after moaning for some minutes, lay silent, -when we concluded that he had perished.</p> - -<p>As the evening drew on, the sea had fallen so much that scarcely more -than one wave broke over the hulk from windward in the course of five -minutes, and the wind had abated a great deal, although still blowing a -severe gale. I had not heard any of my companions speak for hours, and -now called to Augustus. He replied, although very feebly, so that I -could not distinguish what he said. I then spoke to Peters and to -Parker, neither of whom returned any answer.</p> - -<p>Shortly after this period I fell into a state of partial insensibility, -during which the most pleasing images floated in my imagination; such -as green trees, waving meadows of ripe grain, processions of dancing -girls, troops of cavalry, and other phantasies. I now remember that, in -all which passed before my mind's eye, <i>motion</i> was a predominant idea. -Thus, I never fancied any stationary object, such as a house, a -mountain, or anything of that kind; but windmills, ships, large birds, -balloons, people on horseback, carriages driving furiously, and similar -moving objects, presented themselves in endless succession. When I -recovered from this state, the sun was, as near as I could guess, an -hour high. I had the greatest difficulty in bringing to recollection -the various circumstances connected with my situation, and for some -time remained firmly convinced that I was still in the hold of the -brig, near the box, and that the body of Parker was that of Tiger.</p> - -<p>When I at length completely came to my senses, I found that the wind -blew no more than a moderate breeze, and that the sea was comparatively -calm; so much so that it only washed over the brig amidships. My left -arm had broken loose from its lashings, and was much cut about the -elbow; my right was entirely benumbed, and the hand and wrist swollen -prodigiously by the pressure of the rope, which had worked from the -shoulder downward. I was also in great pain from another rope which -went about my waist, and had been drawn to an insufferable degree of -tightness. Looking round upon my companions, I saw that Peters still -lived, although a thick line was pulled so forcibly around his loins as -to give him the appearance of being cut nearly in two; as I stirred, he -made a feeble motion to me with his hand, pointing to the rope. -Augustus gave no indication of life whatever, and was bent nearly -double across a splinter of the windlass. Parker spoke to me when he -saw me moving, and asked me if I had not sufficient strength to release -him from his situation; saying, that if I would summon up what spirits -I could, and contrive to untie him, we might yet save our lives; but -that otherwise we must all perish. I told him to take courage, and I -would endeavour to free him. Feeling in my pantaloons' pocket, I got -hold of my penknife, and, after several ineffectual attempts, at length -succeeded in opening it. I then, with my left hand, managed to free my -right from its fastenings, and afterward cut the other ropes which held -me. Upon attempting, however, to move from my position, I found that my -legs failed me altogether, and that I could not get up; neither could I -move my right arm in any direction. Upon mentioning this to Parker, he -advised me to lie quiet for a few minutes, holding on to the windlass -with my left hand, so as to allow time for the blood to circulate. -Doing this, the numbness presently began to die away, so that I could -move first one of my legs, and then the other; and, shortly afterward, -I regained the partial use of my right arm. I now crawled with great -caution towards Parker, without getting on my legs, and soon cut loose -all the lashings about him, when, after a short delay, he also -recovered the partial use of his limbs. We now lost no time in getting -loose the rope from Peters. It had cut a deep gash through the -waistband of his woollen pantaloons, and through two shirts, and made -its way into his groin, from which the blood flowed out copiously as we -removed the cordage. No sooner had we removed it, however, than he -spoke, and seemed to experience instant relief—being able to move with -much greater ease than either Parker or myself—this was no doubt owing -to the discharge of blood.</p> - -<p>We had little hope that Augustus would recover, as he evinced no signs -of life; but, upon getting to him, we discovered that he had merely -swooned from loss of blood, the bandages we had placed around his -wounded arm having been torn off by the water; none of the ropes which -held him to the windlass were drawn sufficiently tight to occasion his -death. Having relieved him from the fastenings, and got him clear of -the broken wood about the windlass, we secured him in a dry place to -windward, with his head somewhat lower than his body, and all three of -us busied ourselves in chafing his limbs. In about half an hour he came -to himself, although it was not until the next morning that he gave -signs of recognising any of us, or had sufficient strength to speak. By -the time we had thus got clear of our lashings it was quite dark, and -it began to cloud up, so that we were again in the greatest agony lest -it should come on to blow hard, in which event nothing could have saved -us from perishing, exhausted as we were. By good fortune it continued -very moderate during the night, the sea subsiding every minute, which -gave us great hopes of ultimate preservation. A gentle breeze still -blew from the N. W., but the weather was not at all cold. Augustus was -lashed carefully to windward in such a manner as to prevent him from -slipping overboard with the rolls of the vessel, as he was still too -weak to hold on at all. For ourselves there was no such necessity. We -sat close together, supporting each other with the aid of the broken -ropes about the windlass, and devising methods of escape from our -frightful situation. We derived much comfort from taking off our -clothes and wringing the water from them. When we put them on after -this, they felt remarkably warm and pleasant, and served to invigorate -us in no little degree. We helped Augustus off with his, and wrung them -for him, when he experienced the same comfort.</p> - -<p>Our chief sufferings were now those of hunger and thirst, and, when we -looked forward to the means of relief in this respect, our hearts sunk -within us, and we were induced to regret that we had escaped the less -dreadful perils of the sea. We endeavoured, however, to console -ourselves with the hope of being speedily picked up by some vessel, and -encouraged each other to bear with fortitude the evils that might -happen.</p> - -<p>The morning of the fourteenth at length dawned, and the weather still -continued clear and pleasant, with a steady but very light breeze from -the N. W. The sea was now quite smooth, and as, from some cause which -we could not determine, the brig did not lie so much along as she had -done before, the deck was comparatively dry, and we could move about -with freedom. We had now been better than three entire days and nights -without either food or drink, and it became absolutely necessary that -we should make an attempt to get up something from below. As the brig -was completely full of water, we went to this work despondingly, and -with but little expectation of being able to obtain anything. We made a -kind of drag by driving some nails which we broke out from the remains -of the companion-hatch into two pieces of wood. Tying these across each -other, and fastening them to the end of a rope, we threw them into the -cabin, and dragged them to and fro, in the faint hope of being thus -able to entangle some article which might be of use to us for food, or -which might at least render us assistance in getting it. We spent the -greater part of the morning in this labour without effect, fishing up -nothing more than a few bedclothes, which were readily caught by the -nails. Indeed, our contrivance was so very clumsy, that any greater -success was hardly to be anticipated.</p> - -<p>We now tried the forecastle, but equally in vain, and were upon the -brink of despair, when Peters proposed that we should fasten a rope to -his body, and let him make an attempt to get up something by diving -into the cabin. This proposition we hailed with all the delight which -reviving hope could inspire. He proceeded immediately to strip off his -clothes with the exception of his pantaloons; and a strong rope was -then carefully fastened around his middle, being brought up over his -shoulders in such a manner that there was no possibility of its -slipping. The undertaking was one of great difficulty and danger; for, -as we could hardly expect to find much, if any provision in the cabin -itself, it was necessary that the diver, after letting himself down, -should make a turn to the right, and proceed under water a distance of -ten or twelve feet, in a narrow passage, to the storeroom, and return, -without drawing breath.</p> - -<p>Everything being ready, Peters now descended into the cabin, going down -the companion-ladder until the water reached his chin. He then plunged -in, head first, turning to the right as he plunged, and endeavouring to -make his way to the storeroom. In this first attempt, however, he was -altogether unsuccessful. In less than half a minute after his going -down we felt the rope jerked violently (the signal we had agreed upon -when he desired to be drawn up). We accordingly drew him up instantly, -but so incautiously as to bruise him badly against the ladder. He had -brought nothing with him, and had been unable to penetrate more than a -very little way into the passage, owing to the constant exertions he -found it necessary to make in order to keep himself from floating up -against the deck. Upon getting out he was very much exhausted, and had -to rest full fifteen minutes before he could again venture to descend.</p> - -<p>The second attempt met with even worse success; for he remained so long -under water without giving the signal, that, becoming alarmed for his -safety, we drew him out without it, and found that he was almost at the -last gasp, having, as he said, repeatedly jerked at the rope without -our feeling it. This was probably owing to a portion of it having -become entangled in the balustrade at the foot of the ladder. This -balustrade was, indeed, so much in the way, that we determined to -remove it, if possible, before proceeding with our design. As we had no -means of getting it away except by main force, we all descended into -the water as far as we could on the ladder, and, giving a pull against -it with our united strength, succeeded in breaking it down.</p> - -<p>The third attempt was equally unsuccessful with the two first, and it -now became evident that nothing could be done in this manner without -the aid of some weight with which the diver might steady himself, and -keep to the floor of the cabin while making his search. For a long time -we looked about in vain for something which might answer this purpose; -but at length, to our great joy, we discovered one of the -weather-forechains so loose that we had not the least difficulty in -wrenching it off. Having fastened this securely to one of his ancles, -Peters now made his fourth descent into the cabin, and this time -succeeded in making his way to the door of the steward's room. To his -inexpressible grief, however, he found it locked, and was obliged to -return without effecting an entrance, as, with the greatest exertion, -he could remain under water not more, at the utmost extent, than a -single minute. Our affairs now looked gloomy indeed, and neither -Augustus nor myself could refrain from bursting into tears, as we -thought of the host of difficulties which encompassed us, and the -slight probability which existed of our finally making an escape. But -this weakness was not of long duration. Throwing ourselves on our knees -to God, we implored his aid in the many dangers which beset us; and -arose with renewed hope and vigour to think what could yet be done by -mortal means towards accomplishing our deliverance.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap10"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER X.</h3> -<br> - -<p>Shortly afterward an incident occurred which I am induced to look upon -as more intensely productive of emotion, as far more replete with the -extremes first of delight and then of horror, than even any of the -thousand chances which afterward befell me in nine long years, crowded -with events of the most startling, and, in many cases, of the most -unconceived and unconceivable character. We were lying on the deck near -the companion-way, and debating the possibility of yet making our way -into the storeroom, when, looking towards Augustus, who lay fronting -myself, I perceived that he had become all at once deadly pale, and -that his lips were quivering in the most singular and unaccountable -manner. Greatly alarmed, I spoke to him, but he made me no reply, and I -was beginning to think that he was suddenly taken ill, when I took -notice of his eyes, which were glaring apparently at some object behind -me. I turned my head, and shall never forget the ecstatic joy which -thrilled through every particle of my frame, when I perceived a large -brig bearing down upon us, and not more than a couple of miles off. I -sprung to my feet as if a musket bullet had suddenly struck me to the -heart; and, stretching out my arms in the direction of the vessel, -stood in this manner, motionless, and unable to articulate a syllable. -Peters and Parker were equally affected, although in different ways. -The former danced about the deck like a madman, uttering the most -extravagant rhodomontades, intermingled with howls and imprecations, -while the latter burst into tears, and continued for many minutes -weeping like a child.</p> - -<p>The vessel in sight was a large hermaphrodite brig, of a Dutch build, -and painted black, with a tawdry gilt figurehead. She had evidently -seen a good deal of rough weather, and, we supposed, had suffered much -in the gale which had proved so disastrous to ourselves; for her -foretopmast was gone, and some of her starboard bulwarks. When we first -saw her, she was, as I have already said, about two miles off and to -windward, bearing down upon us. The breeze was very gentle, and what -astonished us chiefly was, that she had no other sails set than her -foresail and mainsail, with a flying jib—of course she came down but -slowly, and our impatience amounted nearly to phrensy. The awkward -manner in which she steered, too, was remarked by all of us, even -excited as we were. She yawed about so considerably, that once or twice -we thought it impossible she could see us, or imagined that, having -seen us, and discovered no person on board, she was about to tack and -make off in another direction. Upon each of these occasions we screamed -and shouted at the top of our voices, when the stranger would appear to -change for a moment her intention, and again hold on towards us—this -singular conduct being repeated two or three times, so that at last we -could think of no other manner of accounting for it than by supposing -the helmsman to be in liquor.</p> - -<p>No person was seen upon her decks until she arrived within about a -quarter of a mile of us. We then saw three seamen, whom by their dress -we took to be Hollanders. Two of these were lying on some old sails -near the forecastle, and the third, who appeared to be looking at us -with great curiosity, was leaning over the starboard bow near the -bowsprit. This last was a stout and tall man, with a very dark skin. He -seemed by his manner to be encouraging us to have patience, nodding to -us in a cheerful although rather odd way, and smiling constantly so as -to display a set of the most brilliantly white teeth. As his vessel -drew nearer, we saw a red flannel cap which he had on fall from his -head into the water; but of this he took little or no notice, -continuing his odd smiles and gesticulations. I relate these things and -circumstances minutely, and I relate them, it must be understood, -precisely as they <i>appeared</i> to us.</p> - -<p>The brig came on slowly, and now more steadily than before, and—I -cannot speak calmly of this event—our hearts leaped up wildly within -us, and we poured out our whole souls in shouts and thanksgiving to God -for the complete, unexpected, and glorious deliverance that was so -palpably at hand. Of a sudden, and all at once, there came wafted over -the ocean from the strange vessel (which was now close upon us) a -smell, a stench, such as the whole world has no name for—no conception -of—hellish—utterly suffocating—insufferable, inconceivable. I gasped -for breath, and, turning to my companions, perceived that they were -paler than marble. But we had now no time left for question or -surmise—the brig was within fifty feet of us, and it seemed to be her -intention to run under our counter, that we might board her without her -putting out a boat. We rushed aft, when, suddenly, a wide yaw threw her -off full five or six points from the course she had been running, and, -as she passed under our stern at the distance of about twenty feet, we -had a full view of her decks. Shall I ever forget the triple horror of -that spectacle? Twenty-five or thirty human bodies, among whom were -several females, lay scattered about between the counter and the -galley, in the last and most loathsome state of putrefaction! We -plainly saw that not a soul lived in that fated vessel! Yet we could -not help shouting to the dead for help! Yes, long and loudly did we -beg, in the agony of the moment, that those silent and disgusting -images would stay for us, would not abandon us to become like them, -would receive us among their goodly company! We were raving with horror -and despair—thoroughly mad through the anguish of our grievous -disappointment.</p> - -<p>As our first loud yell of terror broke forth, it was replied to by -something, from near the bowsprit of the stranger, so closely -resembling the scream of a human voice that the nicest ear might have -been startled and deceived. At this instant another sudden yaw brought -the region of the forecastle for a moment into view, and we beheld at -once the origin of the sound. We saw the tall stout figure still -leaning on the bulwark, and still nodding his head to and fro, but his -face was now turned from us so that we could not behold it. His arms -were extended over the rail, and the palms of his hands fell outward. -His knees were lodged upon a stout rope, tightly stretched, and -reaching from the heel of the bowsprit to a cathead. On his back, from -which a portion of the shirt had been torn, leaving it bare, there sat -a huge seagull, busily gorging itself with the horrible flesh, its bill -and talons deep buried, and its white plumage spattered all over with -blood. As the brig moved further round so as to bring us close in view, -the bird, with much apparent difficulty, drew out its crimsoned head, -and, after eying us for a moment as if stupified, arose lazily from the -body upon which it had been feasting, and, flying directly above our -deck, hovered there a while with a portion of clotted and liver-like -substance in its beak. The horrid morsel dropped at length with a -sullen splash immediately at the feet of Parker. May God forgive me, -but now, for the first time, there flashed through my mind a thought, a -thought which I will not mention, and I felt myself making a step -towards the ensanguined spot. I looked upward, and the eyes of Augustus -met my own with a degree of intense and eager meaning which immediately -brought me to my senses. I sprang forward quickly, and, with a deep -shudder, threw the frightful thing into the sea.</p> - -<p>The body from which it had been taken, resting as it did upon the rope, -had been easily swayed to and fro by the exertions of the carnivorous -bird, and it was this motion which had at first impressed us with the -belief of its being alive. As the gull relieved it of its weight, it -swung round and fell partially over, so that the face was fully -discovered. Never, surely, was any object so terribly full of awe! The -eyes were gone, and the whole flesh around the mouth, leaving the teeth -utterly naked. This, then, was the smile which had cheered us on to -hope! this the—but I forbear. The brig, as I have already told, passed -under our stern, and made its way slowly but steadily to leeward. With -her and with her terrible crew went all our gay visions of deliverance -and joy. Deliberately as she went by, we might possibly have found -means of boarding her, had not our sudden disappointment, and the -appalling nature of the discovery which accompanied it, laid entirely -prostrate every active faculty of mind and body. We had seen and felt, -but we could neither think nor act, until, alas, too late. How much our -intellects had been weakened by this incident may be estimated by the -fact, that, when the vessel had proceeded so far that we could perceive -no more than the half of her hull, the proposition was seriously -entertained of attempting to overtake her by swimming!</p> - -<p>I have, since this period, vainly endeavoured to obtain some clew to -the hideous uncertainty which enveloped the fate of the stranger. Her -build and general appearance, as I have before stated, led us to the -belief that she was a Dutch trader, and the dresses of the crew also -sustained this opinion. We might have easily seen the name upon her -stern, and, indeed, taken other observations which would have guided us -in making out her character; but the intense excitement of the moment -blinded us to everything of that nature. From the saffron-like hue of -such of the corpses as were not entirely decayed, we concluded that the -whole of her company had perished by the yellow fever, or some other -virulent disease of the same fearful kind. If such were the case (and I -know not what else to imagine), death, to judge from the positions of -the bodies, must have come upon them in a manner awfully sudden and -overwhelming, in a way totally distinct from that which generally -characterizes even the most deadly pestilences with which mankind are -acquainted. It is possible, indeed, that poison, accidentally -introduced into some of their sea-stores, may have brought about the -disaster; or that the eating some unknown venomous species of fish, or -other marine animal, or oceanic bird, might have induced it—but it is -utterly useless to form conjectures where all is involved, and will, no -doubt, remain for ever involved, in the most appalling and unfathomable -mystery.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap11"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XI.</h3> -<br> - -<p>We spent the remainder of the day in a condition of stupid lethargy, -gazing after the retreating vessel until the darkness, hiding her from -our sight, recalled us in some measure to our senses. The pangs of -hunger and thirst then returned, absorbing all other cares and -considerations. Nothing, however, could be done until the morning, and, -securing ourselves as well as possible, we endeavoured to snatch a -little repose. In this I succeeded beyond my expectation, sleeping -until my companions, who had not been so fortunate, aroused me at -daybreak to renew our attempts at getting up provision from the hull.</p> - -<p>It was now a dead calm, with the sea as smooth as I have ever known -it—the weather warm and pleasant. The brig was out of sight. We -commenced our operations by wrenching off, with some trouble, another -of the forechains; and having fastened both to Peters's feet, he again -made an endeavour to reach the door of the storeroom, thinking it -possible that he might be able to force it open, provided he could get -at it in sufficient time; and this he hoped to do, as the hulk lay much -more steadily than before.</p> - -<p>He succeeded very quickly in reaching the door, when, loosening one of -the chains from his ankle, he made every exertion to force a passage -with it, but in vain, the framework of the room being far stronger than -was anticipated. He was quite exhausted with his long stay under water, -and it became absolutely necessary that some other one of us should -take his place. For this service Parker immediately volunteered; but, -after making three ineffectual efforts, found that he could never even -succeed in getting near the door. The condition of Augustus's wounded -arm rendered it useless for him to attempt going down, as he would be -unable to force the room open should he reach it, and it accordingly -now devolved upon me to exert myself for our common deliverance.</p> - -<p>Peters had left one of the chains in the passage, and I found, upon -plunging in, that I had not sufficient ballast to keep me firmly down. -I determined, therefore, to attempt no more, in my first effort, than -merely to recover the other chain. In groping along the floor of the -passage for this I felt a hard substance, which I immediately grasped, -not having time to ascertain what it was, but returning and ascending -instantly to the surface. The prize proved to be a bottle, and our joy -may be conceived when I say that it was found to be full of Port wine. -Giving thanks to God for this timely and cheering assistance, we -immediately drew the cork with my penknife, and, each taking a moderate -sup, felt the most indescribable comfort from the warmth, strength, and -spirits with which it inspired us. We then carefully recorked the -bottle, and, by means of a handkerchief, swung it in such a manner that -there was no possibility of its getting broken.</p> - -<p>Having rested a while after this fortunate discovery, I again -descended, and now recovered the chain, with which I instantly came up. -I then fastened it on and went down for the third time, when I became -fully satisfied that no exertions whatever, in that situation, would -enable me to force open the door of the storeroom. I therefore returned -in despair.</p> - -<p>There seemed now to be no longer any room for hope, and I could -perceive in the countenances of my companions that they had made up -their minds to perish. The wine had evidently produced in them a -species of delirium, which, perhaps, I had been prevented from feeling -by the immersion I had undergone since drinking it. They talked -incoherently, and about matters unconnected with our condition, Peters -repeatedly asking me questions about Nantucket. Augustus, too, I -remember, approached me with a serious air, and requested me to lend -him a pocket-comb, as his hair was full of fish scales, and he wished -to get them out before going on shore. Parker appeared somewhat less -affected, and urged me to dive at random into the cabin, and bring up -any article which might come to hand. To this I consented, and, in the -first attempt, after staying under a full minute, brought up a small -leather trunk belonging to Captain Barnard. This was immediately opened -in the faint hope that it might contain something to eat or drink. We -found nothing, however, except a box of razors and two linen shirts. I -now went down again, and returned without any success. As my head came -above water I heard a crash on deck, and, upon getting up, saw that my -companions had ungratefully taken advantage of my absence to drink the -remainder of the wine, having let the bottle fall in the endeavour to -replace it before I saw them. I remonstrated with them on the -heartlessness of their conduct, when Augustus burst into tears. The -other two endeavoured to laugh the matter off as a joke, but I hope -never again to behold laughter of such a species: the distortion of -countenance was absolutely frightful. Indeed, it was apparent that the -stimulus, in the empty state of their stomachs, had taken instant and -violent effect, and that they were all exceedingly intoxicated. With -great difficulty I prevailed upon them to lie down, when they fell very -soon into a heavy slumber, accompanied with loud stertorous breathing.</p> - -<p>I now found myself, as it were, alone in the brig, and my reflections, -to be sure, were of the most fearful and gloomy nature. No prospect -offered itself to my view but a lingering death by famine, or, at the -best, by being overwhelmed in the first gale which should spring up, -for in our present exhausted condition we could have no hope of living -through another.</p> - -<p>The gnawing hunger which I now experienced was nearly insupportable, -and I felt myself capable of going to any lengths in order to appease -it. With my knife I cut off a small portion of the leather trunk, and -endeavoured to eat it, but found it utterly impossible to swallow a -single morsel, although I fancied that some little alleviation of my -suffering was obtained by chewing small pieces of it and spitting them -out. Towards night my companions awoke, one by one, each in an -indescribable state of weakness and horror, brought on by the wine, whose -fumes had now evaporated. They shook as if with a violent ague, and -uttered the most lamentable cries for water. Their condition affected -me in the most lively degree, at the same time causing me to rejoice in -the fortunate train of circumstances which had prevented me from -indulging in the wine, and consequently from sharing their melancholy -and most distressing sensations. Their conduct, however, gave me great -uneasiness and alarm; for it was evident that, unless some favourable -change took place, they could afford me no assistance in providing for -our common safety. I had not yet abandoned all idea of being able to -get up something from below; but the attempt could not possibly be -resumed until some one of them was sufficiently master of himself to -aid me by holding the end of the rope while I went down. Parker -appeared to be somewhat more in possession of his senses than the -others, and I endeavoured, by every means in my power, to arouse him. -Thinking that a plunge in the seawater might have a beneficial effect, -I contrived to fasten the end of a rope around his body, and then, -leading him to the companion-way (he remaining quite passive all the -while), pushed him in, and immediately drew him out. I had good reason -to congratulate myself upon having made this experiment; for he -appeared much revived and invigorated, and, upon getting out, asked me, -in a rational manner, why I had so served him. Having explained my -object, he expressed himself indebted to me, and said that he felt -greatly better from the immersion, afterward conversing sensibly upon -our situation. We then resolved to treat Augustus and Peters in the -same way, which we immediately did, when they both experienced much -benefit from the shock. This idea of sudden immersion had been -suggested to me by reading in some medical work the good effect of the -shower-bath in a case where the patient was suffering from <i>mania à -potu</i>.</p> - -<p>Finding that I could now trust my companions to hold the end of the -rope, I again made three or four plunges into the cabin, although it -was now quite dark, and a gentle but long swell from the northward -rendered the hulk somewhat unsteady. In the course of these attempts I -succeeded in bringing up two case-knives, a three-gallon jug, empty, -and a blanket, but nothing which could serve us for food. I continued -my efforts, after getting these articles, until I was completely -exhausted, but brought up nothing else. During the night Parker and -Peters occupied themselves by turns in the same manner; but nothing -coming to hand, we now gave up this attempt in despair, concluding that -we were exhausting ourselves in vain.</p> - -<p>We passed the remainder of this night in a state of the most intense -mental and bodily anguish that can possibly be imagined. The morning of -the sixteenth at length dawned, and we looked eagerly around the -horizon for relief, but to no purpose. The sea was still smooth, with -only a long swell from the northward, as on yesterday. This was the -sixth day since we had tasted either food or drink, with the exception -of the bottle of Port wine, and it was clear that we could hold out but -a very little while longer unless something could be obtained. I never -saw before, nor wish to see again, human beings so utterly emaciated as -Peters and Augustus. Had I met them on shore in their present condition -I should not have had the slightest suspicion that I had ever beheld -them. Their countenances were totally changed in character, so that I -could not bring myself to believe them really the same individuals with -whom I had been in company but a few days before. Parker, although -sadly reduced, and so feeble that he could not raise his head from his -bosom, was not so far gone as the other two. He suffered with great -patience, making no complaint, and endeavouring to inspire us with hope -in every manner he could devise. For myself, although at the -commencement of the voyage I had been in bad health, and was at all -times of a delicate constitution, I suffered less than any of us, being -much less reduced in frame, and retaining my powers of mind in a -surprising degree, while the rest were completely prostrated in -intellect, and seemed to be brought to a species of second childhood, -generally simpering in their expressions, with idiotic smiles, and -uttering the most absurd platitudes. At intervals, however, they would -appear to revive suddenly, as if inspired all at once with a -consciousness of their condition, when they would spring upon their -feet in a momentary flash of vigour, and speak, for a short period, of -their prospects, in a manner altogether rational, although full of the -most intense despair. It is possible, however, that my companions may -have entertained the same opinion of their own condition as I did of -mine, and that I may have unwittingly been guilty of the same -extravagances and imbecilities as themselves—this is a matter which -cannot be determined.</p> - -<p>About noon Parker declared that he saw land off the larboard quarter, -and it was with the utmost difficulty I could restrain him from -plunging into the sea with the view of swimming towards it. Peters and -Augustus took little notice of what he said, being apparently wrapped -up in moody contemplation. Upon looking in the direction pointed out I -could not perceive the faintest appearance of the shore—indeed, I was -too well aware that we were far from any land to indulge in a hope of -that nature. It was a long time, nevertheless, before I could convince -Parker of his mistake. He then burst into a flood of tears, weeping -like a child, with loud cries and sobs, for two or three hours, when, -becoming exhausted, he fell asleep.</p> - -<p>Peters and Augustus now made several ineffectual efforts to swallow -portions of the leather. I advised them to chew it and spit it out; but -they were too excessively debilitated to be able to follow my advice. I -continued to chew pieces of it at intervals, and found some relief from -so doing; my chief distress was for water, and I was only prevented -from taking a draught from the sea by remembering the horrible -consequences which thus have resulted to others who were similarly -situated with ourselves.</p> - -<p>The day wore on in this manner, when I suddenly discovered a sail to -the eastward, and on our larboard bow. She appeared to be a large ship, -and was coming nearly athwart us, being probably twelve or fifteen -miles distant. None of my companions had as yet discovered her, and I -forbore to tell them of her for the present, lest we might again be -disappointed of relief. At length, upon her getting nearer, I saw -distinctly that she was heading immediately for us, with her light -sails filled. I could now contain myself no longer, and pointed her out -to my fellow-sufferers. They immediately sprang to their feet, again -indulging in the most extravagant demonstrations of joy, weeping, -laughing in an idiotic manner, jumping, stamping upon the deck, tearing -their hair, and praying and cursing by turns. I was so affected by -their conduct, as well as by what I now considered a sure prospect of -deliverance, that I could not refrain from joining in with their -madness, and gave way to the impulses of my gratitude and ecstasy by -lying and rolling on the deck, clapping my hands, shouting, and other -similar acts, until I was suddenly called to my recollection, and once -more to the extreme of human misery and despair, by perceiving the ship -all at once with her stern fully presented towards us, and steering in -a direction nearly opposite to that in which I had at first perceived her.</p> - -<p>It was some time before I could induce my poor companions to believe -that this sad reverse in our prospects had actually taken place. They -replied to all my assertions with a stare and a gesture implying that -they were not to be deceived by such misrepresentations. The conduct of -Augustus most sensibly affected me. In spite of all I could say or do -to the contrary, he persisted in saying that the ship was rapidly -nearing us, and in making preparations to go on board of her. Some -seaweed floating by the brig, he maintained that it was the ship's -boat, and endeavoured to throw himself upon it, howling and shrieking -in the most heartrending manner, when I forcibly restrained him from -thus casting himself into the sea.</p> - -<p>Having become in some degree pacified, we continued to watch the ship -until we finally lost sight of her, the weather becoming hazy, with a -light breeze springing up. As soon as she was entirely gone, Parker -turned suddenly towards me with an expression of countenance which made -me shudder. There was about him an air of self-possession which I had -not noticed in him until now, and before he opened his lips my heart -told me what he would say. He proposed, in a few words, that one of us -should die to preserve the existence of the others.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap12"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XII.</h3> -<br> - -<p>I had, for some time past, dwelt upon the prospect of our being reduced -to this last horrible extremity, and had secretly made up my mind to -suffer death in any shape or under any circumstances rather than resort -to such a course. Nor was this resolution in any degree weakened by the -present intensity of hunger under which I laboured. The proposition had -not been heard by either Peters or Augustus. I therefore took Parker -aside; and mentally praying to God for power to dissuade him from the -horrible purpose he entertained, I expostulated with him for a long -time and in the most supplicating manner, begging him in the name of -everything which he held sacred, and urging him by every species of -argument which the extremity of the case suggested, to abandon the -idea, and not to mention it to either of the other two.</p> - -<p>He heard all I said without attempting to controvert any of my -arguments, and I had begun to hope that he would be prevailed upon to -do as I desired. But when I had ceased speaking, he said that he knew -very well all I had said was true, and that to resort to such a course -was the most horrible alternative which could enter into the mind of -man; but that he had now held out as long as human nature could be -sustained; that it was unnecessary for all to perish, when, by the -death of one, it was possible, and even probable, that the rest might -be finally preserved; adding that I might save myself the trouble of -trying to turn him from his purpose, his mind having been thoroughly -made up on the subject even before the appearance of the ship, and that -only her heaving in sight had prevented him from mentioning his -intention at an earlier period.</p> - -<p>I now begged him, if he would not be prevailed upon to abandon his -design, at least to defer it for another day, when some vessel might -come to our relief; again reiterating every argument I could devise, -and which I thought likely to have influence with one of his rough -nature. He said, in reply, that he had not spoken until the very last -possible moment; that he could exist no longer without sustenance of -some kind; and that therefore in another day his suggestion would be -too late, as regarded himself at least.</p> - -<p>Finding that he was not to be moved by anything I could say in a mild -tone, I now assumed a different demeanour, and told him that he must be -aware I had suffered less than any of us from our calamities; that my -health and strength, consequently, were at that moment far better than -his own, or than that either of Peters or Augustus; in short, that I -was in a condition to have my own way by force if I found it necessary; -and that, if he attempted in any manner to acquaint the others with his -bloody and cannibal designs, I would not hesitate to throw him into the -sea. Upon this he immediately seized me by the throat, and drawing a -knife, made several ineffectual efforts to stab me in the stomach; an -atrocity which his excessive debility alone prevented him from -accomplishing. In the mean time, being roused to a high pitch of anger, -I forced him to the vessel's side, with the full intention of throwing -him overboard. He was saved from this fate, however, by the -interference of Peters, who now approached and separated us, asking the -cause of the disturbance. This Parker told before I could find means in -any manner to prevent him.</p> - -<p>The effect of his words was even more terrible than what I had -anticipated. Both Augustus and Peters, who, it seems, had long secretly -entertained the same fearful idea which Parker had been merely the -first to broach, joined with him in his design, and insisted upon its -being immediately carried into effect. I had calculated that one at -least of the two former would be found still possessed of sufficient -strength of mind to side with myself in resisting any attempt to -execute so dreadful a purpose; and, with the aid of either one of them, -I had no fear of being able to prevent its accomplishment. Being -disappointed in this expectation, it became absolutely necessary that I -should attend to my own safety, as a further resistance on my part -might possibly be considered by men in their frightful condition a -sufficient excuse for refusing me fair play in the tragedy that I knew -would speedily be enacted.</p> - -<p>I now told them I was willing to submit to the proposal, merely -requesting a delay of about one hour, in order that the fog which had -gathered around us might have an opportunity of lifting, when it was -possible that the ship we had seen might be again in sight. After great -difficulty I obtained from them a promise to wait thus long; and, as I -had anticipated (a breeze rapidly coming in), the fog lifted before the -hour had expired, when, no vessel appearing in sight, we prepared to -draw lots.</p> - -<p>It is with extreme reluctance that I dwell upon the appalling scene -which ensued; a scene which, with its minutest details, no after events -have been able to efface in the slightest degree from my memory, and -whose stern recollection will imbitter every future moment of my -existence. Let me run over this portion of my narrative with as much -haste as the nature of the events to be spoken of will permit. The only -method we could devise for the terrific lottery, in which we were to -take each a chance, was that of drawing straws. Small splinters of wood -were made to answer our purpose, and it was agreed that I should be the -holder. I retired to one end of the hulk, while my poor companions -silently took up their station in the other with their backs turned -towards me. The bitterest anxiety which I endured at any period of this -fearful drama was while I occupied myself in the arrangement of the -lots. There are few conditions into which man can possibly fall where -he will not feel a deep interest in the preservation of his existence; -an interest momentarily increasing with the frailness of the tenure by -which that existence may be held. But now that the silent, definite, -and stern nature of the business in which I was engaged (so different -from the tumultuous dangers of the storm or the gradually approaching -horrors of famine) allowed me to reflect on the few chances I had of -escaping the most appalling of deaths—a death for the most appalling -of purposes—every particle of that energy which had so long buoyed me -up departed like feathers before the wind, leaving me a helpless prey -to the most abject and pitiable terror. I could not, at first, even -summon up sufficient strength to tear and fit together the small -splinters of wood, my fingers absolutely refusing their office, and my -knees knocking violently against each other. My mind ran over rapidly a -thousand absurd projects by which to avoid becoming a partner in the -awful speculation. I thought of falling on my knees to my companions, -and entreating them to let me escape this necessity; of suddenly -rushing upon them, and, by putting one of them to death, of rendering -the decision by lot useless—in short, of everything but of going -through with the matter I had in hand. At last, after wasting a long -time in this imbecile conduct, I was recalled to my senses by the voice -of Parker, who urged me to relieve them at once from the terrible -anxiety they were enduring. Even then I could not bring myself to -arrange the splinters upon the spot, but thought over every species of -finesse by which I could trick some one of my fellow-sufferers to draw -the short straw, as it had been agreed that whoever drew the shortest -of four splinters from my hand was to die for the preservation of the -rest. Before any one condemn me for this apparent heartlessness, let -him be placed in a situation precisely similar to my own.</p> - -<p>At length delay was no longer possible, and, with a heart almost -bursting from my bosom, I advanced to the region of the forecastle, -where my companions were awaiting me. I held out my hand with the -splinters, and Peters immediately drew. He was free—<i>his</i>, at least, -was not the shortest; and there was now another chance against my -escape. I summoned up all my strength, and passed the lots to Augustus. -He also drew immediately, and he also was free; and now, whether I -should live or die, the chances were no more than precisely even. At -this moment all the fierceness of the tiger possessed my bosom, and I -felt towards my poor fellow-creature, Parker, the most intense, the -most diabolical hatred. But the feeling did not last; and, at length, -with a convulsive shudder and closed eyes, I held out the two remaining -splinters towards him. It was full five minutes before he could summon -resolution to draw, during which period of heartrending suspense I -never once opened my eyes. Presently one of the two lots was quickly -drawn from my hand. The decision was then over, yet I knew not whether -it was for me or against me. No one spoke, and still I dared not -satisfy myself by looking at the splinter I held. Peters at length took -me by the hand, and I forced myself to look up, when I immediately saw -by the countenance of Parker that I was safe, and that he it was who -had been doomed to suffer. Gasping for breath, I fell senseless to the -deck.</p> - -<p>I recovered from my swoon in time to behold the consummation of the -tragedy in the death of him who had been chiefly instrumental in -bringing it about. He made no resistance whatever, and was stabbed in -the back by Peters, when he fell instantly dead. I must not dwell upon -the fearful repast which immediately ensued. Such things may be -imagined, but words have no power to impress the mind with the -exquisite horror of their reality. Let it suffice to say that, having -in some measure appeased the raging thirst which consumed us by the -blood of the victim, and having by common consent taken off the hands, -feet, and head, throwing them, together with the entrails, into the -sea, we devoured the rest of the body, piecemeal, during the four ever -memorable days of the seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth, and -twentieth of the month.</p> - -<p>On the nineteenth, there coming on a smart shower which lasted fifteen -or twenty minutes, we contrived to catch some water by means of a sheet -which had been fished up from the cabin by our drag just after the -gale. The quantity we took in all did not amount to more than half a -gallon; but even this scanty allowance supplied us with comparative -strength and hope.</p> - -<p>On the twenty-first we were again reduced to the last necessity. The -weather still remained warm and pleasant, with occasional fogs and -light breezes, most usually from N. to W.</p> - -<p>On the twenty-second, as we were sitting close huddled together, -gloomily revolving over our lamentable condition, there flashed through -my mind all at once an idea which inspired me with a bright gleam of -hope. I remembered that, when the foremast had been cut away, Peters, -being in the windward chains, passed one of the axes into my hand, -requesting me to put it, if possible, in a place of security, and that -a few minutes before the last heavy sea struck the brig and filled her -I had taken this axe into the forecastle, and laid it in one of the -larboard berths. I now thought it possible that, by getting at this -axe, we might cut through the deck over the storeroom, and thus readily -supply ourselves with provisions.</p> - -<p>When I communicated this project to my companions, they uttered a -feeble shout of joy, and we all proceeded forthwith to the forecastle. -The difficulty of descending here was greater than that of going down -in the cabin, the opening being much smaller, for it will be remembered -that the whole framework about the cabin companion-hatch had been -carried away, whereas the forecastle-way, being a simple hatch of only -about three feet square, had remained uninjured. I did not hesitate, -however, to attempt the descent; and, a rope being fastened round my -body as before, I plunged boldly in, feet foremost, made my way quickly -to the berth, and, at the very first attempt, brought up the axe. It -was hailed with the most ecstatic joy and triumph, and the ease with -which it had been obtained was regarded as an omen of our ultimate -preservation.</p> - -<p>We now commenced cutting at the deck with all the energy of rekindled -hope, Peters and myself taking the axe by turns, Augustus's wounded arm -not permitting him to aid us in any degree. As we were still so feeble -as to be scarcely able to stand unsupported, and could consequently -work but a minute or two without resting, it soon became evident that -many long hours would be requisite to accomplish our task—that is, to -cut an opening sufficiently large to admit of a free access to the -storeroom. This consideration, however, did not discourage us; and, -working all night by the light of the moon, we succeeded in effecting -our purpose by daybreak on the morning of the twenty-third.</p> - -<p>Peters now volunteered to go down; and, having made all arrangements as -before, he descended, and soon returned, bringing up with him a small -jar, which, to our great joy, proved to be full of olives. Having -shared these among us, and devoured them with the greatest avidity, we -proceeded to let him down again. This time he succeeded beyond our -utmost expectations, returning instantly with a large ham and a bottle -of Madeira wine. Of the latter we each took a moderate sup, having -learned by experience the pernicious consequences of indulging too -freely. The ham, except about two pounds near the bone, was not in a -condition to be eaten, having been entirely spoiled by the salt water. -The sound part was divided among us. Peters and Augustus, not being -able to restrain their appetite, swallowed theirs upon the instant; but -I was more cautious, and ate but a small portion of mine, dreading the -thirst which I knew would ensue. We now rested a while from our -labours, which had been intolerably severe.</p> - -<p>By noon, feeling somewhat strengthened and refreshed, we again renewed -our attempt at getting up provision, Peters and myself going down -alternately, and always with more or less success, until sundown. -During this interval we had the good fortune to bring up, altogether, -four more small jars of olives, another ham, a carboy containing nearly -three gallons of excellent Cape Madeira wine, and, what gave us still -more delight, a small tortoise of the Gallipago breed, several of which -had been taken on board by Captain Barnard, as the Grampus was leaving -port, from the schooner Mary Pitts, just returned from a sealing voyage -in the Pacific.</p> - -<p>In a subsequent portion of this narrative I shall have frequent -occasion to mention this species of tortoise. It is found principally, -as most of my readers may know, in the group of islands called the -Gallipagos, which, indeed, derive their name from the animal—the -Spanish word Gallipago meaning a fresh-water terapin. From the -peculiarity of their shape and action they have been sometimes called -the elephant tortoise. They are frequently found of an enormous size. I -have myself seen several which would weigh from twelve to fifteen -hundred pounds, although I do not remember that any navigator speaks of -having seen them weighing more than eight hundred. Their appearance is -singular, and even disgusting. Their steps are very slow, measured, and -heavy, their bodies being carried about a foot from the ground. Their -neck is long, and exceedingly slender; from eighteen inches to two feet -is a very common length, and I killed one, where the distance from the -shoulder to the extremity of the head was no less than three feet ten -inches. The head has a striking resemblance to that of a serpent. They -can exist without food for an almost incredible length of time, -instances having been known where they have been thrown into the hold -of a vessel and lain two years without nourishment of any kind—being -as fat, and, in every respect, in as good order at the expiration of -the time as when they were first put in. In one particular these -extraordinary animals bear a resemblance to the dromedary, or camel of -the desert. In a bag at the root of the neck they carry with them a -constant supply of water. In some instances, upon killing them after a -full year's deprivation of all nourishment, as much as three gallons of -perfectly sweet and fresh water have been found in their bags. Their -food is chiefly wild parsley and celery, with purslain, sea-kelp, and -prickly pears, upon which latter vegetable they thrive wonderfully, a -great quantity of it being usually found on the hillsides near the -shore wherever the animal itself is discovered. They are excellent and -highly nutritious food, and have, no doubt, been the means of -preserving the lives of thousands of seamen employed in the -whale-fishery and other pursuits in the Pacific.</p> - -<p>The one which we had the good fortune to bring up from the storeroom -was not of a large size, weighing probably sixty-five or seventy -pounds. It was a female, and in excellent condition, being exceedingly -fat, and having more than a quart of limpid and sweet water in its bag. -This was indeed a treasure; and, falling on our knees with one accord, -we returned fervent thanks to God for so seasonable a relief.</p> - -<p>We had great difficulty in getting the animal up through the opening, -as its struggles were fierce and its strength prodigious. It was upon -the point of making its escape from Peters's grasp, and slipping back -into the water, when Augustus, throwing a rope with a slip-knot around -its throat, held it up in this manner until I jumped into the hole by -the side of Peters, and assisted him in lifting it out.</p> - -<p>The water we drew carefully from the bag into the jug, which, it will -be remembered, had been brought up before from the cabin. Having done -this, we broke off the neck of a bottle so as to form, with the cork, a -kind of glass, holding not quite half a gill. We then each drank one of -these measures full, and resolved to limit ourselves to this quantity -per day as long as it should hold out.</p> - -<p>During the last two or three days, the weather having been dry and -pleasant, the bedding we had obtained from the cabin, as well as our -clothing, had become thoroughly dry, so that we passed this night (that -of the twenty-third) in comparative comfort, enjoying a tranquil -repose, after having supped plentifully on olives and ham, with a small -allowance of the wine. Being afraid of losing some of our stores -overboard during the night, in the event of a breeze springing up, we -secured them as well as possible with cordage to the fragments of the -windlass. Our tortoise, which we were anxious to preserve alive as long -as we could, we threw on his back, and otherwise carefully fastened.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap13"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XIII.</h3> -<br> - -<p><i>July 24.</i> This morning saw us wonderfully recruited in spirits and -strength. Notwithstanding the perilous situation in which we were still -placed, ignorant of our position, although certainly at a great -distance from land, without more food than would last us for a -fortnight even with great care, almost entirely without water, and -floating about at the mercy of every wind and wave, on the merest wreck -in the world, still the infinitely more terrible distresses and dangers -from which we had so lately and so providentially been delivered caused -us to regard what we now endured as but little more than an ordinary -evil—so strictly comparative is either good or ill.</p> - -<p>At sunrise we were preparing to renew our attempts at getting up -something from the storeroom, when, a smart shower coming on, with some -lightning, we turned our attention to the catching of water by means of -the sheet we had used before for this purpose. We had no other means of -collecting the rain than by holding the sheet spread out with one of -the forechain-plates in the middle of it. The water, thus conducted to -the centre, was drained through into our jug. We had nearly filled it -in this manner, when, a heavy squall coming on from the northward, -obliged us to desist, as the hulk began once more to roll so violently -that we could no longer keep our feet. We now went forward, and, -lashing ourselves securely to the remnant of the windlass as before, -awaited the event with far more calmness than could have been -anticipated, or would have been imagined possible under the -circumstances. At noon the wind had freshened into a two-reef breeze, -and by night into a stiff gale, accompanied with a tremendously heavy -swell. Experience having taught us, however, the best method of -arranging our lashings, we weathered this dreary night in tolerable -security, although thoroughly drenched at almost every instant by the -sea, and in momentary dread of being washed off. Fortunately, the -weather was so warm as to render the water rather grateful than -otherwise.</p> - -<p><i>July 25.</i> This morning the gale had diminished to a mere ten-knot -breeze, and the sea had gone down with it so considerably that we were -able to keep ourselves dry upon the deck. To our great grief, however, -we found that two jars of our olives, as well as the whole of our ham, -had been washed overboard, in spite of the careful manner in which they -had been fastened. We determined not to kill the tortoise as yet, and -contented ourselves for the present with a breakfast on a few of the -olives, and a measure of water each, which latter we mixed, half and -half, with wine, finding great relief and strength from the mixture, -without the distressing intoxication which had ensued upon drinking the -Port. The sea was still far too rough for the renewal of our efforts at -getting up provision from the storeroom. Several articles, of no -importance to us in our present situation, floated up through the -opening during the day, and were immediately washed overboard. We also -now observed that the hulk lay more along than ever, so that we could -not stand an instant without lashing ourselves. On this account we -passed a gloomy and uncomfortable day. At noon the sun appeared to be -nearly vertical, and we had no doubt that we had been driven down by -the long succession of northward and northwesterly winds into the near -vicinity of the equator. Towards evening saw several sharks, and were -somewhat alarmed by the audacious manner in which an enormously large -one approached us. At one time, a lurch throwing the deck very far -beneath the water, the monster actually swam in upon us, floundering -for some moments just over the companion-hatch, and striking Peters -violently with his tail. A heavy sea at length hurled him overboard, -much to our relief. In moderate weather we might have easily captured him.</p> - -<p><i>July 26.</i> This morning, the wind having greatly abated, and the sea -not being very rough, we determined to renew our exertions in the -storeroom. After a great deal of hard labour during the whole day, we -found that nothing further was to be expected from this quarter, the -partitions of the room having been stove during the night, and its -contents swept into the hold. This discovery, as may be supposed, -filled us with despair.</p> - -<p><i>July 27.</i> The sea nearly smooth, with a light wind, and still from the -northward and westward. The sun coming out hotly in the afternoon, we -occupied ourselves in drying our clothes. Found great relief from -thirst, and much comfort otherwise, by bathing in the sea; in this, -however, we were forced to use great caution, being afraid of sharks, -several of which were seen swimming around the brig during the day.</p> - -<p><i>July 28.</i> Good weather still. The brig now began to lie along so -alarmingly that we feared she would eventually roll bottom up. Prepared -ourselves as well as we could for this emergency, lashing our tortoise, -water-jug, and two remaining jars of olives as far as possible over to -the windward, placing them outside the hull, below the main-chains. The -sea very smooth all day, with little or no wind.</p> - -<p><i>July 29.</i> A continuance of the same weather. Augustus's wounded arm -began to evince symptoms of mortification. He complained of drowsiness -and excessive thirst, but no acute pain. Nothing could be done for his -relief beyond rubbing his wounds with a little of the vinegar from the -olives, and from this no benefit seemed to be experienced. We did -everything in our power for his comfort, and trebled his allowance of -water.</p> - -<p><i>July 30.</i> An excessively hot day, with no wind. An enormous shark kept -close by the hulk during the whole of the forenoon. We made several -unsuccessful attempts to capture him by means of a noose. Augustus much -worse, and evidently sinking as much from want of proper nourishment as -from the effect of his wounds. He constantly prayed to be released from -his sufferings, wishing for nothing but death. This evening we ate the -last of our olives, and found the water in our jug so putrid that we -could not swallow it at all without the addition of wine. Determined to -kill our tortoise in the morning.</p> - -<p><i>July 31.</i> After a night of excessive anxiety and fatigue, owing to the -position of the hulk, we set about killing and cutting up our tortoise. -He proved to be much smaller than we had supposed, although in good -condition—the whole meat about him not amounting to more than ten -pounds. With a view of preserving a portion of this as long as -possible, we cut it into fine pieces, and filled with them our three -remaining olive-jars and the wine-bottle (all of which had been kept), -pouring in afterward the vinegar from the olives. In this manner we put -away about three pounds of the tortoise, intending not to touch it -until we had consumed the rest. We concluded to restrict ourselves to -about four ounces of the meat per day; the whole would thus last us -thirteen days. A brisk shower, with severe thunder and lightning, came -on about dusk, but lasted so short a time that we only succeeded in -catching about half a pint of water. The whole of this, by common -consent, was given to Augustus, who now appeared to be in the last -extremity. He drank the water from the sheet as we caught it (we -holding it above him as he lay so as to let it run into his mouth), for -we had now nothing left capable of holding water, unless we had chosen -to empty out our wine from the carboy, or the stale water from the jug. -Either of these expedients would have been resorted to had the shower lasted.</p> - -<p>The sufferer seemed to derive but little benefit from the draught. His -arm was completely black from the wrist to the shoulder, and his feet -were like ice. We expected every moment to see him breathe his last. He -was frightfully emaciated; so much so that, although he weighed a -hundred and twenty-seven pounds upon his leaving Nantucket, he now did -not weigh more than <i>forty or fifty at the farthest</i>. His eyes were -sunk far in his head, being scarcely perceptible, and the skin of his -cheeks hung so loosely as to prevent his masticating any food, or even -swallowing any liquid, without great difficulty.</p> - -<p><i>August 1.</i> A continuance of the same calm weather, with an -oppressively hot sun. Suffered exceedingly from thirst, the water in -the jug being absolutely putrid and swarming with vermin. We contrived, -nevertheless, to swallow a portion of it by mixing it with wine—our -thirst, however, was but little abated. We found more relief by bathing -in the sea, but could not avail ourselves of this expedient except at -long intervals, on account of the continual presence of sharks. We now -saw clearly that Augustus could not be saved; that he was evidently -dying. We could do nothing to relieve his sufferings, which appeared to -be great. About twelve o'clock he expired in strong convulsions, and -without having spoken for several hours. His death filled us with the -most gloomy forebodings, and had so great an effect upon our spirits -that we sat motionless by the corpse during the whole day, and never -addressed each other except in a whisper. It was not until some time -after dark that we took courage to get up and throw the body overboard. -It was then loathsome beyond expression, and so far decayed that, as -Peters attempted to lift it, an entire leg came off in his grasp. As -the mass of putrefaction slipped over the vessel's side into the water, -the glare of phosphoric light with which it was surrounded plainly -discovered to us seven or eight large sharks, the clashing of whose -horrible teeth, as their prey was torn to pieces among them, might have -been heard at the distance of a mile. We shrunk within ourselves in the -extremity of horror at the sound.</p> - -<p><i>August 2.</i> The same fearfully calm and hot weather. The dawn found us -in a state of pitiable dejection as well as bodily exhaustion. The -water in the jug was now absolutely useless, being a thick gelatinous -mass; nothing but frightful-looking worms mingled with slime. We threw -it out, and washed the jug well in the sea, afterward pouring a little -vinegar in it from our bottles of pickled tortoise. Our thirst could -now scarcely be endured, and we tried in vain to relieve it by wine, -which seemed only to add fuel to the flame, and excited us to a high -degree of intoxication. We afterward endeavoured to relieve our -sufferings by mixing the wine with seawater; but this instantly brought -about the most violent retchings, so that we never again attempted it. -During the whole day we anxiously sought an opportunity of bathing, but -to no purpose; for the hulk was now entirely besieged on all sides with -sharks—no doubt the identical monsters who had devoured our poor -companion on the evening before, and who were in momentary expectation -of another similar feast. This circumstance occasioned us the most -bitter regret, and filled us with the most depressing and melancholy -forebodings. We had experienced indescribable relief in bathing, and to -have this resource cut off in so frightful a manner was more than we -could bear. Nor, indeed, were we altogether free from the apprehension -of immediate danger, for the least slip or false movement would have -thrown us at once within reach of these voracious fish, who frequently -thrust themselves directly upon us, swimming up to leeward. No shouts -or exertions on our part seemed to alarm them. Even when one of the -largest was struck with an axe by Peters, and much wounded, he -persisted in his attempts to push in where we were. A cloud came up at -dusk, but, to our extreme anguish, passed over without discharging -itself. It is quite impossible to conceive our sufferings from thirst -at this period. We passed a sleepless night, both on this account and -through dread of the sharks.</p> - -<p><i>August 3.</i> No prospect of relief, and the brig lying still more and -more along, so that now we could not maintain a footing upon deck at -all. Busied ourselves in securing our wine and tortoise-meat, so that -we might not lose them in the event of our rolling over. Got out two -stout spikes from the forechains, and, by means of the axe, drove them -into the hull to windward within a couple of feet of the water; this -not being very far from the keel, as we were nearly upon our beam-ends. -To these spikes we now lashed our provisions, as being more secure than -their former position beneath the chains. Suffered great agony from -thirst during the whole day—no chance of bathing on account of the -sharks, which never left us for a moment. Found it impossible to sleep.</p> - -<p><i>August 4.</i> A little before daybreak we perceived that the hulk was -heeling over, and aroused ourselves to prevent being thrown off by the -movement. At first the roll was slow and gradual, and we contrived to -clamber over to windward very well, having taken the precaution to -leave ropes hanging from the spikes we had driven in for the provision. -But we had not calculated sufficiently upon the acceleration of the -impetus; for presently the heel became too violent to allow of our -keeping pace with it; and, before either of us knew what was to happen, -we found ourselves hurled furiously into the sea, and struggling -several fathoms beneath the surface, with the huge hull immediately -above us.</p> - -<p>In going under the water I had been obliged to let go my hold upon the -rope; and finding that I was completely beneath the vessel, and my -strength utterly exhausted, I scarcely made a struggle for life, and -resigned myself, in a few seconds, to die. But here again I was -deceived, not having taken into consideration the natural rebound of -the hull to windward. The whirl of the water upward, which the vessel -occasioned in rolling partially back, brought me to the surface still -more violently than I had been plunged beneath. Upon coming up, I found -myself about twenty yards from the hulk, as near as I could judge. She -was lying keel up, rocking furiously from side to side, and the sea in -all directions around was much agitated, and full of strong whirlpools. -I could see nothing of Peters. An oil-cask was floating within a few -feet of me, and various other articles from the brig were scattered -about.</p> - -<p>My principal terror was now on account of the sharks, which I knew to -be in my vicinity. In order to deter these, if possible, from -approaching me, I splashed the water vigorously with both hands and -feet as I swam towards the hulk, creating a body of foam. I have no -doubt that to this expedient, simple as it was, I was indebted for my -preservation; for the sea all around the brig, just before her rolling -over, was so crowded with these monsters, that I must have been, and -really was, in actual contact with some of them during my progress. By -great good fortune, however, I reached the side of the vessel in -safety, although so utterly weakened by the violent exertion I had used -that I should never have been able to get upon it but for the timely -assistance of Peters, who now, to my great joy, made his appearance -(having scrambled up to the keel from the opposite side of the hull), -and threw me the end of a rope—one of those which had been attached to -the spikes.</p> - -<p>Having barely escaped this danger, our attention was now directed to -the dreadful imminency of another; that of absolute starvation. Our -whole stock of provision had been swept overboard in spite of all our -care in securing it; and seeing no longer the remotest possibility of -obtaining more, we gave way both of us to despair, weeping aloud like -children, and neither of us attempting to offer consolation to the -other. Such weakness can scarcely be conceived, and to those who have -never been similarly situated will, no doubt, appear unnatural; but it -must be remembered that our intellects were so entirely disordered by -the long course of privation and terror to which we had been subjected, -that we could not justly be considered, at that period, in the light of -rational beings. In subsequent perils, nearly as great, if not greater, -I bore up with fortitude against all the evils of my situation, and -Peters, it will be seen, evinced a stoical philosophy nearly as -incredible as his present childlike supineness and imbecility—the -mental condition made the difference.</p> - -<p>The overturning of the brig, even with the consequent loss of the wine -and turtle, would not, in fact, have rendered our situation more -deplorable than before, except for the disappearance of the bedclothes -by which we had been hitherto enabled to catch rainwater, and of the -jug in which we had kept it when caught; for we found the whole bottom, -from within two or three feet of the bends as far as the keel, together -with the keel itself, <i>thickly covered with large barnacles, which -proved to be excellent and highly nutritious food</i>. Thus, in two -important respects, the accident we had so greatly dreaded proved a -benefit rather than an injury; it had opened to us a supply of -provisions, which we could not have exhausted, using it moderately, in -a month; and it had greatly contributed to our comfort as regards -position, we being much more at our ease, and in infinitely less -danger, than before.</p> - -<p>The difficulty, however, of now obtaining water blinded us to all the -benefits of the change in our condition. That we might be ready to -avail ourselves, as far as possible, of any shower which might fall, we -took off our shirts, to make use of them as we had of the sheets—not -hoping, of course, to get more in this way, even under the most -favourable circumstances, than half a gill at a time. No signs of a -cloud appeared during the day, and the agonies of our thirst were -nearly intolerable. At night Peters obtained about an hour's disturbed -sleep, but my intense sufferings would not permit me to close my eyes -for a single moment.</p> - -<p><i>August 5.</i> To-day, a gentle breeze springing up carried us through a -vast quantity of seaweed, among which we were so fortunate as to find -eleven small crabs, which afforded us several delicious meals. Their -shells being quite soft, we ate them entire, and found that they -irritated our thirst far less than the barnacles. Seeing no trace of -sharks among the seaweed, we also ventured to bathe, and remained in -the water for four or five hours, during which we experienced a very -sensible diminution of our thirst. Were greatly refreshed, and spent -the night somewhat more comfortably than before, both of us snatching a -little sleep.</p> - -<p><i>August 6.</i> This day we were blessed by a brisk and continual rain, -lasting from about noon until after dark. Bitterly did we now regret -the loss of our jug and carboy; for, in spite of the little means we -had of catching the water, we might have filled one, if not both of -them. As it was, we contrived to satisfy the cravings of thirst by -suffering the shirts to become saturated, and then wringing them so as -to let the grateful fluid trickle into our mouths. In this occupation -we passed the entire day.</p> - -<p><i>August 7.</i> Just at daybreak we both at the same instant descried a -sail to the eastward, and <i>evidently coming towards us!</i> We hailed the -glorious sight with a long, although feeble shout of rapture; and began -instantly to make every signal in our power, by flaring the shirts in -the air, leaping as high as our weak condition would permit, and even -by hallooing with all the strength of our lungs, although the vessel -could not have been less than fifteen miles distant. However, she still -continued to near our hulk, and we felt that, if she but held her -present course, she must eventually come so close as to perceive us. In -about an hour after we first discovered her we could clearly see the -people on her decks. She was a long, low, and rakish-looking topsail -schooner, with a black ball in her foretopsail, and had, apparently, a -full crew. We now became alarmed, for we could hardly imagine it -possible that she did not observe us, and were apprehensive that she -meant to leave us to perish as we were—an act of fiendish barbarity, -which, however incredible it may appear, has been repeatedly -perpetrated at sea, under circumstances very nearly similar, and by -beings who were regarded as belonging to the human -species.<small><small><sup>2</sup></small></small> In this -instance, however, by the mercy of God, we were destined to be most -happily deceived; for presently we were aware of a sudden commotion on -the deck of the stranger, who immediately afterward run up a British -flag, and, hauling her wind, bore up directly upon us. In half an hour -more we found ourselves in her cabin. She proved to be the Jane Guy, of -Liverpool, Captain Guy, bound on a sealing and trading voyage to the -South Seas and Pacific.</p> - -<blockquote><small><small><sup>2</sup></small> The case of the brig Polly, of Boston, is one so much in -point, and her fate, in many respects, so remarkably similar to our -own, that I cannot forbear alluding to it here. This vessel, of one -hundred and thirty tons burden, sailed from Boston, with a cargo of -lumber and provisions, for Santa Croix, on the twelfth of December, -1811, under the command of Captain Casneau. There were eight souls on -board besides the captain—the mate, four seamen, and the cook, -together with a Mr. Hunt, and a negro girl belonging to him. On the -fifteenth, having cleared the shoal of Georges, she sprung a leak in a -gale of wind from the southeast, and was finally capsized; but, the -mast going by the board, she afterward righted. They remained in this -situation, without fire, and with very little provision, for the period -of <i>one hundred and ninety-one days</i> (from December the fifteenth to -June the twentieth) when Captain Casneau and Samuel Badger, the only -survivers, were taken off the wreck by the Fame, of Hull, Captain -Featherstone, bound home from Rio Janeiro. When picked up they were in -latitude <i>28 N., longitude 13 W., having drifted above two thousand -miles</i>. On the ninth of July the Fame fell in with the brig Dromeo, -Captain Perkins, who landed the two sufferers in Kennebeck. The -narrative from which we gather these details ends in the following -words.</small></blockquote> - -<blockquote><small>"It is natural to inquire how they could float such a vast distance, -upon the most frequented part of the Atlantic, and not be discovered -all this time. <i>They were passed by more than a dozen sail, one of -which came so nigh them that they could distinctly see the people on -deck and on the rigging looking at them; but, to the inexpressible -disappointment of the starving and freezing men, they stifled the -dictates of compassion, hoisted sail, and cruelly abandoned them to -their fate.</i>"</small></blockquote> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap14"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XIV.</h3> -<br> - -<p>The Jane Guy was a fine-looking topsail schooner of a hundred and -eighty tons burden. She was unusually sharp in the bows, and on a wind, -in moderate weather, the fastest sailer I have ever seen. Her -qualities, however, as a rough sea-boat, were not so good, and her -draught of water was by far too great for the trade to which she was -destined. For this peculiar service a larger vessel, and one of a light -proportionate draught, is desirable—say a vessel of from three to -three hundred and fifty tons. She should be barque-rigged, and in other -respects of a different construction from the usual South Sea ships. It -is absolutely necessary that she should be well armed. She should have, -say ten or twelve twelve pound carronades, and two or three long -twelves, with brass blunderbusses, and water-tight arm-chests for each -top. Her anchors and cables should be of far greater strength than is -required for any other species of trade, and, above all, her crew -should be numerous and efficient—not less, for such a vessel as I have -described, than fifty or sixty able-bodied men. The Jane Guy had a crew -of thirty-five, all able seamen, besides the captain and mate, but she -was not altogether as well armed or otherwise equipped as a navigator -acquainted with the difficulties and dangers of the trade could have -desired.</p> - -<p>Captain Guy was a gentleman of great urbanity of manner, and of -considerable experience in the southern traffic, to which he had -devoted a great portion of his life. He was deficient, however, in -energy, and, consequently, in that spirit of enterprise which is here -so absolutely requisite. He was part owner of the vessel in which he -sailed, and was invested with discretionary powers to cruise in the -South Seas for any cargo which might come most readily to hand. He had -on board, as usual in such voyages, beads, looking-glasses, -tinder-works, axes, hatchets, saws, adzes, planes, chisels, gouges, -gimlets, files, spokeshaves, rasps, hammers, nails, knives, scissors, -razors, needles, thread, crockery-ware, calico, trinkets, and other -similar articles.</p> - -<p>The schooner sailed from Liverpool on the tenth of July, crossed the -Tropic of Cancer on the twenty-fifth, in longitude twenty degrees west, -and reached Sal, one of the Cape Verd Islands, on the twenty-ninth, -where she took in salt and other necessaries for the voyage. On the -third of August she left the Cape Verds and steered southwest, -stretching over towards the coast of Brazil so as to cross the equator -between the meridians of twenty-eight and thirty degrees west -longitude. This is the course usually taken by vessels bound from -Europe to the Cape of Good Hope, or by that route to the East Indies. -By proceeding thus they avoid the calms and strong contrary currents -which continually prevail on the coast of Guinea, while, in the end, it -is found to be the shortest track, as westerly winds are never wanting -afterward by which to reach the Cape. It was Captain Guy's intention to -make his first stoppage at Kerguelen's Land—I hardly know for what -reason. On the day we were picked up the schooner was off Cape St. -Roque, in longitude 31 W.; so that, when found, we had drifted -probably, from north to south, <i>not less than five-and-twenty degrees</i>.</p> - -<p>On board the Jane Guy we were treated with all the kindness our -distressed situation demanded. In about a fortnight, during which time -we continued steering to the southeast, with gentle breezes and fine -weather, both Peters and myself recovered entirely from the effects of -our late privation and dreadful suffering, and we began to remember -what had passed rather as a frightful dream from which we had been -happily awakened, than as events which had taken place in sober and -naked reality. I have since found that this species of partial oblivion -is usually brought about by sudden transition, whether from joy to -sorrow or from sorrow to joy—the degree of forgetfulness being -proportioned to the degree of difference in the exchange. Thus, in my -own case, I now feel it impossible to realize the full extent of the -misery which I endured during the days spent upon the hulk. The -incidents are remembered, but not the feelings which the incidents -elicited at the time of their occurrence. I only know that, when they -did occur, I <i>then</i> thought human nature could sustain nothing more of -agony.</p> - -<p>We continued our voyage for some weeks without any incidents of greater -moment than the occasional meeting with whaling-ships, and more -frequently with the black or right whale, so called in -contradistinction to the spermaceti. These, however, were chiefly found -south of the twenty-fifth parallel. On the sixteenth of September, -being in the vicinity of the Cape of Good Hope, the schooner -encountered her first gale of any violence since leaving Liverpool. In -this neighbourhood, but more frequently to the south and east of the -promontory (we were to the westward), navigators have often to contend -with storms from the northward which rage with great fury. They always -bring with them a heavy sea, and one of their most dangerous features -is the instantaneous chopping round of the wind, an occurrence almost -certain to take place during the greatest force of the gale. A perfect -hurricane will be blowing at one moment from the northward or -northeast, and in the next not a breath of wind will be felt in that -direction, while from the southwest it will come out all at once with a -violence almost inconceivable. A bright spot to the southward is the -sure forerunner of the change, and vessels are thus enabled to take the -proper precautions.</p> - -<p>It was about six in the morning when the blow came on with a white -squall, and, as usual, from the northward. By eight it had increased -very much, and brought down upon us one of the most tremendous seas I -had then ever beheld. Everything had been made as snug as possible, but -the schooner laboured excessively, and gave evidence of her bad -qualities as a seaboat, pitching her forecastle under at every plunge, -and with the greatest difficulty struggling up from one wave before she -was buried in another. Just before sunset the bright spot for which we -had been on the lookout made its appearance in the southwest, and in an -hour afterward we perceived the little headsail we carried flapping -listlessly against the mast. In two minutes more, in spite of every -preparation, we were hurled on our beam-ends as if by magic, and a -perfect wilderness of foam made a clear breach over us as we lay. The -blow from the southwest, however, luckily proved to be nothing more -than a squall, and we had the good fortune to right the vessel without -the loss of a spar. A heavy cross sea gave us great trouble for a few -hours after this, but towards morning we found ourselves in nearly as -good condition as before the gale. Captain Guy considered that he had -made an escape little less than miraculous.</p> - -<p>On the thirteenth of October we came in sight of Prince Edward's -Island, in latitude 46° 53' S., longitude 37° 46' E. Two days afterward -we found ourselves near Possession Island, and presently passed the -islands of Crozet, in latitude 42° 59' S., longitude 48° E. On the -eighteenth we made Kerguelen's or Desolation Island, in the Southern -Indian Ocean, and came to anchor in Christmas Harbour, having four -fathoms of water.</p> - -<p>This island, or rather group of islands, bears southeast from the Cape -of Good Hope, and is distant therefrom nearly eight hundred leagues. It -was first discovered in 1772, by the Baron de Kergulen, or Kerguelen, a -Frenchman, who, thinking the land to form a portion of an extensive -southern continent, carried home information to that effect, which -produced much excitement at the time. The government, taking the matter -up, sent the baron back in the following year for the purpose of giving -his new discovery a critical examination, when the mistake was -discovered. In 1777, Captain Cook fell in with the same group, and gave -to the principal one the name of Desolation Island, a title which it -certainly well deserves. Upon approaching the land, however, the -navigator might be induced to suppose otherwise, as the sides of most -of the hills, from September to March, are clothed with very brilliant -verdure. This deceitful appearance is caused by a small plant -resembling saxifrage, which is abundant, growing in large patches on a -species of crumbling moss. Besides this plant there is scarcely a sign -of vegetation on the island, if we except some coarse rank grass near -the harbour, some lichen, and a shrub which bears resemblance to a -cabbage shooting into seed, and which has a bitter and acrid taste.</p> - -<p>The face of the country is hilly, although none of the hills can be -called lofty. Their tops are perpetually covered with snow. There are -several harbours, of which Christmas Harbour is the most convenient. It -is the first to be met with on the northeast side of the island after -passing Cape François, which forms the northern shore, and, by its -peculiar shape, serves to distinguish the harbour. Its projecting point -terminates in a high rock, through which is a large hole, forming a -natural arch. The entrance is in latitude 48° 40' S., longitude 69° 6' -E. Passing in here, good anchorage may be found under the shelter of -several small islands, which form a sufficient protection from all -easterly winds. Proceeding on eastwardly from this anchorage you come -to Wasp Bay, at the head of the harbour. This is a small basin, -completely landlocked, into which you can go with four fathoms, and -find anchorage in from ten to three, hard clay bottom. A ship might lie -here with her best bower ahead all the year round without risk. To the -westward, at the head of Wasp Bay, is a small stream of excellent -water, easily procured.</p> - -<p>Some seal of the fur and hair species are still to be found on -Kerguelen's Island, and sea elephants abound. The feathered tribes are -discovered in great numbers. Penguins are very plenty, and of these -there are four different kinds. The royal penguin, so called from its -size and beautiful plumage, is the largest. The upper part of the body -is usually gray, sometimes of a lilach tint; the under portion of the -purest white imaginable. The head is of a glossy and most brilliant -black, the feet also. The chief beauty of the plumage, however, -consists in two broad stripes of a gold colour, which pass along from -the head to the breast. The bill is long, and either pink or bright -scarlet. These birds walk erect, with a stately carriage. They carry -their heads high, with their wings drooping like two arms, and, as -their tails project from their body in a line with the legs, the -resemblance to a human figure is very striking, and would be apt to -deceive the spectator at a casual glance or in the gloom of the -evening. The royal penguins which we met with on Kerguelen's Land were -rather larger than a goose. The other kinds are the macaroni, the -jackass, and the rookery penguin. These are much smaller, less -beautiful in plumage, and different in other respects.</p> - -<p>Besides the penguin many other birds are here to be found, among which -may be mentioned seahens, blue peterels, teal, ducks, Port Egmont hens, -shags, Cape pigeons, the nelly, seaswallows, terns, seagulls, Mother -Carey's chickens, Mother Carey's geese, or the great peterel, and, -lastly, the albatross.</p> - -<p>The great peterel is as large as the common albatross, and is -carnivorous. It is frequently called the break-bones, or osprey -peterel. They are not at all shy, and, when properly cooked, are -palatable food. In flying they sometimes sail very close to the surface -of the water, with the wings expanded, without appearing to move them -in the least degree, or make any exertion with them whatever.</p> - -<p>The albatross is one of the largest and fiercest of the South Sea -birds. It is of the gull species, and takes its prey on the wing, never -coming on land except for the purpose of breeding. Between this bird -and the penguin the most singular friendship exists. Their nests are -constructed with great uniformity, upon a plan concerted between the -two species—that of the albatross being placed in the centre of a -little square formed by the nests of four penguins. Navigators have -agreed in calling an assemblage of such encampments <i>a rookery</i>. These -rookeries have been often described, but, as my readers may not all -have seen these descriptions, and as I shall have occasion hereafter to -speak of the penguin and albatross, it will not be amiss to say -something here of their mode of building and living.</p> - -<p>When the season for incubation arrives, the birds assemble in vast -numbers, and for some days appear to be deliberating upon the proper -course to be pursued. At length they proceed to action. A level piece -of ground is selected, of suitable extent, usually comprising three or -four acres, and situated as near the sea as possible, being still -beyond its reach. The spot is chosen with reference to its evenness of -surface, and that is preferred which is the least encumbered with -stones. This matter being arranged, the birds proceed, with one accord, -and actuated apparently by one mind, to trace out, with mathematical -accuracy, either a square or other parallelogram, as may best suit the -nature of the ground, and of just sufficient size to accommodate easily -all the birds assembled, and no more—in this particular seeming -determined upon preventing the access of future stragglers who have not -participated in the labour of the encampment. One side of the place -thus marked out runs parallel with the water's edge, and is left open -for ingress or egress.</p> - -<p>Having defined the limits of the rookery, the colony now begin to clear -it of every species of rubbish, picking up stone by stone, and carrying -them outside of the lines, and close by them, so as to form a wall on -the three inland sides. Just within this wall a perfectly level and -smooth walk is formed, from six to eight feet wide, and extending -around the encampment—thus serving the purpose of a general promenade.</p> - -<p>The next process is to partition out the whole area into small squares -exactly equal in size. This is done by forming narrow paths, very -smooth, and crossing each other at right angles throughout the entire -extent of the rookery. At each intersection of these paths the nest of -an albatross is constructed, and a penguin's nest in the centre of each -square—thus every penguin is surrounded by four albatrosses, and each -albatross by a like number of penguins. The penguin's nest consists of -a hole in the earth, very shallow, being only just of sufficient depth -to keep her single egg from rolling. The albatross is somewhat less -simple in her arrangements, erecting a hillock about a foot high and -two in diameter. This is made of earth, seaweed, and shells. On its -summit she builds her nest.</p> - -<p>The birds take especial care never to leave their nests unoccupied for -an instant during the period of incubation, or, indeed, until the young -progeny are sufficiently strong to take care of themselves. While the -male is absent at sea in search of food, the female remains on duty, -and it is only upon the return of her partner that she ventures abroad. -The eggs are never left uncovered at all—while one bird leaves the -nest, the other nestling in by its side. This precaution is rendered -necessary by the thievish propensities prevalent in the rookery, the -inhabitants making no scruple to purloin each other's eggs at every -good opportunity.</p> - -<p>Although there are some rookeries in which the penguin and albatross -are the sole population, yet in most of them a variety of oceanic birds -are to be met with, enjoying all the privileges of citizenship, and -scattering their nests here and there, wherever they can find room, -never interfering, however, with the stations of the larger species. -The appearance of such encampments, when seen from a distance, is -exceedingly singular. The whole atmosphere just above the settlement is -darkened with the immense number of the albatross (mingled with the -smaller tribes) which are continually hovering over it, either going to -the ocean or returning home. At the same time a crowd of penguins are -to be observed, some passing to and fro in the narrow alleys, and some -marching, with the military strut so peculiar to them, around the -general promenade-ground which encircles the rookery. In short, survey -it as we will, nothing can be more astonishing than the spirit of -reflection evinced by these feathered beings, and nothing surely can be -better calculated to elicit reflection in every well-regulated human -intellect.</p> - -<p>On the morning after our arrival in Christmas Harbour the chief mate, -Mr. Patterson, took the boats, and (although it was somewhat early in -the season) went in search of seal, leaving the captain and a young -relation of his on a point of barren land to the westward, they having -some business, whose nature I could not ascertain, to transact in the -interior of the island. Captain Guy took with him a bottle, in which -was a sealed letter, and made his way from the point on which he was -set on shore towards one of the highest peaks in the place. It is -probable that his design was to leave the letter on that height for -some vessel which he expected to come after him. As soon as we lost -sight of him we proceeded (Peters and myself being in the mate's boat) -on our cruise around the coast, looking for seal. In this business we -were occupied about three weeks, examining with great care every nook -and corner, not only of Kerguelen's Land, but of the several small -islands in the vicinity. Our labours, however, were not crowned with -any important success. We saw a great many fur seal, but they were -exceedingly shy, and, with the greatest exertions, we could only -procure three hundred and fifty skins in all. Sea elephants were -abundant, especially on the western coast of the main island, but of -these we killed only twenty, and this with great difficulty. On the -smaller islands we discovered a good many of the hair seal, but did not -molest them. We returned to the schooner on the eleventh, where we -found Captain Guy and his nephew, who gave a very bad account of the -interior, representing it as one of the most dreary and utterly barren -countries in the world. They had remained two nights on the island, -owing to some misunderstanding, on the part of the second mate, in -regard to the sending a jollyboat from the schooner to take them off.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap15"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XV.</h3> -<br> - -<p>On the twelfth we made sail from Christmas Harbour, retracing our way -to the westward, and leaving Marion's Island, one of Crozet's group, on -the larboard. We afterward passed Prince Edward's Island, leaving it -also on our left; then, steering more to the northward, made, in -fifteen days, the islands of Tristan d'Acunha, in latitude 37° 8' S., -longitude 12° 8' W.</p> - -<p>This group, now so well known, and which consists of three circular -islands, was first discovered by the Portuguese, and was visited -afterward by the Dutch in 1643, and by the French in 1767. The three -islands together form a triangle, and are distant from each other about -ten miles, there being fine open passages between. The land in all of -them is very high, especially in Tristan d'Acunha, properly so called. -This is the largest of the group, being fifteen miles in circumference, -and so elevated that it can be seen in clear weather at the distance of -eighty or ninety miles. A part of the land towards the north rises more -than a thousand feet perpendicularly from the sea. A tableland at this -height extends back nearly to the centre of the island, and from this -tableland arises a lofty cone like that of Teneriffe. The lower half of -this cone is clothed with trees of good size, but the upper region is -barren rock, usually hidden among the clouds, and covered with snow -during the greater part of the year. There are no shoals or other -dangers about the island, the shores being remarkably bold and the -water deep. On the northwestern coast is a bay, with a beach of black -sand, where a landing with boats can be easily effected, provided there -be a southerly wind. Plenty of excellent water may here be readily -procured; also cod, and other fish, may be taken with hook and line.</p> - -<p>The next island in point of size, and the most westwardly of the group, -is that called the Inaccessible. Its precise situation is 37° 17' S. -latitude, longitude 12° 24' W. It is seven or eight miles in -circumference, and on all sides presents a forbidding and precipitous -aspect. Its top is perfectly flat, and the whole region is steril, -nothing growing upon it except a few stunted shrubs.</p> - -<p>Nightingale Island, the smallest and most southerly, is in latitude 37° -26' S., longitude 12° 12' W. Off its southern extremity is a high ledge -of rocky islets; a few also of a similar appearance are seen to the -northeast. The ground is irregular and steril, and a deep valley -partially separates it.</p> - -<p>The shores of these islands abound, in the proper season, with sea -lions, sea elephants, the hair and fur seal, together with a great -variety of oceanic birds. Whales are also plenty in their vicinity. -Owing to the ease with which these various animals were here formerly -taken, the group has been much visited since its discovery. The Dutch -and French frequented it at a very early period. In 1790, Captain -Patten, of the ship Industry, of Philadelphia, made Tristan d'Acunha, -where he remained seven months (from August, 1790, to April, 1791) for -the purpose of collecting sealskins. In this time he gathered no less -than five thousand six hundred, and says that he would have had no -difficulty in loading a large ship with oil in three weeks. Upon his -arrival he found no quadrupeds, with the exception of a few wild -goats—the island now abounds with all our most valuable domestic -animals, which have been introduced by subsequent navigators.</p> - -<p>I believe it was not long after Captain Patten's visit that Captain -Colquhoun, of the American brig Betsey, touched at the largest of the -islands for the purpose of refreshment. He planted onions, potatoes, -cabbages, and a great many other vegetables, an abundance of all which -are now to be met with.</p> - -<p>In 1811, a Captain Heywood, in the Nereus, visited Tristan. He found -there three Americans, who were residing upon the islands to prepare -sealskins and oil. One of these men was named Jonathan Lambert, and he -called himself the sovereign of the country. He had cleared and -cultivated about sixty acres of land, and turned his attention to -raising the coffee-plant and sugar-cane, with which he had been -furnished by the American minister at Rio Janeiro. This settlement, -however, was finally abandoned, and in 1817 the islands were taken -possession of by the British government, who sent a detachment for that -purpose from the Cape of Good Hope. They did not, however, retain them -long; but, upon the evacuation of the country as a British possession, -two or three English families took up their residence there -independently of the government. On the twenty-fifth of March, 1824, -the Berwick, Captain Jeffrey, from London to Van Diemen's Land, arrived -at the place, where they found an Englishman of the name of Glass, -formerly a corporal in the British artillery. He claimed to be supreme -governor of the islands, and had under his control twenty-one men and -three women. He gave a very favourable account of the salubrity of the -climate and of the productiveness of the soil. The population occupied -themselves chiefly in collecting sealskins and sea elephant oil, with -which they traded to the Cape of Good Hope, Glass owning a small -schooner. At the period of our arrival the governor was still a -resident, but his little community had multiplied, there being -fifty-six persons upon Tristan, besides a smaller settlement of seven -on Nightingale Island. We had no difficulty in procuring almost every -kind of refreshment which we required—sheep, hogs, bullocks, rabbits, -poultry, goats, fish in great variety, and vegetables were abundant. -Having come to anchor close in with the large island, in eighteen -fathoms, we took all we wanted on board very conveniently. Captain Guy -also purchased of Glass five hundred sealskins and some ivory. We -remained here a week, during which the prevailing winds were from the -northward and westward, and the weather somewhat hazy. On the fifth of -November we made sail to the southward and westward, with the intention -of having a thorough search for a group of islands called the Auroras, -respecting whose existence a great diversity of opinion has existed.</p> - -<p>These islands are said to have been discovered as early as 1762, by the -commander of the ship Aurora. In 1790, Captain Manuel de Oyarvido, in -the ship Princess, belonging to the Royal Philippine Company, sailed, -as he asserts, directly among them. In 1794, the Spanish corvette -Atrevida went with the determination of ascertaining their precise -situation, and, in a paper published by the Royal Hydrographical -Society of Madrid in the year 1809, the following language is used -respecting this expedition. "The corvette Atrevida practised, in their -immediate vicinity, from the twenty-first to the twenty-seventh of -January, all the necessary observations, and measured by chronometers -the difference of longitude between these islands and the port of -Soledad in the Malninas. The islands are three; they are very nearly in -the same meridian; the centre one is rather low, and the other two may -be seen at nine leagues distance." The observations made on board the -Atrevida give the following results as the precise situation of each -island. The most northern is in latitude 52° 37' 24" S., longitude 47° -43' 15" W.; the middle one in latitude 53° 2' 40" S., longitude 47° 55' -15" W.; and the most southern in latitude 53° 15' 22" S., longitude 47° -57' 15" W.</p> - -<p>On the twenty-seventh of January, 1820, Captain James Weddel, of the -British navy, sailed from Staten Land also in search of the Auroras. He -reports that, having made the most diligent search, and passed not only -immediately over the spots indicated by the commander of the Atrevida, -but in every direction throughout the vicinity of these spots, he could -discover no indication of land. These conflicting statements have -induced other navigators to look out for the islands; and, strange to -say, while some have sailed through every inch of sea where they are -supposed to lie without finding them, there have been not a few who -declare positively that they have seen them, and even been close in -with their shores. It was Captain Guy's intention to make every -exertion within his power to settle the question so oddly in -dispute.<small><small><sup>3</sup></small></small></p> - -<blockquote><small><small><sup>3</sup></small> Among the vessels which at various times have professed to -meet with the Auroras may be mentioned the ship San Miguel, in 1769; -the ship Aurora, in 1774; the brig Pearl, in 1779; and the ship -Dolores, in 1790. They all agree in giving the mean latitude -fifty-three degrees south.</small></blockquote> - -<p>We kept on our course, between the south and west, with variable -weather, until the twentieth of the month, when we found ourselves on -the debated ground, being in latitude 53° 15' S., longitude 47° 58' -W.—that is to say, very nearly upon the spot indicated as the -situation of the most southern of the group. Not perceiving any sign of -land, we continued to the westward in the parallel of fifty-three -degrees south, as far as the meridian of fifty degrees west. We then -stood to the north as far as the parallel of fifty-two degrees south, -when we turned to the eastward, and kept our parallel by double -altitudes, morning and evening, and meridian altitudes of the planets -and moon. Having thus gone eastwardly to the meridian of the western -coast of Georgia, we kept that meridian until we were in the latitude -from which we set out. We then took diagonal courses throughout the -entire extent of sea circumscribed, keeping a lookout constantly at the -masthead, and repeating our examination with the greatest care for a -period of three weeks, during which the weather was remarkably pleasant -and fair, with no haze whatsoever. Of course we were thoroughly -satisfied that, whatever islands might have existed in this vicinity at -any former period, no vestige of them remained at the present day. -Since my return home I find that the same ground was traced over with -equal care in 1822 by Captain Johnson, of the American schooner Henry, -and by Captain Morrell, in the American schooner Wasp—in both cases -with the same result as in our own.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap16"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XVI.</h3> -<br> - -<p>It had been Captain Guy's original intention, after satisfying himself -about the Auroras, to proceed through the Strait of Magellan, and up -along the western coast of Patagonia; but information received at -Tristan d'Acunha induced him to steer to the southward, in the hope of -falling in with some small islands said to lie about the parallel of -60° S., longitude 41° 20' W. In the event of his not discovering these -lands, he designed, should the season prove favourable, to push on -towards the pole. Accordingly, on the twelfth of December, we made sail -in that direction. On the eighteenth we found ourselves about the -station indicated by Glass, and cruised for three days in that -neighbourhood without finding any traces of the islands he had -mentioned. On the twenty-first, the weather being unusually pleasant, -we again made sail to the southward, with the resolution of penetrating -in that course as far as possible. Before entering upon this portion of -my narrative, it may be as well, for the information of those readers -who have paid little attention to the progress of discovery in these -regions, to give some brief account of the very few attempts at -reaching the southern pole which have hitherto been made.</p> - -<p>That of Captain Cook was the first of which we have any distinct -account. In 1772 he sailed to the south in the Resolution, accompanied -by Lieutenant Furneaux in the Adventure. In December he found himself -as far as the fifty-eighth parallel of south latitude, and in longitude -26° 57' E. Here he met with narrow fields of ice, about eight or ten -inches thick, and running northwest and southeast. This ice was in -large cakes, and usually it was packed so closely that the vessels had -great difficulty in forcing a passage. At this period Captain Cook -supposed, from the vast number of birds to be seen, and from other -indications, that he was in the near vicinity of land. He kept on to -the southward, the weather being exceedingly cold, until he reached the -sixty-fourth parallel, in longitude 38° 14' E. Here he had mild -weather, with gentle breezes, for five days, the thermometer being at -thirty-six. In January, 1773, the vessels crossed the Antarctic circle, -but did not succeed in penetrating much farther; for, upon reaching -latitude 67° 15', they found all farther progress impeded by an immense -body of ice, extending all along the southern horizon as far as the eye -could reach. This ice was of every variety—and some large floes of it, -miles in extent, formed a compact mass, rising eighteen or twenty feet -above the water. It being late in the season, and no hope entertained -of rounding these obstructions, Captain Cook now reluctantly turned to -the northward.</p> - -<p>In the November following he renewed his search in the Antarctic. In -latitude 59° 40' he met with a strong current setting to the southward. -In December, when the vessels were in latitude 67° 31', longitude 142° -54' W., the cold was excessive, with heavy gales and fog. Here also -birds were abundant; the albatross, the penguin, and the peterel -especially. In latitude 70° 23' some large islands of ice were -encountered, and shortly afterward, the clouds to the southward were -observed to be of a snowy whiteness, indicating the vicinity of field -ice. In latitude 71° 10', longitude 106° 54' W., the navigators were -stopped, as before, by an immense frozen expanse, which filled the -whole area of the southern horizon. The northern edge of this expanse -was ragged and broken, so firmly wedged together as to be utterly -impassable, and extending about a mile to the southward. Behind it the -frozen surface was comparatively smooth for some distance, until -terminated in the extreme back-ground by gigantic ranges of ice -mountains, the one towering above the other. Captain Cook concluded -that this vast field reached the southern pole or was joined to a -continent. Mr. J. N. Reynolds, whose great exertions and perseverance -have at length succeeded in getting set on foot a national expedition, -partly for the purpose of exploring these regions, thus speaks of the -attempt of the Resolution. "We are not surprised that Captain Cook was -unable to go beyond 71° 10', but we are astonished that he did attain -that point on the meridian of 106° 54' west longitude. Palmer's Land -lies south of the Shetland, latitude sixty-four degrees, and tends to -the southward and westward farther than any navigator has yet -penetrated. Cook was standing for this land when his progress was -arrested by the ice; which, we apprehend, must always be the case in -that point, and so early in the season as the sixth of January—and we -should not be surprised if a portion of the icy mountains described was -attached to the main body of Palmer's Land, or to some other portions -of land lying farther to the southward and westward."</p> - -<p>In 1803, Captains Kreutzenstern and Lisiausky were despatched by -Alexander of Russia for the purpose of circumnavigating the globe. In -endeavouring to get south, they made no farther than 59° 58', in -longitude 70° 15' W. They here met with strong currents setting -eastwardly. Whales were abundant, but they saw no ice. In regard to -this voyage, Mr. Reynolds observes that, if Kreutzenstern had arrived -where he did earlier in the season, he must have encountered ice—it -was March when he reached the latitude specified. The winds prevailing, -as they do, from the southward and westward, had carried the floes, -aided by currents, into that icy region bounded on the north by -Georgia, east by Sandwich Land and the South Orkneys, and west by the -South Shetland Islands.</p> - -<p>In 1822, Captain James Weddell, of the British navy, with two very -small vessels, penetrated farther to the south than any previous -navigator, and this too, without encountering extraordinary -difficulties. He states that although he was frequently hemmed in by -ice <i>before</i> reaching the seventy-second parallel, yet, upon attaining -it, not a particle was to be discovered, and that, upon arriving at the -latitude of 74° 15', no fields, and only three islands of ice were -visible. It is somewhat remarkable that, although vast flocks of birds -were seen, and other usual indications of land, and although, south of -the Shetlands, unknown coasts were observed from the masthead tending -southwardly, Weddell discourages the idea of land existing in the polar -regions of the south.</p> - -<p>On the eleventh of January, 1823, Captain Benjamin Morrell, of the -American schooner Wasp, sailed from Kerguelen's Land with a view of -penetrating as far south as possible. On the first of February he found -himself in latitude 64° 52' S., longitude 118° 27' E. The following -passage is extracted from his journal of that date. "The wind soon -freshened to an eleven-knot breeze, and we embraced this opportunity of -making to the west; being however convinced that the farther we went -south beyond latitude sixty-four degrees the less ice was to be -apprehended, we steered a little to the southward, until we crossed the -Antarctic circle, and were in latitude 69° 15' E. In this latitude -there was <i>no field ice</i>, and very few ice islands in sight."</p> - -<p>Under the date of March fourteenth I find also this entry. "The sea was -now entirely free of field ice, and there were not more than a dozen -ice islands in sight. At the same time the temperature of the air and -water was at least thirteen degrees higher (more mild) than we had ever -found it between the parallels of sixty and sixty-two south. We were -now in latitude 70° 14' S., and the temperature of the air was -forty-seven, and that of the water forty-four. In this situation I -found the variation to be 14° 27' easterly, per azimuth.... I have -several times passed within the Antarctic circle on different -meridians, and have uniformly found the temperature, both of the air -and the water, to become more and more mild the farther I advanced -beyond the sixty-fifth degree of south latitude, and that the variation -decreases in the same proportion. While north of this latitude, say -between sixty and sixty-five south, we frequently had great difficulty -in finding a passage for the vessel between the immense and almost -innumerable ice islands, some of which were from one to two miles in -circumference, and more than five hundred feet above the surface of the -water."</p> - -<p>Being nearly destitute of fuel and water, and without proper -instruments, it being also late in the season, Captain Morrell was now -obliged to put back, without attempting any farther progress to the -southward, although an entirely open sea lay before him. He expresses -the opinion that, had not these overruling considerations obliged him -to retreat, he could have penetrated, if not to the pole itself, at -least to the eighty-fifth parallel. I have given his ideas respecting -these matters somewhat at length, that the reader may have an -opportunity of seeing how far they were borne out by my own subsequent -experience.</p> - -<p>In 1831, Captain Briscoe, in the employ of the Messieurs Enderby, -whale-ship owners of London, sailed in the brig Lively for the South -Seas, accompanied by the cutter Tula. On the twenty-eighth of February, -being in latitude 66° 30' S., longitude 47° 31' E., he descried land, -and "clearly discovered through the snow the black peaks of a range of -mountains running E. S. E." He remained in this neighbourhood during -the whole of the following month, but was unable to approach the coast -nearer than within ten leagues, owing to the boisterous state of the -weather. Finding it impossible to make farther discovery during this -season, he returned northward to winter in Van Diemen's Land.</p> - -<p>In the beginning of 1832 he again proceeded southwardly, and on the -fourth of February land was seen to the southeast in latitude 67° 15', -longitude 69° 29' W. This was soon found to be an island near the -headland of the country he had first discovered. On the twenty-first of -the month he succeeded in landing on the latter, and took possession of -it in the name of William IV., calling it Adelaide's Island, in honour -of the English queen. These particulars being made known to the Royal -Geographical Society of London, the conclusion was drawn by that body -"that there is a continuous tract of land extending from 47° 30' E. to -69° 29' W. longitude, running the parallel of from sixty-six to -sixty-seven degrees south latitude." In respect to this conclusion Mr. -Reynolds observes, "In the correctness of it we by no means concur; nor -do the discoveries of Briscoe warrant any such inference. It was within -these limits that Weddell proceeded south on a meridian to the east of -Georgia, Sandwich Land, and the South Orkney and Shetland Islands." My -own experience will be found to testify most directly to the falsity of -the conclusion arrived at by the society.</p> - -<p>These are the principal attempts which have been made at penetrating to -a high southern latitude, and it will now be seen that there remained, -previous to the voyage of the Jane, nearly three hundred degrees of -longitude in which the Antarctic circle had not been crossed at all. Of -course a wide field lay before us for discovery, and it was with -feelings of most intense interest that I heard Captain Guy express his -resolution of pushing boldly to the southward.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap17"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XVII.</h3> -<br> - -<p>We kept our course southwardly for four days after giving up the search -for Glass's Islands, without meeting with any ice at all. On the -twenty-sixth, at noon, we were in latitude 63° 23' S., longitude 41° -25' W. We now saw several large ice islands, and a floe of field ice, -not, however, of any great extent. The winds generally blew from the -southeast, or the northeast, but were very light. Whenever we had a -westerly wind, which was seldom, it was invariably attended with a rain -squall. Every day we had more or less snow. The thermometer, on the -twenty-seventh, stood at thirty-five.</p> - -<p><i>January 1, 1828.</i> This day we found ourselves completely hemmed in by -the ice, and our prospects looked cheerless indeed. A strong gale blew, -during the whole forenoon, from the northeast, and drove large cakes of -the drift against the rudder and counter with such violence that we all -trembled for the consequences. Towards evening, the gale still blowing -with fury, a large field in front separated, and we were enabled, by -carrying a press of sail, to force a passage through the smaller flakes -into some open water beyond. As we approached this space we took in -sail by degrees, and having at length got clear, lay to under a single -reefed foresail.</p> - -<p><i>January 2.</i> We had now tolerably pleasant weather. At noon we found -ourselves in latitude 69° 10' S., longitude 42° 20' W., having crossed -the Antarctic circle. Very little ice was to be seen to the southward, -although large fields of it lay behind us. This day we rigged some -sounding gear, using a large iron pot capable of holding twenty -gallons, and a line of two hundred fathoms. We found the current -setting to the north, about a quarter of a mile per hour. The -temperature of the air was now about thirty-three. Here we found the -variation to be 14° 28' easterly, per azimuth.</p> - -<p><i>January 5.</i> We had still held on to the southward without any very -great impediments. On this morning, however, being in latitude 73° 15' -E., longitude 42° 10' W., we were again brought to a stand by an -immense expanse of firm ice. We saw, nevertheless, much open water to -the southward, and felt no doubt of being able to reach it eventually. -Standing to the eastward along the edge of the floe, we at length came -to a passage of about a mile in width, through which we warped our way -by sundown. The sea in which we now were was thickly covered with ice -islands, but had no field ice, and we pushed on boldly as before. The -cold did not seem to increase, although we had snow very frequently, -and now and then hail squalls of great violence. Immense flocks of the -albatross flew over the schooner this day, going from southeast to -northwest.</p> - -<p><i>January 7.</i> The sea still remained pretty well open, so that we had no -difficulty in holding on our course. To the westward we saw some -icebergs of incredible size, and in the afternoon passed very near one -whose summit could not have been less than four hundred fathoms from -the surface of the ocean. Its girth was probably, at the base, three -quarters of a league, and several streams of water were running from -crevices in its sides. We remained in sight of this island two days, -and then only lost it in a fog.</p> - -<p><i>January 10.</i> Early this morning we had the misfortune to lose a man -overboard. He was an American, named Peter Vredenburgh, a native of -New-York, and was one of the most valuable hands on board the schooner. -In going over the bows his foot slipped, and he fell between two cakes -of ice, never rising again. At noon of this day we were in latitude 78° -30', longitude 40° 15' W. The cold was now excessive, and we had hail -squalls continually from the northward and eastward. In this direction -also we saw several more immense icebergs, and the whole horizon to the -eastward appeared to be blocked up with field ice, rising in tiers, one -mass above the other. Some driftwood floated by during the evening, and -a great quantity of birds flew over, among which were Nellies, -peterels, albatrosses, and a large bird of a brilliant blue plumage. -The variation here, per azimuth, was less than it had been previously -to our passing the Antarctic circle.</p> - -<p><i>January 12.</i> Our passage to the south again looked doubtful, as -nothing was to be seen in the direction of the pole but one apparently -limitless floe, backed by absolute mountains of ragged ice, one -precipice of which arose frowningly above the other. We stood to the -westward until the fourteenth, in the hope of finding an entrance.</p> - -<p><i>January 14.</i> This morning we reached the western extremity of the -field which had impeded us, and, weathering it, came to an open sea, -without a particle of ice. Upon sounding with two hundred fathoms, we -here found a current setting southwardly at the rate of half a mile per -hour. The temperature of the air was forty-seven, that of the water -thirty-four. We now sailed to the southward, without meeting any -interruption of moment until the sixteenth, when, at noon, we were in -latitude 81° 21', longitude 42° W. We here again sounded, and found a -current setting still southwardly, and at the rate of three quarters of -a mile per hour. The variation per azimuth had diminished, and the -temperature of the air was mild and pleasant, the thermometer being as -high as fifty-one. At this period not a particle of ice was to be -discovered. All hands on board now felt certain of attaining the pole.</p> - -<p><i>January 17.</i> This day was full of incident. Innumerable flights of -birds flew over us from the southward, and several were shot from the -deck; one of them, a species of pelican, proved to be excellent eating. -About midday a small floe of ice was seen from the masthead off the -larboard bow, and upon it there appeared to be some large animal. As -the weather was good and nearly calm, Captain Guy ordered out two of -the boats to see what it was. Dirk Peters and myself accompanied the -mate in the larger boat. Upon coming up with the floe, we perceived -that it was in the possession of a gigantic creature of the race of the -Arctic bear, but far exceeding in size the largest of these animals. -Being well armed, we made no scruple of attacking it at once. Several -shots were fired in quick succession, the most of which took effect, -apparently, in the head and body. Nothing discouraged, however, the -monster threw himself from the ice, and swam, with open jaws, to the -boat in which were Peters and myself. Owing to the confusion which -ensued among us at this unexpected turn of the adventure, no person was -ready immediately with a second shot, and the bear had actually -succeeded in getting half his vast bulk across our gunwale, and seizing -one of the men by the small of his back, before any efficient means -were taken to repel him. In this extremity nothing but the promptness -and agility of Peters saved us from destruction. Leaping upon the back -of the huge beast, he plunged the blade of a knife behind the neck, -reaching the spinal marrow at a blow. The brute tumbled into the sea -lifeless, and without a struggle, rolling over Peters as he fell. The -latter soon recovered himself, and a rope being thrown him, he secured -the carcass before entering the boat. We then returned in triumph to -the schooner, towing our trophy behind us. This bear, upon -admeasurement, proved to be full fifteen feet in his greatest length. -His wool was perfectly white, and very coarse, curling tightly. The -eyes were of a blood red, and larger than those of the Arctic bear—the -snout also more rounded, rather resembling the snout of the bulldog. -The meat was tender, but excessively rank and fishy, although the men -devoured it with avidity, and declared it excellent eating.</p> - -<p>Scarcely had we got our prize alongside, when the man at the masthead -gave the joyful shout of <i>"land on the starboard bow!"</i> All hands were -now upon the alert, and, a breeze springing up very opportunely from -the northward and eastward, we were soon close in with the coast. It -proved to be a low rocky islet, of about a league in circumference, and -altogether destitute of vegetation, if we except a species of prickly -pear. In approaching it from the northward, a singular ledge of rock is -seen projecting into the sea, and bearing a strong resemblance to -corded bales of cotton. Around this ledge to the westward is a small -bay, at the bottom of which our boats effected a convenient landing.</p> - -<p>It did not take us long to explore every portion of the island, but, -with one exception, we found nothing worthy of observation. In the -southern extremity, we picked up near the shore, half buried in a pile -of loose stones, a piece of wood, which seemed to have formed the prow -of a canoe. There had been evidently some attempt at carving upon it, -and Captain Guy fancied that he made out the figure of a tortoise, but -the resemblance did not strike me very forcibly. Besides this prow, if -such it were, we found no other token that any living creature had ever -been here before. Around the coast we discovered occasional small floes -of ice—but these were very few. The exact situation of this islet (to -which Captain Guy gave the name of Bennet's Islet, in honour of his -partner in the ownership of the schooner) is 82° 50' S. latitude, 42° -20' W. longitude.</p> - -<p>We had now advanced to the southward more than eight degrees farther -than any previous navigators, and the sea still lay perfectly open -before us. We found, too, that the variation uniformly decreased as we -proceeded, and, what was still more surprising, that the temperature of -the air, and latterly of the water, became milder. The weather might -even be called pleasant, and we had a steady but very gentle breeze -always from some northern point of the compass. The sky was usually -clear, with now and then a slight appearance of thin vapour in the -southern horizon—this, however, was invariably of brief duration. Two -difficulties alone presented themselves to our view; we were getting -short of fuel, and symptoms of scurvy had occurred among several of the -crew. These considerations began to impress upon Captain Guy the -necessity of returning, and he spoke of it frequently. For my own part, -confident as I was of soon arriving at land of some description upon -the course we were pursuing, and having every reason to believe, from -present appearances, that we should not find it the steril soil met -with in the higher Arctic latitudes, I warmly pressed upon him the -expediency of persevering, at least for a few days longer, in the -direction we were now holding. So tempting an opportunity of solving -the great problem in regard to an Antarctic continent had never yet -been afforded to man, and I confess that I felt myself bursting with -indignation at the timid and ill-timed suggestions of our commander. I -believe, indeed, that what I could not refrain from saying to him on -this head had the effect of inducing him to push on. While, therefore, -I cannot but lament the most unfortunate and bloody events which -immediately arose from my advice, I must still be allowed to feel some -degree of gratification at having been instrumental, however remotely, -in opening to the eye of science one of the most intensely exciting -secrets which has ever engrossed its attention.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap18"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XVIII.</h3> -<br> - -<p><i>January 18.</i> This morning<small><small><sup>4</sup></small></small> we continued to the southward, with the -same pleasant weather as before. The sea was entirely smooth, the air -tolerably warm and from the northeast, the temperature of the water -fifty-three. We now again got our sounding-gear in order, and, with a -hundred and fifty fathoms of line, found the current setting towards -the pole at the rate of a mile an hour. This constant tendency to the -southward, both in the wind and current, caused some degree of -speculation, and even of alarm, in different quarters of the schooner, -and I saw distinctly that no little impression had been made upon the -mind of Captain Guy. He was exceedingly sensitive to ridicule, however, -and I finally succeeded in laughing him out of his apprehensions. The -variation was now very trivial. In the course of the day we saw several -large whales of the right species, and innumerable flights of the -albatross passed over the vessel. We also picked up a bush, full of red -berries, like those of the hawthorn, and the carcass of a -singular-looking land-animal. It was three feet in length, and but six -inches in height, with four very short legs, the feet armed with long -claws of a brilliant scarlet, and resembling coral in substance. The -body was covered with a straight silky hair, perfectly white. The tail -was peaked like that of a rat, and about a foot and a half long. The -head resembled a cat's, with the exception of the ears—these were -flapped like the ears of a dog. The <i>teeth</i> were of the same brilliant -scarlet as the claws.</p> - -<blockquote><small><small><sup>4</sup></small> The terms <i>morning</i> and <i>evening</i>, which I have made use -of to avoid confusion in my narrative, as far as possible, must not, of -course, be taken in their ordinary sense. For a long time past we had -had no night at all, the daylight being continual. The dates throughout -are according to nautical time, and the bearings must be understood as -per compass. I would also remark in this place, that I cannot, in the -first portion of what is here written, pretend to strict accuracy in -respect to dates, or latitudes and longitudes, having kept no regular -journal until after the period of which this first portion treats. In -many instances I have relied altogether upon memory.</small></blockquote> - -<p><i>January 19.</i> To-day, being in latitude 83° 20', longitude 43° 5' W. -(the sea being of an extraordinarily dark colour), we again saw land -from the masthead, and, upon a closer scrutiny, found it to be one of a -group of very large islands. The shore was precipitous, and the -interior seemed to be well wooded, a circumstance which occasioned us -great joy. In about four hours from our first discovering the land we -came to anchor in ten fathoms, sandy bottom, a league from the coast, -as a high surf, with strong ripples here and there, rendered a nearer -approach of doubtful expediency. The two largest boats were now ordered -out, and a party, well armed (among whom were Peters and myself), -proceeded to look for an opening in the reef which appeared to encircle -the island. After searching about for some time, we discovered an -inlet, which we were entering, when we saw four large canoes put off -from the shore, filled with men who seemed to be well armed. We waited -for them to come up, and, as they moved with great rapidity, they were -soon within hail. Captain Guy now held up a white handkerchief on the -blade of an oar, when the strangers made a full stop, and commenced a -loud jabbering all at once, intermingled with occasional shouts, in -which we could distinguish the words <i>Anamoo-moo!</i> and <i>Lama-Lama!</i> -They continued this for at least half an hour, during which we had a -good opportunity of observing their appearance.</p> - -<p>In the four canoes, which might have been fifty feet long and five -broad, there were a hundred and ten savages in all. They were about the -ordinary stature of Europeans, but of a more muscular and brawny frame. -Their complexion a jet black, with thick and long woolly hair. They -were clothed in skins of an unknown black animal, shaggy and silky, and -made to fit the body with some degree of skill, the hair being inside, -except where turned out about the neck, wrists, and ankles. Their arms -consisted principally of clubs, of a dark, and apparently very heavy -wood. Some spears, however, were observed among them, headed with -flint, and a few slings. The bottoms of the canoes were full of black -stones about the size of a large egg.</p> - -<p>When they had concluded their harangue (for it was clear they intended -their jabbering for such), one of them who seemed to be the chief stood -up in the prow of his canoe, and made signs for us to bring our boats -alongside of him. This hint we pretended not to understand, thinking it -the wiser plan to maintain, if possible, the interval between us, as -their number more than quadrupled our own. Finding this to be the case, -the chief ordered the three other canoes to hold back, while he -advanced towards us with his own. As soon as he came up with us he -leaped on board the largest of our boats, and seated himself by the -side of Captain Guy, pointing at the same time to the schooner, and -repeating the words <i>Anamoo-moo!</i> and <i>Lama-Lama!</i> We now put back to -the vessel, the four canoes following at a little distance.</p> - -<p>Upon getting alongside the chief evinced symptoms of extreme surprise -and delight, clapping his hands, slapping his thighs and breast, and -laughing obstreperously. His followers behind joined in his merriment, -and for some minutes the din was so excessive as to be absolutely -deafening. Quiet being at length restored, Captain Guy ordered the -boats to be hoisted up, as a necessary precaution, and gave the chief -(whose name we soon found to be <i>Too-wit</i>) to understand that we could -admit no more than twenty of his men on deck at one time. With this -arrangement he appeared perfectly satisfied, and gave some directions -to the canoes, when one of them approached, the rest remaining about -fifty yards off. Twenty of the savages now got on board, and proceeded -to ramble over every part of the deck, and scramble about among the -rigging, making themselves much at home, and examining every article -with great inquisitiveness.</p> - -<p>It was quite evident that they had never before seen any of the white -race—from whose complexion, indeed, they appeared to recoil. They -believed the Jane to be a living creature, and seemed to be afraid of -hurting it with the points of their spears, carefully turning them up. -Our crew were much amused with the conduct of Too-wit in one instance. -The cook was splitting some wood near the galley, and, by accident, -struck his axe into the deck, making a gash of considerable depth. The -chief immediately ran up, and pushing the cook on one side rather -roughly, commenced a half whine, half howl, strongly indicative of -sympathy in what he considered the sufferings of the schooner, patting -and smoothing the gash with his hand, and washing it from a bucket of -seawater which stood by. This was a degree of ignorance for which we -were not prepared, and for my part I could not help thinking some of it -affected.</p> - -<p>When the visiters had satisfied, as well as they could, their curiosity -in regard to our upper works, they were admitted below, when their -amazement exceeded all bounds. Their astonishment now appeared to be -far too deep for words, for they roamed about in silence, broken only -by low ejaculations. The arms afforded them much food for speculation, -and they were suffered to handle and examine them at leisure. I do not -believe that they had the least suspicion of their actual use, but -rather took them for idols, seeing the care we had of them, and the -attention with which we watched their movements while handling them. At -the great guns their wonder was redoubled. They approached them with -every mark of the profoundest reverence and awe, but forbore to examine -them minutely. There were two large mirrors in the cabin, and here was -the acme of their amazement. Too-wit was the first to approach them, -and he had got in the middle of the cabin, with his face to one and his -back to the other, before he fairly perceived them. Upon raising his -eyes and seeing his reflected self in the glass, I thought the savage -would go mad; but, upon turning short round to make a retreat, and -beholding himself a second time in the opposite direction, I was afraid -he would expire upon the spot. No persuasions could prevail upon him to -take another look; but, throwing himself upon the floor, with his face -buried in his hands, he remained thus until we were obliged to drag him -upon deck.</p> - -<p>The whole of the savages were admitted on board in this manner, twenty -at a time, Too-wit being suffered to remain during the entire period. -We saw no disposition to thievery among them, nor did we miss a single -article after their departure. Throughout the whole of their visit they -evinced the most friendly manner. There were, however, some points in -their demeanour which we found it impossible to understand: for -example, we could not get them to approach several very harmless -objects—such as the schooner's sails, an egg, an open book, or a pan -of flour. We endeavoured to ascertain if they had among them any -articles which might be turned to account in the way of traffic, but -found great difficulty in being comprehended. We made out, -nevertheless, what greatly astonished us, that the islands abounded in -the large tortoise of the Gallipagos, one of which we saw in the canoe -of Too-wit. We saw also some <i>biche de mer</i> in the hands of one of the -savages, who was greedily devouring it in its natural state. These -anomalies, for they were such when considered in regard to the -latitude, induced Captain Guy to wish for a thorough investigation of -the country, in the hope of making a profitable speculation in his -discovery. For my own part, anxious as I was to know something more of -these islands, I was still more earnestly bent on prosecuting the -voyage to the southward without delay. We had now fine weather, but -there was no telling how long it would last; and being already in the -eighty-fourth parallel, with an open sea before us, a current setting -strongly to the southward, and the wind fair, I could not listen with -any patience to a proposition of stopping longer than was absolutely -necessary for the health of the crew and the taking on board a proper -supply of fuel and fresh provisions. I represented to the captain that -we might easily make this group on our return, and winter here in the -event of being blocked up by the ice. He at length came into my views -(for in some way, hardly known to myself, I had acquired much influence -over him), and it was finally resolved that, even in the event of our -finding <i>biche de mer</i>, we should only stay here a week to recruit, and -then push on to the southward while we might. Accordingly we made every -necessary preparation, and, under the guidance of Too-wit, got the Jane -through the reef in safety, coming to anchor about a mile from the -shore, in an excellent bay, completely landlocked, on the southeastern -coast of the main island, and in ten fathoms of water, black sandy -bottom. At the head of this bay there were three fine springs (we were -told) of good water, and we saw abundance of wood in the vicinity. The -four canoes followed us in, keeping, however, at a respectful distance. -Too-wit himself remained on board, and, upon our dropping anchor, -invited us to accompany him on shore, and visit his village in the -interior. To this Captain Guy consented; and ten savages being left on -board as hostages, a party of us, twelve in all, got in readiness to -attend the chief. We took care to be well armed, yet without evincing -any distrust. The schooner had her guns run out, her boarding-nettings -up, and every other proper precaution was taken to guard against -surprise. Directions were left with the chief mate to admit no person -on board during our absence, and, in the event of our not appearing in -twelve hours, to send the cutter, with a swivel, round the island in -search of us.</p> - -<p>At every step we took inland the conviction forced itself upon us that -we were in a country differing essentially from any hitherto visited by -civilized men. We saw nothing with which we had been formerly -conversant. The trees resembled no growth of either the torrid, the -temperate, or the northern frigid zones, and were altogether unlike -those of the lower southern latitudes we had already traversed. The -very rocks were novel in their mass, their colour, and their -stratification; and the streams themselves, utterly incredible as it -may appear, had so little in common with those of other climates, that -we were scrupulous of tasting them, and, indeed, had difficulty in -bringing ourselves to believe that their qualities were purely those of -nature. At a small brook which crossed our path (the first we had -reached) Too-wit and his attendants halted to drink. On account of the -singular character of the water, we refused to taste it, supposing it -to be polluted; and it was not until some time afterward we came to -understand that such was the appearance of the streams throughout the -whole group. I am at a loss to give a distinct idea of the nature of -this liquid, and cannot do so without many words. Although it flowed -with rapidity in all declivities where common water would do so, yet -never, except when falling in a cascade, had it the customary -appearance of <i>limpidity</i>. It was, nevertheless, in point of fact, as -perfectly limpid as any limestone water in existence, the difference -being only in appearance. At first sight, and especially in cases where -little declivity was found, it bore resemblance, as regards -consistency, to a thick infusion of gum Arabic in common water. But -this was only the least remarkable of its extraordinary qualities. It -was <i>not</i> colourless, nor was it of any one uniform colour—presenting -to the eye, as it flowed, every possible shade of purple, like the hues -of a changeable silk. This variation in shade was produced in a manner -which excited as profound astonishment in the minds of our party as the -mirror had done in the case of Too-wit. Upon collecting a basinful, and -allowing it to settle thoroughly, we perceived that the whole mass of -liquid was made up of a number of distinct veins, each of a distinct -hue; that these veins did not commingle; and that their cohesion was -perfect in regard to their own particles among themselves, and -imperfect in regard to neighbouring veins. Upon passing the blade of a -knife athwart the veins, the water closed over it immediately, as with -us, and also, in withdrawing it, all traces of the passage of the knife -were instantly obliterated. If, however, the blade was passed down -accurately between two veins, a perfect separation was effected, which -the power of cohesion did not immediately rectify. The phenomena of -this water formed the first definite link in that vast chain of -apparent miracles with which I was destined to be at length encircled.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap19"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XIX.</h3> -<br> - -<p>We were nearly three hours in reaching the village, it being more than -nine miles in the interior, and the path lying through a rugged -country. As we passed along, the party of Too-wit (the whole hundred -and ten savages of the canoes) was momentarily strengthened by smaller -detachments, of from two to six or seven, which joined us, as if by -accident, at different turns in the road. There appeared so much of -system in this that I could not help feeling distrust, and I spoke to -Captain Guy of my apprehensions. It was now too late, however, to -recede, and we concluded that our best security lay in evincing a -perfect confidence in the good faith of Too-wit. We accordingly went -on, keeping a wary eye upon the manoeuvres of the savages, and not -permitting them to divide our numbers by pushing in between. In this -way, passing through a precipitous ravine, we at length reached what we -were told was the only collection of habitations upon the island. As we -came in sight of them, the chief set up a shout, and frequently -repeated the word <i>Klock-Klock;</i> which we supposed to be the name of -the village, or perhaps the generic name for villages.</p> - -<p>The dwellings were of the most miserable description imaginable, and, -unlike those of even the lowest of the savage races with which mankind -are acquainted, were of no uniform plan. Some of them (and these we -found belonged to the <i>Wampoos</i> or <i>Yampoos</i>, the great men of the -land) consisted of a tree cut down at about four feet from the root, -with a large black skin thrown over it, and hanging in loose folds upon -the ground. Under this the savage nestled. Others were formed by means -of rough limbs of trees, with the withered foliage upon them, made to -recline, at an angle of forty-five degrees, against a bank of clay, -heaped up, without regular form, to the height of five or six feet. -Others, again, were mere holes dug in the earth perpendicularly, and -covered over with similar branches, these being removed when the tenant -was about to enter, and pulled on again when he had entered. A few were -built among the forked limbs of trees as they stood, the upper limbs -being partially cut through, so as to bend over upon the lower, thus -forming thicker shelter from the weather. The greater number, however, -consisted of small shallow caverns, apparently scratched in the face of -a precipitous ledge of dark stone, resembling fuller's earth, with -which three sides of the village was bounded. At the door of each of -these primitive caverns was a small rock, which the tenant carefully -placed before the entrance upon leaving his residence, for what purpose -I could not ascertain, as the stone itself was never of sufficient size -to close up more than a third of the opening.</p> - -<p>This village, if it were worthy of the name, lay in a valley of some -depth, and could only be approached from the southward, the precipitous -ledge of which I have already spoken cutting off all access in other -directions. Through the middle of the valley ran a brawling stream of -the same magical-looking water which has been described. We saw several -strange animals about the dwellings, all appearing to be thoroughly -domesticated. The largest of these creatures resembled our common hog -in the structure of the body and snout; the tail, however, was bushy, -and the legs slender as those of the antelope. Its motion was -exceedingly awkward and indecisive, and we never saw it attempt to run. -We noticed also several animals very similar in appearance, but of a -greater length of body, and covered with a black wool. There were a -great variety of tame fowls running about, and these seemed to -constitute the chief food of the natives. To our astonishment we saw -black albatross among these birds in a state of entire domestication, -going to sea periodically for food, but always returning to the village -as a home, and using the southern shore in the vicinity as a place of -incubation. There they were joined by their friends the pelicans as -usual, but these latter never followed them to the dwellings of the -savages. Among the other kinds of tame fowls were ducks, differing very -little from the canvass-back of our own country, black gannets, and a -large bird not unlike the buzzard in appearance, but not carnivorous. -Of fish there seemed to be a great abundance. We saw, during our visit, -a quantity of dried salmon, rock cod, blue dolphins, mackerel, -blackfish, skate, conger eels, elephant-fish, mullets, soles, -parrotfish, leather-jackets, gurnards, hake, flounders, paracutas, and -innumerable other varieties. We noticed, too, that most of them were -similar to the fish about the group of the Lord Auckland Islands, in a -latitude as low as fifty-one degrees south. The Gallipago tortoise was -also very plentiful. We saw but few wild animals, and none of a large -size, or of a species with which we were familiar. One or two serpents -of a formidable aspect crossed our path, but the natives paid them -little attention, and we concluded that they were not venomous.</p> - -<p>As we approached the village with Too-wit and his party, a vast crowd -of the people rushed out to meet us, with loud shouts, among which we -could only distinguish the everlasting <i>Anamoo-moo!</i> and <i>Lama-Lama!</i> -We were much surprised at perceiving that, with one or two exceptions, -these new comers were entirely naked, the skins being used only by the -men of the canoes. All the weapons of the country seemed also to be in -the possession of the latter, for there was no appearance of any among -the villagers. There were a great many women and children, the former -not altogether wanting in what might be termed personal beauty. They -were straight, tall, and well formed, with a grace and freedom of -carriage not to be found in civilized society. Their lips, however, -like those of the men, were thick and clumsy, so that, even when -laughing, the teeth were never disclosed. Their hair was of a finer -texture than that of the males. Among these naked villagers there might -have been ten or twelve who were clothed, like the party of Too-wit, in -dresses of black skin, and armed with lances and heavy clubs. These -appeared to have great influence among the rest, and were always -addressed by the title <i>Wampoo</i>. These, too, were the tenants of the -black skin palaces. That of Too-wit was situated in the centre of the -village, and was much larger and somewhat better constructed than -others of its kind. The tree which formed its support was cut off at a -distance of twelve feet or thereabout from the root, and there were -several branches left just below the cut, these serving to extend the -covering, and in this way prevent its flapping about the trunk. The -covering, too, which consisted of four very large skins fastened -together with wooden skewers, was secured at the bottom with pegs -driven through it and into the ground. The floor was strewed with a -quantity of dry leaves by way of carpet.</p> - -<p>To this hut we were conducted with great solemnity, and as many of the -natives crowded in after us as possible. Too-wit seated himself on the -leaves, and made signs that we should follow his example. This we did, -and presently found ourselves in a situation peculiarly uncomfortable, -if not indeed critical. We were on the ground, twelve in number, with -the savages, as many as forty, sitting on their hams so closely around -us that, if any disturbance had arisen, we should have found it -impossible to make use of our arms, or indeed to have risen on our -feet. The pressure was not only inside the tent, but outside, where -probably was every individual on the whole island, the crowd being -prevented from trampling us to death only by the incessant exertions -and vociferations of Too-wit. Our chief security lay, however, in the -presence of Too-wit himself among us, and we resolved to stick by him -closely, as the best chance of extricating ourselves from the dilemma, -sacrificing him immediately upon the first appearance of hostile -design.</p> - -<p>After some trouble a certain degree of quiet was restored, when the -chief addressed us in a speech of great length, and very nearly -resembling the one delivered in the canoes, with the exception that the -<i>Anamoo-moos!</i> were now somewhat more strenuously insisted upon than -the <i>Lama-Lamas!</i> We listened in profound silence until the conclusion -of his harangue, when Captain Guy replied by assuring the chief of his -eternal friendship and good-will, concluding what he had to say by a -present of several strings of blue beads and a knife. At the former the -monarch, much to our surprise, turned up his nose with some expression -of contempt; but the knife gave him the most unlimited satisfaction, -and he immediately ordered dinner. This was handed into the tent over -the heads of the attendants, and consisted of the palpitating entrails -of a species of unknown animal, probably one of the slim-legged hogs -which we had observed in our approach to the village. Seeing us at a -loss how to proceed, he began, by way of setting us an example, to -devour yard after yard of the enticing food, until we could positively -stand it no longer, and evinced such manifest symptoms of rebellion of -stomach as inspired his majesty with a degree of astonishment only -inferior to that brought about by the looking-glasses. We declined, -however, partaking of the delicacies before us, and endeavoured to make -him understand that we had no appetite whatever, having just finished a -hearty <i>déjeuner</i>.</p> - -<p>When the monarch had made an end of his meal, we commenced a series of -cross-questioning in every ingenious manner we could devise, with a -view of discovering what were the chief productions of the country, and -whether any of them might be turned to profit. At length he seemed to -have some idea of our meaning, and offered to accompany us to a part of -the coast where he assured us the <i>biche de mer</i> (pointing to a -specimen of that animal) was to be found in great abundance. We were -glad at this early opportunity of escaping from the oppression of the -crowd, and signified our eagerness to proceed. We now left the tent, -and, accompanied by the whole population of the village, followed the -chief to the southeastern extremity of the island, not far from the bay -where our vessel lay at anchor. We waited here for about an hour, until -the four canoes were brought round by some of the savages to our -station. The whole of our party then getting into one of them, we were -paddled along the edge of the reef before mentioned, and of another -still farther out, where we saw a far greater quantity of <i>biche de -mer</i> than the oldest seaman among us had ever seen in those groups of -the lower latitudes most celebrated for this article of commerce. We -stayed near these reefs only long enough to satisfy ourselves that we -could easily load a dozen vessels with the animal if necessary, when we -were taken alongside the schooner, and parted with Too-wit after -obtaining from him a promise that he would bring us, in the course of -twenty-four hours, as many of the canvass-back ducks and Gallipago -tortoises as his canoes would hold. In the whole of this adventure we -saw nothing in the demeanour of the natives calculated to create -suspicion, with the single exception of the systematic manner in which -their party was strengthened during our route from the schooner to the -village.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap20"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XX.</h3> -<br> - -<p>The chief was as good as his word, and we were soon plentifully -supplied with fresh provision. We found the tortoises as fine as we had -ever seen, and the ducks surpassed our best species of wild fowl, being -exceedingly tender, juicy, and well-flavoured. Besides these, the -savages brought us, upon our making them comprehend our wishes, a vast -quantity of brown celery and scurvy grass, with a canoe-load of fresh -fish and some dried. The celery was a treat indeed, and the scurvy -grass proved of incalculable benefit in restoring those of our men who -had shown symptoms of disease. In a very short time we had not a single -person on the sick-list. We had also plenty of other kinds of fresh -provision, among which may be mentioned a species of shellfish -resembling the muscle in shape, but with the taste of an oyster. -Shrimps, too, and prawns were abundant, and albatross and other birds' -eggs with dark shells. We took in, too, a plentiful stock of the flesh -of the hog which I have mentioned before. Most of the men found it a -palatable food, but I thought it fishy and otherwise disagreeable. In -return for these good things we presented the natives with blue beads, -brass trinkets, nails, knives, and pieces of red cloth, they being -fully delighted in the exchange. We established a regular market on -shore, just under the guns of the schooner, where our barterings were -carried on with every appearance of good faith, and a degree of order -which their conduct at the village of <i>Klock-klock</i> had not led us to -expect from the savages.</p> - -<p>Matters went on thus very amicably for several days, during which -parties of the natives were frequently on board the schooner, and -parties of our men frequently on shore, making long excursions into the -interior, and receiving no molestation whatever. Finding the ease with -which the vessel might be loaded with <i>biche de mer</i>, owing to the -friendly disposition of the islanders, and the readiness with which -they would render us assistance in collecting it, Captain Guy resolved -to enter into negotiation with Too-wit for the erection of suitable -houses in which to cure the article, and for the services of himself -and tribe in gathering as much as possible, while he himself took -advantage of the fine weather to prosecute his voyage to the southward. -Upon mentioning this project to the chief he seemed very willing to -enter into an agreement. A bargain was accordingly struck, perfectly -satisfactory to both parties, by which it was arranged that, after -making the necessary preparations, such as laying off the proper -grounds, erecting a portion of the buildings, and doing some other work -in which the whole of our crew would be required, the schooner should -proceed on her route, leaving three of her men on the island to -superintend the fulfilment of the project, and instruct the natives in -drying the <i>biche de mer</i>. In regard to terms, these were made to -depend upon the exertions of the savages in our absence. They were to -receive a stipulated quantity of blue beads, knives, red cloth, and so -forth, for every certain number of piculs of the <i>biche de mer</i> which -should be ready on our return.</p> - -<p>A description of the nature of this important article of commerce, and -the method of preparing it, may prove of some interest to my readers, -and I can find no more suitable place than this for introducing an -account of it. The following comprehensive notice of the substance is -taken from a modern history of a voyage to the South Seas.</p> - -<p>"It is that <i>mollusca</i> from the Indian Seas which is known in commerce -by the French name <i>bouche de mer</i> (a nice morsel from the sea). If I -am not much mistaken, the celebrated Cuvier calls it <i>gasteropeda -pulmonifera</i>. It is abundantly gathered in the coasts of the Pacific -Islands, and gathered especially for the Chinese market, where it -commands a great price, perhaps as much as their much-talked of edible -bird's nests, which are probably made up of the gelatinous matter -picked up by a species of swallow from the body of these molluscæ. They -have no shell, no legs, nor any prominent part, except an <i>absorbing</i> -and an <i>excretory</i>, opposite organs; but, by their elastic wings, like -caterpillars or worms, they creep in shallow waters, in which, when -low, they can be seen by a kind of swallow, the sharp bill of which, -inserted in the soft animal, draws a gummy and filamentous substance, -which, by drying, can be wrought into the solid walls of their nest. -Hence the name of <i>gasteropeda pulmonifera</i>.</p> - -<p>"This mollusca is oblong, and of different sizes, from three to -eighteen inches in length; and I have seen a few that were not less -than two feet long. They are nearly round, a little flattish on one -side, which lies next the bottom of the sea; and they are from one to -eight inches thick. They crawl up into shallow water at particular -seasons of the year, probably for the purpose of gendering, as we often -find them in pairs. It is when the sun has the most power on the water, -rendering it tepid, that they approach the shore; and they often go up -into places so shallow, that, on the tide's receding, they are left -dry, exposed to the heat of the sun. But they do not bring forth their -young in shallow water, as we never see any of their progeny, and the -full-grown ones are always observed coming in from deep water. They -feed principally on that class of zoophytes which produce the coral.</p> - -<p>"The <i>biche de mer</i> is generally taken in three or four feet water; -after which they are brought on shore, and split at one end with a -knife, the incision being one inch or more, according to the size of -the mollusca. Through this opening the entrails are forced out by -pressure, and they are much like those of any other small tenant of the -deep. The article is then washed, and afterward boiled to a certain -degree, which must not be too much or too little. They are then buried -in the ground for four hours, then boiled again for a short time, after -which they are dried, either by the fire or the sun. Those cured by the -sun are worth the most; but where one picul -(133<small><small><sup>1</sup></small></small>/<small><small>3</small></small> lbs.) can be cured -that way, I can cure thirty piculs by the fire. When once properly -cured, they can be kept in a dry place for two or three years without -any risk; but they should be examined once in every few months, say -four times a year, to see if any dampness is likely to affect them.</p> - -<p>"The Chinese, as before stated, consider <i>biche de mer</i> a very great -luxury, believing that it wonderfully strengthens and nourishes the -system, and renews the exhausted system of the immoderate voluptuary. -The first quality commands a high price in Canton, being worth ninety -dollars a picul; the second quality seventy-five dollars; the third -fifty dollars; the fourth thirty dollars; the fifth twenty dollars; the -sixth twelve dollars; the seventh eight dollars; and the eighth four -dollars; small cargoes, however, will often bring more in Manilla, -Singapore, and Batavia."</p> - -<p>An agreement having been thus entered into, we proceeded immediately to -land everything necessary for preparing the buildings and clearing the -ground. A large flat space near the eastern shore of the bay was -selected, where there was plenty both of wood and water, and within a -convenient distance of the principal reefs on which the <i>biche de mer</i> -was to be procured. We now all set to work in good earnest, and soon, -to the great astonishment of the savages, had felled a sufficient -number of trees for our purpose, getting them quickly in order for the -framework of the houses, which in two or three days were so far under -way that we could safely trust the rest of the work to the three men -whom we intended to leave behind. These were John Carson, Alfred -Harris, and —— Peterson (all natives of London, I believe), who -volunteered their services in this respect.</p> - -<p>By the last of the month we had everything in readiness for departure. -We had agreed, however, to pay a formal visit of leavestaking to the -village, and Too-wit insisted so pertinaciously upon our keeping the -promise, that we did not think it advisable to run the risk of -offending him by a final refusal. I believe that not one of us had at -this time the slightest suspicion of the good faith of the savages. -They had uniformly behaved with the greatest decorum, aiding us with -alacrity in our work, offering us their commodities frequently without -price, and never, in any instance, pilfering a single article, although -the high value they set upon the goods we had with us was evident by -the extravagant demonstrations of joy always manifested upon our making -them a present. The women especially were most obliging in every -respect, and, upon the whole, we should have been the most suspicious -of human beings had we entertained a single thought of perfidy on the -part of a people who treated us so well. A very short while sufficed to -prove that this apparent kindness of disposition was only the result of -a deeply-laid plan for our destruction, and that the islanders for whom -we entertained such inordinate feelings of esteem were among the most -barbarous, subtle, and bloodthirsty wretches that ever contaminated the -face of the globe.</p> - -<p>It was on the first of February that we went on shore for the purpose -of visiting the village. Although, as said before, we entertained not -the slightest suspicion, still no proper precaution was neglected. Six -men were left in the schooner with instructions to permit none of the -savages to approach the vessel during our absence, under any pretence -whatever, and to remain constantly on deck. The boarding-nettings were -up, the guns double-shotted with grape and canister, and the swivels -loaded with canisters of musket-balls. She lay, with her anchor apeak, -about a mile from the shore, and no canoe could approach her in any -direction without being distinctly seen and exposed to the full fire of -our swivels immediately.</p> - -<p>The six men being left on board, our shore-party consisted of -thirty-two persons in all. We were armed to the teeth, having with us -muskets, pistols, and cutlasses, besides each a long kind of seaman's -knife, somewhat resembling the Bowie knife now so much used throughout -our western and southern country. A hundred of the black skin warriors -met us at the landing for the purpose of accompanying us on our way. We -noticed, however, with some surprise, that they were now entirely -without arms; and, upon questioning Too-wit in relation to this -circumstance, he merely answered that <i>Mattee non we pa pa si</i>—meaning -that there was no need of arms where all were brothers. We took this in -good part, and proceeded.</p> - -<p>We had passed the spring and rivulet of which I before spoke, and were -now entering upon a narrow gorge leading through the chain of soapstone -hills among which the village was situated. This gorge was very rocky -and uneven, so much so that it was with no little difficulty we -scrambled through it on our first visit to Klock-klock. The whole -length of the ravine might have been a mile and a half, or probably two -miles. It wound in every possible direction through the hills (having -apparently formed, at some remote period, the bed of a torrent), in no -instance proceeding more than twenty yards without an abrupt turn. The -sides of this dell would have averaged, I am sure, seventy or eighty -feet in perpendicular altitude throughout the whole of their extent, -and in some portions they arose to an astonishing height, overshadowing -the pass so completely that but little of the light of day could -penetrate. The general width was about forty feet, and occasionally it -diminished so as not to allow the passage of more than five or six persons -abreast. In short, there could be no place in the world better -adapted for the consummation of an ambuscade, and it was no more than -natural that we should look carefully to our arms as we entered upon -it. When I now think of our egregious folly, the chief subject of -astonishment seems to be, that we should have ever ventured, under any -circumstances, so completely into the power of unknown savages as to -permit them to march both before and behind us in our progress through -this ravine. Yet such was the order we blindly took up, trusting -foolishly to the force of our party, the unarmed condition of Too-wit -and his men, the certain efficacy of our fire-arms (whose effect was yet -a secret to the natives), and, more than all, to the long-sustained -pretension of friendship kept up by these infamous wretches. Five or -six of them went on before, as if to lead the way, ostentatiously -busying themselves in removing the larger stones and rubbish from the -path. Next came our own party. We walked closely together, taking care -only to prevent separation. Behind followed the main body of the -savages, observing unusual order and decorum.</p> - -<p>Dirk Peters, a man named Wilson Allen, and myself were on the right of -our companions, examining, as we went along, the singular -stratification of the precipice which overhung us. A fissure in the -soft rock attracted our attention. It was about wide enough for one -person to enter without squeezing, and extended back into the hill some -eighteen or twenty feet in a straight course, sloping afterward to the -left. The height of the opening, as far as we could see into it from -the main gorge, was perhaps sixty or seventy feet. There were one or -two stunted shrubs growing from the crevices, bearing a species of -filbert, which I felt some curiosity to examine, and pushed in briskly -for that purpose, gathering five or six of the nuts at a grasp, and -then hastily retreating. As I turned, I found that Peters and Allen had -followed me. I desired them to go back, as there was not room for two -persons to pass, saying they should have some of my nuts. They -accordingly turned, and were scrambling back, Allen being close to the -mouth of the fissure, when I was suddenly aware of a concussion -resembling nothing I had ever before experienced, and which impressed -me with a vague conception, if indeed I then thought of anything, that -the whole foundations of the solid globe were suddenly rent asunder, -and that the day of universal dissolution was at hand.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap21"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XXI.</h3> -<br> - -<p>As soon as I could collect my scattered senses, I found myself nearly -suffocated, and grovelling in utter darkness among a quantity of loose -earth, which was also falling upon me heavily in every direction, -threatening to bury me entirely. Horribly alarmed at this idea, I -struggled to gain my feet, and at length succeeded. I then remained -motionless for some moments, endeavouring to conceive what had happened -to me, and where I was. Presently I heard a deep groan just at my ear, -and afterward the smothered voice of Peters calling to me for aid in -the name of God. I scrambled one or two paces forward, when I fell -directly over the head and shoulders of my companion, who, I soon -discovered, was buried in a loose mass of earth as far as his middle, -and struggling desperately to free himself from the pressure. I tore -the dirt from around him with all the energy I could command, and at -length succeeded in getting him out.</p> - -<p>As soon as we sufficiently recovered from our fright and surprise to be -capable of conversing rationally, we both came to the conclusion that -the walls of the fissure in which we had ventured had, by some -convulsion of nature, or probably from their own weight, caved in -overhead, and that we were consequently lost for ever, being thus -entombed alive. For a long time we gave up supinely to the most intense -agony and despair, such as cannot be adequately imagined by those who -have never been in a similar situation. I firmly believe that no -incident ever occurring in the course of human events is more adapted -to inspire the supremeness of mental and bodily distress than a case -like our own, of living inhumation. The blackness of darkness which -envelops the victim, the terrific oppression of lungs, the stifling -fumes from the damp earth, unite with the ghastly considerations that -we are beyond the remotest confines of hope, and that such is the -allotted portion of <i>the dead</i>, to carry into the human heart a degree -of appalling awe and horror not to be tolerated—never to be conceived.</p> - -<p>At length Peters proposed that we should endeavour to ascertain -precisely the extent of our calamity, and grope about our prison; it -being barely possible, he observed, that some opening might be yet left -us for escape. I caught eagerly at this hope, and, arousing myself to -exertion, attempted to force my way through the loose earth. Hardly had -I advanced a single step before a glimmer of light became perceptible, -enough to convince me that, at all events, we should not immediately -perish for want of air. We now took some degree of heart, and -encouraged each other to hope for the best. Having scrambled over a -bank of rubbish which impeded our farther progress in the direction of -the light, we found less difficulty in advancing, and also experienced -some relief from the excessive oppression of lungs which had tormented -us. Presently we were enabled to obtain a glimpse of the objects -around, and discovered that we were near the extremity of the straight -portion of the fissure, where it made a turn to the left. A few -struggles more, and we reached the bend, when, to our inexpressible -joy, there appeared a long seam or crack extending upward a vast -distance, generally at an angle of about forty-five degrees, although -sometimes much more precipitous. We could not see through the whole -extent of this opening; but, as a good deal of light came down it, we -had little doubt of finding at the top of it (if we could by any means -reach the top) a clear passage into the open air.</p> - -<p>I now called to mind that three of us had entered the fissure from the -main gorge, and that our companion, Allen, was still missing; we -determined at once to retrace our steps and look for him. After a long -search, and much danger from the farther caving in of the earth above -us, Peters at length cried out to me that he had hold of our -companion's foot, and that his whole body was deeply buried beneath the -rubbish, beyond a possibility of extricating him. I soon found that -what he said was too true, and that, of course, life had been long -extinct. With sorrowful hearts, therefore, we left the corpse to its -fate, and again made our way to the bend.</p> - -<p>The breadth of the seam was barely sufficient to admit us, and, after -one or two ineffectual efforts at getting up, we began once more to -despair. I have before said that the chain of hills through which ran -the main gorge was composed of a species of soft rock resembling -soapstone. The sides of the cleft we were now attempting to ascend were -of the same material, and so excessively slippery, being wet, that we -could get but little foothold upon them even in their least precipitous -parts; in some places, where the ascent was nearly perpendicular, the -difficulty was, of course, much aggravated; and, indeed, for some time -we thought it insurmountable. We took courage, however, from despair; -and what, by dint of cutting steps in the soft stone with our Bowie -knives, and swinging, at the risk of our lives, to small projecting -points of a harder species of slaty rock which now and then protruded -from the general mass, we at length reached a natural platform, from -which was perceptible a patch of blue sky, at the extremity of a -thickly-wooded ravine. Looking back now, with somewhat more leisure, at -the passage through which we had thus far proceeded, we clearly saw, -from the appearance of its sides, that it was of late formation, and we -concluded that the concussion, whatever it was, which had so -unexpectedly overwhelmed us, had also, at the same moment, laid open -this path for escape. Being quite exhausted with exertion, and, indeed, -so weak that we were scarcely able to stand or articulate, Peters now -proposed that we should endeavour to bring our companions to the rescue -by firing the pistols which still remained in our girdles—the muskets -as well as cutlasses had been lost among the loose earth at the bottom -of the chasm. Subsequent events proved that, had we fired, we should -have sorely repented it; but, luckily, a half suspicion of foul play -had by this time arisen in my mind, and we forbore to let the savages -know of our whereabouts.</p> - -<p>After having reposed for about an hour, we pushed on slowly up the -ravine, and had gone no great way before we heard a succession of -tremendous yells. At length we reached what might be called the surface -of the ground; for our path hitherto, since leaving the platform, had -lain beneath an archway of high rock and foliage, at a vast distance -overhead. With great caution we stole to a narrow opening, through -which we had a clear sight of the surrounding country, when the whole -dreadful secret of the concussion broke upon us in one moment and at -one view.</p> - -<p>The spot from which we looked was not far from the summit of the -highest peak in the range of the soapstone hills. The gorge in which -our party of thirty-two had entered ran within fifty feet to the left -of us. But, for at least one hundred yards, the channel or bed of this -gorge was entirely filled up with the chaotic ruins of more than a -million tons of earth and stone that had been artificially tumbled -within it. The means by which the vast mass had been precipitated were -not more simple than evident, for sure traces of the murderous work -were yet remaining. In several spots along the top of the eastern side -of the gorge (we were now on the western) might be seen stakes of wood -driven into the earth. In these spots the earth had not given way; but -throughout the whole extent of the face of the precipice from which the -mass <i>had</i> fallen, it was clear, from marks left in the soil resembling -those made by the drill of the rock-blaster, that stakes similar to -those we saw standing had been inserted, at not more than a yard apart, -for the length of perhaps three hundred feet, and ranging at about ten -feet back from the edge of the gulf. Strong cords of grape vine were -attached to the stakes still remaining on the hill, and it was evident -that such cords had also been attached to each of the other stakes. I -have already spoken of the singular stratification of these soapstone -hills; and the description just given of the narrow and deep fissure -through which we effected our escape from inhumation will afford a -further conception of its nature. This was such that almost every -natural convulsion would be sure to split the soil into perpendicular -layers or ridges running parallel with one another; and a very moderate -exertion of art would be sufficient for effecting the same purpose. Of -this stratification the savages had availed themselves to accomplish -their treacherous ends. There can be no doubt that, by the continuous -line of stakes, a partial rupture of the soil had been brought about, -probably to the depth of one or two feet, when, by means of a savage -pulling at the end of each of the cords (these cords being attached to -the tops of the stakes, and extending back from the edge of the cliff), -a vast leverage power was obtained, capable of hurling the whole face -of the hill, upon a given signal, into the bosom of the abyss below. -The fate of our poor companions was no longer a matter of uncertainty. -We alone had escaped from the tempest of that overwhelming destruction. -We were the only living white men upon the island.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap22"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XXII.</h3> -<br> - -<p>Our situation, as it now appeared, was scarcely less dreadful than when -we had conceived ourselves entombed for ever. We saw before us no -prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging -out a miserable existence in captivity among them. We might, to be -sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the -fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from -which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long Polar -winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our -efforts to obtain relief.</p> - -<p>The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds -of whom, we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the -southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in -the capture and plunder of the Jane. The vessel still lay calmly at -anchor in the bay, those on board being apparently quite unconscious of -any danger awaiting them. How we longed at that moment to be with them! -either to aid in effecting their escape, or to perish with them in -attempting a defence. We saw no chance even of warning them of their -danger without bringing immediate destruction upon our own heads, with -but a remote hope of benefit to them. A pistol fired might suffice to -apprize them that something wrong had occurred; but the report could -not possibly inform them that their only prospect of safety lay in -getting out of the harbour forthwith—it could not tell them that no -principles of honour now bound them to remain, that their companions -were no longer among the living. Upon hearing the discharge they could -not be more thoroughly prepared to meet the foe, who were now getting -ready to attack, than they already were, and always had been. No good, -therefore, and infinite harm, would result from our firing, and, after -mature deliberation, we forbore.</p> - -<p>Our next thought was to attempt a rush towards the vessel, to seize one -of the four canoes which lay at the head of the bay, and endeavour to -force a passage on board. But the utter impossibility of succeeding in -this desperate task soon became evident. The country, as I said before, -was literally swarming with the natives, skulking among the bushes and -recesses of the hills, so as not to be observed from the schooner. In -our immediate vicinity especially, and blockading the sole path by -which we could hope to attain the shore in the proper point, were -stationed the whole party of the black skin warriors, with Too-wit at -their head, and apparently only waiting for some re-enforcement to -commence his onset upon the Jane. The canoes, too, which lay at the -head of the bay were manned with savages, unarmed, it is true, but who -undoubtedly had arms within reach. We were forced, therefore, however -unwillingly, to remain in our place of concealment, mere spectators of -the conflict which presently ensued.</p> - -<p>In about half an hour we saw some sixty or seventy rafts, or flatboats, -with outriggers, filled with savages, and coming round the southern -bight of the harbour. They appeared to have no arms except short clubs, -and stones which lay in the bottom of the rafts. Immediately afterward -another detachment, still larger, approached in an opposite direction, -and with similar weapons. The four canoes, too, were now quickly filled -with natives, starting up from the bushes at the head of the bay, and -put off swiftly to join the other parties. Thus, in less time than I -have taken to tell it, and as if by magic, the Jane saw herself -surrounded by an immense multitude of desperadoes evidently bent upon -capturing her at all hazards.</p> - -<p>That they would succeed in so doing could not be doubted for an -instant. The six men left in the vessel, however resolutely they might -engage in her defence, were altogether unequal to the proper management -of the guns, or in any manner to sustain a contest at such odds. I -could hardly imagine that they would make resistance at all, but in -this was deceived; for presently I saw them get springs upon the cable, -and bring the vessel's starboard broadside to bear upon the canoes, -which by this time were within pistol range, the rafts being nearly a -quarter of a mile to windward. Owing to some cause unknown, but most -probably to the agitation of our poor friends at seeing themselves in -so hopeless a situation, the discharge was an entire failure. Not a -canoe was hit or a single savage injured, the shots striking short and -<i>ricochêting</i> over their heads. The only effect produced upon them was -astonishment at the unexpected report and smoke, which was so excessive -that for some moments I almost thought they would abandon their design -entirely, and return to the shore. And this they would most likely have -done had our men followed up their broadside by a discharge of small -arms, in which, as the canoes were now so near at hand, they could not -have failed in doing some execution, sufficient, at least, to deter -this party from a farther advance, until they could have given the -rafts also a broadside. But, in place of this, they left the canoe -party to recover from their panic, and, by looking about them, to see -that no injury had been sustained, while they flew to the larboard to -get ready for the rafts.</p> - -<p>The discharge to larboard produced the most terrible effect. The star -and double-headed shot of the large guns cut seven or eight of the -rafts completely asunder, and killed, perhaps, thirty or forty of the -savages outright, while a hundred of them, at least, were thrown into -the water, the most of them dreadfully wounded. The remainder, -frightened out of their senses, commenced at once a precipitate -retreat, not even waiting to pick up their maimed companions, who were -swimming about in every direction, screaming and yelling for aid. This -great success, however, came too late for the salvation of our devoted -people. The canoe party were already on board the schooner to the -number of more than a hundred and fifty, the most of them having -succeeded in scrambling up the chains and over the boarding nettings -even before the matches had been applied to the larboard guns. Nothing -could now withstand their brute rage. Our men were borne down at once, -overwhelmed, trodden under foot, and absolutely torn to pieces in an -instant.</p> - -<p>Seeing this, the savages on the rafts got the better of their fears, -and came up in shoals to the plunder. In five minutes the Jane was a -pitiable scene indeed of havoc and tumultuous outrage. The decks were -split open and ripped up; the cordage, sails, and everything moveable -on deck demolished as if by magic; while, by dint of pushing at the -stern, towing with the canoes, and hauling at the sides, as they swam -in thousands around the vessel, the wretches finally forced her on -shore (the cable having been slipped), and delivered her over to the -good offices of Too-wit, who, during the whole of the engagement, had -maintained, like a skilful general, his post of security and -reconnoissance among the hills, but, now that the victory was completed -to his satisfaction, condescended to scamper down with his warriors of -the black skin, and become a partaker in the spoils.</p> - -<p>Too-wit's descent left us at liberty to quit our hiding-place and -reconnoitre the hill in the vicinity of the chasm. At about fifty yards -from the mouth of it we saw a small spring of water, at which we slaked -the burning thirst that now consumed us. Not far from the spring we -discovered several of the filbert-bushes which I mentioned before. Upon -tasting the nuts we found them palatable, and very nearly resembling in -flavour the common English filbert. We collected our hats full -immediately, deposited them within the ravine, and returned for more. -While we were busily employed in gathering these, a rustling in the -bushes alarmed us, and we were upon the point of stealing back to our -covert, when a large black bird of the bittern species strugglingly and -slowly arose above the shrubs. I was so much startled that I could do -nothing, but Peters had sufficient presence of mind to run up to it -before it could make its escape, and seize it by the neck. Its -struggles and screams were tremendous, and we had thoughts of letting -it go, lest the noise should alarm some of the savages who might be -still lurking in the neighbourhood. A stab with a Bowie knife, however, -at length brought it to the ground, and we dragged it into the ravine, -congratulating ourselves that, at all events, we had thus obtained a -supply of food enough to last us for a week.</p> - -<p>We now went out again to look about us, and ventured a considerable -distance down the southern declivity of the hill, but met with nothing -else which could serve us for food. We therefore collected a quantity -of dry wood and returned, seeing one or two large parties of the -natives on their way to the village, laden with the plunder of the -vessel, and who, we were apprehensive, might discover us in passing -beneath the hill.</p> - -<p>Our next care was to render our place of concealment as secure as -possible, and, with this object, we arranged some brushwood over the -aperture which I have before spoken of as the one through which we saw -the patch of blue sky, on reaching the platform from the interior of -the chasm. We left only a very small opening, just wide enough to admit -of our seeing the bay, without the risk of being discovered from below. -Having done this, we congratulated ourselves upon the security of the -position; for we were now completely excluded from observation, as long -as we chose to remain within the ravine itself, and not venture out -upon the hill. We could perceive no traces of the savages having ever -been within this hollow; but, indeed, when we came to reflect upon the -probability that the fissure through which we attained it had been only -just now created by the fall of the cliff opposite, and that no other -way of attaining it could be perceived, we were not so much rejoiced at -the thought of being secure from molestation as fearful lest there -should be absolutely no means left us for descent. We resolved to -explore the summit of the hill thoroughly, when a good opportunity -should offer. In the mean time we watched the motions of the savages -through our loophole.</p> - -<p>They had already made a complete wreck of the vessel, and were now -preparing to set her on fire. In a little while we saw the smoke -ascending in huge volumes from her main-hatchway, and, shortly -afterward, a dense mass of flame burst up from the forecastle. The -rigging, masts, and what remained of the sails caught immediately, and -the fire spread rapidly along the decks. Still a great many of the -savages retained their stations about her, hammering with large stones, -axes, and cannon balls at the bolts and other copper and iron work. On -the beach, and in canoes and rafts, there were not less, altogether, in -the immediate vicinity of the schooner, than ten thousand natives, -besides the shoals of them who, laden with booty, were making their way -inland and over to the neighbouring islands. We now anticipated a -catastrophe, and were not disappointed. First of all there came a smart -shock (which we felt distinctly where we were as if we had been -slightly galvanized), but unattended with any visible signs of an -explosion. The savages were evidently startled, and paused for an -instant from their labours and yellings. They were upon the point of -recommencing, when suddenly a mass of smoke puffed up from the decks, -resembling a black and heavy thunder-cloud—then, as if from its -bowels, arose a tall stream of vivid fire to the height, apparently, of -a quarter of a mile—then there came a sudden circular expansion of the -flame—then the whole atmosphere was magically crowded, in a single -instant, with a wild chaos of wood, and metal, and human limbs—and, -lastly, came the concussion in its fullest fury, which hurled us -impetuously from our feet, while the hills echoed and re-echoed the -tumult, and a dense shower of the minutest fragments of the ruins -tumbled headlong in every direction around us.</p> - -<p>The havoc among the savages far exceeded our utmost expectation, and -they had now, indeed, reaped the full and perfect fruits of their -treachery. Perhaps a thousand perished by the explosion, while at least -an equal number were desperately mangled. The whole surface of the bay -was literally strewn with the struggling and drowning wretches, and on -shore matters were even worse. They seemed utterly appalled by the -suddenness and completeness of their discomfiture, and made no efforts -at assisting one another. At length we observed a total change in their -demeanour. From absolute stupor they appeared to be, all at once, -aroused to the highest pitch of excitement, and rushed wildly about, -going to and from a certain point on the beach, with the strangest -expressions of mingled horror, rage, and intense curiosity depicted on -their countenances, and shouting, at the top of their voices, -<i>Tekeli-li! Tekeli-li!</i></p> - -<p>Presently we saw a large body go off into the hills, whence they -returned in a short time, carrying stakes of wood. These they brought -to the station where the crowd was the thickest, which now separated so -as to afford us a view of the object of all this excitement. We -perceived something white lying on the ground, but could not -immediately make out what it was. At length we saw that it was the -carcass of the strange animal with the scarlet teeth and claws which -the schooner had picked up at sea on the eighteenth of January. Captain -Guy had had the body preserved for the purpose of stuffing the skin and -taking it to England. I remember he had given some directions about it -just before our making the island, and it had been brought into the -cabin and stowed away in one of the lockers. It had now been thrown on -shore by the explosion; but why it had occasioned so much concern among -the savages was more than we could comprehend. Although they crowded -around the carcass at a little distance, none of them seemed willing to -approach it closely. By-and-by the men with the stakes drove them in a -circle around it, and, no sooner was this arrangement completed, than -the whole of the vast assembly rushed into the interior of the island, -with loud screams of <i>Tekeli-li! Tekeli-li!</i></p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap23"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XXIII.</h3> -<br> - -<p>During the six or seven days immediately following we remained in our -hiding-place upon the hill, going out only occasionally, and then with -the greatest precaution, for water and filberts. We had made a kind of -pent-house on the platform, furnishing it with a bed of dry leaves, and -placing in it three large flat stones, which served us for both -fireplace and table. We kindled a fire without difficulty by rubbing -two pieces of dry wood together, the one soft, the other hard. The bird -we had taken in such good season proved excellent eating, although -somewhat tough. It was not an oceanic fowl, but a species of bittern, -with jet black and grizzly plumage, and diminutive wings in proportion -to its bulk. We afterward saw three of the same kind in the vicinity of -the ravine, apparently seeking for the one we had captured; but, as -they never alighted, we had no opportunity of catching them.</p> - -<p>As long as this fowl lasted we suffered nothing from our situation; but -it was now entirely consumed, and it became absolutely necessary that -we should look out for provision. The filberts would not satisfy the -cravings of hunger, afflicting us, too, with severe gripings of the -bowels, and, if freely indulged in, with violent headache. We had seen -several large tortoises near the seashore to the eastward of the hill, -and perceived they might be easily taken, if we could get at them -without the observation of the natives. It was resolved, therefore, to -make an attempt at descending.</p> - -<p>We commenced by going down the southern declivity, which seemed to -offer the fewest difficulties, but had not proceeded a hundred yards -before (as we had anticipated from appearances on the hill-top) our -progress was entirely arrested by a branch of the gorge in which our -companions had perished. We now passed along the edge of this for about -a quarter of a mile, when we were again stopped by a precipice of -immense depth, and, not being able to make our way along the brink of -it, we were forced to retrace our steps by the main ravine.</p> - -<p>We now pushed over to the eastward, but with precisely similar fortune. -After an hour's scramble, at the risk of breaking our necks, we -discovered that we had merely descended into a vast pit of black -granite, with fine dust at the bottom, and whence the only egress was -by the rugged path in which we had come down. Toiling again up this -path, we now tried the northern edge of the hill. Here we were obliged -to use the greatest possible caution in our manoeuvres, as the least -indiscretion would expose us to the full view of the savages in the -village. We crawled along, therefore, on our hands and knees, and, -occasionally, were even forced to throw ourselves at full length, -dragging our bodies along by means of the shrubbery. In this careful -manner we had proceeded but a little way, when we arrived at a chasm -far deeper than any we had yet seen, and leading directly into the main -gorge. Thus our fears were fully confirmed, and we found ourselves cut -off entirely from access to the world below. Thoroughly exhausted by -our exertions, we made the best of our way back to the platform, and, -throwing ourselves upon the bed of leaves, slept sweetly and soundly -for some hours.</p> - -<p>For several days after this fruitless search we were occupied in -exploring every part of the summit of the hill, in order to inform -ourselves of its actual resources. We found that it would afford us no -food, with the exception of the unwholesome filberts, and a rank -species of scurvy grass which grew in a little patch of not more than -four rods square, and would be soon exhausted. On the fifteenth of -February, as near as I can remember, there was not a blade of this -left, and the nuts were growing scarce; our situation, therefore, could -hardly be more lamentable.<small><small><sup>5</sup></small></small> On the sixteenth we again went round the -walls of our prison, in hope of finding some avenue of escape, but to -no purpose. We also descended the chasm in which we had been -overwhelmed, with the faint expectation of discovering, through this -channel, some opening to the main ravine. Here, too, we were -disappointed, although we found and brought up with us a musket.</p> - -<blockquote><small><small><sup>5</sup></small> This day was rendered remarkable by our observing in the -south several huge wreaths of the grayish vapour I have before spoken -of.</small></blockquote> - -<p>On the seventeenth we set out with the determination of examining more -thoroughly the chasm of black granite into which we had made our way in -the first search. We remembered that one of the fissures in the sides -of this pit had been but partially looked into, and we were anxious to -explore it, although with no expectation of discovering here any -opening.</p> - -<p>We found no great difficulty in reaching the bottom of the hollow as -before, and were now sufficiently calm to survey it with some -attention. It was, indeed, one of the most singular-looking places -imaginable, and we could scarcely bring ourselves to believe it -altogether the work of nature. The pit, from its eastern to its western -extremity, was about five hundred yards in length, when all its -windings were threaded; the distance from east to west in a straight -line not being more (I should suppose, having no means of accurate -examination) than forty or fifty yards. Upon first descending into the -chasm, that is to say, for a hundred feet downward from the summit of -the hill, the sides of the abyss bore little resemblance to each other, -and, apparently, had at no time been connected, the one surface being -of the soapstone and the other of marl, granulated with some metallic -matter. The average breadth, or interval between the two cliffs, was -probably here sixty feet, but there seemed to be no regularity of -formation. Passing down, however, beyond the limit spoken of, the -interval rapidly contracted, and the sides began to run parallel, -although, for some distance farther, they were still dissimilar in -their material and form of surface. Upon arriving within fifty feet of -the bottom, a perfect regularity commenced. The sides were now entirely -uniform in substance, in colour, and in lateral direction, the material -being a very black and shining granite, and the distance between the -two sides, at all points facing each other, exactly twenty yards. The -precise formation of the chasm will be best understood by means of a -delineation taken upon the spot; for I had luckily with me a pocketbook -and pencil, which I preserved with great care through a long series of -subsequent adventure, and to which I am indebted for memoranda of many -subjects which would otherwise have been crowded from my remembrance.</p> -<a name="figure1"></a> -<center><i>Figure 1</i>.</center><br> -<center><img src="images/1.jpg" alt="figure 1"></center> - -<p>This figure (see figure 1) gives the general outlines of the chasm, -without the minor cavities in the sides, of which there were several, -each cavity having a corresponding protuberance opposite. The bottom of -the gulf was covered to the depth of three or four inches with a powder -almost impalpable, beneath which we found a continuation of the black -granite. To the right, at the lower extremity, will be noticed the -appearance of a small opening; this is the fissure alluded to above, -and to examine which more minutely than before was the object of our -second visit. We now pushed into it with vigour, cutting away a -quantity of brambles which impeded us, and removing a vast heap of -sharp flints somewhat resembling arrowheads in shape. We were -encouraged to persevere, however, by perceiving some little light -proceeding from the farther end. We at length squeezed our way for -about thirty feet, and found that the aperture was a low and -regularly-formed arch, having a bottom of the same impalpable powder as -that in the main chasm. A strong light now broke upon us, and, turning -a short bend, we found ourselves in another lofty chamber, similar to -the one we had left in every respect but longitudinal form. Its general -figure is here given. (See figure 2.)</p> -<a name="figure2"></a> -<center><i>Figure 2</i>.</center><br> -<center><img src="images/2.jpg" alt="figure 2"></center> - -<p>The total length of this chasm, commencing at the opening <i>a</i> and -proceeding round the curve <i>b</i> to the extremity <i>d</i>, is five hundred -and fifty yards. At <i>c</i> we discovered a small aperture similar to the -one through which we had issued from the other chasm, and this was -choked up in the same manner with brambles and a quantity of the white -arrowhead flints. We forced our way through it, finding it about forty -feet long, and emerged into a third chasm. This, too, was precisely -like the first, except in its longitudinal shape, which was thus. (See -figure 3.)</p> -<a name="figure3"></a> -<center><i>Figure 3</i>. - - - - <i>Figure 5</i>.</center><br> -<center><img src="images/3.jpg" alt="figures 3 and 5"></center> - -<p>We found the entire length of the third chasm three hundred and twenty -yards. At the point <i>a</i> was an opening about six feet wide, and -extending fifteen feet into the rock, where it terminated in a bed of -marl, there being no other chasm beyond, as we had expected. We were -about leaving this fissure, into which very little light was admitted, -when Peters called my attention to a range of singular-looking -indentures in the surface of the marl forming the termination of the -<i>cul-de-sac</i>. With a very slight exertion of the imagination, the left, -or most northerly of these indentures might have been taken for the -intentional, although rude, representation of a human figure standing -erect, with outstretched arm. The rest of them bore also some little -resemblance to alphabetical characters, and Peters was willing, at all -events, to adopt the idle opinion that they were really such. I -convinced him of his error, finally, by directing his attention to the -floor of the fissure, where, among the powder, we picked up, piece by -piece, several large flakes of the marl, which had evidently been -broken off by some convulsion from the surface where the indentures -were found, and which had projecting points exactly fitting the -indentures; thus proving them to have been the work of nature. Figure -4. presents an accurate copy of the whole.</p> -<a name="figure4"></a> -<center><i>Figure 4</i>.</center><br> -<center><img src="images/4.jpg" alt="figure 4"></center> - -<p>After satisfying ourselves that these singular caverns afforded us no -means of escape from our prison, we made our way back, dejected and -dispirited, to the summit of the hill. Nothing worth mentioning -occurred during the next twenty-four hours, except that, in examining -the ground to the eastward of the third chasm, we found two triangular -holes of great depth, and also with black granite sides. Into these -holes we did not think it worth while to attempt descending, as they -had the appearance of mere natural wells, without outlet. They were -each about twenty yards in circumference, and their shape, as well as -relative position in regard to the third chasm, is shown in figure 5, -preceding page.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap24"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XXIV.</h3> -<br> - -<p>On the twentieth of the month, finding it altogether impossible to -subsist any longer upon the filberts, the use of which occasioned us -the most excruciating torment, we resolved to make a desperate attempt -at descending the southern declivity of the hill. The face of the -precipice was here of the softest species of soapstone, although nearly -perpendicular throughout its whole extent (a depth of a hundred and -fifty feet at the least), and in many places even overarching. After -long search we discovered a narrow ledge about twenty feet below the -brink of the gulf; upon this Peters contrived to leap, with what -assistance I could render him by means of our pocket-handkerchiefs tied -together. With somewhat more difficulty I also got down; and we then -saw the possibility of descending the whole way by the process in which -we had clambered up from the chasm when we had been buried by the fall -of the hill—that is, by cutting steps in the face of the soapstone -with our knives. The extreme hazard of the attempt can scarcely be -conceived; but, as there was no other resource, we determined to -undertake it.</p> - -<p>Upon the ledge where we stood there grew some filbert-bushes; and to -one of these we made fast an end of our rope of handkerchiefs. The -other end being tied round Peters's waist, I lowered him down over the -edge of the precipice until the handkerchiefs were stretched tight. He -now proceeded to dig a deep hole in the soapstone (as far in as eight -or ten inches), sloping away the rock above to the height of a foot, or -thereabout, so as to allow of his driving, with the butt of a pistol, a -tolerably strong peg into the levelled surface. I then drew him up for -about four feet, when he made a hole similar to the one below, driving -in a peg as before, and having thus a resting-place for both feet and -hands. I now unfastened the handkerchiefs from the bush, throwing him -the end, which he tied to the peg in the uppermost hole, letting -himself down gently to a station about three feet lower than he had yet -been, that is, to the full extent of the handkerchiefs. Here he dug -another hole, and drove another peg. He then drew himself up, so as to -rest his feet in the hole just cut, taking hold with his hands upon the -peg in the one above. It was now necessary to untie the handkerchiefs -from the topmost peg, with the view of fastening them to the second; -and here he found that an error had been committed in cutting the holes -at so great a distance apart. However, after one or two unsuccessful -and dangerous attempts at reaching the knot (having to hold on with his -left hand while he laboured to undo the fastening with his right), he -at length cut the string, leaving six inches of it affixed to the peg. -Tying the handkerchiefs now to the second peg, he descended to a -station below the third, taking care not to go too far down. By these -means (means which I should never have conceived of myself, and for -which we were indebted altogether to Peters's ingenuity and resolution) -my companion finally succeeded, with the occasional aid of projections -in the cliff, in reaching the bottom without accident.</p> - -<p>It was some time before I could summon sufficient resolution to follow -him; but I did at length attempt it. Peters had taken off his shirt -before descending, and this, with my own, formed the rope necessary for -the adventure. After throwing down the musket found in the chasm, I -fastened this rope to the bushes, and let myself down rapidly, -striving, by the vigour of my movements, to banish the trepidation -which I could overcome in no other manner. This answered sufficiently -well for the first four or five steps; but presently I found my -imagination growing terribly excited by thoughts of the vast depth yet -to be descended, and the precarious nature of the pegs and soapstone -holes which were my only support. It was in vain I endeavoured to -banish these reflections, and to keep my eyes steadily bent upon the -flat surface of the cliff before me. The more earnestly I struggled -<i>not to think</i>, the more intensely vivid became my conceptions, and the -more horribly distinct. At length arrived that crisis of fancy, so -fearful in all similar cases, the crisis in which we begin to -anticipate the feelings with which we <i>shall</i> fall—to picture to -ourselves the sickness, and dizziness, and the last struggle, and the -half swoon, and the final bitterness of the rushing and headlong -descent. And now I found these fancies creating their own realities, -and all imagined horrors crowding upon me in fact. I felt my knees -strike violently together, while my fingers were gradually yet -certainly relaxing their grasp. There was a ringing in my ears, and I -said, "This is my knell of death!" And now I was consumed with the -irrepressible desire of looking below. I could not, I would not, -confine my glances to the cliff; and, with a wild, indefinable emotion -half of horror, half of a relieved oppression, I threw my vision far -down into the abyss. For one moment my fingers clutched convulsively -upon their hold, while, with the movement, the faintest possible idea -of ultimate escape wandered, like a shadow, through my mind—in the -next my whole soul was pervaded with <i>a longing to fall;</i> a desire, a -yearning, a passion utterly uncontrollable. I let go at once my grasp -upon the peg, and, turning half round from the precipice, remained -tottering for an instant against its naked face. But now there came a -spinning of the brain; a shrill-sounding and phantom voice screamed -within my ears; a dusky, fiendish, and filmy figure stood immediately -beneath me; and, sighing, I sunk down with a bursting heart, and -plunged within its arms.</p> - -<p>I had swooned, and Peters had caught me as I fell. He had observed my -proceedings from his station at the bottom of the cliff; and, -perceiving my imminent danger, had endeavoured to inspire me with -courage by every suggestion he could devise; although my confusion of -mind had been so great as to prevent my hearing what he said, or being -conscious that he had even spoken to me at all. At length, seeing me -totter, he hastened to ascend to my rescue, and arrived just in time -for my preservation. Had I fallen with my full weight, the rope of -linen would inevitably have snapped, and I should have been -precipitated into the abyss; as it was, he contrived to let me down -gently, so as to remain suspended without danger until animation -returned. This was in about fifteen minutes. On recovery, my -trepidation had entirely vanished; I felt a new being, and, with some -little further aid from my companion, reached the bottom also in -safety.</p> - -<p>We now found ourselves not far from the ravine which had proved the -tomb of our friends, and to the southward of the spot where the hill -had fallen. The place was one of singular wildness, and its aspect -brought to my mind the descriptions given by travellers of those dreary -regions marking the site of degraded Babylon. Not to speak of the ruins -of the disruptured cliff, which formed a chaotic barrier in the vista -to the northward, the surface of the ground in every other direction -was strewn with huge tumuli, apparently the wreck of some gigantic -structures of art; although, in detail, no semblance of art could be -detected. Scoria were abundant, and large shapeless blocks of the black -granite, intermingled with others of marl,<small><small><sup>6</sup></small></small> and both granulated with -metal. Of vegetation there were no traces whatsoever throughout the -whole of the desolate area within sight. Several immense scorpions were -seen, and various reptiles not elsewhere to be found in the high -latitudes.</p> - -<blockquote><small><small><sup>6</sup></small> The marl was also black; indeed, we noticed no -light-coloured substances of any kind upon the island.</small></blockquote> - -<p>As food was our most immediate object, we resolved to make our way to -the seacoast, distant not more than half a mile, with a view of -catching turtle, several of which we had observed from our place of -concealment on the hill. We had proceeded some hundred yards, threading -our route cautiously between the huge rocks and tumuli, when, upon -turning a corner, five savages sprung upon us from a small cavern, -felling Peters to the ground with a blow from a club. As he fell the -whole party rushed upon him to secure their victim, leaving me time to -recover from my astonishment. I still had the musket, but the barrel -had received so much injury in being thrown from the precipice that I -cast it aside as useless, preferring to trust my pistols, which had -been carefully preserved in order. With these I advanced upon the -assailants, firing one after the other in quick succession. Two savages -fell, and one, who was in the act of thrusting a spear into Peters, -sprung to his feet without accomplishing his purpose. My companion -being thus released, we had no further difficulty. He had his pistols -also, but prudently declined using them, confiding in his great -personal strength, which far exceeded that of any person I have ever -known. Seizing a club from one of the savages who had fallen, he dashed -out the brains of the three who remained, killing each instantaneously -with a single blow of the weapon, and leaving us completely masters of -the field.</p> - -<p>So rapidly had these events passed, that we could scarcely believe in -their reality, and were standing over the bodies of the dead in a -species of stupid contemplation, when we were brought to recollection -by the sound of shouts in the distance. It was clear that the savages -had been alarmed by the firing, and that we had little chance of -avoiding discovery. To regain the cliff, it would be necessary to -proceed in the direction of the shouts; and even should we succeed in -arriving at its base, we should never be able to ascend it without -being seen. Our situation was one of the greatest peril, and we were -hesitating in which path to commence a flight, when one of the savages -whom I had shot, and supposed dead, sprang briskly to his feet, and -attempted to make his escape. We overtook him, however, before he had -advanced many paces, and were about to put him to death, when Peters -suggested that we might derive some benefit from forcing him to -accompany us in our attempt at escape. We therefore dragged him with -us, making him understand that we would shoot him if he offered -resistance. In a few minutes he was perfectly submissive, and ran by -our sides as we pushed in among the rocks, making for the seashore.</p> - -<p>So far, the irregularities of the ground we had been traversing hid the -sea, except at intervals, from our sight, and, when we first had it -fairly in view, it was, perhaps, two hundred yards distant. As we -emerged into the open beach we saw, to our great dismay, an immense -crowd of the natives pouring from the village, and from all visible -quarters of the island, making towards us with gesticulations of -extreme fury, and howling like wild beasts. We were upon the point of -turning upon our steps, and trying to secure a retreat among the -fastnesses of the rougher ground, when I discovered the bows of two -canoes projecting from behind a large rock which ran out into the -water. Towards these we now ran with all speed, and, reaching them, -found them unguarded, and without any other freight than three of the -large Gallipago turtles and the usual supply of paddles for sixty -rowers. We instantly took possession of one of them, and, forcing our -captive on board, pushed out to sea with all the strength we could -command.</p> - -<p>We had not made, however, more than fifty yards from the shore before -we became sufficiently calm to perceive the great oversight of which we -had been guilty in leaving the other canoe in the power of the savages, -who, by this time, were not more than twice as far from the beach as -ourselves, and were rapidly advancing to the pursuit. No time was now -to be lost. Our hope was, at best, a forlorn one, but we had none -other. It was very doubtful whether, with the utmost exertion, we could -get back in time to anticipate them in taking possession of the canoe; -but yet there was a chance that we could. We might save ourselves if we -succeeded, while not to make the attempt was to resign ourselves to -inevitable butchery.</p> - -<p>The canoe was modelled with the bow and stern alike, and, in place of -turning it round, we merely changed our position in paddling. As soon -as the savages perceived this they redoubled their yells, as well as -their speed, and approached with inconceivable rapidity. We pulled, -however, with all the energy of desperation, and arrived at the -contested point before more than one of the natives had attained it. -This man paid dearly for his superior agility, Peters shooting him -through the head with a pistol as he approached the shore. The foremost -among the rest of his party were probably some twenty or thirty paces -distant as we seized upon the canoe. We at first endeavoured to pull -her into the deep water, beyond the reach of the savages, but, finding -her too firmly aground, and there being no time to spare, Peters, with -one or two heavy strokes from the butt of the musket, succeeded in -dashing out a large portion of the bow and of one side. We then pushed -off. Two of the natives by this time had got hold of our boat, -obstinately refusing to let go, until we were forced to despatch them -with our knives. We were now clear off, and making great way out to -sea. The main body of the savages, upon reaching the broken canoe, set -up the most tremendous yell of rage and disappointment conceivable. In -truth, from everything I could see of these wretches, they appeared to -be the most wicked, hypocritical, vindictive, bloodthirsty, and -altogether fiendish race of men upon the face of the globe. It is clear -we should have had no mercy had we fallen into their hands. They made a -mad attempt at following us in the fractured canoe, but, finding it -useless, again vented their rage in a series of hideous vociferations, -and rushed up into the hills.</p> - -<p>We were thus relieved from immediate danger, but our situation was -still sufficiently gloomy. We knew that four canoes of the kind we had -were at one time in the possession of the savages, and were not aware -of the fact (afterward ascertained from our captive) that two of these -had been blown to pieces in the explosion of the Jane Guy. We -calculated, therefore, upon being yet pursued, as soon as our enemies -could get round to the bay (distant about three miles) where the boats -were usually laid up. Fearing this, we made every exertion to leave the -island behind us, and went rapidly through the water, forcing the -prisoner to take a paddle. In about half an hour, when we had gained, -probably, five or six miles to the southward, a large fleet of the -flat-bottomed canoes or rafts was seen to emerge from the bay, -evidently with the design of pursuit. Presently they put back, -despairing to overtake us.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap25"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XXV.</h3> -<br> - -<p>We now found ourselves in the wide and desolate Antarctic Ocean, in a -latitude exceeding eighty-four degrees, in a frail canoe, and with no -provision but the three turtles. The long Polar winter, too, could not -be considered as far distant, and it became necessary that we should -deliberate well upon the course to be pursued. There were six or seven -islands in sight belonging to the same group, and distant from each -other about five or six leagues; but upon neither of these had we any -intention to venture. In coming from the northward in the Jane Guy we -had been gradually leaving behind us the severest regions of ice—this, -however little it may be in accordance with the generally-received -notions respecting the Antarctic, was a fact experience would not -permit us to deny. To attempt, therefore, getting back, would be -folly—especially at so late a period of the season. Only one course -seemed to be left open for hope. We resolved to steer boldly to the -southward, where there was at least a probability of discovering other -lands, and more than a probability of finding a still milder climate.</p> - -<p>So far we had found the Antarctic, like the Arctic Ocean, peculiarly -free from violent storms or immoderately rough water; but our canoe -was, at best, of frail structure, although large, and we set busily to -work with a view of rendering her as safe as the limited means in our -possession would admit. The body of the boat was of no better material -than bark—the bark of a tree unknown. The ribs were of a tough osier, -well adapted to the purpose for which it was used. We had fifty feet -room from stem to stern, from four to six in breadth, and in depth -throughout four feet and a half—the boats thus differing vastly in -shape from those of any other inhabitants of the Southern Ocean with -whom civilized nations are acquainted. We never did believe them the -workmanship of the ignorant islanders who owned them; and some days -after this period discovered, by questioning our captive, that they -were in fact made by the natives of a group to the southwest of the -country where we found them, having fallen accidentally into the hands -of our barbarians. What we could do for the security of our boat was -very little indeed. Several wide rents were discovered near both ends, -and these we contrived to patch up with pieces of woollen jacket. With -the help of the superfluous paddles, of which there were a great many, -we erected a kind of framework about the bow, so as to break the force -of any seas which might threaten to fill us in that quarter. We also -set up two paddle-blades for masts, placing them opposite each other, -one by each gunwale, thus saving the necessity of a yard. To these -masts we attached a sail made of our shirts—doing this with some -difficulty, as here we could get no assistance from our prisoner -whatever, although he had been willing enough to labour in all the -other operations. The sight of the linen seemed to affect him in a very -singular manner. He could not be prevailed upon to touch it or go near -it, shuddering when we attempted to force him, and shrieking out -<i>Tekeli-li!</i></p> - -<p>Having completed our arrangements in regard to the security of the -canoe, we now set sail to the south southeast for the present, with the -view of weathering the most southerly of the group in sight. This being -done, we turned the bow full to the southward. The weather could by no -means be considered disagreeable. We had a prevailing and very gentle -wind from the northward, a smooth sea, and continual daylight. No ice -whatever was to be seen; <i>nor did I ever see one particle of this after -leaving the parallel of Bennet's Islet</i>. Indeed, the temperature of -the water was here far too warm for its existence in any quantity. -Having killed the largest of our tortoises, and obtained from him not -only food, but a copious supply of water, we continued on our course, -without any incident of moment, for perhaps seven or eight days, during -which period we must have proceeded a vast distance to the southward, -as the wind blew constantly with us, and a very strong current set -continually in the direction we were pursuing.</p> - -<p><i>March 1.</i><small><small><sup>7</sup></small></small> Many unusual phenomena now indicated that we were -entering upon a region of novelty and wonder. A high range of light -gray vapour appeared constantly in the southern horizon, flaring up -occasionally in lofty streaks, now darting from east to west, now from -west to east, and again presenting a level and uniform summit—in -short, having all the wild variations of the Aurora Borealis. The -average height of this vapour, as apparent from our station, was about -twenty-five degrees. The temperature of the sea seemed to be increasing -momentarily, and there was a very perceptible alteration in its colour.</p> - -<blockquote><small><small><sup>7</sup></small> For obvious reasons I cannot pretend to strict accuracy in -these dates. They are given principally with a view to perspicuity of -narration, and as set down in my pencil memoranda.</small></blockquote> - -<p><i>March 2.</i> To-day, by repeated questioning of our captive, we came to -the knowledge of many particulars in regard to the island of the -massacre, its inhabitants, and customs—but with these how can I <i>now</i> -detain the reader? I may say, however, that we learned there were eight -islands in the group—that they were governed by a common king, named -<i>Tsalemon</i> or <i>Psalemoun</i>, who resided in one of the smallest of the -islands—that the black skins forming the dress of the warriors came -from an animal of huge size to be found only in a valley near the court -of the king—that the inhabitants of the group fabricated no other -boats than the flat-bottomed rafts; the four canoes being all of the -kind in their possession, and these having been obtained, by mere -accident, from some large island to the southwest—that his own name -was Nu-Nu—that he had no knowledge of Bennet's Islet—and that the -appellation of the island we had left was <i>Tsalal</i>. The commencement of -the words <i>Tsalemon</i> and <i>Tsalal</i> was given with a prolonged hissing -sound, which we found it impossible to imitate, even after repeated -endeavours, and which was precisely the same with the note of the black -bittern we had eaten upon the summit of the hill.</p> - -<p><i>March 3.</i> The heat of the water was now truly remarkable, and its -colour was undergoing a rapid change, being no longer transparent, but -of a milky consistency and hue. In our immediate vicinity it was -usually smooth, never so rough as to endanger the canoe—but we were -frequently surprised at perceiving, to our right and left, at different -distances, sudden and extensive agitations of the surface—these, we at -length noticed, were always preceded by wild flickerings in the region -of vapour to the southward.</p> - -<p><i>March 4.</i> To-day, with the view of widening our sail, the breeze from -the northward dying away perceptibly, I took from my coat-pocket a -white handkerchief. Nu-Nu was seated at my elbow, and the linen -accidentally flaring in his face, he became violently affected with -convulsions. These were succeeded by drowsiness and stupor, and low -murmurings of Tekeli-li! Tekeli-li!</p> - -<p><i>March 5.</i> The wind had entirely ceased, but it was evident that we -were still hurrying on to the southward, under the influence of a -powerful current. And now, indeed, it would seem reasonable that we -should experience some alarm at the turn events were taking—but we -felt none. The countenance of Peters indicated nothing of this nature, -although it wore at times an expression I could not fathom. The Polar -winter appeared to be coming on—but coming without its terrors. I felt -a <i>numbness</i> of body and mind—a dreaminess of sensation—but this was -all.</p> - -<p><i>March 6.</i> The gray vapour had now arisen many more degrees above the -horizon, and was gradually losing its grayness of tint. The heat of the -water was extreme, even unpleasant to the touch, and its milky hue was -more evident than ever. To-day a violent agitation of the water -occurred very close to the canoe. It was attended, as usual, with a -wild flaring up of the vapour at its summit, and a momentary division -at its base. A fine white powder, resembling ashes—but certainly not -such—fell over the canoe and over a large surface of the water, as the -flickering died away among the vapour and the commotion subsided in the -sea. Nu-Nu now threw himself on his face in the bottom of the boat, and -no persuasions could induce him to arise.</p> - -<p><i>March 7.</i> This day we questioned Nu-Nu concerning the motives of his -countrymen in destroying our companions; but he appeared to be too -utterly overcome by terror to afford us any rational reply. He still -obstinately lay in the bottom of the boat; and, upon our reiterating -the questions as to the motive, made use only of idiotic -gesticulations, such as raising with his forefinger the upper lip, and -displaying the teeth which lay beneath it. These were black. We had -never before seen the teeth of an inhabitant of Tsalal.</p> - -<p><i>March 8.</i> To-day there floated by us one of the white animals whose -appearance upon the beach at Tsalal had occasioned so wild a commotion -among the savages. I would have picked it up, but there came over me a -sudden listlessness, and I forbore. The heat of the water still -increased, and the hand could no longer be endured within it. Peters -spoke little, and I knew not what to think of his apathy. Nu-Nu -breathed, and no more.</p> - -<p><i>March 9.</i> The white ashy material fell now continually around us, and -in vast quantities. The range of vapour to the southward had arisen -prodigiously in the horizon, and began to assume more distinctness of -form. I can liken it to nothing but a limitless cataract, rolling -silently into the sea from some immense and far-distant rampart in the -heaven. The gigantic curtain ranged along the whole extent of the -southern horizon. It emitted no sound.</p> - -<p><i>March 21.</i> A sullen darkness now hovered above us—but from out the -milky depths of the ocean a luminous glare arose, and stole up along -the bulwarks of the boat. We were nearly overwhelmed by the white ashy -shower which settled upon us and upon the canoe, but melted into the -water as it fell. The summit of the cataract was utterly lost in the -dimness and the distance. Yet we were evidently approaching it with a -hideous velocity. At intervals there were visible in it wide, yawning, -but momentary rents, and from out these rents, within which was a chaos -of flitting and indistinct images, there came rushing and mighty, but -soundless winds, tearing up the enkindled ocean in their course.</p> - -<p><i>March 22.</i> The darkness had materially increased, relieved only by the -glare of the water thrown back from the white curtain before us. Many -gigantic and pallidly white birds flew continuously now from beyond the -veil, and their scream was the eternal <i>Tekeli-li!</i> as they retreated -from our vision. Hereupon Nu-Nu stirred in the bottom of the boat; but, -upon touching him, we found his spirit departed. And now we rushed into -the embraces of the cataract, where a chasm threw itself open to -receive us. But there arose in our pathway a shrouded human figure, -very far larger in its proportions than any dweller among men. And the -hue of the skin of the figure was of the perfect whiteness of the snow.</p> -<br> -<br> -<a name="note"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>NOTE.</h3> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="100"> -<br> -<p>The circumstances connected with the late sudden and distressing death -of Mr. Pym are already well known to the public through the medium of -the daily press. It is feared that the few remaining chapters which -were to have completed his narrative, and which were retained by him, -while the above were in type, for the purpose of revision, have been -irrecoverably lost through the accident by which he perished himself. -This, however, may prove not to be the case, and the papers, if -ultimately found, will be given to the public.</p> - -<p>No means have been left untried to remedy the deficiency. The gentleman -whose name is mentioned in the preface, and who, from the statement -there made, might be supposed able to fill the vacuum, has declined the -task—this for satisfactory reasons connected with the general -inaccuracy of the details afforded him, and his disbelief in the entire -truth of the latter portions of the narration. Peters, from whom some -information might be expected, is still alive, and a resident of -Illinois, but cannot be met with at present. He may hereafter be found, -and will, no doubt, afford material for a conclusion of Mr. Pym's -account.</p> - -<p>The loss of the two or three final chapters (for there were but two or -three) is the more deeply to be regretted, as, it cannot be doubted, -they contained matter relative to the Pole itself, or at least to -regions in its very near proximity; and as, too, the statements of the -author in relation to these regions may shortly be verified or -contradicted by means of the governmental expedition now preparing for -the Southern Ocean.</p> - -<p>On one point in the Narrative some remarks may be well offered; and it -would afford the writer of this appendix much pleasure if what he may -here observe should have a tendency to throw credit, in any degree, -upon the very singular pages now published. We allude to the chasms -found in the island of Tsalal, and to the whole of the figures upon -pages <a href="#figure1">182</a>, <a href="#figure2">183</a>, -<a href="#figure3">184</a>, <a href="#figure4">185</a>.</p> - -<p>Mr. Pym has given the figures of the chasms without comment, and speaks -decidedly of the <i>indentures</i> found at the extremity of the most -easterly of these chasms as having but a fanciful resemblance to -alphabetical characters, and, in short, as being positively <i>not such</i>. -This assertion is made in a manner so simple, and sustained by a -species of demonstration so conclusive (viz., the fitting of the -projections of the fragments found among the dust into the indentures -upon the wall), that we are forced to believe the writer in earnest; -and no reasonable reader should suppose otherwise. But as the facts in -relation to <i>all</i> the figures are most singular (especially when taken -in connexion with statements made in the body of the narrative), it may -be as well to say a word or two concerning them all—this, too, the -more especially as the facts in question have, beyond doubt, escaped -the attention of Mr. Poe.</p> - -<p>Figure <a href="#figure1">1</a>, then, figure <a href="#figure2">2</a>, -figure <a href="#figure3">3</a>, and figure <a href="#figure3">5</a>, when conjoined with -one another in the precise order which the chasms themselves presented, -and when deprived of the small lateral branches or arches (which, it -will be remembered, served only as means of communication between the -main chambers, and were of totally distinct character), constitute an -Ethiopian verbal root—the root <sub><img src="images/5.jpg" alt="To be shady"></sub> "To be shady"—whence -all the inflections of shadow or darkness.</p> - -<p>In regard to the "left or most northwardly" of the indentures in figure -<a href="#figure4">4</a>, it is more than probable that the opinion of Peters was correct, and -that the hieroglyphical appearance was really the work of art, and -intended as the representation of a human form. The delineation is -before the reader, and he may, or may not, perceive the resemblance -suggested; but the rest of the indentures afford strong confirmation of -Peters's idea. The upper range is evidently the Arabic verbal root -<sub><img src="images/6.jpg" alt="To be white"></sub> "To be white," whence all the inflections of brilliancy -and whiteness. The lower range is not so immediately perspicuous. The -characters are somewhat broken and disjointed; nevertheless, it cannot -be doubted that, in their perfect state, they formed the full Egyptian -word <sub><img src="images/7.jpg" alt="The region of the south"></sub> "The region of the south." It should be observed -that these interpretations confirm the opinion of Peters in regard to -the "most northwardly" of the figures. The arm is outstretched towards -the south.</p> - -<p>Conclusions such as these open a wide field for speculation and -exciting conjecture. They should be regarded, perhaps, in connexion -with some of the most faintly-detailed incidents of the narrative; -although in no visible manner is this chain of connexion complete. -Tekeli-li! was the cry of the affrighted natives of Tsalal upon -discovering the carcass of the <i>white</i> animal picked up at sea. This -also was the shuddering exclamation of the captive Tsalalian upon -encountering the <i>white</i> materials in possession of Mr. Pym. This also -was the shriek of the swift-flying, <i>white</i>, and gigantic birds which -issued from the vapoury <i>white</i> curtain of the South. Nothing <i>white</i> -was to be found at Tsalal, and nothing otherwise in the subsequent -voyage to the region beyond. It is not impossible that "Tsalal," the -appellation of the island of the chasms, may be found, upon minute -philological scrutiny, to betray either some alliance with the chasms -themselves, or some reference to the Ethiopian characters so -mysteriously written in their windings.</p> - -<p><i>"I have graven it within the hills, and my vengeance upon the dust -within the rock."</i></p> -<br> -<br> -<center>THE END.</center> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<blockquote><small>Transcriber's Note: The last two chapters, Chapters XXIV and XXV were -named, respectively, XXIII and XXIV in the original publication, with, -therefore, two chapters XXIII. This has been corrected in this -transcription. The table of chapter links has been created for easier navigation.</small></blockquote> - -<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 51060 ***</div> -</body> -</html> - diff --git a/old/51060-h/images/1.jpg b/old/51060-h/images/1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 2b112ad..0000000 --- a/old/51060-h/images/1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/51060-h/images/2.jpg b/old/51060-h/images/2.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 8768506..0000000 --- a/old/51060-h/images/2.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/51060-h/images/3.jpg b/old/51060-h/images/3.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index a143dae..0000000 --- a/old/51060-h/images/3.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/51060-h/images/4.jpg b/old/51060-h/images/4.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index d798718..0000000 --- a/old/51060-h/images/4.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/51060-h/images/5.jpg b/old/51060-h/images/5.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index ea9b500..0000000 --- a/old/51060-h/images/5.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/51060-h/images/6.jpg b/old/51060-h/images/6.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 26c94ce..0000000 --- a/old/51060-h/images/6.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/51060-h/images/7.jpg b/old/51060-h/images/7.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index ee89dba..0000000 --- a/old/51060-h/images/7.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/old/51060-8.txt b/old/old/51060-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 86dc639..0000000 --- a/old/old/51060-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6918 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of -Nantucket, by Edgar Allan Poe and Arthur Gordon Pym - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket - Comprising the details of a mutiny and atrocious butchery - on board the American brig Grampus, on her way to the south - seas, in the month of June, 1827. - -Author: Edgar Allan Poe - Arthur Gordon Pym - -Release Date: January 27, 2016 [EBook #51060] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NARRATIVE OF ARTHUR GORDON PYM *** - - - - -Produced by Ron Swanson - - - - - -THE NARRATIVE OF ARTHUR GORDON PYM. - -OF NANTUCKET. - - -COMPRISING THE DETAILS OF A MUTINY AND ATROCIOUS BUTCHERY ON BOARD THE -AMERICAN BRIG GRAMPUS, ON HER WAY TO THE SOUTH SEAS, IN THE MONTH OF -JUNE, 1827. - -WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE RECAPTURE OF THE VESSEL BY THE SURVIVERS; THEIR -SHIPWRECK AND SUBSEQUENT HORRIBLE SUFFERINGS FROM FAMINE; THEIR -DELIVERANCE BY MEANS OF THE BRITISH SCHOONER JANE GUY; THE BRIEF CRUISE -OF THIS LATTER VESSEL IN THE ANTARCTIC OCEAN; HER CAPTURE, AND THE -MASSACRE OF HER CREW AMONG A GROUP OF ISLANDS IN THE EIGHTY-FOURTH -PARALLEL OF SOUTHERN LATITUDE; TOGETHER WITH THE INCREDIBLE ADVENTURES -AND DISCOVERIES STILL FARTHER SOUTH TO WHICH THAT DISTRESSING CALAMITY -GAVE RISE. - - - - -NEW-YORK: -HARPER & BROTHERS, 82 CLIFF-ST. -1838. - - - - -Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1838, by - -HARPER & BROTHERS, - -in the Clerk's Office of the Southern District of New-York. - - - - -PREFACE. - - -Upon my return to the United States a few months ago, after the -extraordinary series of adventure in the South Seas and elsewhere, of -which an account is given in the following pages, accident threw me -into the society of several gentlemen in Richmond, Va., who felt deep -interest in all matters relating to the regions I had visited, and who -were constantly urging it upon me, as a duty, to give my narrative to -the public. I had several reasons, however, for declining to do so, -some of which were of a nature altogether private, and concern no -person but myself; others not so much so. One consideration which -deterred me was, that, having kept no journal during a greater portion -of the time in which I was absent, I feared I should not be able to -write, from mere memory, a statement so minute and connected as to have -the _appearance_ of that truth it would really possess, barring only -the natural and unavoidable exaggeration to which all of us are prone -when detailing events which have had powerful influence in exciting the -imaginative faculties. Another reason was, that the incidents to be -narrated were of a nature so positively marvellous, that, unsupported -as my assertions must necessarily be (except by the evidence of a -single individual, and he a half-breed Indian), I could only hope for -belief among my family, and those of my friends who have had reason, -through life, to put faith in my veracity--the probability being that -the public at large would regard what I should put forth as merely an -impudent and ingenious fiction. A distrust in my own abilities as a -writer was, nevertheless, one of the principal causes which prevented -me from complying with the suggestions of my advisers. - -Among those gentlemen in Virginia who expressed the greatest interest -in my statement, more particularly in regard to that portion of it -which related to the Antarctic Ocean, was Mr. Poe, lately editor of the -Southern Literary Messenger, a monthly magazine, published by Mr. -Thomas W. White, in the city of Richmond. He strongly advised me, among -others, to prepare at once a full account of what I had seen and -undergone, and trust to the shrewdness and common sense of the -public--insisting, with great plausibility, that however roughly, as -regards mere authorship, my book should be got up, its very -uncouthness, if there were any, would give it all the better chance of -being received as truth. - -Notwithstanding this representation, I did not make up my mind to do as -he suggested. He afterward proposed (finding that I would not stir in -the matter) that I should allow him to draw up, in his own words, a -narrative of the earlier portion of my adventures, from facts afforded -by myself, publishing it in the Southern Messenger _under the garb of -fiction_. To this, perceiving no objection, I consented, stipulating -only that my real name should be retained. Two numbers of the pretended -fiction appeared, consequently, in the Messenger for January and -February (1837), and, in order that it might certainly be regarded as -fiction, the name of Mr. Poe was affixed to the articles in the table -of contents of the magazine. - -The manner in which this _ruse_ was received has induced me at length -to undertake a regular compilation and publication of the adventures in -question; for I found that, in spite of the air of fable which had been -so ingeniously thrown around that portion of my statement which -appeared in the Messenger (without altering or distorting a single -fact), the public were still not at all disposed to receive it as -fable, and several letters were sent to Mr. P.'s address distinctly -expressing a conviction to the contrary. I thence concluded that the -facts of my narrative would prove of such a nature as to carry with -them sufficient evidence of their own authenticity, and that I had -consequently little to fear on the score of popular incredulity. - -This _exposé_ being made, it will be seen at once how much of what -follows I claim to be my own writing; and it will also be understood -that no fact is misrepresented in the first few pages which were -written by Mr. Poe. Even to those readers who have not seen the -Messenger, it will be unnecessary to point out where his portion ends -and my own commences; the difference in point of style will be readily -perceived. - -A. G. PYM. - -New-York, July, 1838. - - - - -NARRATIVE OF A. GORDON PYM. - - -My name is Arthur Gordon Pym. My father was a respectable trader in -sea-stores at Nantucket, where I was born. My maternal grandfather was -an attorney in good practice. He was fortunate in everything, and had -speculated very successfully in stocks of the Edgarton New-Bank, as it -was formerly called. By these and other means he had managed to lay by -a tolerable sum of money. He was more attached to myself, I believe, -than to any other person in the world, and I expected to inherit the -most of his property at his death. He sent me, at six years of age, to -the school of old Mr. Ricketts, a gentleman with only one arm, and of -eccentric manners--he is well known to almost every person who has -visited New Bedford. I stayed at his school until I was sixteen, when I -left him for Mr. E. Ronald's academy on the hill. Here I became -intimate with the son of Mr. Barnard, a sea captain, who generally -sailed in the employ of Lloyd and Vredenburgh--Mr. Barnard is also very -well known in New Bedford, and has many relations, I am certain, in -Edgarton. His son was named Augustus, and he was nearly two years older -than myself. He had been on a whaling voyage with his father in the -John Donaldson, and was always talking to me of his adventures in the -South Pacific Ocean. I used frequently to go home with him, and remain -all day, and sometimes all night. We occupied the same bed, and he -would be sure to keep me awake until almost light, telling me stories -of the natives of the Island of Tinian, and other places he had visited -in his travels. At last I could not help being interested in what he -said, and by degrees I felt the greatest desire to go to sea. I owned a -sail-boat called the Ariel, and worth about seventy-five dollars. She -had a half-deck or cuddy, and was rigged sloop-fashion--I forget her -tonnage, but she would hold ten persons without much crowding. In this -boat we were in the habit of going on some of the maddest freaks in the -world; and, when I now think of them, it appears to me a thousand -wonders that I am alive to-day. - -I will relate one of these adventures by way of introduction to a -longer and more momentous narrative. One night there was a party at Mr. -Barnard's, and both Augustus and myself were not a little intoxicated -towards the close of it. As usual, in such cases, I took part of his -bed in preference to going home. He went to sleep, as I thought, very -quietly (it being near one when the party broke up), and without saying -a word on his favourite topic. It might have been half an hour from the -time of our getting in bed, and I was just about falling into a doze, -when he suddenly started up, and swore with a terrible oath that he -would not go to sleep for any Arthur Pym in Christendom, when there was -so glorious a breeze from the southwest. I never was so astonished in -my life, not knowing what he intended, and thinking that the wines and -liquors he had drunk had set him entirely beside himself. He proceeded -to talk very coolly, however, saying he knew that I supposed him -intoxicated, but that he was never more sober in his life. He was only -tired, he added, of lying in bed on such a fine night like a dog, and -was determined to get up and dress, and go out on a frolic with the -boat. I can hardly tell what possessed me, but the words were no sooner -out of his mouth than I felt a thrill of the greatest excitement and -pleasure, and thought his mad idea one of the most delightful and most -reasonable things in the world. It was blowing almost a gale, and the -weather was very cold--it being late in October. I sprang out of bed, -nevertheless, in a kind of ecstasy, and told him I was quite as brave -as himself, and quite as tired as he was of lying in bed like a dog, -and quite as ready for any fun or frolic as any Augustus Barnard in -Nantucket. - -We lost no time in getting on our clothes and hurrying down to the -boat. She was lying at the old decayed wharf by the lumber-yard of -Pankey & Co., and almost thumping her sides out against the rough logs. -Augustus got into her and bailed her, for she was nearly half full of -water. This being done, we hoisted jib and mainsail, kept full, and -started boldly out to sea. - -The wind, as I before said, blew freshly from the southwest. The night -was very clear and cold. Augustus had taken the helm, and I stationed -myself by the mast, on the deck of the cuddy. We flew along at a great -rate--neither of us having said a word since casting loose from the -wharf. I now asked my companion what course he intended to steer, and -what time he thought it probable we should get back. He whistled for a -few minutes, and then said crustily, "_I_ am going to sea--_you_ may go -home if you think proper." Turning my eyes upon him, I perceived at -once that, in spite of his assumed _nonchalance_, he was greatly -agitated. I could see him distinctly by the light of the moon--his face -was paler than any marble, and his hand shook so excessively that he -could scarcely retain hold of the tiller. I found that something had -gone wrong, and became seriously alarmed. At this period I knew little -about the management of a boat, and was now depending entirely upon the -nautical skill of my friend. The wind, too, had suddenly increased, as -we were fast getting out of the lee of the land--still I was ashamed to -betray any trepidation, and for almost half an hour maintained a -resolute silence. I could stand it no longer, however, and spoke to -Augustus about the propriety of turning back. As before, it was nearly -a minute before he made answer, or took any notice of my suggestion. -"By-and-by," said he at length--"time enough--home by-and-by." I had -expected a similar reply, but there was something in the tone of these -words which filled me with an indescribable feeling of dread. I again -looked at the speaker attentively. His lips were perfectly livid, and -his knees shook so violently together that he seemed scarcely able to -stand. "For God's sake, Augustus," I screamed, now heartily frightened, -"what ails you?--what is the matter?--what _are_ you going to do?" -"Matter!" he stammered, in the greatest apparent surprise, letting go -the tiller at the same moment, and falling forward into the bottom of -the boat--"matter!--why, nothing is the--matter--going -home--d--d--don't you see?" The whole truth now flashed upon me. I flew -to him and raised him up. He was drunk--beastly drunk--he could no -longer either stand, speak, or see. His eyes were perfectly glazed; and -as I let him go in the extremity of my despair, he rolled like a mere -log into the bilge-water from which I had lifted him. It was evident -that, during the evening, he had drunk far more than I suspected, and -that his conduct in bed had been the result of a highly-concentrated -state of intoxication--a state which, like madness, frequently enables -the victim to imitate the outward demeanour of one in perfect -possession of his senses. The coolness of the night air, however, had -had its usual effect--the mental energy began to yield before its -influence--and the confused perception which he no doubt then had of -his perilous situation had assisted in hastening the catastrophe. He -was now thoroughly insensible, and there was no probability that he -would be otherwise for many hours. - -It is hardly possible to conceive the extremity of my terror. The fumes -of the wine lately taken had evaporated, leaving me doubly timid and -irresolute. I knew that I was altogether incapable of managing the -boat, and that a fierce wind and strong ebb tide were hurrying us to -destruction. A storm was evidently gathering behind us; we had neither -compass nor provisions; and it was clear that, if we held our present -course, we should be out of sight of land before daybreak. These -thoughts, with a crowd of others equally fearful, flashed through my -mind with a bewildering rapidity, and for some moments paralyzed me -beyond the possibility of making any exertion. The boat was going -through the water at a terrible rate--full before the wind--no reef in -either jib or mainsail--running her bows completely under the foam. It -was a thousand wonders she did not broach to--Augustus having let go -the tiller, as I said before, and I being too much agitated to think of -taking it myself. By good luck, however, she kept steady, and gradually -I recovered some degree of presence of mind. Still the wind was -increasing fearfully; and whenever we rose from a plunge forward, the -sea behind fell combing over our counter, and deluged us with water. I -was so utterly benumbed, too, in every limb, as to be nearly -unconscious of sensation. At length I summoned up the resolution of -despair, and rushing to the mainsail, let it go by the run. As might -have been expected, it flew over the bows, and, getting drenched with -water, carried away the mast short off by the board. This latter -accident alone saved me from instant destruction. Under the jib only, I -now boomed along before the wind, shipping heavy seas occasionally over -the counter, but relieved from the terror of immediate death. I took -the helm, and breathed with greater freedom as I found that there yet -remained to us a chance of ultimate escape. Augustus still lay -senseless in the bottom of the boat; and as there was imminent danger -of his drowning (the water being nearly a foot deep just where he -fell), I contrived to raise him partially up, and keep him in a sitting -position, by passing a rope round his waist, and lashing it to a -ringbolt in the deck of the cuddy. Having thus arranged everything as -well as I could in my chilled and agitated condition, I recommended -myself to God, and made up my mind to bear whatever might happen with -all the fortitude in my power. - -Hardly had I come to this resolution, when, suddenly, a loud and long -scream or yell, as if from the throats of a thousand demons, seemed to -pervade the whole atmosphere around and above the boat. Never while I -live shall I forget the intense agony of terror I experienced at that -moment. My hair stood erect on my head--I felt the blood congealing in -my veins--my heart ceased utterly to beat, and without having once -raised my eyes to learn the source of my alarm, I tumbled headlong and -insensible upon the body of my fallen companion. - -I found myself, upon reviving, in the cabin of a large whaling-ship -(the Penguin) bound to Nantucket. Several persons were standing over -me, and Augustus, paler than death, was busily occupied in chafing my -hands. Upon seeing me open my eyes, his exclamations of gratitude and -joy excited alternate laughter and tears from the rough-looking -personages who were present. The mystery of our being in existence was -now soon explained. We had been run down by the whaling-ship, which was -close hauled, beating up to Nantucket with every sail she could venture -to set, and consequently running almost at right angles to our own -course. Several men were on the look-out forward, but did not perceive -our boat until it was an impossibility to avoid coming in -contact--their shouts of warning upon seeing us were what so terribly -alarmed me. The huge ship, I was told, rode immediately over us with as -much ease as our own little vessel would have passed over a feather, -and without the least perceptible impediment to her progress. Not a -scream arose from the deck of the victim--there was a slight grating -sound to be heard mingling with the roar of wind and water, as the -frail bark which was swallowed up rubbed for a moment along the keel of -her destroyer--but this was all. Thinking our boat (which it will be -remembered was dismasted) some mere shell cut adrift as useless, the -captain (Captain E. T. V. Block of New London) was for proceeding on -his course without troubling himself further about the matter. Luckily, -there were two of the look-out who swore positively to having seen some -person at our helm, and represented the possibility of yet saving him. -A discussion ensued, when Block grew angry, and, after a while, said -that "it was no business of his to be eternally watching for -egg-shells; that the ship should _not_ put about for any such nonsense; -and if there was a man run down, it was nobody's fault but his own--he -might drown and be d----d," or some language to that effect. Henderson, -the first mate, now took the matter up, being justly indignant, as well -as the whole ship's crew, at a speech evincing so base a degree of -heartless atrocity. He spoke plainly, seeing himself upheld by the men, -told the captain he considered him a fit subject for the gallows, and -that he would disobey his orders if he were hanged for it the moment he -set his foot on shore. He strode aft, jostling Block (who turned very -pale and made no answer) on one side, and seizing the helm, gave the -word, in a firm voice, _Hard-a-lee!_ The men flew to their posts, and -the ship went cleverly about. All this had occupied nearly five -minutes, and it was supposed to be hardly within the bounds of -possibility that any individual could be saved--allowing any to have -been on board the boat. Yet, as the reader has seen, both Augustus and -myself were rescued; and our deliverance seemed to have been brought -about by two of those almost inconceivable pieces of good fortune which -are attributed by the wise and pious to the special interference of -Providence. - -While the ship was yet in stays, the mate lowered the jolly-boat and -jumped into her with the very two men, I believe, who spoke up as -having seen me at the helm. They had just left the lee of the vessel -(the moon still shining brightly) when she made a long and heavy roll -to windward, and Henderson, at the same moment, starting up in his -seat, bawled out to his crew to _back water_. He would say nothing -else--repeating his cry impatiently, _back water! back water!_ The men -put back as speedily as possible; but by this time the ship had gone -round, and gotten fully under headway, although all hands on board were -making great exertions to take in sail. In despite of the danger of the -attempt, the mate clung to the main-chains as soon as they came within -his reach. Another huge lurch now brought the starboard side of the -vessel out of water nearly as far as her keel, when the cause of his -anxiety was rendered obvious enough. The body of a man was seen to be -affixed in the most singular manner to the smooth and shining bottom -(the Penguin was coppered and copper-fastened), and beating violently -against it with every movement of the hull. After several ineffectual -efforts, made during the lurches of the ship, and at the imminent risk -of swamping the boat, I was finally disengaged from my perilous -situation and taken on board--for the body proved to be my own. It -appeared that one of the timber-bolts having started and broken a -passage through the copper, it had arrested my progress as I passed -under the ship, and fastened me in so extraordinary a manner to her -bottom. The head of the bolt had made its way through the collar of the -green baize jacket I had on, and through the back part of my neck, -forcing itself out between two sinews and just below the right ear. I -was immediately put to bed--although life seemed to be totally extinct. -There was no surgeon on board. The captain, however, treated me with -every attention--to make amends, I presume, in the eyes of his crew, -for his atrocious behaviour in the previous portion of the adventure. - -In the meantime, Henderson had again put off from the ship, although -the wind was now blowing almost a hurricane. He had not been gone many -minutes when he fell in with some fragments of our boat, and shortly -afterward one of the men with him asserted that he could distinguish a -cry for help at intervals amid the roaring of the tempest. This induced -the hardy seamen to persevere in their search for more than half an -hour, although repeated signals to return were made them by Captain -Block, and although every moment on the water in so frail a boat was -fraught to them with the most imminent and deadly peril. Indeed, it is -nearly impossible to conceive how the small jolly they were in could -have escaped destruction for a single instant. She was built, however, -for the whaling service, and was fitted, as I have since had reason to -believe, with air-boxes, in the manner of some life-boats used on the -coast of Wales. - -After searching in vain for about the period of time just mentioned, it -was determined to get back to the ship. They had scarcely made this -resolve when a feeble cry arose from a dark object which floated -rapidly by. They pursued and soon overtook it. It proved to be the -entire deck of the Ariel's cuddy. Augustus was struggling near it, -apparently in the last agonies. Upon getting hold of him it was found -that he was attached by a rope to the floating timber. This rope, it -will be remembered, I had myself tied round his waist, and made fast to -a ringbolt, for the purpose of keeping him in an upright position, and -my so doing, it appeared, had been ultimately the means of preserving -his life. The Ariel was slightly put together, and in going down her -frame naturally went to pieces; the deck of the cuddy, as might be -expected, was lifted, by the force of the water rushing in, entirely -from the main timbers, and floated (with other fragments, no doubt) to -the surface--Augustus was buoyed up with it, and thus escaped a -terrible death. - -It was more than an hour after being taken on board the Penguin before -he could give any account of himself, or be made to comprehend the -nature of the accident which had befallen our boat. At length he became -thoroughly aroused, and spoke much of his sensations while in the -water. Upon his first attaining any degree of consciousness, he found -himself beneath the surface, whirling round and round with -inconceivable rapidity, and with a rope wrapped in three or four folds -tightly about his neck. In an instant afterward he felt himself going -rapidly upward, when, his head striking violently against a hard -substance, he again relapsed into insensibility. Upon once more -reviving he was in fuller possession of his reason--this was still, -however, in the greatest degree clouded and confused. He now knew that -some accident had occurred, and that he was in the water, although his -mouth was above the surface, and he could breathe with some freedom. -Possibly, at this period, the deck was drifting rapidly before the -wind, and drawing him after it, as he floated upon his back. Of course, -as long as he could have retained this position, it would have been -nearly impossible that he should be drowned. Presently a surge threw -him directly athwart the deck; and this post he endeavoured to -maintain, screaming at intervals for help. Just before he was -discovered by Mr. Henderson, he had been obliged to relax his hold -through exhaustion, and, falling into the sea, had given himself up for -lost. During the whole period of his struggles he had not the faintest -recollection of the Ariel, nor of any matters in connexion with the -source of his disaster. A vague feeling of terror and despair had taken -entire possession of his faculties. When he was finally picked up, -every power of his mind had failed him; and, as before said, it was -nearly an hour after getting on board the Penguin before he became -fully aware of his condition. In regard to myself--I was resuscitated -from a state bordering very nearly upon death (and after every other -means had been tried in vain for three hours and a half) by vigorous -friction with flannels bathed in hot oil--a proceeding suggested by -Augustus. The wound in my neck, although of an ugly appearance, proved -of little real consequence, and I soon recovered from its effects. - -The Penguin got into port about nine o'clock in the morning, after -encountering one of the severest gales ever experienced off Nantucket. -Both Augustus and myself managed to appear at Mr. Barnard's in time for -breakfast--which, luckily, was somewhat late, owing to the party over -night. I suppose all at the table were too much fatigued themselves to -notice our jaded appearance--of course, it would not have borne a very -rigid scrutiny. Schoolboys, however, can accomplish wonders in the way -of deception, and I verily believe not one of our friends in Nantucket -had the slightest suspicion that the terrible story told by some -sailors in town of their having run down a vessel at sea and drowned -some thirty or forty poor devils, had reference either to the Ariel, my -companion, or myself. We two have since very frequently talked the -matter over--but never without a shudder. In one of our conversations -Augustus frankly confessed to me, that in his whole life he had at no -time experienced so excruciating a sense of dismay, as when on board -our little boat he first discovered the extent of his intoxication, and -felt himself sinking beneath its influence. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - - -In no affairs of mere prejudice, pro or con, do we deduce inferences -with entire certainty even from the most simple data. It might be -supposed that a catastrophe such as I have just related would have -effectually cooled my incipient passion for the sea. On the contrary, I -never experienced a more ardent longing for the wild adventures -incident to the life of a navigator than within a week after our -miraculous deliverance. This short period proved amply long enough to -erase from my memory the shadows, and bring out in vivid light all the -pleasurably exciting points of colour, all the picturesqueness of the -late perilous accident. My conversations with Augustus grew daily more -frequent and more intensely full of interest. He had a manner of -relating his stories of the ocean (more than one half of which I now -suspect to have been sheer fabrications) well adapted to have weight -with one of my enthusiastic temperament, and somewhat gloomy, although -glowing imagination. It is strange, too, that he most strongly enlisted -my feelings in behalf of the life of a seaman, when he depicted his -more terrible moments of suffering and despair. For the bright side of -the painting I had a limited sympathy. My visions were of shipwreck and -famine; of death or captivity among barbarian hordes; of a lifetime -dragged out in sorrow and tears, upon some gray and desolate rock, in -an ocean unapproachable and unknown. Such visions or desires--for they -amounted to desires--are common, I have since been assured, to the -whole numerous race of the melancholy among men--at the time of which I -speak I regarded them only as prophetic glimpses of a destiny which I -felt myself in a measure bound to fulfil. Augustus thoroughly entered -into my state of mind. It is probable, indeed, that our intimate -communion had resulted in a partial interchange of character. - -About eighteen months after the period of the Ariel's disaster, the -firm of Lloyd and Vredenburgh (a house connected in some manner with -the Messieurs Enderby, I believe, of Liverpool) were engaged in -repairing and fitting out the brig Grampus for a whaling voyage. She -was an old hulk, and scarcely seaworthy when all was done to her that -could be done. I hardly know why she was chosen in preference to other -good vessels belonging to the same owners--but so it was. Mr. Barnard -was appointed to command her, and Augustus was going with him. While -the brig was getting ready, he frequently urged upon me the excellency -of the opportunity now offered for indulging my desire of travel. He -found me by no means an unwilling listener--yet the matter could not be -so easily arranged. My father made no direct opposition; but my mother -went into hysterics at the bare mention of the design; and, more than -all, my grandfather, from whom I expected much, vowed to cut me off -with a shilling if I should ever broach the subject to him again. These -difficulties, however, so far from abating my desire, only added fuel -to the flame. I determined to go at all hazards; and, having made known -my intention to Augustus, we set about arranging a plan by which it -might be accomplished. In the meantime I forbore speaking to any of my -relations in regard to the voyage, and, as I busied myself ostensibly -with my usual studies, it was supposed that I had abandoned the design. -I have since frequently examined my conduct on this occasion with -sentiments of displeasure as well as of surprise. The intense hypocrisy -I made use of for the furtherance of my project--an hypocrisy pervading -every word and action of my life for so long a period of time--could -only have been rendered tolerable to myself by the wild and burning -expectation with which I looked forward to the fulfilment of my -long-cherished visions of travel. - -In pursuance of my scheme of deception, I was necessarily obliged to -leave much to the management of Augustus, who was employed for the -greater part of every day on board the Grampus, attending to some -arrangements for his father in the cabin and cabin hold. At night, -however, we were sure to have a conference, and talk over our hopes. -After nearly a month passed in this manner, without our hitting upon -any plan we thought likely to succeed, he told me at last that he had -determined upon everything necessary. I had a relation living in New -Bedford, a Mr. Ross, at whose house I was in the habit of spending -occasionally two or three weeks at a time. The brig was to sail about -the middle of June (June, 1827), and it was agreed that, a day or two -before her putting to sea, my father was to receive a note, as usual, -from Mr. Ross, asking me to come over and spend a fortnight with Robert -and Emmet (his sons). Augustus charged himself with the enditing of -this note and getting it delivered. Having set out, as supposed, for -New Bedford, I was then to report myself to my companion, who would -contrive a hiding-place for me in the Grampus. This hiding-place, he -assured me, would be rendered sufficiently comfortable for a residence -of many days, during which I was not to make my appearance. When the -brig had proceeded so far on her course as to make any turning back a -matter out of question, I should then, he said, be formally installed -in all the comforts of the cabin; and as to his father, he would only -laugh heartily at the joke. Vessels enough would be met with by which a -letter might be sent home explaining the adventure to my parents. - -The middle of June at length arrived, and everything had been matured. -The note was written and delivered, and on a Monday morning I left the -house for the New Bedford packet, as supposed. I went, however, -straight to Augustus, who was waiting for me at the corner of a street. -It had been our original plan that I should keep out of the way until -dark, and then slip on board the brig; but, as there was now a thick -fog in our favour, it was agreed to lose no time in secreting me. -Augustus led the way to the wharf, and I followed at a little distance, -enveloped in a thick seaman's cloak, which he had brought with him, so -that my person might not be easily recognised. Just as we turned the -second corner, after passing Mr. Edmund's well, who should appear, -standing right in front of me, and looking me full in the face, but old -Mr. Peterson, my grandfather. "Why, bless my soul, Gordon," said he, -after a long pause, "why, why--_whose_ dirty cloak is that you have -on?" "Sir!" I replied, assuming, as well as I could, in the exigency of -the moment, an air of offended surprise, and talking in the gruffest of -all imaginable tones--"sir! you are a sum'mat mistaken--my name, in the -first place, bee'nt nothing at all like Goddin, and I'd want you for to -know better, you blackguard, than to call my new obercoat a darty one!" -For my life I could hardly refrain from screaming with laughter at the -odd manner in which the old gentleman received this handsome rebuke. He -started back two or three steps, turned first pale and then excessively -red, threw up his spectacles, then, putting them down, ran full tilt at -me, with his umbrella uplifted. He stopped short, however, in his -career, as if struck with a sudden recollection; and presently, turning -round, hobbled off down the street, shaking all the while with rage, -and muttering between his teeth, "Won't do--new glasses--thought it was -Gordon--d----d good-for-nothing salt water Long Tom." - -After this narrow escape we proceeded with greater caution, and arrived -at our point of destination in safety. There were only one or two of -the hands on board, and these were busy forward, doing something to the -forecastle combings. Captain Barnard, we knew very well, was engaged at -Lloyd and Vredenburgh's, and would remain there until late in the -evening, so we had little to apprehend on his account. Augustus went -first up the vessel's side, and in a short while I followed him, -without being noticed by the men at work. We proceeded at once into the -cabin, and found no person there. It was fitted up in the most -comfortable style--a thing somewhat unusual in a whaling-vessel. There -were four very excellent staterooms, with wide and convenient berths. -There was also a large stove, I took notice, and a remarkably thick and -valuable carpet covering the floor of both the cabin and staterooms. -The ceiling was full seven feet high, and, in short, everything -appeared of a more roomy and agreeable nature than I had anticipated. -Augustus, however, would allow me but little time for observation, -insisting upon the necessity of my concealing myself as soon as -possible. He led the way into his own stateroom, which was on the -starboard side of the brig, and next to the bulkheads. Upon entering, -he closed the door and bolted it. I thought I had never seen a nicer -little room than the one in which I now found myself. It was about ten -feet long, and had only one berth, which, as I said before, was wide -and convenient. In that portion of the closet nearest the bulkheads -there was a space of four feet square, containing a table, a chair, and -a set of hanging shelves full of books, chiefly books of voyages and -travels. There were many other little comforts in the room, among which -I ought not to forget a kind of safe or refrigerator, in which Augustus -pointed out to me a host of delicacies, both in the eating and drinking -department. - -He now pressed with his knuckles upon a certain spot of the carpet in -one corner of the space just mentioned, letting me know that a portion -of the flooring, about sixteen inches square, had been neatly cut out -and again adjusted. As he pressed, this portion rose up at one end -sufficiently to allow the passage of his finger beneath. In this manner -he raised the mouth of the trap (to which the carpet was still fastened -by tacks), and I found that it led into the after hold. He next lit a -small taper by means of a phosphorus match, and, placing the light in a -dark lantern, descended with it through the opening, bidding me follow. -I did so, and he then pulled the cover upon the hole, by means of a -nail driven into the under side--the carpet, of course, resuming its -original position on the floor of the stateroom, and all traces of the -aperture being concealed. - -The taper gave out so feeble a ray, that it was with the greatest -difficulty I could grope my way through the confused mass of lumber -among which I now found myself. By degrees, however, my eyes became -accustomed to the gloom, and I proceeded with less trouble, holding on -to the skirts of my friend's coat. He brought me, at length, after -creeping and winding through innumerable narrow passages, to an -iron-bound box, such as is used sometimes for packing fine earthenware. -It was nearly four feet high, and full six long, but very narrow. Two -large empty oil-casks lay on the top of it, and above these, again, a -vast quantity of straw matting, piled up as high as the floor of the -cabin. In every other direction around was wedged as closely as -possible, even up to the ceiling, a complete chaos of almost every -species of ship-furniture, together with a heterogeneous medley of -crates, hampers, barrels, and bales, so that it seemed a matter no less -than miraculous that we had discovered any passage at all to the box. I -afterward found that Augustus had purposely arranged the stowage in -this hold with a view to affording me a thorough concealment, having -had only one assistant in the labour, a man not going out in the brig. - -My companion now showed me that one of the ends of the box could be -removed at pleasure. He slipped it aside and displayed the interior, at -which I was excessively amused. A mattress from one of the cabin berths -covered the whole of its bottom, and it contained almost every article -of mere comfort which could be crowded into so small a space, allowing -me, at the same time, sufficient room for my accommodation, either in a -sitting position or lying at full length. Among other things, there -were some books, pen, ink, and paper, three blankets, a large jug full -of water, a keg of sea-biscuit, three or four immense Bologna sausages, -an enormous ham, a cold leg of roast mutton, and half a dozen bottles -of cordials and liqueurs. I proceeded immediately to take possession of -my little apartment, and this with feelings of higher satisfaction, I -am sure, than any monarch ever experienced upon entering a new palace. -Augustus now pointed out to me the method of fastening the open end of -the box, and then, holding the taper close to the deck, showed me a -piece of dark whipcord lying along it. This, he said, extended from my -hiding-place throughout all the necessary windings among the lumber, to -a nail which was driven into the deck of the hold, immediately beneath -the trapdoor leading into his stateroom. By means of this cord I should -be enabled readily to trace my way out without his guidance, provided -any unlooked-for accident should render such a step necessary. He now -took his departure, leaving with me the lantern, together with a -copious supply of tapers and phosphorus, and promising to pay me a -visit as often as he could contrive to do so without observation. This -was on the seventeenth of June. - -I remained three days and nights (as nearly as I could guess) in my -hiding-place without getting out of it at all, except twice for the -purpose of stretching my limbs by standing erect between two crates -just opposite the opening. During the whole period I saw nothing of -Augustus; but this occasioned me little uneasiness, as I knew the brig -was expected to put to sea every hour, and in the bustle he would not -easily find opportunities of coming down to me. At length I heard the -trap open and shut, and presently he called in a low voice, asking if -all was well, and if there was anything I wanted. "Nothing," I replied; -"I am as comfortable as can be; when will the brig sail?" "She will be -under weigh in less than half an hour," he answered. "I came to let you -know, and for fear you should be uneasy at my absence. I shall not have -a chance of coming down again for some time--perhaps for three or four -days more. All is going on right aboveboard. After I go up and close -the trap, do you creep along by the whipcord to where the nail is -driven in. You will find my watch there--it may be useful to you, as -you have no daylight to keep time by. I suppose you can't tell how long -you have been buried--only three days--this is the twentieth. I would -bring the watch to your box, but am afraid of being missed." With this -he went up. - -In about an hour after he had gone I distinctly felt the brig in -motion, and congratulated myself upon having at length fairly commenced -a voyage. Satisfied with this idea, I determined to make my mind as -easy as possible, and await the course of events until I should be -permitted to exchange the box for the more roomy, although hardly more -comfortable, accommodations of the cabin. My first care was to get the -watch. Leaving the taper burning, I groped along in the dark, following -the cord through windings innumerable, in some of which I discovered -that, after toiling a long distance, I was brought back within a foot -or two of a former position. At length I reached the nail, and, -securing the object of my journey, returned with it in safety. I now -looked over the books which had been so thoughtfully provided, and -selected the expedition of Lewis and Clarke to the mouth of the -Columbia. With this I amused myself for some time, when, growing -sleepy, I extinguished the light with great care, and soon fell into a -sound slumber. - -Upon awaking I felt strangely confused in mind, and some time elapsed -before I could bring to recollection all the various circumstances of -my situation. By degrees, however, I remembered all. Striking a light, -I looked at the watch; but it was run down, and there were, -consequently, no means of determining how long I had slept. My limbs -were greatly cramped, and I was forced to relieve them by standing -between the crates. Presently, feeling an almost ravenous appetite, I -bethought myself of the cold mutton, some of which I had eaten just -before going to sleep, and found excellent. What was my astonishment at -discovering it to be in a state of absolute putrefaction! This -circumstance occasioned me great disquietude; for, connecting it with -the disorder of mind I experienced upon awaking, I began to suppose -that I must have slept for an inordinately long period of time. The -close atmosphere of the hold might have had something to do with this, -and might, in the end, be productive of the most serious results. My -head ached excessively; I fancied that I drew every breath with -difficulty; and, in short, I was oppressed with a multitude of gloomy -feelings. Still I could not venture to make any disturbance by opening -the trap or otherwise, and, having wound up the watch, contented myself -as well as possible. - -Throughout the whole of the next tedious twenty-four hours no person -came to my relief, and I could not help accusing Augustus of the -grossest inattention. What alarmed me chiefly was, that the water in my -jug was reduced to about half a pint, and I was suffering much from -thirst, having eaten freely of the Bologna sausages after the loss of -my mutton. I became very uneasy, and could no longer take any interest -in my books. I was overpowered, too, with a desire to sleep, yet -trembled at the thought of indulging it, lest there might exist some -pernicious influence, like that of burning charcoal, in the confined -air of the hold. In the mean time the roll of the brig told me that we -were far in the main ocean, and a dull humming sound, which reached my -ears as if from an immense distance, convinced me no ordinary gale was -blowing. I could not imagine a reason for the absence of Augustus. We -were surely far enough advanced on our voyage to allow of my going up. -Some accident might have happened to him--but I could think of none -which would account for his suffering me to remain so long a prisoner, -except, indeed, his having suddenly died or fallen overboard, and upon -this idea I could not dwell with any degree of patience. It was -possible that we had been baffled by head winds, and were still in the -near vicinity of Nantucket. This notion, however, I was forced to -abandon; for, such being the case, the brig must have frequently gone -about; and I was entirely satisfied, from her continual inclination to -the larboard, that she had been sailing all along with a steady breeze -on her starboard quarter. Besides, granting that we were still in the -neighbourhood of the island, why should not Augustus have visited me -and informed me of the circumstance? Pondering in this manner upon the -difficulties of my solitary and cheerless condition, I resolved to wait -yet another twenty-four hours, when, if no relief were obtained, I -would make my way to the trap, and endeavour either to hold a parley -with my friend, or get at least a little fresh air through the opening, -and a further supply of water from his stateroom. While occupied with -this thought, however, I fell, in spite of every exertion to the -contrary, into a state of profound sleep, or rather stupor. My dreams -were of the most terrific description. Every species of calamity and -horror befell me. Among other miseries, I was smothered to death -between huge pillows, by demons of the most ghastly and ferocious -aspect. Immense serpents held me in their embrace, and looked earnestly -in my face with their fearfully shining eyes. Then deserts, limitless, -and of the most forlorn and awe-inspiring character, spread themselves -out before me. Immensely tall trunks of trees, gray and leafless, rose -up in endless succession as far as the eye could reach. Their roots -were concealed in wide-spreading morasses, whose dreary water lay -intensely black, still, and altogether terrible, beneath. And the -strange trees seemed endowed with a human vitality, and, waving to and -fro their skeleton arms, were crying to the silent waters for mercy, in -the shrill and piercing accents of the most acute agony and despair. -The scene changed; and I stood, naked and alone, amid the burning -sand-plains of Zahara. At my feet lay crouched a fierce lion of the -tropics. Suddenly his wild eyes opened and fell upon me. With a -convulsive bound he sprang to his feet, and laid bare his horrible -teeth. In another instant there burst from his red throat a roar like -the thunder of the firmament, and I fell impetuously to the earth. -Stifling in a paroxysm of terror, I at last found myself partially -awake. My dream, then, was not all a dream. Now, at least, I was in -possession of my senses. The paws of some huge and real monster were -pressing heavily upon my bosom--his hot breath was in my ear--and his -white and ghastly fangs were gleaming upon me through the gloom. - -Had a thousand lives hung upon the movement of a limb or the utterance -of a syllable, I could have neither stirred nor spoken. The beast, -whatever it was, retained his position without attempting any immediate -violence, while I lay in an utterly helpless, and, I fancied, a dying -condition beneath him. I felt that my powers of body and mind were fast -leaving me--in a word, that I was perishing, and perishing of sheer -fright. My brain swam--I grew deadly sick--my vision failed--even the -glaring eyeballs above me grew dim. Making a last strong effort, I at -length breathed a faint ejaculation to God, and resigned myself to die. -The sound of my voice seemed to arouse all the latent fury of the -animal. He precipitated himself at full length upon my body; but what -was my astonishment, when, with a long and low whine, he commenced -licking my face and hands with the greatest eagerness, and with the -most extravagant demonstrations of affection and joy! I was bewildered, -utterly lost in amazement--but I could not forget the peculiar whine of -my Newfoundland dog Tiger, and the odd manner of his caresses I well -knew. It was he. I experienced a sudden rush of blood to my temples--a -giddy and overpowering sense of deliverance and reanimation. I rose -hurriedly from the mattress upon which I had been lying, and, throwing -myself upon the neck of my faithful follower and friend, relieved the -long oppression of my bosom in a flood of the most passionate tears. - -As upon a former occasion, my conceptions were in a state of the -greatest indistinctness and confusion after leaving the mattress. For a -long time I found it nearly impossible to connect any ideas--but, by -very slow degrees, my thinking faculties returned, and I again called -to memory the several incidents of my condition. For the presence of -Tiger I tried in vain to account; and after busying myself with a -thousand different conjectures respecting him, was forced to content -myself with rejoicing that he was with me to share my dreary solitude, -and render me comfort by his caresses. Most people love their dogs--but -for Tiger I had an affection far more ardent than common; and never, -certainly, did any creature more truly deserve it. For seven years he -had been my inseparable companion, and in a multitude of instances had -given evidence of all the noble qualities for which we value the -animal. I had rescued him, when a puppy, from the clutches of a -malignant little villain in Nantucket, who was leading him, with a rope -around his neck, to the water; and the grown dog repaid the obligation, -about three years afterward, by saving me from the bludgeon of a -street-robber. - -Getting now hold of the watch, I found, upon applying it to my ear, -that it had again run down; but at this I was not at all surprised, -being convinced, from the peculiar state of my feelings, that I had -slept, as before, for a very long period of time; how long, it was of -course impossible to say. I was burning up with fever, and my thirst -was almost intolerable. I felt about the box for my little remaining -supply of water; for I had no light, the taper having burnt to the -socket of the lantern, and the phosphorus-box not coming readily to -hand. Upon finding the jug, however, I discovered it to be -empty--Tiger, no doubt, having been tempted to drink it, as well as to -devour the remnant of mutton, the bone of which lay, well picked, by -the opening of the box. The spoiled meat I could well spare, but my -heart sank as I thought of the water. I was feeble in the extreme--so -much so that I shook all over, as with an ague, at the slightest -movement or exertion. To add to my troubles, the brig was pitching and -rolling with great violence, and the oil-casks which lay upon my box -were in momentary danger of falling down, so as to block up the only -way of ingress or egress. I felt, also, terrible sufferings from -sea-sickness. These considerations determined me to make my way, at all -hazards, to the trap, and obtain immediate relief, before I should be -incapacitated from doing so altogether. Having come to this resolve, I -again felt about for the phosphorus-box and tapers. The former I found -after some little trouble; but, not discovering the tapers as soon as I -had expected (for I remembered very nearly the spot in which I had -placed them), I gave up the search for the present, and bidding Tiger -lie quiet, began at once my journey towards the trap. - -In this attempt my great feebleness became more than ever apparent. It -was with the utmost difficulty I could crawl along at all, and very -frequently my limbs sank suddenly from beneath me; when, falling -prostrate on my face, I would remain for some minutes in a state -bordering on insensibility. Still I struggled forward by slow degrees, -dreading every moment that I should swoon amid the narrow and intricate -windings of the lumber, in which event I had nothing but death to -expect as the result. At length, upon making a push forward with all -the energy I could command, I struck my forehead violently against the -sharp corner of an iron-bound crate. The accident only stunned me for a -few moments; but I found, to my inexpressible grief, that the quick and -violent roll of the vessel had thrown the crate entirely across my -path, so as effectually to block up the passage. With my utmost -exertions I could not move it a single inch from its position, it being -closely wedged in among the surrounding boxes and ship-furniture. It -became necessary, therefore, enfeebled as I was, either to leave the -guidance of the whipcord and seek out a new passage, or to climb over -the obstacle, and resume the path on the other side. The former -alternative presented too many difficulties and dangers to be thought -of without a shudder. In my present weak state of both mind and body, I -should infallibly lose my way if I attempted it, and perish miserably -amid the dismal and disgusting labyrinths of the hold. I proceeded, -therefore, without hesitation, to summon up all my remaining strength -and fortitude, and endeavour, as I best might, to clamber over the -crate. - -Upon standing erect, with this end in view, I found the undertaking -even a more serious task than my fears had led me to imagine. On each -side of the narrow passage arose a complete wall of various heavy -lumber, which the least blunder on my part might be the means of -bringing down upon my head; or, if this accident did not occur, the -path might be effectually blocked up against my return by the -descending mass, as it was in front by the obstacle there. The crate -itself was a long and unwieldy box, upon which no foothold could be -obtained. In vain I attempted, by every means in my power, to reach the -top, with the hope of being thus enabled to draw myself up. Had I -succeeded in reaching it, it is certain that my strength would have -proved utterly inadequate to the task of getting over, and it was -better in every respect that I failed. At length, in a desperate effort -to force the crate from its ground, I felt a strong vibration in the -side next me. I thrust my hand eagerly to the edge of the planks, and -found that a very large one was loose. With my pocket-knife, which -luckily I had with me, I succeeded, after great labour, in prying it -entirely off; and, getting through the aperture, discovered, to my -exceeding joy, that there were no boards on the opposite side--in other -words, that the top was wanting, it being the bottom through which I -had forced my way. I now met with no important difficulty in proceeding -along the line until I finally reached the nail. With a beating heart I -stood erect, and with a gentle touch pressed against the cover of the -trap. It did not rise as soon as I had expected, and I pressed it with -somewhat more determination, still dreading lest some other person than -Augustus might be in his stateroom. The door, however, to my -astonishment, remained steady, and I became somewhat uneasy, for I knew -that it had formerly required little or no effort to remove it. I -pushed it strongly--it was nevertheless firm: with all my strength--it -still did not give way: with rage, with fury, with despair--it set at -defiance my utmost efforts; and it was evident, from the unyielding -nature of the resistance, that the hole had either been discovered and -effectually nailed up, or that some immense weight had been placed upon -it, which it was useless to think of removing. - -My sensations were those of extreme horror and dismay. In vain I -attempted to reason on the probable cause of my being thus entombed. I -could summon up no connected chain of reflection, and, sinking on the -floor, gave way, unresistingly, to the most gloomy imaginings, in which -the dreadful deaths of thirst, famine, suffocation, and premature -interment, crowded upon me as the prominent disasters to be -encountered. At length there returned to me some portion of presence of -mind. I arose, and felt with my fingers for the seams or cracks of the -aperture. Having found them, I examined them closely to ascertain if -they emitted any light from the stateroom; but none was visible. I then -forced the penblade of my knife through them, until I met with some -hard obstacle. Scraping against it, I discovered it to be a solid mass -of iron, which, from its peculiar wavy feel as I passed the blade along -it, I concluded to be a chain-cable. The only course now left me was to -retrace my way to the box, and there either yield to my sad fate, or -try so to tranquillize my mind as to admit of my arranging some plan of -escape. I immediately set about the attempt, and succeeded, after -innumerable difficulties, in getting back. As I sank, utterly -exhausted, upon the mattress, Tiger threw himself at full length by my -side, and seemed as if desirous, by his caresses, of consoling me in my -troubles, and urging me to bear them with fortitude. - -The singularity of his behaviour at length forcibly arrested my -attention. After licking my face and hands for some minutes, he would -suddenly cease doing so, and utter a low whine. Upon reaching out my -hand towards him, I then invariably found him lying on his back, with -his paws uplifted. This conduct, so frequently repeated, appeared -strange, and I could in no manner account for it. As the dog seemed -distressed, I concluded that he had received some injury; and, taking -his paws in my hands, I examined them one by one, but found no sign of -any hurt. I then supposed him hungry, and gave him a large piece of -ham, which he devoured with avidity--afterward, however, resuming his -extraordinary manoeuvres. I now imagined that he was suffering, like -myself, the torments of thirst, and was about adopting this conclusion -as the true one, when the idea occurred to me that I had as yet only -examined his paws, and that there might possibly be a wound upon some -portion of his body or head. The latter I felt carefully over, but -found nothing. On passing my hand, however, along his back, I perceived -a slight erection of the hair extending completely across it. Probing -this with my finger, I discovered a string, and, tracing it up, found -that it encircled the whole body. Upon a closer scrutiny, I came across -a small slip of what had the feeling of letter paper, through which the -string had been fastened in such a manner as to bring it immediately -beneath the left shoulder of the animal. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - - -The thought instantly occurred to me that the paper was a note from -Augustus, and that some unaccountable accident having happened to -prevent his relieving me from my dungeon, he had devised this method of -acquainting me with the true state of affairs. Trembling with -eagerness, I now commenced another search for my phosphorus matches and -tapers. I had a confused recollection of having put them carefully away -just before falling asleep; and, indeed, previously to my last journey -to the trap, I had been able to remember the exact spot where I had -deposited them. But now I endeavoured in vain to call it to mind, and -busied myself for a full hour in a fruitless and vexatious search for -the missing articles; never, surely, was there a more tantalizing state -of anxiety and suspense. At length, while groping about, with my head -close to the ballast, near the opening of the box, and outside of it, I -perceived a faint glimmering of light in the direction of the steerage. -Greatly surprised, I endeavoured to make my way towards it, as it -appeared to be but a few feet from my position. Scarcely had I moved -with this intention, when I lost sight of the glimmer entirely, and, -before I could bring it into view again, was obliged to feel along by -the box until I had exactly resumed my original situation. Now, moving -my head with caution to and fro, I found that, by proceeding slowly, -with great care, in an opposite direction to that in which I had at -first started, I was enabled to draw near the light, still keeping it -in view. Presently I came directly upon it (having squeezed my way -through innumerable narrow windings), and found that it proceeded from -some fragments of my matches lying in an empty barrel turned upon its -side. I was wondering how they came in such a place, when my hand fell -upon two or three pieces of taper-wax, which had been evidently mumbled -by the dog. I concluded at once that he had devoured the whole of my -supply of candles, and I felt hopeless of being ever able to read the -note of Augustus. The small remnants of the wax were so mashed up among -other rubbish in the barrel, that I despaired of deriving any service -from them, and left them as they were. The phosphorus, of which there -was only a speck or two, I gathered up as well as I could, and returned -with it, after much difficulty, to my box, where Tiger had all the -while remained. - -What to do next I could not tell. The hold was so intensely dark that I -could not see my hand, however close I would hold it to my face. The -white slip of paper could barely be discerned, and not even that when I -looked at it directly; by turning the exterior portions of the retina -towards it, that is to say, by surveying it slightly askance, I found -that it became in some measure perceptible. Thus the gloom of my prison -may be imagined, and the note of my friend, if indeed it were a note -from him, seemed only likely to throw me into further trouble, by -disquieting to no purpose my already enfeebled and agitated mind. In -vain I revolved in my brain a multitude of absurd expedients for -procuring light--such expedients precisely as a man in the perturbed -sleep occasioned by opium would be apt to fall upon for a similar -purpose--each and all of which appear by turns to the dreamer the most -reasonable and the most preposterous of conceptions, just as the -reasoning or imaginative faculties flicker, alternately, one above the -other. At last an idea occurred to me which seemed rational, and which -gave me cause to wonder, very justly, that I had not entertained it -before. I placed the slip of paper on the back of a book, and, -collecting the fragments of the phosphorus matches which I had brought -from the barrel, laid them together upon the paper. I then, with the -palm of my hand, rubbed the whole over quickly yet steadily. A clear -light diffused itself immediately throughout the whole surface; and had -there been any writing upon it, I should not have experienced the least -difficulty, I am sure, in reading it. Not a syllable was there, -however--nothing but a dreary and unsatisfactory blank; the -illumination died away in a few seconds, and my heart died away within -me as it went. - -I have before stated more than once that my intellect, for some period -prior to this, had been in a condition nearly bordering on idiocy. -There were, to be sure, momentary intervals of perfect sanity, and, now -and then, even of energy; but these were few. It must be remembered -that I had been, for many days certainly, inhaling the almost -pestilential atmosphere of a close hold in a whaling vessel, and a long -portion of that time but scantily supplied with water. For the last -fourteen or fifteen hours I had none--nor had I slept during that time. -Salt provisions of the most exciting kind had been my chief, and, -indeed, since the loss of the mutton, my only supply of food, with the -exception of the sea-biscuit; and these latter were utterly useless to -me, as they were too dry and hard to be swallowed in the swollen and -parched condition of my throat. I was now in a high state of fever, and -in every respect exceedingly ill. This will account for the fact that -many miserable hours of despondency elapsed after my last adventure -with the phosphorus, before the thought suggested itself that I had -examined only one side of the paper. I shall not attempt to describe my -feelings of rage (for I believe I was more angry than anything else) -when the egregious oversight I had committed flashed suddenly upon my -perception. The blunder itself would have been unimportant, had not my -own folly and impetuosity rendered it otherwise--in my disappointment -at not finding some words upon the slip, I had childishly torn it in -pieces and thrown it away, it was impossible to say where. - -From the worst part of this dilemma I was relieved by the sagacity of -Tiger. Having got, after a long search, a small piece of the note, I -put it to the dog's nose, and endeavoured to make him understand that -he must bring me the rest of it. To my astonishment (for I had taught -him none of the usual tricks for which his breed are famous), he seemed -to enter at once into my meaning, and, rummaging about for a few -moments, soon found another considerable portion. Bringing me this, he -paused a while, and, rubbing his nose against my hand, appeared to be -waiting for my approval of what he had done. I patted him on the head, -when he immediately made off again. It was now some minutes before he -came back--but when he did come, he brought with him a large slip, -which proved to be all the paper missing--it having been torn, it -seems, only into three pieces. Luckily, I had no trouble in finding -what few fragments of the phosphorus were left--being guided by the -indistinct glow one or two of the particles still emitted. My -difficulties had taught me the necessity of caution, and I now took -time to reflect upon what I was about to do. It was very probable, I -considered, that some words were written upon that side of the paper -which had not been examined--but which side was that? Fitting the -pieces together gave me no clew in this respect, although it assured me -that the words (if there were any) would be found all on one side, and -connected in a proper manner, as written. There was the greater -necessity of ascertaining the point in question beyond a doubt, as the -phosphorus remaining would be altogether insufficient for a third -attempt, should I fail in the one I was now about to make. I placed the -paper on a book as before, and sat for some minutes thoughtfully -revolving the matter over in my mind. At last I thought it barely -possible that the written side might have some unevenness on its -surface, which a delicate sense of feeling might enable me to detect. I -determined to make the experiment, and passed my finger very carefully -over the side which first presented itself--nothing, however, was -perceptible, and I turned the paper, adjusting it on the book. I now -again carried my forefinger cautiously along, when I was aware of an -exceedingly slight, but still discernible glow, which followed as it -proceeded. This, I knew, must arise from some very minute remaining -particles of the phosphorus with which I had covered the paper in my -previous attempt. The other, or under side, then, was that on which lay -the writing, if writing there should finally prove to be. Again I -turned the note, and went to work as I had previously done. Having -rubbed in the phosphorus, a brilliancy ensued as before--but this time -several lines of MS. in a large hand, and apparently in red ink, became -distinctly visible. The glimmer, although sufficiently bright, was but -momentary. Still, had I not been too greatly excited, there would have -been ample time enough for me to peruse the whole three sentences -before me--for I saw there were three. In my anxiety, however, to read -all at once, I succeeded only in reading the seven concluding words, -which thus appeared: _"blood--your life depends upon lying close."_ - -Had I been able to ascertain the entire contents of the note--the full -meaning of the admonition which my friend had thus attempted to convey, -that admonition, even although it should have revealed a story of -disaster the most unspeakable, could not, I am firmly convinced, have -imbued my mind with one tithe of the harrowing and yet indefinable -horror with which I was inspired by the fragmentary warning thus -received. And _"blood"_ too, that word of all words--so rife at all -times with mystery, and suffering, and terror--how trebly full of -import did it now appear--how chillily and heavily (disjointed, as it -thus was, from any foregoing words to qualify or render it distinct) -did its vague syllables fall, amid the deep gloom of my prison, into -the innermost recesses of my soul! - -Augustus had, undoubtedly, good reasons for wishing me to remain -concealed, and I formed a thousand surmises as to what they could -be--but I could think of nothing affording a satisfactory solution of -the mystery. Just after returning from my last journey to the trap, and -before my attention had been otherwise directed by the singular conduct -of Tiger, I had come to the resolution of making myself heard at all -events by those on board, or, if I could not succeed in this directly, -of trying to cut my way through the orlop deck. The half certainty -which I felt of being able to accomplish one of these two purposes in -the last emergency, had given me courage (which I should not otherwise -have had) to endure the evils of my situation. The few words I had been -able to read, however, had cut me off from these final resources, and I -now, for the first time, felt all the misery of my fate. In a paroxysm -of despair I threw myself again upon the mattress, where, for about the -period of a day and night, I lay in a kind of stupor, relieved only by -momentary intervals of reason and recollection. - -At length I once more arose, and busied myself in reflection upon the -horrors which encompassed me. For another twenty-four hours it was -barely possible that I might exist without water--for a longer time I -could not do so. During the first portion of my imprisonment I had made -free use of the cordials with which Augustus had supplied me, but they -only served to excite fever, without in the least degree assuaging my -thirst. I had now only about a gill left, and this was of a species of -strong peach liqueur at which my stomach revolted. The sausages were -entirely consumed; of the ham nothing remained but a small piece of the -skin; and all the biscuit, except a few fragments of one, had been -eaten by Tiger. To add to my troubles, I found that my headache was -increasing momentarily, and with it the species of delirium which had -distressed me more or less since my first falling asleep. For some -hours past it had been with the greatest difficulty I could breathe at -all, and now each attempt at so doing was attended with the most -distressing spasmodic action of the chest. But there was still another -and very different source of disquietude, and one, indeed, whose -harassing terrors had been the chief means of arousing me to exertion -from my stupor on the mattress. It arose from the demeanour of the dog. - -I first observed an alteration in his conduct while rubbing in the -phosphorus on the paper in my last attempt. As I rubbed, he ran his -nose against my hand with a slight snarl; but I was too greatly excited -at the time to pay much attention to the circumstance. Soon afterward, -it will be remembered, I threw myself on the mattress, and fell into a -species of lethargy. Presently I became aware of a singular hissing -sound close at my ears, and discovered it to proceed from Tiger, who -was panting and wheezing in a state of the greatest apparent -excitement, his eyeballs flashing fiercely through the gloom. I spoke -to him, when he replied with a low growl, and then remained quiet. -Presently I relapsed into my stupor, from which I was again awakened in -a similar manner. This was repeated three or four times, until finally -his behaviour inspired me with so great a degree of fear that I became -fully aroused. He was now lying close by the door of the box, snarling -fearfully, although in a kind of under tone, and grinding his teeth as -if strongly convulsed. I had no doubt whatever that the want of water -or the confined atmosphere of the hold had driven him mad, and I was at -a loss what course to pursue. I could not endure the thought of killing -him, yet it seemed absolutely necessary for my own safety. I could -distinctly perceive his eyes fastened upon me with an expression of the -most deadly animosity, and I expected every instant that he would -attack me. At last I could endure my terrible situation no longer, and -determined to make my way from the box at all hazards, and despatch -him, if his opposition should render it necessary for me to do so. To -get out, I had to pass directly over his body, and he already seemed to -anticipate my design--raising himself upon his fore legs (as I -perceived by the altered position of his eyes), and displaying the -whole of his white fangs, which were easily discernible. I took the -remains of the ham-skin, and the bottle containing the liqueur, and -secured them about my person, together with a large carving-knife which -Augustus had left me--then, folding my cloak as closely around me as -possible, I made a movement towards the mouth of the box. No sooner did -I do this than the dog sprang with a loud growl towards my throat. The -whole weight of his body struck me on the right shoulder, and I fell -violently to the left, while the enraged animal passed entirely over -me. I had fallen upon my knees, with my head buried among the blankets, -and these protected me from a second furious assault, during which I -felt the sharp teeth pressing vigorously upon the woollen which -enveloped my neck--yet, luckily, without being able to penetrate all -the folds. I was now beneath the dog, and a few moments would place me -completely in his power. Despair gave me strength, and I rose bodily -up, shaking him from me by main force, and dragging with me the -blankets from the mattress. These I now threw over him, and before he -could extricate himself I had got through the door and closed it -effectually against his pursuit. In this struggle, however, I had been -forced to drop the morsel of ham-skin, and I now found my whole stock -of provisions reduced to a single gill of liqueur. As this reflection -crossed my mind, I felt myself actuated by one of those fits of -perverseness which might be supposed to influence a spoiled child in -similar circumstances, and, raising the bottle to my lips, I drained it -to the last drop, and dashed it furiously upon the floor. - -Scarcely had the echo of the crash died away, when I heard my name -pronounced in an eager but subdued voice, issuing from the direction of -the steerage. So unexpected was anything of the kind, and so intense -was the emotion excited within me by the sound, that I endeavoured in -vain to reply. My powers of speech totally failed, and, in an agony of -terror lest my friend should conclude me dead, and return without -attempting to reach me, I stood up between the crates near the door of -the box, trembling convulsively, and gasping and struggling for -utterance. Had a thousand worlds depended upon a syllable, I could not -have spoken it. There was a slight movement now audible among the -lumber somewhere forward of my station. The sound presently grew less -distinct, then again less so, and still less. Shall I ever forget my -feelings at this moment? He was going--my friend--my companion, from -whom I had a right to expect so much--he was going--he would abandon -me--he was gone! He would leave me to perish miserably, to expire in -the most horrible and loathsome of dungeons--and one word--one little -syllable would save me--yet that single syllable I could not utter! I -felt, I am sure, more than ten thousand times the agonies of death -itself. My brain reeled, and I fell, deadly sick, against the end of -the box. - -As I fell, the carving-knife was shaken out from the waistband of my -pantaloons, and dropped with a rattling sound to the floor. Never did -any strain of the richest melody come so sweetly to my ears! With the -intensest anxiety I listened to ascertain the effect of the noise upon -Augustus--for I knew that the person who called my name could be no one -but himself. All was silent for some moments. At length I again heard -the word _Arthur!_ repeated in a low tone, and one full of hesitation. -Reviving hope loosened at once my powers of speech, and I now screamed, -at the top of my voice, _"Augustus! oh Augustus!"_ "Hush--for God's -sake be silent!" he replied, in a voice trembling with agitation; "I -will be with you immediately--as soon as I can make my way through the -hold." For a long time I heard him moving among the lumber, and every -moment seemed to me an age. At length I felt his hand upon my shoulder, -and he placed at the same moment a bottle of water to my lips. Those -only who have been suddenly redeemed from the jaws of the tomb, or who -have known the insufferable torments of thirst under circumstances as -aggravated as those which encompassed me in my dreary prison, can form -any idea of the unutterable transports which that one long draught of -the richest of all physical luxuries afforded. - -When I had in some degree satisfied my thirst, Augustus produced from -his pocket three or four cold boiled potatoes, which I devoured with -the greatest avidity. He had brought with him a light in a dark -lantern, and the grateful rays afforded me scarcely less comfort than -the food and drink. But I was impatient to learn the cause of his -protracted absence, and he proceeded to recount what had happened on -board during my incarceration. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - - -The brig put to sea, as I had supposed, in about an hour after he had -left the watch. This was on the twentieth of June. It will be -remembered that I had then been in the hold for three days; and, during -this period, there was so constant a bustle on board, and so much -running to and fro, especially in the cabin and staterooms, that he had -had no chance of visiting me without the risk of having the secret of -the trap discovered. When at length he did come, I had assured him that -I was doing as well as possible; and, therefore, for the two next days -he felt but little uneasiness on my account--still, however, watching -an opportunity of going down. It was not _until the fourth day_ that he -found one. Several times during this interval he had made up his mind -to let his father know of the adventure, and have me come up at once; -but we were still within reaching distance of Nantucket, and it was -doubtful, from some expressions which had escaped Captain Barnard, -whether he would not immediately put back if he discovered me to be on -board. Besides, upon thinking the matter over, Augustus, so he told me, -could not imagine that I was in immediate want, or that I would -hesitate, in such case, to make myself heard at the trap. When, -therefore, he considered everything, he concluded to let me stay until -he could meet with an opportunity of visiting me unobserved. This, as I -said before, did not occur until the fourth day after his bringing me -the watch, and the seventh since I had first entered the hold. He then -went down without taking with him any water or provisions, intending in -the first place merely to call my attention, and get me to come from -the box to the trap--when he would go up to the stateroom and thence -hand me down a supply. When he descended for this purpose he found that -I was asleep, for it seems that I was snoring very loudly. From all the -calculations I can make on the subject, this must have been the slumber -into which I fell just after my return from the trap with the watch, -and which, consequently, must have lasted _for more than three entire -days and nights_ at the very least. Latterly, I have had reason, both -from my own experience and the assurance of others, to be acquainted -with the strong soporific effects of the stench arising from old -fish-oil when closely confined; and when I think of the condition of -the hold in which I was imprisoned, and the long period during which -the brig had been used as a whaling vessel, I am more inclined to -wonder that I awoke at all, after once falling asleep, than that I -should have slept uninterruptedly for the period specified above. - -Augustus called to me at first in a low voice and without closing the -trap--but I made him no reply. He then shut the trap, and spoke to me -in a louder, and finally in a very loud tone--still I continued to -snore. He was now at a loss what to do. It would take him some time to -make his way through the lumber to my box, and in the mean while his -absence would be noticed by Captain Barnard, who had occasion for his -services every minute, in arranging and copying papers connected with -the business of the voyage. He determined, therefore, upon reflection, -to ascend, and await another opportunity of visiting me. He was the -more easily induced to this resolve, as my slumber appeared to be of -the most tranquil nature, and he could not suppose that I had undergone -any inconvenience from my incarceration. He had just made up his mind -on these points when his attention was arrested by an unusual bustle, -the sound of which proceeded apparently from the cabin. He sprang -through the trap as quickly as possible, closed it, and threw open the -door of his stateroom. No sooner had he put his foot over the threshold -than a pistol flashed in his face, and he was knocked down, at the same -moment, by a blow from a handspike. - -A strong hand held him on the cabin floor, with a tight grasp upon his -throat--still he was able to see what was going on around him. His -father was tied hand and foot, and lying along the steps of the -companion-way with his head down, and a deep wound in the forehead, -from which the blood was flowing in a continued stream. He spoke not a -word, and was apparently dying. Over him stood the first mate, eying -him with an expression of fiendish derision, and deliberately searching -his pockets, from which he presently drew forth a large wallet and a -chronometer. Seven of the crew (among whom was the cook, a negro) were -rummaging the staterooms on the larboard for arms, where they soon -equipped themselves with muskets and ammunition. Besides Augustus and -Captain Barnard, there were nine men altogether in the cabin, and these -among the most ruffianly of the brig's company. The villains now went -upon deck, taking my friend with them, after having secured his arms -behind his back. They proceeded straight to the forecastle, which was -fastened down--two of the mutineers standing by it with axes--two also -at the main hatch. The mate called out in a loud voice, "Do you hear -there below? tumble up with you--one by one, now, mark that--and no -grumbling." It was some minutes before any one appeared: at last an -Englishman, who had shipped as a raw hand, came up, weeping piteously, -and entreating the mate in the most humble manner to spare his life. -The only reply was a blow on the forehead from an axe. The poor fellow -fell to the deck without a groan, and the black cook lifted him up in -his arms as he would a child, and tossed him deliberately into the sea. -Hearing the blow and the plunge of the body, the men below could now be -induced to venture on deck neither by threats nor promises, until a -proposition was made to smoke them out. A general rush then ensued, and -for a moment it seemed possible that the brig might be retaken. The -mutineers, however, succeeded at last in closing the forecastle -effectually before more than six of their opponents could get up. These -six, finding themselves so greatly outnumbered and without arms, -submitted after a brief struggle. The mate gave them fair words--no -doubt with a view of inducing those below to yield, for they had no -difficulty in hearing all that was said on deck. The result proved his -sagacity, no less than his diabolical villany. All in the forecastle -presently signified their intention of submitting, and, ascending one -by one, were pinioned and thrown on their backs together with the first -six--there being in all, of the crew who were not concerned in the -mutiny, twenty-seven. - -A scene of the most horrible butchery ensued. The bound seamen were -dragged to the gangway. Here the cook stood with an axe, striking each -victim on the head as he was forced over the side of the vessel by the -other mutineers. In this manner twenty-two perished, and Augustus had -given himself up for lost, expecting every moment his own turn to come -next. But it seemed that the villains were now either weary, or in some -measure disgusted with their bloody labour; for the four remaining -prisoners, together with my friend, who had been thrown on the deck -with the rest, were respited while the mate sent below for rum, and the -whole murderous party held a drunken carouse, which lasted until -sunset. They now fell to disputing in regard to the fate of the -survivers, who lay not more than four paces off, and could distinguish -every word said. Upon some of the mutineers the liquor appeared to have -a softening effect, for several voices were heard in favour of -releasing the captives altogether, on condition of joining the mutiny -and sharing the profits. The black cook, however (who in all respects -was a perfect demon, and who seemed to exert as much influence, if not -more, than the mate himself), would listen to no proposition of the -kind, and rose repeatedly for the purpose of resuming his work at the -gangway. Fortunately, he was so far overcome by intoxication as to be -easily restrained by the less bloodthirsty of the party, among whom was -a line-manager, who went by the name of Dirk Peters. This man was the -son of an Indian squaw of the tribe of Upsarokas, who live among the -fastnesses of the Black Hills near the source of the Missouri. His -father was a fur-trader, I believe, or at least connected in some -manner with the Indian trading-posts on Lewis river. Peters himself was -one of the most purely ferocious-looking men I ever beheld. He was -short in stature--not more than four feet eight inches high--but his -limbs were of the most Herculean mould. His hands, especially, were so -enormously thick and broad as hardly to retain a human shape. His arms, -as well as legs, were _bowed_ in the most singular manner, and appeared -to possess no flexibility whatever. His head was equally deformed, -being of immense size, with an indentation on the crown (like that on -the head of most negroes), and entirely bald. To conceal this latter -deficiency, which did not proceed from old age, he usually wore a wig -formed of any hair-like material which presented itself--occasionally -the skin of a Spanish dog or American grizzly bear. At the time spoken -of he had on a portion of one of these bearskins; and it added no -little to the natural ferocity of his countenance, which betook of the -Upsaroka character. The mouth extended nearly from ear to ear; the lips -were thin, and seemed, like some other portions of his frame, to be -devoid of natural pliancy, so that the ruling expression never varied -under the influence of any emotion whatever. This ruling expression may -be conceived when it is considered that the teeth were exceedingly long -and protruding, and never even partially covered, in any instance, by -the lips. To pass this man with a casual glance, one might imagine him -to be convulsed with laughter--but a second look would induce a -shuddering acknowledgment, that if such an expression were indicative -of merriment, the merriment must be that of a demon. Of this singular -being many anecdotes were prevalent among the seafaring men of -Nantucket. These anecdotes went to prove his prodigious strength when -under excitement, and some of them had given rise to a doubt of his -sanity. But on board the Grampus, it seems, he was regarded at the time -of the mutiny with feelings more of derision than of anything else. I -have been thus particular in speaking of Dirk Peters, because, -ferocious as he appeared, he proved the main instrument in preserving -the life of Augustus, and because I shall have frequent occasion to -mention him hereafter in the course of my narrative--a narrative, let -me here say, which, in its latter portions, will be found to include -incidents of a nature so entirely out of the range of human experience, -and for this reason so far beyond the limits of human credulity, that I -proceed in utter hopelessness of obtaining credence for all that I -shall tell, yet confidently trusting in time and progressing science to -verify some of the most important and most improbable of my statements. - -After much indecision and two or three violent quarrels, it was -determined at last that all the prisoners (with the exception of -Augustus, whom Peters insisted in a jocular manner upon keeping as his -clerk) should be set adrift in one of the smallest whaleboats. The mate -went down into the cabin to see if Captain Barnard was still -living--for, it will be remembered, he was left below when the -mutineers came up. Presently the two made their appearance, the captain -pale as death, but somewhat recovered from the effects of his wound. He -spoke to the men in a voice hardly articulate, entreated them not to -set him adrift, but to return to their duty, and promising to land them -wherever they chose, and to take no steps for bringing them to justice. -He might as well have spoken to the winds. Two of the ruffians seized -him by the arms and hurled him over the brig's side into the boat, -which had been lowered while the mate went below. The four men who were -lying on the deck were then untied and ordered to follow, which they -did without attempting any resistance--Augustus being still left in his -painful position, although he struggled and prayed only for the poor -satisfaction of being permitted to bid his father farewell. A handful -of sea-biscuit and a jug of water were now handed down; but neither -mast, sail, oar, nor compass. The boat was towed astern for a few -minutes, during which the mutineers held another consultation--it was -then finally cut adrift. By this time night had come on--there were -neither moon nor stars visible--and a short and ugly sea was running, -although there was no great deal of wind. The boat was instantly out of -sight, and little hope could be entertained for the unfortunate -sufferers who were in it. This event happened, however, in latitude 35° -30' north, longitude 61° 20' west, and consequently at no very great -distance from the Bermuda Islands. Augustus therefore endeavoured to -console himself with the idea that the boat might either succeed in -reaching the land, or come sufficiently near to be fallen in with by -vessels off the coast. - -All sail was now put upon the brig, and she continued her original -course to the southwest--the mutineers being bent upon some piratical -expedition, in which, from all that could be understood, a ship was to -be intercepted on her way from the Cape Verd Islands to Porto Rico. No -attention was paid to Augustus, who was untied and suffered to go about -anywhere forward of the cabin companion-way. Dirk Peters treated him -with some degree of kindness, and on one occasion saved him from the -brutality of the cook. His situation was still one of the most -precarious, as the men were continually intoxicated, and there was no -relying upon their continued good-humour or carelessness in regard to -himself. His anxiety on my account he represented, however, as the most -distressing result of his condition; and, indeed, I had never reason to -doubt the sincerity of his friendship. More than once he had resolved -to acquaint the mutineers with the secret of my being on board, but was -restrained from so doing, partly through recollection of the atrocities -he had already beheld, and partly through a hope of being able soon to -bring me relief. For the latter purpose he was constantly on the watch; -but, in spite of the most constant vigilance, three days elapsed after -the boat was cut adrift before any chance occurred. At length, on the -night of the third day, there came on a heavy blow from the eastward, -and all hands were called up to take in sail. During the confusion -which ensued, he made his way below unobserved, and into the stateroom. -What was his grief and horror in discovering that the latter had been -rendered a place of deposite for a variety of sea-stores and -ship-furniture, and that several fathoms of old chain-cable, which had -been stowed away beneath the companion-ladder, had been dragged thence -to make room for a chest, and were now lying immediately upon the trap! -To remove it without discovery was impossible, and he returned on deck -as quickly as he could. As he came up the mate seized him by the -throat, and demanding what he had been doing in the cabin, was about -flinging him over the larboard bulwark, when his life was again -preserved through the interference of Dirk Peters. Augustus was now put -in handcuffs (of which there were several pairs on board), and his feet -lashed tightly together. He was then taken into the steerage, and -thrown into a lower berth next to the forecastle bulkheads, with the -assurance that he should never put his foot on deck again "until the -brig was no longer a brig." This was the expression of the cook, who -threw him into the berth--it is hardly possible to say what precise -meaning was intended by the phrase. The whole affair, however, proved -the ultimate means of my relief, as will presently appear. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - - -For some minutes after the cook had left the forecastle, Augustus -abandoned himself to despair, never hoping to leave the berth alive. He -now came to the resolution of acquainting the first of the men who -should come down with my situation, thinking it better to let me take -my chance with the mutineers than perish of thirst in the hold--for it -had been ten days since I was first imprisoned, and my jug of water was -not a plentiful supply even for four. As he was thinking on this -subject, the idea came all at once into his head that it might be -possible to communicate with me by the way of the main hold. In any -other circumstances, the difficulty and hazard of the undertaking would -have prevented him from attempting it; but now he had, at all events, -little prospect of life, and consequently little to lose--he bent his -whole mind, therefore, upon the task. - -His handcuffs were the first consideration. At first he saw no method -of removing them, and feared that he should thus be baffled in the very -outset; but, upon a closer scrutiny, he discovered that the irons could -be slipped off and on at pleasure with very little effort or -inconvenience, merely by squeezing his hands through them--this species -of manacle being altogether ineffectual in confining young persons, in -whom the smaller bones readily yield to pressure. He now untied his -feet, and, leaving the cord in such a manner that it could easily be -readjusted in the event of any person's coming down, proceeded to -examine the bulkhead where it joined the berth. The partition here was -of soft pine board, an inch thick, and he saw that he should have -little trouble in cutting his way through. A voice was now heard at the -forecastle companion-way, and he had just time to put his right hand -into its handcuff (the left had not been removed), and to draw the rope -in a slipknot around his ankle, when Dirk Peters came below, followed -by Tiger, who immediately leaped into the berth and lay down. The dog -had been brought on board by Augustus, who knew my attachment to the -animal, and thought it would give me pleasure to have him with me -during the voyage. He went up to our house for him immediately after -first taking me into the hold, but did not think of mentioning the -circumstance upon his bringing the watch. Since the mutiny, Augustus -had not seen him before his appearance with Dirk Peters, and had given -him up for lost, supposing him to have been thrown overboard by some of -the malignant villains belonging to the mate's gang. It appeared -afterward that he had crawled into a hole beneath a whaleboat, from -which, not having room to turn round, he could not extricate himself. -Peters at last let him out, and with a species of good feeling which my -friend knew well how to appreciate, had now brought him to him in the -forecastle as a companion, leaving at the same time some salt junk and -potatoes, with a can of water; he then went on deck, promising to come -down with something more to eat on the next day. - -When he had gone, Augustus freed both hands from the manacles and -unfastened his feet. He then turned down the head of the mattress on -which he had been lying, and with his penknife (for the ruffians had -not thought it worth while to search him) commenced cutting vigorously -across one of the partition planks, as closely as possible to the floor -of the berth. He chose to cut here, because, if suddenly interrupted, -he would be able to conceal what had been done by letting the head of -the mattress fall into its proper position. For the remainder of the -day, however, no disturbance occurred, and by night he had completely -divided the plank. It should here be observed, that none of the crew -occupied the forecastle as a sleeping-place, living altogether in the -cabin since the mutiny, drinking the wines, and feasting on the sea -stores of Captain Barnard, and giving no more heed than was absolutely -necessary to the navigation of the brig. These circumstances proved -fortunate both for myself and Augustus; for, had matters been -otherwise, he would have found it impossible to reach me. As it was, he -proceeded with confidence in his design. It was near daybreak, however, -before he completed the second division of the board (which was about a -foot above the first cut), thus making an aperture quite large enough -to admit his passage through with facility to the main orlop deck. -Having got here, he made his way with but little trouble to the lower -main hatch, although in so doing he had to scramble over tiers of -oil-casks piled nearly as high as the upper deck, there being barely -room enough left for his body. Upon reaching the hatch, he found that -Tiger had followed him below, squeezing between two rows of the casks. -It was now too late, however, to attempt getting to me before dawn, as -the chief difficulty lay in passing through the close stowage in the -lower hold. He therefore resolved to return, and wait till the next -night. With this design he proceeded to loosen the hatch, so that he -might have as little detention as possible when he should come again. -No sooner had he loosened it than Tiger sprang eagerly to the small -opening produced, snuffed for a moment, and then uttered a long whine, -scratching at the same time, as if anxious to remove the covering with -his paws. There could be no doubt, from his behaviour, that he was -aware of my being in the hold, and Augustus thought it possible that he -would be able to get to me if he put him down. He now hit upon the -expedient of sending the note, as it was especially desirable that I -should make no attempt at forcing my way out, at least under existing -circumstances, and there could be no certainty of his getting to me -himself on the morrow as he intended. After events proved how fortunate -it was that the idea occurred to him as it did: for, had it not been -for the receipt of the note, I should undoubtedly have fallen upon some -plan, however desperate, of alarming the crew, and both our lives would -most probably have been sacrificed in consequence. - -Having concluded to write, the difficulty was now to procure the -materials for so doing. An old toothpick was soon made into a pen; and -this by means of feeling altogether, for the between-decks were as dark -as pitch. Paper enough was obtained from the back of a letter--a -duplicate of the forged letter from Mr. Ross. This had been the -original draught; but the handwriting not being sufficiently well -imitated, Augustus had written another, thrusting the first, by good -fortune, into his coat-pocket, where it was now most opportunely -discovered. Ink alone was thus wanting, and a substitute was -immediately found for this by means of a slight incision with the -penknife on the back of a finger just above the nail--a copious flow of -blood ensuing, as usual from wounds in that vicinity. The note was now -written, as well as it could be in the dark and under the -circumstances. It briefly explained that a mutiny had taken place; that -Captain Barnard was set adrift; and that I might expect immediate -relief as far as provisions were concerned, but must not venture upon -making any disturbance. It concluded with these words, _"I have -scrawled this with blood--your life depends upon lying close."_ - -The slip of paper being tied upon the dog, he was now put down the -hatchway, and Augustus made the best of his way back to the forecastle, -where he found no reason to believe that any of the crew had been in -his absence. To conceal the hole in the partition, he drove his knife -in just above it, and hung up a pea-jacket which he found in the berth. -His handcuffs were then replaced, and also the rope around his ankles. - -These arrangements were scarcely completed when Dirk Peters came below, -very drunk, but in excellent humour, and bringing with him my friend's -allowance of provision for the day. This consisted of a dozen large -Irish potatoes roasted, and a pitcher of water. He sat for some time on -a chest by the berth, and talked freely about the mate, and the general -concerns of the brig. His demeanour was exceedingly capricious and even -grotesque. At one time Augustus was much alarmed by his odd conduct. At -last, however, he went on deck, muttering a promise to bring his -prisoner a good dinner on the morrow. During the day two of the crew -(harpooners) came down, accompanied by the cook, all three in nearly -the last stage of intoxication. Like Peters, they made no scruple of -talking unreservedly about their plans. It appeared that they were much -divided among themselves as to their ultimate course, agreeing in no -point except the attack on the ship from the Cape Verd Islands, with -which they were in hourly expectation of meeting. As far as could be -ascertained, the mutiny had not been brought about altogether for the -sake of booty; a private pique of the chief mate's against Captain -Barnard having been the main instigation. There now seemed to be two -principal factions among the crew--one headed by the mate, the other by -the cook. The former party were for seizing the first suitable vessel -which should present itself, and equipping it at some of the West India -Islands for a piratical cruise. The latter division, however, which was -the stronger, and included Dirk Peters among its partisans, were bent -upon pursuing the course originally laid out for the brig into the -South Pacific; there either to take whale, or act otherwise, as -circumstances should suggest. The representations of Peters, who had -frequently visited these regions, had great weight, apparently, with -the mutineers, wavering as they were between half-engendered notions of -profit and pleasure. He dwelt on the world of novelty and amusement to -be found among the innumerable islands of the Pacific, on the perfect -security and freedom from all restraint to be enjoyed, but, more -particularly, on the deliciousness of the climate, on the abundant -means of good living, and on the voluptuous beauty of the women. As -yet, nothing had been absolutely determined upon; but the pictures of -the hybrid line-manager were taking strong hold upon the ardent -imaginations of the seamen, and there was every probability that his -intentions would be finally carried into effect. - -The three men went away in about an hour, and no one else entered the -forecastle all day. Augustus lay quiet until nearly night. He then -freed himself from the rope and irons, and prepared for his attempt. A -bottle was found in one of the berths, and this he filled with water -from the pitcher left by Peters, storing his pockets at the same time -with cold potatoes. To his great joy he also came across a lantern, -with a small piece of tallow candle in it. This he could light at any -moment, as he had in his possession a box of phosphorus matches. When -it was quite dark, he got through the hole in the bulkhead, having -taken the precaution to arrange the bedclothes in the berth so as to -convey the idea of a person covered up. When through, he hung up the -pea-jacket on his knife, as before, to conceal the aperture--this -manoeuvre being easily effected, as he did not readjust the piece of -plank taken out until afterward. He was now on the main orlop deck, and -proceeded to make his way, as before, between the upper deck and the -oil-casks to the main hatchway. Having reached this, he lit the piece -of candle, and descended, groping with extreme difficulty among the -compact stowage of the hold. In a few moments he became alarmed at the -insufferable stench and the closeness of the atmosphere. He could not -think it possible that I had survived my confinement for so long a -period breathing so oppressive an air. He called my name repeatedly, -but I made him no reply, and his apprehensions seemed thus to be -confirmed. The brig was rolling violently, and there was so much noise -in consequence, that it was useless to listen for any weak sound, such -as those of my breathing or snoring. He threw open the lantern, and -held it as high as possible, whenever an opportunity occurred, in order -that, by observing the light, I might, if alive, be aware that succour -was approaching. Still nothing was heard from me, and the supposition -of my death began to assume the character of certainty. He determined, -nevertheless, to force a passage, if possible, to the box, and at least -ascertain beyond a doubt the truth of his surmises. He pushed on for -some time in a most pitiable state of anxiety, until, at length, he -found the pathway utterly blocked up, and that there was no possibility -of making any farther way by the course in which he had set out. -Overcome now by his feelings, he threw himself among the lumber in -despair, and wept like a child. It was at this period that he heard the -crash occasioned by the bottle which I had thrown down. Fortunate, -indeed, was it that the incident occurred--for, upon this incident, -trivial as it appears, the thread of my destiny depended. Many years -elapsed, however, before I was aware of this fact. A natural shame and -regret for his weakness and indecision prevented Augustus from -confiding to me at once what a more intimate and unreserved communion -afterward induced him to reveal. Upon finding his further progress in -the hold impeded by obstacles which he could not overcome, he had -resolved to abandon his attempt at reaching me, and return at once to -the forecastle. Before condemning him entirely on this head, the -harassing circumstances which embarrassed him should be taken into -consideration. The night was fast wearing away, and his absence from -the forecastle might be discovered; and, indeed, would necessarily be -so, if he should fail to get back to the berth by daybreak. His candle -was expiring in the socket, and there would be the greatest difficulty -in retracing his way to the hatchway in the dark. It must be allowed, -too, that he had every good reason to believe me dead; in which event -no benefit could result to me from his reaching the box, and a world of -danger would be encountered to no purpose by himself. He had repeatedly -called, and I had made him no answer. I had been now eleven days and -nights with no more water than that contained in the jug which he had -left with me, a supply which it was not at all probable I had hoarded -in the beginning of my confinement, as I had had every cause to expect -a speedy release. The atmosphere of the hold, too, must have appeared -to him, coming from the comparatively open air of the steerage, of a -nature absolutely poisonous, and by far more intolerable than it had -seemed to me upon my first taking up my quarters in the box--the -hatchways at that time having been constantly open for many months -previous. Add to these considerations that of the scene of bloodshed -and terror so lately witnessed by my friend; his confinement, -privations, and narrow escapes from death; together with the frail and -equivocal tenure by which he still existed--circumstances all so well -calculated to prostrate every energy of mind--and the reader will be -easily brought, as I have been, to regard his apparent falling off in -friendship and in faith with sentiments rather of sorrow than of anger. - -The crash of the bottle was distinctly heard, yet Augustus was not sure -that it proceeded from the hold. The doubt, however, was sufficient -inducement to persevere. He clambered up nearly to the orlop deck by -means of the stowage, and then watching for a lull in the pitchings of -the vessel, he called out to me in as loud a tone as he could -command--regardless, for the moment, of the danger of being overheard -by the crew. It will be remembered that on this occasion the voice -reached me, but I was so entirely overcome by violent agitation as to -be incapable of reply. Confident, now, that his worst apprehensions -were well founded, he descended, with a view of getting back to the -forecastle without loss of time. In his haste some small boxes were -thrown down, the noise occasioned by which I heard, as will be -recollected. He had made considerable progress on his return when the -fall of the knife again caused him to hesitate. He retraced his steps -immediately, and, clambering up the stowage a second time, called out -my name, loudly as before, having watched for a lull. This time I found -voice to answer. Overjoyed at discovering me to be still alive, he now -resolved to brave every difficulty and danger in reaching me. Having -extricated himself as quickly as possible from the labyrinth of lumber -by which he was hemmed in, he at length struck into an opening which -promised better, and finally, after a series of struggles, arrived at -the box in a state of utter exhaustion. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - - -The leading particulars of this narration were all that Augustus -communicated to me while we remained near the box. It was not until -afterward that he entered fully into all the details. He was -apprehensive of being missed, and I was wild with impatience to leave -my detested place of confinement. We resolved to make our way at once -to the hole in the bulkhead, near which I was to remain for the -present, while he went through to reconnoitre. To leave Tiger in the -box was what neither of us could endure to think of; yet, how to act -otherwise was the question. He now seemed to be perfectly quiet, and we -could not even distinguish the sound of his breathing upon applying our -ears closely to the box. I was convinced that he was dead, and -determined to open the door. We found him lying at full length, -apparently in a deep stupor, yet still alive. No time was to be lost, -yet I could not bring myself to abandon an animal who had now been -twice instrumental in saving my life, without some attempt at -preserving him. We therefore dragged him along with us as well as we -could, although with the greatest difficulty and fatigue; Augustus, -during part of the time, being forced to clamber over the impediments -in our way with the huge dog in his arms--a feat to which the -feebleness of my frame rendered me totally inadequate. At length we -succeeded in reaching the hole, when Augustus got through, and Tiger -was pushed in afterward. All was found to be safe, and we did not fail -to return sincere thanks to God for our deliverance from the imminent -danger we had escaped. For the present it was agreed that I should -remain near the opening, through which my companion could readily -supply me with a part of his daily provision, and where I could have -the advantages of breathing an atmosphere comparatively pure. - -In explanation of some portions of this narrative wherein I have spoken -of the stowage of the brig, and which may appear ambiguous to some of -my readers who may have seen a proper or regular stowage, I must here -state that the manner in which this most important duty had been -performed on board the Grampus was a most shameful piece of neglect on -the part of Captain Barnard, who was by no means as careful or as -experienced a seaman as the hazardous nature of the service on which he -was employed would seem necessarily to demand. A proper stowage cannot -be accomplished in a careless manner, and many most disastrous -accidents, even within the limits of my own experience, have arisen -from neglect or ignorance in this particular. Coasting vessels, in the -frequent hurry and bustle attendant upon taking in or discharging -cargo, are the most liable to mishap from the want of a proper -attention to stowage. The great point is to allow no possibility of the -cargo or ballast's shifting position even in the most violent rollings -of the vessel. With this end, great attention must be paid, not only to -the bulk taken in, but to the nature of the bulk, and whether there be -a full or only a partial cargo. In most kinds of freight the stowage is -accomplished by means of a screw. Thus, in a load of tobacco or flour, -the whole is screwed so tightly into the hold of the vessel that the -barrels or hogsheads upon discharging are found to be completely -flattened, and take some time to regain their original shape. This -screwing, however, is resorted to principally with a view of obtaining -more room in the hold; for in a _full_ load of any such commodities as -flour or tobacco, there can be no danger of any shifting whatever, at -least none from which inconvenience can result. There have been -instances, indeed, where this method of screwing has resulted in the -most lamentable consequences, arising from a cause altogether distinct -from the danger attendant upon a shifting of cargo. A load of cotton, -for example, tightly screwed while in certain conditions, has been -known, through the expansion of its bulk, to rend a vessel asunder at -sea. There can be no doubt, either, that the same result would ensue in -the case of tobacco, while undergoing its usual course of fermentation, -were it not for the interstices consequent upon the rotundity of the -hogsheads. - -It is when a partial cargo is received that danger is chiefly to be -apprehended from shifting, and that precautions should be always taken -to guard against such misfortune. Only those who have encountered a -violent gale of wind, or, rather, who have experienced the rolling of a -vessel in a sudden calm after the gale, can form an idea of the -tremendous force of the plunges, and of the consequent terrible impetus -given to all loose articles in the vessel. It is then that the -necessity of a cautious stowage, when there is a partial cargo, becomes -obvious. When lying to (especially with a small head sail), a vessel -which is not properly modelled in the bows is frequently thrown upon -her beam-ends; this occurring even every fifteen or twenty minutes upon -an average, yet without any serious consequences resulting, _provided -there be a proper stowage_. If this, however, has not been strictly -attended to, in the first of these heavy lurches the whole of the cargo -tumbles over to the side of the vessel which lies upon the water, and, -being thus prevented from regaining her equilibrium, as she would -otherwise necessarily do, she is certain to fill in a few seconds and -go down. It is not too much to say that at least one half of the -instances in which vessels have foundered in heavy gales at sea may be -attributed to a shifting of cargo or of ballast. - -When a partial cargo of any kind is taken on board, the whole, after -being first stowed as compactly as may be, should be covered with a -layer of stout shifting-boards, extending completely across the vessel. -Upon these boards strong temporary stanchions should be erected, -reaching to the timbers above, and thus securing everything in its -place. In cargoes consisting of grain, or any similar matter, -additional precautions are requisite. A hold filled entirely with grain -upon leaving port will be found not more than three fourths full upon -leaching its destination--this, too, although the freight, when -measured bushel by bushel by the consignee, will overrun by a vast deal -(on account of the swelling of the grain) the quantity consigned. This -result is occasioned by _settling_ during the voyage, and is the more -perceptible in proportion to the roughness of the weather experienced. -If grain loosely thrown in a vessel, then, is ever so well secured by -shifting-boards and stanchions, it will be liable to shift in a long -passage so greatly as to bring about the most distressing calamities. -To prevent these, every method should be employed before leaving port -to _settle_ the cargo as much as possible; and for this there are many -contrivances, among which may be mentioned the driving of wedges into -the grain. Even after all this is done, and unusual pains taken to -secure the shifting-boards, no seaman who knows what he is about will -feel altogether secure in a gale of any violence with a cargo of grain -on board, and, least of all, with a partial cargo. Yet there are -hundreds of our coasting vessels, and, it is likely, many more from the -ports of Europe, which sail daily with partial cargoes, even of the -most dangerous species, and without any precautions whatever. The -wonder is that no more accidents occur than do actually happen. A -lamentable instance of this heedlessness occurred to my knowledge in -the case of Captain Joel Rice of the schooner Firefly, which sailed -from Richmond, Virginia, to Madeira, with a cargo of corn, in the year -1825. The captain had gone many voyages without serious accident, -although he was in the habit of paying no attention whatever to his -stowage, more than to secure it in the ordinary manner. He had never -before sailed with a cargo of grain, and on this occasion had the corn -thrown on board loosely, when it did not much more than half fill the -vessel. For the first portion of the voyage he met with nothing more -than light breezes; but when within a day's sail of Madeira there came -on a strong gale from the N. N. E. which forced him to lie to. He -brought the schooner to the wind under a double-reefed foresail alone, -when she rode as well as any vessel could be expected to do, and -shipped not a drop of water. Towards night the gale somewhat abated, -and she rolled with more unsteadiness than before, but still did very -well, until a heavy lurch threw her upon her beam-ends to starboard. -The corn was then heard to shift bodily, the force of the movement -bursting open the main hatchway. The vessel went down like a shot. This -happened within hail of a small sloop from Madeira, which picked up one -of the crew (the only person saved), and which rode out the gale in -perfect security, as indeed a jollyboat might have done under proper -management. - -The stowage on board the Grampus was most clumsily done, if stowage -that could be called which was little better than a promiscuous -huddling together of oil-casks[1] and ship furniture. I have already -spoken of the condition of articles in the hold. On the orlop deck -there was space enough for my body (as I have stated) between the -oil-casks and the upper deck; a space was left open around the main -hatchway; and several other large spaces were left in the stowage. Near -the hole cut through the bulkhead by Augustus there was room enough for -an entire cask, and in this space I found myself comfortably situated -for the present. - -[Footnote 1: Whaling vessels are usually fitted with iron -oil-tanks--why the Grampus was not I have never been able to -ascertain.] - -By the time my friend had got safely into the berth, and readjusted his -handcuffs and the rope, it was broad daylight. We had made a narrow -escape indeed; for scarcely had he arranged all matters, when the mate -came below, with Dirk Peters and the cook. They talked for some time -about the vessel from the Cape Verds, and seemed to be excessively -anxious for her appearance. At length the cook came to the berth in -which Augustus was lying, and seated himself in it near the head. I -could see and hear everything from my hiding-place, for the piece cut -out had not been put back, and I was in momentary expectation that the -negro would fall against the pea-jacket, which was hung up to conceal -the aperture, in which case all would have been discovered, and our -lives would, no doubt, have been instantly sacrificed. Our good fortune -prevailed, however; and although he frequently touched it as the vessel -rolled, he never pressed against it sufficiently to bring about a -discovery. The bottom of the jacket had been carefully fastened to the -bulkhead, so that the hole might not be seen by its swinging to one -side. All this time Tiger was lying in the foot of the berth, and -appeared to have recovered in some measure his faculties, for I could -see him occasionally open his eyes and draw a long breath. - -After a few minutes the mate and cook went above, leaving Dirk Peters -behind, who, as soon as they were gone, came and sat himself down in -the place just occupied by the mate. He began to talk very sociably -with Augustus, and we could now see that the greater part of his -apparent intoxication, while the two others were with him, was a feint. -He answered all my companion's questions with perfect freedom; told him -that he had no doubt of his father's having been picked up, as there -were no less than five sail in sight just before sundown on the day he -was cut adrift; and used other language of a consolatory nature, which -occasioned me no less surprise than pleasure. Indeed, I began to -entertain hopes, that through the instrumentality of Peters we might be -finally enabled to regain possession of the brig, and this idea I -mentioned to Augustus as soon as I found an opportunity. He thought the -matter possible, but urged the necessity of the greatest caution in -making the attempt, as the conduct of the hybrid appeared to be -instigated by the most arbitrary caprice alone; and, indeed, it was -difficult to say if he was at any moment of sound mind. Peters went -upon deck in about an hour, and did not return again until noon, when -he brought Augustus a plentiful supply of junk beef and pudding. Of -this, when we were left alone, I partook heartily, without returning -through the hole. No one else came down into the forecastle during the -day, and at night I got into Augustus's berth, where I slept soundly -and sweetly until nearly daybreak, when he awakened me upon hearing a -stir upon deck, and I regained my hiding-place as quickly as possible. -When the day was fully broke, we found that Tiger had recovered his -strength almost entirely, and gave no indications of hydrophobia, -drinking a little water that was offered him with great apparent -eagerness. During the day he regained all his former vigour and -appetite. His strange conduct had been brought on, no doubt, by the -deleterious quality of the air of the hold, and had no connexion with -canine madness. I could not sufficiently rejoice that I had persisted -in bringing him with me from the box. This day was the thirtieth of -June, and the thirteenth since the Grampus made sail from Nantucket. - -On the second of July the mate came below, drunk as usual, and in an -excessively good-humour. He came to Augustus's berth, and, giving him a -slap on the back, asked him if he thought he could behave himself if he -let him loose, and whether he would promise not to be going into the -cabin again. To this, of course, my friend answered in the affirmative, -when the ruffian set him at liberty, after making him drink from a -flask of rum which he drew from his coat-pocket. Both now went on deck, -and I did not see Augustus for about three hours. He then came below -with the good news that he had obtained permission to go about the brig -as he pleased anywhere forward of the mainmast, and that he had been -ordered to sleep, as usual, in the forecastle. He brought me, too, a -good dinner, and a plentiful supply of water. The brig was still -cruising for the vessel from the Cape Verds, and a sail was now in -sight which was thought to be the one in question. As the events of the -ensuing eight days were of little importance, and had no direct bearing -upon the main incidents of my narrative, I will here throw them into -the form of a journal, as I do not wish to omit them altogether. - -_July 3._ Augustus furnished me with three blankets, with which I -contrived a comfortable bed in my hiding-place. No one came below, -except my companion, during the day. Tiger took his station in the -berth just by the aperture, and slept heavily, as if not yet entirely -recovered from the effects of his sickness. Towards night a flaw of -wind struck the brig before sail could be taken in, and very nearly -capsized her. The puff died away immediately, however, and no damage -was done beyond the splitting of the foretopsail. Dirk Peters treated -Augustus all this day with great kindness, and entered into a long -conversation with him respecting the Pacific Ocean, and the islands he -had visited in that region. He asked him whether he would not like to -go with the mutineers on a kind of exploring and pleasure voyage in -those quarters, and said that the men were gradually coming over to the -mate's views. To this Augustus thought it best to reply that he would -be glad to go on such an adventure, since nothing better could be done, -and that anything was preferable to a piratical life. - -_July 4th._ The vessel in sight proved to be a small brig from -Liverpool, and was allowed to pass unmolested. Augustus spent most of -his time on deck, with a view of obtaining all the information in his -power respecting the intentions of the mutineers. They had frequent and -violent quarrels among themselves, in one of which a harpooner, Jim -Bonner, was thrown overboard. The party of the mate was gaining ground. -Jim Bonner belonged to the cook's gang, of which Peters was a partisan. - -_July 5th._ About daybreak there came on a stiff breeze from the west, -which at noon freshened into a gale, so that the brig could carry -nothing more than her trysail and foresail. In taking in the -foretopsail, Simms, one of the common hands, and belonging also to the -cook's gang, fell overboard, being very much in liquor, and was -drowned--no attempt being made to save him. The whole number of persons -on board was now thirteen, to wit: Dirk Peters; Seymour, the black -cook; ---- Jones; ---- Greely; Hartman Rogers; and William Allen, of -the cook's party; the mate, whose name I never learned; Absalom Hicks; ----- Wilson; John Hunt; and Richard Parker, of the mate's -party--besides Augustus and myself. - -_July 6th._ The gale lasted all this day, blowing in heavy squalls, -accompanied with rain. The brig took in a good deal of water through -her seams, and one of the pumps was kept continually going, Augustus -being forced to take his turn. Just at twilight a large ship passed -close by us, without having been discovered until within hail. This -ship was supposed to be the one for which the mutineers were on the -look-out. The mate hailed her, but the reply was drowned in the roaring -of the gale. At eleven, a sea was shipped amid-ships, which tore away a -great portion of the larboard bulwarks, and did some other slight -damage. Towards morning the weather moderated, and at sunrise there was -very little wind. - -_July 7th._ There was a heavy swell running all this day, during which -the brig, being light, rolled excessively, and many articles broke -loose in the hold, as I could hear distinctly from my hiding-place. I -suffered a great deal from sea-sickness. Peters had a long conversation -this day with Augustus, and told him that two of his gang, Greely and -Allen, had gone over to the mate, and were resolved to turn pirates. He -put several questions to Augustus which he did not then exactly -understand. During a part of this evening the leak gained upon the -vessel; and little could be done to remedy it, as it was occasioned by -the brig's straining, and taking in the water through her seams. A sail -was thrummed, and got under the bows, which aided us in some measure, -so that we began to gain upon the leak. - -_July 8th._ A light breeze sprung up at sunrise from the eastward, when -the mate headed the brig to the southwest, with the intention of making -some of the West India islands, in pursuance of his piratical designs. -No opposition was made by Peters or the cook; at least none in the -hearing of Augustus. All idea of taking the vessel from the Cape Verds -was abandoned. The leak was now easily kept under by one pump going -every three quarters of an hour. The sail was drawn from beneath the -bows. Spoke two small schooners during the day. - -_July 9th._ Fine weather. All hands employed in repairing bulwarks. -Peters had again a long conversation with Augustus, and spoke more -plainly than he had done heretofore. He said nothing should induce him -to come into the mate's views, and even hinted his intention of taking -the brig out of his hands. He asked my friend if he could depend upon -his aid in such case, to which Augustus said, "Yes," without -hesitation. Peters then said he would sound the others of his party -upon the subject, and went away. During the remainder of the day -Augustus had no opportunity of speaking with him privately. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - - -_July 10._ Spoke a brig from Rio, bound to Norfolk. Weather hazy, with -a light baffling wind from the eastward. To-day Hartman Rogers died, -having been attacked on the eighth with spasms after drinking a glass -of grog. This man was of the cook's party, and one upon whom Peters -placed his main reliance. He told Augustus that he believed the mate -had poisoned him, and that he expected, if he did not be on the -look-out, his own turn would come shortly. There were now only himself, -Jones, and the cook belonging to his own gang--on the other side there -were five. He had spoken to Jones about taking the command from the -mate; but the project having been coolly received, he had been deterred -from pressing the matter any further, or from saying anything to the -cook. It was well, as it happened, that he was so prudent, for in the -afternoon the cook expressed his determination of siding with the mate, -and went over formally to that party; while Jones took an opportunity -of quarrelling with Peters, and hinted that he would let the mate know -of the plan in agitation. There was now, evidently, no time to be lost, -and Peters expressed his determination of attempting to take the vessel -at all hazards, provided Augustus would lend him his aid. My friend at -once assured him of his willingness to enter into any plan for that -purpose, and, thinking the opportunity a favourable one, made known the -fact of my being on board. At this the hybrid was not more astonished -than delighted, as he had no reliance whatever upon Jones, whom he -already considered as belonging to the party of the mate. They went -below immediately, when Augustus called to me by name, and Peters and -myself were soon made acquainted. It was agreed that we should attempt -to retake the vessel upon the first good opportunity, leaving Jones -altogether out of our councils. In the event of success we were to run -the brig into the first port that offered, and deliver her up. The -desertion of his party had frustrated Peters's design of going into the -Pacific--an adventure which could not be accomplished without a crew, -and he depended upon either getting acquitted upon trial on the score -of insanity (which he solemnly averred had actuated him in lending his -aid to the mutiny), or upon obtaining a pardon, if found guilty, -through the representations of Augustus and myself. Our deliberations -were interrupted for the present by the cry of "All hands take in -sail," and Peters and Augustus ran up on deck. - -As usual, the crew were nearly all drunk; and, before sail could be -properly taken in, a violent squall laid the brig on her beam-ends. By -keeping her away, however, she righted, having shipped a good deal of -water. Scarcely was everything secure, when another squall took the -vessel, and immediately afterward another--no damage being done. There -was every appearance of a gale of wind, which, indeed, shortly came on, -with great fury, from the northward and westward. All was made as snug -as possible, and we laid to, as usual, under a close-reefed foresail. -As night drew on, the wind increased in violence, with a remarkably -heavy sea. Peters now came into the forecastle with Augustus, and we -resumed our deliberations. - -We agreed that no opportunity could be more favourable than the present -for carrying our design into effect, as an attempt at such a moment -would never be anticipated. As the brig was snugly laid to, there would -be no necessity of manoeuvring her until good weather, when, if we -succeeded in our attempt, we might liberate one, or perhaps two of the -men, to aid us in taking her into port. The main difficulty was the -great disproportion in our forces. There were only three of us, and in -the cabin there were nine. All the arms on board, too, were in their -possession, with the exception of a pair of small pistols which Peters -had concealed about his person, and the large seaman's knife which he -always wore in the waistband of his pantaloons. From certain -indications, too, such, for example, as there being no such thing as an -axe or a handspike lying in their customary places, we began to fear -that the mate had his suspicions, at least in regard to Peters, and -that he would let slip no opportunity of getting rid of him. It was -clear, indeed, that what we should determine to do could not be done -too soon. Still the odds were too much against us to allow of our -proceeding without the greatest caution. - -Peters proposed that he should go up on deck, and enter into -conversation with the watch (Allen), when he would be able to throw him -into the sea without trouble, and without making any disturbance, by -seizing a good opportunity; that Augustus and myself should then come -up, and endeavour to provide ourselves with some kind of weapons from -the deck; and that we should then make a rush together, and secure the -companion-way before any opposition could be offered. I objected to -this, because I could not believe that the mate (who was a cunning -fellow in all matters which did not affect his superstitious -prejudices) would suffer himself to be so easily entrapped. The very -fact of there being a watch on deck at all was sufficient proof that he -was upon the alert--it not being usual, except in vessels where -discipline is most rigidly enforced, to station a watch on deck when a -vessel is lying to in a gale of wind. As I address myself principally, -if not altogether, to persons who have never been to sea, it may be as -well to state the exact condition of a vessel under such circumstances. -Lying to, or, in sea-parlance "laying to," is a measure resorted to for -various purposes, and effected in various manners. In moderate weather, -it is frequently done with a view of merely bringing the vessel to a -stand-still, to wait for another vessel, or any similar object. If the -vessel which lies to is under full sail, the manoeuvre is usually -accomplished by throwing round some portion of her sails so as to let -the wind take them aback, when she becomes stationary. But we are now -speaking of lying to in a gale of wind. This is done when the wind is -ahead, and too violent to admit of carrying sail without danger of -capsizing; and sometimes even when the wind is fair, but the sea too -heavy for the vessel to be put before it. If a vessel be suffered to -scud before the wind in a very heavy sea, much damage is usually done -her by the shipping of water over her stern, and sometimes by the -violent plunges she makes forward. This manoeuvre, then, is seldom -resorted to in such case, unless through necessity. When the vessel is -in a leaky condition, she is often put before the wind even in the -heaviest seas; for, when lying to, her seams are sure to be greatly -opened by her violent straining, and it is not so much the case when -scudding. Often, too, it becomes necessary to scud a vessel, either -when the blast is so exceedingly furious as to tear in pieces the sail -which is employed with a view of bringing her head to the wind, or -when, through the false modelling of the frame or other causes, this -main object cannot be effected. - -Vessels in a gale of wind are laid to in different manners, according -to their peculiar construction. Some lie to best under a foresail, and -this, I believe, is the sail most usually employed. Large square-rigged -vessels have sails for the express purpose, called storm-staysails. But -the jib is occasionally employed by itself--sometimes the jib and -foresail, or a double-reefed foresail, and not unfrequently the -after-sails, are made use of. Foretopsails are very often found to -answer the purpose better than any other species of sail. The Grampus -was generally laid to under a close-reefed foresail. - -When a vessel is to be laid to, her head is brought up to the wind just -so nearly as to fill the sail under which she lies, when hauled flat -aft, that is, when brought diagonally across the vessel. This being -done, the bows point within a few degrees of the direction from which -the wind issues, and the windward bow of course receives the shock of -the waves. In this situation a good vessel will ride out a very heavy -gale of wind without shipping a drop of water, and without any further -attention being requisite on the part of the crew. The helm is usually -lashed down, but this is altogether unnecessary (except on account of -the noise it makes when loose), for the rudder has no effect upon the -vessel when lying to. Indeed, the helm had far better be left loose -than lashed very fast, for the rudder is apt to be torn off by heavy -seas if there be no room for the helm to play. As long as the sail -holds, a well-modelled vessel will maintain her situation, and ride -every sea, as if instinct with life and reason. If the violence of the -wind, however, should tear the sail into pieces (a feat which it -requires a perfect hurricane to accomplish under ordinary -circumstances), there is then imminent danger. The vessel falls off -from the wind, and, coming broadside to the sea, is completely at its -mercy: the only resource in this case is to put her quickly before the -wind, letting her scud until some other sail can be set. Some vessels -will lie to under no sail whatever, but such are not to be trusted at -sea. - -But to return from this digression. It had never been customary with -the mate to have any watch on deck when lying to in a gale of wind, and -the fact that he had now one, coupled with the circumstance of the -missing axes and handspikes, fully convinced us that the crew were too -well on the watch to be taken by surprise in the manner Peters had -suggested. Something, however, was to be done, and that with as little -delay as practicable, for there could be no doubt that a suspicion -having been once entertained against Peters, he would be sacrificed -upon the earliest occasion, and one would certainly be either found or -made upon the breaking of the gale. - -Augustus now suggested that if Peters could contrive to remove, under -any pretext, the piece of chain-cable which lay over the trap in the -stateroom, we might possibly be able to come upon them unawares by -means of the hold; but a little reflection convinced us that the vessel -rolled and pitched too violently for any attempt of that nature. - -By good fortune I at length hit upon the idea of working upon the -superstitious terrors and guilty conscience of the mate. It will be -remembered that one of the crew, Hartman Rogers, had died during the -morning, having been attacked two days before with spasms after -drinking some spirits and water. Peters had expressed to us his opinion -that this man had been poisoned by the mate, and for this belief he had -reasons, so he said, which were incontrovertible, but which he could -not be prevailed upon to explain to us--this wayward refusal being only -in keeping with other points of his singular character. But whether or -not he had any better grounds for suspecting the mate than we had -ourselves, we were easily led to fall in with his suspicion, and -determined to act accordingly. - -Rogers had died about eleven in the forenoon, in violent convulsions; -and the corpse presented in a few minutes after death one of the most -horrid and loathsome spectacles I ever remember to have seen. The -stomach was swollen immensely, like that of a man who has been drowned -and lain under water for many weeks. The hands were in the same -condition, while the face was shrunken, shrivelled, and of a chalky -whiteness, except where relieved by two or three glaring red splotches, -like those occasioned by the erysipelas: one of these splotches -extended diagonally across the face, completely covering up an eye as -if with a band of red velvet. In this disgusting condition the body had -been brought up from the cabin at noon to be thrown overboard, when the -mate getting a glimpse of it (for he now saw it for the first time), -and being either touched with remorse for his crime or struck with -terror at so horrible a sight, ordered the men to sew the body up in -its hammock, and allow it the usual rites of sea-burial. Having given -these directions he went below, as if to avoid any further sight of his -victim. While preparations were making to obey his orders, the gale -came on with great fury, and the design was abandoned for the present. -The corpse, left to itself, was washed into the larboard scuppers, -where it still lay at the time of which I speak, floundering about with -the furious lurches of the brig. - -Having arranged our plan, we set about putting it in execution as -speedily as possible. Peters went upon deck, and, as he had -anticipated, was immediately accosted by Allen, who appeared to be -stationed more as a watch upon the forecastle than for any other -purpose. The fate of this villain, however, was speedily and silently -decided; for Peters, approaching him in a careless manner, as if about -to address him, seized him by the throat, and, before he could utter a -single cry, tossed him over the bulwarks. He then called to us, and we -came up. Our first precaution was to look about for something with -which to arm ourselves, and in doing this we had to proceed with great -care, for it was impossible to stand on deck an instant without holding -fast, and violent seas broke over the vessel at every plunge forward. -It was indispensable, too, that we should be quick in our operations, -for every minute we expected the mate to be up to set the pumps going, -as it was evident the brig must be taking in water very fast. After -searching about for some time, we could find nothing more fit for our -purpose than the two pump-handles, one of which Augustus took, and I -the other. Having secured these, we stripped off the shirt of the -corpse and dropped the body overboard. Peters and myself then went -below, leaving Augustus to watch upon deck, where he took his station -just where Allen had been placed, and with his back to the cabin -companion-way, so that, if any one of the mate's gang should come up, -he might suppose it was the watch. - -As soon as I got below I commenced disguising myself so as to represent -the corpse of Rogers. The shirt which we had taken from the body aided -us very much, for it was of a singular form and character, and easily -recognisable--a kind of smock, which the deceased wore over his other -clothing. It was a blue stockinett, with large white stripes running -across. Having put this on, I proceeded to equip myself with a false -stomach, in imitation of the horrible deformity of the swollen corpse. -This was soon effected by means of stuffing with some bedclothes. I -then gave the same appearance to my hands by drawing on a pair of white -woollen mittens, and filling them in with any kind of rags that offered -themselves. Peters then arranged my face, first rubbing it well over -with white chalk, and afterward splotching it with blood, which he took -from a cut in his finger. The streak across the eye was not forgotten, -and presented a most shocking appearance. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - - -As I viewed myself in a fragment of looking-glass which hung up in the -cabin, and by the dim light of a kind of battle-lantern, I was so -impressed with a sense of vague awe at my appearance, and at the -recollection of the terrific reality which I was thus representing, -that I was seized with a violent tremour, and could scarcely summon -resolution to go on with my part. It was necessary, however, to act -with decision, and Peters and myself went upon deck. - -We there found everything safe, and, keeping close to the bulwarks, the -three of us crept to the cabin companion-way. It was only partially -closed, precautions having been taken to prevent its being suddenly -pushed to from without, by means of placing billets of wood on the -upper step so as to interfere with the shutting. We found no difficulty -in getting a full view of the interior of the cabin through the cracks -where the hinges were placed. It now proved to have been very fortunate -for us that we had not attempted to take them by surprise, for they -were evidently on the alert. Only one was asleep, and he lying just at -the foot of the companion-ladder, with a musket by his side. The rest -were seated on several mattresses, which had been taken from the berths -and thrown on the floor. They were engaged in earnest conversation; and -although they had been carousing, as appeared from two empty jugs, with -some tin tumblers which lay about, they were not as much intoxicated as -usual. All had knives, one or two of them pistols, and a great many -muskets were lying in a berth close at hand. - -We listened to their conversation for some time before we could make up -our minds how to act, having as yet resolved on nothing determinate, -except that we would attempt to paralyze their exertions, when we -should attack them, by means of the apparition of Rogers. They were -discussing their piratical plans, in which all we could hear distinctly -was, that they would unite with the crew of a schooner Hornet, and, if -possible, get the schooner herself into their possession preparatory to -some attempt on a large scale, the particulars of which could not be -made out by either of us. - -One of the men spoke of Peters, when the mate replied to him in a low -voice which could not be distinguished, and afterward added more -loudly, that "he could not understand his being so much forward with -the captain's brat in the forecastle, and he thought the sooner both of -them were overboard the better." To this no answer was made, but we -could easily perceive that the hint was well received by the whole -party, and more particularly by Jones. At this period I was excessively -agitated, the more so as I could see that neither Augustus nor Peters -could determine how to act. I made up my mind, however, to sell my life -as dearly as possible, and not to suffer myself to be overcome by any -feelings of trepidation. - -The tremendous noise made by the roaring of the wind in the rigging and -the washing of the sea over the deck prevented us from hearing what was -said except during momentary lulls. In one of these we all distinctly -heard the mate tell one of the men to "go forward, and order the d----d -lubbers to come into the cabin, where he could have an eye upon them, -for he wanted no such secret doings on board the brig." It was well for -us that the pitching of the vessel at this moment was so violent as to -prevent this order from being carried into instant execution. The cook -got up from his mattress to go for us, when a tremendous lurch, which I -thought would carry away the masts, threw him headlong against one of -the larboard stateroom doors, bursting it open, and creating a good -deal of other confusion. Luckily, neither of our party was thrown from -his position, and we had time to make a precipitate retreat to the -forecastle, and arrange a hurried plan of action before the messenger -made his appearance, or rather before he put his head out of the -companion-hatch, for he did not come on deck. From this station he -could not notice the absence of Allen, and he accordingly bawled out as -if to him, repeating the orders of the mate. Peters cried out, "Ay, -ay," in a disguised voice, and the cook immediately went below, without -entertaining a suspicion that all was not right. - -My two companions now proceeded boldly aft and down into the cabin, -Peters closing the door after him in the same manner he had found it. -The mate received them with feigned cordiality, and told Augustus that, -since he had behaved himself so well of late, he might take up his -quarters in the cabin, and be one of them for the future. He then -poured him out a tumbler half full of rum, and made him drink it. All -this I saw and heard, for I followed my friends to the cabin as soon as -the door was shut, and took up my old point of observation. I had -brought with me the two pump-handles, one of which I secured near the -companion-way, to be ready for use when required. - -I now steadied myself as well as possible so as to have a good view of -all that was passing within, and endeavoured to nerve myself to the -task of descending among the mutineers when Peters should make a signal -to me as agreed upon. Presently he contrived to turn the conversation -upon the bloody deeds of the mutiny, and, by degrees, led the men to -talk of the thousand superstitions which are so universally current -among seamen. I could not make out all that was said, but I could -plainly see the effects of the conversation in the countenances of -those present. The mate was evidently much agitated, and presently, -when some one mentioned the terrific appearance of Rogers's corpse, I -thought he was upon the point of swooning. Peters now asked him if he -did not think it would be better to have the body thrown overboard at -once, as it was too horrible a sight to see it floundering about in the -scuppers. At this the villain absolutely gasped for breath, and turned -his head slowly round upon his companions, as if imploring some one to -go up and perform the task. No one, however, stirred, and it was quite -evident that the whole party were wound up to the highest pitch of -nervous excitement. Peters now made me the signal. I immediately threw -open the door of the companion-way, and, descending without uttering a -syllable, stood erect in the midst of the party. - -The intense effect produced by this sudden apparition is not at all to -be wondered at when the various circumstances are taken into -consideration. Usually, in cases of a similar nature, there is left in -the mind of the spectator some glimmering of doubt as to the reality of -the vision before his eyes; a degree of hope, however feeble, that he -is the victim of chicanery, and that the apparition is not actually a -visitant from the world of shadows. It is not too much to say that such -remnants of doubt have been at the bottom of almost every such -visitation, and that the appalling horror which has sometimes been -brought about, is to be attributed, even in the cases most in point, -and where most suffering has been experienced, more to a kind of -anticipative horror, lest the apparition _might possibly be_ real, than -to an unwavering belief in its reality. But, in the present instance, -it will be seen immediately, that in the minds of the mutineers there -was not even the shadow of a basis upon which to rest a doubt that the -apparition of Rogers was indeed a revivification of his disgusting -corpse, or at least its spiritual image. The isolated situation of the -brig, with its entire inaccessibility on account of the gale, confined -the apparently possible means of deception within such narrow and -definite limits, that they must have thought themselves enabled to -survey them all at a glance. They had now been at sea twenty-four days, -without holding more than a speaking communication with any vessel -whatever. The whole of the crew, too, at least all whom they had the -most remote reason for suspecting to be on board, were assembled in the -cabin, with the exception of Allen, the watch; and his gigantic stature -(he was six feet six inches high) was too familiar in their eyes to -permit the notion that he was the apparition before them to enter their -minds even for an instant. Add to these considerations the -awe-inspiring nature of the tempest, and that of the conversation -brought about by Peters; the deep impression which the loathsomeness of -the actual corpse had made in the morning upon the imaginations of the -men; the excellence of the imitation in my person; and the uncertain -and wavering light in which they beheld me, as the glare of the cabin -lantern, swinging violently to and fro, fell dubiously and fitfully -upon my figure, and there will be no reason to wonder that the -deception had even more than the entire effect which we had -anticipated. The mate sprang up from the mattress on which he was -lying, and, without uttering a syllable, fell back, stone dead, upon -the cabin floor, and was hurled to the leeward like a log by a heavy -roll of the brig. Of the remaining seven there were but three who had -at first any degree of presence of mind. The four others sat for some -time rooted apparently to the floor, the most pitiable objects of -horror and utter despair my eyes ever encountered. The only opposition -we experienced at all was from the cook, John Hunt, and Richard Parker; -but they made but a feeble and irresolute defence. The two former were -shot instantly by Peters, and I felled Parker with a blow on the head -from the pump-handle which I had brought with me. In the mean time -Augustus seized one of the muskets lying on the floor, and shot another -mutineer (---- Wilson) through the breast. There were now but three -remaining; but by this time they had become aroused from their -lethargy, and perhaps began to see that a deception had been practised -upon them, for they fought with great resolution and fury, and, but for -the immense muscular strength of Peters, might have ultimately got the -better of us. These three men were ---- Jones, ---- Greely, and Absalom -Hicks. Jones had thrown Augustus on the floor, stabbed him in several -places along the right arm, and would no doubt have soon despatched him -(as neither Peters nor myself could immediately get rid of our own -antagonists), had it not been for the timely aid of a friend upon whose -assistance we surely had never depended. This friend was no other than -Tiger. With a low growl he bounded into the cabin, at a most critical -moment for Augustus, and throwing himself upon Jones, pinned him to the -floor in an instant. My friend, however, was now too much injured to -render us any aid whatever, and I was so encumbered with my disguise -that I could do but little. The dog would not leave his hold upon the -throat of Jones--Peters, nevertheless, was far more than a match for -the two men who remained, and would, no doubt, have despatched them -sooner, had it not been for the narrow space in which he had to act, -and the tremendous lurches of the vessel. Presently he was enabled to -get hold of a heavy stool, several of which lay about the floor. With -this he beat out the brains of Greely as he was in the act of -discharging a musket at me, and immediately afterward a roll of the -brig throwing him in contact with Hicks, he seized him by the throat, -and, by dint of sheer strength, strangled him instantaneously. Thus, in -far less time than I have taken to tell it, we found ourselves masters -of the brig. - -The only person of our opponents who was left alive was Richard Parker. -This man, it will be remembered, I had knocked down with a blow from -the pump-handle at the commencement of the attack. He now lay -motionless by the door of the shattered stateroom; but, upon Peters -touching him with his foot, he spoke, and entreated for mercy. His head -was only slightly cut, and otherwise he had received no injury, having -been merely stunned by the blow. He now got up, and, for the present, -we secured his hands behind his back. The dog was still growling over -Jones; but, upon examination, we found him completely dead, the blood -issuing in a stream from a deep wound in the throat, inflicted, no -doubt, by the sharp teeth of the animal. - -It was now about one o'clock in the morning, and the wind was still -blowing tremendously. The brig evidently laboured much more than usual, -and it became absolutely necessary that something should be done with a -view of easing her in some measure. At almost every roll to leeward she -shipped a sea, several of which came partially down into the cabin -during our scuffle, the hatchway having been left open by myself when I -descended. The entire range of bulwarks to larboard had been swept -away, as well as the caboose, together with the jollyboat from the -counter. The creaking and working of the mainmast, too, gave indication -that it was nearly sprung. To make room for more stowage in the after -hold, the heel of this mast had been stepped between decks (a very -reprehensible practice, occasionally resorted to by ignorant -ship-builders), so that it was in imminent danger of working from its -step. But, to crown all our difficulties, we plummed the well, and -found no less than seven feet water. - -Leaving the bodies of the crew lying in the cabin, we got to work -immediately at the pumps--Parker, of course, being set at liberty to -assist us in the labour. Augustus's arm was bound up as well as we -could effect it, and he did what he could, but that was not much. -However, we found that we could just manage to keep the leak from -gaining upon us by having one pump constantly going. As there were only -four of us, this was severe labour; but we endeavoured to keep up our -spirits, and looked anxiously for daybreak, when we hoped to lighten -the brig by cutting away the mainmast. - -In this manner we passed a night of terrible anxiety and fatigue, and, -when the day at length broke, the gale had neither abated in the least, -nor were there any signs of its abating. We now dragged the bodies on -deck and threw them overboard. Our next care was to get rid of the -mainmast. The necessary preparations having been made, Peters cut away -at the mast (having found axes in the cabin), while the rest of us -stood by the stays and lanyards. As the brig gave a tremendous -lee-lurch, the word was given to cut away the weather-lanyards, which -being done, the whole mass of wood and rigging plunged into the sea, -clear of the brig, and without doing any material injury. We now found -that the vessel did not labour quite as much as before, but our -situation was still exceedingly precarious, and, in spite of the utmost -exertions, we could not gain upon the leak without the aid of both -pumps. The little assistance which Augustus could render us was not -really of any importance. To add to our distress, a heavy sea, striking -the brig to windward, threw her off several points from the wind, and, -before she could regain her position, another broke completely over -her, and hurled her full upon her beam-ends. The ballast now shifted in -a mass to leeward (the stowage had been knocking about perfectly at -random for some time), and for a few moments we thought nothing could -save us from capsizing. Presently, however, we partially righted; but -the ballast still retaining its place to larboard, we lay so much along -that it was useless to think of working the pumps, which indeed we -could not have done much longer in any case, as our hands were entirely -raw with the excessive labour we had undergone, and were bleeding in -the most horrible manner. - -Contrary to Parker's advice, we now proceeded to cut away the foremast, -and at length accomplished it after much difficulty, owing to the -position in which we lay. In going overboard the wreck took with it the -bowsprit, and left us a complete hulk. - -So far we had had reason to rejoice in the escape of our longboat, -which had received no damage from any of the huge seas which had come -on board. But we had not long to congratulate ourselves; for the -foremast having gone, and, of course, the foresail with it, by which -the brig had been steadied, every sea now made a complete breach over -us, and in five minutes our deck was swept from stem to stern, the -longboat and starboard bulwarks torn off, and even the windlass -shattered into fragments. It was, indeed, hardly possible for us to be -in a more pitiable condition. - -At noon there seemed to be some slight appearance of the gale's -abating, but in this we were sadly disappointed, for it only lulled for -a few minutes to blow with redoubled fury. About four in the afternoon -it was utterly impossible to stand up against the violence of the -blast; and, as the night closed in upon us, I had not a shadow of hope -that the vessel would hold together until morning. - -By midnight we had settled very deep in the water, which was now up to -the orlop deck. The rudder went soon afterward, the sea which tore it -away lifting the after portion of the brig entirely from the water, -against which she thumped in her descent with such a concussion as -would be occasioned by going ashore. We had all calculated that the -rudder would hold its own to the last, as it was unusually strong, -being rigged as I have never seen one rigged either before or since. -Down its main timber there ran a succession of stout iron hooks, and -others in the same manner down the stern-post. Through these hooks -there extended a very thick wrought-iron rod, the rudder being thus -held to the stern-post, and swinging freely on the rod. The tremendous -force of the sea which tore it off may be estimated by the fact, that -the hooks in the stern-post, which ran entirely through it, being -clinched on the inside, were drawn every one of them completely out of -the solid wood. - -We had scarcely time to draw breath after the violence of this shock, -when one of the most tremendous waves I had then ever known broke right -on board of us, sweeping the companion-way clear off, bursting in the -hatchways, and filling every inch of the vessel with water. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - - -Luckily, just before night, all four of us had lashed ourselves firmly -to the fragments of the windlass, lying in this manner as flat upon the -deck as possible. This precaution alone saved us from destruction. As -it was, we were all more or less stunned by the immense weight of water -which tumbled upon us, and which did not roll from above us until we -were nearly exhausted. As soon as I could recover breath, I called -aloud to my companions. Augustus alone replied, saying, "It is all over -with us, and may God have mercy upon our souls." By-and-by both the -others were enabled to speak, when they exhorted us to take courage, as -there was still hope; it being impossible, from the nature of the -cargo, that the brig could go down, and there being every chance that -the gale would blow over by the morning. These words inspired me with -new life; for, strange as it may seem, although it was obvious that a -vessel with a cargo of empty oil-casks would not sink, I had been -hitherto so confused in mind as to have overlooked this consideration -altogether; and the danger which I had for some time regarded as the -most imminent was that of foundering. As hope revived within me, I made -use of every opportunity to strengthen the lashings which held me to -the remains of the windlass, and in this occupation I soon discovered -that my companions were also busy. The night was as dark as it could -possibly be, and the horrible shrieking din and confusion which -surrounded us it is useless to attempt describing. Our deck lay level -with the sea, or rather we were encircled with a towering ridge of -foam, a portion of which swept over us every instant. It is not too -much to say that our heads were not fairly out of water more than one -second in three. Although we lay close together, no one of us could see -the other, or, indeed, any portion of the brig itself, upon which we -were so tempestuously hurled about. At intervals we called one to the -other, thus endeavouring to keep alive hope, and render consolation and -encouragement to such of us as stood most in need of it. The feeble -condition of Augustus made him an object of solicitude with us all; and -as, from the lacerated condition of his right arm, it must have been -impossible for him to secure his lashings with any degree of firmness, -we were in momentary expectation of finding that he had gone -overboard--yet to render him aid was a thing altogether out of the -question. Fortunately, his station was more secure than that of any of -the rest of us; for the upper part of his body lying just beneath a -portion of the shattered windlass, the seas, as they tumbled in upon -him, were greatly broken in their violence. In any other situation than -this (into which he had been accidentally thrown after having lashed -himself in a very exposed spot) he must inevitably have perished before -morning. Owing to the brig's lying so much along, we were all less -liable to be washed off than otherwise would have been the case. The -heel, as I have before stated, was to larboard, about one half of the -deck being constantly under water. The seas, therefore, which struck us -to starboard were much broken by the vessel's side, only reaching us in -fragments as we lay flat on our faces; while those which came from -larboard, being what are called back-water seas, and obtaining little -hold upon us on account of our posture, had not sufficient force to -drag us from our fastenings. - -In this frightful situation we lay until the day broke so as to show us -more fully the horrors which surrounded us. The brig was a mere log, -rolling about at the mercy of every wave; the gale was upon the -increase, if anything, blowing indeed a complete hurricane, and there -appeared to us no earthly prospect of deliverance. For several hours we -held on in silence, expecting every moment that our lashings would -either give way, that the remains of the windlass would go by the -board, or that some of the huge seas, which roared in every direction -around us and above us, would drive the hulk so far beneath the water -that we should be drowned before it could regain the surface. By the -mercy of God, however, we were preserved from these imminent dangers, -and about midday were cheered by the light of the blessed sun. Shortly -afterward we could perceive a sensible diminution in the force of the -wind, when, now for the first time since the latter part of the evening -before, Augustus spoke, asking Peters, who lay closest to him, if he -thought there was any possibility of our being saved. As no reply was -at first made to this question, we all concluded that the hybrid had -been drowned where he lay; but presently, to our great joy, he spoke, -although very feebly, saying that he was in great pain, being so cut by -the tightness of his lashings across the stomach, that he must either -find means of loosening them or perish, as it was impossible that he -could endure his misery much longer. This occasioned us great distress, -as it was altogether useless to think of aiding him in any manner while -the sea continued washing over us as it did. We exhorted him to bear -his sufferings with fortitude, and promised to seize the first -opportunity which should offer itself to relieve him. He replied that -it would soon be too late; that it would be all over with him before we -could help him; and then, after moaning for some minutes, lay silent, -when we concluded that he had perished. - -As the evening drew on, the sea had fallen so much that scarcely more -than one wave broke over the hulk from windward in the course of five -minutes, and the wind had abated a great deal, although still blowing a -severe gale. I had not heard any of my companions speak for hours, and -now called to Augustus. He replied, although very feebly, so that I -could not distinguish what he said. I then spoke to Peters and to -Parker, neither of whom returned any answer. - -Shortly after this period I fell into a state of partial insensibility, -during which the most pleasing images floated in my imagination; such -as green trees, waving meadows of ripe grain, processions of dancing -girls, troops of cavalry, and other phantasies. I now remember that, in -all which passed before my mind's eye, _motion_ was a predominant idea. -Thus, I never fancied any stationary object, such as a house, a -mountain, or anything of that kind; but windmills, ships, large birds, -balloons, people on horseback, carriages driving furiously, and similar -moving objects, presented themselves in endless succession. When I -recovered from this state, the sun was, as near as I could guess, an -hour high. I had the greatest difficulty in bringing to recollection -the various circumstances connected with my situation, and for some -time remained firmly convinced that I was still in the hold of the -brig, near the box, and that the body of Parker was that of Tiger. - -When I at length completely came to my senses, I found that the wind -blew no more than a moderate breeze, and that the sea was comparatively -calm; so much so that it only washed over the brig amidships. My left -arm had broken loose from its lashings, and was much cut about the -elbow; my right was entirely benumbed, and the hand and wrist swollen -prodigiously by the pressure of the rope, which had worked from the -shoulder downward. I was also in great pain from another rope which -went about my waist, and had been drawn to an insufferable degree of -tightness. Looking round upon my companions, I saw that Peters still -lived, although a thick line was pulled so forcibly around his loins as -to give him the appearance of being cut nearly in two; as I stirred, he -made a feeble motion to me with his hand, pointing to the rope. -Augustus gave no indication of life whatever, and was bent nearly -double across a splinter of the windlass. Parker spoke to me when he -saw me moving, and asked me if I had not sufficient strength to release -him from his situation; saying, that if I would summon up what spirits -I could, and contrive to untie him, we might yet save our lives; but -that otherwise we must all perish. I told him to take courage, and I -would endeavour to free him. Feeling in my pantaloons' pocket, I got -hold of my penknife, and, after several ineffectual attempts, at length -succeeded in opening it. I then, with my left hand, managed to free my -right from its fastenings, and afterward cut the other ropes which held -me. Upon attempting, however, to move from my position, I found that my -legs failed me altogether, and that I could not get up; neither could I -move my right arm in any direction. Upon mentioning this to Parker, he -advised me to lie quiet for a few minutes, holding on to the windlass -with my left hand, so as to allow time for the blood to circulate. -Doing this, the numbness presently began to die away, so that I could -move first one of my legs, and then the other; and, shortly afterward, -I regained the partial use of my right arm. I now crawled with great -caution towards Parker, without getting on my legs, and soon cut loose -all the lashings about him, when, after a short delay, he also -recovered the partial use of his limbs. We now lost no time in getting -loose the rope from Peters. It had cut a deep gash through the -waistband of his woollen pantaloons, and through two shirts, and made -its way into his groin, from which the blood flowed out copiously as we -removed the cordage. No sooner had we removed it, however, than he -spoke, and seemed to experience instant relief--being able to move with -much greater ease than either Parker or myself--this was no doubt owing -to the discharge of blood. - -We had little hope that Augustus would recover, as he evinced no signs -of life; but, upon getting to him, we discovered that he had merely -swooned from loss of blood, the bandages we had placed around his -wounded arm having been torn off by the water; none of the ropes which -held him to the windlass were drawn sufficiently tight to occasion his -death. Having relieved him from the fastenings, and got him clear of -the broken wood about the windlass, we secured him in a dry place to -windward, with his head somewhat lower than his body, and all three of -us busied ourselves in chafing his limbs. In about half an hour he came -to himself, although it was not until the next morning that he gave -signs of recognising any of us, or had sufficient strength to speak. By -the time we had thus got clear of our lashings it was quite dark, and -it began to cloud up, so that we were again in the greatest agony lest -it should come on to blow hard, in which event nothing could have saved -us from perishing, exhausted as we were. By good fortune it continued -very moderate during the night, the sea subsiding every minute, which -gave us great hopes of ultimate preservation. A gentle breeze still -blew from the N. W., but the weather was not at all cold. Augustus was -lashed carefully to windward in such a manner as to prevent him from -slipping overboard with the rolls of the vessel, as he was still too -weak to hold on at all. For ourselves there was no such necessity. We -sat close together, supporting each other with the aid of the broken -ropes about the windlass, and devising methods of escape from our -frightful situation. We derived much comfort from taking off our -clothes and wringing the water from them. When we put them on after -this, they felt remarkably warm and pleasant, and served to invigorate -us in no little degree. We helped Augustus off with his, and wrung them -for him, when he experienced the same comfort. - -Our chief sufferings were now those of hunger and thirst, and, when we -looked forward to the means of relief in this respect, our hearts sunk -within us, and we were induced to regret that we had escaped the less -dreadful perils of the sea. We endeavoured, however, to console -ourselves with the hope of being speedily picked up by some vessel, and -encouraged each other to bear with fortitude the evils that might -happen. - -The morning of the fourteenth at length dawned, and the weather still -continued clear and pleasant, with a steady but very light breeze from -the N. W. The sea was now quite smooth, and as, from some cause which -we could not determine, the brig did not lie so much along as she had -done before, the deck was comparatively dry, and we could move about -with freedom. We had now been better than three entire days and nights -without either food or drink, and it became absolutely necessary that -we should make an attempt to get up something from below. As the brig -was completely full of water, we went to this work despondingly, and -with but little expectation of being able to obtain anything. We made a -kind of drag by driving some nails which we broke out from the remains -of the companion-hatch into two pieces of wood. Tying these across each -other, and fastening them to the end of a rope, we threw them into the -cabin, and dragged them to and fro, in the faint hope of being thus -able to entangle some article which might be of use to us for food, or -which might at least render us assistance in getting it. We spent the -greater part of the morning in this labour without effect, fishing up -nothing more than a few bedclothes, which were readily caught by the -nails. Indeed, our contrivance was so very clumsy, that any greater -success was hardly to be anticipated. - -We now tried the forecastle, but equally in vain, and were upon the -brink of despair, when Peters proposed that we should fasten a rope to -his body, and let him make an attempt to get up something by diving -into the cabin. This proposition we hailed with all the delight which -reviving hope could inspire. He proceeded immediately to strip off his -clothes with the exception of his pantaloons; and a strong rope was -then carefully fastened around his middle, being brought up over his -shoulders in such a manner that there was no possibility of its -slipping. The undertaking was one of great difficulty and danger; for, -as we could hardly expect to find much, if any provision in the cabin -itself, it was necessary that the diver, after letting himself down, -should make a turn to the right, and proceed under water a distance of -ten or twelve feet, in a narrow passage, to the storeroom, and return, -without drawing breath. - -Everything being ready, Peters now descended into the cabin, going down -the companion-ladder until the water reached his chin. He then plunged -in, head first, turning to the right as he plunged, and endeavouring to -make his way to the storeroom. In this first attempt, however, he was -altogether unsuccessful. In less than half a minute after his going -down we felt the rope jerked violently (the signal we had agreed upon -when he desired to be drawn up). We accordingly drew him up instantly, -but so incautiously as to bruise him badly against the ladder. He had -brought nothing with him, and had been unable to penetrate more than a -very little way into the passage, owing to the constant exertions he -found it necessary to make in order to keep himself from floating up -against the deck. Upon getting out he was very much exhausted, and had -to rest full fifteen minutes before he could again venture to descend. - -The second attempt met with even worse success; for he remained so long -under water without giving the signal, that, becoming alarmed for his -safety, we drew him out without it, and found that he was almost at the -last gasp, having, as he said, repeatedly jerked at the rope without -our feeling it. This was probably owing to a portion of it having -become entangled in the balustrade at the foot of the ladder. This -balustrade was, indeed, so much in the way, that we determined to -remove it, if possible, before proceeding with our design. As we had no -means of getting it away except by main force, we all descended into -the water as far as we could on the ladder, and, giving a pull against -it with our united strength, succeeded in breaking it down. - -The third attempt was equally unsuccessful with the two first, and it -now became evident that nothing could be done in this manner without -the aid of some weight with which the diver might steady himself, and -keep to the floor of the cabin while making his search. For a long time -we looked about in vain for something which might answer this purpose; -but at length, to our great joy, we discovered one of the -weather-forechains so loose that we had not the least difficulty in -wrenching it off. Having fastened this securely to one of his ancles, -Peters now made his fourth descent into the cabin, and this time -succeeded in making his way to the door of the steward's room. To his -inexpressible grief, however, he found it locked, and was obliged to -return without effecting an entrance, as, with the greatest exertion, -he could remain under water not more, at the utmost extent, than a -single minute. Our affairs now looked gloomy indeed, and neither -Augustus nor myself could refrain from bursting into tears, as we -thought of the host of difficulties which encompassed us, and the -slight probability which existed of our finally making an escape. But -this weakness was not of long duration. Throwing ourselves on our knees -to God, we implored his aid in the many dangers which beset us; and -arose with renewed hope and vigour to think what could yet be done by -mortal means towards accomplishing our deliverance. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - - -Shortly afterward an incident occurred which I am induced to look upon -as more intensely productive of emotion, as far more replete with the -extremes first of delight and then of horror, than even any of the -thousand chances which afterward befell me in nine long years, crowded -with events of the most startling, and, in many cases, of the most -unconceived and unconceivable character. We were lying on the deck near -the companion-way, and debating the possibility of yet making our way -into the storeroom, when, looking towards Augustus, who lay fronting -myself, I perceived that he had become all at once deadly pale, and -that his lips were quivering in the most singular and unaccountable -manner. Greatly alarmed, I spoke to him, but he made me no reply, and I -was beginning to think that he was suddenly taken ill, when I took -notice of his eyes, which were glaring apparently at some object behind -me. I turned my head, and shall never forget the ecstatic joy which -thrilled through every particle of my frame, when I perceived a large -brig bearing down upon us, and not more than a couple of miles off. I -sprung to my feet as if a musket bullet had suddenly struck me to the -heart; and, stretching out my arms in the direction of the vessel, -stood in this manner, motionless, and unable to articulate a syllable. -Peters and Parker were equally affected, although in different ways. -The former danced about the deck like a madman, uttering the most -extravagant rhodomontades, intermingled with howls and imprecations, -while the latter burst into tears, and continued for many minutes -weeping like a child. - -The vessel in sight was a large hermaphrodite brig, of a Dutch build, -and painted black, with a tawdry gilt figurehead. She had evidently -seen a good deal of rough weather, and, we supposed, had suffered much -in the gale which had proved so disastrous to ourselves; for her -foretopmast was gone, and some of her starboard bulwarks. When we first -saw her, she was, as I have already said, about two miles off and to -windward, bearing down upon us. The breeze was very gentle, and what -astonished us chiefly was, that she had no other sails set than her -foresail and mainsail, with a flying jib--of course she came down but -slowly, and our impatience amounted nearly to phrensy. The awkward -manner in which she steered, too, was remarked by all of us, even -excited as we were. She yawed about so considerably, that once or twice -we thought it impossible she could see us, or imagined that, having -seen us, and discovered no person on board, she was about to tack and -make off in another direction. Upon each of these occasions we screamed -and shouted at the top of our voices, when the stranger would appear to -change for a moment her intention, and again hold on towards us--this -singular conduct being repeated two or three times, so that at last we -could think of no other manner of accounting for it than by supposing -the helmsman to be in liquor. - -No person was seen upon her decks until she arrived within about a -quarter of a mile of us. We then saw three seamen, whom by their dress -we took to be Hollanders. Two of these were lying on some old sails -near the forecastle, and the third, who appeared to be looking at us -with great curiosity, was leaning over the starboard bow near the -bowsprit. This last was a stout and tall man, with a very dark skin. He -seemed by his manner to be encouraging us to have patience, nodding to -us in a cheerful although rather odd way, and smiling constantly so as -to display a set of the most brilliantly white teeth. As his vessel -drew nearer, we saw a red flannel cap which he had on fall from his -head into the water; but of this he took little or no notice, -continuing his odd smiles and gesticulations. I relate these things and -circumstances minutely, and I relate them, it must be understood, -precisely as they _appeared_ to us. - -The brig came on slowly, and now more steadily than before, and--I -cannot speak calmly of this event--our hearts leaped up wildly within -us, and we poured out our whole souls in shouts and thanksgiving to God -for the complete, unexpected, and glorious deliverance that was so -palpably at hand. Of a sudden, and all at once, there came wafted over -the ocean from the strange vessel (which was now close upon us) a -smell, a stench, such as the whole world has no name for--no conception -of--hellish--utterly suffocating--insufferable, inconceivable. I gasped -for breath, and, turning to my companions, perceived that they were -paler than marble. But we had now no time left for question or -surmise--the brig was within fifty feet of us, and it seemed to be her -intention to run under our counter, that we might board her without her -putting out a boat. We rushed aft, when, suddenly, a wide yaw threw her -off full five or six points from the course she had been running, and, -as she passed under our stern at the distance of about twenty feet, we -had a full view of her decks. Shall I ever forget the triple horror of -that spectacle? Twenty-five or thirty human bodies, among whom were -several females, lay scattered about between the counter and the -galley, in the last and most loathsome state of putrefaction! We -plainly saw that not a soul lived in that fated vessel! Yet we could -not help shouting to the dead for help! Yes, long and loudly did we -beg, in the agony of the moment, that those silent and disgusting -images would stay for us, would not abandon us to become like them, -would receive us among their goodly company! We were raving with horror -and despair--thoroughly mad through the anguish of our grievous -disappointment. - -As our first loud yell of terror broke forth, it was replied to by -something, from near the bowsprit of the stranger, so closely -resembling the scream of a human voice that the nicest ear might have -been startled and deceived. At this instant another sudden yaw brought -the region of the forecastle for a moment into view, and we beheld at -once the origin of the sound. We saw the tall stout figure still -leaning on the bulwark, and still nodding his head to and fro, but his -face was now turned from us so that we could not behold it. His arms -were extended over the rail, and the palms of his hands fell outward. -His knees were lodged upon a stout rope, tightly stretched, and -reaching from the heel of the bowsprit to a cathead. On his back, from -which a portion of the shirt had been torn, leaving it bare, there sat -a huge seagull, busily gorging itself with the horrible flesh, its bill -and talons deep buried, and its white plumage spattered all over with -blood. As the brig moved further round so as to bring us close in view, -the bird, with much apparent difficulty, drew out its crimsoned head, -and, after eying us for a moment as if stupified, arose lazily from the -body upon which it had been feasting, and, flying directly above our -deck, hovered there a while with a portion of clotted and liver-like -substance in its beak. The horrid morsel dropped at length with a -sullen splash immediately at the feet of Parker. May God forgive me, -but now, for the first time, there flashed through my mind a thought, a -thought which I will not mention, and I felt myself making a step -towards the ensanguined spot. I looked upward, and the eyes of Augustus -met my own with a degree of intense and eager meaning which immediately -brought me to my senses. I sprang forward quickly, and, with a deep -shudder, threw the frightful thing into the sea. - -The body from which it had been taken, resting as it did upon the rope, -had been easily swayed to and fro by the exertions of the carnivorous -bird, and it was this motion which had at first impressed us with the -belief of its being alive. As the gull relieved it of its weight, it -swung round and fell partially over, so that the face was fully -discovered. Never, surely, was any object so terribly full of awe! The -eyes were gone, and the whole flesh around the mouth, leaving the teeth -utterly naked. This, then, was the smile which had cheered us on to -hope! this the--but I forbear. The brig, as I have already told, passed -under our stern, and made its way slowly but steadily to leeward. With -her and with her terrible crew went all our gay visions of deliverance -and joy. Deliberately as she went by, we might possibly have found -means of boarding her, had not our sudden disappointment, and the -appalling nature of the discovery which accompanied it, laid entirely -prostrate every active faculty of mind and body. We had seen and felt, -but we could neither think nor act, until, alas, too late. How much our -intellects had been weakened by this incident may be estimated by the -fact, that, when the vessel had proceeded so far that we could perceive -no more than the half of her hull, the proposition was seriously -entertained of attempting to overtake her by swimming! - -I have, since this period, vainly endeavoured to obtain some clew to -the hideous uncertainty which enveloped the fate of the stranger. Her -build and general appearance, as I have before stated, led us to the -belief that she was a Dutch trader, and the dresses of the crew also -sustained this opinion. We might have easily seen the name upon her -stern, and, indeed, taken other observations which would have guided us -in making out her character; but the intense excitement of the moment -blinded us to everything of that nature. From the saffron-like hue of -such of the corpses as were not entirely decayed, we concluded that the -whole of her company had perished by the yellow fever, or some other -virulent disease of the same fearful kind. If such were the case (and I -know not what else to imagine), death, to judge from the positions of -the bodies, must have come upon them in a manner awfully sudden and -overwhelming, in a way totally distinct from that which generally -characterizes even the most deadly pestilences with which mankind are -acquainted. It is possible, indeed, that poison, accidentally -introduced into some of their sea-stores, may have brought about the -disaster; or that the eating some unknown venomous species of fish, or -other marine animal, or oceanic bird, might have induced it--but it is -utterly useless to form conjectures where all is involved, and will, no -doubt, remain for ever involved, in the most appalling and unfathomable -mystery. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - - -We spent the remainder of the day in a condition of stupid lethargy, -gazing after the retreating vessel until the darkness, hiding her from -our sight, recalled us in some measure to our senses. The pangs of -hunger and thirst then returned, absorbing all other cares and -considerations. Nothing, however, could be done until the morning, and, -securing ourselves as well as possible, we endeavoured to snatch a -little repose. In this I succeeded beyond my expectation, sleeping -until my companions, who had not been so fortunate, aroused me at -daybreak to renew our attempts at getting up provision from the hull. - -It was now a dead calm, with the sea as smooth as I have ever known -it--the weather warm and pleasant. The brig was out of sight. We -commenced our operations by wrenching off, with some trouble, another -of the forechains; and having fastened both to Peters's feet, he again -made an endeavour to reach the door of the storeroom, thinking it -possible that he might be able to force it open, provided he could get -at it in sufficient time; and this he hoped to do, as the hulk lay much -more steadily than before. - -He succeeded very quickly in reaching the door, when, loosening one of -the chains from his ankle, he made every exertion to force a passage -with it, but in vain, the framework of the room being far stronger than -was anticipated. He was quite exhausted with his long stay under water, -and it became absolutely necessary that some other one of us should -take his place. For this service Parker immediately volunteered; but, -after making three ineffectual efforts, found that he could never even -succeed in getting near the door. The condition of Augustus's wounded -arm rendered it useless for him to attempt going down, as he would be -unable to force the room open should he reach it, and it accordingly -now devolved upon me to exert myself for our common deliverance. - -Peters had left one of the chains in the passage, and I found, upon -plunging in, that I had not sufficient ballast to keep me firmly down. -I determined, therefore, to attempt no more, in my first effort, than -merely to recover the other chain. In groping along the floor of the -passage for this I felt a hard substance, which I immediately grasped, -not having time to ascertain what it was, but returning and ascending -instantly to the surface. The prize proved to be a bottle, and our joy -may be conceived when I say that it was found to be full of Port wine. -Giving thanks to God for this timely and cheering assistance, we -immediately drew the cork with my penknife, and, each taking a moderate -sup, felt the most indescribable comfort from the warmth, strength, and -spirits with which it inspired us. We then carefully recorked the -bottle, and, by means of a handkerchief, swung it in such a manner that -there was no possibility of its getting broken. - -Having rested a while after this fortunate discovery, I again -descended, and now recovered the chain, with which I instantly came up. -I then fastened it on and went down for the third time, when I became -fully satisfied that no exertions whatever, in that situation, would -enable me to force open the door of the storeroom. I therefore returned -in despair. - -There seemed now to be no longer any room for hope, and I could -perceive in the countenances of my companions that they had made up -their minds to perish. The wine had evidently produced in them a -species of delirium, which, perhaps, I had been prevented from feeling -by the immersion I had undergone since drinking it. They talked -incoherently, and about matters unconnected with our condition, Peters -repeatedly asking me questions about Nantucket. Augustus, too, I -remember, approached me with a serious air, and requested me to lend -him a pocket-comb, as his hair was full of fish scales, and he wished -to get them out before going on shore. Parker appeared somewhat less -affected, and urged me to dive at random into the cabin, and bring up -any article which might come to hand. To this I consented, and, in the -first attempt, after staying under a full minute, brought up a small -leather trunk belonging to Captain Barnard. This was immediately opened -in the faint hope that it might contain something to eat or drink. We -found nothing, however, except a box of razors and two linen shirts. I -now went down again, and returned without any success. As my head came -above water I heard a crash on deck, and, upon getting up, saw that my -companions had ungratefully taken advantage of my absence to drink the -remainder of the wine, having let the bottle fall in the endeavour to -replace it before I saw them. I remonstrated with them on the -heartlessness of their conduct, when Augustus burst into tears. The -other two endeavoured to laugh the matter off as a joke, but I hope -never again to behold laughter of such a species: the distortion of -countenance was absolutely frightful. Indeed, it was apparent that the -stimulus, in the empty state of their stomachs, had taken instant and -violent effect, and that they were all exceedingly intoxicated. With -great difficulty I prevailed upon them to lie down, when they fell very -soon into a heavy slumber, accompanied with loud stertorous breathing. - -I now found myself, as it were, alone in the brig, and my reflections, -to be sure, were of the most fearful and gloomy nature. No prospect -offered itself to my view but a lingering death by famine, or, at the -best, by being overwhelmed in the first gale which should spring up, -for in our present exhausted condition we could have no hope of living -through another. - -The gnawing hunger which I now experienced was nearly insupportable, -and I felt myself capable of going to any lengths in order to appease -it. With my knife I cut off a small portion of the leather trunk, and -endeavoured to eat it, but found it utterly impossible to swallow a -single morsel, although I fancied that some little alleviation of my -suffering was obtained by chewing small pieces of it and spitting them -out. Towards night my companions awoke, one by one, each in an -indescribable state of weakness and horror, brought on by the wine, -whose fumes had now evaporated. They shook as if with a violent ague, -and uttered the most lamentable cries for water. Their condition -affected me in the most lively degree, at the same time causing me to -rejoice in the fortunate train of circumstances which had prevented me -from indulging in the wine, and consequently from sharing their -melancholy and most distressing sensations. Their conduct, however, -gave me great uneasiness and alarm; for it was evident that, unless -some favourable change took place, they could afford me no assistance -in providing for our common safety. I had not yet abandoned all idea of -being able to get up something from below; but the attempt could not -possibly be resumed until some one of them was sufficiently master of -himself to aid me by holding the end of the rope while I went down. -Parker appeared to be somewhat more in possession of his senses than -the others, and I endeavoured, by every means in my power, to arouse -him. Thinking that a plunge in the seawater might have a beneficial -effect, I contrived to fasten the end of a rope around his body, and -then, leading him to the companion-way (he remaining quite passive all -the while), pushed him in, and immediately drew him out. I had good -reason to congratulate myself upon having made this experiment; for he -appeared much revived and invigorated, and, upon getting out, asked me, -in a rational manner, why I had so served him. Having explained my -object, he expressed himself indebted to me, and said that he felt -greatly better from the immersion, afterward conversing sensibly upon -our situation. We then resolved to treat Augustus and Peters in the -same way, which we immediately did, when they both experienced much -benefit from the shock. This idea of sudden immersion had been -suggested to me by reading in some medical work the good effect of the -shower-bath in a case where the patient was suffering from _mania à -potu_. - -Finding that I could now trust my companions to hold the end of the -rope, I again made three or four plunges into the cabin, although it -was now quite dark, and a gentle but long swell from the northward -rendered the hulk somewhat unsteady. In the course of these attempts I -succeeded in bringing up two case-knives, a three-gallon jug, empty, -and a blanket, but nothing which could serve us for food. I continued -my efforts, after getting these articles, until I was completely -exhausted, but brought up nothing else. During the night Parker and -Peters occupied themselves by turns in the same manner; but nothing -coming to hand, we now gave up this attempt in despair, concluding that -we were exhausting ourselves in vain. - -We passed the remainder of this night in a state of the most intense -mental and bodily anguish that can possibly be imagined. The morning of -the sixteenth at length dawned, and we looked eagerly around the -horizon for relief, but to no purpose. The sea was still smooth, with -only a long swell from the northward, as on yesterday. This was the -sixth day since we had tasted either food or drink, with the exception -of the bottle of Port wine, and it was clear that we could hold out but -a very little while longer unless something could be obtained. I never -saw before, nor wish to see again, human beings so utterly emaciated as -Peters and Augustus. Had I met them on shore in their present condition -I should not have had the slightest suspicion that I had ever beheld -them. Their countenances were totally changed in character, so that I -could not bring myself to believe them really the same individuals with -whom I had been in company but a few days before. Parker, although -sadly reduced, and so feeble that he could not raise his head from his -bosom, was not so far gone as the other two. He suffered with great -patience, making no complaint, and endeavouring to inspire us with hope -in every manner he could devise. For myself, although at the -commencement of the voyage I had been in bad health, and was at all -times of a delicate constitution, I suffered less than any of us, being -much less reduced in frame, and retaining my powers of mind in a -surprising degree, while the rest were completely prostrated in -intellect, and seemed to be brought to a species of second childhood, -generally simpering in their expressions, with idiotic smiles, and -uttering the most absurd platitudes. At intervals, however, they would -appear to revive suddenly, as if inspired all at once with a -consciousness of their condition, when they would spring upon their -feet in a momentary flash of vigour, and speak, for a short period, of -their prospects, in a manner altogether rational, although full of the -most intense despair. It is possible, however, that my companions may -have entertained the same opinion of their own condition as I did of -mine, and that I may have unwittingly been guilty of the same -extravagances and imbecilities as themselves--this is a matter which -cannot be determined. - -About noon Parker declared that he saw land off the larboard quarter, -and it was with the utmost difficulty I could restrain him from -plunging into the sea with the view of swimming towards it. Peters and -Augustus took little notice of what he said, being apparently wrapped -up in moody contemplation. Upon looking in the direction pointed out I -could not perceive the faintest appearance of the shore--indeed, I was -too well aware that we were far from any land to indulge in a hope of -that nature. It was a long time, nevertheless, before I could convince -Parker of his mistake. He then burst into a flood of tears, weeping -like a child, with loud cries and sobs, for two or three hours, when, -becoming exhausted, he fell asleep. - -Peters and Augustus now made several ineffectual efforts to swallow -portions of the leather. I advised them to chew it and spit it out; but -they were too excessively debilitated to be able to follow my advice. I -continued to chew pieces of it at intervals, and found some relief from -so doing; my chief distress was for water, and I was only prevented -from taking a draught from the sea by remembering the horrible -consequences which thus have resulted to others who were similarly -situated with ourselves. - -The day wore on in this manner, when I suddenly discovered a sail to -the eastward, and on our larboard bow. She appeared to be a large ship, -and was coming nearly athwart us, being probably twelve or fifteen -miles distant. None of my companions had as yet discovered her, and I -forbore to tell them of her for the present, lest we might again be -disappointed of relief. At length, upon her getting nearer, I saw -distinctly that she was heading immediately for us, with her light -sails filled. I could now contain myself no longer, and pointed her out -to my fellow-sufferers. They immediately sprang to their feet, again -indulging in the most extravagant demonstrations of joy, weeping, -laughing in an idiotic manner, jumping, stamping upon the deck, tearing -their hair, and praying and cursing by turns. I was so affected by -their conduct, as well as by what I now considered a sure prospect of -deliverance, that I could not refrain from joining in with their -madness, and gave way to the impulses of my gratitude and ecstasy by -lying and rolling on the deck, clapping my hands, shouting, and other -similar acts, until I was suddenly called to my recollection, and once -more to the extreme of human misery and despair, by perceiving the ship -all at once with her stern fully presented towards us, and steering in -a direction nearly opposite to that in which I had at first perceived -her. - -It was some time before I could induce my poor companions to believe -that this sad reverse in our prospects had actually taken place. They -replied to all my assertions with a stare and a gesture implying that -they were not to be deceived by such misrepresentations. The conduct of -Augustus most sensibly affected me. In spite of all I could say or do -to the contrary, he persisted in saying that the ship was rapidly -nearing us, and in making preparations to go on board of her. Some -seaweed floating by the brig, he maintained that it was the ship's -boat, and endeavoured to throw himself upon it, howling and shrieking -in the most heartrending manner, when I forcibly restrained him from -thus casting himself into the sea. - -Having become in some degree pacified, we continued to watch the ship -until we finally lost sight of her, the weather becoming hazy, with a -light breeze springing up. As soon as she was entirely gone, Parker -turned suddenly towards me with an expression of countenance which made -me shudder. There was about him an air of self-possession which I had -not noticed in him until now, and before he opened his lips my heart -told me what he would say. He proposed, in a few words, that one of us -should die to preserve the existence of the others. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - - -I had, for some time past, dwelt upon the prospect of our being reduced -to this last horrible extremity, and had secretly made up my mind to -suffer death in any shape or under any circumstances rather than resort -to such a course. Nor was this resolution in any degree weakened by the -present intensity of hunger under which I laboured. The proposition had -not been heard by either Peters or Augustus. I therefore took Parker -aside; and mentally praying to God for power to dissuade him from the -horrible purpose he entertained, I expostulated with him for a long -time and in the most supplicating manner, begging him in the name of -everything which he held sacred, and urging him by every species of -argument which the extremity of the case suggested, to abandon the -idea, and not to mention it to either of the other two. - -He heard all I said without attempting to controvert any of my -arguments, and I had begun to hope that he would be prevailed upon to -do as I desired. But when I had ceased speaking, he said that he knew -very well all I had said was true, and that to resort to such a course -was the most horrible alternative which could enter into the mind of -man; but that he had now held out as long as human nature could be -sustained; that it was unnecessary for all to perish, when, by the -death of one, it was possible, and even probable, that the rest might -be finally preserved; adding that I might save myself the trouble of -trying to turn him from his purpose, his mind having been thoroughly -made up on the subject even before the appearance of the ship, and that -only her heaving in sight had prevented him from mentioning his -intention at an earlier period. - -I now begged him, if he would not be prevailed upon to abandon his -design, at least to defer it for another day, when some vessel might -come to our relief; again reiterating every argument I could devise, -and which I thought likely to have influence with one of his rough -nature. He said, in reply, that he had not spoken until the very last -possible moment; that he could exist no longer without sustenance of -some kind; and that therefore in another day his suggestion would be -too late, as regarded himself at least. - -Finding that he was not to be moved by anything I could say in a mild -tone, I now assumed a different demeanour, and told him that he must be -aware I had suffered less than any of us from our calamities; that my -health and strength, consequently, were at that moment far better than -his own, or than that either of Peters or Augustus; in short, that I -was in a condition to have my own way by force if I found it necessary; -and that, if he attempted in any manner to acquaint the others with his -bloody and cannibal designs, I would not hesitate to throw him into the -sea. Upon this he immediately seized me by the throat, and drawing a -knife, made several ineffectual efforts to stab me in the stomach; an -atrocity which his excessive debility alone prevented him from -accomplishing. In the mean time, being roused to a high pitch of anger, -I forced him to the vessel's side, with the full intention of throwing -him overboard. He was saved from this fate, however, by the -interference of Peters, who now approached and separated us, asking the -cause of the disturbance. This Parker told before I could find means in -any manner to prevent him. - -The effect of his words was even more terrible than what I had -anticipated. Both Augustus and Peters, who, it seems, had long secretly -entertained the same fearful idea which Parker had been merely the -first to broach, joined with him in his design, and insisted upon its -being immediately carried into effect. I had calculated that one at -least of the two former would be found still possessed of sufficient -strength of mind to side with myself in resisting any attempt to -execute so dreadful a purpose; and, with the aid of either one of them, -I had no fear of being able to prevent its accomplishment. Being -disappointed in this expectation, it became absolutely necessary that I -should attend to my own safety, as a further resistance on my part -might possibly be considered by men in their frightful condition a -sufficient excuse for refusing me fair play in the tragedy that I knew -would speedily be enacted. - -I now told them I was willing to submit to the proposal, merely -requesting a delay of about one hour, in order that the fog which had -gathered around us might have an opportunity of lifting, when it was -possible that the ship we had seen might be again in sight. After great -difficulty I obtained from them a promise to wait thus long; and, as I -had anticipated (a breeze rapidly coming in), the fog lifted before the -hour had expired, when, no vessel appearing in sight, we prepared to -draw lots. - -It is with extreme reluctance that I dwell upon the appalling scene -which ensued; a scene which, with its minutest details, no after events -have been able to efface in the slightest degree from my memory, and -whose stern recollection will imbitter every future moment of my -existence. Let me run over this portion of my narrative with as much -haste as the nature of the events to be spoken of will permit. The only -method we could devise for the terrific lottery, in which we were to -take each a chance, was that of drawing straws. Small splinters of wood -were made to answer our purpose, and it was agreed that I should be the -holder. I retired to one end of the hulk, while my poor companions -silently took up their station in the other with their backs turned -towards me. The bitterest anxiety which I endured at any period of this -fearful drama was while I occupied myself in the arrangement of the -lots. There are few conditions into which man can possibly fall where -he will not feel a deep interest in the preservation of his existence; -an interest momentarily increasing with the frailness of the tenure by -which that existence may be held. But now that the silent, definite, -and stern nature of the business in which I was engaged (so different -from the tumultuous dangers of the storm or the gradually approaching -horrors of famine) allowed me to reflect on the few chances I had of -escaping the most appalling of deaths--a death for the most appalling -of purposes--every particle of that energy which had so long buoyed me -up departed like feathers before the wind, leaving me a helpless prey -to the most abject and pitiable terror. I could not, at first, even -summon up sufficient strength to tear and fit together the small -splinters of wood, my fingers absolutely refusing their office, and my -knees knocking violently against each other. My mind ran over rapidly a -thousand absurd projects by which to avoid becoming a partner in the -awful speculation. I thought of falling on my knees to my companions, -and entreating them to let me escape this necessity; of suddenly -rushing upon them, and, by putting one of them to death, of rendering -the decision by lot useless--in short, of everything but of going -through with the matter I had in hand. At last, after wasting a long -time in this imbecile conduct, I was recalled to my senses by the voice -of Parker, who urged me to relieve them at once from the terrible -anxiety they were enduring. Even then I could not bring myself to -arrange the splinters upon the spot, but thought over every species of -finesse by which I could trick some one of my fellow-sufferers to draw -the short straw, as it had been agreed that whoever drew the shortest -of four splinters from my hand was to die for the preservation of the -rest. Before any one condemn me for this apparent heartlessness, let -him be placed in a situation precisely similar to my own. - -At length delay was no longer possible, and, with a heart almost -bursting from my bosom, I advanced to the region of the forecastle, -where my companions were awaiting me. I held out my hand with the -splinters, and Peters immediately drew. He was free--_his_, at least, -was not the shortest; and there was now another chance against my -escape. I summoned up all my strength, and passed the lots to Augustus. -He also drew immediately, and he also was free; and now, whether I -should live or die, the chances were no more than precisely even. At -this moment all the fierceness of the tiger possessed my bosom, and I -felt towards my poor fellow-creature, Parker, the most intense, the -most diabolical hatred. But the feeling did not last; and, at length, -with a convulsive shudder and closed eyes, I held out the two remaining -splinters towards him. It was full five minutes before he could summon -resolution to draw, during which period of heartrending suspense I -never once opened my eyes. Presently one of the two lots was quickly -drawn from my hand. The decision was then over, yet I knew not whether -it was for me or against me. No one spoke, and still I dared not -satisfy myself by looking at the splinter I held. Peters at length took -me by the hand, and I forced myself to look up, when I immediately saw -by the countenance of Parker that I was safe, and that he it was who -had been doomed to suffer. Gasping for breath, I fell senseless to the -deck. - -I recovered from my swoon in time to behold the consummation of the -tragedy in the death of him who had been chiefly instrumental in -bringing it about. He made no resistance whatever, and was stabbed in -the back by Peters, when he fell instantly dead. I must not dwell upon -the fearful repast which immediately ensued. Such things may be -imagined, but words have no power to impress the mind with the -exquisite horror of their reality. Let it suffice to say that, having -in some measure appeased the raging thirst which consumed us by the -blood of the victim, and having by common consent taken off the hands, -feet, and head, throwing them, together with the entrails, into the -sea, we devoured the rest of the body, piecemeal, during the four ever -memorable days of the seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth, and -twentieth of the month. - -On the nineteenth, there coming on a smart shower which lasted fifteen -or twenty minutes, we contrived to catch some water by means of a sheet -which had been fished up from the cabin by our drag just after the -gale. The quantity we took in all did not amount to more than half a -gallon; but even this scanty allowance supplied us with comparative -strength and hope. - -On the twenty-first we were again reduced to the last necessity. The -weather still remained warm and pleasant, with occasional fogs and -light breezes, most usually from N. to W. - -On the twenty-second, as we were sitting close huddled together, -gloomily revolving over our lamentable condition, there flashed through -my mind all at once an idea which inspired me with a bright gleam of -hope. I remembered that, when the foremast had been cut away, Peters, -being in the windward chains, passed one of the axes into my hand, -requesting me to put it, if possible, in a place of security, and that -a few minutes before the last heavy sea struck the brig and filled her -I had taken this axe into the forecastle, and laid it in one of the -larboard berths. I now thought it possible that, by getting at this -axe, we might cut through the deck over the storeroom, and thus readily -supply ourselves with provisions. - -When I communicated this project to my companions, they uttered a -feeble shout of joy, and we all proceeded forthwith to the forecastle. -The difficulty of descending here was greater than that of going down -in the cabin, the opening being much smaller, for it will be remembered -that the whole framework about the cabin companion-hatch had been -carried away, whereas the forecastle-way, being a simple hatch of only -about three feet square, had remained uninjured. I did not hesitate, -however, to attempt the descent; and, a rope being fastened round my -body as before, I plunged boldly in, feet foremost, made my way quickly -to the berth, and, at the very first attempt, brought up the axe. It -was hailed with the most ecstatic joy and triumph, and the ease with -which it had been obtained was regarded as an omen of our ultimate -preservation. - -We now commenced cutting at the deck with all the energy of rekindled -hope, Peters and myself taking the axe by turns, Augustus's wounded arm -not permitting him to aid us in any degree. As we were still so feeble -as to be scarcely able to stand unsupported, and could consequently -work but a minute or two without resting, it soon became evident that -many long hours would be requisite to accomplish our task--that is, to -cut an opening sufficiently large to admit of a free access to the -storeroom. This consideration, however, did not discourage us; and, -working all night by the light of the moon, we succeeded in effecting -our purpose by daybreak on the morning of the twenty-third. - -Peters now volunteered to go down; and, having made all arrangements as -before, he descended, and soon returned, bringing up with him a small -jar, which, to our great joy, proved to be full of olives. Having -shared these among us, and devoured them with the greatest avidity, we -proceeded to let him down again. This time he succeeded beyond our -utmost expectations, returning instantly with a large ham and a bottle -of Madeira wine. Of the latter we each took a moderate sup, having -learned by experience the pernicious consequences of indulging too -freely. The ham, except about two pounds near the bone, was not in a -condition to be eaten, having been entirely spoiled by the salt water. -The sound part was divided among us. Peters and Augustus, not being -able to restrain their appetite, swallowed theirs upon the instant; but -I was more cautious, and ate but a small portion of mine, dreading the -thirst which I knew would ensue. We now rested a while from our -labours, which had been intolerably severe. - -By noon, feeling somewhat strengthened and refreshed, we again renewed -our attempt at getting up provision, Peters and myself going down -alternately, and always with more or less success, until sundown. -During this interval we had the good fortune to bring up, altogether, -four more small jars of olives, another ham, a carboy containing nearly -three gallons of excellent Cape Madeira wine, and, what gave us still -more delight, a small tortoise of the Gallipago breed, several of which -had been taken on board by Captain Barnard, as the Grampus was leaving -port, from the schooner Mary Pitts, just returned from a sealing voyage -in the Pacific. - -In a subsequent portion of this narrative I shall have frequent -occasion to mention this species of tortoise. It is found principally, -as most of my readers may know, in the group of islands called the -Gallipagos, which, indeed, derive their name from the animal--the -Spanish word Gallipago meaning a fresh-water terapin. From the -peculiarity of their shape and action they have been sometimes called -the elephant tortoise. They are frequently found of an enormous size. I -have myself seen several which would weigh from twelve to fifteen -hundred pounds, although I do not remember that any navigator speaks of -having seen them weighing more than eight hundred. Their appearance is -singular, and even disgusting. Their steps are very slow, measured, and -heavy, their bodies being carried about a foot from the ground. Their -neck is long, and exceedingly slender; from eighteen inches to two feet -is a very common length, and I killed one, where the distance from the -shoulder to the extremity of the head was no less than three feet ten -inches. The head has a striking resemblance to that of a serpent. They -can exist without food for an almost incredible length of time, -instances having been known where they have been thrown into the hold -of a vessel and lain two years without nourishment of any kind--being -as fat, and, in every respect, in as good order at the expiration of -the time as when they were first put in. In one particular these -extraordinary animals bear a resemblance to the dromedary, or camel of -the desert. In a bag at the root of the neck they carry with them a -constant supply of water. In some instances, upon killing them after a -full year's deprivation of all nourishment, as much as three gallons of -perfectly sweet and fresh water have been found in their bags. Their -food is chiefly wild parsley and celery, with purslain, sea-kelp, and -prickly pears, upon which latter vegetable they thrive wonderfully, a -great quantity of it being usually found on the hillsides near the -shore wherever the animal itself is discovered. They are excellent and -highly nutritious food, and have, no doubt, been the means of -preserving the lives of thousands of seamen employed in the -whale-fishery and other pursuits in the Pacific. - -The one which we had the good fortune to bring up from the storeroom -was not of a large size, weighing probably sixty-five or seventy -pounds. It was a female, and in excellent condition, being exceedingly -fat, and having more than a quart of limpid and sweet water in its bag. -This was indeed a treasure; and, falling on our knees with one accord, -we returned fervent thanks to God for so seasonable a relief. - -We had great difficulty in getting the animal up through the opening, -as its struggles were fierce and its strength prodigious. It was upon -the point of making its escape from Peters's grasp, and slipping back -into the water, when Augustus, throwing a rope with a slip-knot around -its throat, held it up in this manner until I jumped into the hole by -the side of Peters, and assisted him in lifting it out. - -The water we drew carefully from the bag into the jug, which, it will -be remembered, had been brought up before from the cabin. Having done -this, we broke off the neck of a bottle so as to form, with the cork, a -kind of glass, holding not quite half a gill. We then each drank one of -these measures full, and resolved to limit ourselves to this quantity -per day as long as it should hold out. - -During the last two or three days, the weather having been dry and -pleasant, the bedding we had obtained from the cabin, as well as our -clothing, had become thoroughly dry, so that we passed this night (that -of the twenty-third) in comparative comfort, enjoying a tranquil -repose, after having supped plentifully on olives and ham, with a small -allowance of the wine. Being afraid of losing some of our stores -overboard during the night, in the event of a breeze springing up, we -secured them as well as possible with cordage to the fragments of the -windlass. Our tortoise, which we were anxious to preserve alive as long -as we could, we threw on his back, and otherwise carefully fastened. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - - -_July 24._ This morning saw us wonderfully recruited in spirits and -strength. Notwithstanding the perilous situation in which we were still -placed, ignorant of our position, although certainly at a great -distance from land, without more food than would last us for a -fortnight even with great care, almost entirely without water, and -floating about at the mercy of every wind and wave, on the merest wreck -in the world, still the infinitely more terrible distresses and dangers -from which we had so lately and so providentially been delivered caused -us to regard what we now endured as but little more than an ordinary -evil--so strictly comparative is either good or ill. - -At sunrise we were preparing to renew our attempts at getting up -something from the storeroom, when, a smart shower coming on, with some -lightning, we turned our attention to the catching of water by means of -the sheet we had used before for this purpose. We had no other means of -collecting the rain than by holding the sheet spread out with one of -the forechain-plates in the middle of it. The water, thus conducted to -the centre, was drained through into our jug. We had nearly filled it -in this manner, when, a heavy squall coming on from the northward, -obliged us to desist, as the hulk began once more to roll so violently -that we could no longer keep our feet. We now went forward, and, -lashing ourselves securely to the remnant of the windlass as before, -awaited the event with far more calmness than could have been -anticipated, or would have been imagined possible under the -circumstances. At noon the wind had freshened into a two-reef breeze, -and by night into a stiff gale, accompanied with a tremendously heavy -swell. Experience having taught us, however, the best method of -arranging our lashings, we weathered this dreary night in tolerable -security, although thoroughly drenched at almost every instant by the -sea, and in momentary dread of being washed off. Fortunately, the -weather was so warm as to render the water rather grateful than -otherwise. - -_July 25._ This morning the gale had diminished to a mere ten-knot -breeze, and the sea had gone down with it so considerably that we were -able to keep ourselves dry upon the deck. To our great grief, however, -we found that two jars of our olives, as well as the whole of our ham, -had been washed overboard, in spite of the careful manner in which they -had been fastened. We determined not to kill the tortoise as yet, and -contented ourselves for the present with a breakfast on a few of the -olives, and a measure of water each, which latter we mixed, half and -half, with wine, finding great relief and strength from the mixture, -without the distressing intoxication which had ensued upon drinking the -Port. The sea was still far too rough for the renewal of our efforts at -getting up provision from the storeroom. Several articles, of no -importance to us in our present situation, floated up through the -opening during the day, and were immediately washed overboard. We also -now observed that the hulk lay more along than ever, so that we could -not stand an instant without lashing ourselves. On this account we -passed a gloomy and uncomfortable day. At noon the sun appeared to be -nearly vertical, and we had no doubt that we had been driven down by -the long succession of northward and northwesterly winds into the near -vicinity of the equator. Towards evening saw several sharks, and were -somewhat alarmed by the audacious manner in which an enormously large -one approached us. At one time, a lurch throwing the deck very far -beneath the water, the monster actually swam in upon us, floundering -for some moments just over the companion-hatch, and striking Peters -violently with his tail. A heavy sea at length hurled him overboard, -much to our relief. In moderate weather we might have easily captured -him. - -_July 26._ This morning, the wind having greatly abated, and the sea -not being very rough, we determined to renew our exertions in the -storeroom. After a great deal of hard labour during the whole day, we -found that nothing further was to be expected from this quarter, the -partitions of the room having been stove during the night, and its -contents swept into the hold. This discovery, as may be supposed, -filled us with despair. - -_July 27._ The sea nearly smooth, with a light wind, and still from the -northward and westward. The sun coming out hotly in the afternoon, we -occupied ourselves in drying our clothes. Found great relief from -thirst, and much comfort otherwise, by bathing in the sea; in this, -however, we were forced to use great caution, being afraid of sharks, -several of which were seen swimming around the brig during the day. - -_July 28._ Good weather still. The brig now began to lie along so -alarmingly that we feared she would eventually roll bottom up. Prepared -ourselves as well as we could for this emergency, lashing our tortoise, -water-jug, and two remaining jars of olives as far as possible over to -the windward, placing them outside the hull, below the main-chains. The -sea very smooth all day, with little or no wind. - -_July 29._ A continuance of the same weather. Augustus's wounded arm -began to evince symptoms of mortification. He complained of drowsiness -and excessive thirst, but no acute pain. Nothing could be done for his -relief beyond rubbing his wounds with a little of the vinegar from the -olives, and from this no benefit seemed to be experienced. We did -everything in our power for his comfort, and trebled his allowance of -water. - -_July 30._ An excessively hot day, with no wind. An enormous shark kept -close by the hulk during the whole of the forenoon. We made several -unsuccessful attempts to capture him by means of a noose. Augustus much -worse, and evidently sinking as much from want of proper nourishment as -from the effect of his wounds. He constantly prayed to be released from -his sufferings, wishing for nothing but death. This evening we ate the -last of our olives, and found the water in our jug so putrid that we -could not swallow it at all without the addition of wine. Determined to -kill our tortoise in the morning. - -_July 31._ After a night of excessive anxiety and fatigue, owing to the -position of the hulk, we set about killing and cutting up our tortoise. -He proved to be much smaller than we had supposed, although in good -condition--the whole meat about him not amounting to more than ten -pounds. With a view of preserving a portion of this as long as -possible, we cut it into fine pieces, and filled with them our three -remaining olive-jars and the wine-bottle (all of which had been kept), -pouring in afterward the vinegar from the olives. In this manner we put -away about three pounds of the tortoise, intending not to touch it -until we had consumed the rest. We concluded to restrict ourselves to -about four ounces of the meat per day; the whole would thus last us -thirteen days. A brisk shower, with severe thunder and lightning, came -on about dusk, but lasted so short a time that we only succeeded in -catching about half a pint of water. The whole of this, by common -consent, was given to Augustus, who now appeared to be in the last -extremity. He drank the water from the sheet as we caught it (we -holding it above him as he lay so as to let it run into his mouth), for -we had now nothing left capable of holding water, unless we had chosen -to empty out our wine from the carboy, or the stale water from the jug. -Either of these expedients would have been resorted to had the shower -lasted. - -The sufferer seemed to derive but little benefit from the draught. His -arm was completely black from the wrist to the shoulder, and his feet -were like ice. We expected every moment to see him breathe his last. He -was frightfully emaciated; so much so that, although he weighed a -hundred and twenty-seven pounds upon his leaving Nantucket, he now did -not weigh more than _forty or fifty at the farthest_. His eyes were -sunk far in his head, being scarcely perceptible, and the skin of his -cheeks hung so loosely as to prevent his masticating any food, or even -swallowing any liquid, without great difficulty. - -_August 1._ A continuance of the same calm weather, with an -oppressively hot sun. Suffered exceedingly from thirst, the water in -the jug being absolutely putrid and swarming with vermin. We contrived, -nevertheless, to swallow a portion of it by mixing it with wine--our -thirst, however, was but little abated. We found more relief by bathing -in the sea, but could not avail ourselves of this expedient except at -long intervals, on account of the continual presence of sharks. We now -saw clearly that Augustus could not be saved; that he was evidently -dying. We could do nothing to relieve his sufferings, which appeared to -be great. About twelve o'clock he expired in strong convulsions, and -without having spoken for several hours. His death filled us with the -most gloomy forebodings, and had so great an effect upon our spirits -that we sat motionless by the corpse during the whole day, and never -addressed each other except in a whisper. It was not until some time -after dark that we took courage to get up and throw the body overboard. -It was then loathsome beyond expression, and so far decayed that, as -Peters attempted to lift it, an entire leg came off in his grasp. As -the mass of putrefaction slipped over the vessel's side into the water, -the glare of phosphoric light with which it was surrounded plainly -discovered to us seven or eight large sharks, the clashing of whose -horrible teeth, as their prey was torn to pieces among them, might have -been heard at the distance of a mile. We shrunk within ourselves in the -extremity of horror at the sound. - -_August 2._ The same fearfully calm and hot weather. The dawn found us -in a state of pitiable dejection as well as bodily exhaustion. The -water in the jug was now absolutely useless, being a thick gelatinous -mass; nothing but frightful-looking worms mingled with slime. We threw -it out, and washed the jug well in the sea, afterward pouring a little -vinegar in it from our bottles of pickled tortoise. Our thirst could -now scarcely be endured, and we tried in vain to relieve it by wine, -which seemed only to add fuel to the flame, and excited us to a high -degree of intoxication. We afterward endeavoured to relieve our -sufferings by mixing the wine with seawater; but this instantly brought -about the most violent retchings, so that we never again attempted it. -During the whole day we anxiously sought an opportunity of bathing, but -to no purpose; for the hulk was now entirely besieged on all sides with -sharks--no doubt the identical monsters who had devoured our poor -companion on the evening before, and who were in momentary expectation -of another similar feast. This circumstance occasioned us the most -bitter regret, and filled us with the most depressing and melancholy -forebodings. We had experienced indescribable relief in bathing, and to -have this resource cut off in so frightful a manner was more than we -could bear. Nor, indeed, were we altogether free from the apprehension -of immediate danger, for the least slip or false movement would have -thrown us at once within reach of these voracious fish, who frequently -thrust themselves directly upon us, swimming up to leeward. No shouts -or exertions on our part seemed to alarm them. Even when one of the -largest was struck with an axe by Peters, and much wounded, he -persisted in his attempts to push in where we were. A cloud came up at -dusk, but, to our extreme anguish, passed over without discharging -itself. It is quite impossible to conceive our sufferings from thirst -at this period. We passed a sleepless night, both on this account and -through dread of the sharks. - -_August 3._ No prospect of relief, and the brig lying still more and -more along, so that now we could not maintain a footing upon deck at -all. Busied ourselves in securing our wine and tortoise-meat, so that -we might not lose them in the event of our rolling over. Got out two -stout spikes from the forechains, and, by means of the axe, drove them -into the hull to windward within a couple of feet of the water; this -not being very far from the keel, as we were nearly upon our beam-ends. -To these spikes we now lashed our provisions, as being more secure than -their former position beneath the chains. Suffered great agony from -thirst during the whole day--no chance of bathing on account of the -sharks, which never left us for a moment. Found it impossible to sleep. - -_August 4._ A little before daybreak we perceived that the hulk was -heeling over, and aroused ourselves to prevent being thrown off by the -movement. At first the roll was slow and gradual, and we contrived to -clamber over to windward very well, having taken the precaution to -leave ropes hanging from the spikes we had driven in for the provision. -But we had not calculated sufficiently upon the acceleration of the -impetus; for presently the heel became too violent to allow of our -keeping pace with it; and, before either of us knew what was to happen, -we found ourselves hurled furiously into the sea, and struggling -several fathoms beneath the surface, with the huge hull immediately -above us. - -In going under the water I had been obliged to let go my hold upon the -rope; and finding that I was completely beneath the vessel, and my -strength utterly exhausted, I scarcely made a struggle for life, and -resigned myself, in a few seconds, to die. But here again I was -deceived, not having taken into consideration the natural rebound of -the hull to windward. The whirl of the water upward, which the vessel -occasioned in rolling partially back, brought me to the surface still -more violently than I had been plunged beneath. Upon coming up, I found -myself about twenty yards from the hulk, as near as I could judge. She -was lying keel up, rocking furiously from side to side, and the sea in -all directions around was much agitated, and full of strong whirlpools. -I could see nothing of Peters. An oil-cask was floating within a few -feet of me, and various other articles from the brig were scattered -about. - -My principal terror was now on account of the sharks, which I knew to -be in my vicinity. In order to deter these, if possible, from -approaching me, I splashed the water vigorously with both hands and -feet as I swam towards the hulk, creating a body of foam. I have no -doubt that to this expedient, simple as it was, I was indebted for my -preservation; for the sea all around the brig, just before her rolling -over, was so crowded with these monsters, that I must have been, and -really was, in actual contact with some of them during my progress. By -great good fortune, however, I reached the side of the vessel in -safety, although so utterly weakened by the violent exertion I had used -that I should never have been able to get upon it but for the timely -assistance of Peters, who now, to my great joy, made his appearance -(having scrambled up to the keel from the opposite side of the hull), -and threw me the end of a rope--one of those which had been attached to -the spikes. - -Having barely escaped this danger, our attention was now directed to -the dreadful imminency of another; that of absolute starvation. Our -whole stock of provision had been swept overboard in spite of all our -care in securing it; and seeing no longer the remotest possibility of -obtaining more, we gave way both of us to despair, weeping aloud like -children, and neither of us attempting to offer consolation to the -other. Such weakness can scarcely be conceived, and to those who have -never been similarly situated will, no doubt, appear unnatural; but it -must be remembered that our intellects were so entirely disordered by -the long course of privation and terror to which we had been subjected, -that we could not justly be considered, at that period, in the light of -rational beings. In subsequent perils, nearly as great, if not greater, -I bore up with fortitude against all the evils of my situation, and -Peters, it will be seen, evinced a stoical philosophy nearly as -incredible as his present childlike supineness and imbecility--the -mental condition made the difference. - -The overturning of the brig, even with the consequent loss of the wine -and turtle, would not, in fact, have rendered our situation more -deplorable than before, except for the disappearance of the bedclothes -by which we had been hitherto enabled to catch rainwater, and of the -jug in which we had kept it when caught; for we found the whole bottom, -from within two or three feet of the bends as far as the keel, together -with the keel itself, _thickly covered with large barnacles, which -proved to be excellent and highly nutritious food_. Thus, in two -important respects, the accident we had so greatly dreaded proved a -benefit rather than an injury; it had opened to us a supply of -provisions, which we could not have exhausted, using it moderately, in -a month; and it had greatly contributed to our comfort as regards -position, we being much more at our ease, and in infinitely less -danger, than before. - -The difficulty, however, of now obtaining water blinded us to all the -benefits of the change in our condition. That we might be ready to -avail ourselves, as far as possible, of any shower which might fall, we -took off our shirts, to make use of them as we had of the sheets--not -hoping, of course, to get more in this way, even under the most -favourable circumstances, than half a gill at a time. No signs of a -cloud appeared during the day, and the agonies of our thirst were -nearly intolerable. At night Peters obtained about an hour's disturbed -sleep, but my intense sufferings would not permit me to close my eyes -for a single moment. - -_August 5._ To-day, a gentle breeze springing up carried us through a -vast quantity of seaweed, among which we were so fortunate as to find -eleven small crabs, which afforded us several delicious meals. Their -shells being quite soft, we ate them entire, and found that they -irritated our thirst far less than the barnacles. Seeing no trace of -sharks among the seaweed, we also ventured to bathe, and remained in -the water for four or five hours, during which we experienced a very -sensible diminution of our thirst. Were greatly refreshed, and spent -the night somewhat more comfortably than before, both of us snatching a -little sleep. - -_August 6._ This day we were blessed by a brisk and continual rain, -lasting from about noon until after dark. Bitterly did we now regret -the loss of our jug and carboy; for, in spite of the little means we -had of catching the water, we might have filled one, if not both of -them. As it was, we contrived to satisfy the cravings of thirst by -suffering the shirts to become saturated, and then wringing them so as -to let the grateful fluid trickle into our mouths. In this occupation -we passed the entire day. - -_August 7._ Just at daybreak we both at the same instant descried a -sail to the eastward, and _evidently coming towards us!_ We hailed the -glorious sight with a long, although feeble shout of rapture; and began -instantly to make every signal in our power, by flaring the shirts in -the air, leaping as high as our weak condition would permit, and even -by hallooing with all the strength of our lungs, although the vessel -could not have been less than fifteen miles distant. However, she still -continued to near our hulk, and we felt that, if she but held her -present course, she must eventually come so close as to perceive us. In -about an hour after we first discovered her we could clearly see the -people on her decks. She was a long, low, and rakish-looking topsail -schooner, with a black ball in her foretopsail, and had, apparently, a -full crew. We now became alarmed, for we could hardly imagine it -possible that she did not observe us, and were apprehensive that she -meant to leave us to perish as we were--an act of fiendish barbarity, -which, however incredible it may appear, has been repeatedly -perpetrated at sea, under circumstances very nearly similar, and by -beings who were regarded as belonging to the human species.[2] In this -instance, however, by the mercy of God, we were destined to be most -happily deceived; for presently we were aware of a sudden commotion on -the deck of the stranger, who immediately afterward run up a British -flag, and, hauling her wind, bore up directly upon us. In half an hour -more we found ourselves in her cabin. She proved to be the Jane Guy, of -Liverpool, Captain Guy, bound on a sealing and trading voyage to the -South Seas and Pacific. - -[Footnote 2: The case of the brig Polly, of Boston, is one so much in -point, and her fate, in many respects, so remarkably similar to our -own, that I cannot forbear alluding to it here. This vessel, of one -hundred and thirty tons burden, sailed from Boston, with a cargo of -lumber and provisions, for Santa Croix, on the twelfth of December, -1811, under the command of Captain Casneau. There were eight souls on -board besides the captain--the mate, four seamen, and the cook, -together with a Mr. Hunt, and a negro girl belonging to him. On the -fifteenth, having cleared the shoal of Georges, she sprung a leak in a -gale of wind from the southeast, and was finally capsized; but, the -mast going by the board, she afterward righted. They remained in this -situation, without fire, and with very little provision, for the period -of _one hundred and ninety-one days_ (from December the fifteenth to -June the twentieth) when Captain Casneau and Samuel Badger, the only -survivers, were taken off the wreck by the Fame, of Hull, Captain -Featherstone, bound home from Rio Janeiro. When picked up they were in -latitude _28 N., longitude 13 W., having drifted above two thousand -miles_. On the ninth of July the Fame fell in with the brig Dromeo, -Captain Perkins, who landed the two sufferers in Kennebeck. The -narrative from which we gather these details ends in the following -words. - -"It is natural to inquire how they could float such a vast distance, -upon the most frequented part of the Atlantic, and not be discovered -all this time. _They were passed by more than a dozen sail, one of -which came so nigh them that they could distinctly see the people on -deck and on the rigging looking at them; but, to the inexpressible -disappointment of the starving and freezing men, they stifled the -dictates of compassion, hoisted sail, and cruelly abandoned them to -their fate._"] - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - - -The Jane Guy was a fine-looking topsail schooner of a hundred and -eighty tons burden. She was unusually sharp in the bows, and on a wind, -in moderate weather, the fastest sailer I have ever seen. Her -qualities, however, as a rough sea-boat, were not so good, and her -draught of water was by far too great for the trade to which she was -destined. For this peculiar service a larger vessel, and one of a light -proportionate draught, is desirable--say a vessel of from three to -three hundred and fifty tons. She should be barque-rigged, and in other -respects of a different construction from the usual South Sea ships. It -is absolutely necessary that she should be well armed. She should have, -say ten or twelve twelve pound carronades, and two or three long -twelves, with brass blunderbusses, and water-tight arm-chests for each -top. Her anchors and cables should be of far greater strength than is -required for any other species of trade, and, above all, her crew -should be numerous and efficient--not less, for such a vessel as I have -described, than fifty or sixty able-bodied men. The Jane Guy had a crew -of thirty-five, all able seamen, besides the captain and mate, but she -was not altogether as well armed or otherwise equipped as a navigator -acquainted with the difficulties and dangers of the trade could have -desired. - -Captain Guy was a gentleman of great urbanity of manner, and of -considerable experience in the southern traffic, to which he had -devoted a great portion of his life. He was deficient, however, in -energy, and, consequently, in that spirit of enterprise which is here -so absolutely requisite. He was part owner of the vessel in which he -sailed, and was invested with discretionary powers to cruise in the -South Seas for any cargo which might come most readily to hand. He had -on board, as usual in such voyages, beads, looking-glasses, -tinder-works, axes, hatchets, saws, adzes, planes, chisels, gouges, -gimlets, files, spokeshaves, rasps, hammers, nails, knives, scissors, -razors, needles, thread, crockery-ware, calico, trinkets, and other -similar articles. - -The schooner sailed from Liverpool on the tenth of July, crossed the -Tropic of Cancer on the twenty-fifth, in longitude twenty degrees west, -and reached Sal, one of the Cape Verd Islands, on the twenty-ninth, -where she took in salt and other necessaries for the voyage. On the -third of August she left the Cape Verds and steered southwest, -stretching over towards the coast of Brazil so as to cross the equator -between the meridians of twenty-eight and thirty degrees west -longitude. This is the course usually taken by vessels bound from -Europe to the Cape of Good Hope, or by that route to the East Indies. -By proceeding thus they avoid the calms and strong contrary currents -which continually prevail on the coast of Guinea, while, in the end, it -is found to be the shortest track, as westerly winds are never wanting -afterward by which to reach the Cape. It was Captain Guy's intention to -make his first stoppage at Kerguelen's Land--I hardly know for what -reason. On the day we were picked up the schooner was off Cape St. -Roque, in longitude 31 W.; so that, when found, we had drifted -probably, from north to south, _not less than five-and-twenty degrees_. - -On board the Jane Guy we were treated with all the kindness our -distressed situation demanded. In about a fortnight, during which time -we continued steering to the southeast, with gentle breezes and fine -weather, both Peters and myself recovered entirely from the effects of -our late privation and dreadful suffering, and we began to remember -what had passed rather as a frightful dream from which we had been -happily awakened, than as events which had taken place in sober and -naked reality. I have since found that this species of partial oblivion -is usually brought about by sudden transition, whether from joy to -sorrow or from sorrow to joy--the degree of forgetfulness being -proportioned to the degree of difference in the exchange. Thus, in my -own case, I now feel it impossible to realize the full extent of the -misery which I endured during the days spent upon the hulk. The -incidents are remembered, but not the feelings which the incidents -elicited at the time of their occurrence. I only know that, when they -did occur, I _then_ thought human nature could sustain nothing more of -agony. - -We continued our voyage for some weeks without any incidents of greater -moment than the occasional meeting with whaling-ships, and more -frequently with the black or right whale, so called in -contradistinction to the spermaceti. These, however, were chiefly found -south of the twenty-fifth parallel. On the sixteenth of September, -being in the vicinity of the Cape of Good Hope, the schooner -encountered her first gale of any violence since leaving Liverpool. In -this neighbourhood, but more frequently to the south and east of the -promontory (we were to the westward), navigators have often to contend -with storms from the northward which rage with great fury. They always -bring with them a heavy sea, and one of their most dangerous features -is the instantaneous chopping round of the wind, an occurrence almost -certain to take place during the greatest force of the gale. A perfect -hurricane will be blowing at one moment from the northward or -northeast, and in the next not a breath of wind will be felt in that -direction, while from the southwest it will come out all at once with a -violence almost inconceivable. A bright spot to the southward is the -sure forerunner of the change, and vessels are thus enabled to take the -proper precautions. - -It was about six in the morning when the blow came on with a white -squall, and, as usual, from the northward. By eight it had increased -very much, and brought down upon us one of the most tremendous seas I -had then ever beheld. Everything had been made as snug as possible, but -the schooner laboured excessively, and gave evidence of her bad -qualities as a seaboat, pitching her forecastle under at every plunge, -and with the greatest difficulty struggling up from one wave before she -was buried in another. Just before sunset the bright spot for which we -had been on the lookout made its appearance in the southwest, and in an -hour afterward we perceived the little headsail we carried flapping -listlessly against the mast. In two minutes more, in spite of every -preparation, we were hurled on our beam-ends as if by magic, and a -perfect wilderness of foam made a clear breach over us as we lay. The -blow from the southwest, however, luckily proved to be nothing more -than a squall, and we had the good fortune to right the vessel without -the loss of a spar. A heavy cross sea gave us great trouble for a few -hours after this, but towards morning we found ourselves in nearly as -good condition as before the gale. Captain Guy considered that he had -made an escape little less than miraculous. - -On the thirteenth of October we came in sight of Prince Edward's -Island, in latitude 46° 53' S., longitude 37° 46' E. Two days afterward -we found ourselves near Possession Island, and presently passed the -islands of Crozet, in latitude 42° 59' S., longitude 48° E. On the -eighteenth we made Kerguelen's or Desolation Island, in the Southern -Indian Ocean, and came to anchor in Christmas Harbour, having four -fathoms of water. - -This island, or rather group of islands, bears southeast from the Cape -of Good Hope, and is distant therefrom nearly eight hundred leagues. It -was first discovered in 1772, by the Baron de Kergulen, or Kerguelen, a -Frenchman, who, thinking the land to form a portion of an extensive -southern continent, carried home information to that effect, which -produced much excitement at the time. The government, taking the matter -up, sent the baron back in the following year for the purpose of giving -his new discovery a critical examination, when the mistake was -discovered. In 1777, Captain Cook fell in with the same group, and gave -to the principal one the name of Desolation Island, a title which it -certainly well deserves. Upon approaching the land, however, the -navigator might be induced to suppose otherwise, as the sides of most -of the hills, from September to March, are clothed with very brilliant -verdure. This deceitful appearance is caused by a small plant -resembling saxifrage, which is abundant, growing in large patches on a -species of crumbling moss. Besides this plant there is scarcely a sign -of vegetation on the island, if we except some coarse rank grass near -the harbour, some lichen, and a shrub which bears resemblance to a -cabbage shooting into seed, and which has a bitter and acrid taste. - -The face of the country is hilly, although none of the hills can be -called lofty. Their tops are perpetually covered with snow. There are -several harbours, of which Christmas Harbour is the most convenient. It -is the first to be met with on the northeast side of the island after -passing Cape François, which forms the northern shore, and, by its -peculiar shape, serves to distinguish the harbour. Its projecting point -terminates in a high rock, through which is a large hole, forming a -natural arch. The entrance is in latitude 48° 40' S., longitude 69° 6' -E. Passing in here, good anchorage may be found under the shelter of -several small islands, which form a sufficient protection from all -easterly winds. Proceeding on eastwardly from this anchorage you come -to Wasp Bay, at the head of the harbour. This is a small basin, -completely landlocked, into which you can go with four fathoms, and -find anchorage in from ten to three, hard clay bottom. A ship might lie -here with her best bower ahead all the year round without risk. To the -westward, at the head of Wasp Bay, is a small stream of excellent -water, easily procured. - -Some seal of the fur and hair species are still to be found on -Kerguelen's Island, and sea elephants abound. The feathered tribes are -discovered in great numbers. Penguins are very plenty, and of these -there are four different kinds. The royal penguin, so called from its -size and beautiful plumage, is the largest. The upper part of the body -is usually gray, sometimes of a lilach tint; the under portion of the -purest white imaginable. The head is of a glossy and most brilliant -black, the feet also. The chief beauty of the plumage, however, -consists in two broad stripes of a gold colour, which pass along from -the head to the breast. The bill is long, and either pink or bright -scarlet. These birds walk erect, with a stately carriage. They carry -their heads high, with their wings drooping like two arms, and, as -their tails project from their body in a line with the legs, the -resemblance to a human figure is very striking, and would be apt to -deceive the spectator at a casual glance or in the gloom of the -evening. The royal penguins which we met with on Kerguelen's Land were -rather larger than a goose. The other kinds are the macaroni, the -jackass, and the rookery penguin. These are much smaller, less -beautiful in plumage, and different in other respects. - -Besides the penguin many other birds are here to be found, among which -may be mentioned seahens, blue peterels, teal, ducks, Port Egmont hens, -shags, Cape pigeons, the nelly, seaswallows, terns, seagulls, Mother -Carey's chickens, Mother Carey's geese, or the great peterel, and, -lastly, the albatross. - -The great peterel is as large as the common albatross, and is -carnivorous. It is frequently called the break-bones, or osprey -peterel. They are not at all shy, and, when properly cooked, are -palatable food. In flying they sometimes sail very close to the surface -of the water, with the wings expanded, without appearing to move them -in the least degree, or make any exertion with them whatever. - -The albatross is one of the largest and fiercest of the South Sea -birds. It is of the gull species, and takes its prey on the wing, never -coming on land except for the purpose of breeding. Between this bird -and the penguin the most singular friendship exists. Their nests are -constructed with great uniformity, upon a plan concerted between the -two species--that of the albatross being placed in the centre of a -little square formed by the nests of four penguins. Navigators have -agreed in calling an assemblage of such encampments _a rookery_. These -rookeries have been often described, but, as my readers may not all -have seen these descriptions, and as I shall have occasion hereafter to -speak of the penguin and albatross, it will not be amiss to say -something here of their mode of building and living. - -When the season for incubation arrives, the birds assemble in vast -numbers, and for some days appear to be deliberating upon the proper -course to be pursued. At length they proceed to action. A level piece -of ground is selected, of suitable extent, usually comprising three or -four acres, and situated as near the sea as possible, being still -beyond its reach. The spot is chosen with reference to its evenness of -surface, and that is preferred which is the least encumbered with -stones. This matter being arranged, the birds proceed, with one accord, -and actuated apparently by one mind, to trace out, with mathematical -accuracy, either a square or other parallelogram, as may best suit the -nature of the ground, and of just sufficient size to accommodate easily -all the birds assembled, and no more--in this particular seeming -determined upon preventing the access of future stragglers who have not -participated in the labour of the encampment. One side of the place -thus marked out runs parallel with the water's edge, and is left open -for ingress or egress. - -Having defined the limits of the rookery, the colony now begin to clear -it of every species of rubbish, picking up stone by stone, and carrying -them outside of the lines, and close by them, so as to form a wall on -the three inland sides. Just within this wall a perfectly level and -smooth walk is formed, from six to eight feet wide, and extending -around the encampment--thus serving the purpose of a general promenade. - -The next process is to partition out the whole area into small squares -exactly equal in size. This is done by forming narrow paths, very -smooth, and crossing each other at right angles throughout the entire -extent of the rookery. At each intersection of these paths the nest of -an albatross is constructed, and a penguin's nest in the centre of each -square--thus every penguin is surrounded by four albatrosses, and each -albatross by a like number of penguins. The penguin's nest consists of -a hole in the earth, very shallow, being only just of sufficient depth -to keep her single egg from rolling. The albatross is somewhat less -simple in her arrangements, erecting a hillock about a foot high and -two in diameter. This is made of earth, seaweed, and shells. On its -summit she builds her nest. - -The birds take especial care never to leave their nests unoccupied for -an instant during the period of incubation, or, indeed, until the young -progeny are sufficiently strong to take care of themselves. While the -male is absent at sea in search of food, the female remains on duty, -and it is only upon the return of her partner that she ventures abroad. -The eggs are never left uncovered at all--while one bird leaves the -nest, the other nestling in by its side. This precaution is rendered -necessary by the thievish propensities prevalent in the rookery, the -inhabitants making no scruple to purloin each other's eggs at every -good opportunity. - -Although there are some rookeries in which the penguin and albatross -are the sole population, yet in most of them a variety of oceanic birds -are to be met with, enjoying all the privileges of citizenship, and -scattering their nests here and there, wherever they can find room, -never interfering, however, with the stations of the larger species. -The appearance of such encampments, when seen from a distance, is -exceedingly singular. The whole atmosphere just above the settlement is -darkened with the immense number of the albatross (mingled with the -smaller tribes) which are continually hovering over it, either going to -the ocean or returning home. At the same time a crowd of penguins are -to be observed, some passing to and fro in the narrow alleys, and some -marching, with the military strut so peculiar to them, around the -general promenade-ground which encircles the rookery. In short, survey -it as we will, nothing can be more astonishing than the spirit of -reflection evinced by these feathered beings, and nothing surely can be -better calculated to elicit reflection in every well-regulated human -intellect. - -On the morning after our arrival in Christmas Harbour the chief mate, -Mr. Patterson, took the boats, and (although it was somewhat early in -the season) went in search of seal, leaving the captain and a young -relation of his on a point of barren land to the westward, they having -some business, whose nature I could not ascertain, to transact in the -interior of the island. Captain Guy took with him a bottle, in which -was a sealed letter, and made his way from the point on which he was -set on shore towards one of the highest peaks in the place. It is -probable that his design was to leave the letter on that height for -some vessel which he expected to come after him. As soon as we lost -sight of him we proceeded (Peters and myself being in the mate's boat) -on our cruise around the coast, looking for seal. In this business we -were occupied about three weeks, examining with great care every nook -and corner, not only of Kerguelen's Land, but of the several small -islands in the vicinity. Our labours, however, were not crowned with -any important success. We saw a great many fur seal, but they were -exceedingly shy, and, with the greatest exertions, we could only -procure three hundred and fifty skins in all. Sea elephants were -abundant, especially on the western coast of the main island, but of -these we killed only twenty, and this with great difficulty. On the -smaller islands we discovered a good many of the hair seal, but did not -molest them. We returned to the schooner on the eleventh, where we -found Captain Guy and his nephew, who gave a very bad account of the -interior, representing it as one of the most dreary and utterly barren -countries in the world. They had remained two nights on the island, -owing to some misunderstanding, on the part of the second mate, in -regard to the sending a jollyboat from the schooner to take them off. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - - -On the twelfth we made sail from Christmas Harbour, retracing our way -to the westward, and leaving Marion's Island, one of Crozet's group, on -the larboard. We afterward passed Prince Edward's Island, leaving it -also on our left; then, steering more to the northward, made, in -fifteen days, the islands of Tristan d'Acunha, in latitude 37° 8' S., -longitude 12° 8' W. - -This group, now so well known, and which consists of three circular -islands, was first discovered by the Portuguese, and was visited -afterward by the Dutch in 1643, and by the French in 1767. The three -islands together form a triangle, and are distant from each other about -ten miles, there being fine open passages between. The land in all of -them is very high, especially in Tristan d'Acunha, properly so called. -This is the largest of the group, being fifteen miles in circumference, -and so elevated that it can be seen in clear weather at the distance of -eighty or ninety miles. A part of the land towards the north rises more -than a thousand feet perpendicularly from the sea. A tableland at this -height extends back nearly to the centre of the island, and from this -tableland arises a lofty cone like that of Teneriffe. The lower half of -this cone is clothed with trees of good size, but the upper region is -barren rock, usually hidden among the clouds, and covered with snow -during the greater part of the year. There are no shoals or other -dangers about the island, the shores being remarkably bold and the -water deep. On the northwestern coast is a bay, with a beach of black -sand, where a landing with boats can be easily effected, provided there -be a southerly wind. Plenty of excellent water may here be readily -procured; also cod, and other fish, may be taken with hook and line. - -The next island in point of size, and the most westwardly of the group, -is that called the Inaccessible. Its precise situation is 37° 17' S. -latitude, longitude 12° 24' W. It is seven or eight miles in -circumference, and on all sides presents a forbidding and precipitous -aspect. Its top is perfectly flat, and the whole region is steril, -nothing growing upon it except a few stunted shrubs. - -Nightingale Island, the smallest and most southerly, is in latitude 37° -26' S., longitude 12° 12' W. Off its southern extremity is a high ledge -of rocky islets; a few also of a similar appearance are seen to the -northeast. The ground is irregular and steril, and a deep valley -partially separates it. - -The shores of these islands abound, in the proper season, with sea -lions, sea elephants, the hair and fur seal, together with a great -variety of oceanic birds. Whales are also plenty in their vicinity. -Owing to the ease with which these various animals were here formerly -taken, the group has been much visited since its discovery. The Dutch -and French frequented it at a very early period. In 1790, Captain -Patten, of the ship Industry, of Philadelphia, made Tristan d'Acunha, -where he remained seven months (from August, 1790, to April, 1791) for -the purpose of collecting sealskins. In this time he gathered no less -than five thousand six hundred, and says that he would have had no -difficulty in loading a large ship with oil in three weeks. Upon his -arrival he found no quadrupeds, with the exception of a few wild -goats--the island now abounds with all our most valuable domestic -animals, which have been introduced by subsequent navigators. - -I believe it was not long after Captain Patten's visit that Captain -Colquhoun, of the American brig Betsey, touched at the largest of the -islands for the purpose of refreshment. He planted onions, potatoes, -cabbages, and a great many other vegetables, an abundance of all which -are now to be met with. - -In 1811, a Captain Heywood, in the Nereus, visited Tristan. He found -there three Americans, who were residing upon the islands to prepare -sealskins and oil. One of these men was named Jonathan Lambert, and he -called himself the sovereign of the country. He had cleared and -cultivated about sixty acres of land, and turned his attention to -raising the coffee-plant and sugar-cane, with which he had been -furnished by the American minister at Rio Janeiro. This settlement, -however, was finally abandoned, and in 1817 the islands were taken -possession of by the British government, who sent a detachment for that -purpose from the Cape of Good Hope. They did not, however, retain them -long; but, upon the evacuation of the country as a British possession, -two or three English families took up their residence there -independently of the government. On the twenty-fifth of March, 1824, -the Berwick, Captain Jeffrey, from London to Van Diemen's Land, arrived -at the place, where they found an Englishman of the name of Glass, -formerly a corporal in the British artillery. He claimed to be supreme -governor of the islands, and had under his control twenty-one men and -three women. He gave a very favourable account of the salubrity of the -climate and of the productiveness of the soil. The population occupied -themselves chiefly in collecting sealskins and sea elephant oil, with -which they traded to the Cape of Good Hope, Glass owning a small -schooner. At the period of our arrival the governor was still a -resident, but his little community had multiplied, there being -fifty-six persons upon Tristan, besides a smaller settlement of seven -on Nightingale Island. We had no difficulty in procuring almost every -kind of refreshment which we required--sheep, hogs, bullocks, rabbits, -poultry, goats, fish in great variety, and vegetables were abundant. -Having come to anchor close in with the large island, in eighteen -fathoms, we took all we wanted on board very conveniently. Captain Guy -also purchased of Glass five hundred sealskins and some ivory. We -remained here a week, during which the prevailing winds were from the -northward and westward, and the weather somewhat hazy. On the fifth of -November we made sail to the southward and westward, with the intention -of having a thorough search for a group of islands called the Auroras, -respecting whose existence a great diversity of opinion has existed. - -These islands are said to have been discovered as early as 1762, by the -commander of the ship Aurora. In 1790, Captain Manuel de Oyarvido, in -the ship Princess, belonging to the Royal Philippine Company, sailed, -as he asserts, directly among them. In 1794, the Spanish corvette -Atrevida went with the determination of ascertaining their precise -situation, and, in a paper published by the Royal Hydrographical -Society of Madrid in the year 1809, the following language is used -respecting this expedition. "The corvette Atrevida practised, in their -immediate vicinity, from the twenty-first to the twenty-seventh of -January, all the necessary observations, and measured by chronometers -the difference of longitude between these islands and the port of -Soledad in the Malninas. The islands are three; they are very nearly in -the same meridian; the centre one is rather low, and the other two may -be seen at nine leagues distance." The observations made on board the -Atrevida give the following results as the precise situation of each -island. The most northern is in latitude 52° 37' 24" S., longitude 47° -43' 15" W.; the middle one in latitude 53° 2' 40" S., longitude 47° 55' -15" W.; and the most southern in latitude 53° 15' 22" S., longitude 47° -57' 15" W. - -On the twenty-seventh of January, 1820, Captain James Weddel, of the -British navy, sailed from Staten Land also in search of the Auroras. He -reports that, having made the most diligent search, and passed not only -immediately over the spots indicated by the commander of the Atrevida, -but in every direction throughout the vicinity of these spots, he could -discover no indication of land. These conflicting statements have -induced other navigators to look out for the islands; and, strange to -say, while some have sailed through every inch of sea where they are -supposed to lie without finding them, there have been not a few who -declare positively that they have seen them, and even been close in -with their shores. It was Captain Guy's intention to make every -exertion within his power to settle the question so oddly in -dispute.[3] - -[Footnote 3: Among the vessels which at various times have professed to -meet with the Auroras may be mentioned the ship San Miguel, in 1769; -the ship Aurora, in 1774; the brig Pearl, in 1779; and the ship -Dolores, in 1790. They all agree in giving the mean latitude -fifty-three degrees south.] - -We kept on our course, between the south and west, with variable -weather, until the twentieth of the month, when we found ourselves on -the debated ground, being in latitude 53° 15' S., longitude 47° 58' -W.--that is to say, very nearly upon the spot indicated as the -situation of the most southern of the group. Not perceiving any sign of -land, we continued to the westward in the parallel of fifty-three -degrees south, as far as the meridian of fifty degrees west. We then -stood to the north as far as the parallel of fifty-two degrees south, -when we turned to the eastward, and kept our parallel by double -altitudes, morning and evening, and meridian altitudes of the planets -and moon. Having thus gone eastwardly to the meridian of the western -coast of Georgia, we kept that meridian until we were in the latitude -from which we set out. We then took diagonal courses throughout the -entire extent of sea circumscribed, keeping a lookout constantly at the -masthead, and repeating our examination with the greatest care for a -period of three weeks, during which the weather was remarkably pleasant -and fair, with no haze whatsoever. Of course we were thoroughly -satisfied that, whatever islands might have existed in this vicinity at -any former period, no vestige of them remained at the present day. -Since my return home I find that the same ground was traced over with -equal care in 1822 by Captain Johnson, of the American schooner Henry, -and by Captain Morrell, in the American schooner Wasp--in both cases -with the same result as in our own. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - - -It had been Captain Guy's original intention, after satisfying himself -about the Auroras, to proceed through the Strait of Magellan, and up -along the western coast of Patagonia; but information received at -Tristan d'Acunha induced him to steer to the southward, in the hope of -falling in with some small islands said to lie about the parallel of -60° S., longitude 41° 20' W. In the event of his not discovering these -lands, he designed, should the season prove favourable, to push on -towards the pole. Accordingly, on the twelfth of December, we made sail -in that direction. On the eighteenth we found ourselves about the -station indicated by Glass, and cruised for three days in that -neighbourhood without finding any traces of the islands he had -mentioned. On the twenty-first, the weather being unusually pleasant, -we again made sail to the southward, with the resolution of penetrating -in that course as far as possible. Before entering upon this portion of -my narrative, it may be as well, for the information of those readers -who have paid little attention to the progress of discovery in these -regions, to give some brief account of the very few attempts at -reaching the southern pole which have hitherto been made. - -That of Captain Cook was the first of which we have any distinct -account. In 1772 he sailed to the south in the Resolution, accompanied -by Lieutenant Furneaux in the Adventure. In December he found himself -as far as the fifty-eighth parallel of south latitude, and in longitude -26° 57' E. Here he met with narrow fields of ice, about eight or ten -inches thick, and running northwest and southeast. This ice was in -large cakes, and usually it was packed so closely that the vessels had -great difficulty in forcing a passage. At this period Captain Cook -supposed, from the vast number of birds to be seen, and from other -indications, that he was in the near vicinity of land. He kept on to -the southward, the weather being exceedingly cold, until he reached the -sixty-fourth parallel, in longitude 38° 14' E. Here he had mild -weather, with gentle breezes, for five days, the thermometer being at -thirty-six. In January, 1773, the vessels crossed the Antarctic circle, -but did not succeed in penetrating much farther; for, upon reaching -latitude 67° 15', they found all farther progress impeded by an immense -body of ice, extending all along the southern horizon as far as the eye -could reach. This ice was of every variety--and some large floes of it, -miles in extent, formed a compact mass, rising eighteen or twenty feet -above the water. It being late in the season, and no hope entertained -of rounding these obstructions, Captain Cook now reluctantly turned to -the northward. - -In the November following he renewed his search in the Antarctic. In -latitude 59° 40' he met with a strong current setting to the southward. -In December, when the vessels were in latitude 67° 31', longitude 142° -54' W., the cold was excessive, with heavy gales and fog. Here also -birds were abundant; the albatross, the penguin, and the peterel -especially. In latitude 70° 23' some large islands of ice were -encountered, and shortly afterward, the clouds to the southward were -observed to be of a snowy whiteness, indicating the vicinity of field -ice. In latitude 71° 10', longitude 106° 54' W., the navigators were -stopped, as before, by an immense frozen expanse, which filled the -whole area of the southern horizon. The northern edge of this expanse -was ragged and broken, so firmly wedged together as to be utterly -impassable, and extending about a mile to the southward. Behind it the -frozen surface was comparatively smooth for some distance, until -terminated in the extreme back-ground by gigantic ranges of ice -mountains, the one towering above the other. Captain Cook concluded -that this vast field reached the southern pole or was joined to a -continent. Mr. J. N. Reynolds, whose great exertions and perseverance -have at length succeeded in getting set on foot a national expedition, -partly for the purpose of exploring these regions, thus speaks of the -attempt of the Resolution. "We are not surprised that Captain Cook was -unable to go beyond 71° 10', but we are astonished that he did attain -that point on the meridian of 106° 54' west longitude. Palmer's Land -lies south of the Shetland, latitude sixty-four degrees, and tends to -the southward and westward farther than any navigator has yet -penetrated. Cook was standing for this land when his progress was -arrested by the ice; which, we apprehend, must always be the case in -that point, and so early in the season as the sixth of January--and we -should not be surprised if a portion of the icy mountains described was -attached to the main body of Palmer's Land, or to some other portions -of land lying farther to the southward and westward." - -In 1803, Captains Kreutzenstern and Lisiausky were despatched by -Alexander of Russia for the purpose of circumnavigating the globe. In -endeavouring to get south, they made no farther than 59° 58', in -longitude 70° 15' W. They here met with strong currents setting -eastwardly. Whales were abundant, but they saw no ice. In regard to -this voyage, Mr. Reynolds observes that, if Kreutzenstern had arrived -where he did earlier in the season, he must have encountered ice--it -was March when he reached the latitude specified. The winds prevailing, -as they do, from the southward and westward, had carried the floes, -aided by currents, into that icy region bounded on the north by -Georgia, east by Sandwich Land and the South Orkneys, and west by the -South Shetland Islands. - -In 1822, Captain James Weddell, of the British navy, with two very -small vessels, penetrated farther to the south than any previous -navigator, and this too, without encountering extraordinary -difficulties. He states that although he was frequently hemmed in by -ice _before_ reaching the seventy-second parallel, yet, upon attaining -it, not a particle was to be discovered, and that, upon arriving at the -latitude of 74° 15', no fields, and only three islands of ice were -visible. It is somewhat remarkable that, although vast flocks of birds -were seen, and other usual indications of land, and although, south of -the Shetlands, unknown coasts were observed from the masthead tending -southwardly, Weddell discourages the idea of land existing in the polar -regions of the south. - -On the eleventh of January, 1823, Captain Benjamin Morrell, of the -American schooner Wasp, sailed from Kerguelen's Land with a view of -penetrating as far south as possible. On the first of February he found -himself in latitude 64° 52' S., longitude 118° 27' E. The following -passage is extracted from his journal of that date. "The wind soon -freshened to an eleven-knot breeze, and we embraced this opportunity of -making to the west; being however convinced that the farther we went -south beyond latitude sixty-four degrees the less ice was to be -apprehended, we steered a little to the southward, until we crossed the -Antarctic circle, and were in latitude 69° 15' E. In this latitude -there was _no field ice_, and very few ice islands in sight." - -Under the date of March fourteenth I find also this entry. "The sea was -now entirely free of field ice, and there were not more than a dozen -ice islands in sight. At the same time the temperature of the air and -water was at least thirteen degrees higher (more mild) than we had ever -found it between the parallels of sixty and sixty-two south. We were -now in latitude 70° 14' S., and the temperature of the air was -forty-seven, and that of the water forty-four. In this situation I -found the variation to be 14° 27' easterly, per azimuth.... I have -several times passed within the Antarctic circle on different -meridians, and have uniformly found the temperature, both of the air -and the water, to become more and more mild the farther I advanced -beyond the sixty-fifth degree of south latitude, and that the variation -decreases in the same proportion. While north of this latitude, say -between sixty and sixty-five south, we frequently had great difficulty -in finding a passage for the vessel between the immense and almost -innumerable ice islands, some of which were from one to two miles in -circumference, and more than five hundred feet above the surface of the -water." - -Being nearly destitute of fuel and water, and without proper -instruments, it being also late in the season, Captain Morrell was now -obliged to put back, without attempting any farther progress to the -southward, although an entirely open sea lay before him. He expresses -the opinion that, had not these overruling considerations obliged him -to retreat, he could have penetrated, if not to the pole itself, at -least to the eighty-fifth parallel. I have given his ideas respecting -these matters somewhat at length, that the reader may have an -opportunity of seeing how far they were borne out by my own subsequent -experience. - -In 1831, Captain Briscoe, in the employ of the Messieurs Enderby, -whale-ship owners of London, sailed in the brig Lively for the South -Seas, accompanied by the cutter Tula. On the twenty-eighth of February, -being in latitude 66° 30' S., longitude 47° 31' E., he descried land, -and "clearly discovered through the snow the black peaks of a range of -mountains running E. S. E." He remained in this neighbourhood during -the whole of the following month, but was unable to approach the coast -nearer than within ten leagues, owing to the boisterous state of the -weather. Finding it impossible to make farther discovery during this -season, he returned northward to winter in Van Diemen's Land. - -In the beginning of 1832 he again proceeded southwardly, and on the -fourth of February land was seen to the southeast in latitude 67° 15', -longitude 69° 29' W. This was soon found to be an island near the -headland of the country he had first discovered. On the twenty-first of -the month he succeeded in landing on the latter, and took possession of -it in the name of William IV., calling it Adelaide's Island, in honour -of the English queen. These particulars being made known to the Royal -Geographical Society of London, the conclusion was drawn by that body -"that there is a continuous tract of land extending from 47° 30' E. to -69° 29' W. longitude, running the parallel of from sixty-six to -sixty-seven degrees south latitude." In respect to this conclusion Mr. -Reynolds observes, "In the correctness of it we by no means concur; nor -do the discoveries of Briscoe warrant any such inference. It was within -these limits that Weddell proceeded south on a meridian to the east of -Georgia, Sandwich Land, and the South Orkney and Shetland Islands." My -own experience will be found to testify most directly to the falsity of -the conclusion arrived at by the society. - -These are the principal attempts which have been made at penetrating to -a high southern latitude, and it will now be seen that there remained, -previous to the voyage of the Jane, nearly three hundred degrees of -longitude in which the Antarctic circle had not been crossed at all. Of -course a wide field lay before us for discovery, and it was with -feelings of most intense interest that I heard Captain Guy express his -resolution of pushing boldly to the southward. - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - - -We kept our course southwardly for four days after giving up the search -for Glass's Islands, without meeting with any ice at all. On the -twenty-sixth, at noon, we were in latitude 63° 23' S., longitude 41° -25' W. We now saw several large ice islands, and a floe of field ice, -not, however, of any great extent. The winds generally blew from the -southeast, or the northeast, but were very light. Whenever we had a -westerly wind, which was seldom, it was invariably attended with a rain -squall. Every day we had more or less snow. The thermometer, on the -twenty-seventh, stood at thirty-five. - -_January 1, 1828._ This day we found ourselves completely hemmed in by -the ice, and our prospects looked cheerless indeed. A strong gale blew, -during the whole forenoon, from the northeast, and drove large cakes of -the drift against the rudder and counter with such violence that we all -trembled for the consequences. Towards evening, the gale still blowing -with fury, a large field in front separated, and we were enabled, by -carrying a press of sail, to force a passage through the smaller flakes -into some open water beyond. As we approached this space we took in -sail by degrees, and having at length got clear, lay to under a single -reefed foresail. - -_January 2._ We had now tolerably pleasant weather. At noon we found -ourselves in latitude 69° 10' S., longitude 42° 20' W., having crossed -the Antarctic circle. Very little ice was to be seen to the southward, -although large fields of it lay behind us. This day we rigged some -sounding gear, using a large iron pot capable of holding twenty -gallons, and a line of two hundred fathoms. We found the current -setting to the north, about a quarter of a mile per hour. The -temperature of the air was now about thirty-three. Here we found the -variation to be 14° 28' easterly, per azimuth. - -_January 5._ We had still held on to the southward without any very -great impediments. On this morning, however, being in latitude 73° 15' -E., longitude 42° 10' W., we were again brought to a stand by an -immense expanse of firm ice. We saw, nevertheless, much open water to -the southward, and felt no doubt of being able to reach it eventually. -Standing to the eastward along the edge of the floe, we at length came -to a passage of about a mile in width, through which we warped our way -by sundown. The sea in which we now were was thickly covered with ice -islands, but had no field ice, and we pushed on boldly as before. The -cold did not seem to increase, although we had snow very frequently, -and now and then hail squalls of great violence. Immense flocks of the -albatross flew over the schooner this day, going from southeast to -northwest. - -_January 7._ The sea still remained pretty well open, so that we had no -difficulty in holding on our course. To the westward we saw some -icebergs of incredible size, and in the afternoon passed very near one -whose summit could not have been less than four hundred fathoms from -the surface of the ocean. Its girth was probably, at the base, three -quarters of a league, and several streams of water were running from -crevices in its sides. We remained in sight of this island two days, -and then only lost it in a fog. - -_January 10._ Early this morning we had the misfortune to lose a man -overboard. He was an American, named Peter Vredenburgh, a native of -New-York, and was one of the most valuable hands on board the schooner. -In going over the bows his foot slipped, and he fell between two cakes -of ice, never rising again. At noon of this day we were in latitude 78° -30', longitude 40° 15' W. The cold was now excessive, and we had hail -squalls continually from the northward and eastward. In this direction -also we saw several more immense icebergs, and the whole horizon to the -eastward appeared to be blocked up with field ice, rising in tiers, one -mass above the other. Some driftwood floated by during the evening, and -a great quantity of birds flew over, among which were Nellies, -peterels, albatrosses, and a large bird of a brilliant blue plumage. -The variation here, per azimuth, was less than it had been previously -to our passing the Antarctic circle. - -_January 12._ Our passage to the south again looked doubtful, as -nothing was to be seen in the direction of the pole but one apparently -limitless floe, backed by absolute mountains of ragged ice, one -precipice of which arose frowningly above the other. We stood to the -westward until the fourteenth, in the hope of finding an entrance. - -_January 14._ This morning we reached the western extremity of the -field which had impeded us, and, weathering it, came to an open sea, -without a particle of ice. Upon sounding with two hundred fathoms, we -here found a current setting southwardly at the rate of half a mile per -hour. The temperature of the air was forty-seven, that of the water -thirty-four. We now sailed to the southward, without meeting any -interruption of moment until the sixteenth, when, at noon, we were in -latitude 81° 21', longitude 42° W. We here again sounded, and found a -current setting still southwardly, and at the rate of three quarters of -a mile per hour. The variation per azimuth had diminished, and the -temperature of the air was mild and pleasant, the thermometer being as -high as fifty-one. At this period not a particle of ice was to be -discovered. All hands on board now felt certain of attaining the pole. - -_January 17._ This day was full of incident. Innumerable flights of -birds flew over us from the southward, and several were shot from the -deck; one of them, a species of pelican, proved to be excellent eating. -About midday a small floe of ice was seen from the masthead off the -larboard bow, and upon it there appeared to be some large animal. As -the weather was good and nearly calm, Captain Guy ordered out two of -the boats to see what it was. Dirk Peters and myself accompanied the -mate in the larger boat. Upon coming up with the floe, we perceived -that it was in the possession of a gigantic creature of the race of the -Arctic bear, but far exceeding in size the largest of these animals. -Being well armed, we made no scruple of attacking it at once. Several -shots were fired in quick succession, the most of which took effect, -apparently, in the head and body. Nothing discouraged, however, the -monster threw himself from the ice, and swam, with open jaws, to the -boat in which were Peters and myself. Owing to the confusion which -ensued among us at this unexpected turn of the adventure, no person was -ready immediately with a second shot, and the bear had actually -succeeded in getting half his vast bulk across our gunwale, and seizing -one of the men by the small of his back, before any efficient means -were taken to repel him. In this extremity nothing but the promptness -and agility of Peters saved us from destruction. Leaping upon the back -of the huge beast, he plunged the blade of a knife behind the neck, -reaching the spinal marrow at a blow. The brute tumbled into the sea -lifeless, and without a struggle, rolling over Peters as he fell. The -latter soon recovered himself, and a rope being thrown him, he secured -the carcass before entering the boat. We then returned in triumph to -the schooner, towing our trophy behind us. This bear, upon -admeasurement, proved to be full fifteen feet in his greatest length. -His wool was perfectly white, and very coarse, curling tightly. The -eyes were of a blood red, and larger than those of the Arctic bear--the -snout also more rounded, rather resembling the snout of the bulldog. -The meat was tender, but excessively rank and fishy, although the men -devoured it with avidity, and declared it excellent eating. - -Scarcely had we got our prize alongside, when the man at the masthead -gave the joyful shout of _"land on the starboard bow!"_ All hands were -now upon the alert, and, a breeze springing up very opportunely from -the northward and eastward, we were soon close in with the coast. It -proved to be a low rocky islet, of about a league in circumference, and -altogether destitute of vegetation, if we except a species of prickly -pear. In approaching it from the northward, a singular ledge of rock is -seen projecting into the sea, and bearing a strong resemblance to -corded bales of cotton. Around this ledge to the westward is a small -bay, at the bottom of which our boats effected a convenient landing. - -It did not take us long to explore every portion of the island, but, -with one exception, we found nothing worthy of observation. In the -southern extremity, we picked up near the shore, half buried in a pile -of loose stones, a piece of wood, which seemed to have formed the prow -of a canoe. There had been evidently some attempt at carving upon it, -and Captain Guy fancied that he made out the figure of a tortoise, but -the resemblance did not strike me very forcibly. Besides this prow, if -such it were, we found no other token that any living creature had ever -been here before. Around the coast we discovered occasional small floes -of ice--but these were very few. The exact situation of this islet (to -which Captain Guy gave the name of Bennet's Islet, in honour of his -partner in the ownership of the schooner) is 82° 50' S. latitude, 42° -20' W. longitude. - -We had now advanced to the southward more than eight degrees farther -than any previous navigators, and the sea still lay perfectly open -before us. We found, too, that the variation uniformly decreased as we -proceeded, and, what was still more surprising, that the temperature of -the air, and latterly of the water, became milder. The weather might -even be called pleasant, and we had a steady but very gentle breeze -always from some northern point of the compass. The sky was usually -clear, with now and then a slight appearance of thin vapour in the -southern horizon--this, however, was invariably of brief duration. Two -difficulties alone presented themselves to our view; we were getting -short of fuel, and symptoms of scurvy had occurred among several of the -crew. These considerations began to impress upon Captain Guy the -necessity of returning, and he spoke of it frequently. For my own part, -confident as I was of soon arriving at land of some description upon -the course we were pursuing, and having every reason to believe, from -present appearances, that we should not find it the steril soil met -with in the higher Arctic latitudes, I warmly pressed upon him the -expediency of persevering, at least for a few days longer, in the -direction we were now holding. So tempting an opportunity of solving -the great problem in regard to an Antarctic continent had never yet -been afforded to man, and I confess that I felt myself bursting with -indignation at the timid and ill-timed suggestions of our commander. I -believe, indeed, that what I could not refrain from saying to him on -this head had the effect of inducing him to push on. While, therefore, -I cannot but lament the most unfortunate and bloody events which -immediately arose from my advice, I must still be allowed to feel some -degree of gratification at having been instrumental, however remotely, -in opening to the eye of science one of the most intensely exciting -secrets which has ever engrossed its attention. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - - -_January 18._ This morning[4] we continued to the southward, with the -same pleasant weather as before. The sea was entirely smooth, the air -tolerably warm and from the northeast, the temperature of the water -fifty-three. We now again got our sounding-gear in order, and, with a -hundred and fifty fathoms of line, found the current setting towards -the pole at the rate of a mile an hour. This constant tendency to the -southward, both in the wind and current, caused some degree of -speculation, and even of alarm, in different quarters of the schooner, -and I saw distinctly that no little impression had been made upon the -mind of Captain Guy. He was exceedingly sensitive to ridicule, however, -and I finally succeeded in laughing him out of his apprehensions. The -variation was now very trivial. In the course of the day we saw several -large whales of the right species, and innumerable flights of the -albatross passed over the vessel. We also picked up a bush, full of red -berries, like those of the hawthorn, and the carcass of a -singular-looking land-animal. It was three feet in length, and but six -inches in height, with four very short legs, the feet armed with long -claws of a brilliant scarlet, and resembling coral in substance. The -body was covered with a straight silky hair, perfectly white. The tail -was peaked like that of a rat, and about a foot and a half long. The -head resembled a cat's, with the exception of the ears--these were -flapped like the ears of a dog. The _teeth_ were of the same brilliant -scarlet as the claws. - -[Footnote 4: The terms _morning_ and _evening_, which I have made use -of to avoid confusion in my narrative, as far as possible, must not, of -course, be taken in their ordinary sense. For a long time past we had -had no night at all, the daylight being continual. The dates throughout -are according to nautical time, and the bearings must be understood as -per compass. I would also remark in this place, that I cannot, in the -first portion of what is here written, pretend to strict accuracy in -respect to dates, or latitudes and longitudes, having kept no regular -journal until after the period of which this first portion treats. In -many instances I have relied altogether upon memory.] - -_January 19._ To-day, being in latitude 83° 20', longitude 43° 5' W. -(the sea being of an extraordinarily dark colour), we again saw land -from the masthead, and, upon a closer scrutiny, found it to be one of a -group of very large islands. The shore was precipitous, and the -interior seemed to be well wooded, a circumstance which occasioned us -great joy. In about four hours from our first discovering the land we -came to anchor in ten fathoms, sandy bottom, a league from the coast, -as a high surf, with strong ripples here and there, rendered a nearer -approach of doubtful expediency. The two largest boats were now ordered -out, and a party, well armed (among whom were Peters and myself), -proceeded to look for an opening in the reef which appeared to encircle -the island. After searching about for some time, we discovered an -inlet, which we were entering, when we saw four large canoes put off -from the shore, filled with men who seemed to be well armed. We waited -for them to come up, and, as they moved with great rapidity, they were -soon within hail. Captain Guy now held up a white handkerchief on the -blade of an oar, when the strangers made a full stop, and commenced a -loud jabbering all at once, intermingled with occasional shouts, in -which we could distinguish the words _Anamoo-moo!_ and _Lama-Lama!_ -They continued this for at least half an hour, during which we had a -good opportunity of observing their appearance. - -In the four canoes, which might have been fifty feet long and five -broad, there were a hundred and ten savages in all. They were about the -ordinary stature of Europeans, but of a more muscular and brawny frame. -Their complexion a jet black, with thick and long woolly hair. They -were clothed in skins of an unknown black animal, shaggy and silky, and -made to fit the body with some degree of skill, the hair being inside, -except where turned out about the neck, wrists, and ankles. Their arms -consisted principally of clubs, of a dark, and apparently very heavy -wood. Some spears, however, were observed among them, headed with -flint, and a few slings. The bottoms of the canoes were full of black -stones about the size of a large egg. - -When they had concluded their harangue (for it was clear they intended -their jabbering for such), one of them who seemed to be the chief stood -up in the prow of his canoe, and made signs for us to bring our boats -alongside of him. This hint we pretended not to understand, thinking it -the wiser plan to maintain, if possible, the interval between us, as -their number more than quadrupled our own. Finding this to be the case, -the chief ordered the three other canoes to hold back, while he -advanced towards us with his own. As soon as he came up with us he -leaped on board the largest of our boats, and seated himself by the -side of Captain Guy, pointing at the same time to the schooner, and -repeating the words _Anamoo-moo!_ and _Lama-Lama!_ We now put back to -the vessel, the four canoes following at a little distance. - -Upon getting alongside the chief evinced symptoms of extreme surprise -and delight, clapping his hands, slapping his thighs and breast, and -laughing obstreperously. His followers behind joined in his merriment, -and for some minutes the din was so excessive as to be absolutely -deafening. Quiet being at length restored, Captain Guy ordered the -boats to be hoisted up, as a necessary precaution, and gave the chief -(whose name we soon found to be _Too-wit_) to understand that we could -admit no more than twenty of his men on deck at one time. With this -arrangement he appeared perfectly satisfied, and gave some directions -to the canoes, when one of them approached, the rest remaining about -fifty yards off. Twenty of the savages now got on board, and proceeded -to ramble over every part of the deck, and scramble about among the -rigging, making themselves much at home, and examining every article -with great inquisitiveness. - -It was quite evident that they had never before seen any of the white -race--from whose complexion, indeed, they appeared to recoil. They -believed the Jane to be a living creature, and seemed to be afraid of -hurting it with the points of their spears, carefully turning them up. -Our crew were much amused with the conduct of Too-wit in one instance. -The cook was splitting some wood near the galley, and, by accident, -struck his axe into the deck, making a gash of considerable depth. The -chief immediately ran up, and pushing the cook on one side rather -roughly, commenced a half whine, half howl, strongly indicative of -sympathy in what he considered the sufferings of the schooner, patting -and smoothing the gash with his hand, and washing it from a bucket of -seawater which stood by. This was a degree of ignorance for which we -were not prepared, and for my part I could not help thinking some of it -affected. - -When the visiters had satisfied, as well as they could, their curiosity -in regard to our upper works, they were admitted below, when their -amazement exceeded all bounds. Their astonishment now appeared to be -far too deep for words, for they roamed about in silence, broken only -by low ejaculations. The arms afforded them much food for speculation, -and they were suffered to handle and examine them at leisure. I do not -believe that they had the least suspicion of their actual use, but -rather took them for idols, seeing the care we had of them, and the -attention with which we watched their movements while handling them. At -the great guns their wonder was redoubled. They approached them with -every mark of the profoundest reverence and awe, but forbore to examine -them minutely. There were two large mirrors in the cabin, and here was -the acme of their amazement. Too-wit was the first to approach them, -and he had got in the middle of the cabin, with his face to one and his -back to the other, before he fairly perceived them. Upon raising his -eyes and seeing his reflected self in the glass, I thought the savage -would go mad; but, upon turning short round to make a retreat, and -beholding himself a second time in the opposite direction, I was afraid -he would expire upon the spot. No persuasions could prevail upon him to -take another look; but, throwing himself upon the floor, with his face -buried in his hands, he remained thus until we were obliged to drag him -upon deck. - -The whole of the savages were admitted on board in this manner, twenty -at a time, Too-wit being suffered to remain during the entire period. -We saw no disposition to thievery among them, nor did we miss a single -article after their departure. Throughout the whole of their visit they -evinced the most friendly manner. There were, however, some points in -their demeanour which we found it impossible to understand: for -example, we could not get them to approach several very harmless -objects--such as the schooner's sails, an egg, an open book, or a pan -of flour. We endeavoured to ascertain if they had among them any -articles which might be turned to account in the way of traffic, but -found great difficulty in being comprehended. We made out, -nevertheless, what greatly astonished us, that the islands abounded in -the large tortoise of the Gallipagos, one of which we saw in the canoe -of Too-wit. We saw also some _biche de mer_ in the hands of one of the -savages, who was greedily devouring it in its natural state. These -anomalies, for they were such when considered in regard to the -latitude, induced Captain Guy to wish for a thorough investigation of -the country, in the hope of making a profitable speculation in his -discovery. For my own part, anxious as I was to know something more of -these islands, I was still more earnestly bent on prosecuting the -voyage to the southward without delay. We had now fine weather, but -there was no telling how long it would last; and being already in the -eighty-fourth parallel, with an open sea before us, a current setting -strongly to the southward, and the wind fair, I could not listen with -any patience to a proposition of stopping longer than was absolutely -necessary for the health of the crew and the taking on board a proper -supply of fuel and fresh provisions. I represented to the captain that -we might easily make this group on our return, and winter here in the -event of being blocked up by the ice. He at length came into my views -(for in some way, hardly known to myself, I had acquired much influence -over him), and it was finally resolved that, even in the event of our -finding _biche de mer_, we should only stay here a week to recruit, and -then push on to the southward while we might. Accordingly we made every -necessary preparation, and, under the guidance of Too-wit, got the Jane -through the reef in safety, coming to anchor about a mile from the -shore, in an excellent bay, completely landlocked, on the southeastern -coast of the main island, and in ten fathoms of water, black sandy -bottom. At the head of this bay there were three fine springs (we were -told) of good water, and we saw abundance of wood in the vicinity. The -four canoes followed us in, keeping, however, at a respectful distance. -Too-wit himself remained on board, and, upon our dropping anchor, -invited us to accompany him on shore, and visit his village in the -interior. To this Captain Guy consented; and ten savages being left on -board as hostages, a party of us, twelve in all, got in readiness to -attend the chief. We took care to be well armed, yet without evincing -any distrust. The schooner had her guns run out, her boarding-nettings -up, and every other proper precaution was taken to guard against -surprise. Directions were left with the chief mate to admit no person -on board during our absence, and, in the event of our not appearing in -twelve hours, to send the cutter, with a swivel, round the island in -search of us. - -At every step we took inland the conviction forced itself upon us that -we were in a country differing essentially from any hitherto visited by -civilized men. We saw nothing with which we had been formerly -conversant. The trees resembled no growth of either the torrid, the -temperate, or the northern frigid zones, and were altogether unlike -those of the lower southern latitudes we had already traversed. The -very rocks were novel in their mass, their colour, and their -stratification; and the streams themselves, utterly incredible as it -may appear, had so little in common with those of other climates, that -we were scrupulous of tasting them, and, indeed, had difficulty in -bringing ourselves to believe that their qualities were purely those of -nature. At a small brook which crossed our path (the first we had -reached) Too-wit and his attendants halted to drink. On account of the -singular character of the water, we refused to taste it, supposing it -to be polluted; and it was not until some time afterward we came to -understand that such was the appearance of the streams throughout the -whole group. I am at a loss to give a distinct idea of the nature of -this liquid, and cannot do so without many words. Although it flowed -with rapidity in all declivities where common water would do so, yet -never, except when falling in a cascade, had it the customary -appearance of _limpidity_. It was, nevertheless, in point of fact, as -perfectly limpid as any limestone water in existence, the difference -being only in appearance. At first sight, and especially in cases where -little declivity was found, it bore resemblance, as regards -consistency, to a thick infusion of gum Arabic in common water. But -this was only the least remarkable of its extraordinary qualities. It -was _not_ colourless, nor was it of any one uniform colour--presenting -to the eye, as it flowed, every possible shade of purple, like the hues -of a changeable silk. This variation in shade was produced in a manner -which excited as profound astonishment in the minds of our party as the -mirror had done in the case of Too-wit. Upon collecting a basinful, and -allowing it to settle thoroughly, we perceived that the whole mass of -liquid was made up of a number of distinct veins, each of a distinct -hue; that these veins did not commingle; and that their cohesion was -perfect in regard to their own particles among themselves, and -imperfect in regard to neighbouring veins. Upon passing the blade of a -knife athwart the veins, the water closed over it immediately, as with -us, and also, in withdrawing it, all traces of the passage of the knife -were instantly obliterated. If, however, the blade was passed down -accurately between two veins, a perfect separation was effected, which -the power of cohesion did not immediately rectify. The phenomena of -this water formed the first definite link in that vast chain of -apparent miracles with which I was destined to be at length encircled. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - - -We were nearly three hours in reaching the village, it being more than -nine miles in the interior, and the path lying through a rugged -country. As we passed along, the party of Too-wit (the whole hundred -and ten savages of the canoes) was momentarily strengthened by smaller -detachments, of from two to six or seven, which joined us, as if by -accident, at different turns in the road. There appeared so much of -system in this that I could not help feeling distrust, and I spoke to -Captain Guy of my apprehensions. It was now too late, however, to -recede, and we concluded that our best security lay in evincing a -perfect confidence in the good faith of Too-wit. We accordingly went -on, keeping a wary eye upon the manoeuvres of the savages, and not -permitting them to divide our numbers by pushing in between. In this -way, passing through a precipitous ravine, we at length reached what we -were told was the only collection of habitations upon the island. As we -came in sight of them, the chief set up a shout, and frequently -repeated the word _Klock-Klock_; which we supposed to be the name of -the village, or perhaps the generic name for villages. - -The dwellings were of the most miserable description imaginable, and, -unlike those of even the lowest of the savage races with which mankind -are acquainted, were of no uniform plan. Some of them (and these we -found belonged to the _Wampoos_ or _Yampoos_, the great men of the -land) consisted of a tree cut down at about four feet from the root, -with a large black skin thrown over it, and hanging in loose folds upon -the ground. Under this the savage nestled. Others were formed by means -of rough limbs of trees, with the withered foliage upon them, made to -recline, at an angle of forty-five degrees, against a bank of clay, -heaped up, without regular form, to the height of five or six feet. -Others, again, were mere holes dug in the earth perpendicularly, and -covered over with similar branches, these being removed when the tenant -was about to enter, and pulled on again when he had entered. A few were -built among the forked limbs of trees as they stood, the upper limbs -being partially cut through, so as to bend over upon the lower, thus -forming thicker shelter from the weather. The greater number, however, -consisted of small shallow caverns, apparently scratched in the face of -a precipitous ledge of dark stone, resembling fuller's earth, with -which three sides of the village was bounded. At the door of each of -these primitive caverns was a small rock, which the tenant carefully -placed before the entrance upon leaving his residence, for what purpose -I could not ascertain, as the stone itself was never of sufficient size -to close up more than a third of the opening. - -This village, if it were worthy of the name, lay in a valley of some -depth, and could only be approached from the southward, the precipitous -ledge of which I have already spoken cutting off all access in other -directions. Through the middle of the valley ran a brawling stream of -the same magical-looking water which has been described. We saw several -strange animals about the dwellings, all appearing to be thoroughly -domesticated. The largest of these creatures resembled our common hog -in the structure of the body and snout; the tail, however, was bushy, -and the legs slender as those of the antelope. Its motion was -exceedingly awkward and indecisive, and we never saw it attempt to run. -We noticed also several animals very similar in appearance, but of a -greater length of body, and covered with a black wool. There were a -great variety of tame fowls running about, and these seemed to -constitute the chief food of the natives. To our astonishment we saw -black albatross among these birds in a state of entire domestication, -going to sea periodically for food, but always returning to the village -as a home, and using the southern shore in the vicinity as a place of -incubation. There they were joined by their friends the pelicans as -usual, but these latter never followed them to the dwellings of the -savages. Among the other kinds of tame fowls were ducks, differing very -little from the canvass-back of our own country, black gannets, and a -large bird not unlike the buzzard in appearance, but not carnivorous. -Of fish there seemed to be a great abundance. We saw, during our visit, -a quantity of dried salmon, rock cod, blue dolphins, mackerel, -blackfish, skate, conger eels, elephant-fish, mullets, soles, -parrotfish, leather-jackets, gurnards, hake, flounders, paracutas, and -innumerable other varieties. We noticed, too, that most of them were -similar to the fish about the group of the Lord Auckland Islands, in a -latitude as low as fifty-one degrees south. The Gallipago tortoise was -also very plentiful. We saw but few wild animals, and none of a large -size, or of a species with which we were familiar. One or two serpents -of a formidable aspect crossed our path, but the natives paid them -little attention, and we concluded that they were not venomous. - -As we approached the village with Too-wit and his party, a vast crowd -of the people rushed out to meet us, with loud shouts, among which we -could only distinguish the everlasting _Anamoo-moo!_ and _Lama-Lama!_ -We were much surprised at perceiving that, with one or two exceptions, -these new comers were entirely naked, the skins being used only by the -men of the canoes. All the weapons of the country seemed also to be in -the possession of the latter, for there was no appearance of any among -the villagers. There were a great many women and children, the former -not altogether wanting in what might be termed personal beauty. They -were straight, tall, and well formed, with a grace and freedom of -carriage not to be found in civilized society. Their lips, however, -like those of the men, were thick and clumsy, so that, even when -laughing, the teeth were never disclosed. Their hair was of a finer -texture than that of the males. Among these naked villagers there might -have been ten or twelve who were clothed, like the party of Too-wit, in -dresses of black skin, and armed with lances and heavy clubs. These -appeared to have great influence among the rest, and were always -addressed by the title _Wampoo_. These, too, were the tenants of the -black skin palaces. That of Too-wit was situated in the centre of the -village, and was much larger and somewhat better constructed than -others of its kind. The tree which formed its support was cut off at a -distance of twelve feet or thereabout from the root, and there were -several branches left just below the cut, these serving to extend the -covering, and in this way prevent its flapping about the trunk. The -covering, too, which consisted of four very large skins fastened -together with wooden skewers, was secured at the bottom with pegs -driven through it and into the ground. The floor was strewed with a -quantity of dry leaves by way of carpet. - -To this hut we were conducted with great solemnity, and as many of the -natives crowded in after us as possible. Too-wit seated himself on the -leaves, and made signs that we should follow his example. This we did, -and presently found ourselves in a situation peculiarly uncomfortable, -if not indeed critical. We were on the ground, twelve in number, with -the savages, as many as forty, sitting on their hams so closely around -us that, if any disturbance had arisen, we should have found it -impossible to make use of our arms, or indeed to have risen on our -feet. The pressure was not only inside the tent, but outside, where -probably was every individual on the whole island, the crowd being -prevented from trampling us to death only by the incessant exertions -and vociferations of Too-wit. Our chief security lay, however, in the -presence of Too-wit himself among us, and we resolved to stick by him -closely, as the best chance of extricating ourselves from the dilemma, -sacrificing him immediately upon the first appearance of hostile -design. - -After some trouble a certain degree of quiet was restored, when the -chief addressed us in a speech of great length, and very nearly -resembling the one delivered in the canoes, with the exception that the -_Anamoo-moos!_ were now somewhat more strenuously insisted upon than -the _Lama-Lamas!_ We listened in profound silence until the conclusion -of his harangue, when Captain Guy replied by assuring the chief of his -eternal friendship and good-will, concluding what he had to say by a -present of several strings of blue beads and a knife. At the former the -monarch, much to our surprise, turned up his nose with some expression -of contempt; but the knife gave him the most unlimited satisfaction, -and he immediately ordered dinner. This was handed into the tent over -the heads of the attendants, and consisted of the palpitating entrails -of a species of unknown animal, probably one of the slim-legged hogs -which we had observed in our approach to the village. Seeing us at a -loss how to proceed, he began, by way of setting us an example, to -devour yard after yard of the enticing food, until we could positively -stand it no longer, and evinced such manifest symptoms of rebellion of -stomach as inspired his majesty with a degree of astonishment only -inferior to that brought about by the looking-glasses. We declined, -however, partaking of the delicacies before us, and endeavoured to make -him understand that we had no appetite whatever, having just finished a -hearty _déjeuner_. - -When the monarch had made an end of his meal, we commenced a series of -cross-questioning in every ingenious manner we could devise, with a -view of discovering what were the chief productions of the country, and -whether any of them might be turned to profit. At length he seemed to -have some idea of our meaning, and offered to accompany us to a part of -the coast where he assured us the _biche de mer_ (pointing to a -specimen of that animal) was to be found in great abundance. We were -glad at this early opportunity of escaping from the oppression of the -crowd, and signified our eagerness to proceed. We now left the tent, -and, accompanied by the whole population of the village, followed the -chief to the southeastern extremity of the island, not far from the bay -where our vessel lay at anchor. We waited here for about an hour, until -the four canoes were brought round by some of the savages to our -station. The whole of our party then getting into one of them, we were -paddled along the edge of the reef before mentioned, and of another -still farther out, where we saw a far greater quantity of _biche de -mer_ than the oldest seaman among us had ever seen in those groups of -the lower latitudes most celebrated for this article of commerce. We -stayed near these reefs only long enough to satisfy ourselves that we -could easily load a dozen vessels with the animal if necessary, when we -were taken alongside the schooner, and parted with Too-wit after -obtaining from him a promise that he would bring us, in the course of -twenty-four hours, as many of the canvass-back ducks and Gallipago -tortoises as his canoes would hold. In the whole of this adventure we -saw nothing in the demeanour of the natives calculated to create -suspicion, with the single exception of the systematic manner in which -their party was strengthened during our route from the schooner to the -village. - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - - -The chief was as good as his word, and we were soon plentifully -supplied with fresh provision. We found the tortoises as fine as we had -ever seen, and the ducks surpassed our best species of wild fowl, being -exceedingly tender, juicy, and well-flavoured. Besides these, the -savages brought us, upon our making them comprehend our wishes, a vast -quantity of brown celery and scurvy grass, with a canoe-load of fresh -fish and some dried. The celery was a treat indeed, and the scurvy -grass proved of incalculable benefit in restoring those of our men who -had shown symptoms of disease. In a very short time we had not a single -person on the sick-list. We had also plenty of other kinds of fresh -provision, among which may be mentioned a species of shellfish -resembling the muscle in shape, but with the taste of an oyster. -Shrimps, too, and prawns were abundant, and albatross and other birds' -eggs with dark shells. We took in, too, a plentiful stock of the flesh -of the hog which I have mentioned before. Most of the men found it a -palatable food, but I thought it fishy and otherwise disagreeable. In -return for these good things we presented the natives with blue beads, -brass trinkets, nails, knives, and pieces of red cloth, they being -fully delighted in the exchange. We established a regular market on -shore, just under the guns of the schooner, where our barterings were -carried on with every appearance of good faith, and a degree of order -which their conduct at the village of _Klock-klock_ had not led us to -expect from the savages. - -Matters went on thus very amicably for several days, during which -parties of the natives were frequently on board the schooner, and -parties of our men frequently on shore, making long excursions into the -interior, and receiving no molestation whatever. Finding the ease with -which the vessel might be loaded with _biche de mer_, owing to the -friendly disposition of the islanders, and the readiness with which -they would render us assistance in collecting it, Captain Guy resolved -to enter into negotiation with Too-wit for the erection of suitable -houses in which to cure the article, and for the services of himself -and tribe in gathering as much as possible, while he himself took -advantage of the fine weather to prosecute his voyage to the southward. -Upon mentioning this project to the chief he seemed very willing to -enter into an agreement. A bargain was accordingly struck, perfectly -satisfactory to both parties, by which it was arranged that, after -making the necessary preparations, such as laying off the proper -grounds, erecting a portion of the buildings, and doing some other work -in which the whole of our crew would be required, the schooner should -proceed on her route, leaving three of her men on the island to -superintend the fulfilment of the project, and instruct the natives in -drying the _biche de mer_. In regard to terms, these were made to -depend upon the exertions of the savages in our absence. They were to -receive a stipulated quantity of blue beads, knives, red cloth, and so -forth, for every certain number of piculs of the _biche de mer_ which -should be ready on our return. - -A description of the nature of this important article of commerce, and -the method of preparing it, may prove of some interest to my readers, -and I can find no more suitable place than this for introducing an -account of it. The following comprehensive notice of the substance is -taken from a modern history of a voyage to the South Seas. - -"It is that _mollusca_ from the Indian Seas which is known in commerce -by the French name _bouche de mer_ (a nice morsel from the sea). If I -am not much mistaken, the celebrated Cuvier calls it _gasteropeda -pulmonifera_. It is abundantly gathered in the coasts of the Pacific -Islands, and gathered especially for the Chinese market, where it -commands a great price, perhaps as much as their much-talked of edible -bird's nests, which are probably made up of the gelatinous matter -picked up by a species of swallow from the body of these molluscæ. They -have no shell, no legs, nor any prominent part, except an _absorbing_ -and an _excretory_, opposite organs; but, by their elastic wings, like -caterpillars or worms, they creep in shallow waters, in which, when -low, they can be seen by a kind of swallow, the sharp bill of which, -inserted in the soft animal, draws a gummy and filamentous substance, -which, by drying, can be wrought into the solid walls of their nest. -Hence the name of _gasteropeda pulmonifera_. - -"This mollusca is oblong, and of different sizes, from three to -eighteen inches in length; and I have seen a few that were not less -than two feet long. They are nearly round, a little flattish on one -side, which lies next the bottom of the sea; and they are from one to -eight inches thick. They crawl up into shallow water at particular -seasons of the year, probably for the purpose of gendering, as we often -find them in pairs. It is when the sun has the most power on the water, -rendering it tepid, that they approach the shore; and they often go up -into places so shallow, that, on the tide's receding, they are left -dry, exposed to the heat of the sun. But they do not bring forth their -young in shallow water, as we never see any of their progeny, and the -full-grown ones are always observed coming in from deep water. They -feed principally on that class of zoophytes which produce the coral. - -"The _biche de mer_ is generally taken in three or four feet water; -after which they are brought on shore, and split at one end with a -knife, the incision being one inch or more, according to the size of -the mollusca. Through this opening the entrails are forced out by -pressure, and they are much like those of any other small tenant of the -deep. The article is then washed, and afterward boiled to a certain -degree, which must not be too much or too little. They are then buried -in the ground for four hours, then boiled again for a short time, after -which they are dried, either by the fire or the sun. Those cured by the -sun are worth the most; but where one picul (133-1/3 lbs.) can be cured -that way, I can cure thirty piculs by the fire. When once properly -cured, they can be kept in a dry place for two or three years without -any risk; but they should be examined once in every few months, say -four times a year, to see if any dampness is likely to affect them. - -"The Chinese, as before stated, consider _biche de mer_ a very great -luxury, believing that it wonderfully strengthens and nourishes the -system, and renews the exhausted system of the immoderate voluptuary. -The first quality commands a high price in Canton, being worth ninety -dollars a picul; the second quality seventy-five dollars; the third -fifty dollars; the fourth thirty dollars; the fifth twenty dollars; the -sixth twelve dollars; the seventh eight dollars; and the eighth four -dollars; small cargoes, however, will often bring more in Manilla, -Singapore, and Batavia." - -An agreement having been thus entered into, we proceeded immediately to -land everything necessary for preparing the buildings and clearing the -ground. A large flat space near the eastern shore of the bay was -selected, where there was plenty both of wood and water, and within a -convenient distance of the principal reefs on which the _biche de mer_ -was to be procured. We now all set to work in good earnest, and soon, -to the great astonishment of the savages, had felled a sufficient -number of trees for our purpose, getting them quickly in order for the -framework of the houses, which in two or three days were so far under -way that we could safely trust the rest of the work to the three men -whom we intended to leave behind. These were John Carson, Alfred -Harris, and ---- Peterson (all natives of London, I believe), who -volunteered their services in this respect. - -By the last of the month we had everything in readiness for departure. -We had agreed, however, to pay a formal visit of leavestaking to the -village, and Too-wit insisted so pertinaciously upon our keeping the -promise, that we did not think it advisable to run the risk of -offending him by a final refusal. I believe that not one of us had at -this time the slightest suspicion of the good faith of the savages. -They had uniformly behaved with the greatest decorum, aiding us with -alacrity in our work, offering us their commodities frequently without -price, and never, in any instance, pilfering a single article, although -the high value they set upon the goods we had with us was evident by -the extravagant demonstrations of joy always manifested upon our making -them a present. The women especially were most obliging in every -respect, and, upon the whole, we should have been the most suspicious -of human beings had we entertained a single thought of perfidy on the -part of a people who treated us so well. A very short while sufficed to -prove that this apparent kindness of disposition was only the result of -a deeply-laid plan for our destruction, and that the islanders for whom -we entertained such inordinate feelings of esteem were among the most -barbarous, subtle, and bloodthirsty wretches that ever contaminated the -face of the globe. - -It was on the first of February that we went on shore for the purpose -of visiting the village. Although, as said before, we entertained not -the slightest suspicion, still no proper precaution was neglected. Six -men were left in the schooner with instructions to permit none of the -savages to approach the vessel during our absence, under any pretence -whatever, and to remain constantly on deck. The boarding-nettings were -up, the guns double-shotted with grape and canister, and the swivels -loaded with canisters of musket-balls. She lay, with her anchor apeak, -about a mile from the shore, and no canoe could approach her in any -direction without being distinctly seen and exposed to the full fire of -our swivels immediately. - -The six men being left on board, our shore-party consisted of -thirty-two persons in all. We were armed to the teeth, having with us -muskets, pistols, and cutlasses, besides each a long kind of seaman's -knife, somewhat resembling the Bowie knife now so much used throughout -our western and southern country. A hundred of the black skin warriors -met us at the landing for the purpose of accompanying us on our way. We -noticed, however, with some surprise, that they were now entirely -without arms; and, upon questioning Too-wit in relation to this -circumstance, he merely answered that _Mattee non we pa pa si_--meaning -that there was no need of arms where all were brothers. We took this in -good part, and proceeded. - -We had passed the spring and rivulet of which I before spoke, and were -now entering upon a narrow gorge leading through the chain of soapstone -hills among which the village was situated. This gorge was very rocky -and uneven, so much so that it was with no little difficulty we -scrambled through it on our first visit to Klock-klock. The whole -length of the ravine might have been a mile and a half, or probably two -miles. It wound in every possible direction through the hills (having -apparently formed, at some remote period, the bed of a torrent), in no -instance proceeding more than twenty yards without an abrupt turn. The -sides of this dell would have averaged, I am sure, seventy or eighty -feet in perpendicular altitude throughout the whole of their extent, -and in some portions they arose to an astonishing height, overshadowing -the pass so completely that but little of the light of day could -penetrate. The general width was about forty feet, and occasionally it -diminished so as not to allow the passage of more than five or six -persons abreast. In short, there could be no place in the world better -adapted for the consummation of an ambuscade, and it was no more than -natural that we should look carefully to our arms as we entered upon -it. When I now think of our egregious folly, the chief subject of -astonishment seems to be, that we should have ever ventured, under any -circumstances, so completely into the power of unknown savages as to -permit them to march both before and behind us in our progress through -this ravine. Yet such was the order we blindly took up, trusting -foolishly to the force of our party, the unarmed condition of Too-wit -and his men, the certain efficacy of our fire-arms (whose effect was -yet a secret to the natives), and, more than all, to the long-sustained -pretension of friendship kept up by these infamous wretches. Five or -six of them went on before, as if to lead the way, ostentatiously -busying themselves in removing the larger stones and rubbish from the -path. Next came our own party. We walked closely together, taking care -only to prevent separation. Behind followed the main body of the -savages, observing unusual order and decorum. - -Dirk Peters, a man named Wilson Allen, and myself were on the right of -our companions, examining, as we went along, the singular -stratification of the precipice which overhung us. A fissure in the -soft rock attracted our attention. It was about wide enough for one -person to enter without squeezing, and extended back into the hill some -eighteen or twenty feet in a straight course, sloping afterward to the -left. The height of the opening, as far as we could see into it from -the main gorge, was perhaps sixty or seventy feet. There were one or -two stunted shrubs growing from the crevices, bearing a species of -filbert, which I felt some curiosity to examine, and pushed in briskly -for that purpose, gathering five or six of the nuts at a grasp, and -then hastily retreating. As I turned, I found that Peters and Allen had -followed me. I desired them to go back, as there was not room for two -persons to pass, saying they should have some of my nuts. They -accordingly turned, and were scrambling back, Allen being close to the -mouth of the fissure, when I was suddenly aware of a concussion -resembling nothing I had ever before experienced, and which impressed -me with a vague conception, if indeed I then thought of anything, that -the whole foundations of the solid globe were suddenly rent asunder, -and that the day of universal dissolution was at hand. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. - - -As soon as I could collect my scattered senses, I found myself nearly -suffocated, and grovelling in utter darkness among a quantity of loose -earth, which was also falling upon me heavily in every direction, -threatening to bury me entirely. Horribly alarmed at this idea, I -struggled to gain my feet, and at length succeeded. I then remained -motionless for some moments, endeavouring to conceive what had happened -to me, and where I was. Presently I heard a deep groan just at my ear, -and afterward the smothered voice of Peters calling to me for aid in -the name of God. I scrambled one or two paces forward, when I fell -directly over the head and shoulders of my companion, who, I soon -discovered, was buried in a loose mass of earth as far as his middle, -and struggling desperately to free himself from the pressure. I tore -the dirt from around him with all the energy I could command, and at -length succeeded in getting him out. - -As soon as we sufficiently recovered from our fright and surprise to be -capable of conversing rationally, we both came to the conclusion that -the walls of the fissure in which we had ventured had, by some -convulsion of nature, or probably from their own weight, caved in -overhead, and that we were consequently lost for ever, being thus -entombed alive. For a long time we gave up supinely to the most intense -agony and despair, such as cannot be adequately imagined by those who -have never been in a similar situation. I firmly believe that no -incident ever occurring in the course of human events is more adapted -to inspire the supremeness of mental and bodily distress than a case -like our own, of living inhumation. The blackness of darkness which -envelops the victim, the terrific oppression of lungs, the stifling -fumes from the damp earth, unite with the ghastly considerations that -we are beyond the remotest confines of hope, and that such is the -allotted portion of _the dead_, to carry into the human heart a degree -of appalling awe and horror not to be tolerated--never to be conceived. - -At length Peters proposed that we should endeavour to ascertain -precisely the extent of our calamity, and grope about our prison; it -being barely possible, he observed, that some opening might be yet left -us for escape. I caught eagerly at this hope, and, arousing myself to -exertion, attempted to force my way through the loose earth. Hardly had -I advanced a single step before a glimmer of light became perceptible, -enough to convince me that, at all events, we should not immediately -perish for want of air. We now took some degree of heart, and -encouraged each other to hope for the best. Having scrambled over a -bank of rubbish which impeded our farther progress in the direction of -the light, we found less difficulty in advancing, and also experienced -some relief from the excessive oppression of lungs which had tormented -us. Presently we were enabled to obtain a glimpse of the objects -around, and discovered that we were near the extremity of the straight -portion of the fissure, where it made a turn to the left. A few -struggles more, and we reached the bend, when, to our inexpressible -joy, there appeared a long seam or crack extending upward a vast -distance, generally at an angle of about forty-five degrees, although -sometimes much more precipitous. We could not see through the whole -extent of this opening; but, as a good deal of light came down it, we -had little doubt of finding at the top of it (if we could by any means -reach the top) a clear passage into the open air. - -I now called to mind that three of us had entered the fissure from the -main gorge, and that our companion, Allen, was still missing; we -determined at once to retrace our steps and look for him. After a long -search, and much danger from the farther caving in of the earth above -us, Peters at length cried out to me that he had hold of our -companion's foot, and that his whole body was deeply buried beneath the -rubbish, beyond a possibility of extricating him. I soon found that -what he said was too true, and that, of course, life had been long -extinct. With sorrowful hearts, therefore, we left the corpse to its -fate, and again made our way to the bend. - -The breadth of the seam was barely sufficient to admit us, and, after -one or two ineffectual efforts at getting up, we began once more to -despair. I have before said that the chain of hills through which ran -the main gorge was composed of a species of soft rock resembling -soapstone. The sides of the cleft we were now attempting to ascend were -of the same material, and so excessively slippery, being wet, that we -could get but little foothold upon them even in their least precipitous -parts; in some places, where the ascent was nearly perpendicular, the -difficulty was, of course, much aggravated; and, indeed, for some time -we thought it insurmountable. We took courage, however, from despair; -and what, by dint of cutting steps in the soft stone with our Bowie -knives, and swinging, at the risk of our lives, to small projecting -points of a harder species of slaty rock which now and then protruded -from the general mass, we at length reached a natural platform, from -which was perceptible a patch of blue sky, at the extremity of a -thickly-wooded ravine. Looking back now, with somewhat more leisure, at -the passage through which we had thus far proceeded, we clearly saw, -from the appearance of its sides, that it was of late formation, and we -concluded that the concussion, whatever it was, which had so -unexpectedly overwhelmed us, had also, at the same moment, laid open -this path for escape. Being quite exhausted with exertion, and, indeed, -so weak that we were scarcely able to stand or articulate, Peters now -proposed that we should endeavour to bring our companions to the rescue -by firing the pistols which still remained in our girdles--the muskets -as well as cutlasses had been lost among the loose earth at the bottom -of the chasm. Subsequent events proved that, had we fired, we should -have sorely repented it; but, luckily, a half suspicion of foul play -had by this time arisen in my mind, and we forbore to let the savages -know of our whereabouts. - -After having reposed for about an hour, we pushed on slowly up the -ravine, and had gone no great way before we heard a succession of -tremendous yells. At length we reached what might be called the surface -of the ground; for our path hitherto, since leaving the platform, had -lain beneath an archway of high rock and foliage, at a vast distance -overhead. With great caution we stole to a narrow opening, through -which we had a clear sight of the surrounding country, when the whole -dreadful secret of the concussion broke upon us in one moment and at -one view. - -The spot from which we looked was not far from the summit of the -highest peak in the range of the soapstone hills. The gorge in which -our party of thirty-two had entered ran within fifty feet to the left -of us. But, for at least one hundred yards, the channel or bed of this -gorge was entirely filled up with the chaotic ruins of more than a -million tons of earth and stone that had been artificially tumbled -within it. The means by which the vast mass had been precipitated were -not more simple than evident, for sure traces of the murderous work -were yet remaining. In several spots along the top of the eastern side -of the gorge (we were now on the western) might be seen stakes of wood -driven into the earth. In these spots the earth had not given way; but -throughout the whole extent of the face of the precipice from which the -mass _had_ fallen, it was clear, from marks left in the soil resembling -those made by the drill of the rock-blaster, that stakes similar to -those we saw standing had been inserted, at not more than a yard apart, -for the length of perhaps three hundred feet, and ranging at about ten -feet back from the edge of the gulf. Strong cords of grape vine were -attached to the stakes still remaining on the hill, and it was evident -that such cords had also been attached to each of the other stakes. I -have already spoken of the singular stratification of these soapstone -hills; and the description just given of the narrow and deep fissure -through which we effected our escape from inhumation will afford a -further conception of its nature. This was such that almost every -natural convulsion would be sure to split the soil into perpendicular -layers or ridges running parallel with one another; and a very moderate -exertion of art would be sufficient for effecting the same purpose. Of -this stratification the savages had availed themselves to accomplish -their treacherous ends. There can be no doubt that, by the continuous -line of stakes, a partial rupture of the soil had been brought about, -probably to the depth of one or two feet, when, by means of a savage -pulling at the end of each of the cords (these cords being attached to -the tops of the stakes, and extending back from the edge of the cliff), -a vast leverage power was obtained, capable of hurling the whole face -of the hill, upon a given signal, into the bosom of the abyss below. -The fate of our poor companions was no longer a matter of uncertainty. -We alone had escaped from the tempest of that overwhelming destruction. -We were the only living white men upon the island. - - - - -CHAPTER XXII. - - -Our situation, as it now appeared, was scarcely less dreadful than when -we had conceived ourselves entombed for ever. We saw before us no -prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging -out a miserable existence in captivity among them. We might, to be -sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the -fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from -which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long Polar -winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our -efforts to obtain relief. - -The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds -of whom, we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the -southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in -the capture and plunder of the Jane. The vessel still lay calmly at -anchor in the bay, those on board being apparently quite unconscious of -any danger awaiting them. How we longed at that moment to be with them! -either to aid in effecting their escape, or to perish with them in -attempting a defence. We saw no chance even of warning them of their -danger without bringing immediate destruction upon our own heads, with -but a remote hope of benefit to them. A pistol fired might suffice to -apprize them that something wrong had occurred; but the report could -not possibly inform them that their only prospect of safety lay in -getting out of the harbour forthwith--it could not tell them that no -principles of honour now bound them to remain, that their companions -were no longer among the living. Upon hearing the discharge they could -not be more thoroughly prepared to meet the foe, who were now getting -ready to attack, than they already were, and always had been. No good, -therefore, and infinite harm, would result from our firing, and, after -mature deliberation, we forbore. - -Our next thought was to attempt a rush towards the vessel, to seize one -of the four canoes which lay at the head of the bay, and endeavour to -force a passage on board. But the utter impossibility of succeeding in -this desperate task soon became evident. The country, as I said before, -was literally swarming with the natives, skulking among the bushes and -recesses of the hills, so as not to be observed from the schooner. In -our immediate vicinity especially, and blockading the sole path by -which we could hope to attain the shore in the proper point, were -stationed the whole party of the black skin warriors, with Too-wit at -their head, and apparently only waiting for some re-enforcement to -commence his onset upon the Jane. The canoes, too, which lay at the -head of the bay were manned with savages, unarmed, it is true, but who -undoubtedly had arms within reach. We were forced, therefore, however -unwillingly, to remain in our place of concealment, mere spectators of -the conflict which presently ensued. - -In about half an hour we saw some sixty or seventy rafts, or flatboats, -with outriggers, filled with savages, and coming round the southern -bight of the harbour. They appeared to have no arms except short clubs, -and stones which lay in the bottom of the rafts. Immediately afterward -another detachment, still larger, approached in an opposite direction, -and with similar weapons. The four canoes, too, were now quickly filled -with natives, starting up from the bushes at the head of the bay, and -put off swiftly to join the other parties. Thus, in less time than I -have taken to tell it, and as if by magic, the Jane saw herself -surrounded by an immense multitude of desperadoes evidently bent upon -capturing her at all hazards. - -That they would succeed in so doing could not be doubted for an -instant. The six men left in the vessel, however resolutely they might -engage in her defence, were altogether unequal to the proper management -of the guns, or in any manner to sustain a contest at such odds. I -could hardly imagine that they would make resistance at all, but in -this was deceived; for presently I saw them get springs upon the cable, -and bring the vessel's starboard broadside to bear upon the canoes, -which by this time were within pistol range, the rafts being nearly a -quarter of a mile to windward. Owing to some cause unknown, but most -probably to the agitation of our poor friends at seeing themselves in -so hopeless a situation, the discharge was an entire failure. Not a -canoe was hit or a single savage injured, the shots striking short and -_ricochêting_ over their heads. The only effect produced upon them was -astonishment at the unexpected report and smoke, which was so excessive -that for some moments I almost thought they would abandon their design -entirely, and return to the shore. And this they would most likely have -done had our men followed up their broadside by a discharge of small -arms, in which, as the canoes were now so near at hand, they could not -have failed in doing some execution, sufficient, at least, to deter -this party from a farther advance, until they could have given the -rafts also a broadside. But, in place of this, they left the canoe -party to recover from their panic, and, by looking about them, to see -that no injury had been sustained, while they flew to the larboard to -get ready for the rafts. - -The discharge to larboard produced the most terrible effect. The star -and double-headed shot of the large guns cut seven or eight of the -rafts completely asunder, and killed, perhaps, thirty or forty of the -savages outright, while a hundred of them, at least, were thrown into -the water, the most of them dreadfully wounded. The remainder, -frightened out of their senses, commenced at once a precipitate -retreat, not even waiting to pick up their maimed companions, who were -swimming about in every direction, screaming and yelling for aid. This -great success, however, came too late for the salvation of our devoted -people. The canoe party were already on board the schooner to the -number of more than a hundred and fifty, the most of them having -succeeded in scrambling up the chains and over the boarding nettings -even before the matches had been applied to the larboard guns. Nothing -could now withstand their brute rage. Our men were borne down at once, -overwhelmed, trodden under foot, and absolutely torn to pieces in an -instant. - -Seeing this, the savages on the rafts got the better of their fears, -and came up in shoals to the plunder. In five minutes the Jane was a -pitiable scene indeed of havoc and tumultuous outrage. The decks were -split open and ripped up; the cordage, sails, and everything moveable -on deck demolished as if by magic; while, by dint of pushing at the -stern, towing with the canoes, and hauling at the sides, as they swam -in thousands around the vessel, the wretches finally forced her on -shore (the cable having been slipped), and delivered her over to the -good offices of Too-wit, who, during the whole of the engagement, had -maintained, like a skilful general, his post of security and -reconnoissance among the hills, but, now that the victory was completed -to his satisfaction, condescended to scamper down with his warriors of -the black skin, and become a partaker in the spoils. - -Too-wit's descent left us at liberty to quit our hiding-place and -reconnoitre the hill in the vicinity of the chasm. At about fifty yards -from the mouth of it we saw a small spring of water, at which we slaked -the burning thirst that now consumed us. Not far from the spring we -discovered several of the filbert-bushes which I mentioned before. Upon -tasting the nuts we found them palatable, and very nearly resembling in -flavour the common English filbert. We collected our hats full -immediately, deposited them within the ravine, and returned for more. -While we were busily employed in gathering these, a rustling in the -bushes alarmed us, and we were upon the point of stealing back to our -covert, when a large black bird of the bittern species strugglingly and -slowly arose above the shrubs. I was so much startled that I could do -nothing, but Peters had sufficient presence of mind to run up to it -before it could make its escape, and seize it by the neck. Its -struggles and screams were tremendous, and we had thoughts of letting -it go, lest the noise should alarm some of the savages who might be -still lurking in the neighbourhood. A stab with a Bowie knife, however, -at length brought it to the ground, and we dragged it into the ravine, -congratulating ourselves that, at all events, we had thus obtained a -supply of food enough to last us for a week. - -We now went out again to look about us, and ventured a considerable -distance down the southern declivity of the hill, but met with nothing -else which could serve us for food. We therefore collected a quantity -of dry wood and returned, seeing one or two large parties of the -natives on their way to the village, laden with the plunder of the -vessel, and who, we were apprehensive, might discover us in passing -beneath the hill. - -Our next care was to render our place of concealment as secure as -possible, and, with this object, we arranged some brushwood over the -aperture which I have before spoken of as the one through which we saw -the patch of blue sky, on reaching the platform from the interior of -the chasm. We left only a very small opening, just wide enough to admit -of our seeing the bay, without the risk of being discovered from below. -Having done this, we congratulated ourselves upon the security of the -position; for we were now completely excluded from observation, as long -as we chose to remain within the ravine itself, and not venture out -upon the hill. We could perceive no traces of the savages having ever -been within this hollow; but, indeed, when we came to reflect upon the -probability that the fissure through which we attained it had been only -just now created by the fall of the cliff opposite, and that no other -way of attaining it could be perceived, we were not so much rejoiced at -the thought of being secure from molestation as fearful lest there -should be absolutely no means left us for descent. We resolved to -explore the summit of the hill thoroughly, when a good opportunity -should offer. In the mean time we watched the motions of the savages -through our loophole. - -They had already made a complete wreck of the vessel, and were now -preparing to set her on fire. In a little while we saw the smoke -ascending in huge volumes from her main-hatchway, and, shortly -afterward, a dense mass of flame burst up from the forecastle. The -rigging, masts, and what remained of the sails caught immediately, and -the fire spread rapidly along the decks. Still a great many of the -savages retained their stations about her, hammering with large stones, -axes, and cannon balls at the bolts and other copper and iron work. On -the beach, and in canoes and rafts, there were not less, altogether, in -the immediate vicinity of the schooner, than ten thousand natives, -besides the shoals of them who, laden with booty, were making their way -inland and over to the neighbouring islands. We now anticipated a -catastrophe, and were not disappointed. First of all there came a smart -shock (which we felt distinctly where we were as if we had been -slightly galvanized), but unattended with any visible signs of an -explosion. The savages were evidently startled, and paused for an -instant from their labours and yellings. They were upon the point of -recommencing, when suddenly a mass of smoke puffed up from the decks, -resembling a black and heavy thunder-cloud--then, as if from its -bowels, arose a tall stream of vivid fire to the height, apparently, of -a quarter of a mile--then there came a sudden circular expansion of the -flame--then the whole atmosphere was magically crowded, in a single -instant, with a wild chaos of wood, and metal, and human limbs--and, -lastly, came the concussion in its fullest fury, which hurled us -impetuously from our feet, while the hills echoed and re-echoed the -tumult, and a dense shower of the minutest fragments of the ruins -tumbled headlong in every direction around us. - -The havoc among the savages far exceeded our utmost expectation, and -they had now, indeed, reaped the full and perfect fruits of their -treachery. Perhaps a thousand perished by the explosion, while at least -an equal number were desperately mangled. The whole surface of the bay -was literally strewn with the struggling and drowning wretches, and on -shore matters were even worse. They seemed utterly appalled by the -suddenness and completeness of their discomfiture, and made no efforts -at assisting one another. At length we observed a total change in their -demeanour. From absolute stupor they appeared to be, all at once, -aroused to the highest pitch of excitement, and rushed wildly about, -going to and from a certain point on the beach, with the strangest -expressions of mingled horror, rage, and intense curiosity depicted on -their countenances, and shouting, at the top of their voices, -_Tekeli-li! Tekeli-li!_ - -Presently we saw a large body go off into the hills, whence they -returned in a short time, carrying stakes of wood. These they brought -to the station where the crowd was the thickest, which now separated so -as to afford us a view of the object of all this excitement. We -perceived something white lying on the ground, but could not -immediately make out what it was. At length we saw that it was the -carcass of the strange animal with the scarlet teeth and claws which -the schooner had picked up at sea on the eighteenth of January. Captain -Guy had had the body preserved for the purpose of stuffing the skin and -taking it to England. I remember he had given some directions about it -just before our making the island, and it had been brought into the -cabin and stowed away in one of the lockers. It had now been thrown on -shore by the explosion; but why it had occasioned so much concern among -the savages was more than we could comprehend. Although they crowded -around the carcass at a little distance, none of them seemed willing to -approach it closely. By-and-by the men with the stakes drove them in a -circle around it, and, no sooner was this arrangement completed, than -the whole of the vast assembly rushed into the interior of the island, -with loud screams of _Tekeli-li! Tekeli-li!_ - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII. - - -During the six or seven days immediately following we remained in our -hiding-place upon the hill, going out only occasionally, and then with -the greatest precaution, for water and filberts. We had made a kind of -pent-house on the platform, furnishing it with a bed of dry leaves, and -placing in it three large flat stones, which served us for both -fireplace and table. We kindled a fire without difficulty by rubbing -two pieces of dry wood together, the one soft, the other hard. The bird -we had taken in such good season proved excellent eating, although -somewhat tough. It was not an oceanic fowl, but a species of bittern, -with jet black and grizzly plumage, and diminutive wings in proportion -to its bulk. We afterward saw three of the same kind in the vicinity of -the ravine, apparently seeking for the one we had captured; but, as -they never alighted, we had no opportunity of catching them. - -As long as this fowl lasted we suffered nothing from our situation; but -it was now entirely consumed, and it became absolutely necessary that -we should look out for provision. The filberts would not satisfy the -cravings of hunger, afflicting us, too, with severe gripings of the -bowels, and, if freely indulged in, with violent headache. We had seen -several large tortoises near the seashore to the eastward of the hill, -and perceived they might be easily taken, if we could get at them -without the observation of the natives. It was resolved, therefore, to -make an attempt at descending. - -We commenced by going down the southern declivity, which seemed to -offer the fewest difficulties, but had not proceeded a hundred yards -before (as we had anticipated from appearances on the hill-top) our -progress was entirely arrested by a branch of the gorge in which our -companions had perished. We now passed along the edge of this for about -a quarter of a mile, when we were again stopped by a precipice of -immense depth, and, not being able to make our way along the brink of -it, we were forced to retrace our steps by the main ravine. - -We now pushed over to the eastward, but with precisely similar fortune. -After an hour's scramble, at the risk of breaking our necks, we -discovered that we had merely descended into a vast pit of black -granite, with fine dust at the bottom, and whence the only egress was -by the rugged path in which we had come down. Toiling again up this -path, we now tried the northern edge of the hill. Here we were obliged -to use the greatest possible caution in our manoeuvres, as the least -indiscretion would expose us to the full view of the savages in the -village. We crawled along, therefore, on our hands and knees, and, -occasionally, were even forced to throw ourselves at full length, -dragging our bodies along by means of the shrubbery. In this careful -manner we had proceeded but a little way, when we arrived at a chasm -far deeper than any we had yet seen, and leading directly into the main -gorge. Thus our fears were fully confirmed, and we found ourselves cut -off entirely from access to the world below. Thoroughly exhausted by -our exertions, we made the best of our way back to the platform, and, -throwing ourselves upon the bed of leaves, slept sweetly and soundly -for some hours. - -For several days after this fruitless search we were occupied in -exploring every part of the summit of the hill, in order to inform -ourselves of its actual resources. We found that it would afford us no -food, with the exception of the unwholesome filberts, and a rank -species of scurvy grass which grew in a little patch of not more than -four rods square, and would be soon exhausted. On the fifteenth of -February, as near as I can remember, there was not a blade of this -left, and the nuts were growing scarce; our situation, therefore, could -hardly be more lamentable.[5] On the sixteenth we again went round the -walls of our prison, in hope of finding some avenue of escape, but to -no purpose. We also descended the chasm in which we had been -overwhelmed, with the faint expectation of discovering, through this -channel, some opening to the main ravine. Here, too, we were -disappointed, although we found and brought up with us a musket. - -[Footnote 5: This day was rendered remarkable by our observing in the -south several huge wreaths of the grayish vapour I have before spoken -of.] - -On the seventeenth we set out with the determination of examining more -thoroughly the chasm of black granite into which we had made our way in -the first search. We remembered that one of the fissures in the sides -of this pit had been but partially looked into, and we were anxious to -explore it, although with no expectation of discovering here any -opening. - -We found no great difficulty in reaching the bottom of the hollow as -before, and were now sufficiently calm to survey it with some -attention. It was, indeed, one of the most singular-looking places -imaginable, and we could scarcely bring ourselves to believe it -altogether the work of nature. The pit, from its eastern to its western -extremity, was about five hundred yards in length, when all its -windings were threaded; the distance from east to west in a straight -line not being more (I should suppose, having no means of accurate -examination) than forty or fifty yards. Upon first descending into the -chasm, that is to say, for a hundred feet downward from the summit of -the hill, the sides of the abyss bore little resemblance to each other, -and, apparently, had at no time been connected, the one surface being -of the soapstone and the other of marl, granulated with some metallic -matter. The average breadth, or interval between the two cliffs, was -probably here sixty feet, but there seemed to be no regularity of -formation. Passing down, however, beyond the limit spoken of, the -interval rapidly contracted, and the sides began to run parallel, -although, for some distance farther, they were still dissimilar in -their material and form of surface. Upon arriving within fifty feet of -the bottom, a perfect regularity commenced. The sides were now entirely -uniform in substance, in colour, and in lateral direction, the material -being a very black and shining granite, and the distance between the -two sides, at all points facing each other, exactly twenty yards. The -precise formation of the chasm will be best understood by means of a -delineation taken upon the spot; for I had luckily with me a pocketbook -and pencil, which I preserved with great care through a long series of -subsequent adventure, and to which I am indebted for memoranda of many -subjects which would otherwise have been crowded from my remembrance. - -[Illustration: _Figure 1_.] - -This figure (see figure 1) gives the general outlines of the chasm, -without the minor cavities in the sides, of which there were several, -each cavity having a corresponding protuberance opposite. The bottom of -the gulf was covered to the depth of three or four inches with a powder -almost impalpable, beneath which we found a continuation of the black -granite. To the right, at the lower extremity, will be noticed the -appearance of a small opening; this is the fissure alluded to above, -and to examine which more minutely than before was the object of our -second visit. We now pushed into it with vigour, cutting away a -quantity of brambles which impeded us, and removing a vast heap of -sharp flints somewhat resembling arrowheads in shape. We were -encouraged to persevere, however, by perceiving some little light -proceeding from the farther end. We at length squeezed our way for -about thirty feet, and found that the aperture was a low and -regularly-formed arch, having a bottom of the same impalpable powder as -that in the main chasm. A strong light now broke upon us, and, turning -a short bend, we found ourselves in another lofty chamber, similar to -the one we had left in every respect but longitudinal form. Its general -figure is here given. (See figure 2.) - -[Illustration: _Figure 2_.] - -The total length of this chasm, commencing at the opening _a_ and -proceeding round the curve _b_ to the extremity _d_, is five hundred -and fifty yards. At _c_ we discovered a small aperture similar to the -one through which we had issued from the other chasm, and this was -choked up in the same manner with brambles and a quantity of the white -arrowhead flints. We forced our way through it, finding it about forty -feet long, and emerged into a third chasm. This, too, was precisely -like the first, except in its longitudinal shape, which was thus. (See -figure 3.) - -[Illustration: _Figure 3_.] - -[Illustration: _Figure 5_.] - -We found the entire length of the third chasm three hundred and twenty -yards. At the point _a_ was an opening about six feet wide, and -extending fifteen feet into the rock, where it terminated in a bed of -marl, there being no other chasm beyond, as we had expected. We were -about leaving this fissure, into which very little light was admitted, -when Peters called my attention to a range of singular-looking -indentures in the surface of the marl forming the termination of the -_cul-de-sac_. With a very slight exertion of the imagination, the left, -or most northerly of these indentures might have been taken for the -intentional, although rude, representation of a human figure standing -erect, with outstretched arm. The rest of them bore also some little -resemblance to alphabetical characters, and Peters was willing, at all -events, to adopt the idle opinion that they were really such. I -convinced him of his error, finally, by directing his attention to the -floor of the fissure, where, among the powder, we picked up, piece by -piece, several large flakes of the marl, which had evidently been -broken off by some convulsion from the surface where the indentures -were found, and which had projecting points exactly fitting the -indentures; thus proving them to have been the work of nature. Figure -4. presents an accurate copy of the whole. - -[Illustration: _Figure 4_.] - -After satisfying ourselves that these singular caverns afforded us no -means of escape from our prison, we made our way back, dejected and -dispirited, to the summit of the hill. Nothing worth mentioning -occurred during the next twenty-four hours, except that, in examining -the ground to the eastward of the third chasm, we found two triangular -holes of great depth, and also with black granite sides. Into these -holes we did not think it worth while to attempt descending, as they -had the appearance of mere natural wells, without outlet. They were -each about twenty yards in circumference, and their shape, as well as -relative position in regard to the third chasm, is shown in figure 5, -preceding page. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV. - - -On the twentieth of the month, finding it altogether impossible to -subsist any longer upon the filberts, the use of which occasioned us -the most excruciating torment, we resolved to make a desperate attempt -at descending the southern declivity of the hill. The face of the -precipice was here of the softest species of soapstone, although nearly -perpendicular throughout its whole extent (a depth of a hundred and -fifty feet at the least), and in many places even overarching. After -long search we discovered a narrow ledge about twenty feet below the -brink of the gulf; upon this Peters contrived to leap, with what -assistance I could render him by means of our pocket-handkerchiefs tied -together. With somewhat more difficulty I also got down; and we then -saw the possibility of descending the whole way by the process in which -we had clambered up from the chasm when we had been buried by the fall -of the hill--that is, by cutting steps in the face of the soapstone -with our knives. The extreme hazard of the attempt can scarcely be -conceived; but, as there was no other resource, we determined to -undertake it. - -Upon the ledge where we stood there grew some filbert-bushes; and to -one of these we made fast an end of our rope of handkerchiefs. The -other end being tied round Peters's waist, I lowered him down over the -edge of the precipice until the handkerchiefs were stretched tight. He -now proceeded to dig a deep hole in the soapstone (as far in as eight -or ten inches), sloping away the rock above to the height of a foot, or -thereabout, so as to allow of his driving, with the butt of a pistol, a -tolerably strong peg into the levelled surface. I then drew him up for -about four feet, when he made a hole similar to the one below, driving -in a peg as before, and having thus a resting-place for both feet and -hands. I now unfastened the handkerchiefs from the bush, throwing him -the end, which he tied to the peg in the uppermost hole, letting -himself down gently to a station about three feet lower than he had yet -been, that is, to the full extent of the handkerchiefs. Here he dug -another hole, and drove another peg. He then drew himself up, so as to -rest his feet in the hole just cut, taking hold with his hands upon the -peg in the one above. It was now necessary to untie the handkerchiefs -from the topmost peg, with the view of fastening them to the second; -and here he found that an error had been committed in cutting the holes -at so great a distance apart. However, after one or two unsuccessful -and dangerous attempts at reaching the knot (having to hold on with his -left hand while he laboured to undo the fastening with his right), he -at length cut the string, leaving six inches of it affixed to the peg. -Tying the handkerchiefs now to the second peg, he descended to a -station below the third, taking care not to go too far down. By these -means (means which I should never have conceived of myself, and for -which we were indebted altogether to Peters's ingenuity and resolution) -my companion finally succeeded, with the occasional aid of projections -in the cliff, in reaching the bottom without accident. - -It was some time before I could summon sufficient resolution to follow -him; but I did at length attempt it. Peters had taken off his shirt -before descending, and this, with my own, formed the rope necessary for -the adventure. After throwing down the musket found in the chasm, I -fastened this rope to the bushes, and let myself down rapidly, -striving, by the vigour of my movements, to banish the trepidation -which I could overcome in no other manner. This answered sufficiently -well for the first four or five steps; but presently I found my -imagination growing terribly excited by thoughts of the vast depth yet -to be descended, and the precarious nature of the pegs and soapstone -holes which were my only support. It was in vain I endeavoured to -banish these reflections, and to keep my eyes steadily bent upon the -flat surface of the cliff before me. The more earnestly I struggled -_not to think_, the more intensely vivid became my conceptions, and the -more horribly distinct. At length arrived that crisis of fancy, so -fearful in all similar cases, the crisis in which we begin to -anticipate the feelings with which we _shall_ fall--to picture to -ourselves the sickness, and dizziness, and the last struggle, and the -half swoon, and the final bitterness of the rushing and headlong -descent. And now I found these fancies creating their own realities, -and all imagined horrors crowding upon me in fact. I felt my knees -strike violently together, while my fingers were gradually yet -certainly relaxing their grasp. There was a ringing in my ears, and I -said, "This is my knell of death!" And now I was consumed with the -irrepressible desire of looking below. I could not, I would not, -confine my glances to the cliff; and, with a wild, indefinable emotion -half of horror, half of a relieved oppression, I threw my vision far -down into the abyss. For one moment my fingers clutched convulsively -upon their hold, while, with the movement, the faintest possible idea -of ultimate escape wandered, like a shadow, through my mind--in the -next my whole soul was pervaded with _a longing to fall_; a desire, a -yearning, a passion utterly uncontrollable. I let go at once my grasp -upon the peg, and, turning half round from the precipice, remained -tottering for an instant against its naked face. But now there came a -spinning of the brain; a shrill-sounding and phantom voice screamed -within my ears; a dusky, fiendish, and filmy figure stood immediately -beneath me; and, sighing, I sunk down with a bursting heart, and -plunged within its arms. - -I had swooned, and Peters had caught me as I fell. He had observed my -proceedings from his station at the bottom of the cliff; and, -perceiving my imminent danger, had endeavoured to inspire me with -courage by every suggestion he could devise; although my confusion of -mind had been so great as to prevent my hearing what he said, or being -conscious that he had even spoken to me at all. At length, seeing me -totter, he hastened to ascend to my rescue, and arrived just in time -for my preservation. Had I fallen with my full weight, the rope of -linen would inevitably have snapped, and I should have been -precipitated into the abyss; as it was, he contrived to let me down -gently, so as to remain suspended without danger until animation -returned. This was in about fifteen minutes. On recovery, my -trepidation had entirely vanished; I felt a new being, and, with some -little further aid from my companion, reached the bottom also in -safety. - -We now found ourselves not far from the ravine which had proved the -tomb of our friends, and to the southward of the spot where the hill -had fallen. The place was one of singular wildness, and its aspect -brought to my mind the descriptions given by travellers of those dreary -regions marking the site of degraded Babylon. Not to speak of the ruins -of the disruptured cliff, which formed a chaotic barrier in the vista -to the northward, the surface of the ground in every other direction -was strewn with huge tumuli, apparently the wreck of some gigantic -structures of art; although, in detail, no semblance of art could be -detected. Scoria were abundant, and large shapeless blocks of the black -granite, intermingled with others of marl,[6] and both granulated with -metal. Of vegetation there were no traces whatsoever throughout the -whole of the desolate area within sight. Several immense scorpions were -seen, and various reptiles not elsewhere to be found in the high -latitudes. - -[Footnote 6: The marl was also black; indeed, we noticed no -light-coloured substances of any kind upon the island.] - -As food was our most immediate object, we resolved to make our way to -the seacoast, distant not more than half a mile, with a view of -catching turtle, several of which we had observed from our place of -concealment on the hill. We had proceeded some hundred yards, threading -our route cautiously between the huge rocks and tumuli, when, upon -turning a corner, five savages sprung upon us from a small cavern, -felling Peters to the ground with a blow from a club. As he fell the -whole party rushed upon him to secure their victim, leaving me time to -recover from my astonishment. I still had the musket, but the barrel -had received so much injury in being thrown from the precipice that I -cast it aside as useless, preferring to trust my pistols, which had -been carefully preserved in order. With these I advanced upon the -assailants, firing one after the other in quick succession. Two savages -fell, and one, who was in the act of thrusting a spear into Peters, -sprung to his feet without accomplishing his purpose. My companion -being thus released, we had no further difficulty. He had his pistols -also, but prudently declined using them, confiding in his great -personal strength, which far exceeded that of any person I have ever -known. Seizing a club from one of the savages who had fallen, he dashed -out the brains of the three who remained, killing each instantaneously -with a single blow of the weapon, and leaving us completely masters of -the field. - -So rapidly had these events passed, that we could scarcely believe in -their reality, and were standing over the bodies of the dead in a -species of stupid contemplation, when we were brought to recollection -by the sound of shouts in the distance. It was clear that the savages -had been alarmed by the firing, and that we had little chance of -avoiding discovery. To regain the cliff, it would be necessary to -proceed in the direction of the shouts; and even should we succeed in -arriving at its base, we should never be able to ascend it without -being seen. Our situation was one of the greatest peril, and we were -hesitating in which path to commence a flight, when one of the savages -whom I had shot, and supposed dead, sprang briskly to his feet, and -attempted to make his escape. We overtook him, however, before he had -advanced many paces, and were about to put him to death, when Peters -suggested that we might derive some benefit from forcing him to -accompany us in our attempt at escape. We therefore dragged him with -us, making him understand that we would shoot him if he offered -resistance. In a few minutes he was perfectly submissive, and ran by -our sides as we pushed in among the rocks, making for the seashore. - -So far, the irregularities of the ground we had been traversing hid the -sea, except at intervals, from our sight, and, when we first had it -fairly in view, it was, perhaps, two hundred yards distant. As we -emerged into the open beach we saw, to our great dismay, an immense -crowd of the natives pouring from the village, and from all visible -quarters of the island, making towards us with gesticulations of -extreme fury, and howling like wild beasts. We were upon the point of -turning upon our steps, and trying to secure a retreat among the -fastnesses of the rougher ground, when I discovered the bows of two -canoes projecting from behind a large rock which ran out into the -water. Towards these we now ran with all speed, and, reaching them, -found them unguarded, and without any other freight than three of the -large Gallipago turtles and the usual supply of paddles for sixty -rowers. We instantly took possession of one of them, and, forcing our -captive on board, pushed out to sea with all the strength we could -command. - -We had not made, however, more than fifty yards from the shore before -we became sufficiently calm to perceive the great oversight of which we -had been guilty in leaving the other canoe in the power of the savages, -who, by this time, were not more than twice as far from the beach as -ourselves, and were rapidly advancing to the pursuit. No time was now -to be lost. Our hope was, at best, a forlorn one, but we had none -other. It was very doubtful whether, with the utmost exertion, we could -get back in time to anticipate them in taking possession of the canoe; -but yet there was a chance that we could. We might save ourselves if we -succeeded, while not to make the attempt was to resign ourselves to -inevitable butchery. - -The canoe was modelled with the bow and stern alike, and, in place of -turning it round, we merely changed our position in paddling. As soon -as the savages perceived this they redoubled their yells, as well as -their speed, and approached with inconceivable rapidity. We pulled, -however, with all the energy of desperation, and arrived at the -contested point before more than one of the natives had attained it. -This man paid dearly for his superior agility, Peters shooting him -through the head with a pistol as he approached the shore. The foremost -among the rest of his party were probably some twenty or thirty paces -distant as we seized upon the canoe. We at first endeavoured to pull -her into the deep water, beyond the reach of the savages, but, finding -her too firmly aground, and there being no time to spare, Peters, with -one or two heavy strokes from the butt of the musket, succeeded in -dashing out a large portion of the bow and of one side. We then pushed -off. Two of the natives by this time had got hold of our boat, -obstinately refusing to let go, until we were forced to despatch them -with our knives. We were now clear off, and making great way out to -sea. The main body of the savages, upon reaching the broken canoe, set -up the most tremendous yell of rage and disappointment conceivable. In -truth, from everything I could see of these wretches, they appeared to -be the most wicked, hypocritical, vindictive, bloodthirsty, and -altogether fiendish race of men upon the face of the globe. It is clear -we should have had no mercy had we fallen into their hands. They made a -mad attempt at following us in the fractured canoe, but, finding it -useless, again vented their rage in a series of hideous vociferations, -and rushed up into the hills. - -We were thus relieved from immediate danger, but our situation was -still sufficiently gloomy. We knew that four canoes of the kind we had -were at one time in the possession of the savages, and were not aware -of the fact (afterward ascertained from our captive) that two of these -had been blown to pieces in the explosion of the Jane Guy. We -calculated, therefore, upon being yet pursued, as soon as our enemies -could get round to the bay (distant about three miles) where the boats -were usually laid up. Fearing this, we made every exertion to leave the -island behind us, and went rapidly through the water, forcing the -prisoner to take a paddle. In about half an hour, when we had gained, -probably, five or six miles to the southward, a large fleet of the -flat-bottomed canoes or rafts was seen to emerge from the bay, -evidently with the design of pursuit. Presently they put back, -despairing to overtake us. - - - - -CHAPTER XXV. - - -We now found ourselves in the wide and desolate Antarctic Ocean, in a -latitude exceeding eighty-four degrees, in a frail canoe, and with no -provision but the three turtles. The long Polar winter, too, could not -be considered as far distant, and it became necessary that we should -deliberate well upon the course to be pursued. There were six or seven -islands in sight belonging to the same group, and distant from each -other about five or six leagues; but upon neither of these had we any -intention to venture. In coming from the northward in the Jane Guy we -had been gradually leaving behind us the severest regions of ice--this, -however little it may be in accordance with the generally-received -notions respecting the Antarctic, was a fact experience would not -permit us to deny. To attempt, therefore, getting back, would be -folly--especially at so late a period of the season. Only one course -seemed to be left open for hope. We resolved to steer boldly to the -southward, where there was at least a probability of discovering other -lands, and more than a probability of finding a still milder climate. - -So far we had found the Antarctic, like the Arctic Ocean, peculiarly -free from violent storms or immoderately rough water; but our canoe -was, at best, of frail structure, although large, and we set busily to -work with a view of rendering her as safe as the limited means in our -possession would admit. The body of the boat was of no better material -than bark--the bark of a tree unknown. The ribs were of a tough osier, -well adapted to the purpose for which it was used. We had fifty feet -room from stem to stern, from four to six in breadth, and in depth -throughout four feet and a half--the boats thus differing vastly in -shape from those of any other inhabitants of the Southern Ocean with -whom civilized nations are acquainted. We never did believe them the -workmanship of the ignorant islanders who owned them; and some days -after this period discovered, by questioning our captive, that they -were in fact made by the natives of a group to the southwest of the -country where we found them, having fallen accidentally into the hands -of our barbarians. What we could do for the security of our boat was -very little indeed. Several wide rents were discovered near both ends, -and these we contrived to patch up with pieces of woollen jacket. With -the help of the superfluous paddles, of which there were a great many, -we erected a kind of framework about the bow, so as to break the force -of any seas which might threaten to fill us in that quarter. We also -set up two paddle-blades for masts, placing them opposite each other, -one by each gunwale, thus saving the necessity of a yard. To these -masts we attached a sail made of our shirts--doing this with some -difficulty, as here we could get no assistance from our prisoner -whatever, although he had been willing enough to labour in all the -other operations. The sight of the linen seemed to affect him in a very -singular manner. He could not be prevailed upon to touch it or go near -it, shuddering when we attempted to force him, and shrieking out -_Tekeli-li!_ - -Having completed our arrangements in regard to the security of the -canoe, we now set sail to the south southeast for the present, with the -view of weathering the most southerly of the group in sight. This being -done, we turned the bow full to the southward. The weather could by no -means be considered disagreeable. We had a prevailing and very gentle -wind from the northward, a smooth sea, and continual daylight. No ice -whatever was to be seen; _nor did I ever see one particle of this after -leaving the parallel of Bennet's Islet_. Indeed, the temperature of the -water was here far too warm for its existence in any quantity. Having -killed the largest of our tortoises, and obtained from him not only -food, but a copious supply of water, we continued on our course, -without any incident of moment, for perhaps seven or eight days, during -which period we must have proceeded a vast distance to the southward, -as the wind blew constantly with us, and a very strong current set -continually in the direction we were pursuing. - -_March 1._[7] Many unusual phenomena now indicated that we were -entering upon a region of novelty and wonder. A high range of light -gray vapour appeared constantly in the southern horizon, flaring up -occasionally in lofty streaks, now darting from east to west, now from -west to east, and again presenting a level and uniform summit--in -short, having all the wild variations of the Aurora Borealis. The -average height of this vapour, as apparent from our station, was about -twenty-five degrees. The temperature of the sea seemed to be increasing -momentarily, and there was a very perceptible alteration in its colour. - -[Footnote 7: For obvious reasons I cannot pretend to strict accuracy in -these dates. They are given principally with a view to perspicuity of -narration, and as set down in my pencil memoranda.] - -_March 2._ To-day, by repeated questioning of our captive, we came to -the knowledge of many particulars in regard to the island of the -massacre, its inhabitants, and customs--but with these how can I _now_ -detain the reader? I may say, however, that we learned there were eight -islands in the group--that they were governed by a common king, named -_Tsalemon_ or _Psalemoun_, who resided in one of the smallest of the -islands--that the black skins forming the dress of the warriors came -from an animal of huge size to be found only in a valley near the court -of the king--that the inhabitants of the group fabricated no other -boats than the flat-bottomed rafts; the four canoes being all of the -kind in their possession, and these having been obtained, by mere -accident, from some large island to the southwest--that his own name -was Nu-Nu--that he had no knowledge of Bennet's Islet--and that the -appellation of the island we had left was _Tsalal_. The commencement of -the words _Tsalemon_ and _Tsalal_ was given with a prolonged hissing -sound, which we found it impossible to imitate, even after repeated -endeavours, and which was precisely the same with the note of the black -bittern we had eaten upon the summit of the hill. - -_March 3._ The heat of the water was now truly remarkable, and its -colour was undergoing a rapid change, being no longer transparent, but -of a milky consistency and hue. In our immediate vicinity it was -usually smooth, never so rough as to endanger the canoe--but we were -frequently surprised at perceiving, to our right and left, at different -distances, sudden and extensive agitations of the surface--these, we at -length noticed, were always preceded by wild flickerings in the region -of vapour to the southward. - -_March 4._ To-day, with the view of widening our sail, the breeze from -the northward dying away perceptibly, I took from my coat-pocket a -white handkerchief. Nu-Nu was seated at my elbow, and the linen -accidentally flaring in his face, he became violently affected with -convulsions. These were succeeded by drowsiness and stupor, and low -murmurings of Tekeli-li! Tekeli-li! - -_March 5._ The wind had entirely ceased, but it was evident that we -were still hurrying on to the southward, under the influence of a -powerful current. And now, indeed, it would seem reasonable that we -should experience some alarm at the turn events were taking--but we -felt none. The countenance of Peters indicated nothing of this nature, -although it wore at times an expression I could not fathom. The Polar -winter appeared to be coming on--but coming without its terrors. I felt -a _numbness_ of body and mind--a dreaminess of sensation--but this was -all. - -_March 6._ The gray vapour had now arisen many more degrees above the -horizon, and was gradually losing its grayness of tint. The heat of the -water was extreme, even unpleasant to the touch, and its milky hue was -more evident than ever. To-day a violent agitation of the water -occurred very close to the canoe. It was attended, as usual, with a -wild flaring up of the vapour at its summit, and a momentary division -at its base. A fine white powder, resembling ashes--but certainly not -such--fell over the canoe and over a large surface of the water, as the -flickering died away among the vapour and the commotion subsided in the -sea. Nu-Nu now threw himself on his face in the bottom of the boat, and -no persuasions could induce him to arise. - -_March 7._ This day we questioned Nu-Nu concerning the motives of his -countrymen in destroying our companions; but he appeared to be too -utterly overcome by terror to afford us any rational reply. He still -obstinately lay in the bottom of the boat; and, upon our reiterating -the questions as to the motive, made use only of idiotic -gesticulations, such as raising with his forefinger the upper lip, and -displaying the teeth which lay beneath it. These were black. We had -never before seen the teeth of an inhabitant of Tsalal. - -_March 8._ To-day there floated by us one of the white animals whose -appearance upon the beach at Tsalal had occasioned so wild a commotion -among the savages. I would have picked it up, but there came over me a -sudden listlessness, and I forbore. The heat of the water still -increased, and the hand could no longer be endured within it. Peters -spoke little, and I knew not what to think of his apathy. Nu-Nu -breathed, and no more. - -_March 9._ The white ashy material fell now continually around us, and -in vast quantities. The range of vapour to the southward had arisen -prodigiously in the horizon, and began to assume more distinctness of -form. I can liken it to nothing but a limitless cataract, rolling -silently into the sea from some immense and far-distant rampart in the -heaven. The gigantic curtain ranged along the whole extent of the -southern horizon. It emitted no sound. - -_March 21._ A sullen darkness now hovered above us--but from out the -milky depths of the ocean a luminous glare arose, and stole up along -the bulwarks of the boat. We were nearly overwhelmed by the white ashy -shower which settled upon us and upon the canoe, but melted into the -water as it fell. The summit of the cataract was utterly lost in the -dimness and the distance. Yet we were evidently approaching it with a -hideous velocity. At intervals there were visible in it wide, yawning, -but momentary rents, and from out these rents, within which was a chaos -of flitting and indistinct images, there came rushing and mighty, but -soundless winds, tearing up the enkindled ocean in their course. - -_March 22._ The darkness had materially increased, relieved only by the -glare of the water thrown back from the white curtain before us. Many -gigantic and pallidly white birds flew continuously now from beyond the -veil, and their scream was the eternal _Tekeli-li!_ as they retreated -from our vision. Hereupon Nu-Nu stirred in the bottom of the boat; but, -upon touching him, we found his spirit departed. And now we rushed into -the embraces of the cataract, where a chasm threw itself open to -receive us. But there arose in our pathway a shrouded human figure, -very far larger in its proportions than any dweller among men. And the -hue of the skin of the figure was of the perfect whiteness of the snow. - - - - -NOTE. - - -The circumstances connected with the late sudden and distressing death -of Mr. Pym are already well known to the public through the medium of -the daily press. It is feared that the few remaining chapters which -were to have completed his narrative, and which were retained by him, -while the above were in type, for the purpose of revision, have been -irrecoverably lost through the accident by which he perished himself. -This, however, may prove not to be the case, and the papers, if -ultimately found, will be given to the public. - -No means have been left untried to remedy the deficiency. The gentleman -whose name is mentioned in the preface, and who, from the statement -there made, might be supposed able to fill the vacuum, has declined the -task--this for satisfactory reasons connected with the general -inaccuracy of the details afforded him, and his disbelief in the entire -truth of the latter portions of the narration. Peters, from whom some -information might be expected, is still alive, and a resident of -Illinois, but cannot be met with at present. He may hereafter be found, -and will, no doubt, afford material for a conclusion of Mr. Pym's -account. - -The loss of the two or three final chapters (for there were but two or -three) is the more deeply to be regretted, as, it cannot be doubted, -they contained matter relative to the Pole itself, or at least to -regions in its very near proximity; and as, too, the statements of the -author in relation to these regions may shortly be verified or -contradicted by means of the governmental expedition now preparing for -the Southern Ocean. - -On one point in the Narrative some remarks may be well offered; and it -would afford the writer of this appendix much pleasure if what he may -here observe should have a tendency to throw credit, in any degree, -upon the very singular pages now published. We allude to the chasms -found in the island of Tsalal, and to the whole of the figures in the -latter portion of Chapter XXIII. - -Mr. Pym has given the figures of the chasms without comment, and speaks -decidedly of the _indentures_ found at the extremity of the most -easterly of these chasms as having but a fanciful resemblance to -alphabetical characters, and, in short, as being positively _not such_. -This assertion is made in a manner so simple, and sustained by a -species of demonstration so conclusive (viz., the fitting of the -projections of the fragments found among the dust into the indentures -upon the wall), that we are forced to believe the writer in earnest; -and no reasonable reader should suppose otherwise. But as the facts in -relation to _all_ the figures are most singular (especially when taken -in connexion with statements made in the body of the narrative), it may -be as well to say a word or two concerning them all--this, too, the -more especially as the facts in question have, beyond doubt, escaped -the attention of Mr. Poe. - -Figure 1, then, figure 2, figure 3, and figure 5, when conjoined with -one another in the precise order which the chasms themselves presented, -and when deprived of the small lateral branches or arches (which, it -will be remembered, served only as means of communication between the -main chambers, and were of totally distinct character), constitute an -Ethiopian verbal root--the root [Illustration] "To be shady"--whence -all the inflections of shadow or darkness. - -In regard to the "left or most northwardly" of the indentures in figure -4, it is more than probable that the opinion of Peters was correct, and -that the hieroglyphical appearance was really the work of art, and -intended as the representation of a human form. The delineation is -before the reader, and he may, or may not, perceive the resemblance -suggested; but the rest of the indentures afford strong confirmation of -Peters's idea. The upper range is evidently the Arabic verbal root -[Illustration] "To be white," whence all the inflections of brilliancy -and whiteness. The lower range is not so immediately perspicuous. The -characters are somewhat broken and disjointed; nevertheless, it cannot -be doubted that, in their perfect state, they formed the full Egyptian -word [Illustration] "The region of the south." It should be observed -that these interpretations confirm the opinion of Peters in regard to -the "most northwardly" of the figures. The arm is outstretched towards -the south. - -Conclusions such as these open a wide field for speculation and -exciting conjecture. They should be regarded, perhaps, in connexion -with some of the most faintly-detailed incidents of the narrative; -although in no visible manner is this chain of connexion complete. -Tekeli-li! was the cry of the affrighted natives of Tsalal upon -discovering the carcass of the _white_ animal picked up at sea. This -also was the shuddering exclamation of the captive Tsalalian upon -encountering the _white_ materials in possession of Mr. Pym. This also -was the shriek of the swift-flying, _white_, and gigantic birds which -issued from the vapoury _white_ curtain of the South. Nothing _white_ -was to be found at Tsalal, and nothing otherwise in the subsequent -voyage to the region beyond. It is not impossible that "Tsalal," the -appellation of the island of the chasms, may be found, upon minute -philological scrutiny, to betray either some alliance with the chasms -themselves, or some reference to the Ethiopian characters so -mysteriously written in their windings. - -_"I have graven it within the hills, and my vengeance upon the dust -within the rock."_ - - -THE END. - - - - -[Transcriber's Note: The last two chapters, Chapters XXIV and XXV were -named, respectively, XXIII and XXIV in the original publication, with, -therefore, two chapters XXIII. This has been corrected in this -transcription.] - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of -Nantucket, by Edgar Allan Poe and Arthur Gordon Pym - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NARRATIVE OF ARTHUR GORDON PYM *** - -***** This file should be named 51060-8.txt or 51060-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/0/6/51060/ - -Produced by Ron Swanson -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket - Comprising the details of a mutiny and atrocious butchery - on board the American brig Grampus, on her way to the south - seas, in the month of June, 1827. - -Author: Edgar Allan Poe - Arthur Gordon Pym - -Release Date: January 27, 2016 [EBook #51060] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NARRATIVE OF ARTHUR GORDON PYM *** - - - - -Produced by Ron Swanson - - - - - -</pre> - -<h2>THE NARRATIVE</h2> -<h4>OF</h4> -<h1>ARTHUR GORDON PYM.</h1> - -<h3>OF NANTUCKET.</h3> - - -<h4>COMPRISING THE DETAILS OF A MUTINY AND ATROCIOUS BUTCHERY ON BOARD THE -AMERICAN BRIG GRAMPUS, ON HER WAY TO THE SOUTH SEAS, IN THE MONTH OF -JUNE, 1827.</h4> - -<h4>WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE RECAPTURE OF THE VESSEL BY THE SURVIVERS; THEIR -SHIPWRECK AND SUBSEQUENT HORRIBLE SUFFERINGS FROM FAMINE; THEIR -DELIVERANCE BY MEANS OF THE BRITISH SCHOONER JANE GUY; THE BRIEF CRUISE -OF THIS LATTER VESSEL IN THE ANTARCTIC OCEAN; HER CAPTURE, AND THE -MASSACRE OF HER CREW AMONG A GROUP OF ISLANDS IN THE</h4> - -<h3>EIGHTY-FOURTH PARALLEL OF SOUTHERN LATITUDE;</h3> - -<h4>TOGETHER WITH THE INCREDIBLE ADVENTURES -AND DISCOVERIES</h4> - -<h3>STILL FARTHER SOUTH</h3> - -<h4>TO WHICH THAT DISTRESSING CALAMITY GAVE RISE.</h4> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<h4>NEW-YORK:</h4> -<center>HARPER & BROTHERS, 82 CLIFF-ST.</center> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<center><b>1838.</b></center> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<center>Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1838, by<br> -<br> -H<small>ARPER</small> & B<small>ROTHERS</small>,<br> -<br> -in the Clerk's Office of the Southern District of New-York.</center> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<table align="center" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="10" summary="contents"> - <tr><td colspan="8" align="center">C<small>HAPTERS</small></td></tr> - <tr><td align="center"><a href="#preface">Preface</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap6">VI</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap12">XII</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap18">XVIII</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap24">XXIV</a></td></tr> - <tr><td align="center"><a href="#chap1">I</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap7">VII</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap13">XIII</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap19">XIX</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap25">XXV</a></td></tr> - <tr><td align="center"><a href="#chap2">II</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap8">VIII</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap14">XIV</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap20">XX</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#note">Note</a></td></tr> - <tr><td align="center"><a href="#chap3">III</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap9">IX</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap15">XV</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap21">XXI</a></td> - <td align="center"> </td></tr> - <tr><td align="center"><a href="#chap4">IV</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap10">X</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap16">XVI</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap22">XXII</a></td> - <td align="center"> </td></tr> - <tr><td align="center"><a href="#chap5">V</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap11">XI</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap17">XVII</a></td> - <td align="center"><a href="#chap23">XXIII</a></td> - <td align="center"> </td></tr> -</table> -<br> -<br><a name="preface"></a> -<br> -<br> -<h3>PREFACE.</h3> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="100"> -<br> -<p>Upon my return to the United States a few months ago, after the -extraordinary series of adventure in the South Seas and elsewhere, of -which an account is given in the following pages, accident threw me -into the society of several gentlemen in Richmond, Va., who felt deep -interest in all matters relating to the regions I had visited, and who -were constantly urging it upon me, as a duty, to give my narrative to -the public. I had several reasons, however, for declining to do so, -some of which were of a nature altogether private, and concern no -person but myself; others not so much so. One consideration which -deterred me was, that, having kept no journal during a greater portion -of the time in which I was absent, I feared I should not be able to -write, from mere memory, a statement so minute and connected as to have -the <i>appearance</i> of that truth it would really possess, barring only -the natural and unavoidable exaggeration to which all of us are prone -when detailing events which have had powerful influence in exciting the -imaginative faculties. Another reason was, that the incidents to be -narrated were of a nature so positively marvellous, that, unsupported -as my assertions must necessarily be (except by the evidence of a -single individual, and he a half-breed Indian), I could only hope for -belief among my family, and those of my friends who have had reason, -through life, to put faith in my veracity—the probability being that -the public at large would regard what I should put forth as merely an -impudent and ingenious fiction. A distrust in my own abilities as a -writer was, nevertheless, one of the principal causes which prevented -me from complying with the suggestions of my advisers.</p> - -<p>Among those gentlemen in Virginia who expressed the greatest interest -in my statement, more particularly in regard to that portion of it -which related to the Antarctic Ocean, was Mr. Poe, lately editor of the -Southern Literary Messenger, a monthly magazine, published by Mr. -Thomas W. White, in the city of Richmond. He strongly advised me, among -others, to prepare at once a full account of what I had seen and -undergone, and trust to the shrewdness and common sense of the -public—insisting, with great plausibility, that however roughly, as -regards mere authorship, my book should be got up, its very -uncouthness, if there were any, would give it all the better chance of -being received as truth.</p> - -<p>Notwithstanding this representation, I did not make up my mind to do as -he suggested. He afterward proposed (finding that I would not stir in -the matter) that I should allow him to draw up, in his own words, a -narrative of the earlier portion of my adventures, from facts afforded -by myself, publishing it in the Southern Messenger <i>under the garb of -fiction</i>. To this, perceiving no objection, I consented, stipulating -only that my real name should be retained. Two numbers of the pretended -fiction appeared, consequently, in the Messenger for January and -February (1837), and, in order that it might certainly be regarded as -fiction, the name of Mr. Poe was affixed to the articles in the table -of contents of the magazine.</p> - -<p>The manner in which this <i>ruse</i> was received has induced me at length -to undertake a regular compilation and publication of the adventures in -question; for I found that, in spite of the air of fable which had been -so ingeniously thrown around that portion of my statement which -appeared in the Messenger (without altering or distorting a single -fact), the public were still not at all disposed to receive it as -fable, and several letters were sent to Mr. P.'s address distinctly -expressing a conviction to the contrary. I thence concluded that the -facts of my narrative would prove of such a nature as to carry with -them sufficient evidence of their own authenticity, and that I had -consequently little to fear on the score of popular incredulity.</p> - -<p>This <i>exposé</i> being made, it will be seen at once how much of what -follows I claim to be my own writing; and it will also be understood -that no fact is misrepresented in the first few pages which were -written by Mr. Poe. Even to those readers who have not seen the -Messenger, it will be unnecessary to point out where his portion ends -and my own commences; the difference in point of style will be readily -perceived.</p> - -<div align="right">A. G. P<small>YM</small>. </div> - -<blockquote><small>New-York, July, 1838.</small></blockquote> -<br> -<br><a name="chap1"></a> -<br> -<br> -<center>NARRATIVE<br> -<br> -<small>OF</small></center> -<h3>A. GORDON PYM.</h3> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="100"> -<br> -<p>My name is Arthur Gordon Pym. My father was a respectable trader in -sea-stores at Nantucket, where I was born. My maternal grandfather was -an attorney in good practice. He was fortunate in everything, and had -speculated very successfully in stocks of the Edgarton New-Bank, as it -was formerly called. By these and other means he had managed to lay by -a tolerable sum of money. He was more attached to myself, I believe, -than to any other person in the world, and I expected to inherit the -most of his property at his death. He sent me, at six years of age, to -the school of old Mr. Ricketts, a gentleman with only one arm, and of -eccentric manners—he is well known to almost every person who has -visited New Bedford. I stayed at his school until I was sixteen, when I -left him for Mr. E. Ronald's academy on the hill. Here I became -intimate with the son of Mr. Barnard, a sea captain, who generally -sailed in the employ of Lloyd and Vredenburgh—Mr. Barnard is also very -well known in New Bedford, and has many relations, I am certain, in -Edgarton. His son was named Augustus, and he was nearly two years older -than myself. He had been on a whaling voyage with his father in the -John Donaldson, and was always talking to me of his adventures in the -South Pacific Ocean. I used frequently to go home with him, and remain -all day, and sometimes all night. We occupied the same bed, and he -would be sure to keep me awake until almost light, telling me stories -of the natives of the Island of Tinian, and other places he had visited -in his travels. At last I could not help being interested in what he -said, and by degrees I felt the greatest desire to go to sea. I owned a -sail-boat called the Ariel, and worth about seventy-five dollars. She -had a half-deck or cuddy, and was rigged sloop-fashion—I forget her -tonnage, but she would hold ten persons without much crowding. In this -boat we were in the habit of going on some of the maddest freaks in the -world; and, when I now think of them, it appears to me a thousand -wonders that I am alive to-day.</p> - -<p>I will relate one of these adventures by way of introduction to a -longer and more momentous narrative. One night there was a party at Mr. -Barnard's, and both Augustus and myself were not a little intoxicated -towards the close of it. As usual, in such cases, I took part of his -bed in preference to going home. He went to sleep, as I thought, very -quietly (it being near one when the party broke up), and without saying -a word on his favourite topic. It might have been half an hour from the -time of our getting in bed, and I was just about falling into a doze, -when he suddenly started up, and swore with a terrible oath that he -would not go to sleep for any Arthur Pym in Christendom, when there was -so glorious a breeze from the southwest. I never was so astonished in -my life, not knowing what he intended, and thinking that the wines and -liquors he had drunk had set him entirely beside himself. He proceeded -to talk very coolly, however, saying he knew that I supposed him -intoxicated, but that he was never more sober in his life. He was only -tired, he added, of lying in bed on such a fine night like a dog, and -was determined to get up and dress, and go out on a frolic with the -boat. I can hardly tell what possessed me, but the words were no sooner -out of his mouth than I felt a thrill of the greatest excitement and -pleasure, and thought his mad idea one of the most delightful and most -reasonable things in the world. It was blowing almost a gale, and the -weather was very cold—it being late in October. I sprang out of bed, -nevertheless, in a kind of ecstasy, and told him I was quite as brave -as himself, and quite as tired as he was of lying in bed like a dog, -and quite as ready for any fun or frolic as any Augustus Barnard in -Nantucket.</p> - -<p>We lost no time in getting on our clothes and hurrying down to the -boat. She was lying at the old decayed wharf by the lumber-yard of -Pankey & Co., and almost thumping her sides out against the rough logs. -Augustus got into her and bailed her, for she was nearly half full of -water. This being done, we hoisted jib and mainsail, kept full, and -started boldly out to sea.</p> - -<p>The wind, as I before said, blew freshly from the southwest. The night -was very clear and cold. Augustus had taken the helm, and I stationed -myself by the mast, on the deck of the cuddy. We flew along at a great -rate—neither of us having said a word since casting loose from the -wharf. I now asked my companion what course he intended to steer, and -what time he thought it probable we should get back. He whistled for a -few minutes, and then said crustily, "<i>I</i> am going to sea—<i>you</i> may go -home if you think proper." Turning my eyes upon him, I perceived at -once that, in spite of his assumed <i>nonchalance</i>, he was greatly -agitated. I could see him distinctly by the light of the moon—his face -was paler than any marble, and his hand shook so excessively that he -could scarcely retain hold of the tiller. I found that something had -gone wrong, and became seriously alarmed. At this period I knew little -about the management of a boat, and was now depending entirely upon the -nautical skill of my friend. The wind, too, had suddenly increased, as -we were fast getting out of the lee of the land—still I was ashamed to -betray any trepidation, and for almost half an hour maintained a -resolute silence. I could stand it no longer, however, and spoke to -Augustus about the propriety of turning back. As before, it was nearly -a minute before he made answer, or took any notice of my suggestion. -"By-and-by," said he at length—"time enough—home by-and-by." I had -expected a similar reply, but there was something in the tone of these -words which filled me with an indescribable feeling of dread. I again -looked at the speaker attentively. His lips were perfectly livid, and -his knees shook so violently together that he seemed scarcely able to -stand. "For God's sake, Augustus," I screamed, now heartily frightened, -"what ails you?—what is the matter?—what <i>are</i> you going to do?" -"Matter!" he stammered, in the greatest apparent surprise, letting go -the tiller at the same moment, and falling forward into the bottom of -the boat—"matter!—why, nothing is the—matter—going -home—d—d—don't you see?" The whole truth now flashed upon me. I flew -to him and raised him up. He was drunk—beastly drunk—he could no -longer either stand, speak, or see. His eyes were perfectly glazed; and -as I let him go in the extremity of my despair, he rolled like a mere -log into the bilge-water from which I had lifted him. It was evident -that, during the evening, he had drunk far more than I suspected, and -that his conduct in bed had been the result of a highly-concentrated -state of intoxication—a state which, like madness, frequently enables -the victim to imitate the outward demeanour of one in perfect -possession of his senses. The coolness of the night air, however, had -had its usual effect—the mental energy began to yield before its -influence—and the confused perception which he no doubt then had of -his perilous situation had assisted in hastening the catastrophe. He -was now thoroughly insensible, and there was no probability that he -would be otherwise for many hours.</p> - -<p>It is hardly possible to conceive the extremity of my terror. The fumes -of the wine lately taken had evaporated, leaving me doubly timid and -irresolute. I knew that I was altogether incapable of managing the -boat, and that a fierce wind and strong ebb tide were hurrying us to -destruction. A storm was evidently gathering behind us; we had neither -compass nor provisions; and it was clear that, if we held our present -course, we should be out of sight of land before daybreak. These -thoughts, with a crowd of others equally fearful, flashed through my -mind with a bewildering rapidity, and for some moments paralyzed me -beyond the possibility of making any exertion. The boat was going -through the water at a terrible rate—full before the wind—no reef in -either jib or mainsail—running her bows completely under the foam. It -was a thousand wonders she did not broach to—Augustus having let go -the tiller, as I said before, and I being too much agitated to think of -taking it myself. By good luck, however, she kept steady, and gradually -I recovered some degree of presence of mind. Still the wind was -increasing fearfully; and whenever we rose from a plunge forward, the -sea behind fell combing over our counter, and deluged us with water. I -was so utterly benumbed, too, in every limb, as to be nearly -unconscious of sensation. At length I summoned up the resolution of -despair, and rushing to the mainsail, let it go by the run. As might -have been expected, it flew over the bows, and, getting drenched with -water, carried away the mast short off by the board. This latter -accident alone saved me from instant destruction. Under the jib only, I -now boomed along before the wind, shipping heavy seas occasionally over -the counter, but relieved from the terror of immediate death. I took -the helm, and breathed with greater freedom as I found that there yet -remained to us a chance of ultimate escape. Augustus still lay -senseless in the bottom of the boat; and as there was imminent danger -of his drowning (the water being nearly a foot deep just where he -fell), I contrived to raise him partially up, and keep him in a sitting -position, by passing a rope round his waist, and lashing it to a -ringbolt in the deck of the cuddy. Having thus arranged everything as -well as I could in my chilled and agitated condition, I recommended -myself to God, and made up my mind to bear whatever might happen with -all the fortitude in my power.</p> - -<p>Hardly had I come to this resolution, when, suddenly, a loud and long -scream or yell, as if from the throats of a thousand demons, seemed to -pervade the whole atmosphere around and above the boat. Never while I -live shall I forget the intense agony of terror I experienced at that -moment. My hair stood erect on my head—I felt the blood congealing in -my veins—my heart ceased utterly to beat, and without having once -raised my eyes to learn the source of my alarm, I tumbled headlong and -insensible upon the body of my fallen companion.</p> - -<p>I found myself, upon reviving, in the cabin of a large whaling-ship -(the Penguin) bound to Nantucket. Several persons were standing over -me, and Augustus, paler than death, was busily occupied in chafing my -hands. Upon seeing me open my eyes, his exclamations of gratitude and -joy excited alternate laughter and tears from the rough-looking -personages who were present. The mystery of our being in existence was -now soon explained. We had been run down by the whaling-ship, which was -close hauled, beating up to Nantucket with every sail she could venture -to set, and consequently running almost at right angles to our own -course. Several men were on the look-out forward, but did not perceive -our boat until it was an impossibility to avoid coming in -contact—their shouts of warning upon seeing us were what so terribly -alarmed me. The huge ship, I was told, rode immediately over us with as -much ease as our own little vessel would have passed over a feather, -and without the least perceptible impediment to her progress. Not a -scream arose from the deck of the victim—there was a slight grating -sound to be heard mingling with the roar of wind and water, as the -frail bark which was swallowed up rubbed for a moment along the keel of -her destroyer—but this was all. Thinking our boat (which it will be -remembered was dismasted) some mere shell cut adrift as useless, the -captain (Captain E. T. V. Block of New London) was for proceeding on -his course without troubling himself further about the matter. Luckily, -there were two of the look-out who swore positively to having seen some -person at our helm, and represented the possibility of yet saving him. -A discussion ensued, when Block grew angry, and, after a while, said -that "it was no business of his to be eternally watching for -egg-shells; that the ship should <i>not</i> put about for any such nonsense; -and if there was a man run down, it was nobody's fault but his own—he -might drown and be d——d," or some language to that effect. Henderson, -the first mate, now took the matter up, being justly indignant, as well -as the whole ship's crew, at a speech evincing so base a degree of -heartless atrocity. He spoke plainly, seeing himself upheld by the men, -told the captain he considered him a fit subject for the gallows, and -that he would disobey his orders if he were hanged for it the moment he -set his foot on shore. He strode aft, jostling Block (who turned very -pale and made no answer) on one side, and seizing the helm, gave the -word, in a firm voice, <i>Hard-a-lee!</i> The men flew to their posts, and -the ship went cleverly about. All this had occupied nearly five -minutes, and it was supposed to be hardly within the bounds of -possibility that any individual could be saved—allowing any to have -been on board the boat. Yet, as the reader has seen, both Augustus and -myself were rescued; and our deliverance seemed to have been brought -about by two of those almost inconceivable pieces of good fortune which -are attributed by the wise and pious to the special interference of -Providence.</p> - -<p>While the ship was yet in stays, the mate lowered the jolly-boat and -jumped into her with the very two men, I believe, who spoke up as -having seen me at the helm. They had just left the lee of the vessel -(the moon still shining brightly) when she made a long and heavy roll -to windward, and Henderson, at the same moment, starting up in his -seat, bawled out to his crew to <i>back water</i>. He would say nothing -else—repeating his cry impatiently, <i>back water! back water!</i> The men -put back as speedily as possible; but by this time the ship had gone -round, and gotten fully under headway, although all hands on board were -making great exertions to take in sail. In despite of the danger of the -attempt, the mate clung to the main-chains as soon as they came within -his reach. Another huge lurch now brought the starboard side of the -vessel out of water nearly as far as her keel, when the cause of his -anxiety was rendered obvious enough. The body of a man was seen to be -affixed in the most singular manner to the smooth and shining bottom -(the Penguin was coppered and copper-fastened), and beating violently -against it with every movement of the hull. After several ineffectual -efforts, made during the lurches of the ship, and at the imminent risk -of swamping the boat, I was finally disengaged from my perilous -situation and taken on board—for the body proved to be my own. It -appeared that one of the timber-bolts having started and broken a -passage through the copper, it had arrested my progress as I passed -under the ship, and fastened me in so extraordinary a manner to her -bottom. The head of the bolt had made its way through the collar of the -green baize jacket I had on, and through the back part of my neck, -forcing itself out between two sinews and just below the right ear. I -was immediately put to bed—although life seemed to be totally extinct. -There was no surgeon on board. The captain, however, treated me with -every attention—to make amends, I presume, in the eyes of his crew, -for his atrocious behaviour in the previous portion of the adventure.</p> - -<p>In the meantime, Henderson had again put off from the ship, although -the wind was now blowing almost a hurricane. He had not been gone many -minutes when he fell in with some fragments of our boat, and shortly -afterward one of the men with him asserted that he could distinguish a -cry for help at intervals amid the roaring of the tempest. This induced -the hardy seamen to persevere in their search for more than half an -hour, although repeated signals to return were made them by Captain -Block, and although every moment on the water in so frail a boat was -fraught to them with the most imminent and deadly peril. Indeed, it is -nearly impossible to conceive how the small jolly they were in could -have escaped destruction for a single instant. She was built, however, -for the whaling service, and was fitted, as I have since had reason to -believe, with air-boxes, in the manner of some life-boats used on the -coast of Wales.</p> - -<p>After searching in vain for about the period of time just mentioned, it -was determined to get back to the ship. They had scarcely made this -resolve when a feeble cry arose from a dark object which floated -rapidly by. They pursued and soon overtook it. It proved to be the -entire deck of the Ariel's cuddy. Augustus was struggling near it, -apparently in the last agonies. Upon getting hold of him it was found -that he was attached by a rope to the floating timber. This rope, it -will be remembered, I had myself tied round his waist, and made fast to -a ringbolt, for the purpose of keeping him in an upright position, and -my so doing, it appeared, had been ultimately the means of preserving -his life. The Ariel was slightly put together, and in going down her -frame naturally went to pieces; the deck of the cuddy, as might be -expected, was lifted, by the force of the water rushing in, entirely -from the main timbers, and floated (with other fragments, no doubt) to -the surface—Augustus was buoyed up with it, and thus escaped a -terrible death.</p> - -<p>It was more than an hour after being taken on board the Penguin before -he could give any account of himself, or be made to comprehend the -nature of the accident which had befallen our boat. At length he became -thoroughly aroused, and spoke much of his sensations while in the -water. Upon his first attaining any degree of consciousness, he found -himself beneath the surface, whirling round and round with -inconceivable rapidity, and with a rope wrapped in three or four folds -tightly about his neck. In an instant afterward he felt himself going -rapidly upward, when, his head striking violently against a hard -substance, he again relapsed into insensibility. Upon once more -reviving he was in fuller possession of his reason—this was still, -however, in the greatest degree clouded and confused. He now knew that -some accident had occurred, and that he was in the water, although his -mouth was above the surface, and he could breathe with some freedom. -Possibly, at this period, the deck was drifting rapidly before the -wind, and drawing him after it, as he floated upon his back. Of course, -as long as he could have retained this position, it would have been -nearly impossible that he should be drowned. Presently a surge threw -him directly athwart the deck; and this post he endeavoured to -maintain, screaming at intervals for help. Just before he was -discovered by Mr. Henderson, he had been obliged to relax his hold -through exhaustion, and, falling into the sea, had given himself up for -lost. During the whole period of his struggles he had not the faintest -recollection of the Ariel, nor of any matters in connexion with the -source of his disaster. A vague feeling of terror and despair had taken -entire possession of his faculties. When he was finally picked up, -every power of his mind had failed him; and, as before said, it was -nearly an hour after getting on board the Penguin before he became -fully aware of his condition. In regard to myself—I was resuscitated -from a state bordering very nearly upon death (and after every other -means had been tried in vain for three hours and a half) by vigorous -friction with flannels bathed in hot oil—a proceeding suggested by -Augustus. The wound in my neck, although of an ugly appearance, proved -of little real consequence, and I soon recovered from its effects.</p> - -<p>The Penguin got into port about nine o'clock in the morning, after -encountering one of the severest gales ever experienced off Nantucket. -Both Augustus and myself managed to appear at Mr. Barnard's in time for -breakfast—which, luckily, was somewhat late, owing to the party over -night. I suppose all at the table were too much fatigued themselves to -notice our jaded appearance—of course, it would not have borne a very -rigid scrutiny. Schoolboys, however, can accomplish wonders in the way -of deception, and I verily believe not one of our friends in Nantucket -had the slightest suspicion that the terrible story told by some -sailors in town of their having run down a vessel at sea and drowned -some thirty or forty poor devils, had reference either to the Ariel, my -companion, or myself. We two have since very frequently talked the -matter over—but never without a shudder. In one of our conversations -Augustus frankly confessed to me, that in his whole life he had at no -time experienced so excruciating a sense of dismay, as when on board -our little boat he first discovered the extent of his intoxication, and -felt himself sinking beneath its influence.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap2"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER II.</h3> -<br> - -<p>In no affairs of mere prejudice, pro or con, do we deduce inferences -with entire certainty even from the most simple data. It might be -supposed that a catastrophe such as I have just related would have -effectually cooled my incipient passion for the sea. On the contrary, I -never experienced a more ardent longing for the wild adventures -incident to the life of a navigator than within a week after our -miraculous deliverance. This short period proved amply long enough to -erase from my memory the shadows, and bring out in vivid light all the -pleasurably exciting points of colour, all the picturesqueness of the -late perilous accident. My conversations with Augustus grew daily more -frequent and more intensely full of interest. He had a manner of -relating his stories of the ocean (more than one half of which I now -suspect to have been sheer fabrications) well adapted to have weight -with one of my enthusiastic temperament, and somewhat gloomy, although -glowing imagination. It is strange, too, that he most strongly enlisted -my feelings in behalf of the life of a seaman, when he depicted his -more terrible moments of suffering and despair. For the bright side of -the painting I had a limited sympathy. My visions were of shipwreck and -famine; of death or captivity among barbarian hordes; of a lifetime -dragged out in sorrow and tears, upon some gray and desolate rock, in -an ocean unapproachable and unknown. Such visions or desires—for they -amounted to desires—are common, I have since been assured, to the -whole numerous race of the melancholy among men—at the time of which I -speak I regarded them only as prophetic glimpses of a destiny which I -felt myself in a measure bound to fulfil. Augustus thoroughly entered -into my state of mind. It is probable, indeed, that our intimate -communion had resulted in a partial interchange of character.</p> - -<p>About eighteen months after the period of the Ariel's disaster, the -firm of Lloyd and Vredenburgh (a house connected in some manner with -the Messieurs Enderby, I believe, of Liverpool) were engaged in -repairing and fitting out the brig Grampus for a whaling voyage. She -was an old hulk, and scarcely seaworthy when all was done to her that -could be done. I hardly know why she was chosen in preference to other -good vessels belonging to the same owners—but so it was. Mr. Barnard -was appointed to command her, and Augustus was going with him. While -the brig was getting ready, he frequently urged upon me the excellency -of the opportunity now offered for indulging my desire of travel. He -found me by no means an unwilling listener—yet the matter could not be -so easily arranged. My father made no direct opposition; but my mother -went into hysterics at the bare mention of the design; and, more than -all, my grandfather, from whom I expected much, vowed to cut me off -with a shilling if I should ever broach the subject to him again. These -difficulties, however, so far from abating my desire, only added fuel -to the flame. I determined to go at all hazards; and, having made known -my intention to Augustus, we set about arranging a plan by which it -might be accomplished. In the meantime I forbore speaking to any of my -relations in regard to the voyage, and, as I busied myself ostensibly -with my usual studies, it was supposed that I had abandoned the design. -I have since frequently examined my conduct on this occasion with -sentiments of displeasure as well as of surprise. The intense hypocrisy -I made use of for the furtherance of my project—an hypocrisy pervading -every word and action of my life for so long a period of time—could -only have been rendered tolerable to myself by the wild and burning -expectation with which I looked forward to the fulfilment of my -long-cherished visions of travel.</p> - -<p>In pursuance of my scheme of deception, I was necessarily obliged to -leave much to the management of Augustus, who was employed for the -greater part of every day on board the Grampus, attending to some -arrangements for his father in the cabin and cabin hold. At night, -however, we were sure to have a conference, and talk over our hopes. -After nearly a month passed in this manner, without our hitting upon -any plan we thought likely to succeed, he told me at last that he had -determined upon everything necessary. I had a relation living in New -Bedford, a Mr. Ross, at whose house I was in the habit of spending -occasionally two or three weeks at a time. The brig was to sail about -the middle of June (June, 1827), and it was agreed that, a day or two -before her putting to sea, my father was to receive a note, as usual, -from Mr. Ross, asking me to come over and spend a fortnight with Robert -and Emmet (his sons). Augustus charged himself with the enditing of -this note and getting it delivered. Having set out, as supposed, for -New Bedford, I was then to report myself to my companion, who would -contrive a hiding-place for me in the Grampus. This hiding-place, he -assured me, would be rendered sufficiently comfortable for a residence -of many days, during which I was not to make my appearance. When the -brig had proceeded so far on her course as to make any turning back a -matter out of question, I should then, he said, be formally installed -in all the comforts of the cabin; and as to his father, he would only -laugh heartily at the joke. Vessels enough would be met with by which a -letter might be sent home explaining the adventure to my parents.</p> - -<p>The middle of June at length arrived, and everything had been matured. -The note was written and delivered, and on a Monday morning I left the -house for the New Bedford packet, as supposed. I went, however, -straight to Augustus, who was waiting for me at the corner of a street. -It had been our original plan that I should keep out of the way until -dark, and then slip on board the brig; but, as there was now a thick -fog in our favour, it was agreed to lose no time in secreting me. -Augustus led the way to the wharf, and I followed at a little distance, -enveloped in a thick seaman's cloak, which he had brought with him, so -that my person might not be easily recognised. Just as we turned the -second corner, after passing Mr. Edmund's well, who should appear, -standing right in front of me, and looking me full in the face, but old -Mr. Peterson, my grandfather. "Why, bless my soul, Gordon," said he, -after a long pause, "why, why—<i>whose</i> dirty cloak is that you have -on?" "Sir!" I replied, assuming, as well as I could, in the exigency of -the moment, an air of offended surprise, and talking in the gruffest of -all imaginable tones—"sir! you are a sum'mat mistaken—my name, in the -first place, bee'nt nothing at all like Goddin, and I'd want you for to -know better, you blackguard, than to call my new obercoat a darty one!" -For my life I could hardly refrain from screaming with laughter at the -odd manner in which the old gentleman received this handsome rebuke. He -started back two or three steps, turned first pale and then excessively -red, threw up his spectacles, then, putting them down, ran full tilt at -me, with his umbrella uplifted. He stopped short, however, in his -career, as if struck with a sudden recollection; and presently, turning -round, hobbled off down the street, shaking all the while with rage, -and muttering between his teeth, "Won't do—new glasses—thought it was -Gordon—d——d good-for-nothing salt water Long Tom."</p> - -<p>After this narrow escape we proceeded with greater caution, and arrived -at our point of destination in safety. There were only one or two of -the hands on board, and these were busy forward, doing something to the -forecastle combings. Captain Barnard, we knew very well, was engaged at -Lloyd and Vredenburgh's, and would remain there until late in the -evening, so we had little to apprehend on his account. Augustus went -first up the vessel's side, and in a short while I followed him, -without being noticed by the men at work. We proceeded at once into the -cabin, and found no person there. It was fitted up in the most -comfortable style—a thing somewhat unusual in a whaling-vessel. There -were four very excellent staterooms, with wide and convenient berths. -There was also a large stove, I took notice, and a remarkably thick and -valuable carpet covering the floor of both the cabin and staterooms. -The ceiling was full seven feet high, and, in short, everything -appeared of a more roomy and agreeable nature than I had anticipated. -Augustus, however, would allow me but little time for observation, -insisting upon the necessity of my concealing myself as soon as -possible. He led the way into his own stateroom, which was on the -starboard side of the brig, and next to the bulkheads. Upon entering, -he closed the door and bolted it. I thought I had never seen a nicer -little room than the one in which I now found myself. It was about ten -feet long, and had only one berth, which, as I said before, was wide -and convenient. In that portion of the closet nearest the bulkheads -there was a space of four feet square, containing a table, a chair, and -a set of hanging shelves full of books, chiefly books of voyages and -travels. There were many other little comforts in the room, among which -I ought not to forget a kind of safe or refrigerator, in which Augustus -pointed out to me a host of delicacies, both in the eating and drinking -department.</p> - -<p>He now pressed with his knuckles upon a certain spot of the carpet in -one corner of the space just mentioned, letting me know that a portion -of the flooring, about sixteen inches square, had been neatly cut out -and again adjusted. As he pressed, this portion rose up at one end -sufficiently to allow the passage of his finger beneath. In this manner -he raised the mouth of the trap (to which the carpet was still fastened -by tacks), and I found that it led into the after hold. He next lit a -small taper by means of a phosphorus match, and, placing the light in a -dark lantern, descended with it through the opening, bidding me follow. -I did so, and he then pulled the cover upon the hole, by means of a -nail driven into the under side—the carpet, of course, resuming its -original position on the floor of the stateroom, and all traces of the -aperture being concealed.</p> - -<p>The taper gave out so feeble a ray, that it was with the greatest -difficulty I could grope my way through the confused mass of lumber -among which I now found myself. By degrees, however, my eyes became -accustomed to the gloom, and I proceeded with less trouble, holding on -to the skirts of my friend's coat. He brought me, at length, after -creeping and winding through innumerable narrow passages, to an -iron-bound box, such as is used sometimes for packing fine earthenware. -It was nearly four feet high, and full six long, but very narrow. Two -large empty oil-casks lay on the top of it, and above these, again, a -vast quantity of straw matting, piled up as high as the floor of the -cabin. In every other direction around was wedged as closely as -possible, even up to the ceiling, a complete chaos of almost every -species of ship-furniture, together with a heterogeneous medley of -crates, hampers, barrels, and bales, so that it seemed a matter no less -than miraculous that we had discovered any passage at all to the box. I -afterward found that Augustus had purposely arranged the stowage in -this hold with a view to affording me a thorough concealment, having -had only one assistant in the labour, a man not going out in the brig.</p> - -<p>My companion now showed me that one of the ends of the box could be -removed at pleasure. He slipped it aside and displayed the interior, at -which I was excessively amused. A mattress from one of the cabin berths -covered the whole of its bottom, and it contained almost every article -of mere comfort which could be crowded into so small a space, allowing -me, at the same time, sufficient room for my accommodation, either in a -sitting position or lying at full length. Among other things, there -were some books, pen, ink, and paper, three blankets, a large jug full -of water, a keg of sea-biscuit, three or four immense Bologna sausages, -an enormous ham, a cold leg of roast mutton, and half a dozen bottles -of cordials and liqueurs. I proceeded immediately to take possession of -my little apartment, and this with feelings of higher satisfaction, I -am sure, than any monarch ever experienced upon entering a new palace. -Augustus now pointed out to me the method of fastening the open end of -the box, and then, holding the taper close to the deck, showed me a -piece of dark whipcord lying along it. This, he said, extended from my -hiding-place throughout all the necessary windings among the lumber, to -a nail which was driven into the deck of the hold, immediately beneath -the trapdoor leading into his stateroom. By means of this cord I should -be enabled readily to trace my way out without his guidance, provided -any unlooked-for accident should render such a step necessary. He now -took his departure, leaving with me the lantern, together with a -copious supply of tapers and phosphorus, and promising to pay me a -visit as often as he could contrive to do so without observation. This -was on the seventeenth of June.</p> - -<p>I remained three days and nights (as nearly as I could guess) in my -hiding-place without getting out of it at all, except twice for the -purpose of stretching my limbs by standing erect between two crates -just opposite the opening. During the whole period I saw nothing of -Augustus; but this occasioned me little uneasiness, as I knew the brig -was expected to put to sea every hour, and in the bustle he would not -easily find opportunities of coming down to me. At length I heard the -trap open and shut, and presently he called in a low voice, asking if -all was well, and if there was anything I wanted. "Nothing," I replied; -"I am as comfortable as can be; when will the brig sail?" "She will be -under weigh in less than half an hour," he answered. "I came to let you -know, and for fear you should be uneasy at my absence. I shall not have -a chance of coming down again for some time—perhaps for three or four -days more. All is going on right aboveboard. After I go up and close -the trap, do you creep along by the whipcord to where the nail is -driven in. You will find my watch there—it may be useful to you, as -you have no daylight to keep time by. I suppose you can't tell how long -you have been buried—only three days—this is the twentieth. I would -bring the watch to your box, but am afraid of being missed." With this -he went up.</p> - -<p>In about an hour after he had gone I distinctly felt the brig in -motion, and congratulated myself upon having at length fairly commenced -a voyage. Satisfied with this idea, I determined to make my mind as -easy as possible, and await the course of events until I should be -permitted to exchange the box for the more roomy, although hardly more -comfortable, accommodations of the cabin. My first care was to get the -watch. Leaving the taper burning, I groped along in the dark, following -the cord through windings innumerable, in some of which I discovered -that, after toiling a long distance, I was brought back within a foot -or two of a former position. At length I reached the nail, and, -securing the object of my journey, returned with it in safety. I now -looked over the books which had been so thoughtfully provided, and -selected the expedition of Lewis and Clarke to the mouth of the -Columbia. With this I amused myself for some time, when, growing -sleepy, I extinguished the light with great care, and soon fell into a -sound slumber.</p> - -<p>Upon awaking I felt strangely confused in mind, and some time elapsed -before I could bring to recollection all the various circumstances of -my situation. By degrees, however, I remembered all. Striking a light, -I looked at the watch; but it was run down, and there were, -consequently, no means of determining how long I had slept. My limbs -were greatly cramped, and I was forced to relieve them by standing -between the crates. Presently, feeling an almost ravenous appetite, I -bethought myself of the cold mutton, some of which I had eaten just -before going to sleep, and found excellent. What was my astonishment at -discovering it to be in a state of absolute putrefaction! This -circumstance occasioned me great disquietude; for, connecting it with -the disorder of mind I experienced upon awaking, I began to suppose -that I must have slept for an inordinately long period of time. The -close atmosphere of the hold might have had something to do with this, -and might, in the end, be productive of the most serious results. My -head ached excessively; I fancied that I drew every breath with -difficulty; and, in short, I was oppressed with a multitude of gloomy -feelings. Still I could not venture to make any disturbance by opening -the trap or otherwise, and, having wound up the watch, contented myself -as well as possible.</p> - -<p>Throughout the whole of the next tedious twenty-four hours no person -came to my relief, and I could not help accusing Augustus of the -grossest inattention. What alarmed me chiefly was, that the water in my -jug was reduced to about half a pint, and I was suffering much from -thirst, having eaten freely of the Bologna sausages after the loss of -my mutton. I became very uneasy, and could no longer take any interest -in my books. I was overpowered, too, with a desire to sleep, yet -trembled at the thought of indulging it, lest there might exist some -pernicious influence, like that of burning charcoal, in the confined -air of the hold. In the mean time the roll of the brig told me that we -were far in the main ocean, and a dull humming sound, which reached my -ears as if from an immense distance, convinced me no ordinary gale was -blowing. I could not imagine a reason for the absence of Augustus. We -were surely far enough advanced on our voyage to allow of my going up. -Some accident might have happened to him—but I could think of none -which would account for his suffering me to remain so long a prisoner, -except, indeed, his having suddenly died or fallen overboard, and upon -this idea I could not dwell with any degree of patience. It was -possible that we had been baffled by head winds, and were still in the -near vicinity of Nantucket. This notion, however, I was forced to -abandon; for, such being the case, the brig must have frequently gone -about; and I was entirely satisfied, from her continual inclination to -the larboard, that she had been sailing all along with a steady breeze -on her starboard quarter. Besides, granting that we were still in the -neighbourhood of the island, why should not Augustus have visited me -and informed me of the circumstance? Pondering in this manner upon the -difficulties of my solitary and cheerless condition, I resolved to wait -yet another twenty-four hours, when, if no relief were obtained, I -would make my way to the trap, and endeavour either to hold a parley -with my friend, or get at least a little fresh air through the opening, -and a further supply of water from his stateroom. While occupied with -this thought, however, I fell, in spite of every exertion to the -contrary, into a state of profound sleep, or rather stupor. My dreams -were of the most terrific description. Every species of calamity and -horror befell me. Among other miseries, I was smothered to death -between huge pillows, by demons of the most ghastly and ferocious -aspect. Immense serpents held me in their embrace, and looked earnestly -in my face with their fearfully shining eyes. Then deserts, limitless, -and of the most forlorn and awe-inspiring character, spread themselves -out before me. Immensely tall trunks of trees, gray and leafless, rose -up in endless succession as far as the eye could reach. Their roots -were concealed in wide-spreading morasses, whose dreary water lay -intensely black, still, and altogether terrible, beneath. And the -strange trees seemed endowed with a human vitality, and, waving to and -fro their skeleton arms, were crying to the silent waters for mercy, in -the shrill and piercing accents of the most acute agony and despair. -The scene changed; and I stood, naked and alone, amid the burning -sand-plains of Zahara. At my feet lay crouched a fierce lion of the -tropics. Suddenly his wild eyes opened and fell upon me. With a -convulsive bound he sprang to his feet, and laid bare his horrible -teeth. In another instant there burst from his red throat a roar like -the thunder of the firmament, and I fell impetuously to the earth. -Stifling in a paroxysm of terror, I at last found myself partially -awake. My dream, then, was not all a dream. Now, at least, I was in -possession of my senses. The paws of some huge and real monster were -pressing heavily upon my bosom—his hot breath was in my ear—and his -white and ghastly fangs were gleaming upon me through the gloom.</p> - -<p>Had a thousand lives hung upon the movement of a limb or the utterance -of a syllable, I could have neither stirred nor spoken. The beast, -whatever it was, retained his position without attempting any immediate -violence, while I lay in an utterly helpless, and, I fancied, a dying -condition beneath him. I felt that my powers of body and mind were fast -leaving me—in a word, that I was perishing, and perishing of sheer -fright. My brain swam—I grew deadly sick—my vision failed—even the -glaring eyeballs above me grew dim. Making a last strong effort, I at -length breathed a faint ejaculation to God, and resigned myself to die. -The sound of my voice seemed to arouse all the latent fury of the -animal. He precipitated himself at full length upon my body; but what -was my astonishment, when, with a long and low whine, he commenced -licking my face and hands with the greatest eagerness, and with the -most extravagant demonstrations of affection and joy! I was bewildered, -utterly lost in amazement—but I could not forget the peculiar whine of -my Newfoundland dog Tiger, and the odd manner of his caresses I well -knew. It was he. I experienced a sudden rush of blood to my temples—a -giddy and overpowering sense of deliverance and reanimation. I rose -hurriedly from the mattress upon which I had been lying, and, throwing -myself upon the neck of my faithful follower and friend, relieved the -long oppression of my bosom in a flood of the most passionate tears.</p> - -<p>As upon a former occasion, my conceptions were in a state of the -greatest indistinctness and confusion after leaving the mattress. For a -long time I found it nearly impossible to connect any ideas—but, by -very slow degrees, my thinking faculties returned, and I again called -to memory the several incidents of my condition. For the presence of -Tiger I tried in vain to account; and after busying myself with a -thousand different conjectures respecting him, was forced to content -myself with rejoicing that he was with me to share my dreary solitude, -and render me comfort by his caresses. Most people love their dogs—but -for Tiger I had an affection far more ardent than common; and never, -certainly, did any creature more truly deserve it. For seven years he -had been my inseparable companion, and in a multitude of instances had -given evidence of all the noble qualities for which we value the -animal. I had rescued him, when a puppy, from the clutches of a -malignant little villain in Nantucket, who was leading him, with a rope -around his neck, to the water; and the grown dog repaid the obligation, -about three years afterward, by saving me from the bludgeon of a -street-robber.</p> - -<p>Getting now hold of the watch, I found, upon applying it to my ear, -that it had again run down; but at this I was not at all surprised, -being convinced, from the peculiar state of my feelings, that I had -slept, as before, for a very long period of time; how long, it was of -course impossible to say. I was burning up with fever, and my thirst -was almost intolerable. I felt about the box for my little remaining -supply of water; for I had no light, the taper having burnt to the -socket of the lantern, and the phosphorus-box not coming readily to -hand. Upon finding the jug, however, I discovered it to be -empty—Tiger, no doubt, having been tempted to drink it, as well as to -devour the remnant of mutton, the bone of which lay, well picked, by -the opening of the box. The spoiled meat I could well spare, but my -heart sank as I thought of the water. I was feeble in the extreme—so -much so that I shook all over, as with an ague, at the slightest -movement or exertion. To add to my troubles, the brig was pitching and -rolling with great violence, and the oil-casks which lay upon my box -were in momentary danger of falling down, so as to block up the only -way of ingress or egress. I felt, also, terrible sufferings from -sea-sickness. These considerations determined me to make my way, at all -hazards, to the trap, and obtain immediate relief, before I should be -incapacitated from doing so altogether. Having come to this resolve, I -again felt about for the phosphorus-box and tapers. The former I found -after some little trouble; but, not discovering the tapers as soon as I -had expected (for I remembered very nearly the spot in which I had -placed them), I gave up the search for the present, and bidding Tiger -lie quiet, began at once my journey towards the trap.</p> - -<p>In this attempt my great feebleness became more than ever apparent. It -was with the utmost difficulty I could crawl along at all, and very -frequently my limbs sank suddenly from beneath me; when, falling -prostrate on my face, I would remain for some minutes in a state -bordering on insensibility. Still I struggled forward by slow degrees, -dreading every moment that I should swoon amid the narrow and intricate -windings of the lumber, in which event I had nothing but death to -expect as the result. At length, upon making a push forward with all -the energy I could command, I struck my forehead violently against the -sharp corner of an iron-bound crate. The accident only stunned me for a -few moments; but I found, to my inexpressible grief, that the quick and -violent roll of the vessel had thrown the crate entirely across my -path, so as effectually to block up the passage. With my utmost -exertions I could not move it a single inch from its position, it being -closely wedged in among the surrounding boxes and ship-furniture. It -became necessary, therefore, enfeebled as I was, either to leave the -guidance of the whipcord and seek out a new passage, or to climb over -the obstacle, and resume the path on the other side. The former -alternative presented too many difficulties and dangers to be thought -of without a shudder. In my present weak state of both mind and body, I -should infallibly lose my way if I attempted it, and perish miserably -amid the dismal and disgusting labyrinths of the hold. I proceeded, -therefore, without hesitation, to summon up all my remaining strength -and fortitude, and endeavour, as I best might, to clamber over the -crate.</p> - -<p>Upon standing erect, with this end in view, I found the undertaking -even a more serious task than my fears had led me to imagine. On each -side of the narrow passage arose a complete wall of various heavy -lumber, which the least blunder on my part might be the means of -bringing down upon my head; or, if this accident did not occur, the -path might be effectually blocked up against my return by the -descending mass, as it was in front by the obstacle there. The crate -itself was a long and unwieldy box, upon which no foothold could be -obtained. In vain I attempted, by every means in my power, to reach the -top, with the hope of being thus enabled to draw myself up. Had I -succeeded in reaching it, it is certain that my strength would have -proved utterly inadequate to the task of getting over, and it was -better in every respect that I failed. At length, in a desperate effort -to force the crate from its ground, I felt a strong vibration in the -side next me. I thrust my hand eagerly to the edge of the planks, and -found that a very large one was loose. With my pocket-knife, which -luckily I had with me, I succeeded, after great labour, in prying it -entirely off; and, getting through the aperture, discovered, to my -exceeding joy, that there were no boards on the opposite side—in other -words, that the top was wanting, it being the bottom through which I -had forced my way. I now met with no important difficulty in proceeding -along the line until I finally reached the nail. With a beating heart I -stood erect, and with a gentle touch pressed against the cover of the -trap. It did not rise as soon as I had expected, and I pressed it with -somewhat more determination, still dreading lest some other person than -Augustus might be in his stateroom. The door, however, to my -astonishment, remained steady, and I became somewhat uneasy, for I knew -that it had formerly required little or no effort to remove it. I -pushed it strongly—it was nevertheless firm: with all my strength—it -still did not give way: with rage, with fury, with despair—it set at -defiance my utmost efforts; and it was evident, from the unyielding -nature of the resistance, that the hole had either been discovered and -effectually nailed up, or that some immense weight had been placed upon -it, which it was useless to think of removing.</p> - -<p>My sensations were those of extreme horror and dismay. In vain I -attempted to reason on the probable cause of my being thus entombed. I -could summon up no connected chain of reflection, and, sinking on the -floor, gave way, unresistingly, to the most gloomy imaginings, in which -the dreadful deaths of thirst, famine, suffocation, and premature -interment, crowded upon me as the prominent disasters to be -encountered. At length there returned to me some portion of presence of -mind. I arose, and felt with my fingers for the seams or cracks of the -aperture. Having found them, I examined them closely to ascertain if -they emitted any light from the stateroom; but none was visible. I then -forced the penblade of my knife through them, until I met with some -hard obstacle. Scraping against it, I discovered it to be a solid mass -of iron, which, from its peculiar wavy feel as I passed the blade along -it, I concluded to be a chain-cable. The only course now left me was to -retrace my way to the box, and there either yield to my sad fate, or -try so to tranquillize my mind as to admit of my arranging some plan of -escape. I immediately set about the attempt, and succeeded, after -innumerable difficulties, in getting back. As I sank, utterly -exhausted, upon the mattress, Tiger threw himself at full length by my -side, and seemed as if desirous, by his caresses, of consoling me in my -troubles, and urging me to bear them with fortitude.</p> - -<p>The singularity of his behaviour at length forcibly arrested my -attention. After licking my face and hands for some minutes, he would -suddenly cease doing so, and utter a low whine. Upon reaching out my -hand towards him, I then invariably found him lying on his back, with -his paws uplifted. This conduct, so frequently repeated, appeared -strange, and I could in no manner account for it. As the dog seemed -distressed, I concluded that he had received some injury; and, taking -his paws in my hands, I examined them one by one, but found no sign of -any hurt. I then supposed him hungry, and gave him a large piece of -ham, which he devoured with avidity—afterward, however, resuming his -extraordinary manoeuvres. I now imagined that he was suffering, like -myself, the torments of thirst, and was about adopting this conclusion -as the true one, when the idea occurred to me that I had as yet only -examined his paws, and that there might possibly be a wound upon some -portion of his body or head. The latter I felt carefully over, but -found nothing. On passing my hand, however, along his back, I perceived -a slight erection of the hair extending completely across it. Probing -this with my finger, I discovered a string, and, tracing it up, found -that it encircled the whole body. Upon a closer scrutiny, I came across -a small slip of what had the feeling of letter paper, through which the -string had been fastened in such a manner as to bring it immediately -beneath the left shoulder of the animal.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap3"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER III.</h3> -<br> - -<p>The thought instantly occurred to me that the paper was a note from -Augustus, and that some unaccountable accident having happened to -prevent his relieving me from my dungeon, he had devised this method of -acquainting me with the true state of affairs. Trembling with -eagerness, I now commenced another search for my phosphorus matches and -tapers. I had a confused recollection of having put them carefully away -just before falling asleep; and, indeed, previously to my last journey -to the trap, I had been able to remember the exact spot where I had -deposited them. But now I endeavoured in vain to call it to mind, and -busied myself for a full hour in a fruitless and vexatious search for -the missing articles; never, surely, was there a more tantalizing state -of anxiety and suspense. At length, while groping about, with my head -close to the ballast, near the opening of the box, and outside of it, I -perceived a faint glimmering of light in the direction of the steerage. -Greatly surprised, I endeavoured to make my way towards it, as it -appeared to be but a few feet from my position. Scarcely had I moved -with this intention, when I lost sight of the glimmer entirely, and, -before I could bring it into view again, was obliged to feel along by -the box until I had exactly resumed my original situation. Now, moving -my head with caution to and fro, I found that, by proceeding slowly, -with great care, in an opposite direction to that in which I had at -first started, I was enabled to draw near the light, still keeping it -in view. Presently I came directly upon it (having squeezed my way -through innumerable narrow windings), and found that it proceeded from -some fragments of my matches lying in an empty barrel turned upon its -side. I was wondering how they came in such a place, when my hand fell -upon two or three pieces of taper-wax, which had been evidently mumbled -by the dog. I concluded at once that he had devoured the whole of my -supply of candles, and I felt hopeless of being ever able to read the -note of Augustus. The small remnants of the wax were so mashed up among -other rubbish in the barrel, that I despaired of deriving any service -from them, and left them as they were. The phosphorus, of which there -was only a speck or two, I gathered up as well as I could, and returned -with it, after much difficulty, to my box, where Tiger had all the -while remained.</p> - -<p>What to do next I could not tell. The hold was so intensely dark that I -could not see my hand, however close I would hold it to my face. The -white slip of paper could barely be discerned, and not even that when I -looked at it directly; by turning the exterior portions of the retina -towards it, that is to say, by surveying it slightly askance, I found -that it became in some measure perceptible. Thus the gloom of my prison -may be imagined, and the note of my friend, if indeed it were a note -from him, seemed only likely to throw me into further trouble, by -disquieting to no purpose my already enfeebled and agitated mind. In -vain I revolved in my brain a multitude of absurd expedients for -procuring light—such expedients precisely as a man in the perturbed -sleep occasioned by opium would be apt to fall upon for a similar -purpose—each and all of which appear by turns to the dreamer the most -reasonable and the most preposterous of conceptions, just as the -reasoning or imaginative faculties flicker, alternately, one above the -other. At last an idea occurred to me which seemed rational, and which -gave me cause to wonder, very justly, that I had not entertained it -before. I placed the slip of paper on the back of a book, and, -collecting the fragments of the phosphorus matches which I had brought -from the barrel, laid them together upon the paper. I then, with the -palm of my hand, rubbed the whole over quickly yet steadily. A clear -light diffused itself immediately throughout the whole surface; and had -there been any writing upon it, I should not have experienced the least -difficulty, I am sure, in reading it. Not a syllable was there, -however—nothing but a dreary and unsatisfactory blank; the -illumination died away in a few seconds, and my heart died away within -me as it went.</p> - -<p>I have before stated more than once that my intellect, for some period -prior to this, had been in a condition nearly bordering on idiocy. -There were, to be sure, momentary intervals of perfect sanity, and, now -and then, even of energy; but these were few. It must be remembered -that I had been, for many days certainly, inhaling the almost -pestilential atmosphere of a close hold in a whaling vessel, and a long -portion of that time but scantily supplied with water. For the last -fourteen or fifteen hours I had none—nor had I slept during that time. -Salt provisions of the most exciting kind had been my chief, and, -indeed, since the loss of the mutton, my only supply of food, with the -exception of the sea-biscuit; and these latter were utterly useless to -me, as they were too dry and hard to be swallowed in the swollen and -parched condition of my throat. I was now in a high state of fever, and -in every respect exceedingly ill. This will account for the fact that -many miserable hours of despondency elapsed after my last adventure -with the phosphorus, before the thought suggested itself that I had -examined only one side of the paper. I shall not attempt to describe my -feelings of rage (for I believe I was more angry than anything else) -when the egregious oversight I had committed flashed suddenly upon my -perception. The blunder itself would have been unimportant, had not my -own folly and impetuosity rendered it otherwise—in my disappointment -at not finding some words upon the slip, I had childishly torn it in -pieces and thrown it away, it was impossible to say where.</p> - -<p>From the worst part of this dilemma I was relieved by the sagacity of -Tiger. Having got, after a long search, a small piece of the note, I -put it to the dog's nose, and endeavoured to make him understand that -he must bring me the rest of it. To my astonishment (for I had taught -him none of the usual tricks for which his breed are famous), he seemed -to enter at once into my meaning, and, rummaging about for a few -moments, soon found another considerable portion. Bringing me this, he -paused a while, and, rubbing his nose against my hand, appeared to be -waiting for my approval of what he had done. I patted him on the head, -when he immediately made off again. It was now some minutes before he -came back—but when he did come, he brought with him a large slip, -which proved to be all the paper missing—it having been torn, it -seems, only into three pieces. Luckily, I had no trouble in finding -what few fragments of the phosphorus were left—being guided by the -indistinct glow one or two of the particles still emitted. My -difficulties had taught me the necessity of caution, and I now took -time to reflect upon what I was about to do. It was very probable, I -considered, that some words were written upon that side of the paper -which had not been examined—but which side was that? Fitting the -pieces together gave me no clew in this respect, although it assured me -that the words (if there were any) would be found all on one side, and -connected in a proper manner, as written. There was the greater -necessity of ascertaining the point in question beyond a doubt, as the -phosphorus remaining would be altogether insufficient for a third -attempt, should I fail in the one I was now about to make. I placed the -paper on a book as before, and sat for some minutes thoughtfully -revolving the matter over in my mind. At last I thought it barely -possible that the written side might have some unevenness on its -surface, which a delicate sense of feeling might enable me to detect. I -determined to make the experiment, and passed my finger very carefully -over the side which first presented itself—nothing, however, was -perceptible, and I turned the paper, adjusting it on the book. I now -again carried my forefinger cautiously along, when I was aware of an -exceedingly slight, but still discernible glow, which followed as it -proceeded. This, I knew, must arise from some very minute remaining -particles of the phosphorus with which I had covered the paper in my -previous attempt. The other, or under side, then, was that on which lay -the writing, if writing there should finally prove to be. Again I -turned the note, and went to work as I had previously done. Having -rubbed in the phosphorus, a brilliancy ensued as before—but this time -several lines of MS. in a large hand, and apparently in red ink, became -distinctly visible. The glimmer, although sufficiently bright, was but -momentary. Still, had I not been too greatly excited, there would have -been ample time enough for me to peruse the whole three sentences -before me—for I saw there were three. In my anxiety, however, to read -all at once, I succeeded only in reading the seven concluding words, -which thus appeared: <i>"blood—your life depends upon lying close."</i></p> - -<p>Had I been able to ascertain the entire contents of the note—the full -meaning of the admonition which my friend had thus attempted to convey, -that admonition, even although it should have revealed a story of -disaster the most unspeakable, could not, I am firmly convinced, have -imbued my mind with one tithe of the harrowing and yet indefinable -horror with which I was inspired by the fragmentary warning thus -received. And <i>"blood"</i> too, that word of all words—so rife at all -times with mystery, and suffering, and terror—how trebly full of -import did it now appear—how chillily and heavily (disjointed, as it -thus was, from any foregoing words to qualify or render it distinct) -did its vague syllables fall, amid the deep gloom of my prison, into -the innermost recesses of my soul!</p> - -<p>Augustus had, undoubtedly, good reasons for wishing me to remain -concealed, and I formed a thousand surmises as to what they could -be—but I could think of nothing affording a satisfactory solution of -the mystery. Just after returning from my last journey to the trap, and -before my attention had been otherwise directed by the singular conduct -of Tiger, I had come to the resolution of making myself heard at all -events by those on board, or, if I could not succeed in this directly, -of trying to cut my way through the orlop deck. The half certainty -which I felt of being able to accomplish one of these two purposes in -the last emergency, had given me courage (which I should not otherwise -have had) to endure the evils of my situation. The few words I had been -able to read, however, had cut me off from these final resources, and I -now, for the first time, felt all the misery of my fate. In a paroxysm -of despair I threw myself again upon the mattress, where, for about the -period of a day and night, I lay in a kind of stupor, relieved only by -momentary intervals of reason and recollection.</p> - -<p>At length I once more arose, and busied myself in reflection upon the -horrors which encompassed me. For another twenty-four hours it was -barely possible that I might exist without water—for a longer time I -could not do so. During the first portion of my imprisonment I had made -free use of the cordials with which Augustus had supplied me, but they -only served to excite fever, without in the least degree assuaging my -thirst. I had now only about a gill left, and this was of a species of -strong peach liqueur at which my stomach revolted. The sausages were -entirely consumed; of the ham nothing remained but a small piece of the -skin; and all the biscuit, except a few fragments of one, had been -eaten by Tiger. To add to my troubles, I found that my headache was -increasing momentarily, and with it the species of delirium which had -distressed me more or less since my first falling asleep. For some -hours past it had been with the greatest difficulty I could breathe at -all, and now each attempt at so doing was attended with the most -distressing spasmodic action of the chest. But there was still another -and very different source of disquietude, and one, indeed, whose -harassing terrors had been the chief means of arousing me to exertion -from my stupor on the mattress. It arose from the demeanour of the dog.</p> - -<p>I first observed an alteration in his conduct while rubbing in the -phosphorus on the paper in my last attempt. As I rubbed, he ran his -nose against my hand with a slight snarl; but I was too greatly excited -at the time to pay much attention to the circumstance. Soon afterward, -it will be remembered, I threw myself on the mattress, and fell into a -species of lethargy. Presently I became aware of a singular hissing -sound close at my ears, and discovered it to proceed from Tiger, who -was panting and wheezing in a state of the greatest apparent -excitement, his eyeballs flashing fiercely through the gloom. I spoke -to him, when he replied with a low growl, and then remained quiet. -Presently I relapsed into my stupor, from which I was again awakened in -a similar manner. This was repeated three or four times, until finally -his behaviour inspired me with so great a degree of fear that I became -fully aroused. He was now lying close by the door of the box, snarling -fearfully, although in a kind of under tone, and grinding his teeth as -if strongly convulsed. I had no doubt whatever that the want of water -or the confined atmosphere of the hold had driven him mad, and I was at -a loss what course to pursue. I could not endure the thought of killing -him, yet it seemed absolutely necessary for my own safety. I could -distinctly perceive his eyes fastened upon me with an expression of the -most deadly animosity, and I expected every instant that he would -attack me. At last I could endure my terrible situation no longer, and -determined to make my way from the box at all hazards, and despatch -him, if his opposition should render it necessary for me to do so. To -get out, I had to pass directly over his body, and he already seemed to -anticipate my design—raising himself upon his fore legs (as I -perceived by the altered position of his eyes), and displaying the -whole of his white fangs, which were easily discernible. I took the -remains of the ham-skin, and the bottle containing the liqueur, and -secured them about my person, together with a large carving-knife which -Augustus had left me—then, folding my cloak as closely around me as -possible, I made a movement towards the mouth of the box. No sooner did -I do this than the dog sprang with a loud growl towards my throat. The -whole weight of his body struck me on the right shoulder, and I fell -violently to the left, while the enraged animal passed entirely over -me. I had fallen upon my knees, with my head buried among the blankets, -and these protected me from a second furious assault, during which I -felt the sharp teeth pressing vigorously upon the woollen which -enveloped my neck—yet, luckily, without being able to penetrate all -the folds. I was now beneath the dog, and a few moments would place me -completely in his power. Despair gave me strength, and I rose bodily -up, shaking him from me by main force, and dragging with me the -blankets from the mattress. These I now threw over him, and before he -could extricate himself I had got through the door and closed it -effectually against his pursuit. In this struggle, however, I had been -forced to drop the morsel of ham-skin, and I now found my whole stock -of provisions reduced to a single gill of liqueur. As this reflection -crossed my mind, I felt myself actuated by one of those fits of -perverseness which might be supposed to influence a spoiled child in -similar circumstances, and, raising the bottle to my lips, I drained it -to the last drop, and dashed it furiously upon the floor.</p> - -<p>Scarcely had the echo of the crash died away, when I heard my name -pronounced in an eager but subdued voice, issuing from the direction of -the steerage. So unexpected was anything of the kind, and so intense -was the emotion excited within me by the sound, that I endeavoured in -vain to reply. My powers of speech totally failed, and, in an agony of -terror lest my friend should conclude me dead, and return without -attempting to reach me, I stood up between the crates near the door of -the box, trembling convulsively, and gasping and struggling for -utterance. Had a thousand worlds depended upon a syllable, I could not -have spoken it. There was a slight movement now audible among the -lumber somewhere forward of my station. The sound presently grew less -distinct, then again less so, and still less. Shall I ever forget my -feelings at this moment? He was going—my friend—my companion, from -whom I had a right to expect so much—he was going—he would abandon -me—he was gone! He would leave me to perish miserably, to expire in -the most horrible and loathsome of dungeons—and one word—one little -syllable would save me—yet that single syllable I could not utter! I -felt, I am sure, more than ten thousand times the agonies of death -itself. My brain reeled, and I fell, deadly sick, against the end of -the box.</p> - -<p>As I fell, the carving-knife was shaken out from the waistband of my -pantaloons, and dropped with a rattling sound to the floor. Never did -any strain of the richest melody come so sweetly to my ears! With the -intensest anxiety I listened to ascertain the effect of the noise upon -Augustus—for I knew that the person who called my name could be no one -but himself. All was silent for some moments. At length I again heard -the word <i>Arthur!</i> repeated in a low tone, and one full of hesitation. -Reviving hope loosened at once my powers of speech, and I now screamed, -at the top of my voice, <i>"Augustus! oh Augustus!"</i> "Hush—for God's -sake be silent!" he replied, in a voice trembling with agitation; "I -will be with you immediately—as soon as I can make my way through the -hold." For a long time I heard him moving among the lumber, and every -moment seemed to me an age. At length I felt his hand upon my shoulder, -and he placed at the same moment a bottle of water to my lips. Those -only who have been suddenly redeemed from the jaws of the tomb, or who -have known the insufferable torments of thirst under circumstances as -aggravated as those which encompassed me in my dreary prison, can form -any idea of the unutterable transports which that one long draught of -the richest of all physical luxuries afforded.</p> - -<p>When I had in some degree satisfied my thirst, Augustus produced from -his pocket three or four cold boiled potatoes, which I devoured with -the greatest avidity. He had brought with him a light in a dark -lantern, and the grateful rays afforded me scarcely less comfort than -the food and drink. But I was impatient to learn the cause of his -protracted absence, and he proceeded to recount what had happened on -board during my incarceration.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap4"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER IV.</h3> -<br> - -<p>The brig put to sea, as I had supposed, in about an hour after he had -left the watch. This was on the twentieth of June. It will be -remembered that I had then been in the hold for three days; and, during -this period, there was so constant a bustle on board, and so much -running to and fro, especially in the cabin and staterooms, that he had -had no chance of visiting me without the risk of having the secret of -the trap discovered. When at length he did come, I had assured him that -I was doing as well as possible; and, therefore, for the two next days -he felt but little uneasiness on my account—still, however, watching -an opportunity of going down. It was not <i>until the fourth day</i> that he -found one. Several times during this interval he had made up his mind -to let his father know of the adventure, and have me come up at once; -but we were still within reaching distance of Nantucket, and it was -doubtful, from some expressions which had escaped Captain Barnard, -whether he would not immediately put back if he discovered me to be on -board. Besides, upon thinking the matter over, Augustus, so he told me, -could not imagine that I was in immediate want, or that I would -hesitate, in such case, to make myself heard at the trap. When, -therefore, he considered everything, he concluded to let me stay until -he could meet with an opportunity of visiting me unobserved. This, as I -said before, did not occur until the fourth day after his bringing me -the watch, and the seventh since I had first entered the hold. He then -went down without taking with him any water or provisions, intending in -the first place merely to call my attention, and get me to come from -the box to the trap—when he would go up to the stateroom and thence -hand me down a supply. When he descended for this purpose he found that -I was asleep, for it seems that I was snoring very loudly. From all the -calculations I can make on the subject, this must have been the slumber -into which I fell just after my return from the trap with the watch, -and which, consequently, must have lasted <i>for more than three entire -days and nights</i> at the very least. Latterly, I have had reason, both -from my own experience and the assurance of others, to be acquainted -with the strong soporific effects of the stench arising from old -fish-oil when closely confined; and when I think of the condition of -the hold in which I was imprisoned, and the long period during which -the brig had been used as a whaling vessel, I am more inclined to -wonder that I awoke at all, after once falling asleep, than that I -should have slept uninterruptedly for the period specified above.</p> - -<p>Augustus called to me at first in a low voice and without closing the -trap—but I made him no reply. He then shut the trap, and spoke to me -in a louder, and finally in a very loud tone—still I continued to -snore. He was now at a loss what to do. It would take him some time to -make his way through the lumber to my box, and in the mean while his -absence would be noticed by Captain Barnard, who had occasion for his -services every minute, in arranging and copying papers connected with -the business of the voyage. He determined, therefore, upon reflection, -to ascend, and await another opportunity of visiting me. He was the -more easily induced to this resolve, as my slumber appeared to be of -the most tranquil nature, and he could not suppose that I had undergone -any inconvenience from my incarceration. He had just made up his mind -on these points when his attention was arrested by an unusual bustle, -the sound of which proceeded apparently from the cabin. He sprang -through the trap as quickly as possible, closed it, and threw open the -door of his stateroom. No sooner had he put his foot over the threshold -than a pistol flashed in his face, and he was knocked down, at the same -moment, by a blow from a handspike.</p> - -<p>A strong hand held him on the cabin floor, with a tight grasp upon his -throat—still he was able to see what was going on around him. His -father was tied hand and foot, and lying along the steps of the -companion-way with his head down, and a deep wound in the forehead, -from which the blood was flowing in a continued stream. He spoke not a -word, and was apparently dying. Over him stood the first mate, eying -him with an expression of fiendish derision, and deliberately searching -his pockets, from which he presently drew forth a large wallet and a -chronometer. Seven of the crew (among whom was the cook, a negro) were -rummaging the staterooms on the larboard for arms, where they soon -equipped themselves with muskets and ammunition. Besides Augustus and -Captain Barnard, there were nine men altogether in the cabin, and these -among the most ruffianly of the brig's company. The villains now went -upon deck, taking my friend with them, after having secured his arms -behind his back. They proceeded straight to the forecastle, which was -fastened down—two of the mutineers standing by it with axes—two also -at the main hatch. The mate called out in a loud voice, "Do you hear -there below? tumble up with you—one by one, now, mark that—and no -grumbling." It was some minutes before any one appeared: at last an -Englishman, who had shipped as a raw hand, came up, weeping piteously, -and entreating the mate in the most humble manner to spare his life. -The only reply was a blow on the forehead from an axe. The poor fellow -fell to the deck without a groan, and the black cook lifted him up in -his arms as he would a child, and tossed him deliberately into the sea. -Hearing the blow and the plunge of the body, the men below could now be -induced to venture on deck neither by threats nor promises, until a -proposition was made to smoke them out. A general rush then ensued, and -for a moment it seemed possible that the brig might be retaken. The -mutineers, however, succeeded at last in closing the forecastle -effectually before more than six of their opponents could get up. These -six, finding themselves so greatly outnumbered and without arms, -submitted after a brief struggle. The mate gave them fair words—no -doubt with a view of inducing those below to yield, for they had no -difficulty in hearing all that was said on deck. The result proved his -sagacity, no less than his diabolical villany. All in the forecastle -presently signified their intention of submitting, and, ascending one -by one, were pinioned and thrown on their backs together with the first -six—there being in all, of the crew who were not concerned in the -mutiny, twenty-seven.</p> - -<p>A scene of the most horrible butchery ensued. The bound seamen were -dragged to the gangway. Here the cook stood with an axe, striking each -victim on the head as he was forced over the side of the vessel by the -other mutineers. In this manner twenty-two perished, and Augustus had -given himself up for lost, expecting every moment his own turn to come -next. But it seemed that the villains were now either weary, or in some -measure disgusted with their bloody labour; for the four remaining -prisoners, together with my friend, who had been thrown on the deck -with the rest, were respited while the mate sent below for rum, and the -whole murderous party held a drunken carouse, which lasted until -sunset. They now fell to disputing in regard to the fate of the -survivers, who lay not more than four paces off, and could distinguish -every word said. Upon some of the mutineers the liquor appeared to have -a softening effect, for several voices were heard in favour of -releasing the captives altogether, on condition of joining the mutiny -and sharing the profits. The black cook, however (who in all respects -was a perfect demon, and who seemed to exert as much influence, if not -more, than the mate himself), would listen to no proposition of the -kind, and rose repeatedly for the purpose of resuming his work at the -gangway. Fortunately, he was so far overcome by intoxication as to be -easily restrained by the less bloodthirsty of the party, among whom was -a line-manager, who went by the name of Dirk Peters. This man was the -son of an Indian squaw of the tribe of Upsarokas, who live among the -fastnesses of the Black Hills near the source of the Missouri. His -father was a fur-trader, I believe, or at least connected in some -manner with the Indian trading-posts on Lewis river. Peters himself was -one of the most purely ferocious-looking men I ever beheld. He was -short in stature—not more than four feet eight inches high—but his -limbs were of the most Herculean mould. His hands, especially, were so -enormously thick and broad as hardly to retain a human shape. His arms, -as well as legs, were <i>bowed</i> in the most singular manner, and appeared -to possess no flexibility whatever. His head was equally deformed, -being of immense size, with an indentation on the crown (like that on -the head of most negroes), and entirely bald. To conceal this latter -deficiency, which did not proceed from old age, he usually wore a wig -formed of any hair-like material which presented itself—occasionally -the skin of a Spanish dog or American grizzly bear. At the time spoken -of he had on a portion of one of these bearskins; and it added no -little to the natural ferocity of his countenance, which betook of the -Upsaroka character. The mouth extended nearly from ear to ear; the lips -were thin, and seemed, like some other portions of his frame, to be -devoid of natural pliancy, so that the ruling expression never varied -under the influence of any emotion whatever. This ruling expression may -be conceived when it is considered that the teeth were exceedingly long -and protruding, and never even partially covered, in any instance, by -the lips. To pass this man with a casual glance, one might imagine him -to be convulsed with laughter—but a second look would induce a -shuddering acknowledgment, that if such an expression were indicative -of merriment, the merriment must be that of a demon. Of this singular -being many anecdotes were prevalent among the seafaring men of -Nantucket. These anecdotes went to prove his prodigious strength when -under excitement, and some of them had given rise to a doubt of his -sanity. But on board the Grampus, it seems, he was regarded at the time -of the mutiny with feelings more of derision than of anything else. I -have been thus particular in speaking of Dirk Peters, because, -ferocious as he appeared, he proved the main instrument in preserving -the life of Augustus, and because I shall have frequent occasion to -mention him hereafter in the course of my narrative—a narrative, let -me here say, which, in its latter portions, will be found to include -incidents of a nature so entirely out of the range of human experience, -and for this reason so far beyond the limits of human credulity, that I -proceed in utter hopelessness of obtaining credence for all that I -shall tell, yet confidently trusting in time and progressing science to -verify some of the most important and most improbable of my statements.</p> - -<p>After much indecision and two or three violent quarrels, it was -determined at last that all the prisoners (with the exception of -Augustus, whom Peters insisted in a jocular manner upon keeping as his -clerk) should be set adrift in one of the smallest whaleboats. The mate -went down into the cabin to see if Captain Barnard was still -living—for, it will be remembered, he was left below when the -mutineers came up. Presently the two made their appearance, the captain -pale as death, but somewhat recovered from the effects of his wound. He -spoke to the men in a voice hardly articulate, entreated them not to -set him adrift, but to return to their duty, and promising to land them -wherever they chose, and to take no steps for bringing them to justice. -He might as well have spoken to the winds. Two of the ruffians seized -him by the arms and hurled him over the brig's side into the boat, -which had been lowered while the mate went below. The four men who were -lying on the deck were then untied and ordered to follow, which they -did without attempting any resistance—Augustus being still left in his -painful position, although he struggled and prayed only for the poor -satisfaction of being permitted to bid his father farewell. A handful -of sea-biscuit and a jug of water were now handed down; but neither -mast, sail, oar, nor compass. The boat was towed astern for a few -minutes, during which the mutineers held another consultation—it was -then finally cut adrift. By this time night had come on—there were -neither moon nor stars visible—and a short and ugly sea was running, -although there was no great deal of wind. The boat was instantly out of -sight, and little hope could be entertained for the unfortunate -sufferers who were in it. This event happened, however, in latitude 35° -30' north, longitude 61° 20' west, and consequently at no very great -distance from the Bermuda Islands. Augustus therefore endeavoured to -console himself with the idea that the boat might either succeed in -reaching the land, or come sufficiently near to be fallen in with by -vessels off the coast.</p> - -<p>All sail was now put upon the brig, and she continued her original -course to the southwest—the mutineers being bent upon some piratical -expedition, in which, from all that could be understood, a ship was to -be intercepted on her way from the Cape Verd Islands to Porto Rico. No -attention was paid to Augustus, who was untied and suffered to go about -anywhere forward of the cabin companion-way. Dirk Peters treated him -with some degree of kindness, and on one occasion saved him from the -brutality of the cook. His situation was still one of the most -precarious, as the men were continually intoxicated, and there was no -relying upon their continued good-humour or carelessness in regard to -himself. His anxiety on my account he represented, however, as the most -distressing result of his condition; and, indeed, I had never reason to -doubt the sincerity of his friendship. More than once he had resolved -to acquaint the mutineers with the secret of my being on board, but was -restrained from so doing, partly through recollection of the atrocities -he had already beheld, and partly through a hope of being able soon to -bring me relief. For the latter purpose he was constantly on the watch; -but, in spite of the most constant vigilance, three days elapsed after -the boat was cut adrift before any chance occurred. At length, on the -night of the third day, there came on a heavy blow from the eastward, -and all hands were called up to take in sail. During the confusion -which ensued, he made his way below unobserved, and into the stateroom. -What was his grief and horror in discovering that the latter had been -rendered a place of deposite for a variety of sea-stores and -ship-furniture, and that several fathoms of old chain-cable, which had -been stowed away beneath the companion-ladder, had been dragged thence -to make room for a chest, and were now lying immediately upon the trap! -To remove it without discovery was impossible, and he returned on deck -as quickly as he could. As he came up the mate seized him by the -throat, and demanding what he had been doing in the cabin, was about -flinging him over the larboard bulwark, when his life was again -preserved through the interference of Dirk Peters. Augustus was now put -in handcuffs (of which there were several pairs on board), and his feet -lashed tightly together. He was then taken into the steerage, and -thrown into a lower berth next to the forecastle bulkheads, with the -assurance that he should never put his foot on deck again "until the -brig was no longer a brig." This was the expression of the cook, who -threw him into the berth—it is hardly possible to say what precise -meaning was intended by the phrase. The whole affair, however, proved -the ultimate means of my relief, as will presently appear.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap5"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER V.</h3> -<br> - -<p>For some minutes after the cook had left the forecastle, Augustus -abandoned himself to despair, never hoping to leave the berth alive. He -now came to the resolution of acquainting the first of the men who -should come down with my situation, thinking it better to let me take -my chance with the mutineers than perish of thirst in the hold—for it -had been ten days since I was first imprisoned, and my jug of water was -not a plentiful supply even for four. As he was thinking on this -subject, the idea came all at once into his head that it might be -possible to communicate with me by the way of the main hold. In any -other circumstances, the difficulty and hazard of the undertaking would -have prevented him from attempting it; but now he had, at all events, -little prospect of life, and consequently little to lose—he bent his -whole mind, therefore, upon the task.</p> - -<p>His handcuffs were the first consideration. At first he saw no method -of removing them, and feared that he should thus be baffled in the very -outset; but, upon a closer scrutiny, he discovered that the irons could -be slipped off and on at pleasure with very little effort or -inconvenience, merely by squeezing his hands through them—this species -of manacle being altogether ineffectual in confining young persons, in -whom the smaller bones readily yield to pressure. He now untied his -feet, and, leaving the cord in such a manner that it could easily be -readjusted in the event of any person's coming down, proceeded to -examine the bulkhead where it joined the berth. The partition here was -of soft pine board, an inch thick, and he saw that he should have -little trouble in cutting his way through. A voice was now heard at the -forecastle companion-way, and he had just time to put his right hand -into its handcuff (the left had not been removed), and to draw the rope -in a slipknot around his ankle, when Dirk Peters came below, followed -by Tiger, who immediately leaped into the berth and lay down. The dog -had been brought on board by Augustus, who knew my attachment to the -animal, and thought it would give me pleasure to have him with me -during the voyage. He went up to our house for him immediately after -first taking me into the hold, but did not think of mentioning the -circumstance upon his bringing the watch. Since the mutiny, Augustus -had not seen him before his appearance with Dirk Peters, and had given -him up for lost, supposing him to have been thrown overboard by some of -the malignant villains belonging to the mate's gang. It appeared -afterward that he had crawled into a hole beneath a whaleboat, from -which, not having room to turn round, he could not extricate himself. -Peters at last let him out, and with a species of good feeling which my -friend knew well how to appreciate, had now brought him to him in the -forecastle as a companion, leaving at the same time some salt junk and -potatoes, with a can of water; he then went on deck, promising to come -down with something more to eat on the next day.</p> - -<p>When he had gone, Augustus freed both hands from the manacles and -unfastened his feet. He then turned down the head of the mattress on -which he had been lying, and with his penknife (for the ruffians had -not thought it worth while to search him) commenced cutting vigorously -across one of the partition planks, as closely as possible to the floor -of the berth. He chose to cut here, because, if suddenly interrupted, -he would be able to conceal what had been done by letting the head of -the mattress fall into its proper position. For the remainder of the -day, however, no disturbance occurred, and by night he had completely -divided the plank. It should here be observed, that none of the crew -occupied the forecastle as a sleeping-place, living altogether in the -cabin since the mutiny, drinking the wines, and feasting on the sea -stores of Captain Barnard, and giving no more heed than was absolutely -necessary to the navigation of the brig. These circumstances proved -fortunate both for myself and Augustus; for, had matters been -otherwise, he would have found it impossible to reach me. As it was, he -proceeded with confidence in his design. It was near daybreak, however, -before he completed the second division of the board (which was about a -foot above the first cut), thus making an aperture quite large enough -to admit his passage through with facility to the main orlop deck. -Having got here, he made his way with but little trouble to the lower -main hatch, although in so doing he had to scramble over tiers of -oil-casks piled nearly as high as the upper deck, there being barely -room enough left for his body. Upon reaching the hatch, he found that -Tiger had followed him below, squeezing between two rows of the casks. -It was now too late, however, to attempt getting to me before dawn, as -the chief difficulty lay in passing through the close stowage in the -lower hold. He therefore resolved to return, and wait till the next -night. With this design he proceeded to loosen the hatch, so that he -might have as little detention as possible when he should come again. -No sooner had he loosened it than Tiger sprang eagerly to the small -opening produced, snuffed for a moment, and then uttered a long whine, -scratching at the same time, as if anxious to remove the covering with -his paws. There could be no doubt, from his behaviour, that he was -aware of my being in the hold, and Augustus thought it possible that he -would be able to get to me if he put him down. He now hit upon the -expedient of sending the note, as it was especially desirable that I -should make no attempt at forcing my way out, at least under existing -circumstances, and there could be no certainty of his getting to me -himself on the morrow as he intended. After events proved how fortunate -it was that the idea occurred to him as it did: for, had it not been -for the receipt of the note, I should undoubtedly have fallen upon some -plan, however desperate, of alarming the crew, and both our lives would -most probably have been sacrificed in consequence.</p> - -<p>Having concluded to write, the difficulty was now to procure the -materials for so doing. An old toothpick was soon made into a pen; and -this by means of feeling altogether, for the between-decks were as dark -as pitch. Paper enough was obtained from the back of a letter—a -duplicate of the forged letter from Mr. Ross. This had been the -original draught; but the handwriting not being sufficiently well -imitated, Augustus had written another, thrusting the first, by good -fortune, into his coat-pocket, where it was now most opportunely -discovered. Ink alone was thus wanting, and a substitute was -immediately found for this by means of a slight incision with the -penknife on the back of a finger just above the nail—a copious flow of -blood ensuing, as usual from wounds in that vicinity. The note was now -written, as well as it could be in the dark and under the -circumstances. It briefly explained that a mutiny had taken place; that -Captain Barnard was set adrift; and that I might expect immediate -relief as far as provisions were concerned, but must not venture upon -making any disturbance. It concluded with these words, <i>"I have -scrawled this with blood—your life depends upon lying close."</i></p> - -<p>The slip of paper being tied upon the dog, he was now put down the -hatchway, and Augustus made the best of his way back to the forecastle, -where he found no reason to believe that any of the crew had been in -his absence. To conceal the hole in the partition, he drove his knife -in just above it, and hung up a pea-jacket which he found in the berth. -His handcuffs were then replaced, and also the rope around his ankles.</p> - -<p>These arrangements were scarcely completed when Dirk Peters came below, -very drunk, but in excellent humour, and bringing with him my friend's -allowance of provision for the day. This consisted of a dozen large -Irish potatoes roasted, and a pitcher of water. He sat for some time on -a chest by the berth, and talked freely about the mate, and the general -concerns of the brig. His demeanour was exceedingly capricious and even -grotesque. At one time Augustus was much alarmed by his odd conduct. At -last, however, he went on deck, muttering a promise to bring his -prisoner a good dinner on the morrow. During the day two of the crew -(harpooners) came down, accompanied by the cook, all three in nearly -the last stage of intoxication. Like Peters, they made no scruple of -talking unreservedly about their plans. It appeared that they were much -divided among themselves as to their ultimate course, agreeing in no -point except the attack on the ship from the Cape Verd Islands, with -which they were in hourly expectation of meeting. As far as could be -ascertained, the mutiny had not been brought about altogether for the -sake of booty; a private pique of the chief mate's against Captain -Barnard having been the main instigation. There now seemed to be two -principal factions among the crew—one headed by the mate, the other by -the cook. The former party were for seizing the first suitable vessel -which should present itself, and equipping it at some of the West India -Islands for a piratical cruise. The latter division, however, which was -the stronger, and included Dirk Peters among its partisans, were bent -upon pursuing the course originally laid out for the brig into the -South Pacific; there either to take whale, or act otherwise, as -circumstances should suggest. The representations of Peters, who had -frequently visited these regions, had great weight, apparently, with -the mutineers, wavering as they were between half-engendered notions of -profit and pleasure. He dwelt on the world of novelty and amusement to -be found among the innumerable islands of the Pacific, on the perfect -security and freedom from all restraint to be enjoyed, but, more -particularly, on the deliciousness of the climate, on the abundant -means of good living, and on the voluptuous beauty of the women. As -yet, nothing had been absolutely determined upon; but the pictures of -the hybrid line-manager were taking strong hold upon the ardent -imaginations of the seamen, and there was every probability that his -intentions would be finally carried into effect.</p> - -<p>The three men went away in about an hour, and no one else entered the -forecastle all day. Augustus lay quiet until nearly night. He then -freed himself from the rope and irons, and prepared for his attempt. A -bottle was found in one of the berths, and this he filled with water -from the pitcher left by Peters, storing his pockets at the same time -with cold potatoes. To his great joy he also came across a lantern, -with a small piece of tallow candle in it. This he could light at any -moment, as he had in his possession a box of phosphorus matches. When -it was quite dark, he got through the hole in the bulkhead, having -taken the precaution to arrange the bedclothes in the berth so as to -convey the idea of a person covered up. When through, he hung up the -pea-jacket on his knife, as before, to conceal the aperture—this -manoeuvre being easily effected, as he did not readjust the piece of -plank taken out until afterward. He was now on the main orlop deck, and -proceeded to make his way, as before, between the upper deck and the -oil-casks to the main hatchway. Having reached this, he lit the piece -of candle, and descended, groping with extreme difficulty among the -compact stowage of the hold. In a few moments he became alarmed at the -insufferable stench and the closeness of the atmosphere. He could not -think it possible that I had survived my confinement for so long a -period breathing so oppressive an air. He called my name repeatedly, -but I made him no reply, and his apprehensions seemed thus to be -confirmed. The brig was rolling violently, and there was so much noise -in consequence, that it was useless to listen for any weak sound, such -as those of my breathing or snoring. He threw open the lantern, and -held it as high as possible, whenever an opportunity occurred, in order -that, by observing the light, I might, if alive, be aware that succour -was approaching. Still nothing was heard from me, and the supposition -of my death began to assume the character of certainty. He determined, -nevertheless, to force a passage, if possible, to the box, and at least -ascertain beyond a doubt the truth of his surmises. He pushed on for -some time in a most pitiable state of anxiety, until, at length, he -found the pathway utterly blocked up, and that there was no possibility -of making any farther way by the course in which he had set out. -Overcome now by his feelings, he threw himself among the lumber in -despair, and wept like a child. It was at this period that he heard the -crash occasioned by the bottle which I had thrown down. Fortunate, -indeed, was it that the incident occurred—for, upon this incident, -trivial as it appears, the thread of my destiny depended. Many years -elapsed, however, before I was aware of this fact. A natural shame and -regret for his weakness and indecision prevented Augustus from -confiding to me at once what a more intimate and unreserved communion -afterward induced him to reveal. Upon finding his further progress in -the hold impeded by obstacles which he could not overcome, he had -resolved to abandon his attempt at reaching me, and return at once to -the forecastle. Before condemning him entirely on this head, the -harassing circumstances which embarrassed him should be taken into -consideration. The night was fast wearing away, and his absence from -the forecastle might be discovered; and, indeed, would necessarily be -so, if he should fail to get back to the berth by daybreak. His candle -was expiring in the socket, and there would be the greatest difficulty -in retracing his way to the hatchway in the dark. It must be allowed, -too, that he had every good reason to believe me dead; in which event -no benefit could result to me from his reaching the box, and a world of -danger would be encountered to no purpose by himself. He had repeatedly -called, and I had made him no answer. I had been now eleven days and -nights with no more water than that contained in the jug which he had -left with me, a supply which it was not at all probable I had hoarded -in the beginning of my confinement, as I had had every cause to expect -a speedy release. The atmosphere of the hold, too, must have appeared -to him, coming from the comparatively open air of the steerage, of a -nature absolutely poisonous, and by far more intolerable than it had -seemed to me upon my first taking up my quarters in the box—the -hatchways at that time having been constantly open for many months -previous. Add to these considerations that of the scene of bloodshed -and terror so lately witnessed by my friend; his confinement, -privations, and narrow escapes from death; together with the frail and -equivocal tenure by which he still existed—circumstances all so well -calculated to prostrate every energy of mind—and the reader will be -easily brought, as I have been, to regard his apparent falling off in -friendship and in faith with sentiments rather of sorrow than of anger.</p> - -<p>The crash of the bottle was distinctly heard, yet Augustus was not sure -that it proceeded from the hold. The doubt, however, was sufficient -inducement to persevere. He clambered up nearly to the orlop deck by -means of the stowage, and then watching for a lull in the pitchings of -the vessel, he called out to me in as loud a tone as he could -command—regardless, for the moment, of the danger of being overheard -by the crew. It will be remembered that on this occasion the voice -reached me, but I was so entirely overcome by violent agitation as to -be incapable of reply. Confident, now, that his worst apprehensions -were well founded, he descended, with a view of getting back to the -forecastle without loss of time. In his haste some small boxes were -thrown down, the noise occasioned by which I heard, as will be -recollected. He had made considerable progress on his return when the -fall of the knife again caused him to hesitate. He retraced his steps -immediately, and, clambering up the stowage a second time, called out -my name, loudly as before, having watched for a lull. This time I found -voice to answer. Overjoyed at discovering me to be still alive, he now -resolved to brave every difficulty and danger in reaching me. Having -extricated himself as quickly as possible from the labyrinth of lumber -by which he was hemmed in, he at length struck into an opening which -promised better, and finally, after a series of struggles, arrived at -the box in a state of utter exhaustion.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap6"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER VI.</h3> -<br> - -<p>The leading particulars of this narration were all that Augustus -communicated to me while we remained near the box. It was not until -afterward that he entered fully into all the details. He was -apprehensive of being missed, and I was wild with impatience to leave -my detested place of confinement. We resolved to make our way at once -to the hole in the bulkhead, near which I was to remain for the -present, while he went through to reconnoitre. To leave Tiger in the -box was what neither of us could endure to think of; yet, how to act -otherwise was the question. He now seemed to be perfectly quiet, and we -could not even distinguish the sound of his breathing upon applying our -ears closely to the box. I was convinced that he was dead, and -determined to open the door. We found him lying at full length, -apparently in a deep stupor, yet still alive. No time was to be lost, -yet I could not bring myself to abandon an animal who had now been -twice instrumental in saving my life, without some attempt at -preserving him. We therefore dragged him along with us as well as we -could, although with the greatest difficulty and fatigue; Augustus, -during part of the time, being forced to clamber over the impediments -in our way with the huge dog in his arms—a feat to which the -feebleness of my frame rendered me totally inadequate. At length we -succeeded in reaching the hole, when Augustus got through, and Tiger -was pushed in afterward. All was found to be safe, and we did not fail -to return sincere thanks to God for our deliverance from the imminent -danger we had escaped. For the present it was agreed that I should -remain near the opening, through which my companion could readily -supply me with a part of his daily provision, and where I could have -the advantages of breathing an atmosphere comparatively pure.</p> - -<p>In explanation of some portions of this narrative wherein I have spoken -of the stowage of the brig, and which may appear ambiguous to some of -my readers who may have seen a proper or regular stowage, I must here -state that the manner in which this most important duty had been -performed on board the Grampus was a most shameful piece of neglect on -the part of Captain Barnard, who was by no means as careful or as -experienced a seaman as the hazardous nature of the service on which he -was employed would seem necessarily to demand. A proper stowage cannot -be accomplished in a careless manner, and many most disastrous -accidents, even within the limits of my own experience, have arisen -from neglect or ignorance in this particular. Coasting vessels, in the -frequent hurry and bustle attendant upon taking in or discharging -cargo, are the most liable to mishap from the want of a proper -attention to stowage. The great point is to allow no possibility of the -cargo or ballast's shifting position even in the most violent rollings -of the vessel. With this end, great attention must be paid, not only to -the bulk taken in, but to the nature of the bulk, and whether there be -a full or only a partial cargo. In most kinds of freight the stowage is -accomplished by means of a screw. Thus, in a load of tobacco or flour, -the whole is screwed so tightly into the hold of the vessel that the -barrels or hogsheads upon discharging are found to be completely -flattened, and take some time to regain their original shape. This -screwing, however, is resorted to principally with a view of obtaining -more room in the hold; for in a <i>full</i> load of any such commodities as -flour or tobacco, there can be no danger of any shifting whatever, at -least none from which inconvenience can result. There have been -instances, indeed, where this method of screwing has resulted in the -most lamentable consequences, arising from a cause altogether distinct -from the danger attendant upon a shifting of cargo. A load of cotton, -for example, tightly screwed while in certain conditions, has been -known, through the expansion of its bulk, to rend a vessel asunder at -sea. There can be no doubt, either, that the same result would ensue in -the case of tobacco, while undergoing its usual course of fermentation, -were it not for the interstices consequent upon the rotundity of the -hogsheads.</p> - -<p>It is when a partial cargo is received that danger is chiefly to be -apprehended from shifting, and that precautions should be always taken -to guard against such misfortune. Only those who have encountered a -violent gale of wind, or, rather, who have experienced the rolling of a -vessel in a sudden calm after the gale, can form an idea of the -tremendous force of the plunges, and of the consequent terrible impetus -given to all loose articles in the vessel. It is then that the -necessity of a cautious stowage, when there is a partial cargo, becomes -obvious. When lying to (especially with a small head sail), a vessel -which is not properly modelled in the bows is frequently thrown upon -her beam-ends; this occurring even every fifteen or twenty minutes upon -an average, yet without any serious consequences resulting, <i>provided -there be a proper stowage</i>. If this, however, has not been strictly -attended to, in the first of these heavy lurches the whole of the cargo -tumbles over to the side of the vessel which lies upon the water, and, -being thus prevented from regaining her equilibrium, as she would -otherwise necessarily do, she is certain to fill in a few seconds and -go down. It is not too much to say that at least one half of the -instances in which vessels have foundered in heavy gales at sea may be -attributed to a shifting of cargo or of ballast.</p> - -<p>When a partial cargo of any kind is taken on board, the whole, after -being first stowed as compactly as may be, should be covered with a -layer of stout shifting-boards, extending completely across the vessel. -Upon these boards strong temporary stanchions should be erected, -reaching to the timbers above, and thus securing everything in its -place. In cargoes consisting of grain, or any similar matter, -additional precautions are requisite. A hold filled entirely with grain -upon leaving port will be found not more than three fourths full upon -leaching its destination—this, too, although the freight, when -measured bushel by bushel by the consignee, will overrun by a vast deal -(on account of the swelling of the grain) the quantity consigned. This -result is occasioned by <i>settling</i> during the voyage, and is the more -perceptible in proportion to the roughness of the weather experienced. -If grain loosely thrown in a vessel, then, is ever so well secured by -shifting-boards and stanchions, it will be liable to shift in a long -passage so greatly as to bring about the most distressing calamities. -To prevent these, every method should be employed before leaving port -to <i>settle</i> the cargo as much as possible; and for this there are many -contrivances, among which may be mentioned the driving of wedges into -the grain. Even after all this is done, and unusual pains taken to -secure the shifting-boards, no seaman who knows what he is about will -feel altogether secure in a gale of any violence with a cargo of grain -on board, and, least of all, with a partial cargo. Yet there are -hundreds of our coasting vessels, and, it is likely, many more from the -ports of Europe, which sail daily with partial cargoes, even of the -most dangerous species, and without any precautions whatever. The -wonder is that no more accidents occur than do actually happen. A -lamentable instance of this heedlessness occurred to my knowledge in -the case of Captain Joel Rice of the schooner Firefly, which sailed -from Richmond, Virginia, to Madeira, with a cargo of corn, in the year -1825. The captain had gone many voyages without serious accident, -although he was in the habit of paying no attention whatever to his -stowage, more than to secure it in the ordinary manner. He had never -before sailed with a cargo of grain, and on this occasion had the corn -thrown on board loosely, when it did not much more than half fill the -vessel. For the first portion of the voyage he met with nothing more -than light breezes; but when within a day's sail of Madeira there came -on a strong gale from the N. N. E. which forced him to lie to. He -brought the schooner to the wind under a double-reefed foresail alone, -when she rode as well as any vessel could be expected to do, and -shipped not a drop of water. Towards night the gale somewhat abated, -and she rolled with more unsteadiness than before, but still did very -well, until a heavy lurch threw her upon her beam-ends to starboard. -The corn was then heard to shift bodily, the force of the movement -bursting open the main hatchway. The vessel went down like a shot. This -happened within hail of a small sloop from Madeira, which picked up one -of the crew (the only person saved), and which rode out the gale in -perfect security, as indeed a jollyboat might have done under proper -management.</p> - -<p>The stowage on board the Grampus was most clumsily done, if stowage -that could be called which was little better than a promiscuous -huddling together of oil-casks<small><small><sup>1</sup></small></small> -and ship furniture. I have already -spoken of the condition of articles in the hold. On the orlop deck -there was space enough for my body (as I have stated) between the -oil-casks and the upper deck; a space was left open around the main -hatchway; and several other large spaces were left in the stowage. Near -the hole cut through the bulkhead by Augustus there was room enough for -an entire cask, and in this space I found myself comfortably situated -for the present.</p> - -<blockquote><small><small><sup>1</sup></small> Whaling vessels are usually fitted with iron -oil-tanks—why the Grampus was not I have never been able to -ascertain.</small></blockquote> - -<p>By the time my friend had got safely into the berth, and readjusted his -handcuffs and the rope, it was broad daylight. We had made a narrow -escape indeed; for scarcely had he arranged all matters, when the mate -came below, with Dirk Peters and the cook. They talked for some time -about the vessel from the Cape Verds, and seemed to be excessively -anxious for her appearance. At length the cook came to the berth in -which Augustus was lying, and seated himself in it near the head. I -could see and hear everything from my hiding-place, for the piece cut -out had not been put back, and I was in momentary expectation that the -negro would fall against the pea-jacket, which was hung up to conceal -the aperture, in which case all would have been discovered, and our -lives would, no doubt, have been instantly sacrificed. Our good fortune -prevailed, however; and although he frequently touched it as the vessel -rolled, he never pressed against it sufficiently to bring about a -discovery. The bottom of the jacket had been carefully fastened to the -bulkhead, so that the hole might not be seen by its swinging to one -side. All this time Tiger was lying in the foot of the berth, and -appeared to have recovered in some measure his faculties, for I could -see him occasionally open his eyes and draw a long breath.</p> - -<p>After a few minutes the mate and cook went above, leaving Dirk Peters -behind, who, as soon as they were gone, came and sat himself down in -the place just occupied by the mate. He began to talk very sociably -with Augustus, and we could now see that the greater part of his -apparent intoxication, while the two others were with him, was a feint. -He answered all my companion's questions with perfect freedom; told him -that he had no doubt of his father's having been picked up, as there -were no less than five sail in sight just before sundown on the day he -was cut adrift; and used other language of a consolatory nature, which -occasioned me no less surprise than pleasure. Indeed, I began to -entertain hopes, that through the instrumentality of Peters we might be -finally enabled to regain possession of the brig, and this idea I -mentioned to Augustus as soon as I found an opportunity. He thought the -matter possible, but urged the necessity of the greatest caution in -making the attempt, as the conduct of the hybrid appeared to be -instigated by the most arbitrary caprice alone; and, indeed, it was -difficult to say if he was at any moment of sound mind. Peters went -upon deck in about an hour, and did not return again until noon, when -he brought Augustus a plentiful supply of junk beef and pudding. Of -this, when we were left alone, I partook heartily, without returning -through the hole. No one else came down into the forecastle during the -day, and at night I got into Augustus's berth, where I slept soundly -and sweetly until nearly daybreak, when he awakened me upon hearing a -stir upon deck, and I regained my hiding-place as quickly as possible. -When the day was fully broke, we found that Tiger had recovered his -strength almost entirely, and gave no indications of hydrophobia, -drinking a little water that was offered him with great apparent -eagerness. During the day he regained all his former vigour and -appetite. His strange conduct had been brought on, no doubt, by the -deleterious quality of the air of the hold, and had no connexion with -canine madness. I could not sufficiently rejoice that I had persisted -in bringing him with me from the box. This day was the thirtieth of -June, and the thirteenth since the Grampus made sail from Nantucket.</p> - -<p>On the second of July the mate came below, drunk as usual, and in an -excessively good-humour. He came to Augustus's berth, and, giving him a -slap on the back, asked him if he thought he could behave himself if he -let him loose, and whether he would promise not to be going into the -cabin again. To this, of course, my friend answered in the affirmative, -when the ruffian set him at liberty, after making him drink from a -flask of rum which he drew from his coat-pocket. Both now went on deck, -and I did not see Augustus for about three hours. He then came below -with the good news that he had obtained permission to go about the brig -as he pleased anywhere forward of the mainmast, and that he had been -ordered to sleep, as usual, in the forecastle. He brought me, too, a -good dinner, and a plentiful supply of water. The brig was still -cruising for the vessel from the Cape Verds, and a sail was now in -sight which was thought to be the one in question. As the events of the -ensuing eight days were of little importance, and had no direct bearing -upon the main incidents of my narrative, I will here throw them into -the form of a journal, as I do not wish to omit them altogether.</p> - -<p><i>July 3.</i> Augustus furnished me with three blankets, with which I -contrived a comfortable bed in my hiding-place. No one came below, -except my companion, during the day. Tiger took his station in the -berth just by the aperture, and slept heavily, as if not yet entirely -recovered from the effects of his sickness. Towards night a flaw of -wind struck the brig before sail could be taken in, and very nearly -capsized her. The puff died away immediately, however, and no damage -was done beyond the splitting of the foretopsail. Dirk Peters treated -Augustus all this day with great kindness, and entered into a long -conversation with him respecting the Pacific Ocean, and the islands he -had visited in that region. He asked him whether he would not like to -go with the mutineers on a kind of exploring and pleasure voyage in -those quarters, and said that the men were gradually coming over to the -mate's views. To this Augustus thought it best to reply that he would -be glad to go on such an adventure, since nothing better could be done, -and that anything was preferable to a piratical life.</p> - -<p><i>July 4th.</i> The vessel in sight proved to be a small brig from -Liverpool, and was allowed to pass unmolested. Augustus spent most of -his time on deck, with a view of obtaining all the information in his -power respecting the intentions of the mutineers. They had frequent and -violent quarrels among themselves, in one of which a harpooner, Jim -Bonner, was thrown overboard. The party of the mate was gaining ground. -Jim Bonner belonged to the cook's gang, of which Peters was a partisan.</p> - -<p><i>July 5th.</i> About daybreak there came on a stiff breeze from the west, -which at noon freshened into a gale, so that the brig could carry -nothing more than her trysail and foresail. In taking in the -foretopsail, Simms, one of the common hands, and belonging also to the -cook's gang, fell overboard, being very much in liquor, and was -drowned—no attempt being made to save him. The whole number of persons -on board was now thirteen, to wit: Dirk Peters; Seymour, the black -cook; —— Jones; —— Greely; Hartman Rogers; and William Allen, of -the cook's party; the mate, whose name I never learned; Absalom Hicks; -—— Wilson; John Hunt; and Richard Parker, of the mate's -party—besides Augustus and myself.</p> - -<p><i>July 6th.</i> The gale lasted all this day, blowing in heavy squalls, -accompanied with rain. The brig took in a good deal of water through -her seams, and one of the pumps was kept continually going, Augustus -being forced to take his turn. Just at twilight a large ship passed -close by us, without having been discovered until within hail. This -ship was supposed to be the one for which the mutineers were on the -look-out. The mate hailed her, but the reply was drowned in the roaring -of the gale. At eleven, a sea was shipped amid-ships, which tore away a -great portion of the larboard bulwarks, and did some other slight -damage. Towards morning the weather moderated, and at sunrise there was -very little wind.</p> - -<p><i>July 7th.</i> There was a heavy swell running all this day, during which -the brig, being light, rolled excessively, and many articles broke -loose in the hold, as I could hear distinctly from my hiding-place. I -suffered a great deal from sea-sickness. Peters had a long conversation -this day with Augustus, and told him that two of his gang, Greely and -Allen, had gone over to the mate, and were resolved to turn pirates. He -put several questions to Augustus which he did not then exactly -understand. During a part of this evening the leak gained upon the -vessel; and little could be done to remedy it, as it was occasioned by -the brig's straining, and taking in the water through her seams. A sail -was thrummed, and got under the bows, which aided us in some measure, -so that we began to gain upon the leak.</p> - -<p><i>July 8th.</i> A light breeze sprung up at sunrise from the eastward, when -the mate headed the brig to the southwest, with the intention of making -some of the West India islands, in pursuance of his piratical designs. -No opposition was made by Peters or the cook; at least none in the -hearing of Augustus. All idea of taking the vessel from the Cape Verds -was abandoned. The leak was now easily kept under by one pump going -every three quarters of an hour. The sail was drawn from beneath the -bows. Spoke two small schooners during the day.</p> - -<p><i>July 9th.</i> Fine weather. All hands employed in repairing bulwarks. -Peters had again a long conversation with Augustus, and spoke more -plainly than he had done heretofore. He said nothing should induce him -to come into the mate's views, and even hinted his intention of taking -the brig out of his hands. He asked my friend if he could depend upon -his aid in such case, to which Augustus said, "Yes," without -hesitation. Peters then said he would sound the others of his party -upon the subject, and went away. During the remainder of the day -Augustus had no opportunity of speaking with him privately.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap7"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER VII.</h3> -<br> - -<p><i>July 10.</i> Spoke a brig from Rio, bound to Norfolk. Weather hazy, with -a light baffling wind from the eastward. To-day Hartman Rogers died, -having been attacked on the eighth with spasms after drinking a glass -of grog. This man was of the cook's party, and one upon whom Peters -placed his main reliance. He told Augustus that he believed the mate -had poisoned him, and that he expected, if he did not be on the -look-out, his own turn would come shortly. There were now only himself, -Jones, and the cook belonging to his own gang—on the other side there -were five. He had spoken to Jones about taking the command from the -mate; but the project having been coolly received, he had been deterred -from pressing the matter any further, or from saying anything to the -cook. It was well, as it happened, that he was so prudent, for in the -afternoon the cook expressed his determination of siding with the mate, -and went over formally to that party; while Jones took an opportunity -of quarrelling with Peters, and hinted that he would let the mate know -of the plan in agitation. There was now, evidently, no time to be lost, -and Peters expressed his determination of attempting to take the vessel -at all hazards, provided Augustus would lend him his aid. My friend at -once assured him of his willingness to enter into any plan for that -purpose, and, thinking the opportunity a favourable one, made known the -fact of my being on board. At this the hybrid was not more astonished -than delighted, as he had no reliance whatever upon Jones, whom he -already considered as belonging to the party of the mate. They went -below immediately, when Augustus called to me by name, and Peters and -myself were soon made acquainted. It was agreed that we should attempt -to retake the vessel upon the first good opportunity, leaving Jones -altogether out of our councils. In the event of success we were to run -the brig into the first port that offered, and deliver her up. The -desertion of his party had frustrated Peters's design of going into the -Pacific—an adventure which could not be accomplished without a crew, -and he depended upon either getting acquitted upon trial on the score -of insanity (which he solemnly averred had actuated him in lending his -aid to the mutiny), or upon obtaining a pardon, if found guilty, -through the representations of Augustus and myself. Our deliberations -were interrupted for the present by the cry of "All hands take in -sail," and Peters and Augustus ran up on deck.</p> - -<p>As usual, the crew were nearly all drunk; and, before sail could be -properly taken in, a violent squall laid the brig on her beam-ends. By -keeping her away, however, she righted, having shipped a good deal of -water. Scarcely was everything secure, when another squall took the -vessel, and immediately afterward another—no damage being done. There -was every appearance of a gale of wind, which, indeed, shortly came on, -with great fury, from the northward and westward. All was made as snug -as possible, and we laid to, as usual, under a close-reefed foresail. -As night drew on, the wind increased in violence, with a remarkably -heavy sea. Peters now came into the forecastle with Augustus, and we -resumed our deliberations.</p> - -<p>We agreed that no opportunity could be more favourable than the present -for carrying our design into effect, as an attempt at such a moment -would never be anticipated. As the brig was snugly laid to, there would -be no necessity of manoeuvring her until good weather, when, if we -succeeded in our attempt, we might liberate one, or perhaps two of the -men, to aid us in taking her into port. The main difficulty was the -great disproportion in our forces. There were only three of us, and in -the cabin there were nine. All the arms on board, too, were in their -possession, with the exception of a pair of small pistols which Peters -had concealed about his person, and the large seaman's knife which he -always wore in the waistband of his pantaloons. From certain -indications, too, such, for example, as there being no such thing as an -axe or a handspike lying in their customary places, we began to fear -that the mate had his suspicions, at least in regard to Peters, and -that he would let slip no opportunity of getting rid of him. It was -clear, indeed, that what we should determine to do could not be done -too soon. Still the odds were too much against us to allow of our -proceeding without the greatest caution.</p> - -<p>Peters proposed that he should go up on deck, and enter into -conversation with the watch (Allen), when he would be able to throw him -into the sea without trouble, and without making any disturbance, by -seizing a good opportunity; that Augustus and myself should then come -up, and endeavour to provide ourselves with some kind of weapons from -the deck; and that we should then make a rush together, and secure the -companion-way before any opposition could be offered. I objected to -this, because I could not believe that the mate (who was a cunning -fellow in all matters which did not affect his superstitious -prejudices) would suffer himself to be so easily entrapped. The very -fact of there being a watch on deck at all was sufficient proof that he -was upon the alert—it not being usual, except in vessels where -discipline is most rigidly enforced, to station a watch on deck when a -vessel is lying to in a gale of wind. As I address myself principally, -if not altogether, to persons who have never been to sea, it may be as -well to state the exact condition of a vessel under such circumstances. -Lying to, or, in sea-parlance "laying to," is a measure resorted to for -various purposes, and effected in various manners. In moderate weather, -it is frequently done with a view of merely bringing the vessel to a -stand-still, to wait for another vessel, or any similar object. If the -vessel which lies to is under full sail, the manoeuvre is usually -accomplished by throwing round some portion of her sails so as to let -the wind take them aback, when she becomes stationary. But we are now -speaking of lying to in a gale of wind. This is done when the wind is -ahead, and too violent to admit of carrying sail without danger of -capsizing; and sometimes even when the wind is fair, but the sea too -heavy for the vessel to be put before it. If a vessel be suffered to -scud before the wind in a very heavy sea, much damage is usually done -her by the shipping of water over her stern, and sometimes by the -violent plunges she makes forward. This manoeuvre, then, is seldom -resorted to in such case, unless through necessity. When the vessel is -in a leaky condition, she is often put before the wind even in the -heaviest seas; for, when lying to, her seams are sure to be greatly -opened by her violent straining, and it is not so much the case when -scudding. Often, too, it becomes necessary to scud a vessel, either -when the blast is so exceedingly furious as to tear in pieces the sail -which is employed with a view of bringing her head to the wind, or -when, through the false modelling of the frame or other causes, this -main object cannot be effected.</p> - -<p>Vessels in a gale of wind are laid to in different manners, according -to their peculiar construction. Some lie to best under a foresail, and -this, I believe, is the sail most usually employed. Large square-rigged -vessels have sails for the express purpose, called storm-staysails. But -the jib is occasionally employed by itself—sometimes the jib and -foresail, or a double-reefed foresail, and not unfrequently the -after-sails, are made use of. Foretopsails are very often found to -answer the purpose better than any other species of sail. The Grampus -was generally laid to under a close-reefed foresail.</p> - -<p>When a vessel is to be laid to, her head is brought up to the wind just -so nearly as to fill the sail under which she lies, when hauled flat -aft, that is, when brought diagonally across the vessel. This being -done, the bows point within a few degrees of the direction from which -the wind issues, and the windward bow of course receives the shock of -the waves. In this situation a good vessel will ride out a very heavy -gale of wind without shipping a drop of water, and without any further -attention being requisite on the part of the crew. The helm is usually -lashed down, but this is altogether unnecessary (except on account of -the noise it makes when loose), for the rudder has no effect upon the -vessel when lying to. Indeed, the helm had far better be left loose -than lashed very fast, for the rudder is apt to be torn off by heavy -seas if there be no room for the helm to play. As long as the sail -holds, a well-modelled vessel will maintain her situation, and ride -every sea, as if instinct with life and reason. If the violence of the -wind, however, should tear the sail into pieces (a feat which it -requires a perfect hurricane to accomplish under ordinary -circumstances), there is then imminent danger. The vessel falls off -from the wind, and, coming broadside to the sea, is completely at its -mercy: the only resource in this case is to put her quickly before the -wind, letting her scud until some other sail can be set. Some vessels -will lie to under no sail whatever, but such are not to be trusted at -sea.</p> - -<p>But to return from this digression. It had never been customary with -the mate to have any watch on deck when lying to in a gale of wind, and -the fact that he had now one, coupled with the circumstance of the -missing axes and handspikes, fully convinced us that the crew were too -well on the watch to be taken by surprise in the manner Peters had -suggested. Something, however, was to be done, and that with as little -delay as practicable, for there could be no doubt that a suspicion -having been once entertained against Peters, he would be sacrificed -upon the earliest occasion, and one would certainly be either found or -made upon the breaking of the gale.</p> - -<p>Augustus now suggested that if Peters could contrive to remove, under -any pretext, the piece of chain-cable which lay over the trap in the -stateroom, we might possibly be able to come upon them unawares by -means of the hold; but a little reflection convinced us that the vessel -rolled and pitched too violently for any attempt of that nature.</p> - -<p>By good fortune I at length hit upon the idea of working upon the -superstitious terrors and guilty conscience of the mate. It will be -remembered that one of the crew, Hartman Rogers, had died during the -morning, having been attacked two days before with spasms after -drinking some spirits and water. Peters had expressed to us his opinion -that this man had been poisoned by the mate, and for this belief he had -reasons, so he said, which were incontrovertible, but which he could -not be prevailed upon to explain to us—this wayward refusal being only -in keeping with other points of his singular character. But whether or -not he had any better grounds for suspecting the mate than we had -ourselves, we were easily led to fall in with his suspicion, and -determined to act accordingly.</p> - -<p>Rogers had died about eleven in the forenoon, in violent convulsions; -and the corpse presented in a few minutes after death one of the most -horrid and loathsome spectacles I ever remember to have seen. The -stomach was swollen immensely, like that of a man who has been drowned -and lain under water for many weeks. The hands were in the same -condition, while the face was shrunken, shrivelled, and of a chalky -whiteness, except where relieved by two or three glaring red splotches, -like those occasioned by the erysipelas: one of these splotches -extended diagonally across the face, completely covering up an eye as -if with a band of red velvet. In this disgusting condition the body had -been brought up from the cabin at noon to be thrown overboard, when the -mate getting a glimpse of it (for he now saw it for the first time), -and being either touched with remorse for his crime or struck with -terror at so horrible a sight, ordered the men to sew the body up in -its hammock, and allow it the usual rites of sea-burial. Having given -these directions he went below, as if to avoid any further sight of his -victim. While preparations were making to obey his orders, the gale -came on with great fury, and the design was abandoned for the present. -The corpse, left to itself, was washed into the larboard scuppers, -where it still lay at the time of which I speak, floundering about with -the furious lurches of the brig.</p> - -<p>Having arranged our plan, we set about putting it in execution as -speedily as possible. Peters went upon deck, and, as he had -anticipated, was immediately accosted by Allen, who appeared to be -stationed more as a watch upon the forecastle than for any other -purpose. The fate of this villain, however, was speedily and silently -decided; for Peters, approaching him in a careless manner, as if about -to address him, seized him by the throat, and, before he could utter a -single cry, tossed him over the bulwarks. He then called to us, and we -came up. Our first precaution was to look about for something with -which to arm ourselves, and in doing this we had to proceed with great -care, for it was impossible to stand on deck an instant without holding -fast, and violent seas broke over the vessel at every plunge forward. -It was indispensable, too, that we should be quick in our operations, -for every minute we expected the mate to be up to set the pumps going, -as it was evident the brig must be taking in water very fast. After -searching about for some time, we could find nothing more fit for our -purpose than the two pump-handles, one of which Augustus took, and I -the other. Having secured these, we stripped off the shirt of the -corpse and dropped the body overboard. Peters and myself then went -below, leaving Augustus to watch upon deck, where he took his station -just where Allen had been placed, and with his back to the cabin -companion-way, so that, if any one of the mate's gang should come up, -he might suppose it was the watch.</p> - -<p>As soon as I got below I commenced disguising myself so as to represent -the corpse of Rogers. The shirt which we had taken from the body aided -us very much, for it was of a singular form and character, and easily -recognisable—a kind of smock, which the deceased wore over his other -clothing. It was a blue stockinett, with large white stripes running -across. Having put this on, I proceeded to equip myself with a false -stomach, in imitation of the horrible deformity of the swollen corpse. -This was soon effected by means of stuffing with some bedclothes. I -then gave the same appearance to my hands by drawing on a pair of white -woollen mittens, and filling them in with any kind of rags that offered -themselves. Peters then arranged my face, first rubbing it well over -with white chalk, and afterward splotching it with blood, which he took -from a cut in his finger. The streak across the eye was not forgotten, -and presented a most shocking appearance.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap8"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER VIII.</h3> -<br> - -<p>As I viewed myself in a fragment of looking-glass which hung up in the -cabin, and by the dim light of a kind of battle-lantern, I was so -impressed with a sense of vague awe at my appearance, and at the -recollection of the terrific reality which I was thus representing, -that I was seized with a violent tremour, and could scarcely summon -resolution to go on with my part. It was necessary, however, to act -with decision, and Peters and myself went upon deck.</p> - -<p>We there found everything safe, and, keeping close to the bulwarks, the -three of us crept to the cabin companion-way. It was only partially -closed, precautions having been taken to prevent its being suddenly -pushed to from without, by means of placing billets of wood on the -upper step so as to interfere with the shutting. We found no difficulty -in getting a full view of the interior of the cabin through the cracks -where the hinges were placed. It now proved to have been very fortunate -for us that we had not attempted to take them by surprise, for they -were evidently on the alert. Only one was asleep, and he lying just at -the foot of the companion-ladder, with a musket by his side. The rest -were seated on several mattresses, which had been taken from the berths -and thrown on the floor. They were engaged in earnest conversation; and -although they had been carousing, as appeared from two empty jugs, with -some tin tumblers which lay about, they were not as much intoxicated as -usual. All had knives, one or two of them pistols, and a great many -muskets were lying in a berth close at hand.</p> - -<p>We listened to their conversation for some time before we could make up -our minds how to act, having as yet resolved on nothing determinate, -except that we would attempt to paralyze their exertions, when we -should attack them, by means of the apparition of Rogers. They were -discussing their piratical plans, in which all we could hear distinctly -was, that they would unite with the crew of a schooner Hornet, and, if -possible, get the schooner herself into their possession preparatory to -some attempt on a large scale, the particulars of which could not be -made out by either of us.</p> - -<p>One of the men spoke of Peters, when the mate replied to him in a low -voice which could not be distinguished, and afterward added more -loudly, that "he could not understand his being so much forward with -the captain's brat in the forecastle, and he thought the sooner both of -them were overboard the better." To this no answer was made, but we -could easily perceive that the hint was well received by the whole -party, and more particularly by Jones. At this period I was excessively -agitated, the more so as I could see that neither Augustus nor Peters -could determine how to act. I made up my mind, however, to sell my life -as dearly as possible, and not to suffer myself to be overcome by any -feelings of trepidation.</p> - -<p>The tremendous noise made by the roaring of the wind in the rigging and -the washing of the sea over the deck prevented us from hearing what was -said except during momentary lulls. In one of these we all distinctly -heard the mate tell one of the men to "go forward, and order the d——d -lubbers to come into the cabin, where he could have an eye upon them, -for he wanted no such secret doings on board the brig." It was well for -us that the pitching of the vessel at this moment was so violent as to -prevent this order from being carried into instant execution. The cook -got up from his mattress to go for us, when a tremendous lurch, which I -thought would carry away the masts, threw him headlong against one of -the larboard stateroom doors, bursting it open, and creating a good -deal of other confusion. Luckily, neither of our party was thrown from -his position, and we had time to make a precipitate retreat to the -forecastle, and arrange a hurried plan of action before the messenger -made his appearance, or rather before he put his head out of the -companion-hatch, for he did not come on deck. From this station he -could not notice the absence of Allen, and he accordingly bawled out as -if to him, repeating the orders of the mate. Peters cried out, "Ay, -ay," in a disguised voice, and the cook immediately went below, without -entertaining a suspicion that all was not right.</p> - -<p>My two companions now proceeded boldly aft and down into the cabin, -Peters closing the door after him in the same manner he had found it. -The mate received them with feigned cordiality, and told Augustus that, -since he had behaved himself so well of late, he might take up his -quarters in the cabin, and be one of them for the future. He then -poured him out a tumbler half full of rum, and made him drink it. All -this I saw and heard, for I followed my friends to the cabin as soon as -the door was shut, and took up my old point of observation. I had -brought with me the two pump-handles, one of which I secured near the -companion-way, to be ready for use when required.</p> - -<p>I now steadied myself as well as possible so as to have a good view of -all that was passing within, and endeavoured to nerve myself to the -task of descending among the mutineers when Peters should make a signal -to me as agreed upon. Presently he contrived to turn the conversation -upon the bloody deeds of the mutiny, and, by degrees, led the men to -talk of the thousand superstitions which are so universally current -among seamen. I could not make out all that was said, but I could -plainly see the effects of the conversation in the countenances of -those present. The mate was evidently much agitated, and presently, -when some one mentioned the terrific appearance of Rogers's corpse, I -thought he was upon the point of swooning. Peters now asked him if he -did not think it would be better to have the body thrown overboard at -once, as it was too horrible a sight to see it floundering about in the -scuppers. At this the villain absolutely gasped for breath, and turned -his head slowly round upon his companions, as if imploring some one to -go up and perform the task. No one, however, stirred, and it was quite -evident that the whole party were wound up to the highest pitch of -nervous excitement. Peters now made me the signal. I immediately threw -open the door of the companion-way, and, descending without uttering a -syllable, stood erect in the midst of the party.</p> - -<p>The intense effect produced by this sudden apparition is not at all to -be wondered at when the various circumstances are taken into -consideration. Usually, in cases of a similar nature, there is left in -the mind of the spectator some glimmering of doubt as to the reality of -the vision before his eyes; a degree of hope, however feeble, that he -is the victim of chicanery, and that the apparition is not actually a -visitant from the world of shadows. It is not too much to say that such -remnants of doubt have been at the bottom of almost every such -visitation, and that the appalling horror which has sometimes been -brought about, is to be attributed, even in the cases most in point, -and where most suffering has been experienced, more to a kind of -anticipative horror, lest the apparition <i>might possibly be</i> real, than -to an unwavering belief in its reality. But, in the present instance, -it will be seen immediately, that in the minds of the mutineers there -was not even the shadow of a basis upon which to rest a doubt that the -apparition of Rogers was indeed a revivification of his disgusting -corpse, or at least its spiritual image. The isolated situation of the -brig, with its entire inaccessibility on account of the gale, confined -the apparently possible means of deception within such narrow and -definite limits, that they must have thought themselves enabled to -survey them all at a glance. They had now been at sea twenty-four days, -without holding more than a speaking communication with any vessel -whatever. The whole of the crew, too, at least all whom they had the -most remote reason for suspecting to be on board, were assembled in the -cabin, with the exception of Allen, the watch; and his gigantic stature -(he was six feet six inches high) was too familiar in their eyes to -permit the notion that he was the apparition before them to enter their -minds even for an instant. Add to these considerations the -awe-inspiring nature of the tempest, and that of the conversation -brought about by Peters; the deep impression which the loathsomeness of -the actual corpse had made in the morning upon the imaginations of the -men; the excellence of the imitation in my person; and the uncertain -and wavering light in which they beheld me, as the glare of the cabin -lantern, swinging violently to and fro, fell dubiously and fitfully -upon my figure, and there will be no reason to wonder that the -deception had even more than the entire effect which we had -anticipated. The mate sprang up from the mattress on which he was -lying, and, without uttering a syllable, fell back, stone dead, upon -the cabin floor, and was hurled to the leeward like a log by a heavy -roll of the brig. Of the remaining seven there were but three who had -at first any degree of presence of mind. The four others sat for some -time rooted apparently to the floor, the most pitiable objects of -horror and utter despair my eyes ever encountered. The only opposition -we experienced at all was from the cook, John Hunt, and Richard Parker; -but they made but a feeble and irresolute defence. The two former were -shot instantly by Peters, and I felled Parker with a blow on the head -from the pump-handle which I had brought with me. In the mean time -Augustus seized one of the muskets lying on the floor, and shot another -mutineer (—— Wilson) through the breast. There were now but three -remaining; but by this time they had become aroused from their -lethargy, and perhaps began to see that a deception had been practised -upon them, for they fought with great resolution and fury, and, but for -the immense muscular strength of Peters, might have ultimately got the -better of us. These three men were —— Jones, —— Greely, and Absalom -Hicks. Jones had thrown Augustus on the floor, stabbed him in several -places along the right arm, and would no doubt have soon despatched him -(as neither Peters nor myself could immediately get rid of our own -antagonists), had it not been for the timely aid of a friend upon whose -assistance we surely had never depended. This friend was no other than -Tiger. With a low growl he bounded into the cabin, at a most critical -moment for Augustus, and throwing himself upon Jones, pinned him to the -floor in an instant. My friend, however, was now too much injured to -render us any aid whatever, and I was so encumbered with my disguise -that I could do but little. The dog would not leave his hold upon the -throat of Jones—Peters, nevertheless, was far more than a match for -the two men who remained, and would, no doubt, have despatched them -sooner, had it not been for the narrow space in which he had to act, -and the tremendous lurches of the vessel. Presently he was enabled to -get hold of a heavy stool, several of which lay about the floor. With -this he beat out the brains of Greely as he was in the act of -discharging a musket at me, and immediately afterward a roll of the -brig throwing him in contact with Hicks, he seized him by the throat, -and, by dint of sheer strength, strangled him instantaneously. Thus, in -far less time than I have taken to tell it, we found ourselves masters -of the brig.</p> - -<p>The only person of our opponents who was left alive was Richard Parker. -This man, it will be remembered, I had knocked down with a blow from -the pump-handle at the commencement of the attack. He now lay -motionless by the door of the shattered stateroom; but, upon Peters -touching him with his foot, he spoke, and entreated for mercy. His head -was only slightly cut, and otherwise he had received no injury, having -been merely stunned by the blow. He now got up, and, for the present, -we secured his hands behind his back. The dog was still growling over -Jones; but, upon examination, we found him completely dead, the blood -issuing in a stream from a deep wound in the throat, inflicted, no -doubt, by the sharp teeth of the animal.</p> - -<p>It was now about one o'clock in the morning, and the wind was still -blowing tremendously. The brig evidently laboured much more than usual, -and it became absolutely necessary that something should be done with a -view of easing her in some measure. At almost every roll to leeward she -shipped a sea, several of which came partially down into the cabin -during our scuffle, the hatchway having been left open by myself when I -descended. The entire range of bulwarks to larboard had been swept -away, as well as the caboose, together with the jollyboat from the -counter. The creaking and working of the mainmast, too, gave indication -that it was nearly sprung. To make room for more stowage in the after -hold, the heel of this mast had been stepped between decks (a very -reprehensible practice, occasionally resorted to by ignorant -ship-builders), so that it was in imminent danger of working from its -step. But, to crown all our difficulties, we plummed the well, and -found no less than seven feet water.</p> - -<p>Leaving the bodies of the crew lying in the cabin, we got to work -immediately at the pumps—Parker, of course, being set at liberty to -assist us in the labour. Augustus's arm was bound up as well as we -could effect it, and he did what he could, but that was not much. -However, we found that we could just manage to keep the leak from -gaining upon us by having one pump constantly going. As there were only -four of us, this was severe labour; but we endeavoured to keep up our -spirits, and looked anxiously for daybreak, when we hoped to lighten -the brig by cutting away the mainmast.</p> - -<p>In this manner we passed a night of terrible anxiety and fatigue, and, -when the day at length broke, the gale had neither abated in the least, -nor were there any signs of its abating. We now dragged the bodies on -deck and threw them overboard. Our next care was to get rid of the -mainmast. The necessary preparations having been made, Peters cut away -at the mast (having found axes in the cabin), while the rest of us -stood by the stays and lanyards. As the brig gave a tremendous -lee-lurch, the word was given to cut away the weather-lanyards, which -being done, the whole mass of wood and rigging plunged into the sea, -clear of the brig, and without doing any material injury. We now found -that the vessel did not labour quite as much as before, but our -situation was still exceedingly precarious, and, in spite of the utmost -exertions, we could not gain upon the leak without the aid of both -pumps. The little assistance which Augustus could render us was not -really of any importance. To add to our distress, a heavy sea, striking -the brig to windward, threw her off several points from the wind, and, -before she could regain her position, another broke completely over -her, and hurled her full upon her beam-ends. The ballast now shifted in -a mass to leeward (the stowage had been knocking about perfectly at -random for some time), and for a few moments we thought nothing could -save us from capsizing. Presently, however, we partially righted; but -the ballast still retaining its place to larboard, we lay so much along -that it was useless to think of working the pumps, which indeed we -could not have done much longer in any case, as our hands were entirely -raw with the excessive labour we had undergone, and were bleeding in -the most horrible manner.</p> - -<p>Contrary to Parker's advice, we now proceeded to cut away the foremast, -and at length accomplished it after much difficulty, owing to the -position in which we lay. In going overboard the wreck took with it the -bowsprit, and left us a complete hulk.</p> - -<p>So far we had had reason to rejoice in the escape of our longboat, -which had received no damage from any of the huge seas which had come -on board. But we had not long to congratulate ourselves; for the -foremast having gone, and, of course, the foresail with it, by which -the brig had been steadied, every sea now made a complete breach over -us, and in five minutes our deck was swept from stem to stern, the -longboat and starboard bulwarks torn off, and even the windlass -shattered into fragments. It was, indeed, hardly possible for us to be -in a more pitiable condition.</p> - -<p>At noon there seemed to be some slight appearance of the gale's -abating, but in this we were sadly disappointed, for it only lulled for -a few minutes to blow with redoubled fury. About four in the afternoon -it was utterly impossible to stand up against the violence of the -blast; and, as the night closed in upon us, I had not a shadow of hope -that the vessel would hold together until morning.</p> - -<p>By midnight we had settled very deep in the water, which was now up to -the orlop deck. The rudder went soon afterward, the sea which tore it -away lifting the after portion of the brig entirely from the water, -against which she thumped in her descent with such a concussion as -would be occasioned by going ashore. We had all calculated that the -rudder would hold its own to the last, as it was unusually strong, -being rigged as I have never seen one rigged either before or since. -Down its main timber there ran a succession of stout iron hooks, and -others in the same manner down the stern-post. Through these hooks -there extended a very thick wrought-iron rod, the rudder being thus -held to the stern-post, and swinging freely on the rod. The tremendous -force of the sea which tore it off may be estimated by the fact, that -the hooks in the stern-post, which ran entirely through it, being -clinched on the inside, were drawn every one of them completely out of -the solid wood.</p> - -<p>We had scarcely time to draw breath after the violence of this shock, -when one of the most tremendous waves I had then ever known broke right -on board of us, sweeping the companion-way clear off, bursting in the -hatchways, and filling every inch of the vessel with water.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap9"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER IX.</h3> -<br> - -<p>Luckily, just before night, all four of us had lashed ourselves firmly -to the fragments of the windlass, lying in this manner as flat upon the -deck as possible. This precaution alone saved us from destruction. As -it was, we were all more or less stunned by the immense weight of water -which tumbled upon us, and which did not roll from above us until we -were nearly exhausted. As soon as I could recover breath, I called -aloud to my companions. Augustus alone replied, saying, "It is all over -with us, and may God have mercy upon our souls." By-and-by both the -others were enabled to speak, when they exhorted us to take courage, as -there was still hope; it being impossible, from the nature of the -cargo, that the brig could go down, and there being every chance that -the gale would blow over by the morning. These words inspired me with -new life; for, strange as it may seem, although it was obvious that a -vessel with a cargo of empty oil-casks would not sink, I had been -hitherto so confused in mind as to have overlooked this consideration -altogether; and the danger which I had for some time regarded as the -most imminent was that of foundering. As hope revived within me, I made -use of every opportunity to strengthen the lashings which held me to -the remains of the windlass, and in this occupation I soon discovered -that my companions were also busy. The night was as dark as it could -possibly be, and the horrible shrieking din and confusion which -surrounded us it is useless to attempt describing. Our deck lay level -with the sea, or rather we were encircled with a towering ridge of -foam, a portion of which swept over us every instant. It is not too -much to say that our heads were not fairly out of water more than one -second in three. Although we lay close together, no one of us could see -the other, or, indeed, any portion of the brig itself, upon which we -were so tempestuously hurled about. At intervals we called one to the -other, thus endeavouring to keep alive hope, and render consolation and -encouragement to such of us as stood most in need of it. The feeble -condition of Augustus made him an object of solicitude with us all; and -as, from the lacerated condition of his right arm, it must have been -impossible for him to secure his lashings with any degree of firmness, -we were in momentary expectation of finding that he had gone -overboard—yet to render him aid was a thing altogether out of the -question. Fortunately, his station was more secure than that of any of -the rest of us; for the upper part of his body lying just beneath a -portion of the shattered windlass, the seas, as they tumbled in upon -him, were greatly broken in their violence. In any other situation than -this (into which he had been accidentally thrown after having lashed -himself in a very exposed spot) he must inevitably have perished before -morning. Owing to the brig's lying so much along, we were all less -liable to be washed off than otherwise would have been the case. The -heel, as I have before stated, was to larboard, about one half of the -deck being constantly under water. The seas, therefore, which struck us -to starboard were much broken by the vessel's side, only reaching us in -fragments as we lay flat on our faces; while those which came from -larboard, being what are called back-water seas, and obtaining little -hold upon us on account of our posture, had not sufficient force to -drag us from our fastenings.</p> - -<p>In this frightful situation we lay until the day broke so as to show us -more fully the horrors which surrounded us. The brig was a mere log, -rolling about at the mercy of every wave; the gale was upon the -increase, if anything, blowing indeed a complete hurricane, and there -appeared to us no earthly prospect of deliverance. For several hours we -held on in silence, expecting every moment that our lashings would -either give way, that the remains of the windlass would go by the -board, or that some of the huge seas, which roared in every direction -around us and above us, would drive the hulk so far beneath the water -that we should be drowned before it could regain the surface. By the -mercy of God, however, we were preserved from these imminent dangers, -and about midday were cheered by the light of the blessed sun. Shortly -afterward we could perceive a sensible diminution in the force of the -wind, when, now for the first time since the latter part of the evening -before, Augustus spoke, asking Peters, who lay closest to him, if he -thought there was any possibility of our being saved. As no reply was -at first made to this question, we all concluded that the hybrid had -been drowned where he lay; but presently, to our great joy, he spoke, -although very feebly, saying that he was in great pain, being so cut by -the tightness of his lashings across the stomach, that he must either -find means of loosening them or perish, as it was impossible that he -could endure his misery much longer. This occasioned us great distress, -as it was altogether useless to think of aiding him in any manner while -the sea continued washing over us as it did. We exhorted him to bear -his sufferings with fortitude, and promised to seize the first -opportunity which should offer itself to relieve him. He replied that -it would soon be too late; that it would be all over with him before we -could help him; and then, after moaning for some minutes, lay silent, -when we concluded that he had perished.</p> - -<p>As the evening drew on, the sea had fallen so much that scarcely more -than one wave broke over the hulk from windward in the course of five -minutes, and the wind had abated a great deal, although still blowing a -severe gale. I had not heard any of my companions speak for hours, and -now called to Augustus. He replied, although very feebly, so that I -could not distinguish what he said. I then spoke to Peters and to -Parker, neither of whom returned any answer.</p> - -<p>Shortly after this period I fell into a state of partial insensibility, -during which the most pleasing images floated in my imagination; such -as green trees, waving meadows of ripe grain, processions of dancing -girls, troops of cavalry, and other phantasies. I now remember that, in -all which passed before my mind's eye, <i>motion</i> was a predominant idea. -Thus, I never fancied any stationary object, such as a house, a -mountain, or anything of that kind; but windmills, ships, large birds, -balloons, people on horseback, carriages driving furiously, and similar -moving objects, presented themselves in endless succession. When I -recovered from this state, the sun was, as near as I could guess, an -hour high. I had the greatest difficulty in bringing to recollection -the various circumstances connected with my situation, and for some -time remained firmly convinced that I was still in the hold of the -brig, near the box, and that the body of Parker was that of Tiger.</p> - -<p>When I at length completely came to my senses, I found that the wind -blew no more than a moderate breeze, and that the sea was comparatively -calm; so much so that it only washed over the brig amidships. My left -arm had broken loose from its lashings, and was much cut about the -elbow; my right was entirely benumbed, and the hand and wrist swollen -prodigiously by the pressure of the rope, which had worked from the -shoulder downward. I was also in great pain from another rope which -went about my waist, and had been drawn to an insufferable degree of -tightness. Looking round upon my companions, I saw that Peters still -lived, although a thick line was pulled so forcibly around his loins as -to give him the appearance of being cut nearly in two; as I stirred, he -made a feeble motion to me with his hand, pointing to the rope. -Augustus gave no indication of life whatever, and was bent nearly -double across a splinter of the windlass. Parker spoke to me when he -saw me moving, and asked me if I had not sufficient strength to release -him from his situation; saying, that if I would summon up what spirits -I could, and contrive to untie him, we might yet save our lives; but -that otherwise we must all perish. I told him to take courage, and I -would endeavour to free him. Feeling in my pantaloons' pocket, I got -hold of my penknife, and, after several ineffectual attempts, at length -succeeded in opening it. I then, with my left hand, managed to free my -right from its fastenings, and afterward cut the other ropes which held -me. Upon attempting, however, to move from my position, I found that my -legs failed me altogether, and that I could not get up; neither could I -move my right arm in any direction. Upon mentioning this to Parker, he -advised me to lie quiet for a few minutes, holding on to the windlass -with my left hand, so as to allow time for the blood to circulate. -Doing this, the numbness presently began to die away, so that I could -move first one of my legs, and then the other; and, shortly afterward, -I regained the partial use of my right arm. I now crawled with great -caution towards Parker, without getting on my legs, and soon cut loose -all the lashings about him, when, after a short delay, he also -recovered the partial use of his limbs. We now lost no time in getting -loose the rope from Peters. It had cut a deep gash through the -waistband of his woollen pantaloons, and through two shirts, and made -its way into his groin, from which the blood flowed out copiously as we -removed the cordage. No sooner had we removed it, however, than he -spoke, and seemed to experience instant relief—being able to move with -much greater ease than either Parker or myself—this was no doubt owing -to the discharge of blood.</p> - -<p>We had little hope that Augustus would recover, as he evinced no signs -of life; but, upon getting to him, we discovered that he had merely -swooned from loss of blood, the bandages we had placed around his -wounded arm having been torn off by the water; none of the ropes which -held him to the windlass were drawn sufficiently tight to occasion his -death. Having relieved him from the fastenings, and got him clear of -the broken wood about the windlass, we secured him in a dry place to -windward, with his head somewhat lower than his body, and all three of -us busied ourselves in chafing his limbs. In about half an hour he came -to himself, although it was not until the next morning that he gave -signs of recognising any of us, or had sufficient strength to speak. By -the time we had thus got clear of our lashings it was quite dark, and -it began to cloud up, so that we were again in the greatest agony lest -it should come on to blow hard, in which event nothing could have saved -us from perishing, exhausted as we were. By good fortune it continued -very moderate during the night, the sea subsiding every minute, which -gave us great hopes of ultimate preservation. A gentle breeze still -blew from the N. W., but the weather was not at all cold. Augustus was -lashed carefully to windward in such a manner as to prevent him from -slipping overboard with the rolls of the vessel, as he was still too -weak to hold on at all. For ourselves there was no such necessity. We -sat close together, supporting each other with the aid of the broken -ropes about the windlass, and devising methods of escape from our -frightful situation. We derived much comfort from taking off our -clothes and wringing the water from them. When we put them on after -this, they felt remarkably warm and pleasant, and served to invigorate -us in no little degree. We helped Augustus off with his, and wrung them -for him, when he experienced the same comfort.</p> - -<p>Our chief sufferings were now those of hunger and thirst, and, when we -looked forward to the means of relief in this respect, our hearts sunk -within us, and we were induced to regret that we had escaped the less -dreadful perils of the sea. We endeavoured, however, to console -ourselves with the hope of being speedily picked up by some vessel, and -encouraged each other to bear with fortitude the evils that might -happen.</p> - -<p>The morning of the fourteenth at length dawned, and the weather still -continued clear and pleasant, with a steady but very light breeze from -the N. W. The sea was now quite smooth, and as, from some cause which -we could not determine, the brig did not lie so much along as she had -done before, the deck was comparatively dry, and we could move about -with freedom. We had now been better than three entire days and nights -without either food or drink, and it became absolutely necessary that -we should make an attempt to get up something from below. As the brig -was completely full of water, we went to this work despondingly, and -with but little expectation of being able to obtain anything. We made a -kind of drag by driving some nails which we broke out from the remains -of the companion-hatch into two pieces of wood. Tying these across each -other, and fastening them to the end of a rope, we threw them into the -cabin, and dragged them to and fro, in the faint hope of being thus -able to entangle some article which might be of use to us for food, or -which might at least render us assistance in getting it. We spent the -greater part of the morning in this labour without effect, fishing up -nothing more than a few bedclothes, which were readily caught by the -nails. Indeed, our contrivance was so very clumsy, that any greater -success was hardly to be anticipated.</p> - -<p>We now tried the forecastle, but equally in vain, and were upon the -brink of despair, when Peters proposed that we should fasten a rope to -his body, and let him make an attempt to get up something by diving -into the cabin. This proposition we hailed with all the delight which -reviving hope could inspire. He proceeded immediately to strip off his -clothes with the exception of his pantaloons; and a strong rope was -then carefully fastened around his middle, being brought up over his -shoulders in such a manner that there was no possibility of its -slipping. The undertaking was one of great difficulty and danger; for, -as we could hardly expect to find much, if any provision in the cabin -itself, it was necessary that the diver, after letting himself down, -should make a turn to the right, and proceed under water a distance of -ten or twelve feet, in a narrow passage, to the storeroom, and return, -without drawing breath.</p> - -<p>Everything being ready, Peters now descended into the cabin, going down -the companion-ladder until the water reached his chin. He then plunged -in, head first, turning to the right as he plunged, and endeavouring to -make his way to the storeroom. In this first attempt, however, he was -altogether unsuccessful. In less than half a minute after his going -down we felt the rope jerked violently (the signal we had agreed upon -when he desired to be drawn up). We accordingly drew him up instantly, -but so incautiously as to bruise him badly against the ladder. He had -brought nothing with him, and had been unable to penetrate more than a -very little way into the passage, owing to the constant exertions he -found it necessary to make in order to keep himself from floating up -against the deck. Upon getting out he was very much exhausted, and had -to rest full fifteen minutes before he could again venture to descend.</p> - -<p>The second attempt met with even worse success; for he remained so long -under water without giving the signal, that, becoming alarmed for his -safety, we drew him out without it, and found that he was almost at the -last gasp, having, as he said, repeatedly jerked at the rope without -our feeling it. This was probably owing to a portion of it having -become entangled in the balustrade at the foot of the ladder. This -balustrade was, indeed, so much in the way, that we determined to -remove it, if possible, before proceeding with our design. As we had no -means of getting it away except by main force, we all descended into -the water as far as we could on the ladder, and, giving a pull against -it with our united strength, succeeded in breaking it down.</p> - -<p>The third attempt was equally unsuccessful with the two first, and it -now became evident that nothing could be done in this manner without -the aid of some weight with which the diver might steady himself, and -keep to the floor of the cabin while making his search. For a long time -we looked about in vain for something which might answer this purpose; -but at length, to our great joy, we discovered one of the -weather-forechains so loose that we had not the least difficulty in -wrenching it off. Having fastened this securely to one of his ancles, -Peters now made his fourth descent into the cabin, and this time -succeeded in making his way to the door of the steward's room. To his -inexpressible grief, however, he found it locked, and was obliged to -return without effecting an entrance, as, with the greatest exertion, -he could remain under water not more, at the utmost extent, than a -single minute. Our affairs now looked gloomy indeed, and neither -Augustus nor myself could refrain from bursting into tears, as we -thought of the host of difficulties which encompassed us, and the -slight probability which existed of our finally making an escape. But -this weakness was not of long duration. Throwing ourselves on our knees -to God, we implored his aid in the many dangers which beset us; and -arose with renewed hope and vigour to think what could yet be done by -mortal means towards accomplishing our deliverance.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap10"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER X.</h3> -<br> - -<p>Shortly afterward an incident occurred which I am induced to look upon -as more intensely productive of emotion, as far more replete with the -extremes first of delight and then of horror, than even any of the -thousand chances which afterward befell me in nine long years, crowded -with events of the most startling, and, in many cases, of the most -unconceived and unconceivable character. We were lying on the deck near -the companion-way, and debating the possibility of yet making our way -into the storeroom, when, looking towards Augustus, who lay fronting -myself, I perceived that he had become all at once deadly pale, and -that his lips were quivering in the most singular and unaccountable -manner. Greatly alarmed, I spoke to him, but he made me no reply, and I -was beginning to think that he was suddenly taken ill, when I took -notice of his eyes, which were glaring apparently at some object behind -me. I turned my head, and shall never forget the ecstatic joy which -thrilled through every particle of my frame, when I perceived a large -brig bearing down upon us, and not more than a couple of miles off. I -sprung to my feet as if a musket bullet had suddenly struck me to the -heart; and, stretching out my arms in the direction of the vessel, -stood in this manner, motionless, and unable to articulate a syllable. -Peters and Parker were equally affected, although in different ways. -The former danced about the deck like a madman, uttering the most -extravagant rhodomontades, intermingled with howls and imprecations, -while the latter burst into tears, and continued for many minutes -weeping like a child.</p> - -<p>The vessel in sight was a large hermaphrodite brig, of a Dutch build, -and painted black, with a tawdry gilt figurehead. She had evidently -seen a good deal of rough weather, and, we supposed, had suffered much -in the gale which had proved so disastrous to ourselves; for her -foretopmast was gone, and some of her starboard bulwarks. When we first -saw her, she was, as I have already said, about two miles off and to -windward, bearing down upon us. The breeze was very gentle, and what -astonished us chiefly was, that she had no other sails set than her -foresail and mainsail, with a flying jib—of course she came down but -slowly, and our impatience amounted nearly to phrensy. The awkward -manner in which she steered, too, was remarked by all of us, even -excited as we were. She yawed about so considerably, that once or twice -we thought it impossible she could see us, or imagined that, having -seen us, and discovered no person on board, she was about to tack and -make off in another direction. Upon each of these occasions we screamed -and shouted at the top of our voices, when the stranger would appear to -change for a moment her intention, and again hold on towards us—this -singular conduct being repeated two or three times, so that at last we -could think of no other manner of accounting for it than by supposing -the helmsman to be in liquor.</p> - -<p>No person was seen upon her decks until she arrived within about a -quarter of a mile of us. We then saw three seamen, whom by their dress -we took to be Hollanders. Two of these were lying on some old sails -near the forecastle, and the third, who appeared to be looking at us -with great curiosity, was leaning over the starboard bow near the -bowsprit. This last was a stout and tall man, with a very dark skin. He -seemed by his manner to be encouraging us to have patience, nodding to -us in a cheerful although rather odd way, and smiling constantly so as -to display a set of the most brilliantly white teeth. As his vessel -drew nearer, we saw a red flannel cap which he had on fall from his -head into the water; but of this he took little or no notice, -continuing his odd smiles and gesticulations. I relate these things and -circumstances minutely, and I relate them, it must be understood, -precisely as they <i>appeared</i> to us.</p> - -<p>The brig came on slowly, and now more steadily than before, and—I -cannot speak calmly of this event—our hearts leaped up wildly within -us, and we poured out our whole souls in shouts and thanksgiving to God -for the complete, unexpected, and glorious deliverance that was so -palpably at hand. Of a sudden, and all at once, there came wafted over -the ocean from the strange vessel (which was now close upon us) a -smell, a stench, such as the whole world has no name for—no conception -of—hellish—utterly suffocating—insufferable, inconceivable. I gasped -for breath, and, turning to my companions, perceived that they were -paler than marble. But we had now no time left for question or -surmise—the brig was within fifty feet of us, and it seemed to be her -intention to run under our counter, that we might board her without her -putting out a boat. We rushed aft, when, suddenly, a wide yaw threw her -off full five or six points from the course she had been running, and, -as she passed under our stern at the distance of about twenty feet, we -had a full view of her decks. Shall I ever forget the triple horror of -that spectacle? Twenty-five or thirty human bodies, among whom were -several females, lay scattered about between the counter and the -galley, in the last and most loathsome state of putrefaction! We -plainly saw that not a soul lived in that fated vessel! Yet we could -not help shouting to the dead for help! Yes, long and loudly did we -beg, in the agony of the moment, that those silent and disgusting -images would stay for us, would not abandon us to become like them, -would receive us among their goodly company! We were raving with horror -and despair—thoroughly mad through the anguish of our grievous -disappointment.</p> - -<p>As our first loud yell of terror broke forth, it was replied to by -something, from near the bowsprit of the stranger, so closely -resembling the scream of a human voice that the nicest ear might have -been startled and deceived. At this instant another sudden yaw brought -the region of the forecastle for a moment into view, and we beheld at -once the origin of the sound. We saw the tall stout figure still -leaning on the bulwark, and still nodding his head to and fro, but his -face was now turned from us so that we could not behold it. His arms -were extended over the rail, and the palms of his hands fell outward. -His knees were lodged upon a stout rope, tightly stretched, and -reaching from the heel of the bowsprit to a cathead. On his back, from -which a portion of the shirt had been torn, leaving it bare, there sat -a huge seagull, busily gorging itself with the horrible flesh, its bill -and talons deep buried, and its white plumage spattered all over with -blood. As the brig moved further round so as to bring us close in view, -the bird, with much apparent difficulty, drew out its crimsoned head, -and, after eying us for a moment as if stupified, arose lazily from the -body upon which it had been feasting, and, flying directly above our -deck, hovered there a while with a portion of clotted and liver-like -substance in its beak. The horrid morsel dropped at length with a -sullen splash immediately at the feet of Parker. May God forgive me, -but now, for the first time, there flashed through my mind a thought, a -thought which I will not mention, and I felt myself making a step -towards the ensanguined spot. I looked upward, and the eyes of Augustus -met my own with a degree of intense and eager meaning which immediately -brought me to my senses. I sprang forward quickly, and, with a deep -shudder, threw the frightful thing into the sea.</p> - -<p>The body from which it had been taken, resting as it did upon the rope, -had been easily swayed to and fro by the exertions of the carnivorous -bird, and it was this motion which had at first impressed us with the -belief of its being alive. As the gull relieved it of its weight, it -swung round and fell partially over, so that the face was fully -discovered. Never, surely, was any object so terribly full of awe! The -eyes were gone, and the whole flesh around the mouth, leaving the teeth -utterly naked. This, then, was the smile which had cheered us on to -hope! this the—but I forbear. The brig, as I have already told, passed -under our stern, and made its way slowly but steadily to leeward. With -her and with her terrible crew went all our gay visions of deliverance -and joy. Deliberately as she went by, we might possibly have found -means of boarding her, had not our sudden disappointment, and the -appalling nature of the discovery which accompanied it, laid entirely -prostrate every active faculty of mind and body. We had seen and felt, -but we could neither think nor act, until, alas, too late. How much our -intellects had been weakened by this incident may be estimated by the -fact, that, when the vessel had proceeded so far that we could perceive -no more than the half of her hull, the proposition was seriously -entertained of attempting to overtake her by swimming!</p> - -<p>I have, since this period, vainly endeavoured to obtain some clew to -the hideous uncertainty which enveloped the fate of the stranger. Her -build and general appearance, as I have before stated, led us to the -belief that she was a Dutch trader, and the dresses of the crew also -sustained this opinion. We might have easily seen the name upon her -stern, and, indeed, taken other observations which would have guided us -in making out her character; but the intense excitement of the moment -blinded us to everything of that nature. From the saffron-like hue of -such of the corpses as were not entirely decayed, we concluded that the -whole of her company had perished by the yellow fever, or some other -virulent disease of the same fearful kind. If such were the case (and I -know not what else to imagine), death, to judge from the positions of -the bodies, must have come upon them in a manner awfully sudden and -overwhelming, in a way totally distinct from that which generally -characterizes even the most deadly pestilences with which mankind are -acquainted. It is possible, indeed, that poison, accidentally -introduced into some of their sea-stores, may have brought about the -disaster; or that the eating some unknown venomous species of fish, or -other marine animal, or oceanic bird, might have induced it—but it is -utterly useless to form conjectures where all is involved, and will, no -doubt, remain for ever involved, in the most appalling and unfathomable -mystery.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap11"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XI.</h3> -<br> - -<p>We spent the remainder of the day in a condition of stupid lethargy, -gazing after the retreating vessel until the darkness, hiding her from -our sight, recalled us in some measure to our senses. The pangs of -hunger and thirst then returned, absorbing all other cares and -considerations. Nothing, however, could be done until the morning, and, -securing ourselves as well as possible, we endeavoured to snatch a -little repose. In this I succeeded beyond my expectation, sleeping -until my companions, who had not been so fortunate, aroused me at -daybreak to renew our attempts at getting up provision from the hull.</p> - -<p>It was now a dead calm, with the sea as smooth as I have ever known -it—the weather warm and pleasant. The brig was out of sight. We -commenced our operations by wrenching off, with some trouble, another -of the forechains; and having fastened both to Peters's feet, he again -made an endeavour to reach the door of the storeroom, thinking it -possible that he might be able to force it open, provided he could get -at it in sufficient time; and this he hoped to do, as the hulk lay much -more steadily than before.</p> - -<p>He succeeded very quickly in reaching the door, when, loosening one of -the chains from his ankle, he made every exertion to force a passage -with it, but in vain, the framework of the room being far stronger than -was anticipated. He was quite exhausted with his long stay under water, -and it became absolutely necessary that some other one of us should -take his place. For this service Parker immediately volunteered; but, -after making three ineffectual efforts, found that he could never even -succeed in getting near the door. The condition of Augustus's wounded -arm rendered it useless for him to attempt going down, as he would be -unable to force the room open should he reach it, and it accordingly -now devolved upon me to exert myself for our common deliverance.</p> - -<p>Peters had left one of the chains in the passage, and I found, upon -plunging in, that I had not sufficient ballast to keep me firmly down. -I determined, therefore, to attempt no more, in my first effort, than -merely to recover the other chain. In groping along the floor of the -passage for this I felt a hard substance, which I immediately grasped, -not having time to ascertain what it was, but returning and ascending -instantly to the surface. The prize proved to be a bottle, and our joy -may be conceived when I say that it was found to be full of Port wine. -Giving thanks to God for this timely and cheering assistance, we -immediately drew the cork with my penknife, and, each taking a moderate -sup, felt the most indescribable comfort from the warmth, strength, and -spirits with which it inspired us. We then carefully recorked the -bottle, and, by means of a handkerchief, swung it in such a manner that -there was no possibility of its getting broken.</p> - -<p>Having rested a while after this fortunate discovery, I again -descended, and now recovered the chain, with which I instantly came up. -I then fastened it on and went down for the third time, when I became -fully satisfied that no exertions whatever, in that situation, would -enable me to force open the door of the storeroom. I therefore returned -in despair.</p> - -<p>There seemed now to be no longer any room for hope, and I could -perceive in the countenances of my companions that they had made up -their minds to perish. The wine had evidently produced in them a -species of delirium, which, perhaps, I had been prevented from feeling -by the immersion I had undergone since drinking it. They talked -incoherently, and about matters unconnected with our condition, Peters -repeatedly asking me questions about Nantucket. Augustus, too, I -remember, approached me with a serious air, and requested me to lend -him a pocket-comb, as his hair was full of fish scales, and he wished -to get them out before going on shore. Parker appeared somewhat less -affected, and urged me to dive at random into the cabin, and bring up -any article which might come to hand. To this I consented, and, in the -first attempt, after staying under a full minute, brought up a small -leather trunk belonging to Captain Barnard. This was immediately opened -in the faint hope that it might contain something to eat or drink. We -found nothing, however, except a box of razors and two linen shirts. I -now went down again, and returned without any success. As my head came -above water I heard a crash on deck, and, upon getting up, saw that my -companions had ungratefully taken advantage of my absence to drink the -remainder of the wine, having let the bottle fall in the endeavour to -replace it before I saw them. I remonstrated with them on the -heartlessness of their conduct, when Augustus burst into tears. The -other two endeavoured to laugh the matter off as a joke, but I hope -never again to behold laughter of such a species: the distortion of -countenance was absolutely frightful. Indeed, it was apparent that the -stimulus, in the empty state of their stomachs, had taken instant and -violent effect, and that they were all exceedingly intoxicated. With -great difficulty I prevailed upon them to lie down, when they fell very -soon into a heavy slumber, accompanied with loud stertorous breathing.</p> - -<p>I now found myself, as it were, alone in the brig, and my reflections, -to be sure, were of the most fearful and gloomy nature. No prospect -offered itself to my view but a lingering death by famine, or, at the -best, by being overwhelmed in the first gale which should spring up, -for in our present exhausted condition we could have no hope of living -through another.</p> - -<p>The gnawing hunger which I now experienced was nearly insupportable, -and I felt myself capable of going to any lengths in order to appease -it. With my knife I cut off a small portion of the leather trunk, and -endeavoured to eat it, but found it utterly impossible to swallow a -single morsel, although I fancied that some little alleviation of my -suffering was obtained by chewing small pieces of it and spitting them -out. Towards night my companions awoke, one by one, each in an -indescribable state of weakness and horror, brought on by the wine, whose -fumes had now evaporated. They shook as if with a violent ague, and -uttered the most lamentable cries for water. Their condition affected -me in the most lively degree, at the same time causing me to rejoice in -the fortunate train of circumstances which had prevented me from -indulging in the wine, and consequently from sharing their melancholy -and most distressing sensations. Their conduct, however, gave me great -uneasiness and alarm; for it was evident that, unless some favourable -change took place, they could afford me no assistance in providing for -our common safety. I had not yet abandoned all idea of being able to -get up something from below; but the attempt could not possibly be -resumed until some one of them was sufficiently master of himself to -aid me by holding the end of the rope while I went down. Parker -appeared to be somewhat more in possession of his senses than the -others, and I endeavoured, by every means in my power, to arouse him. -Thinking that a plunge in the seawater might have a beneficial effect, -I contrived to fasten the end of a rope around his body, and then, -leading him to the companion-way (he remaining quite passive all the -while), pushed him in, and immediately drew him out. I had good reason -to congratulate myself upon having made this experiment; for he -appeared much revived and invigorated, and, upon getting out, asked me, -in a rational manner, why I had so served him. Having explained my -object, he expressed himself indebted to me, and said that he felt -greatly better from the immersion, afterward conversing sensibly upon -our situation. We then resolved to treat Augustus and Peters in the -same way, which we immediately did, when they both experienced much -benefit from the shock. This idea of sudden immersion had been -suggested to me by reading in some medical work the good effect of the -shower-bath in a case where the patient was suffering from <i>mania à -potu</i>.</p> - -<p>Finding that I could now trust my companions to hold the end of the -rope, I again made three or four plunges into the cabin, although it -was now quite dark, and a gentle but long swell from the northward -rendered the hulk somewhat unsteady. In the course of these attempts I -succeeded in bringing up two case-knives, a three-gallon jug, empty, -and a blanket, but nothing which could serve us for food. I continued -my efforts, after getting these articles, until I was completely -exhausted, but brought up nothing else. During the night Parker and -Peters occupied themselves by turns in the same manner; but nothing -coming to hand, we now gave up this attempt in despair, concluding that -we were exhausting ourselves in vain.</p> - -<p>We passed the remainder of this night in a state of the most intense -mental and bodily anguish that can possibly be imagined. The morning of -the sixteenth at length dawned, and we looked eagerly around the -horizon for relief, but to no purpose. The sea was still smooth, with -only a long swell from the northward, as on yesterday. This was the -sixth day since we had tasted either food or drink, with the exception -of the bottle of Port wine, and it was clear that we could hold out but -a very little while longer unless something could be obtained. I never -saw before, nor wish to see again, human beings so utterly emaciated as -Peters and Augustus. Had I met them on shore in their present condition -I should not have had the slightest suspicion that I had ever beheld -them. Their countenances were totally changed in character, so that I -could not bring myself to believe them really the same individuals with -whom I had been in company but a few days before. Parker, although -sadly reduced, and so feeble that he could not raise his head from his -bosom, was not so far gone as the other two. He suffered with great -patience, making no complaint, and endeavouring to inspire us with hope -in every manner he could devise. For myself, although at the -commencement of the voyage I had been in bad health, and was at all -times of a delicate constitution, I suffered less than any of us, being -much less reduced in frame, and retaining my powers of mind in a -surprising degree, while the rest were completely prostrated in -intellect, and seemed to be brought to a species of second childhood, -generally simpering in their expressions, with idiotic smiles, and -uttering the most absurd platitudes. At intervals, however, they would -appear to revive suddenly, as if inspired all at once with a -consciousness of their condition, when they would spring upon their -feet in a momentary flash of vigour, and speak, for a short period, of -their prospects, in a manner altogether rational, although full of the -most intense despair. It is possible, however, that my companions may -have entertained the same opinion of their own condition as I did of -mine, and that I may have unwittingly been guilty of the same -extravagances and imbecilities as themselves—this is a matter which -cannot be determined.</p> - -<p>About noon Parker declared that he saw land off the larboard quarter, -and it was with the utmost difficulty I could restrain him from -plunging into the sea with the view of swimming towards it. Peters and -Augustus took little notice of what he said, being apparently wrapped -up in moody contemplation. Upon looking in the direction pointed out I -could not perceive the faintest appearance of the shore—indeed, I was -too well aware that we were far from any land to indulge in a hope of -that nature. It was a long time, nevertheless, before I could convince -Parker of his mistake. He then burst into a flood of tears, weeping -like a child, with loud cries and sobs, for two or three hours, when, -becoming exhausted, he fell asleep.</p> - -<p>Peters and Augustus now made several ineffectual efforts to swallow -portions of the leather. I advised them to chew it and spit it out; but -they were too excessively debilitated to be able to follow my advice. I -continued to chew pieces of it at intervals, and found some relief from -so doing; my chief distress was for water, and I was only prevented -from taking a draught from the sea by remembering the horrible -consequences which thus have resulted to others who were similarly -situated with ourselves.</p> - -<p>The day wore on in this manner, when I suddenly discovered a sail to -the eastward, and on our larboard bow. She appeared to be a large ship, -and was coming nearly athwart us, being probably twelve or fifteen -miles distant. None of my companions had as yet discovered her, and I -forbore to tell them of her for the present, lest we might again be -disappointed of relief. At length, upon her getting nearer, I saw -distinctly that she was heading immediately for us, with her light -sails filled. I could now contain myself no longer, and pointed her out -to my fellow-sufferers. They immediately sprang to their feet, again -indulging in the most extravagant demonstrations of joy, weeping, -laughing in an idiotic manner, jumping, stamping upon the deck, tearing -their hair, and praying and cursing by turns. I was so affected by -their conduct, as well as by what I now considered a sure prospect of -deliverance, that I could not refrain from joining in with their -madness, and gave way to the impulses of my gratitude and ecstasy by -lying and rolling on the deck, clapping my hands, shouting, and other -similar acts, until I was suddenly called to my recollection, and once -more to the extreme of human misery and despair, by perceiving the ship -all at once with her stern fully presented towards us, and steering in -a direction nearly opposite to that in which I had at first perceived her.</p> - -<p>It was some time before I could induce my poor companions to believe -that this sad reverse in our prospects had actually taken place. They -replied to all my assertions with a stare and a gesture implying that -they were not to be deceived by such misrepresentations. The conduct of -Augustus most sensibly affected me. In spite of all I could say or do -to the contrary, he persisted in saying that the ship was rapidly -nearing us, and in making preparations to go on board of her. Some -seaweed floating by the brig, he maintained that it was the ship's -boat, and endeavoured to throw himself upon it, howling and shrieking -in the most heartrending manner, when I forcibly restrained him from -thus casting himself into the sea.</p> - -<p>Having become in some degree pacified, we continued to watch the ship -until we finally lost sight of her, the weather becoming hazy, with a -light breeze springing up. As soon as she was entirely gone, Parker -turned suddenly towards me with an expression of countenance which made -me shudder. There was about him an air of self-possession which I had -not noticed in him until now, and before he opened his lips my heart -told me what he would say. He proposed, in a few words, that one of us -should die to preserve the existence of the others.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap12"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XII.</h3> -<br> - -<p>I had, for some time past, dwelt upon the prospect of our being reduced -to this last horrible extremity, and had secretly made up my mind to -suffer death in any shape or under any circumstances rather than resort -to such a course. Nor was this resolution in any degree weakened by the -present intensity of hunger under which I laboured. The proposition had -not been heard by either Peters or Augustus. I therefore took Parker -aside; and mentally praying to God for power to dissuade him from the -horrible purpose he entertained, I expostulated with him for a long -time and in the most supplicating manner, begging him in the name of -everything which he held sacred, and urging him by every species of -argument which the extremity of the case suggested, to abandon the -idea, and not to mention it to either of the other two.</p> - -<p>He heard all I said without attempting to controvert any of my -arguments, and I had begun to hope that he would be prevailed upon to -do as I desired. But when I had ceased speaking, he said that he knew -very well all I had said was true, and that to resort to such a course -was the most horrible alternative which could enter into the mind of -man; but that he had now held out as long as human nature could be -sustained; that it was unnecessary for all to perish, when, by the -death of one, it was possible, and even probable, that the rest might -be finally preserved; adding that I might save myself the trouble of -trying to turn him from his purpose, his mind having been thoroughly -made up on the subject even before the appearance of the ship, and that -only her heaving in sight had prevented him from mentioning his -intention at an earlier period.</p> - -<p>I now begged him, if he would not be prevailed upon to abandon his -design, at least to defer it for another day, when some vessel might -come to our relief; again reiterating every argument I could devise, -and which I thought likely to have influence with one of his rough -nature. He said, in reply, that he had not spoken until the very last -possible moment; that he could exist no longer without sustenance of -some kind; and that therefore in another day his suggestion would be -too late, as regarded himself at least.</p> - -<p>Finding that he was not to be moved by anything I could say in a mild -tone, I now assumed a different demeanour, and told him that he must be -aware I had suffered less than any of us from our calamities; that my -health and strength, consequently, were at that moment far better than -his own, or than that either of Peters or Augustus; in short, that I -was in a condition to have my own way by force if I found it necessary; -and that, if he attempted in any manner to acquaint the others with his -bloody and cannibal designs, I would not hesitate to throw him into the -sea. Upon this he immediately seized me by the throat, and drawing a -knife, made several ineffectual efforts to stab me in the stomach; an -atrocity which his excessive debility alone prevented him from -accomplishing. In the mean time, being roused to a high pitch of anger, -I forced him to the vessel's side, with the full intention of throwing -him overboard. He was saved from this fate, however, by the -interference of Peters, who now approached and separated us, asking the -cause of the disturbance. This Parker told before I could find means in -any manner to prevent him.</p> - -<p>The effect of his words was even more terrible than what I had -anticipated. Both Augustus and Peters, who, it seems, had long secretly -entertained the same fearful idea which Parker had been merely the -first to broach, joined with him in his design, and insisted upon its -being immediately carried into effect. I had calculated that one at -least of the two former would be found still possessed of sufficient -strength of mind to side with myself in resisting any attempt to -execute so dreadful a purpose; and, with the aid of either one of them, -I had no fear of being able to prevent its accomplishment. Being -disappointed in this expectation, it became absolutely necessary that I -should attend to my own safety, as a further resistance on my part -might possibly be considered by men in their frightful condition a -sufficient excuse for refusing me fair play in the tragedy that I knew -would speedily be enacted.</p> - -<p>I now told them I was willing to submit to the proposal, merely -requesting a delay of about one hour, in order that the fog which had -gathered around us might have an opportunity of lifting, when it was -possible that the ship we had seen might be again in sight. After great -difficulty I obtained from them a promise to wait thus long; and, as I -had anticipated (a breeze rapidly coming in), the fog lifted before the -hour had expired, when, no vessel appearing in sight, we prepared to -draw lots.</p> - -<p>It is with extreme reluctance that I dwell upon the appalling scene -which ensued; a scene which, with its minutest details, no after events -have been able to efface in the slightest degree from my memory, and -whose stern recollection will imbitter every future moment of my -existence. Let me run over this portion of my narrative with as much -haste as the nature of the events to be spoken of will permit. The only -method we could devise for the terrific lottery, in which we were to -take each a chance, was that of drawing straws. Small splinters of wood -were made to answer our purpose, and it was agreed that I should be the -holder. I retired to one end of the hulk, while my poor companions -silently took up their station in the other with their backs turned -towards me. The bitterest anxiety which I endured at any period of this -fearful drama was while I occupied myself in the arrangement of the -lots. There are few conditions into which man can possibly fall where -he will not feel a deep interest in the preservation of his existence; -an interest momentarily increasing with the frailness of the tenure by -which that existence may be held. But now that the silent, definite, -and stern nature of the business in which I was engaged (so different -from the tumultuous dangers of the storm or the gradually approaching -horrors of famine) allowed me to reflect on the few chances I had of -escaping the most appalling of deaths—a death for the most appalling -of purposes—every particle of that energy which had so long buoyed me -up departed like feathers before the wind, leaving me a helpless prey -to the most abject and pitiable terror. I could not, at first, even -summon up sufficient strength to tear and fit together the small -splinters of wood, my fingers absolutely refusing their office, and my -knees knocking violently against each other. My mind ran over rapidly a -thousand absurd projects by which to avoid becoming a partner in the -awful speculation. I thought of falling on my knees to my companions, -and entreating them to let me escape this necessity; of suddenly -rushing upon them, and, by putting one of them to death, of rendering -the decision by lot useless—in short, of everything but of going -through with the matter I had in hand. At last, after wasting a long -time in this imbecile conduct, I was recalled to my senses by the voice -of Parker, who urged me to relieve them at once from the terrible -anxiety they were enduring. Even then I could not bring myself to -arrange the splinters upon the spot, but thought over every species of -finesse by which I could trick some one of my fellow-sufferers to draw -the short straw, as it had been agreed that whoever drew the shortest -of four splinters from my hand was to die for the preservation of the -rest. Before any one condemn me for this apparent heartlessness, let -him be placed in a situation precisely similar to my own.</p> - -<p>At length delay was no longer possible, and, with a heart almost -bursting from my bosom, I advanced to the region of the forecastle, -where my companions were awaiting me. I held out my hand with the -splinters, and Peters immediately drew. He was free—<i>his</i>, at least, -was not the shortest; and there was now another chance against my -escape. I summoned up all my strength, and passed the lots to Augustus. -He also drew immediately, and he also was free; and now, whether I -should live or die, the chances were no more than precisely even. At -this moment all the fierceness of the tiger possessed my bosom, and I -felt towards my poor fellow-creature, Parker, the most intense, the -most diabolical hatred. But the feeling did not last; and, at length, -with a convulsive shudder and closed eyes, I held out the two remaining -splinters towards him. It was full five minutes before he could summon -resolution to draw, during which period of heartrending suspense I -never once opened my eyes. Presently one of the two lots was quickly -drawn from my hand. The decision was then over, yet I knew not whether -it was for me or against me. No one spoke, and still I dared not -satisfy myself by looking at the splinter I held. Peters at length took -me by the hand, and I forced myself to look up, when I immediately saw -by the countenance of Parker that I was safe, and that he it was who -had been doomed to suffer. Gasping for breath, I fell senseless to the -deck.</p> - -<p>I recovered from my swoon in time to behold the consummation of the -tragedy in the death of him who had been chiefly instrumental in -bringing it about. He made no resistance whatever, and was stabbed in -the back by Peters, when he fell instantly dead. I must not dwell upon -the fearful repast which immediately ensued. Such things may be -imagined, but words have no power to impress the mind with the -exquisite horror of their reality. Let it suffice to say that, having -in some measure appeased the raging thirst which consumed us by the -blood of the victim, and having by common consent taken off the hands, -feet, and head, throwing them, together with the entrails, into the -sea, we devoured the rest of the body, piecemeal, during the four ever -memorable days of the seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth, and -twentieth of the month.</p> - -<p>On the nineteenth, there coming on a smart shower which lasted fifteen -or twenty minutes, we contrived to catch some water by means of a sheet -which had been fished up from the cabin by our drag just after the -gale. The quantity we took in all did not amount to more than half a -gallon; but even this scanty allowance supplied us with comparative -strength and hope.</p> - -<p>On the twenty-first we were again reduced to the last necessity. The -weather still remained warm and pleasant, with occasional fogs and -light breezes, most usually from N. to W.</p> - -<p>On the twenty-second, as we were sitting close huddled together, -gloomily revolving over our lamentable condition, there flashed through -my mind all at once an idea which inspired me with a bright gleam of -hope. I remembered that, when the foremast had been cut away, Peters, -being in the windward chains, passed one of the axes into my hand, -requesting me to put it, if possible, in a place of security, and that -a few minutes before the last heavy sea struck the brig and filled her -I had taken this axe into the forecastle, and laid it in one of the -larboard berths. I now thought it possible that, by getting at this -axe, we might cut through the deck over the storeroom, and thus readily -supply ourselves with provisions.</p> - -<p>When I communicated this project to my companions, they uttered a -feeble shout of joy, and we all proceeded forthwith to the forecastle. -The difficulty of descending here was greater than that of going down -in the cabin, the opening being much smaller, for it will be remembered -that the whole framework about the cabin companion-hatch had been -carried away, whereas the forecastle-way, being a simple hatch of only -about three feet square, had remained uninjured. I did not hesitate, -however, to attempt the descent; and, a rope being fastened round my -body as before, I plunged boldly in, feet foremost, made my way quickly -to the berth, and, at the very first attempt, brought up the axe. It -was hailed with the most ecstatic joy and triumph, and the ease with -which it had been obtained was regarded as an omen of our ultimate -preservation.</p> - -<p>We now commenced cutting at the deck with all the energy of rekindled -hope, Peters and myself taking the axe by turns, Augustus's wounded arm -not permitting him to aid us in any degree. As we were still so feeble -as to be scarcely able to stand unsupported, and could consequently -work but a minute or two without resting, it soon became evident that -many long hours would be requisite to accomplish our task—that is, to -cut an opening sufficiently large to admit of a free access to the -storeroom. This consideration, however, did not discourage us; and, -working all night by the light of the moon, we succeeded in effecting -our purpose by daybreak on the morning of the twenty-third.</p> - -<p>Peters now volunteered to go down; and, having made all arrangements as -before, he descended, and soon returned, bringing up with him a small -jar, which, to our great joy, proved to be full of olives. Having -shared these among us, and devoured them with the greatest avidity, we -proceeded to let him down again. This time he succeeded beyond our -utmost expectations, returning instantly with a large ham and a bottle -of Madeira wine. Of the latter we each took a moderate sup, having -learned by experience the pernicious consequences of indulging too -freely. The ham, except about two pounds near the bone, was not in a -condition to be eaten, having been entirely spoiled by the salt water. -The sound part was divided among us. Peters and Augustus, not being -able to restrain their appetite, swallowed theirs upon the instant; but -I was more cautious, and ate but a small portion of mine, dreading the -thirst which I knew would ensue. We now rested a while from our -labours, which had been intolerably severe.</p> - -<p>By noon, feeling somewhat strengthened and refreshed, we again renewed -our attempt at getting up provision, Peters and myself going down -alternately, and always with more or less success, until sundown. -During this interval we had the good fortune to bring up, altogether, -four more small jars of olives, another ham, a carboy containing nearly -three gallons of excellent Cape Madeira wine, and, what gave us still -more delight, a small tortoise of the Gallipago breed, several of which -had been taken on board by Captain Barnard, as the Grampus was leaving -port, from the schooner Mary Pitts, just returned from a sealing voyage -in the Pacific.</p> - -<p>In a subsequent portion of this narrative I shall have frequent -occasion to mention this species of tortoise. It is found principally, -as most of my readers may know, in the group of islands called the -Gallipagos, which, indeed, derive their name from the animal—the -Spanish word Gallipago meaning a fresh-water terapin. From the -peculiarity of their shape and action they have been sometimes called -the elephant tortoise. They are frequently found of an enormous size. I -have myself seen several which would weigh from twelve to fifteen -hundred pounds, although I do not remember that any navigator speaks of -having seen them weighing more than eight hundred. Their appearance is -singular, and even disgusting. Their steps are very slow, measured, and -heavy, their bodies being carried about a foot from the ground. Their -neck is long, and exceedingly slender; from eighteen inches to two feet -is a very common length, and I killed one, where the distance from the -shoulder to the extremity of the head was no less than three feet ten -inches. The head has a striking resemblance to that of a serpent. They -can exist without food for an almost incredible length of time, -instances having been known where they have been thrown into the hold -of a vessel and lain two years without nourishment of any kind—being -as fat, and, in every respect, in as good order at the expiration of -the time as when they were first put in. In one particular these -extraordinary animals bear a resemblance to the dromedary, or camel of -the desert. In a bag at the root of the neck they carry with them a -constant supply of water. In some instances, upon killing them after a -full year's deprivation of all nourishment, as much as three gallons of -perfectly sweet and fresh water have been found in their bags. Their -food is chiefly wild parsley and celery, with purslain, sea-kelp, and -prickly pears, upon which latter vegetable they thrive wonderfully, a -great quantity of it being usually found on the hillsides near the -shore wherever the animal itself is discovered. They are excellent and -highly nutritious food, and have, no doubt, been the means of -preserving the lives of thousands of seamen employed in the -whale-fishery and other pursuits in the Pacific.</p> - -<p>The one which we had the good fortune to bring up from the storeroom -was not of a large size, weighing probably sixty-five or seventy -pounds. It was a female, and in excellent condition, being exceedingly -fat, and having more than a quart of limpid and sweet water in its bag. -This was indeed a treasure; and, falling on our knees with one accord, -we returned fervent thanks to God for so seasonable a relief.</p> - -<p>We had great difficulty in getting the animal up through the opening, -as its struggles were fierce and its strength prodigious. It was upon -the point of making its escape from Peters's grasp, and slipping back -into the water, when Augustus, throwing a rope with a slip-knot around -its throat, held it up in this manner until I jumped into the hole by -the side of Peters, and assisted him in lifting it out.</p> - -<p>The water we drew carefully from the bag into the jug, which, it will -be remembered, had been brought up before from the cabin. Having done -this, we broke off the neck of a bottle so as to form, with the cork, a -kind of glass, holding not quite half a gill. We then each drank one of -these measures full, and resolved to limit ourselves to this quantity -per day as long as it should hold out.</p> - -<p>During the last two or three days, the weather having been dry and -pleasant, the bedding we had obtained from the cabin, as well as our -clothing, had become thoroughly dry, so that we passed this night (that -of the twenty-third) in comparative comfort, enjoying a tranquil -repose, after having supped plentifully on olives and ham, with a small -allowance of the wine. Being afraid of losing some of our stores -overboard during the night, in the event of a breeze springing up, we -secured them as well as possible with cordage to the fragments of the -windlass. Our tortoise, which we were anxious to preserve alive as long -as we could, we threw on his back, and otherwise carefully fastened.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap13"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XIII.</h3> -<br> - -<p><i>July 24.</i> This morning saw us wonderfully recruited in spirits and -strength. Notwithstanding the perilous situation in which we were still -placed, ignorant of our position, although certainly at a great -distance from land, without more food than would last us for a -fortnight even with great care, almost entirely without water, and -floating about at the mercy of every wind and wave, on the merest wreck -in the world, still the infinitely more terrible distresses and dangers -from which we had so lately and so providentially been delivered caused -us to regard what we now endured as but little more than an ordinary -evil—so strictly comparative is either good or ill.</p> - -<p>At sunrise we were preparing to renew our attempts at getting up -something from the storeroom, when, a smart shower coming on, with some -lightning, we turned our attention to the catching of water by means of -the sheet we had used before for this purpose. We had no other means of -collecting the rain than by holding the sheet spread out with one of -the forechain-plates in the middle of it. The water, thus conducted to -the centre, was drained through into our jug. We had nearly filled it -in this manner, when, a heavy squall coming on from the northward, -obliged us to desist, as the hulk began once more to roll so violently -that we could no longer keep our feet. We now went forward, and, -lashing ourselves securely to the remnant of the windlass as before, -awaited the event with far more calmness than could have been -anticipated, or would have been imagined possible under the -circumstances. At noon the wind had freshened into a two-reef breeze, -and by night into a stiff gale, accompanied with a tremendously heavy -swell. Experience having taught us, however, the best method of -arranging our lashings, we weathered this dreary night in tolerable -security, although thoroughly drenched at almost every instant by the -sea, and in momentary dread of being washed off. Fortunately, the -weather was so warm as to render the water rather grateful than -otherwise.</p> - -<p><i>July 25.</i> This morning the gale had diminished to a mere ten-knot -breeze, and the sea had gone down with it so considerably that we were -able to keep ourselves dry upon the deck. To our great grief, however, -we found that two jars of our olives, as well as the whole of our ham, -had been washed overboard, in spite of the careful manner in which they -had been fastened. We determined not to kill the tortoise as yet, and -contented ourselves for the present with a breakfast on a few of the -olives, and a measure of water each, which latter we mixed, half and -half, with wine, finding great relief and strength from the mixture, -without the distressing intoxication which had ensued upon drinking the -Port. The sea was still far too rough for the renewal of our efforts at -getting up provision from the storeroom. Several articles, of no -importance to us in our present situation, floated up through the -opening during the day, and were immediately washed overboard. We also -now observed that the hulk lay more along than ever, so that we could -not stand an instant without lashing ourselves. On this account we -passed a gloomy and uncomfortable day. At noon the sun appeared to be -nearly vertical, and we had no doubt that we had been driven down by -the long succession of northward and northwesterly winds into the near -vicinity of the equator. Towards evening saw several sharks, and were -somewhat alarmed by the audacious manner in which an enormously large -one approached us. At one time, a lurch throwing the deck very far -beneath the water, the monster actually swam in upon us, floundering -for some moments just over the companion-hatch, and striking Peters -violently with his tail. A heavy sea at length hurled him overboard, -much to our relief. In moderate weather we might have easily captured him.</p> - -<p><i>July 26.</i> This morning, the wind having greatly abated, and the sea -not being very rough, we determined to renew our exertions in the -storeroom. After a great deal of hard labour during the whole day, we -found that nothing further was to be expected from this quarter, the -partitions of the room having been stove during the night, and its -contents swept into the hold. This discovery, as may be supposed, -filled us with despair.</p> - -<p><i>July 27.</i> The sea nearly smooth, with a light wind, and still from the -northward and westward. The sun coming out hotly in the afternoon, we -occupied ourselves in drying our clothes. Found great relief from -thirst, and much comfort otherwise, by bathing in the sea; in this, -however, we were forced to use great caution, being afraid of sharks, -several of which were seen swimming around the brig during the day.</p> - -<p><i>July 28.</i> Good weather still. The brig now began to lie along so -alarmingly that we feared she would eventually roll bottom up. Prepared -ourselves as well as we could for this emergency, lashing our tortoise, -water-jug, and two remaining jars of olives as far as possible over to -the windward, placing them outside the hull, below the main-chains. The -sea very smooth all day, with little or no wind.</p> - -<p><i>July 29.</i> A continuance of the same weather. Augustus's wounded arm -began to evince symptoms of mortification. He complained of drowsiness -and excessive thirst, but no acute pain. Nothing could be done for his -relief beyond rubbing his wounds with a little of the vinegar from the -olives, and from this no benefit seemed to be experienced. We did -everything in our power for his comfort, and trebled his allowance of -water.</p> - -<p><i>July 30.</i> An excessively hot day, with no wind. An enormous shark kept -close by the hulk during the whole of the forenoon. We made several -unsuccessful attempts to capture him by means of a noose. Augustus much -worse, and evidently sinking as much from want of proper nourishment as -from the effect of his wounds. He constantly prayed to be released from -his sufferings, wishing for nothing but death. This evening we ate the -last of our olives, and found the water in our jug so putrid that we -could not swallow it at all without the addition of wine. Determined to -kill our tortoise in the morning.</p> - -<p><i>July 31.</i> After a night of excessive anxiety and fatigue, owing to the -position of the hulk, we set about killing and cutting up our tortoise. -He proved to be much smaller than we had supposed, although in good -condition—the whole meat about him not amounting to more than ten -pounds. With a view of preserving a portion of this as long as -possible, we cut it into fine pieces, and filled with them our three -remaining olive-jars and the wine-bottle (all of which had been kept), -pouring in afterward the vinegar from the olives. In this manner we put -away about three pounds of the tortoise, intending not to touch it -until we had consumed the rest. We concluded to restrict ourselves to -about four ounces of the meat per day; the whole would thus last us -thirteen days. A brisk shower, with severe thunder and lightning, came -on about dusk, but lasted so short a time that we only succeeded in -catching about half a pint of water. The whole of this, by common -consent, was given to Augustus, who now appeared to be in the last -extremity. He drank the water from the sheet as we caught it (we -holding it above him as he lay so as to let it run into his mouth), for -we had now nothing left capable of holding water, unless we had chosen -to empty out our wine from the carboy, or the stale water from the jug. -Either of these expedients would have been resorted to had the shower lasted.</p> - -<p>The sufferer seemed to derive but little benefit from the draught. His -arm was completely black from the wrist to the shoulder, and his feet -were like ice. We expected every moment to see him breathe his last. He -was frightfully emaciated; so much so that, although he weighed a -hundred and twenty-seven pounds upon his leaving Nantucket, he now did -not weigh more than <i>forty or fifty at the farthest</i>. His eyes were -sunk far in his head, being scarcely perceptible, and the skin of his -cheeks hung so loosely as to prevent his masticating any food, or even -swallowing any liquid, without great difficulty.</p> - -<p><i>August 1.</i> A continuance of the same calm weather, with an -oppressively hot sun. Suffered exceedingly from thirst, the water in -the jug being absolutely putrid and swarming with vermin. We contrived, -nevertheless, to swallow a portion of it by mixing it with wine—our -thirst, however, was but little abated. We found more relief by bathing -in the sea, but could not avail ourselves of this expedient except at -long intervals, on account of the continual presence of sharks. We now -saw clearly that Augustus could not be saved; that he was evidently -dying. We could do nothing to relieve his sufferings, which appeared to -be great. About twelve o'clock he expired in strong convulsions, and -without having spoken for several hours. His death filled us with the -most gloomy forebodings, and had so great an effect upon our spirits -that we sat motionless by the corpse during the whole day, and never -addressed each other except in a whisper. It was not until some time -after dark that we took courage to get up and throw the body overboard. -It was then loathsome beyond expression, and so far decayed that, as -Peters attempted to lift it, an entire leg came off in his grasp. As -the mass of putrefaction slipped over the vessel's side into the water, -the glare of phosphoric light with which it was surrounded plainly -discovered to us seven or eight large sharks, the clashing of whose -horrible teeth, as their prey was torn to pieces among them, might have -been heard at the distance of a mile. We shrunk within ourselves in the -extremity of horror at the sound.</p> - -<p><i>August 2.</i> The same fearfully calm and hot weather. The dawn found us -in a state of pitiable dejection as well as bodily exhaustion. The -water in the jug was now absolutely useless, being a thick gelatinous -mass; nothing but frightful-looking worms mingled with slime. We threw -it out, and washed the jug well in the sea, afterward pouring a little -vinegar in it from our bottles of pickled tortoise. Our thirst could -now scarcely be endured, and we tried in vain to relieve it by wine, -which seemed only to add fuel to the flame, and excited us to a high -degree of intoxication. We afterward endeavoured to relieve our -sufferings by mixing the wine with seawater; but this instantly brought -about the most violent retchings, so that we never again attempted it. -During the whole day we anxiously sought an opportunity of bathing, but -to no purpose; for the hulk was now entirely besieged on all sides with -sharks—no doubt the identical monsters who had devoured our poor -companion on the evening before, and who were in momentary expectation -of another similar feast. This circumstance occasioned us the most -bitter regret, and filled us with the most depressing and melancholy -forebodings. We had experienced indescribable relief in bathing, and to -have this resource cut off in so frightful a manner was more than we -could bear. Nor, indeed, were we altogether free from the apprehension -of immediate danger, for the least slip or false movement would have -thrown us at once within reach of these voracious fish, who frequently -thrust themselves directly upon us, swimming up to leeward. No shouts -or exertions on our part seemed to alarm them. Even when one of the -largest was struck with an axe by Peters, and much wounded, he -persisted in his attempts to push in where we were. A cloud came up at -dusk, but, to our extreme anguish, passed over without discharging -itself. It is quite impossible to conceive our sufferings from thirst -at this period. We passed a sleepless night, both on this account and -through dread of the sharks.</p> - -<p><i>August 3.</i> No prospect of relief, and the brig lying still more and -more along, so that now we could not maintain a footing upon deck at -all. Busied ourselves in securing our wine and tortoise-meat, so that -we might not lose them in the event of our rolling over. Got out two -stout spikes from the forechains, and, by means of the axe, drove them -into the hull to windward within a couple of feet of the water; this -not being very far from the keel, as we were nearly upon our beam-ends. -To these spikes we now lashed our provisions, as being more secure than -their former position beneath the chains. Suffered great agony from -thirst during the whole day—no chance of bathing on account of the -sharks, which never left us for a moment. Found it impossible to sleep.</p> - -<p><i>August 4.</i> A little before daybreak we perceived that the hulk was -heeling over, and aroused ourselves to prevent being thrown off by the -movement. At first the roll was slow and gradual, and we contrived to -clamber over to windward very well, having taken the precaution to -leave ropes hanging from the spikes we had driven in for the provision. -But we had not calculated sufficiently upon the acceleration of the -impetus; for presently the heel became too violent to allow of our -keeping pace with it; and, before either of us knew what was to happen, -we found ourselves hurled furiously into the sea, and struggling -several fathoms beneath the surface, with the huge hull immediately -above us.</p> - -<p>In going under the water I had been obliged to let go my hold upon the -rope; and finding that I was completely beneath the vessel, and my -strength utterly exhausted, I scarcely made a struggle for life, and -resigned myself, in a few seconds, to die. But here again I was -deceived, not having taken into consideration the natural rebound of -the hull to windward. The whirl of the water upward, which the vessel -occasioned in rolling partially back, brought me to the surface still -more violently than I had been plunged beneath. Upon coming up, I found -myself about twenty yards from the hulk, as near as I could judge. She -was lying keel up, rocking furiously from side to side, and the sea in -all directions around was much agitated, and full of strong whirlpools. -I could see nothing of Peters. An oil-cask was floating within a few -feet of me, and various other articles from the brig were scattered -about.</p> - -<p>My principal terror was now on account of the sharks, which I knew to -be in my vicinity. In order to deter these, if possible, from -approaching me, I splashed the water vigorously with both hands and -feet as I swam towards the hulk, creating a body of foam. I have no -doubt that to this expedient, simple as it was, I was indebted for my -preservation; for the sea all around the brig, just before her rolling -over, was so crowded with these monsters, that I must have been, and -really was, in actual contact with some of them during my progress. By -great good fortune, however, I reached the side of the vessel in -safety, although so utterly weakened by the violent exertion I had used -that I should never have been able to get upon it but for the timely -assistance of Peters, who now, to my great joy, made his appearance -(having scrambled up to the keel from the opposite side of the hull), -and threw me the end of a rope—one of those which had been attached to -the spikes.</p> - -<p>Having barely escaped this danger, our attention was now directed to -the dreadful imminency of another; that of absolute starvation. Our -whole stock of provision had been swept overboard in spite of all our -care in securing it; and seeing no longer the remotest possibility of -obtaining more, we gave way both of us to despair, weeping aloud like -children, and neither of us attempting to offer consolation to the -other. Such weakness can scarcely be conceived, and to those who have -never been similarly situated will, no doubt, appear unnatural; but it -must be remembered that our intellects were so entirely disordered by -the long course of privation and terror to which we had been subjected, -that we could not justly be considered, at that period, in the light of -rational beings. In subsequent perils, nearly as great, if not greater, -I bore up with fortitude against all the evils of my situation, and -Peters, it will be seen, evinced a stoical philosophy nearly as -incredible as his present childlike supineness and imbecility—the -mental condition made the difference.</p> - -<p>The overturning of the brig, even with the consequent loss of the wine -and turtle, would not, in fact, have rendered our situation more -deplorable than before, except for the disappearance of the bedclothes -by which we had been hitherto enabled to catch rainwater, and of the -jug in which we had kept it when caught; for we found the whole bottom, -from within two or three feet of the bends as far as the keel, together -with the keel itself, <i>thickly covered with large barnacles, which -proved to be excellent and highly nutritious food</i>. Thus, in two -important respects, the accident we had so greatly dreaded proved a -benefit rather than an injury; it had opened to us a supply of -provisions, which we could not have exhausted, using it moderately, in -a month; and it had greatly contributed to our comfort as regards -position, we being much more at our ease, and in infinitely less -danger, than before.</p> - -<p>The difficulty, however, of now obtaining water blinded us to all the -benefits of the change in our condition. That we might be ready to -avail ourselves, as far as possible, of any shower which might fall, we -took off our shirts, to make use of them as we had of the sheets—not -hoping, of course, to get more in this way, even under the most -favourable circumstances, than half a gill at a time. No signs of a -cloud appeared during the day, and the agonies of our thirst were -nearly intolerable. At night Peters obtained about an hour's disturbed -sleep, but my intense sufferings would not permit me to close my eyes -for a single moment.</p> - -<p><i>August 5.</i> To-day, a gentle breeze springing up carried us through a -vast quantity of seaweed, among which we were so fortunate as to find -eleven small crabs, which afforded us several delicious meals. Their -shells being quite soft, we ate them entire, and found that they -irritated our thirst far less than the barnacles. Seeing no trace of -sharks among the seaweed, we also ventured to bathe, and remained in -the water for four or five hours, during which we experienced a very -sensible diminution of our thirst. Were greatly refreshed, and spent -the night somewhat more comfortably than before, both of us snatching a -little sleep.</p> - -<p><i>August 6.</i> This day we were blessed by a brisk and continual rain, -lasting from about noon until after dark. Bitterly did we now regret -the loss of our jug and carboy; for, in spite of the little means we -had of catching the water, we might have filled one, if not both of -them. As it was, we contrived to satisfy the cravings of thirst by -suffering the shirts to become saturated, and then wringing them so as -to let the grateful fluid trickle into our mouths. In this occupation -we passed the entire day.</p> - -<p><i>August 7.</i> Just at daybreak we both at the same instant descried a -sail to the eastward, and <i>evidently coming towards us!</i> We hailed the -glorious sight with a long, although feeble shout of rapture; and began -instantly to make every signal in our power, by flaring the shirts in -the air, leaping as high as our weak condition would permit, and even -by hallooing with all the strength of our lungs, although the vessel -could not have been less than fifteen miles distant. However, she still -continued to near our hulk, and we felt that, if she but held her -present course, she must eventually come so close as to perceive us. In -about an hour after we first discovered her we could clearly see the -people on her decks. She was a long, low, and rakish-looking topsail -schooner, with a black ball in her foretopsail, and had, apparently, a -full crew. We now became alarmed, for we could hardly imagine it -possible that she did not observe us, and were apprehensive that she -meant to leave us to perish as we were—an act of fiendish barbarity, -which, however incredible it may appear, has been repeatedly -perpetrated at sea, under circumstances very nearly similar, and by -beings who were regarded as belonging to the human -species.<small><small><sup>2</sup></small></small> In this -instance, however, by the mercy of God, we were destined to be most -happily deceived; for presently we were aware of a sudden commotion on -the deck of the stranger, who immediately afterward run up a British -flag, and, hauling her wind, bore up directly upon us. In half an hour -more we found ourselves in her cabin. She proved to be the Jane Guy, of -Liverpool, Captain Guy, bound on a sealing and trading voyage to the -South Seas and Pacific.</p> - -<blockquote><small><small><sup>2</sup></small> The case of the brig Polly, of Boston, is one so much in -point, and her fate, in many respects, so remarkably similar to our -own, that I cannot forbear alluding to it here. This vessel, of one -hundred and thirty tons burden, sailed from Boston, with a cargo of -lumber and provisions, for Santa Croix, on the twelfth of December, -1811, under the command of Captain Casneau. There were eight souls on -board besides the captain—the mate, four seamen, and the cook, -together with a Mr. Hunt, and a negro girl belonging to him. On the -fifteenth, having cleared the shoal of Georges, she sprung a leak in a -gale of wind from the southeast, and was finally capsized; but, the -mast going by the board, she afterward righted. They remained in this -situation, without fire, and with very little provision, for the period -of <i>one hundred and ninety-one days</i> (from December the fifteenth to -June the twentieth) when Captain Casneau and Samuel Badger, the only -survivers, were taken off the wreck by the Fame, of Hull, Captain -Featherstone, bound home from Rio Janeiro. When picked up they were in -latitude <i>28 N., longitude 13 W., having drifted above two thousand -miles</i>. On the ninth of July the Fame fell in with the brig Dromeo, -Captain Perkins, who landed the two sufferers in Kennebeck. The -narrative from which we gather these details ends in the following -words.</small></blockquote> - -<blockquote><small>"It is natural to inquire how they could float such a vast distance, -upon the most frequented part of the Atlantic, and not be discovered -all this time. <i>They were passed by more than a dozen sail, one of -which came so nigh them that they could distinctly see the people on -deck and on the rigging looking at them; but, to the inexpressible -disappointment of the starving and freezing men, they stifled the -dictates of compassion, hoisted sail, and cruelly abandoned them to -their fate.</i>"</small></blockquote> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap14"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XIV.</h3> -<br> - -<p>The Jane Guy was a fine-looking topsail schooner of a hundred and -eighty tons burden. She was unusually sharp in the bows, and on a wind, -in moderate weather, the fastest sailer I have ever seen. Her -qualities, however, as a rough sea-boat, were not so good, and her -draught of water was by far too great for the trade to which she was -destined. For this peculiar service a larger vessel, and one of a light -proportionate draught, is desirable—say a vessel of from three to -three hundred and fifty tons. She should be barque-rigged, and in other -respects of a different construction from the usual South Sea ships. It -is absolutely necessary that she should be well armed. She should have, -say ten or twelve twelve pound carronades, and two or three long -twelves, with brass blunderbusses, and water-tight arm-chests for each -top. Her anchors and cables should be of far greater strength than is -required for any other species of trade, and, above all, her crew -should be numerous and efficient—not less, for such a vessel as I have -described, than fifty or sixty able-bodied men. The Jane Guy had a crew -of thirty-five, all able seamen, besides the captain and mate, but she -was not altogether as well armed or otherwise equipped as a navigator -acquainted with the difficulties and dangers of the trade could have -desired.</p> - -<p>Captain Guy was a gentleman of great urbanity of manner, and of -considerable experience in the southern traffic, to which he had -devoted a great portion of his life. He was deficient, however, in -energy, and, consequently, in that spirit of enterprise which is here -so absolutely requisite. He was part owner of the vessel in which he -sailed, and was invested with discretionary powers to cruise in the -South Seas for any cargo which might come most readily to hand. He had -on board, as usual in such voyages, beads, looking-glasses, -tinder-works, axes, hatchets, saws, adzes, planes, chisels, gouges, -gimlets, files, spokeshaves, rasps, hammers, nails, knives, scissors, -razors, needles, thread, crockery-ware, calico, trinkets, and other -similar articles.</p> - -<p>The schooner sailed from Liverpool on the tenth of July, crossed the -Tropic of Cancer on the twenty-fifth, in longitude twenty degrees west, -and reached Sal, one of the Cape Verd Islands, on the twenty-ninth, -where she took in salt and other necessaries for the voyage. On the -third of August she left the Cape Verds and steered southwest, -stretching over towards the coast of Brazil so as to cross the equator -between the meridians of twenty-eight and thirty degrees west -longitude. This is the course usually taken by vessels bound from -Europe to the Cape of Good Hope, or by that route to the East Indies. -By proceeding thus they avoid the calms and strong contrary currents -which continually prevail on the coast of Guinea, while, in the end, it -is found to be the shortest track, as westerly winds are never wanting -afterward by which to reach the Cape. It was Captain Guy's intention to -make his first stoppage at Kerguelen's Land—I hardly know for what -reason. On the day we were picked up the schooner was off Cape St. -Roque, in longitude 31 W.; so that, when found, we had drifted -probably, from north to south, <i>not less than five-and-twenty degrees</i>.</p> - -<p>On board the Jane Guy we were treated with all the kindness our -distressed situation demanded. In about a fortnight, during which time -we continued steering to the southeast, with gentle breezes and fine -weather, both Peters and myself recovered entirely from the effects of -our late privation and dreadful suffering, and we began to remember -what had passed rather as a frightful dream from which we had been -happily awakened, than as events which had taken place in sober and -naked reality. I have since found that this species of partial oblivion -is usually brought about by sudden transition, whether from joy to -sorrow or from sorrow to joy—the degree of forgetfulness being -proportioned to the degree of difference in the exchange. Thus, in my -own case, I now feel it impossible to realize the full extent of the -misery which I endured during the days spent upon the hulk. The -incidents are remembered, but not the feelings which the incidents -elicited at the time of their occurrence. I only know that, when they -did occur, I <i>then</i> thought human nature could sustain nothing more of -agony.</p> - -<p>We continued our voyage for some weeks without any incidents of greater -moment than the occasional meeting with whaling-ships, and more -frequently with the black or right whale, so called in -contradistinction to the spermaceti. These, however, were chiefly found -south of the twenty-fifth parallel. On the sixteenth of September, -being in the vicinity of the Cape of Good Hope, the schooner -encountered her first gale of any violence since leaving Liverpool. In -this neighbourhood, but more frequently to the south and east of the -promontory (we were to the westward), navigators have often to contend -with storms from the northward which rage with great fury. They always -bring with them a heavy sea, and one of their most dangerous features -is the instantaneous chopping round of the wind, an occurrence almost -certain to take place during the greatest force of the gale. A perfect -hurricane will be blowing at one moment from the northward or -northeast, and in the next not a breath of wind will be felt in that -direction, while from the southwest it will come out all at once with a -violence almost inconceivable. A bright spot to the southward is the -sure forerunner of the change, and vessels are thus enabled to take the -proper precautions.</p> - -<p>It was about six in the morning when the blow came on with a white -squall, and, as usual, from the northward. By eight it had increased -very much, and brought down upon us one of the most tremendous seas I -had then ever beheld. Everything had been made as snug as possible, but -the schooner laboured excessively, and gave evidence of her bad -qualities as a seaboat, pitching her forecastle under at every plunge, -and with the greatest difficulty struggling up from one wave before she -was buried in another. Just before sunset the bright spot for which we -had been on the lookout made its appearance in the southwest, and in an -hour afterward we perceived the little headsail we carried flapping -listlessly against the mast. In two minutes more, in spite of every -preparation, we were hurled on our beam-ends as if by magic, and a -perfect wilderness of foam made a clear breach over us as we lay. The -blow from the southwest, however, luckily proved to be nothing more -than a squall, and we had the good fortune to right the vessel without -the loss of a spar. A heavy cross sea gave us great trouble for a few -hours after this, but towards morning we found ourselves in nearly as -good condition as before the gale. Captain Guy considered that he had -made an escape little less than miraculous.</p> - -<p>On the thirteenth of October we came in sight of Prince Edward's -Island, in latitude 46° 53' S., longitude 37° 46' E. Two days afterward -we found ourselves near Possession Island, and presently passed the -islands of Crozet, in latitude 42° 59' S., longitude 48° E. On the -eighteenth we made Kerguelen's or Desolation Island, in the Southern -Indian Ocean, and came to anchor in Christmas Harbour, having four -fathoms of water.</p> - -<p>This island, or rather group of islands, bears southeast from the Cape -of Good Hope, and is distant therefrom nearly eight hundred leagues. It -was first discovered in 1772, by the Baron de Kergulen, or Kerguelen, a -Frenchman, who, thinking the land to form a portion of an extensive -southern continent, carried home information to that effect, which -produced much excitement at the time. The government, taking the matter -up, sent the baron back in the following year for the purpose of giving -his new discovery a critical examination, when the mistake was -discovered. In 1777, Captain Cook fell in with the same group, and gave -to the principal one the name of Desolation Island, a title which it -certainly well deserves. Upon approaching the land, however, the -navigator might be induced to suppose otherwise, as the sides of most -of the hills, from September to March, are clothed with very brilliant -verdure. This deceitful appearance is caused by a small plant -resembling saxifrage, which is abundant, growing in large patches on a -species of crumbling moss. Besides this plant there is scarcely a sign -of vegetation on the island, if we except some coarse rank grass near -the harbour, some lichen, and a shrub which bears resemblance to a -cabbage shooting into seed, and which has a bitter and acrid taste.</p> - -<p>The face of the country is hilly, although none of the hills can be -called lofty. Their tops are perpetually covered with snow. There are -several harbours, of which Christmas Harbour is the most convenient. It -is the first to be met with on the northeast side of the island after -passing Cape François, which forms the northern shore, and, by its -peculiar shape, serves to distinguish the harbour. Its projecting point -terminates in a high rock, through which is a large hole, forming a -natural arch. The entrance is in latitude 48° 40' S., longitude 69° 6' -E. Passing in here, good anchorage may be found under the shelter of -several small islands, which form a sufficient protection from all -easterly winds. Proceeding on eastwardly from this anchorage you come -to Wasp Bay, at the head of the harbour. This is a small basin, -completely landlocked, into which you can go with four fathoms, and -find anchorage in from ten to three, hard clay bottom. A ship might lie -here with her best bower ahead all the year round without risk. To the -westward, at the head of Wasp Bay, is a small stream of excellent -water, easily procured.</p> - -<p>Some seal of the fur and hair species are still to be found on -Kerguelen's Island, and sea elephants abound. The feathered tribes are -discovered in great numbers. Penguins are very plenty, and of these -there are four different kinds. The royal penguin, so called from its -size and beautiful plumage, is the largest. The upper part of the body -is usually gray, sometimes of a lilach tint; the under portion of the -purest white imaginable. The head is of a glossy and most brilliant -black, the feet also. The chief beauty of the plumage, however, -consists in two broad stripes of a gold colour, which pass along from -the head to the breast. The bill is long, and either pink or bright -scarlet. These birds walk erect, with a stately carriage. They carry -their heads high, with their wings drooping like two arms, and, as -their tails project from their body in a line with the legs, the -resemblance to a human figure is very striking, and would be apt to -deceive the spectator at a casual glance or in the gloom of the -evening. The royal penguins which we met with on Kerguelen's Land were -rather larger than a goose. The other kinds are the macaroni, the -jackass, and the rookery penguin. These are much smaller, less -beautiful in plumage, and different in other respects.</p> - -<p>Besides the penguin many other birds are here to be found, among which -may be mentioned seahens, blue peterels, teal, ducks, Port Egmont hens, -shags, Cape pigeons, the nelly, seaswallows, terns, seagulls, Mother -Carey's chickens, Mother Carey's geese, or the great peterel, and, -lastly, the albatross.</p> - -<p>The great peterel is as large as the common albatross, and is -carnivorous. It is frequently called the break-bones, or osprey -peterel. They are not at all shy, and, when properly cooked, are -palatable food. In flying they sometimes sail very close to the surface -of the water, with the wings expanded, without appearing to move them -in the least degree, or make any exertion with them whatever.</p> - -<p>The albatross is one of the largest and fiercest of the South Sea -birds. It is of the gull species, and takes its prey on the wing, never -coming on land except for the purpose of breeding. Between this bird -and the penguin the most singular friendship exists. Their nests are -constructed with great uniformity, upon a plan concerted between the -two species—that of the albatross being placed in the centre of a -little square formed by the nests of four penguins. Navigators have -agreed in calling an assemblage of such encampments <i>a rookery</i>. These -rookeries have been often described, but, as my readers may not all -have seen these descriptions, and as I shall have occasion hereafter to -speak of the penguin and albatross, it will not be amiss to say -something here of their mode of building and living.</p> - -<p>When the season for incubation arrives, the birds assemble in vast -numbers, and for some days appear to be deliberating upon the proper -course to be pursued. At length they proceed to action. A level piece -of ground is selected, of suitable extent, usually comprising three or -four acres, and situated as near the sea as possible, being still -beyond its reach. The spot is chosen with reference to its evenness of -surface, and that is preferred which is the least encumbered with -stones. This matter being arranged, the birds proceed, with one accord, -and actuated apparently by one mind, to trace out, with mathematical -accuracy, either a square or other parallelogram, as may best suit the -nature of the ground, and of just sufficient size to accommodate easily -all the birds assembled, and no more—in this particular seeming -determined upon preventing the access of future stragglers who have not -participated in the labour of the encampment. One side of the place -thus marked out runs parallel with the water's edge, and is left open -for ingress or egress.</p> - -<p>Having defined the limits of the rookery, the colony now begin to clear -it of every species of rubbish, picking up stone by stone, and carrying -them outside of the lines, and close by them, so as to form a wall on -the three inland sides. Just within this wall a perfectly level and -smooth walk is formed, from six to eight feet wide, and extending -around the encampment—thus serving the purpose of a general promenade.</p> - -<p>The next process is to partition out the whole area into small squares -exactly equal in size. This is done by forming narrow paths, very -smooth, and crossing each other at right angles throughout the entire -extent of the rookery. At each intersection of these paths the nest of -an albatross is constructed, and a penguin's nest in the centre of each -square—thus every penguin is surrounded by four albatrosses, and each -albatross by a like number of penguins. The penguin's nest consists of -a hole in the earth, very shallow, being only just of sufficient depth -to keep her single egg from rolling. The albatross is somewhat less -simple in her arrangements, erecting a hillock about a foot high and -two in diameter. This is made of earth, seaweed, and shells. On its -summit she builds her nest.</p> - -<p>The birds take especial care never to leave their nests unoccupied for -an instant during the period of incubation, or, indeed, until the young -progeny are sufficiently strong to take care of themselves. While the -male is absent at sea in search of food, the female remains on duty, -and it is only upon the return of her partner that she ventures abroad. -The eggs are never left uncovered at all—while one bird leaves the -nest, the other nestling in by its side. This precaution is rendered -necessary by the thievish propensities prevalent in the rookery, the -inhabitants making no scruple to purloin each other's eggs at every -good opportunity.</p> - -<p>Although there are some rookeries in which the penguin and albatross -are the sole population, yet in most of them a variety of oceanic birds -are to be met with, enjoying all the privileges of citizenship, and -scattering their nests here and there, wherever they can find room, -never interfering, however, with the stations of the larger species. -The appearance of such encampments, when seen from a distance, is -exceedingly singular. The whole atmosphere just above the settlement is -darkened with the immense number of the albatross (mingled with the -smaller tribes) which are continually hovering over it, either going to -the ocean or returning home. At the same time a crowd of penguins are -to be observed, some passing to and fro in the narrow alleys, and some -marching, with the military strut so peculiar to them, around the -general promenade-ground which encircles the rookery. In short, survey -it as we will, nothing can be more astonishing than the spirit of -reflection evinced by these feathered beings, and nothing surely can be -better calculated to elicit reflection in every well-regulated human -intellect.</p> - -<p>On the morning after our arrival in Christmas Harbour the chief mate, -Mr. Patterson, took the boats, and (although it was somewhat early in -the season) went in search of seal, leaving the captain and a young -relation of his on a point of barren land to the westward, they having -some business, whose nature I could not ascertain, to transact in the -interior of the island. Captain Guy took with him a bottle, in which -was a sealed letter, and made his way from the point on which he was -set on shore towards one of the highest peaks in the place. It is -probable that his design was to leave the letter on that height for -some vessel which he expected to come after him. As soon as we lost -sight of him we proceeded (Peters and myself being in the mate's boat) -on our cruise around the coast, looking for seal. In this business we -were occupied about three weeks, examining with great care every nook -and corner, not only of Kerguelen's Land, but of the several small -islands in the vicinity. Our labours, however, were not crowned with -any important success. We saw a great many fur seal, but they were -exceedingly shy, and, with the greatest exertions, we could only -procure three hundred and fifty skins in all. Sea elephants were -abundant, especially on the western coast of the main island, but of -these we killed only twenty, and this with great difficulty. On the -smaller islands we discovered a good many of the hair seal, but did not -molest them. We returned to the schooner on the eleventh, where we -found Captain Guy and his nephew, who gave a very bad account of the -interior, representing it as one of the most dreary and utterly barren -countries in the world. They had remained two nights on the island, -owing to some misunderstanding, on the part of the second mate, in -regard to the sending a jollyboat from the schooner to take them off.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap15"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XV.</h3> -<br> - -<p>On the twelfth we made sail from Christmas Harbour, retracing our way -to the westward, and leaving Marion's Island, one of Crozet's group, on -the larboard. We afterward passed Prince Edward's Island, leaving it -also on our left; then, steering more to the northward, made, in -fifteen days, the islands of Tristan d'Acunha, in latitude 37° 8' S., -longitude 12° 8' W.</p> - -<p>This group, now so well known, and which consists of three circular -islands, was first discovered by the Portuguese, and was visited -afterward by the Dutch in 1643, and by the French in 1767. The three -islands together form a triangle, and are distant from each other about -ten miles, there being fine open passages between. The land in all of -them is very high, especially in Tristan d'Acunha, properly so called. -This is the largest of the group, being fifteen miles in circumference, -and so elevated that it can be seen in clear weather at the distance of -eighty or ninety miles. A part of the land towards the north rises more -than a thousand feet perpendicularly from the sea. A tableland at this -height extends back nearly to the centre of the island, and from this -tableland arises a lofty cone like that of Teneriffe. The lower half of -this cone is clothed with trees of good size, but the upper region is -barren rock, usually hidden among the clouds, and covered with snow -during the greater part of the year. There are no shoals or other -dangers about the island, the shores being remarkably bold and the -water deep. On the northwestern coast is a bay, with a beach of black -sand, where a landing with boats can be easily effected, provided there -be a southerly wind. Plenty of excellent water may here be readily -procured; also cod, and other fish, may be taken with hook and line.</p> - -<p>The next island in point of size, and the most westwardly of the group, -is that called the Inaccessible. Its precise situation is 37° 17' S. -latitude, longitude 12° 24' W. It is seven or eight miles in -circumference, and on all sides presents a forbidding and precipitous -aspect. Its top is perfectly flat, and the whole region is steril, -nothing growing upon it except a few stunted shrubs.</p> - -<p>Nightingale Island, the smallest and most southerly, is in latitude 37° -26' S., longitude 12° 12' W. Off its southern extremity is a high ledge -of rocky islets; a few also of a similar appearance are seen to the -northeast. The ground is irregular and steril, and a deep valley -partially separates it.</p> - -<p>The shores of these islands abound, in the proper season, with sea -lions, sea elephants, the hair and fur seal, together with a great -variety of oceanic birds. Whales are also plenty in their vicinity. -Owing to the ease with which these various animals were here formerly -taken, the group has been much visited since its discovery. The Dutch -and French frequented it at a very early period. In 1790, Captain -Patten, of the ship Industry, of Philadelphia, made Tristan d'Acunha, -where he remained seven months (from August, 1790, to April, 1791) for -the purpose of collecting sealskins. In this time he gathered no less -than five thousand six hundred, and says that he would have had no -difficulty in loading a large ship with oil in three weeks. Upon his -arrival he found no quadrupeds, with the exception of a few wild -goats—the island now abounds with all our most valuable domestic -animals, which have been introduced by subsequent navigators.</p> - -<p>I believe it was not long after Captain Patten's visit that Captain -Colquhoun, of the American brig Betsey, touched at the largest of the -islands for the purpose of refreshment. He planted onions, potatoes, -cabbages, and a great many other vegetables, an abundance of all which -are now to be met with.</p> - -<p>In 1811, a Captain Heywood, in the Nereus, visited Tristan. He found -there three Americans, who were residing upon the islands to prepare -sealskins and oil. One of these men was named Jonathan Lambert, and he -called himself the sovereign of the country. He had cleared and -cultivated about sixty acres of land, and turned his attention to -raising the coffee-plant and sugar-cane, with which he had been -furnished by the American minister at Rio Janeiro. This settlement, -however, was finally abandoned, and in 1817 the islands were taken -possession of by the British government, who sent a detachment for that -purpose from the Cape of Good Hope. They did not, however, retain them -long; but, upon the evacuation of the country as a British possession, -two or three English families took up their residence there -independently of the government. On the twenty-fifth of March, 1824, -the Berwick, Captain Jeffrey, from London to Van Diemen's Land, arrived -at the place, where they found an Englishman of the name of Glass, -formerly a corporal in the British artillery. He claimed to be supreme -governor of the islands, and had under his control twenty-one men and -three women. He gave a very favourable account of the salubrity of the -climate and of the productiveness of the soil. The population occupied -themselves chiefly in collecting sealskins and sea elephant oil, with -which they traded to the Cape of Good Hope, Glass owning a small -schooner. At the period of our arrival the governor was still a -resident, but his little community had multiplied, there being -fifty-six persons upon Tristan, besides a smaller settlement of seven -on Nightingale Island. We had no difficulty in procuring almost every -kind of refreshment which we required—sheep, hogs, bullocks, rabbits, -poultry, goats, fish in great variety, and vegetables were abundant. -Having come to anchor close in with the large island, in eighteen -fathoms, we took all we wanted on board very conveniently. Captain Guy -also purchased of Glass five hundred sealskins and some ivory. We -remained here a week, during which the prevailing winds were from the -northward and westward, and the weather somewhat hazy. On the fifth of -November we made sail to the southward and westward, with the intention -of having a thorough search for a group of islands called the Auroras, -respecting whose existence a great diversity of opinion has existed.</p> - -<p>These islands are said to have been discovered as early as 1762, by the -commander of the ship Aurora. In 1790, Captain Manuel de Oyarvido, in -the ship Princess, belonging to the Royal Philippine Company, sailed, -as he asserts, directly among them. In 1794, the Spanish corvette -Atrevida went with the determination of ascertaining their precise -situation, and, in a paper published by the Royal Hydrographical -Society of Madrid in the year 1809, the following language is used -respecting this expedition. "The corvette Atrevida practised, in their -immediate vicinity, from the twenty-first to the twenty-seventh of -January, all the necessary observations, and measured by chronometers -the difference of longitude between these islands and the port of -Soledad in the Malninas. The islands are three; they are very nearly in -the same meridian; the centre one is rather low, and the other two may -be seen at nine leagues distance." The observations made on board the -Atrevida give the following results as the precise situation of each -island. The most northern is in latitude 52° 37' 24" S., longitude 47° -43' 15" W.; the middle one in latitude 53° 2' 40" S., longitude 47° 55' -15" W.; and the most southern in latitude 53° 15' 22" S., longitude 47° -57' 15" W.</p> - -<p>On the twenty-seventh of January, 1820, Captain James Weddel, of the -British navy, sailed from Staten Land also in search of the Auroras. He -reports that, having made the most diligent search, and passed not only -immediately over the spots indicated by the commander of the Atrevida, -but in every direction throughout the vicinity of these spots, he could -discover no indication of land. These conflicting statements have -induced other navigators to look out for the islands; and, strange to -say, while some have sailed through every inch of sea where they are -supposed to lie without finding them, there have been not a few who -declare positively that they have seen them, and even been close in -with their shores. It was Captain Guy's intention to make every -exertion within his power to settle the question so oddly in -dispute.<small><small><sup>3</sup></small></small></p> - -<blockquote><small><small><sup>3</sup></small> Among the vessels which at various times have professed to -meet with the Auroras may be mentioned the ship San Miguel, in 1769; -the ship Aurora, in 1774; the brig Pearl, in 1779; and the ship -Dolores, in 1790. They all agree in giving the mean latitude -fifty-three degrees south.</small></blockquote> - -<p>We kept on our course, between the south and west, with variable -weather, until the twentieth of the month, when we found ourselves on -the debated ground, being in latitude 53° 15' S., longitude 47° 58' -W.—that is to say, very nearly upon the spot indicated as the -situation of the most southern of the group. Not perceiving any sign of -land, we continued to the westward in the parallel of fifty-three -degrees south, as far as the meridian of fifty degrees west. We then -stood to the north as far as the parallel of fifty-two degrees south, -when we turned to the eastward, and kept our parallel by double -altitudes, morning and evening, and meridian altitudes of the planets -and moon. Having thus gone eastwardly to the meridian of the western -coast of Georgia, we kept that meridian until we were in the latitude -from which we set out. We then took diagonal courses throughout the -entire extent of sea circumscribed, keeping a lookout constantly at the -masthead, and repeating our examination with the greatest care for a -period of three weeks, during which the weather was remarkably pleasant -and fair, with no haze whatsoever. Of course we were thoroughly -satisfied that, whatever islands might have existed in this vicinity at -any former period, no vestige of them remained at the present day. -Since my return home I find that the same ground was traced over with -equal care in 1822 by Captain Johnson, of the American schooner Henry, -and by Captain Morrell, in the American schooner Wasp—in both cases -with the same result as in our own.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap16"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XVI.</h3> -<br> - -<p>It had been Captain Guy's original intention, after satisfying himself -about the Auroras, to proceed through the Strait of Magellan, and up -along the western coast of Patagonia; but information received at -Tristan d'Acunha induced him to steer to the southward, in the hope of -falling in with some small islands said to lie about the parallel of -60° S., longitude 41° 20' W. In the event of his not discovering these -lands, he designed, should the season prove favourable, to push on -towards the pole. Accordingly, on the twelfth of December, we made sail -in that direction. On the eighteenth we found ourselves about the -station indicated by Glass, and cruised for three days in that -neighbourhood without finding any traces of the islands he had -mentioned. On the twenty-first, the weather being unusually pleasant, -we again made sail to the southward, with the resolution of penetrating -in that course as far as possible. Before entering upon this portion of -my narrative, it may be as well, for the information of those readers -who have paid little attention to the progress of discovery in these -regions, to give some brief account of the very few attempts at -reaching the southern pole which have hitherto been made.</p> - -<p>That of Captain Cook was the first of which we have any distinct -account. In 1772 he sailed to the south in the Resolution, accompanied -by Lieutenant Furneaux in the Adventure. In December he found himself -as far as the fifty-eighth parallel of south latitude, and in longitude -26° 57' E. Here he met with narrow fields of ice, about eight or ten -inches thick, and running northwest and southeast. This ice was in -large cakes, and usually it was packed so closely that the vessels had -great difficulty in forcing a passage. At this period Captain Cook -supposed, from the vast number of birds to be seen, and from other -indications, that he was in the near vicinity of land. He kept on to -the southward, the weather being exceedingly cold, until he reached the -sixty-fourth parallel, in longitude 38° 14' E. Here he had mild -weather, with gentle breezes, for five days, the thermometer being at -thirty-six. In January, 1773, the vessels crossed the Antarctic circle, -but did not succeed in penetrating much farther; for, upon reaching -latitude 67° 15', they found all farther progress impeded by an immense -body of ice, extending all along the southern horizon as far as the eye -could reach. This ice was of every variety—and some large floes of it, -miles in extent, formed a compact mass, rising eighteen or twenty feet -above the water. It being late in the season, and no hope entertained -of rounding these obstructions, Captain Cook now reluctantly turned to -the northward.</p> - -<p>In the November following he renewed his search in the Antarctic. In -latitude 59° 40' he met with a strong current setting to the southward. -In December, when the vessels were in latitude 67° 31', longitude 142° -54' W., the cold was excessive, with heavy gales and fog. Here also -birds were abundant; the albatross, the penguin, and the peterel -especially. In latitude 70° 23' some large islands of ice were -encountered, and shortly afterward, the clouds to the southward were -observed to be of a snowy whiteness, indicating the vicinity of field -ice. In latitude 71° 10', longitude 106° 54' W., the navigators were -stopped, as before, by an immense frozen expanse, which filled the -whole area of the southern horizon. The northern edge of this expanse -was ragged and broken, so firmly wedged together as to be utterly -impassable, and extending about a mile to the southward. Behind it the -frozen surface was comparatively smooth for some distance, until -terminated in the extreme back-ground by gigantic ranges of ice -mountains, the one towering above the other. Captain Cook concluded -that this vast field reached the southern pole or was joined to a -continent. Mr. J. N. Reynolds, whose great exertions and perseverance -have at length succeeded in getting set on foot a national expedition, -partly for the purpose of exploring these regions, thus speaks of the -attempt of the Resolution. "We are not surprised that Captain Cook was -unable to go beyond 71° 10', but we are astonished that he did attain -that point on the meridian of 106° 54' west longitude. Palmer's Land -lies south of the Shetland, latitude sixty-four degrees, and tends to -the southward and westward farther than any navigator has yet -penetrated. Cook was standing for this land when his progress was -arrested by the ice; which, we apprehend, must always be the case in -that point, and so early in the season as the sixth of January—and we -should not be surprised if a portion of the icy mountains described was -attached to the main body of Palmer's Land, or to some other portions -of land lying farther to the southward and westward."</p> - -<p>In 1803, Captains Kreutzenstern and Lisiausky were despatched by -Alexander of Russia for the purpose of circumnavigating the globe. In -endeavouring to get south, they made no farther than 59° 58', in -longitude 70° 15' W. They here met with strong currents setting -eastwardly. Whales were abundant, but they saw no ice. In regard to -this voyage, Mr. Reynolds observes that, if Kreutzenstern had arrived -where he did earlier in the season, he must have encountered ice—it -was March when he reached the latitude specified. The winds prevailing, -as they do, from the southward and westward, had carried the floes, -aided by currents, into that icy region bounded on the north by -Georgia, east by Sandwich Land and the South Orkneys, and west by the -South Shetland Islands.</p> - -<p>In 1822, Captain James Weddell, of the British navy, with two very -small vessels, penetrated farther to the south than any previous -navigator, and this too, without encountering extraordinary -difficulties. He states that although he was frequently hemmed in by -ice <i>before</i> reaching the seventy-second parallel, yet, upon attaining -it, not a particle was to be discovered, and that, upon arriving at the -latitude of 74° 15', no fields, and only three islands of ice were -visible. It is somewhat remarkable that, although vast flocks of birds -were seen, and other usual indications of land, and although, south of -the Shetlands, unknown coasts were observed from the masthead tending -southwardly, Weddell discourages the idea of land existing in the polar -regions of the south.</p> - -<p>On the eleventh of January, 1823, Captain Benjamin Morrell, of the -American schooner Wasp, sailed from Kerguelen's Land with a view of -penetrating as far south as possible. On the first of February he found -himself in latitude 64° 52' S., longitude 118° 27' E. The following -passage is extracted from his journal of that date. "The wind soon -freshened to an eleven-knot breeze, and we embraced this opportunity of -making to the west; being however convinced that the farther we went -south beyond latitude sixty-four degrees the less ice was to be -apprehended, we steered a little to the southward, until we crossed the -Antarctic circle, and were in latitude 69° 15' E. In this latitude -there was <i>no field ice</i>, and very few ice islands in sight."</p> - -<p>Under the date of March fourteenth I find also this entry. "The sea was -now entirely free of field ice, and there were not more than a dozen -ice islands in sight. At the same time the temperature of the air and -water was at least thirteen degrees higher (more mild) than we had ever -found it between the parallels of sixty and sixty-two south. We were -now in latitude 70° 14' S., and the temperature of the air was -forty-seven, and that of the water forty-four. In this situation I -found the variation to be 14° 27' easterly, per azimuth.... I have -several times passed within the Antarctic circle on different -meridians, and have uniformly found the temperature, both of the air -and the water, to become more and more mild the farther I advanced -beyond the sixty-fifth degree of south latitude, and that the variation -decreases in the same proportion. While north of this latitude, say -between sixty and sixty-five south, we frequently had great difficulty -in finding a passage for the vessel between the immense and almost -innumerable ice islands, some of which were from one to two miles in -circumference, and more than five hundred feet above the surface of the -water."</p> - -<p>Being nearly destitute of fuel and water, and without proper -instruments, it being also late in the season, Captain Morrell was now -obliged to put back, without attempting any farther progress to the -southward, although an entirely open sea lay before him. He expresses -the opinion that, had not these overruling considerations obliged him -to retreat, he could have penetrated, if not to the pole itself, at -least to the eighty-fifth parallel. I have given his ideas respecting -these matters somewhat at length, that the reader may have an -opportunity of seeing how far they were borne out by my own subsequent -experience.</p> - -<p>In 1831, Captain Briscoe, in the employ of the Messieurs Enderby, -whale-ship owners of London, sailed in the brig Lively for the South -Seas, accompanied by the cutter Tula. On the twenty-eighth of February, -being in latitude 66° 30' S., longitude 47° 31' E., he descried land, -and "clearly discovered through the snow the black peaks of a range of -mountains running E. S. E." He remained in this neighbourhood during -the whole of the following month, but was unable to approach the coast -nearer than within ten leagues, owing to the boisterous state of the -weather. Finding it impossible to make farther discovery during this -season, he returned northward to winter in Van Diemen's Land.</p> - -<p>In the beginning of 1832 he again proceeded southwardly, and on the -fourth of February land was seen to the southeast in latitude 67° 15', -longitude 69° 29' W. This was soon found to be an island near the -headland of the country he had first discovered. On the twenty-first of -the month he succeeded in landing on the latter, and took possession of -it in the name of William IV., calling it Adelaide's Island, in honour -of the English queen. These particulars being made known to the Royal -Geographical Society of London, the conclusion was drawn by that body -"that there is a continuous tract of land extending from 47° 30' E. to -69° 29' W. longitude, running the parallel of from sixty-six to -sixty-seven degrees south latitude." In respect to this conclusion Mr. -Reynolds observes, "In the correctness of it we by no means concur; nor -do the discoveries of Briscoe warrant any such inference. It was within -these limits that Weddell proceeded south on a meridian to the east of -Georgia, Sandwich Land, and the South Orkney and Shetland Islands." My -own experience will be found to testify most directly to the falsity of -the conclusion arrived at by the society.</p> - -<p>These are the principal attempts which have been made at penetrating to -a high southern latitude, and it will now be seen that there remained, -previous to the voyage of the Jane, nearly three hundred degrees of -longitude in which the Antarctic circle had not been crossed at all. Of -course a wide field lay before us for discovery, and it was with -feelings of most intense interest that I heard Captain Guy express his -resolution of pushing boldly to the southward.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap17"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XVII.</h3> -<br> - -<p>We kept our course southwardly for four days after giving up the search -for Glass's Islands, without meeting with any ice at all. On the -twenty-sixth, at noon, we were in latitude 63° 23' S., longitude 41° -25' W. We now saw several large ice islands, and a floe of field ice, -not, however, of any great extent. The winds generally blew from the -southeast, or the northeast, but were very light. Whenever we had a -westerly wind, which was seldom, it was invariably attended with a rain -squall. Every day we had more or less snow. The thermometer, on the -twenty-seventh, stood at thirty-five.</p> - -<p><i>January 1, 1828.</i> This day we found ourselves completely hemmed in by -the ice, and our prospects looked cheerless indeed. A strong gale blew, -during the whole forenoon, from the northeast, and drove large cakes of -the drift against the rudder and counter with such violence that we all -trembled for the consequences. Towards evening, the gale still blowing -with fury, a large field in front separated, and we were enabled, by -carrying a press of sail, to force a passage through the smaller flakes -into some open water beyond. As we approached this space we took in -sail by degrees, and having at length got clear, lay to under a single -reefed foresail.</p> - -<p><i>January 2.</i> We had now tolerably pleasant weather. At noon we found -ourselves in latitude 69° 10' S., longitude 42° 20' W., having crossed -the Antarctic circle. Very little ice was to be seen to the southward, -although large fields of it lay behind us. This day we rigged some -sounding gear, using a large iron pot capable of holding twenty -gallons, and a line of two hundred fathoms. We found the current -setting to the north, about a quarter of a mile per hour. The -temperature of the air was now about thirty-three. Here we found the -variation to be 14° 28' easterly, per azimuth.</p> - -<p><i>January 5.</i> We had still held on to the southward without any very -great impediments. On this morning, however, being in latitude 73° 15' -E., longitude 42° 10' W., we were again brought to a stand by an -immense expanse of firm ice. We saw, nevertheless, much open water to -the southward, and felt no doubt of being able to reach it eventually. -Standing to the eastward along the edge of the floe, we at length came -to a passage of about a mile in width, through which we warped our way -by sundown. The sea in which we now were was thickly covered with ice -islands, but had no field ice, and we pushed on boldly as before. The -cold did not seem to increase, although we had snow very frequently, -and now and then hail squalls of great violence. Immense flocks of the -albatross flew over the schooner this day, going from southeast to -northwest.</p> - -<p><i>January 7.</i> The sea still remained pretty well open, so that we had no -difficulty in holding on our course. To the westward we saw some -icebergs of incredible size, and in the afternoon passed very near one -whose summit could not have been less than four hundred fathoms from -the surface of the ocean. Its girth was probably, at the base, three -quarters of a league, and several streams of water were running from -crevices in its sides. We remained in sight of this island two days, -and then only lost it in a fog.</p> - -<p><i>January 10.</i> Early this morning we had the misfortune to lose a man -overboard. He was an American, named Peter Vredenburgh, a native of -New-York, and was one of the most valuable hands on board the schooner. -In going over the bows his foot slipped, and he fell between two cakes -of ice, never rising again. At noon of this day we were in latitude 78° -30', longitude 40° 15' W. The cold was now excessive, and we had hail -squalls continually from the northward and eastward. In this direction -also we saw several more immense icebergs, and the whole horizon to the -eastward appeared to be blocked up with field ice, rising in tiers, one -mass above the other. Some driftwood floated by during the evening, and -a great quantity of birds flew over, among which were Nellies, -peterels, albatrosses, and a large bird of a brilliant blue plumage. -The variation here, per azimuth, was less than it had been previously -to our passing the Antarctic circle.</p> - -<p><i>January 12.</i> Our passage to the south again looked doubtful, as -nothing was to be seen in the direction of the pole but one apparently -limitless floe, backed by absolute mountains of ragged ice, one -precipice of which arose frowningly above the other. We stood to the -westward until the fourteenth, in the hope of finding an entrance.</p> - -<p><i>January 14.</i> This morning we reached the western extremity of the -field which had impeded us, and, weathering it, came to an open sea, -without a particle of ice. Upon sounding with two hundred fathoms, we -here found a current setting southwardly at the rate of half a mile per -hour. The temperature of the air was forty-seven, that of the water -thirty-four. We now sailed to the southward, without meeting any -interruption of moment until the sixteenth, when, at noon, we were in -latitude 81° 21', longitude 42° W. We here again sounded, and found a -current setting still southwardly, and at the rate of three quarters of -a mile per hour. The variation per azimuth had diminished, and the -temperature of the air was mild and pleasant, the thermometer being as -high as fifty-one. At this period not a particle of ice was to be -discovered. All hands on board now felt certain of attaining the pole.</p> - -<p><i>January 17.</i> This day was full of incident. Innumerable flights of -birds flew over us from the southward, and several were shot from the -deck; one of them, a species of pelican, proved to be excellent eating. -About midday a small floe of ice was seen from the masthead off the -larboard bow, and upon it there appeared to be some large animal. As -the weather was good and nearly calm, Captain Guy ordered out two of -the boats to see what it was. Dirk Peters and myself accompanied the -mate in the larger boat. Upon coming up with the floe, we perceived -that it was in the possession of a gigantic creature of the race of the -Arctic bear, but far exceeding in size the largest of these animals. -Being well armed, we made no scruple of attacking it at once. Several -shots were fired in quick succession, the most of which took effect, -apparently, in the head and body. Nothing discouraged, however, the -monster threw himself from the ice, and swam, with open jaws, to the -boat in which were Peters and myself. Owing to the confusion which -ensued among us at this unexpected turn of the adventure, no person was -ready immediately with a second shot, and the bear had actually -succeeded in getting half his vast bulk across our gunwale, and seizing -one of the men by the small of his back, before any efficient means -were taken to repel him. In this extremity nothing but the promptness -and agility of Peters saved us from destruction. Leaping upon the back -of the huge beast, he plunged the blade of a knife behind the neck, -reaching the spinal marrow at a blow. The brute tumbled into the sea -lifeless, and without a struggle, rolling over Peters as he fell. The -latter soon recovered himself, and a rope being thrown him, he secured -the carcass before entering the boat. We then returned in triumph to -the schooner, towing our trophy behind us. This bear, upon -admeasurement, proved to be full fifteen feet in his greatest length. -His wool was perfectly white, and very coarse, curling tightly. The -eyes were of a blood red, and larger than those of the Arctic bear—the -snout also more rounded, rather resembling the snout of the bulldog. -The meat was tender, but excessively rank and fishy, although the men -devoured it with avidity, and declared it excellent eating.</p> - -<p>Scarcely had we got our prize alongside, when the man at the masthead -gave the joyful shout of <i>"land on the starboard bow!"</i> All hands were -now upon the alert, and, a breeze springing up very opportunely from -the northward and eastward, we were soon close in with the coast. It -proved to be a low rocky islet, of about a league in circumference, and -altogether destitute of vegetation, if we except a species of prickly -pear. In approaching it from the northward, a singular ledge of rock is -seen projecting into the sea, and bearing a strong resemblance to -corded bales of cotton. Around this ledge to the westward is a small -bay, at the bottom of which our boats effected a convenient landing.</p> - -<p>It did not take us long to explore every portion of the island, but, -with one exception, we found nothing worthy of observation. In the -southern extremity, we picked up near the shore, half buried in a pile -of loose stones, a piece of wood, which seemed to have formed the prow -of a canoe. There had been evidently some attempt at carving upon it, -and Captain Guy fancied that he made out the figure of a tortoise, but -the resemblance did not strike me very forcibly. Besides this prow, if -such it were, we found no other token that any living creature had ever -been here before. Around the coast we discovered occasional small floes -of ice—but these were very few. The exact situation of this islet (to -which Captain Guy gave the name of Bennet's Islet, in honour of his -partner in the ownership of the schooner) is 82° 50' S. latitude, 42° -20' W. longitude.</p> - -<p>We had now advanced to the southward more than eight degrees farther -than any previous navigators, and the sea still lay perfectly open -before us. We found, too, that the variation uniformly decreased as we -proceeded, and, what was still more surprising, that the temperature of -the air, and latterly of the water, became milder. The weather might -even be called pleasant, and we had a steady but very gentle breeze -always from some northern point of the compass. The sky was usually -clear, with now and then a slight appearance of thin vapour in the -southern horizon—this, however, was invariably of brief duration. Two -difficulties alone presented themselves to our view; we were getting -short of fuel, and symptoms of scurvy had occurred among several of the -crew. These considerations began to impress upon Captain Guy the -necessity of returning, and he spoke of it frequently. For my own part, -confident as I was of soon arriving at land of some description upon -the course we were pursuing, and having every reason to believe, from -present appearances, that we should not find it the steril soil met -with in the higher Arctic latitudes, I warmly pressed upon him the -expediency of persevering, at least for a few days longer, in the -direction we were now holding. So tempting an opportunity of solving -the great problem in regard to an Antarctic continent had never yet -been afforded to man, and I confess that I felt myself bursting with -indignation at the timid and ill-timed suggestions of our commander. I -believe, indeed, that what I could not refrain from saying to him on -this head had the effect of inducing him to push on. While, therefore, -I cannot but lament the most unfortunate and bloody events which -immediately arose from my advice, I must still be allowed to feel some -degree of gratification at having been instrumental, however remotely, -in opening to the eye of science one of the most intensely exciting -secrets which has ever engrossed its attention.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap18"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XVIII.</h3> -<br> - -<p><i>January 18.</i> This morning<small><small><sup>4</sup></small></small> we continued to the southward, with the -same pleasant weather as before. The sea was entirely smooth, the air -tolerably warm and from the northeast, the temperature of the water -fifty-three. We now again got our sounding-gear in order, and, with a -hundred and fifty fathoms of line, found the current setting towards -the pole at the rate of a mile an hour. This constant tendency to the -southward, both in the wind and current, caused some degree of -speculation, and even of alarm, in different quarters of the schooner, -and I saw distinctly that no little impression had been made upon the -mind of Captain Guy. He was exceedingly sensitive to ridicule, however, -and I finally succeeded in laughing him out of his apprehensions. The -variation was now very trivial. In the course of the day we saw several -large whales of the right species, and innumerable flights of the -albatross passed over the vessel. We also picked up a bush, full of red -berries, like those of the hawthorn, and the carcass of a -singular-looking land-animal. It was three feet in length, and but six -inches in height, with four very short legs, the feet armed with long -claws of a brilliant scarlet, and resembling coral in substance. The -body was covered with a straight silky hair, perfectly white. The tail -was peaked like that of a rat, and about a foot and a half long. The -head resembled a cat's, with the exception of the ears—these were -flapped like the ears of a dog. The <i>teeth</i> were of the same brilliant -scarlet as the claws.</p> - -<blockquote><small><small><sup>4</sup></small> The terms <i>morning</i> and <i>evening</i>, which I have made use -of to avoid confusion in my narrative, as far as possible, must not, of -course, be taken in their ordinary sense. For a long time past we had -had no night at all, the daylight being continual. The dates throughout -are according to nautical time, and the bearings must be understood as -per compass. I would also remark in this place, that I cannot, in the -first portion of what is here written, pretend to strict accuracy in -respect to dates, or latitudes and longitudes, having kept no regular -journal until after the period of which this first portion treats. In -many instances I have relied altogether upon memory.</small></blockquote> - -<p><i>January 19.</i> To-day, being in latitude 83° 20', longitude 43° 5' W. -(the sea being of an extraordinarily dark colour), we again saw land -from the masthead, and, upon a closer scrutiny, found it to be one of a -group of very large islands. The shore was precipitous, and the -interior seemed to be well wooded, a circumstance which occasioned us -great joy. In about four hours from our first discovering the land we -came to anchor in ten fathoms, sandy bottom, a league from the coast, -as a high surf, with strong ripples here and there, rendered a nearer -approach of doubtful expediency. The two largest boats were now ordered -out, and a party, well armed (among whom were Peters and myself), -proceeded to look for an opening in the reef which appeared to encircle -the island. After searching about for some time, we discovered an -inlet, which we were entering, when we saw four large canoes put off -from the shore, filled with men who seemed to be well armed. We waited -for them to come up, and, as they moved with great rapidity, they were -soon within hail. Captain Guy now held up a white handkerchief on the -blade of an oar, when the strangers made a full stop, and commenced a -loud jabbering all at once, intermingled with occasional shouts, in -which we could distinguish the words <i>Anamoo-moo!</i> and <i>Lama-Lama!</i> -They continued this for at least half an hour, during which we had a -good opportunity of observing their appearance.</p> - -<p>In the four canoes, which might have been fifty feet long and five -broad, there were a hundred and ten savages in all. They were about the -ordinary stature of Europeans, but of a more muscular and brawny frame. -Their complexion a jet black, with thick and long woolly hair. They -were clothed in skins of an unknown black animal, shaggy and silky, and -made to fit the body with some degree of skill, the hair being inside, -except where turned out about the neck, wrists, and ankles. Their arms -consisted principally of clubs, of a dark, and apparently very heavy -wood. Some spears, however, were observed among them, headed with -flint, and a few slings. The bottoms of the canoes were full of black -stones about the size of a large egg.</p> - -<p>When they had concluded their harangue (for it was clear they intended -their jabbering for such), one of them who seemed to be the chief stood -up in the prow of his canoe, and made signs for us to bring our boats -alongside of him. This hint we pretended not to understand, thinking it -the wiser plan to maintain, if possible, the interval between us, as -their number more than quadrupled our own. Finding this to be the case, -the chief ordered the three other canoes to hold back, while he -advanced towards us with his own. As soon as he came up with us he -leaped on board the largest of our boats, and seated himself by the -side of Captain Guy, pointing at the same time to the schooner, and -repeating the words <i>Anamoo-moo!</i> and <i>Lama-Lama!</i> We now put back to -the vessel, the four canoes following at a little distance.</p> - -<p>Upon getting alongside the chief evinced symptoms of extreme surprise -and delight, clapping his hands, slapping his thighs and breast, and -laughing obstreperously. His followers behind joined in his merriment, -and for some minutes the din was so excessive as to be absolutely -deafening. Quiet being at length restored, Captain Guy ordered the -boats to be hoisted up, as a necessary precaution, and gave the chief -(whose name we soon found to be <i>Too-wit</i>) to understand that we could -admit no more than twenty of his men on deck at one time. With this -arrangement he appeared perfectly satisfied, and gave some directions -to the canoes, when one of them approached, the rest remaining about -fifty yards off. Twenty of the savages now got on board, and proceeded -to ramble over every part of the deck, and scramble about among the -rigging, making themselves much at home, and examining every article -with great inquisitiveness.</p> - -<p>It was quite evident that they had never before seen any of the white -race—from whose complexion, indeed, they appeared to recoil. They -believed the Jane to be a living creature, and seemed to be afraid of -hurting it with the points of their spears, carefully turning them up. -Our crew were much amused with the conduct of Too-wit in one instance. -The cook was splitting some wood near the galley, and, by accident, -struck his axe into the deck, making a gash of considerable depth. The -chief immediately ran up, and pushing the cook on one side rather -roughly, commenced a half whine, half howl, strongly indicative of -sympathy in what he considered the sufferings of the schooner, patting -and smoothing the gash with his hand, and washing it from a bucket of -seawater which stood by. This was a degree of ignorance for which we -were not prepared, and for my part I could not help thinking some of it -affected.</p> - -<p>When the visiters had satisfied, as well as they could, their curiosity -in regard to our upper works, they were admitted below, when their -amazement exceeded all bounds. Their astonishment now appeared to be -far too deep for words, for they roamed about in silence, broken only -by low ejaculations. The arms afforded them much food for speculation, -and they were suffered to handle and examine them at leisure. I do not -believe that they had the least suspicion of their actual use, but -rather took them for idols, seeing the care we had of them, and the -attention with which we watched their movements while handling them. At -the great guns their wonder was redoubled. They approached them with -every mark of the profoundest reverence and awe, but forbore to examine -them minutely. There were two large mirrors in the cabin, and here was -the acme of their amazement. Too-wit was the first to approach them, -and he had got in the middle of the cabin, with his face to one and his -back to the other, before he fairly perceived them. Upon raising his -eyes and seeing his reflected self in the glass, I thought the savage -would go mad; but, upon turning short round to make a retreat, and -beholding himself a second time in the opposite direction, I was afraid -he would expire upon the spot. No persuasions could prevail upon him to -take another look; but, throwing himself upon the floor, with his face -buried in his hands, he remained thus until we were obliged to drag him -upon deck.</p> - -<p>The whole of the savages were admitted on board in this manner, twenty -at a time, Too-wit being suffered to remain during the entire period. -We saw no disposition to thievery among them, nor did we miss a single -article after their departure. Throughout the whole of their visit they -evinced the most friendly manner. There were, however, some points in -their demeanour which we found it impossible to understand: for -example, we could not get them to approach several very harmless -objects—such as the schooner's sails, an egg, an open book, or a pan -of flour. We endeavoured to ascertain if they had among them any -articles which might be turned to account in the way of traffic, but -found great difficulty in being comprehended. We made out, -nevertheless, what greatly astonished us, that the islands abounded in -the large tortoise of the Gallipagos, one of which we saw in the canoe -of Too-wit. We saw also some <i>biche de mer</i> in the hands of one of the -savages, who was greedily devouring it in its natural state. These -anomalies, for they were such when considered in regard to the -latitude, induced Captain Guy to wish for a thorough investigation of -the country, in the hope of making a profitable speculation in his -discovery. For my own part, anxious as I was to know something more of -these islands, I was still more earnestly bent on prosecuting the -voyage to the southward without delay. We had now fine weather, but -there was no telling how long it would last; and being already in the -eighty-fourth parallel, with an open sea before us, a current setting -strongly to the southward, and the wind fair, I could not listen with -any patience to a proposition of stopping longer than was absolutely -necessary for the health of the crew and the taking on board a proper -supply of fuel and fresh provisions. I represented to the captain that -we might easily make this group on our return, and winter here in the -event of being blocked up by the ice. He at length came into my views -(for in some way, hardly known to myself, I had acquired much influence -over him), and it was finally resolved that, even in the event of our -finding <i>biche de mer</i>, we should only stay here a week to recruit, and -then push on to the southward while we might. Accordingly we made every -necessary preparation, and, under the guidance of Too-wit, got the Jane -through the reef in safety, coming to anchor about a mile from the -shore, in an excellent bay, completely landlocked, on the southeastern -coast of the main island, and in ten fathoms of water, black sandy -bottom. At the head of this bay there were three fine springs (we were -told) of good water, and we saw abundance of wood in the vicinity. The -four canoes followed us in, keeping, however, at a respectful distance. -Too-wit himself remained on board, and, upon our dropping anchor, -invited us to accompany him on shore, and visit his village in the -interior. To this Captain Guy consented; and ten savages being left on -board as hostages, a party of us, twelve in all, got in readiness to -attend the chief. We took care to be well armed, yet without evincing -any distrust. The schooner had her guns run out, her boarding-nettings -up, and every other proper precaution was taken to guard against -surprise. Directions were left with the chief mate to admit no person -on board during our absence, and, in the event of our not appearing in -twelve hours, to send the cutter, with a swivel, round the island in -search of us.</p> - -<p>At every step we took inland the conviction forced itself upon us that -we were in a country differing essentially from any hitherto visited by -civilized men. We saw nothing with which we had been formerly -conversant. The trees resembled no growth of either the torrid, the -temperate, or the northern frigid zones, and were altogether unlike -those of the lower southern latitudes we had already traversed. The -very rocks were novel in their mass, their colour, and their -stratification; and the streams themselves, utterly incredible as it -may appear, had so little in common with those of other climates, that -we were scrupulous of tasting them, and, indeed, had difficulty in -bringing ourselves to believe that their qualities were purely those of -nature. At a small brook which crossed our path (the first we had -reached) Too-wit and his attendants halted to drink. On account of the -singular character of the water, we refused to taste it, supposing it -to be polluted; and it was not until some time afterward we came to -understand that such was the appearance of the streams throughout the -whole group. I am at a loss to give a distinct idea of the nature of -this liquid, and cannot do so without many words. Although it flowed -with rapidity in all declivities where common water would do so, yet -never, except when falling in a cascade, had it the customary -appearance of <i>limpidity</i>. It was, nevertheless, in point of fact, as -perfectly limpid as any limestone water in existence, the difference -being only in appearance. At first sight, and especially in cases where -little declivity was found, it bore resemblance, as regards -consistency, to a thick infusion of gum Arabic in common water. But -this was only the least remarkable of its extraordinary qualities. It -was <i>not</i> colourless, nor was it of any one uniform colour—presenting -to the eye, as it flowed, every possible shade of purple, like the hues -of a changeable silk. This variation in shade was produced in a manner -which excited as profound astonishment in the minds of our party as the -mirror had done in the case of Too-wit. Upon collecting a basinful, and -allowing it to settle thoroughly, we perceived that the whole mass of -liquid was made up of a number of distinct veins, each of a distinct -hue; that these veins did not commingle; and that their cohesion was -perfect in regard to their own particles among themselves, and -imperfect in regard to neighbouring veins. Upon passing the blade of a -knife athwart the veins, the water closed over it immediately, as with -us, and also, in withdrawing it, all traces of the passage of the knife -were instantly obliterated. If, however, the blade was passed down -accurately between two veins, a perfect separation was effected, which -the power of cohesion did not immediately rectify. The phenomena of -this water formed the first definite link in that vast chain of -apparent miracles with which I was destined to be at length encircled.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap19"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XIX.</h3> -<br> - -<p>We were nearly three hours in reaching the village, it being more than -nine miles in the interior, and the path lying through a rugged -country. As we passed along, the party of Too-wit (the whole hundred -and ten savages of the canoes) was momentarily strengthened by smaller -detachments, of from two to six or seven, which joined us, as if by -accident, at different turns in the road. There appeared so much of -system in this that I could not help feeling distrust, and I spoke to -Captain Guy of my apprehensions. It was now too late, however, to -recede, and we concluded that our best security lay in evincing a -perfect confidence in the good faith of Too-wit. We accordingly went -on, keeping a wary eye upon the manoeuvres of the savages, and not -permitting them to divide our numbers by pushing in between. In this -way, passing through a precipitous ravine, we at length reached what we -were told was the only collection of habitations upon the island. As we -came in sight of them, the chief set up a shout, and frequently -repeated the word <i>Klock-Klock;</i> which we supposed to be the name of -the village, or perhaps the generic name for villages.</p> - -<p>The dwellings were of the most miserable description imaginable, and, -unlike those of even the lowest of the savage races with which mankind -are acquainted, were of no uniform plan. Some of them (and these we -found belonged to the <i>Wampoos</i> or <i>Yampoos</i>, the great men of the -land) consisted of a tree cut down at about four feet from the root, -with a large black skin thrown over it, and hanging in loose folds upon -the ground. Under this the savage nestled. Others were formed by means -of rough limbs of trees, with the withered foliage upon them, made to -recline, at an angle of forty-five degrees, against a bank of clay, -heaped up, without regular form, to the height of five or six feet. -Others, again, were mere holes dug in the earth perpendicularly, and -covered over with similar branches, these being removed when the tenant -was about to enter, and pulled on again when he had entered. A few were -built among the forked limbs of trees as they stood, the upper limbs -being partially cut through, so as to bend over upon the lower, thus -forming thicker shelter from the weather. The greater number, however, -consisted of small shallow caverns, apparently scratched in the face of -a precipitous ledge of dark stone, resembling fuller's earth, with -which three sides of the village was bounded. At the door of each of -these primitive caverns was a small rock, which the tenant carefully -placed before the entrance upon leaving his residence, for what purpose -I could not ascertain, as the stone itself was never of sufficient size -to close up more than a third of the opening.</p> - -<p>This village, if it were worthy of the name, lay in a valley of some -depth, and could only be approached from the southward, the precipitous -ledge of which I have already spoken cutting off all access in other -directions. Through the middle of the valley ran a brawling stream of -the same magical-looking water which has been described. We saw several -strange animals about the dwellings, all appearing to be thoroughly -domesticated. The largest of these creatures resembled our common hog -in the structure of the body and snout; the tail, however, was bushy, -and the legs slender as those of the antelope. Its motion was -exceedingly awkward and indecisive, and we never saw it attempt to run. -We noticed also several animals very similar in appearance, but of a -greater length of body, and covered with a black wool. There were a -great variety of tame fowls running about, and these seemed to -constitute the chief food of the natives. To our astonishment we saw -black albatross among these birds in a state of entire domestication, -going to sea periodically for food, but always returning to the village -as a home, and using the southern shore in the vicinity as a place of -incubation. There they were joined by their friends the pelicans as -usual, but these latter never followed them to the dwellings of the -savages. Among the other kinds of tame fowls were ducks, differing very -little from the canvass-back of our own country, black gannets, and a -large bird not unlike the buzzard in appearance, but not carnivorous. -Of fish there seemed to be a great abundance. We saw, during our visit, -a quantity of dried salmon, rock cod, blue dolphins, mackerel, -blackfish, skate, conger eels, elephant-fish, mullets, soles, -parrotfish, leather-jackets, gurnards, hake, flounders, paracutas, and -innumerable other varieties. We noticed, too, that most of them were -similar to the fish about the group of the Lord Auckland Islands, in a -latitude as low as fifty-one degrees south. The Gallipago tortoise was -also very plentiful. We saw but few wild animals, and none of a large -size, or of a species with which we were familiar. One or two serpents -of a formidable aspect crossed our path, but the natives paid them -little attention, and we concluded that they were not venomous.</p> - -<p>As we approached the village with Too-wit and his party, a vast crowd -of the people rushed out to meet us, with loud shouts, among which we -could only distinguish the everlasting <i>Anamoo-moo!</i> and <i>Lama-Lama!</i> -We were much surprised at perceiving that, with one or two exceptions, -these new comers were entirely naked, the skins being used only by the -men of the canoes. All the weapons of the country seemed also to be in -the possession of the latter, for there was no appearance of any among -the villagers. There were a great many women and children, the former -not altogether wanting in what might be termed personal beauty. They -were straight, tall, and well formed, with a grace and freedom of -carriage not to be found in civilized society. Their lips, however, -like those of the men, were thick and clumsy, so that, even when -laughing, the teeth were never disclosed. Their hair was of a finer -texture than that of the males. Among these naked villagers there might -have been ten or twelve who were clothed, like the party of Too-wit, in -dresses of black skin, and armed with lances and heavy clubs. These -appeared to have great influence among the rest, and were always -addressed by the title <i>Wampoo</i>. These, too, were the tenants of the -black skin palaces. That of Too-wit was situated in the centre of the -village, and was much larger and somewhat better constructed than -others of its kind. The tree which formed its support was cut off at a -distance of twelve feet or thereabout from the root, and there were -several branches left just below the cut, these serving to extend the -covering, and in this way prevent its flapping about the trunk. The -covering, too, which consisted of four very large skins fastened -together with wooden skewers, was secured at the bottom with pegs -driven through it and into the ground. The floor was strewed with a -quantity of dry leaves by way of carpet.</p> - -<p>To this hut we were conducted with great solemnity, and as many of the -natives crowded in after us as possible. Too-wit seated himself on the -leaves, and made signs that we should follow his example. This we did, -and presently found ourselves in a situation peculiarly uncomfortable, -if not indeed critical. We were on the ground, twelve in number, with -the savages, as many as forty, sitting on their hams so closely around -us that, if any disturbance had arisen, we should have found it -impossible to make use of our arms, or indeed to have risen on our -feet. The pressure was not only inside the tent, but outside, where -probably was every individual on the whole island, the crowd being -prevented from trampling us to death only by the incessant exertions -and vociferations of Too-wit. Our chief security lay, however, in the -presence of Too-wit himself among us, and we resolved to stick by him -closely, as the best chance of extricating ourselves from the dilemma, -sacrificing him immediately upon the first appearance of hostile -design.</p> - -<p>After some trouble a certain degree of quiet was restored, when the -chief addressed us in a speech of great length, and very nearly -resembling the one delivered in the canoes, with the exception that the -<i>Anamoo-moos!</i> were now somewhat more strenuously insisted upon than -the <i>Lama-Lamas!</i> We listened in profound silence until the conclusion -of his harangue, when Captain Guy replied by assuring the chief of his -eternal friendship and good-will, concluding what he had to say by a -present of several strings of blue beads and a knife. At the former the -monarch, much to our surprise, turned up his nose with some expression -of contempt; but the knife gave him the most unlimited satisfaction, -and he immediately ordered dinner. This was handed into the tent over -the heads of the attendants, and consisted of the palpitating entrails -of a species of unknown animal, probably one of the slim-legged hogs -which we had observed in our approach to the village. Seeing us at a -loss how to proceed, he began, by way of setting us an example, to -devour yard after yard of the enticing food, until we could positively -stand it no longer, and evinced such manifest symptoms of rebellion of -stomach as inspired his majesty with a degree of astonishment only -inferior to that brought about by the looking-glasses. We declined, -however, partaking of the delicacies before us, and endeavoured to make -him understand that we had no appetite whatever, having just finished a -hearty <i>déjeuner</i>.</p> - -<p>When the monarch had made an end of his meal, we commenced a series of -cross-questioning in every ingenious manner we could devise, with a -view of discovering what were the chief productions of the country, and -whether any of them might be turned to profit. At length he seemed to -have some idea of our meaning, and offered to accompany us to a part of -the coast where he assured us the <i>biche de mer</i> (pointing to a -specimen of that animal) was to be found in great abundance. We were -glad at this early opportunity of escaping from the oppression of the -crowd, and signified our eagerness to proceed. We now left the tent, -and, accompanied by the whole population of the village, followed the -chief to the southeastern extremity of the island, not far from the bay -where our vessel lay at anchor. We waited here for about an hour, until -the four canoes were brought round by some of the savages to our -station. The whole of our party then getting into one of them, we were -paddled along the edge of the reef before mentioned, and of another -still farther out, where we saw a far greater quantity of <i>biche de -mer</i> than the oldest seaman among us had ever seen in those groups of -the lower latitudes most celebrated for this article of commerce. We -stayed near these reefs only long enough to satisfy ourselves that we -could easily load a dozen vessels with the animal if necessary, when we -were taken alongside the schooner, and parted with Too-wit after -obtaining from him a promise that he would bring us, in the course of -twenty-four hours, as many of the canvass-back ducks and Gallipago -tortoises as his canoes would hold. In the whole of this adventure we -saw nothing in the demeanour of the natives calculated to create -suspicion, with the single exception of the systematic manner in which -their party was strengthened during our route from the schooner to the -village.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap20"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XX.</h3> -<br> - -<p>The chief was as good as his word, and we were soon plentifully -supplied with fresh provision. We found the tortoises as fine as we had -ever seen, and the ducks surpassed our best species of wild fowl, being -exceedingly tender, juicy, and well-flavoured. Besides these, the -savages brought us, upon our making them comprehend our wishes, a vast -quantity of brown celery and scurvy grass, with a canoe-load of fresh -fish and some dried. The celery was a treat indeed, and the scurvy -grass proved of incalculable benefit in restoring those of our men who -had shown symptoms of disease. In a very short time we had not a single -person on the sick-list. We had also plenty of other kinds of fresh -provision, among which may be mentioned a species of shellfish -resembling the muscle in shape, but with the taste of an oyster. -Shrimps, too, and prawns were abundant, and albatross and other birds' -eggs with dark shells. We took in, too, a plentiful stock of the flesh -of the hog which I have mentioned before. Most of the men found it a -palatable food, but I thought it fishy and otherwise disagreeable. In -return for these good things we presented the natives with blue beads, -brass trinkets, nails, knives, and pieces of red cloth, they being -fully delighted in the exchange. We established a regular market on -shore, just under the guns of the schooner, where our barterings were -carried on with every appearance of good faith, and a degree of order -which their conduct at the village of <i>Klock-klock</i> had not led us to -expect from the savages.</p> - -<p>Matters went on thus very amicably for several days, during which -parties of the natives were frequently on board the schooner, and -parties of our men frequently on shore, making long excursions into the -interior, and receiving no molestation whatever. Finding the ease with -which the vessel might be loaded with <i>biche de mer</i>, owing to the -friendly disposition of the islanders, and the readiness with which -they would render us assistance in collecting it, Captain Guy resolved -to enter into negotiation with Too-wit for the erection of suitable -houses in which to cure the article, and for the services of himself -and tribe in gathering as much as possible, while he himself took -advantage of the fine weather to prosecute his voyage to the southward. -Upon mentioning this project to the chief he seemed very willing to -enter into an agreement. A bargain was accordingly struck, perfectly -satisfactory to both parties, by which it was arranged that, after -making the necessary preparations, such as laying off the proper -grounds, erecting a portion of the buildings, and doing some other work -in which the whole of our crew would be required, the schooner should -proceed on her route, leaving three of her men on the island to -superintend the fulfilment of the project, and instruct the natives in -drying the <i>biche de mer</i>. In regard to terms, these were made to -depend upon the exertions of the savages in our absence. They were to -receive a stipulated quantity of blue beads, knives, red cloth, and so -forth, for every certain number of piculs of the <i>biche de mer</i> which -should be ready on our return.</p> - -<p>A description of the nature of this important article of commerce, and -the method of preparing it, may prove of some interest to my readers, -and I can find no more suitable place than this for introducing an -account of it. The following comprehensive notice of the substance is -taken from a modern history of a voyage to the South Seas.</p> - -<p>"It is that <i>mollusca</i> from the Indian Seas which is known in commerce -by the French name <i>bouche de mer</i> (a nice morsel from the sea). If I -am not much mistaken, the celebrated Cuvier calls it <i>gasteropeda -pulmonifera</i>. It is abundantly gathered in the coasts of the Pacific -Islands, and gathered especially for the Chinese market, where it -commands a great price, perhaps as much as their much-talked of edible -bird's nests, which are probably made up of the gelatinous matter -picked up by a species of swallow from the body of these molluscæ. They -have no shell, no legs, nor any prominent part, except an <i>absorbing</i> -and an <i>excretory</i>, opposite organs; but, by their elastic wings, like -caterpillars or worms, they creep in shallow waters, in which, when -low, they can be seen by a kind of swallow, the sharp bill of which, -inserted in the soft animal, draws a gummy and filamentous substance, -which, by drying, can be wrought into the solid walls of their nest. -Hence the name of <i>gasteropeda pulmonifera</i>.</p> - -<p>"This mollusca is oblong, and of different sizes, from three to -eighteen inches in length; and I have seen a few that were not less -than two feet long. They are nearly round, a little flattish on one -side, which lies next the bottom of the sea; and they are from one to -eight inches thick. They crawl up into shallow water at particular -seasons of the year, probably for the purpose of gendering, as we often -find them in pairs. It is when the sun has the most power on the water, -rendering it tepid, that they approach the shore; and they often go up -into places so shallow, that, on the tide's receding, they are left -dry, exposed to the heat of the sun. But they do not bring forth their -young in shallow water, as we never see any of their progeny, and the -full-grown ones are always observed coming in from deep water. They -feed principally on that class of zoophytes which produce the coral.</p> - -<p>"The <i>biche de mer</i> is generally taken in three or four feet water; -after which they are brought on shore, and split at one end with a -knife, the incision being one inch or more, according to the size of -the mollusca. Through this opening the entrails are forced out by -pressure, and they are much like those of any other small tenant of the -deep. The article is then washed, and afterward boiled to a certain -degree, which must not be too much or too little. They are then buried -in the ground for four hours, then boiled again for a short time, after -which they are dried, either by the fire or the sun. Those cured by the -sun are worth the most; but where one picul -(133<small><small><sup>1</sup></small></small>/<small><small>3</small></small> lbs.) can be cured -that way, I can cure thirty piculs by the fire. When once properly -cured, they can be kept in a dry place for two or three years without -any risk; but they should be examined once in every few months, say -four times a year, to see if any dampness is likely to affect them.</p> - -<p>"The Chinese, as before stated, consider <i>biche de mer</i> a very great -luxury, believing that it wonderfully strengthens and nourishes the -system, and renews the exhausted system of the immoderate voluptuary. -The first quality commands a high price in Canton, being worth ninety -dollars a picul; the second quality seventy-five dollars; the third -fifty dollars; the fourth thirty dollars; the fifth twenty dollars; the -sixth twelve dollars; the seventh eight dollars; and the eighth four -dollars; small cargoes, however, will often bring more in Manilla, -Singapore, and Batavia."</p> - -<p>An agreement having been thus entered into, we proceeded immediately to -land everything necessary for preparing the buildings and clearing the -ground. A large flat space near the eastern shore of the bay was -selected, where there was plenty both of wood and water, and within a -convenient distance of the principal reefs on which the <i>biche de mer</i> -was to be procured. We now all set to work in good earnest, and soon, -to the great astonishment of the savages, had felled a sufficient -number of trees for our purpose, getting them quickly in order for the -framework of the houses, which in two or three days were so far under -way that we could safely trust the rest of the work to the three men -whom we intended to leave behind. These were John Carson, Alfred -Harris, and —— Peterson (all natives of London, I believe), who -volunteered their services in this respect.</p> - -<p>By the last of the month we had everything in readiness for departure. -We had agreed, however, to pay a formal visit of leavestaking to the -village, and Too-wit insisted so pertinaciously upon our keeping the -promise, that we did not think it advisable to run the risk of -offending him by a final refusal. I believe that not one of us had at -this time the slightest suspicion of the good faith of the savages. -They had uniformly behaved with the greatest decorum, aiding us with -alacrity in our work, offering us their commodities frequently without -price, and never, in any instance, pilfering a single article, although -the high value they set upon the goods we had with us was evident by -the extravagant demonstrations of joy always manifested upon our making -them a present. The women especially were most obliging in every -respect, and, upon the whole, we should have been the most suspicious -of human beings had we entertained a single thought of perfidy on the -part of a people who treated us so well. A very short while sufficed to -prove that this apparent kindness of disposition was only the result of -a deeply-laid plan for our destruction, and that the islanders for whom -we entertained such inordinate feelings of esteem were among the most -barbarous, subtle, and bloodthirsty wretches that ever contaminated the -face of the globe.</p> - -<p>It was on the first of February that we went on shore for the purpose -of visiting the village. Although, as said before, we entertained not -the slightest suspicion, still no proper precaution was neglected. Six -men were left in the schooner with instructions to permit none of the -savages to approach the vessel during our absence, under any pretence -whatever, and to remain constantly on deck. The boarding-nettings were -up, the guns double-shotted with grape and canister, and the swivels -loaded with canisters of musket-balls. She lay, with her anchor apeak, -about a mile from the shore, and no canoe could approach her in any -direction without being distinctly seen and exposed to the full fire of -our swivels immediately.</p> - -<p>The six men being left on board, our shore-party consisted of -thirty-two persons in all. We were armed to the teeth, having with us -muskets, pistols, and cutlasses, besides each a long kind of seaman's -knife, somewhat resembling the Bowie knife now so much used throughout -our western and southern country. A hundred of the black skin warriors -met us at the landing for the purpose of accompanying us on our way. We -noticed, however, with some surprise, that they were now entirely -without arms; and, upon questioning Too-wit in relation to this -circumstance, he merely answered that <i>Mattee non we pa pa si</i>—meaning -that there was no need of arms where all were brothers. We took this in -good part, and proceeded.</p> - -<p>We had passed the spring and rivulet of which I before spoke, and were -now entering upon a narrow gorge leading through the chain of soapstone -hills among which the village was situated. This gorge was very rocky -and uneven, so much so that it was with no little difficulty we -scrambled through it on our first visit to Klock-klock. The whole -length of the ravine might have been a mile and a half, or probably two -miles. It wound in every possible direction through the hills (having -apparently formed, at some remote period, the bed of a torrent), in no -instance proceeding more than twenty yards without an abrupt turn. The -sides of this dell would have averaged, I am sure, seventy or eighty -feet in perpendicular altitude throughout the whole of their extent, -and in some portions they arose to an astonishing height, overshadowing -the pass so completely that but little of the light of day could -penetrate. The general width was about forty feet, and occasionally it -diminished so as not to allow the passage of more than five or six persons -abreast. In short, there could be no place in the world better -adapted for the consummation of an ambuscade, and it was no more than -natural that we should look carefully to our arms as we entered upon -it. When I now think of our egregious folly, the chief subject of -astonishment seems to be, that we should have ever ventured, under any -circumstances, so completely into the power of unknown savages as to -permit them to march both before and behind us in our progress through -this ravine. Yet such was the order we blindly took up, trusting -foolishly to the force of our party, the unarmed condition of Too-wit -and his men, the certain efficacy of our fire-arms (whose effect was yet -a secret to the natives), and, more than all, to the long-sustained -pretension of friendship kept up by these infamous wretches. Five or -six of them went on before, as if to lead the way, ostentatiously -busying themselves in removing the larger stones and rubbish from the -path. Next came our own party. We walked closely together, taking care -only to prevent separation. Behind followed the main body of the -savages, observing unusual order and decorum.</p> - -<p>Dirk Peters, a man named Wilson Allen, and myself were on the right of -our companions, examining, as we went along, the singular -stratification of the precipice which overhung us. A fissure in the -soft rock attracted our attention. It was about wide enough for one -person to enter without squeezing, and extended back into the hill some -eighteen or twenty feet in a straight course, sloping afterward to the -left. The height of the opening, as far as we could see into it from -the main gorge, was perhaps sixty or seventy feet. There were one or -two stunted shrubs growing from the crevices, bearing a species of -filbert, which I felt some curiosity to examine, and pushed in briskly -for that purpose, gathering five or six of the nuts at a grasp, and -then hastily retreating. As I turned, I found that Peters and Allen had -followed me. I desired them to go back, as there was not room for two -persons to pass, saying they should have some of my nuts. They -accordingly turned, and were scrambling back, Allen being close to the -mouth of the fissure, when I was suddenly aware of a concussion -resembling nothing I had ever before experienced, and which impressed -me with a vague conception, if indeed I then thought of anything, that -the whole foundations of the solid globe were suddenly rent asunder, -and that the day of universal dissolution was at hand.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap21"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XXI.</h3> -<br> - -<p>As soon as I could collect my scattered senses, I found myself nearly -suffocated, and grovelling in utter darkness among a quantity of loose -earth, which was also falling upon me heavily in every direction, -threatening to bury me entirely. Horribly alarmed at this idea, I -struggled to gain my feet, and at length succeeded. I then remained -motionless for some moments, endeavouring to conceive what had happened -to me, and where I was. Presently I heard a deep groan just at my ear, -and afterward the smothered voice of Peters calling to me for aid in -the name of God. I scrambled one or two paces forward, when I fell -directly over the head and shoulders of my companion, who, I soon -discovered, was buried in a loose mass of earth as far as his middle, -and struggling desperately to free himself from the pressure. I tore -the dirt from around him with all the energy I could command, and at -length succeeded in getting him out.</p> - -<p>As soon as we sufficiently recovered from our fright and surprise to be -capable of conversing rationally, we both came to the conclusion that -the walls of the fissure in which we had ventured had, by some -convulsion of nature, or probably from their own weight, caved in -overhead, and that we were consequently lost for ever, being thus -entombed alive. For a long time we gave up supinely to the most intense -agony and despair, such as cannot be adequately imagined by those who -have never been in a similar situation. I firmly believe that no -incident ever occurring in the course of human events is more adapted -to inspire the supremeness of mental and bodily distress than a case -like our own, of living inhumation. The blackness of darkness which -envelops the victim, the terrific oppression of lungs, the stifling -fumes from the damp earth, unite with the ghastly considerations that -we are beyond the remotest confines of hope, and that such is the -allotted portion of <i>the dead</i>, to carry into the human heart a degree -of appalling awe and horror not to be tolerated—never to be conceived.</p> - -<p>At length Peters proposed that we should endeavour to ascertain -precisely the extent of our calamity, and grope about our prison; it -being barely possible, he observed, that some opening might be yet left -us for escape. I caught eagerly at this hope, and, arousing myself to -exertion, attempted to force my way through the loose earth. Hardly had -I advanced a single step before a glimmer of light became perceptible, -enough to convince me that, at all events, we should not immediately -perish for want of air. We now took some degree of heart, and -encouraged each other to hope for the best. Having scrambled over a -bank of rubbish which impeded our farther progress in the direction of -the light, we found less difficulty in advancing, and also experienced -some relief from the excessive oppression of lungs which had tormented -us. Presently we were enabled to obtain a glimpse of the objects -around, and discovered that we were near the extremity of the straight -portion of the fissure, where it made a turn to the left. A few -struggles more, and we reached the bend, when, to our inexpressible -joy, there appeared a long seam or crack extending upward a vast -distance, generally at an angle of about forty-five degrees, although -sometimes much more precipitous. We could not see through the whole -extent of this opening; but, as a good deal of light came down it, we -had little doubt of finding at the top of it (if we could by any means -reach the top) a clear passage into the open air.</p> - -<p>I now called to mind that three of us had entered the fissure from the -main gorge, and that our companion, Allen, was still missing; we -determined at once to retrace our steps and look for him. After a long -search, and much danger from the farther caving in of the earth above -us, Peters at length cried out to me that he had hold of our -companion's foot, and that his whole body was deeply buried beneath the -rubbish, beyond a possibility of extricating him. I soon found that -what he said was too true, and that, of course, life had been long -extinct. With sorrowful hearts, therefore, we left the corpse to its -fate, and again made our way to the bend.</p> - -<p>The breadth of the seam was barely sufficient to admit us, and, after -one or two ineffectual efforts at getting up, we began once more to -despair. I have before said that the chain of hills through which ran -the main gorge was composed of a species of soft rock resembling -soapstone. The sides of the cleft we were now attempting to ascend were -of the same material, and so excessively slippery, being wet, that we -could get but little foothold upon them even in their least precipitous -parts; in some places, where the ascent was nearly perpendicular, the -difficulty was, of course, much aggravated; and, indeed, for some time -we thought it insurmountable. We took courage, however, from despair; -and what, by dint of cutting steps in the soft stone with our Bowie -knives, and swinging, at the risk of our lives, to small projecting -points of a harder species of slaty rock which now and then protruded -from the general mass, we at length reached a natural platform, from -which was perceptible a patch of blue sky, at the extremity of a -thickly-wooded ravine. Looking back now, with somewhat more leisure, at -the passage through which we had thus far proceeded, we clearly saw, -from the appearance of its sides, that it was of late formation, and we -concluded that the concussion, whatever it was, which had so -unexpectedly overwhelmed us, had also, at the same moment, laid open -this path for escape. Being quite exhausted with exertion, and, indeed, -so weak that we were scarcely able to stand or articulate, Peters now -proposed that we should endeavour to bring our companions to the rescue -by firing the pistols which still remained in our girdles—the muskets -as well as cutlasses had been lost among the loose earth at the bottom -of the chasm. Subsequent events proved that, had we fired, we should -have sorely repented it; but, luckily, a half suspicion of foul play -had by this time arisen in my mind, and we forbore to let the savages -know of our whereabouts.</p> - -<p>After having reposed for about an hour, we pushed on slowly up the -ravine, and had gone no great way before we heard a succession of -tremendous yells. At length we reached what might be called the surface -of the ground; for our path hitherto, since leaving the platform, had -lain beneath an archway of high rock and foliage, at a vast distance -overhead. With great caution we stole to a narrow opening, through -which we had a clear sight of the surrounding country, when the whole -dreadful secret of the concussion broke upon us in one moment and at -one view.</p> - -<p>The spot from which we looked was not far from the summit of the -highest peak in the range of the soapstone hills. The gorge in which -our party of thirty-two had entered ran within fifty feet to the left -of us. But, for at least one hundred yards, the channel or bed of this -gorge was entirely filled up with the chaotic ruins of more than a -million tons of earth and stone that had been artificially tumbled -within it. The means by which the vast mass had been precipitated were -not more simple than evident, for sure traces of the murderous work -were yet remaining. In several spots along the top of the eastern side -of the gorge (we were now on the western) might be seen stakes of wood -driven into the earth. In these spots the earth had not given way; but -throughout the whole extent of the face of the precipice from which the -mass <i>had</i> fallen, it was clear, from marks left in the soil resembling -those made by the drill of the rock-blaster, that stakes similar to -those we saw standing had been inserted, at not more than a yard apart, -for the length of perhaps three hundred feet, and ranging at about ten -feet back from the edge of the gulf. Strong cords of grape vine were -attached to the stakes still remaining on the hill, and it was evident -that such cords had also been attached to each of the other stakes. I -have already spoken of the singular stratification of these soapstone -hills; and the description just given of the narrow and deep fissure -through which we effected our escape from inhumation will afford a -further conception of its nature. This was such that almost every -natural convulsion would be sure to split the soil into perpendicular -layers or ridges running parallel with one another; and a very moderate -exertion of art would be sufficient for effecting the same purpose. Of -this stratification the savages had availed themselves to accomplish -their treacherous ends. There can be no doubt that, by the continuous -line of stakes, a partial rupture of the soil had been brought about, -probably to the depth of one or two feet, when, by means of a savage -pulling at the end of each of the cords (these cords being attached to -the tops of the stakes, and extending back from the edge of the cliff), -a vast leverage power was obtained, capable of hurling the whole face -of the hill, upon a given signal, into the bosom of the abyss below. -The fate of our poor companions was no longer a matter of uncertainty. -We alone had escaped from the tempest of that overwhelming destruction. -We were the only living white men upon the island.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap22"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XXII.</h3> -<br> - -<p>Our situation, as it now appeared, was scarcely less dreadful than when -we had conceived ourselves entombed for ever. We saw before us no -prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging -out a miserable existence in captivity among them. We might, to be -sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the -fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from -which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long Polar -winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our -efforts to obtain relief.</p> - -<p>The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds -of whom, we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the -southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in -the capture and plunder of the Jane. The vessel still lay calmly at -anchor in the bay, those on board being apparently quite unconscious of -any danger awaiting them. How we longed at that moment to be with them! -either to aid in effecting their escape, or to perish with them in -attempting a defence. We saw no chance even of warning them of their -danger without bringing immediate destruction upon our own heads, with -but a remote hope of benefit to them. A pistol fired might suffice to -apprize them that something wrong had occurred; but the report could -not possibly inform them that their only prospect of safety lay in -getting out of the harbour forthwith—it could not tell them that no -principles of honour now bound them to remain, that their companions -were no longer among the living. Upon hearing the discharge they could -not be more thoroughly prepared to meet the foe, who were now getting -ready to attack, than they already were, and always had been. No good, -therefore, and infinite harm, would result from our firing, and, after -mature deliberation, we forbore.</p> - -<p>Our next thought was to attempt a rush towards the vessel, to seize one -of the four canoes which lay at the head of the bay, and endeavour to -force a passage on board. But the utter impossibility of succeeding in -this desperate task soon became evident. The country, as I said before, -was literally swarming with the natives, skulking among the bushes and -recesses of the hills, so as not to be observed from the schooner. In -our immediate vicinity especially, and blockading the sole path by -which we could hope to attain the shore in the proper point, were -stationed the whole party of the black skin warriors, with Too-wit at -their head, and apparently only waiting for some re-enforcement to -commence his onset upon the Jane. The canoes, too, which lay at the -head of the bay were manned with savages, unarmed, it is true, but who -undoubtedly had arms within reach. We were forced, therefore, however -unwillingly, to remain in our place of concealment, mere spectators of -the conflict which presently ensued.</p> - -<p>In about half an hour we saw some sixty or seventy rafts, or flatboats, -with outriggers, filled with savages, and coming round the southern -bight of the harbour. They appeared to have no arms except short clubs, -and stones which lay in the bottom of the rafts. Immediately afterward -another detachment, still larger, approached in an opposite direction, -and with similar weapons. The four canoes, too, were now quickly filled -with natives, starting up from the bushes at the head of the bay, and -put off swiftly to join the other parties. Thus, in less time than I -have taken to tell it, and as if by magic, the Jane saw herself -surrounded by an immense multitude of desperadoes evidently bent upon -capturing her at all hazards.</p> - -<p>That they would succeed in so doing could not be doubted for an -instant. The six men left in the vessel, however resolutely they might -engage in her defence, were altogether unequal to the proper management -of the guns, or in any manner to sustain a contest at such odds. I -could hardly imagine that they would make resistance at all, but in -this was deceived; for presently I saw them get springs upon the cable, -and bring the vessel's starboard broadside to bear upon the canoes, -which by this time were within pistol range, the rafts being nearly a -quarter of a mile to windward. Owing to some cause unknown, but most -probably to the agitation of our poor friends at seeing themselves in -so hopeless a situation, the discharge was an entire failure. Not a -canoe was hit or a single savage injured, the shots striking short and -<i>ricochêting</i> over their heads. The only effect produced upon them was -astonishment at the unexpected report and smoke, which was so excessive -that for some moments I almost thought they would abandon their design -entirely, and return to the shore. And this they would most likely have -done had our men followed up their broadside by a discharge of small -arms, in which, as the canoes were now so near at hand, they could not -have failed in doing some execution, sufficient, at least, to deter -this party from a farther advance, until they could have given the -rafts also a broadside. But, in place of this, they left the canoe -party to recover from their panic, and, by looking about them, to see -that no injury had been sustained, while they flew to the larboard to -get ready for the rafts.</p> - -<p>The discharge to larboard produced the most terrible effect. The star -and double-headed shot of the large guns cut seven or eight of the -rafts completely asunder, and killed, perhaps, thirty or forty of the -savages outright, while a hundred of them, at least, were thrown into -the water, the most of them dreadfully wounded. The remainder, -frightened out of their senses, commenced at once a precipitate -retreat, not even waiting to pick up their maimed companions, who were -swimming about in every direction, screaming and yelling for aid. This -great success, however, came too late for the salvation of our devoted -people. The canoe party were already on board the schooner to the -number of more than a hundred and fifty, the most of them having -succeeded in scrambling up the chains and over the boarding nettings -even before the matches had been applied to the larboard guns. Nothing -could now withstand their brute rage. Our men were borne down at once, -overwhelmed, trodden under foot, and absolutely torn to pieces in an -instant.</p> - -<p>Seeing this, the savages on the rafts got the better of their fears, -and came up in shoals to the plunder. In five minutes the Jane was a -pitiable scene indeed of havoc and tumultuous outrage. The decks were -split open and ripped up; the cordage, sails, and everything moveable -on deck demolished as if by magic; while, by dint of pushing at the -stern, towing with the canoes, and hauling at the sides, as they swam -in thousands around the vessel, the wretches finally forced her on -shore (the cable having been slipped), and delivered her over to the -good offices of Too-wit, who, during the whole of the engagement, had -maintained, like a skilful general, his post of security and -reconnoissance among the hills, but, now that the victory was completed -to his satisfaction, condescended to scamper down with his warriors of -the black skin, and become a partaker in the spoils.</p> - -<p>Too-wit's descent left us at liberty to quit our hiding-place and -reconnoitre the hill in the vicinity of the chasm. At about fifty yards -from the mouth of it we saw a small spring of water, at which we slaked -the burning thirst that now consumed us. Not far from the spring we -discovered several of the filbert-bushes which I mentioned before. Upon -tasting the nuts we found them palatable, and very nearly resembling in -flavour the common English filbert. We collected our hats full -immediately, deposited them within the ravine, and returned for more. -While we were busily employed in gathering these, a rustling in the -bushes alarmed us, and we were upon the point of stealing back to our -covert, when a large black bird of the bittern species strugglingly and -slowly arose above the shrubs. I was so much startled that I could do -nothing, but Peters had sufficient presence of mind to run up to it -before it could make its escape, and seize it by the neck. Its -struggles and screams were tremendous, and we had thoughts of letting -it go, lest the noise should alarm some of the savages who might be -still lurking in the neighbourhood. A stab with a Bowie knife, however, -at length brought it to the ground, and we dragged it into the ravine, -congratulating ourselves that, at all events, we had thus obtained a -supply of food enough to last us for a week.</p> - -<p>We now went out again to look about us, and ventured a considerable -distance down the southern declivity of the hill, but met with nothing -else which could serve us for food. We therefore collected a quantity -of dry wood and returned, seeing one or two large parties of the -natives on their way to the village, laden with the plunder of the -vessel, and who, we were apprehensive, might discover us in passing -beneath the hill.</p> - -<p>Our next care was to render our place of concealment as secure as -possible, and, with this object, we arranged some brushwood over the -aperture which I have before spoken of as the one through which we saw -the patch of blue sky, on reaching the platform from the interior of -the chasm. We left only a very small opening, just wide enough to admit -of our seeing the bay, without the risk of being discovered from below. -Having done this, we congratulated ourselves upon the security of the -position; for we were now completely excluded from observation, as long -as we chose to remain within the ravine itself, and not venture out -upon the hill. We could perceive no traces of the savages having ever -been within this hollow; but, indeed, when we came to reflect upon the -probability that the fissure through which we attained it had been only -just now created by the fall of the cliff opposite, and that no other -way of attaining it could be perceived, we were not so much rejoiced at -the thought of being secure from molestation as fearful lest there -should be absolutely no means left us for descent. We resolved to -explore the summit of the hill thoroughly, when a good opportunity -should offer. In the mean time we watched the motions of the savages -through our loophole.</p> - -<p>They had already made a complete wreck of the vessel, and were now -preparing to set her on fire. In a little while we saw the smoke -ascending in huge volumes from her main-hatchway, and, shortly -afterward, a dense mass of flame burst up from the forecastle. The -rigging, masts, and what remained of the sails caught immediately, and -the fire spread rapidly along the decks. Still a great many of the -savages retained their stations about her, hammering with large stones, -axes, and cannon balls at the bolts and other copper and iron work. On -the beach, and in canoes and rafts, there were not less, altogether, in -the immediate vicinity of the schooner, than ten thousand natives, -besides the shoals of them who, laden with booty, were making their way -inland and over to the neighbouring islands. We now anticipated a -catastrophe, and were not disappointed. First of all there came a smart -shock (which we felt distinctly where we were as if we had been -slightly galvanized), but unattended with any visible signs of an -explosion. The savages were evidently startled, and paused for an -instant from their labours and yellings. They were upon the point of -recommencing, when suddenly a mass of smoke puffed up from the decks, -resembling a black and heavy thunder-cloud—then, as if from its -bowels, arose a tall stream of vivid fire to the height, apparently, of -a quarter of a mile—then there came a sudden circular expansion of the -flame—then the whole atmosphere was magically crowded, in a single -instant, with a wild chaos of wood, and metal, and human limbs—and, -lastly, came the concussion in its fullest fury, which hurled us -impetuously from our feet, while the hills echoed and re-echoed the -tumult, and a dense shower of the minutest fragments of the ruins -tumbled headlong in every direction around us.</p> - -<p>The havoc among the savages far exceeded our utmost expectation, and -they had now, indeed, reaped the full and perfect fruits of their -treachery. Perhaps a thousand perished by the explosion, while at least -an equal number were desperately mangled. The whole surface of the bay -was literally strewn with the struggling and drowning wretches, and on -shore matters were even worse. They seemed utterly appalled by the -suddenness and completeness of their discomfiture, and made no efforts -at assisting one another. At length we observed a total change in their -demeanour. From absolute stupor they appeared to be, all at once, -aroused to the highest pitch of excitement, and rushed wildly about, -going to and from a certain point on the beach, with the strangest -expressions of mingled horror, rage, and intense curiosity depicted on -their countenances, and shouting, at the top of their voices, -<i>Tekeli-li! Tekeli-li!</i></p> - -<p>Presently we saw a large body go off into the hills, whence they -returned in a short time, carrying stakes of wood. These they brought -to the station where the crowd was the thickest, which now separated so -as to afford us a view of the object of all this excitement. We -perceived something white lying on the ground, but could not -immediately make out what it was. At length we saw that it was the -carcass of the strange animal with the scarlet teeth and claws which -the schooner had picked up at sea on the eighteenth of January. Captain -Guy had had the body preserved for the purpose of stuffing the skin and -taking it to England. I remember he had given some directions about it -just before our making the island, and it had been brought into the -cabin and stowed away in one of the lockers. It had now been thrown on -shore by the explosion; but why it had occasioned so much concern among -the savages was more than we could comprehend. Although they crowded -around the carcass at a little distance, none of them seemed willing to -approach it closely. By-and-by the men with the stakes drove them in a -circle around it, and, no sooner was this arrangement completed, than -the whole of the vast assembly rushed into the interior of the island, -with loud screams of <i>Tekeli-li! Tekeli-li!</i></p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap23"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XXIII.</h3> -<br> - -<p>During the six or seven days immediately following we remained in our -hiding-place upon the hill, going out only occasionally, and then with -the greatest precaution, for water and filberts. We had made a kind of -pent-house on the platform, furnishing it with a bed of dry leaves, and -placing in it three large flat stones, which served us for both -fireplace and table. We kindled a fire without difficulty by rubbing -two pieces of dry wood together, the one soft, the other hard. The bird -we had taken in such good season proved excellent eating, although -somewhat tough. It was not an oceanic fowl, but a species of bittern, -with jet black and grizzly plumage, and diminutive wings in proportion -to its bulk. We afterward saw three of the same kind in the vicinity of -the ravine, apparently seeking for the one we had captured; but, as -they never alighted, we had no opportunity of catching them.</p> - -<p>As long as this fowl lasted we suffered nothing from our situation; but -it was now entirely consumed, and it became absolutely necessary that -we should look out for provision. The filberts would not satisfy the -cravings of hunger, afflicting us, too, with severe gripings of the -bowels, and, if freely indulged in, with violent headache. We had seen -several large tortoises near the seashore to the eastward of the hill, -and perceived they might be easily taken, if we could get at them -without the observation of the natives. It was resolved, therefore, to -make an attempt at descending.</p> - -<p>We commenced by going down the southern declivity, which seemed to -offer the fewest difficulties, but had not proceeded a hundred yards -before (as we had anticipated from appearances on the hill-top) our -progress was entirely arrested by a branch of the gorge in which our -companions had perished. We now passed along the edge of this for about -a quarter of a mile, when we were again stopped by a precipice of -immense depth, and, not being able to make our way along the brink of -it, we were forced to retrace our steps by the main ravine.</p> - -<p>We now pushed over to the eastward, but with precisely similar fortune. -After an hour's scramble, at the risk of breaking our necks, we -discovered that we had merely descended into a vast pit of black -granite, with fine dust at the bottom, and whence the only egress was -by the rugged path in which we had come down. Toiling again up this -path, we now tried the northern edge of the hill. Here we were obliged -to use the greatest possible caution in our manoeuvres, as the least -indiscretion would expose us to the full view of the savages in the -village. We crawled along, therefore, on our hands and knees, and, -occasionally, were even forced to throw ourselves at full length, -dragging our bodies along by means of the shrubbery. In this careful -manner we had proceeded but a little way, when we arrived at a chasm -far deeper than any we had yet seen, and leading directly into the main -gorge. Thus our fears were fully confirmed, and we found ourselves cut -off entirely from access to the world below. Thoroughly exhausted by -our exertions, we made the best of our way back to the platform, and, -throwing ourselves upon the bed of leaves, slept sweetly and soundly -for some hours.</p> - -<p>For several days after this fruitless search we were occupied in -exploring every part of the summit of the hill, in order to inform -ourselves of its actual resources. We found that it would afford us no -food, with the exception of the unwholesome filberts, and a rank -species of scurvy grass which grew in a little patch of not more than -four rods square, and would be soon exhausted. On the fifteenth of -February, as near as I can remember, there was not a blade of this -left, and the nuts were growing scarce; our situation, therefore, could -hardly be more lamentable.<small><small><sup>5</sup></small></small> On the sixteenth we again went round the -walls of our prison, in hope of finding some avenue of escape, but to -no purpose. We also descended the chasm in which we had been -overwhelmed, with the faint expectation of discovering, through this -channel, some opening to the main ravine. Here, too, we were -disappointed, although we found and brought up with us a musket.</p> - -<blockquote><small><small><sup>5</sup></small> This day was rendered remarkable by our observing in the -south several huge wreaths of the grayish vapour I have before spoken -of.</small></blockquote> - -<p>On the seventeenth we set out with the determination of examining more -thoroughly the chasm of black granite into which we had made our way in -the first search. We remembered that one of the fissures in the sides -of this pit had been but partially looked into, and we were anxious to -explore it, although with no expectation of discovering here any -opening.</p> - -<p>We found no great difficulty in reaching the bottom of the hollow as -before, and were now sufficiently calm to survey it with some -attention. It was, indeed, one of the most singular-looking places -imaginable, and we could scarcely bring ourselves to believe it -altogether the work of nature. The pit, from its eastern to its western -extremity, was about five hundred yards in length, when all its -windings were threaded; the distance from east to west in a straight -line not being more (I should suppose, having no means of accurate -examination) than forty or fifty yards. Upon first descending into the -chasm, that is to say, for a hundred feet downward from the summit of -the hill, the sides of the abyss bore little resemblance to each other, -and, apparently, had at no time been connected, the one surface being -of the soapstone and the other of marl, granulated with some metallic -matter. The average breadth, or interval between the two cliffs, was -probably here sixty feet, but there seemed to be no regularity of -formation. Passing down, however, beyond the limit spoken of, the -interval rapidly contracted, and the sides began to run parallel, -although, for some distance farther, they were still dissimilar in -their material and form of surface. Upon arriving within fifty feet of -the bottom, a perfect regularity commenced. The sides were now entirely -uniform in substance, in colour, and in lateral direction, the material -being a very black and shining granite, and the distance between the -two sides, at all points facing each other, exactly twenty yards. The -precise formation of the chasm will be best understood by means of a -delineation taken upon the spot; for I had luckily with me a pocketbook -and pencil, which I preserved with great care through a long series of -subsequent adventure, and to which I am indebted for memoranda of many -subjects which would otherwise have been crowded from my remembrance.</p> -<a name="figure1"></a> -<center><i>Figure 1</i>.</center><br> -<center><img src="images/1.jpg" alt="figure 1"></center> - -<p>This figure (see figure 1) gives the general outlines of the chasm, -without the minor cavities in the sides, of which there were several, -each cavity having a corresponding protuberance opposite. The bottom of -the gulf was covered to the depth of three or four inches with a powder -almost impalpable, beneath which we found a continuation of the black -granite. To the right, at the lower extremity, will be noticed the -appearance of a small opening; this is the fissure alluded to above, -and to examine which more minutely than before was the object of our -second visit. We now pushed into it with vigour, cutting away a -quantity of brambles which impeded us, and removing a vast heap of -sharp flints somewhat resembling arrowheads in shape. We were -encouraged to persevere, however, by perceiving some little light -proceeding from the farther end. We at length squeezed our way for -about thirty feet, and found that the aperture was a low and -regularly-formed arch, having a bottom of the same impalpable powder as -that in the main chasm. A strong light now broke upon us, and, turning -a short bend, we found ourselves in another lofty chamber, similar to -the one we had left in every respect but longitudinal form. Its general -figure is here given. (See figure 2.)</p> -<a name="figure2"></a> -<center><i>Figure 2</i>.</center><br> -<center><img src="images/2.jpg" alt="figure 2"></center> - -<p>The total length of this chasm, commencing at the opening <i>a</i> and -proceeding round the curve <i>b</i> to the extremity <i>d</i>, is five hundred -and fifty yards. At <i>c</i> we discovered a small aperture similar to the -one through which we had issued from the other chasm, and this was -choked up in the same manner with brambles and a quantity of the white -arrowhead flints. We forced our way through it, finding it about forty -feet long, and emerged into a third chasm. This, too, was precisely -like the first, except in its longitudinal shape, which was thus. (See -figure 3.)</p> -<a name="figure3"></a> -<center><i>Figure 3</i>. - - - - <i>Figure 5</i>.</center><br> -<center><img src="images/3.jpg" alt="figures 3 and 5"></center> - -<p>We found the entire length of the third chasm three hundred and twenty -yards. At the point <i>a</i> was an opening about six feet wide, and -extending fifteen feet into the rock, where it terminated in a bed of -marl, there being no other chasm beyond, as we had expected. We were -about leaving this fissure, into which very little light was admitted, -when Peters called my attention to a range of singular-looking -indentures in the surface of the marl forming the termination of the -<i>cul-de-sac</i>. With a very slight exertion of the imagination, the left, -or most northerly of these indentures might have been taken for the -intentional, although rude, representation of a human figure standing -erect, with outstretched arm. The rest of them bore also some little -resemblance to alphabetical characters, and Peters was willing, at all -events, to adopt the idle opinion that they were really such. I -convinced him of his error, finally, by directing his attention to the -floor of the fissure, where, among the powder, we picked up, piece by -piece, several large flakes of the marl, which had evidently been -broken off by some convulsion from the surface where the indentures -were found, and which had projecting points exactly fitting the -indentures; thus proving them to have been the work of nature. Figure -4. presents an accurate copy of the whole.</p> -<a name="figure4"></a> -<center><i>Figure 4</i>.</center><br> -<center><img src="images/4.jpg" alt="figure 4"></center> - -<p>After satisfying ourselves that these singular caverns afforded us no -means of escape from our prison, we made our way back, dejected and -dispirited, to the summit of the hill. Nothing worth mentioning -occurred during the next twenty-four hours, except that, in examining -the ground to the eastward of the third chasm, we found two triangular -holes of great depth, and also with black granite sides. Into these -holes we did not think it worth while to attempt descending, as they -had the appearance of mere natural wells, without outlet. They were -each about twenty yards in circumference, and their shape, as well as -relative position in regard to the third chasm, is shown in figure 5, -preceding page.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap24"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XXIV.</h3> -<br> - -<p>On the twentieth of the month, finding it altogether impossible to -subsist any longer upon the filberts, the use of which occasioned us -the most excruciating torment, we resolved to make a desperate attempt -at descending the southern declivity of the hill. The face of the -precipice was here of the softest species of soapstone, although nearly -perpendicular throughout its whole extent (a depth of a hundred and -fifty feet at the least), and in many places even overarching. After -long search we discovered a narrow ledge about twenty feet below the -brink of the gulf; upon this Peters contrived to leap, with what -assistance I could render him by means of our pocket-handkerchiefs tied -together. With somewhat more difficulty I also got down; and we then -saw the possibility of descending the whole way by the process in which -we had clambered up from the chasm when we had been buried by the fall -of the hill—that is, by cutting steps in the face of the soapstone -with our knives. The extreme hazard of the attempt can scarcely be -conceived; but, as there was no other resource, we determined to -undertake it.</p> - -<p>Upon the ledge where we stood there grew some filbert-bushes; and to -one of these we made fast an end of our rope of handkerchiefs. The -other end being tied round Peters's waist, I lowered him down over the -edge of the precipice until the handkerchiefs were stretched tight. He -now proceeded to dig a deep hole in the soapstone (as far in as eight -or ten inches), sloping away the rock above to the height of a foot, or -thereabout, so as to allow of his driving, with the butt of a pistol, a -tolerably strong peg into the levelled surface. I then drew him up for -about four feet, when he made a hole similar to the one below, driving -in a peg as before, and having thus a resting-place for both feet and -hands. I now unfastened the handkerchiefs from the bush, throwing him -the end, which he tied to the peg in the uppermost hole, letting -himself down gently to a station about three feet lower than he had yet -been, that is, to the full extent of the handkerchiefs. Here he dug -another hole, and drove another peg. He then drew himself up, so as to -rest his feet in the hole just cut, taking hold with his hands upon the -peg in the one above. It was now necessary to untie the handkerchiefs -from the topmost peg, with the view of fastening them to the second; -and here he found that an error had been committed in cutting the holes -at so great a distance apart. However, after one or two unsuccessful -and dangerous attempts at reaching the knot (having to hold on with his -left hand while he laboured to undo the fastening with his right), he -at length cut the string, leaving six inches of it affixed to the peg. -Tying the handkerchiefs now to the second peg, he descended to a -station below the third, taking care not to go too far down. By these -means (means which I should never have conceived of myself, and for -which we were indebted altogether to Peters's ingenuity and resolution) -my companion finally succeeded, with the occasional aid of projections -in the cliff, in reaching the bottom without accident.</p> - -<p>It was some time before I could summon sufficient resolution to follow -him; but I did at length attempt it. Peters had taken off his shirt -before descending, and this, with my own, formed the rope necessary for -the adventure. After throwing down the musket found in the chasm, I -fastened this rope to the bushes, and let myself down rapidly, -striving, by the vigour of my movements, to banish the trepidation -which I could overcome in no other manner. This answered sufficiently -well for the first four or five steps; but presently I found my -imagination growing terribly excited by thoughts of the vast depth yet -to be descended, and the precarious nature of the pegs and soapstone -holes which were my only support. It was in vain I endeavoured to -banish these reflections, and to keep my eyes steadily bent upon the -flat surface of the cliff before me. The more earnestly I struggled -<i>not to think</i>, the more intensely vivid became my conceptions, and the -more horribly distinct. At length arrived that crisis of fancy, so -fearful in all similar cases, the crisis in which we begin to -anticipate the feelings with which we <i>shall</i> fall—to picture to -ourselves the sickness, and dizziness, and the last struggle, and the -half swoon, and the final bitterness of the rushing and headlong -descent. And now I found these fancies creating their own realities, -and all imagined horrors crowding upon me in fact. I felt my knees -strike violently together, while my fingers were gradually yet -certainly relaxing their grasp. There was a ringing in my ears, and I -said, "This is my knell of death!" And now I was consumed with the -irrepressible desire of looking below. I could not, I would not, -confine my glances to the cliff; and, with a wild, indefinable emotion -half of horror, half of a relieved oppression, I threw my vision far -down into the abyss. For one moment my fingers clutched convulsively -upon their hold, while, with the movement, the faintest possible idea -of ultimate escape wandered, like a shadow, through my mind—in the -next my whole soul was pervaded with <i>a longing to fall;</i> a desire, a -yearning, a passion utterly uncontrollable. I let go at once my grasp -upon the peg, and, turning half round from the precipice, remained -tottering for an instant against its naked face. But now there came a -spinning of the brain; a shrill-sounding and phantom voice screamed -within my ears; a dusky, fiendish, and filmy figure stood immediately -beneath me; and, sighing, I sunk down with a bursting heart, and -plunged within its arms.</p> - -<p>I had swooned, and Peters had caught me as I fell. He had observed my -proceedings from his station at the bottom of the cliff; and, -perceiving my imminent danger, had endeavoured to inspire me with -courage by every suggestion he could devise; although my confusion of -mind had been so great as to prevent my hearing what he said, or being -conscious that he had even spoken to me at all. At length, seeing me -totter, he hastened to ascend to my rescue, and arrived just in time -for my preservation. Had I fallen with my full weight, the rope of -linen would inevitably have snapped, and I should have been -precipitated into the abyss; as it was, he contrived to let me down -gently, so as to remain suspended without danger until animation -returned. This was in about fifteen minutes. On recovery, my -trepidation had entirely vanished; I felt a new being, and, with some -little further aid from my companion, reached the bottom also in -safety.</p> - -<p>We now found ourselves not far from the ravine which had proved the -tomb of our friends, and to the southward of the spot where the hill -had fallen. The place was one of singular wildness, and its aspect -brought to my mind the descriptions given by travellers of those dreary -regions marking the site of degraded Babylon. Not to speak of the ruins -of the disruptured cliff, which formed a chaotic barrier in the vista -to the northward, the surface of the ground in every other direction -was strewn with huge tumuli, apparently the wreck of some gigantic -structures of art; although, in detail, no semblance of art could be -detected. Scoria were abundant, and large shapeless blocks of the black -granite, intermingled with others of marl,<small><small><sup>6</sup></small></small> and both granulated with -metal. Of vegetation there were no traces whatsoever throughout the -whole of the desolate area within sight. Several immense scorpions were -seen, and various reptiles not elsewhere to be found in the high -latitudes.</p> - -<blockquote><small><small><sup>6</sup></small> The marl was also black; indeed, we noticed no -light-coloured substances of any kind upon the island.</small></blockquote> - -<p>As food was our most immediate object, we resolved to make our way to -the seacoast, distant not more than half a mile, with a view of -catching turtle, several of which we had observed from our place of -concealment on the hill. We had proceeded some hundred yards, threading -our route cautiously between the huge rocks and tumuli, when, upon -turning a corner, five savages sprung upon us from a small cavern, -felling Peters to the ground with a blow from a club. As he fell the -whole party rushed upon him to secure their victim, leaving me time to -recover from my astonishment. I still had the musket, but the barrel -had received so much injury in being thrown from the precipice that I -cast it aside as useless, preferring to trust my pistols, which had -been carefully preserved in order. With these I advanced upon the -assailants, firing one after the other in quick succession. Two savages -fell, and one, who was in the act of thrusting a spear into Peters, -sprung to his feet without accomplishing his purpose. My companion -being thus released, we had no further difficulty. He had his pistols -also, but prudently declined using them, confiding in his great -personal strength, which far exceeded that of any person I have ever -known. Seizing a club from one of the savages who had fallen, he dashed -out the brains of the three who remained, killing each instantaneously -with a single blow of the weapon, and leaving us completely masters of -the field.</p> - -<p>So rapidly had these events passed, that we could scarcely believe in -their reality, and were standing over the bodies of the dead in a -species of stupid contemplation, when we were brought to recollection -by the sound of shouts in the distance. It was clear that the savages -had been alarmed by the firing, and that we had little chance of -avoiding discovery. To regain the cliff, it would be necessary to -proceed in the direction of the shouts; and even should we succeed in -arriving at its base, we should never be able to ascend it without -being seen. Our situation was one of the greatest peril, and we were -hesitating in which path to commence a flight, when one of the savages -whom I had shot, and supposed dead, sprang briskly to his feet, and -attempted to make his escape. We overtook him, however, before he had -advanced many paces, and were about to put him to death, when Peters -suggested that we might derive some benefit from forcing him to -accompany us in our attempt at escape. We therefore dragged him with -us, making him understand that we would shoot him if he offered -resistance. In a few minutes he was perfectly submissive, and ran by -our sides as we pushed in among the rocks, making for the seashore.</p> - -<p>So far, the irregularities of the ground we had been traversing hid the -sea, except at intervals, from our sight, and, when we first had it -fairly in view, it was, perhaps, two hundred yards distant. As we -emerged into the open beach we saw, to our great dismay, an immense -crowd of the natives pouring from the village, and from all visible -quarters of the island, making towards us with gesticulations of -extreme fury, and howling like wild beasts. We were upon the point of -turning upon our steps, and trying to secure a retreat among the -fastnesses of the rougher ground, when I discovered the bows of two -canoes projecting from behind a large rock which ran out into the -water. Towards these we now ran with all speed, and, reaching them, -found them unguarded, and without any other freight than three of the -large Gallipago turtles and the usual supply of paddles for sixty -rowers. We instantly took possession of one of them, and, forcing our -captive on board, pushed out to sea with all the strength we could -command.</p> - -<p>We had not made, however, more than fifty yards from the shore before -we became sufficiently calm to perceive the great oversight of which we -had been guilty in leaving the other canoe in the power of the savages, -who, by this time, were not more than twice as far from the beach as -ourselves, and were rapidly advancing to the pursuit. No time was now -to be lost. Our hope was, at best, a forlorn one, but we had none -other. It was very doubtful whether, with the utmost exertion, we could -get back in time to anticipate them in taking possession of the canoe; -but yet there was a chance that we could. We might save ourselves if we -succeeded, while not to make the attempt was to resign ourselves to -inevitable butchery.</p> - -<p>The canoe was modelled with the bow and stern alike, and, in place of -turning it round, we merely changed our position in paddling. As soon -as the savages perceived this they redoubled their yells, as well as -their speed, and approached with inconceivable rapidity. We pulled, -however, with all the energy of desperation, and arrived at the -contested point before more than one of the natives had attained it. -This man paid dearly for his superior agility, Peters shooting him -through the head with a pistol as he approached the shore. The foremost -among the rest of his party were probably some twenty or thirty paces -distant as we seized upon the canoe. We at first endeavoured to pull -her into the deep water, beyond the reach of the savages, but, finding -her too firmly aground, and there being no time to spare, Peters, with -one or two heavy strokes from the butt of the musket, succeeded in -dashing out a large portion of the bow and of one side. We then pushed -off. Two of the natives by this time had got hold of our boat, -obstinately refusing to let go, until we were forced to despatch them -with our knives. We were now clear off, and making great way out to -sea. The main body of the savages, upon reaching the broken canoe, set -up the most tremendous yell of rage and disappointment conceivable. In -truth, from everything I could see of these wretches, they appeared to -be the most wicked, hypocritical, vindictive, bloodthirsty, and -altogether fiendish race of men upon the face of the globe. It is clear -we should have had no mercy had we fallen into their hands. They made a -mad attempt at following us in the fractured canoe, but, finding it -useless, again vented their rage in a series of hideous vociferations, -and rushed up into the hills.</p> - -<p>We were thus relieved from immediate danger, but our situation was -still sufficiently gloomy. We knew that four canoes of the kind we had -were at one time in the possession of the savages, and were not aware -of the fact (afterward ascertained from our captive) that two of these -had been blown to pieces in the explosion of the Jane Guy. We -calculated, therefore, upon being yet pursued, as soon as our enemies -could get round to the bay (distant about three miles) where the boats -were usually laid up. Fearing this, we made every exertion to leave the -island behind us, and went rapidly through the water, forcing the -prisoner to take a paddle. In about half an hour, when we had gained, -probably, five or six miles to the southward, a large fleet of the -flat-bottomed canoes or rafts was seen to emerge from the bay, -evidently with the design of pursuit. Presently they put back, -despairing to overtake us.</p> -<br> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="50"> -<a name="chap25"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>CHAPTER XXV.</h3> -<br> - -<p>We now found ourselves in the wide and desolate Antarctic Ocean, in a -latitude exceeding eighty-four degrees, in a frail canoe, and with no -provision but the three turtles. The long Polar winter, too, could not -be considered as far distant, and it became necessary that we should -deliberate well upon the course to be pursued. There were six or seven -islands in sight belonging to the same group, and distant from each -other about five or six leagues; but upon neither of these had we any -intention to venture. In coming from the northward in the Jane Guy we -had been gradually leaving behind us the severest regions of ice—this, -however little it may be in accordance with the generally-received -notions respecting the Antarctic, was a fact experience would not -permit us to deny. To attempt, therefore, getting back, would be -folly—especially at so late a period of the season. Only one course -seemed to be left open for hope. We resolved to steer boldly to the -southward, where there was at least a probability of discovering other -lands, and more than a probability of finding a still milder climate.</p> - -<p>So far we had found the Antarctic, like the Arctic Ocean, peculiarly -free from violent storms or immoderately rough water; but our canoe -was, at best, of frail structure, although large, and we set busily to -work with a view of rendering her as safe as the limited means in our -possession would admit. The body of the boat was of no better material -than bark—the bark of a tree unknown. The ribs were of a tough osier, -well adapted to the purpose for which it was used. We had fifty feet -room from stem to stern, from four to six in breadth, and in depth -throughout four feet and a half—the boats thus differing vastly in -shape from those of any other inhabitants of the Southern Ocean with -whom civilized nations are acquainted. We never did believe them the -workmanship of the ignorant islanders who owned them; and some days -after this period discovered, by questioning our captive, that they -were in fact made by the natives of a group to the southwest of the -country where we found them, having fallen accidentally into the hands -of our barbarians. What we could do for the security of our boat was -very little indeed. Several wide rents were discovered near both ends, -and these we contrived to patch up with pieces of woollen jacket. With -the help of the superfluous paddles, of which there were a great many, -we erected a kind of framework about the bow, so as to break the force -of any seas which might threaten to fill us in that quarter. We also -set up two paddle-blades for masts, placing them opposite each other, -one by each gunwale, thus saving the necessity of a yard. To these -masts we attached a sail made of our shirts—doing this with some -difficulty, as here we could get no assistance from our prisoner -whatever, although he had been willing enough to labour in all the -other operations. The sight of the linen seemed to affect him in a very -singular manner. He could not be prevailed upon to touch it or go near -it, shuddering when we attempted to force him, and shrieking out -<i>Tekeli-li!</i></p> - -<p>Having completed our arrangements in regard to the security of the -canoe, we now set sail to the south southeast for the present, with the -view of weathering the most southerly of the group in sight. This being -done, we turned the bow full to the southward. The weather could by no -means be considered disagreeable. We had a prevailing and very gentle -wind from the northward, a smooth sea, and continual daylight. No ice -whatever was to be seen; <i>nor did I ever see one particle of this after -leaving the parallel of Bennet's Islet</i>. Indeed, the temperature of -the water was here far too warm for its existence in any quantity. -Having killed the largest of our tortoises, and obtained from him not -only food, but a copious supply of water, we continued on our course, -without any incident of moment, for perhaps seven or eight days, during -which period we must have proceeded a vast distance to the southward, -as the wind blew constantly with us, and a very strong current set -continually in the direction we were pursuing.</p> - -<p><i>March 1.</i><small><small><sup>7</sup></small></small> Many unusual phenomena now indicated that we were -entering upon a region of novelty and wonder. A high range of light -gray vapour appeared constantly in the southern horizon, flaring up -occasionally in lofty streaks, now darting from east to west, now from -west to east, and again presenting a level and uniform summit—in -short, having all the wild variations of the Aurora Borealis. The -average height of this vapour, as apparent from our station, was about -twenty-five degrees. The temperature of the sea seemed to be increasing -momentarily, and there was a very perceptible alteration in its colour.</p> - -<blockquote><small><small><sup>7</sup></small> For obvious reasons I cannot pretend to strict accuracy in -these dates. They are given principally with a view to perspicuity of -narration, and as set down in my pencil memoranda.</small></blockquote> - -<p><i>March 2.</i> To-day, by repeated questioning of our captive, we came to -the knowledge of many particulars in regard to the island of the -massacre, its inhabitants, and customs—but with these how can I <i>now</i> -detain the reader? I may say, however, that we learned there were eight -islands in the group—that they were governed by a common king, named -<i>Tsalemon</i> or <i>Psalemoun</i>, who resided in one of the smallest of the -islands—that the black skins forming the dress of the warriors came -from an animal of huge size to be found only in a valley near the court -of the king—that the inhabitants of the group fabricated no other -boats than the flat-bottomed rafts; the four canoes being all of the -kind in their possession, and these having been obtained, by mere -accident, from some large island to the southwest—that his own name -was Nu-Nu—that he had no knowledge of Bennet's Islet—and that the -appellation of the island we had left was <i>Tsalal</i>. The commencement of -the words <i>Tsalemon</i> and <i>Tsalal</i> was given with a prolonged hissing -sound, which we found it impossible to imitate, even after repeated -endeavours, and which was precisely the same with the note of the black -bittern we had eaten upon the summit of the hill.</p> - -<p><i>March 3.</i> The heat of the water was now truly remarkable, and its -colour was undergoing a rapid change, being no longer transparent, but -of a milky consistency and hue. In our immediate vicinity it was -usually smooth, never so rough as to endanger the canoe—but we were -frequently surprised at perceiving, to our right and left, at different -distances, sudden and extensive agitations of the surface—these, we at -length noticed, were always preceded by wild flickerings in the region -of vapour to the southward.</p> - -<p><i>March 4.</i> To-day, with the view of widening our sail, the breeze from -the northward dying away perceptibly, I took from my coat-pocket a -white handkerchief. Nu-Nu was seated at my elbow, and the linen -accidentally flaring in his face, he became violently affected with -convulsions. These were succeeded by drowsiness and stupor, and low -murmurings of Tekeli-li! Tekeli-li!</p> - -<p><i>March 5.</i> The wind had entirely ceased, but it was evident that we -were still hurrying on to the southward, under the influence of a -powerful current. And now, indeed, it would seem reasonable that we -should experience some alarm at the turn events were taking—but we -felt none. The countenance of Peters indicated nothing of this nature, -although it wore at times an expression I could not fathom. The Polar -winter appeared to be coming on—but coming without its terrors. I felt -a <i>numbness</i> of body and mind—a dreaminess of sensation—but this was -all.</p> - -<p><i>March 6.</i> The gray vapour had now arisen many more degrees above the -horizon, and was gradually losing its grayness of tint. The heat of the -water was extreme, even unpleasant to the touch, and its milky hue was -more evident than ever. To-day a violent agitation of the water -occurred very close to the canoe. It was attended, as usual, with a -wild flaring up of the vapour at its summit, and a momentary division -at its base. A fine white powder, resembling ashes—but certainly not -such—fell over the canoe and over a large surface of the water, as the -flickering died away among the vapour and the commotion subsided in the -sea. Nu-Nu now threw himself on his face in the bottom of the boat, and -no persuasions could induce him to arise.</p> - -<p><i>March 7.</i> This day we questioned Nu-Nu concerning the motives of his -countrymen in destroying our companions; but he appeared to be too -utterly overcome by terror to afford us any rational reply. He still -obstinately lay in the bottom of the boat; and, upon our reiterating -the questions as to the motive, made use only of idiotic -gesticulations, such as raising with his forefinger the upper lip, and -displaying the teeth which lay beneath it. These were black. We had -never before seen the teeth of an inhabitant of Tsalal.</p> - -<p><i>March 8.</i> To-day there floated by us one of the white animals whose -appearance upon the beach at Tsalal had occasioned so wild a commotion -among the savages. I would have picked it up, but there came over me a -sudden listlessness, and I forbore. The heat of the water still -increased, and the hand could no longer be endured within it. Peters -spoke little, and I knew not what to think of his apathy. Nu-Nu -breathed, and no more.</p> - -<p><i>March 9.</i> The white ashy material fell now continually around us, and -in vast quantities. The range of vapour to the southward had arisen -prodigiously in the horizon, and began to assume more distinctness of -form. I can liken it to nothing but a limitless cataract, rolling -silently into the sea from some immense and far-distant rampart in the -heaven. The gigantic curtain ranged along the whole extent of the -southern horizon. It emitted no sound.</p> - -<p><i>March 21.</i> A sullen darkness now hovered above us—but from out the -milky depths of the ocean a luminous glare arose, and stole up along -the bulwarks of the boat. We were nearly overwhelmed by the white ashy -shower which settled upon us and upon the canoe, but melted into the -water as it fell. The summit of the cataract was utterly lost in the -dimness and the distance. Yet we were evidently approaching it with a -hideous velocity. At intervals there were visible in it wide, yawning, -but momentary rents, and from out these rents, within which was a chaos -of flitting and indistinct images, there came rushing and mighty, but -soundless winds, tearing up the enkindled ocean in their course.</p> - -<p><i>March 22.</i> The darkness had materially increased, relieved only by the -glare of the water thrown back from the white curtain before us. Many -gigantic and pallidly white birds flew continuously now from beyond the -veil, and their scream was the eternal <i>Tekeli-li!</i> as they retreated -from our vision. Hereupon Nu-Nu stirred in the bottom of the boat; but, -upon touching him, we found his spirit departed. And now we rushed into -the embraces of the cataract, where a chasm threw itself open to -receive us. But there arose in our pathway a shrouded human figure, -very far larger in its proportions than any dweller among men. And the -hue of the skin of the figure was of the perfect whiteness of the snow.</p> -<br> -<br> -<a name="note"></a><br> -<br> -<h3>NOTE.</h3> -<br> -<hr align="center" width="100"> -<br> -<p>The circumstances connected with the late sudden and distressing death -of Mr. Pym are already well known to the public through the medium of -the daily press. It is feared that the few remaining chapters which -were to have completed his narrative, and which were retained by him, -while the above were in type, for the purpose of revision, have been -irrecoverably lost through the accident by which he perished himself. -This, however, may prove not to be the case, and the papers, if -ultimately found, will be given to the public.</p> - -<p>No means have been left untried to remedy the deficiency. The gentleman -whose name is mentioned in the preface, and who, from the statement -there made, might be supposed able to fill the vacuum, has declined the -task—this for satisfactory reasons connected with the general -inaccuracy of the details afforded him, and his disbelief in the entire -truth of the latter portions of the narration. Peters, from whom some -information might be expected, is still alive, and a resident of -Illinois, but cannot be met with at present. He may hereafter be found, -and will, no doubt, afford material for a conclusion of Mr. Pym's -account.</p> - -<p>The loss of the two or three final chapters (for there were but two or -three) is the more deeply to be regretted, as, it cannot be doubted, -they contained matter relative to the Pole itself, or at least to -regions in its very near proximity; and as, too, the statements of the -author in relation to these regions may shortly be verified or -contradicted by means of the governmental expedition now preparing for -the Southern Ocean.</p> - -<p>On one point in the Narrative some remarks may be well offered; and it -would afford the writer of this appendix much pleasure if what he may -here observe should have a tendency to throw credit, in any degree, -upon the very singular pages now published. We allude to the chasms -found in the island of Tsalal, and to the whole of the figures upon -pages <a href="#figure1">182</a>, <a href="#figure2">183</a>, -<a href="#figure3">184</a>, <a href="#figure4">185</a>.</p> - -<p>Mr. Pym has given the figures of the chasms without comment, and speaks -decidedly of the <i>indentures</i> found at the extremity of the most -easterly of these chasms as having but a fanciful resemblance to -alphabetical characters, and, in short, as being positively <i>not such</i>. -This assertion is made in a manner so simple, and sustained by a -species of demonstration so conclusive (viz., the fitting of the -projections of the fragments found among the dust into the indentures -upon the wall), that we are forced to believe the writer in earnest; -and no reasonable reader should suppose otherwise. But as the facts in -relation to <i>all</i> the figures are most singular (especially when taken -in connexion with statements made in the body of the narrative), it may -be as well to say a word or two concerning them all—this, too, the -more especially as the facts in question have, beyond doubt, escaped -the attention of Mr. Poe.</p> - -<p>Figure <a href="#figure1">1</a>, then, figure <a href="#figure2">2</a>, -figure <a href="#figure3">3</a>, and figure <a href="#figure3">5</a>, when conjoined with -one another in the precise order which the chasms themselves presented, -and when deprived of the small lateral branches or arches (which, it -will be remembered, served only as means of communication between the -main chambers, and were of totally distinct character), constitute an -Ethiopian verbal root—the root <sub><img src="images/5.jpg" alt="To be shady"></sub> "To be shady"—whence -all the inflections of shadow or darkness.</p> - -<p>In regard to the "left or most northwardly" of the indentures in figure -<a href="#figure4">4</a>, it is more than probable that the opinion of Peters was correct, and -that the hieroglyphical appearance was really the work of art, and -intended as the representation of a human form. The delineation is -before the reader, and he may, or may not, perceive the resemblance -suggested; but the rest of the indentures afford strong confirmation of -Peters's idea. The upper range is evidently the Arabic verbal root -<sub><img src="images/6.jpg" alt="To be white"></sub> "To be white," whence all the inflections of brilliancy -and whiteness. The lower range is not so immediately perspicuous. The -characters are somewhat broken and disjointed; nevertheless, it cannot -be doubted that, in their perfect state, they formed the full Egyptian -word <sub><img src="images/7.jpg" alt="The region of the south"></sub> "The region of the south." It should be observed -that these interpretations confirm the opinion of Peters in regard to -the "most northwardly" of the figures. The arm is outstretched towards -the south.</p> - -<p>Conclusions such as these open a wide field for speculation and -exciting conjecture. They should be regarded, perhaps, in connexion -with some of the most faintly-detailed incidents of the narrative; -although in no visible manner is this chain of connexion complete. -Tekeli-li! was the cry of the affrighted natives of Tsalal upon -discovering the carcass of the <i>white</i> animal picked up at sea. This -also was the shuddering exclamation of the captive Tsalalian upon -encountering the <i>white</i> materials in possession of Mr. Pym. This also -was the shriek of the swift-flying, <i>white</i>, and gigantic birds which -issued from the vapoury <i>white</i> curtain of the South. Nothing <i>white</i> -was to be found at Tsalal, and nothing otherwise in the subsequent -voyage to the region beyond. It is not impossible that "Tsalal," the -appellation of the island of the chasms, may be found, upon minute -philological scrutiny, to betray either some alliance with the chasms -themselves, or some reference to the Ethiopian characters so -mysteriously written in their windings.</p> - -<p><i>"I have graven it within the hills, and my vengeance upon the dust -within the rock."</i></p> -<br> -<br> -<center>THE END.</center> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<br> -<blockquote><small>Transcriber's Note: The last two chapters, Chapters XXIV and XXV were -named, respectively, XXIII and XXIV in the original publication, with, -therefore, two chapters XXIII. This has been corrected in this -transcription. The table of chapter links has been created for easier navigation.</small></blockquote> -<br> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of -Nantucket, by Edgar Allan Poe and Arthur Gordon Pym - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NARRATIVE OF ARTHUR GORDON PYM *** - -***** This file should be named 51060-h.htm or 51060-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/0/6/51060/ - -Produced by Ron Swanson -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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