TheWorksofEdgarAllanPoe—Volume3

ByEdgarAllanPoe

TheWorksofEdgarAllanPoe

CHAPTER1

MYnameisArthurGordonPym.Myfatherwasarespectable trader insea-stores at Nantucket, where I was born. My maternal grandfather was anattorneyingoodpractice.Hewasfortunateineverything,andhadspeculatedvery successfully in stocks of the Edgarton New Bank, as it was formerlycalled.Bytheseandothermeanshehadmanagedtolaybyatolerablesumofmoney.Hewasmoreattachedtomyself,Ibelieve,thantoanyotherpersonintheworld,andIexpectedtoinherit themostofhispropertyathisdeath.Hesentme,atsixyearsofage,totheschoolofoldMr.Ricketts,agentlemanwithonly one arm and of eccentricmanners—he iswell known to almost everypersonwhohasvisitedNewBedford.IstayedathisschooluntilIwassixteen,when I left him for Mr. E. Ronald's academy on the hill. Here I becameintimatewiththesonofMr.Barnard,asea-captain,whogenerallysailedintheemployofLloydandVredenburgh—Mr.Barnard isalsoverywellknowninNewBedford,andhasmanyrelations,Iamcertain,inEdgarton.Hissonwas

namedAugustus,andhewasnearlytwoyearsolderthanmyself.Hehadbeenonawhalingvoyagewithhisfather in theJohnDonaldson,andwasalwaystalkingtomeofhisadventuresintheSouthPacificOcean.Iusedfrequentlytogohomewithhim,andremainallday,andsometimesallnight.Weoccupiedthe same bed, and he would be sure to keep me awake until almost light,tellingmestoriesofthenativesoftheIslandofTinian,andotherplaceshehadvisitedinhistravels.AtlastIcouldnothelpbeinginterestedinwhathesaid,andbydegreesIfeltthegreatestdesiretogotosea.IownedasailboatcalledtheAriel,andworthaboutseventy-fivedollars.Shehadahalf-deckorcuddy,andwas rigged sloop-fashion—I forget her tonnage, but shewouldhold tenpersonswithoutmuchcrowding.Inthisboatwewereinthehabitofgoingonsomeof themaddest freaks in theworld; and,when Inow thinkof them, itappearstomeathousandwondersthatIamaliveto-day.

Iwill relateoneof these adventuresbywayof introduction to a longer andmoremomentousnarrative.OnenighttherewasapartyatMr.Barnard's,andbothAugustusandmyselfwerenotalittleintoxicatedtowardthecloseofit.Asusual,insuchcases,Itookpartofhisbedinpreferencetogoinghome.Hewent to sleep, as I thought, very quietly (it being near one when the partybrokeup),andwithoutsayingawordonhisfavoritetopic.Itmighthavebeenhalfanhourfromthetimeofourgettinginbed,andIwasjustaboutfallingintoadoze,whenhesuddenlystartedup,andsworewithaterribleoaththathewouldnotgotosleepforanyArthurPyminChristendom,whentherewassogloriousabreezefromthesouthwest.Ineverwassoastonishedinmylife,notknowingwhatheintended,andthinkingthatthewinesandliquorshehaddrunkhadsethimentirelybesidehimself.Heproceeded to talkverycoolly,however, saying he knew that I supposed him intoxicated, but that he wasnevermoresoberinhislife.Hewasonlytired,headded,oflyinginbedonsuchafinenightlikeadog,andwasdeterminedtogetupanddress,andgoout on a frolic with the boat. I can hardly tell what possessedme, but thewords were no sooner out of his mouth than I felt a thrill of the greatestexcitementandpleasure,andthoughthismadideaoneofthemostdelightfulandmostreasonablethingsintheworld.Itwasblowingalmostagale,andtheweather was very cold—it being late in October. I sprang out of bed,nevertheless,inakindofecstasy,andtoldhimIwasquiteasbraveashimself,andquiteastiredashewasoflyinginbedlikeadog,andquiteasreadyforanyfunorfrolicasanyAugustusBarnardinNantucket.

Welostnotimeingettingonourclothesandhurryingdowntotheboat.Shewaslyingattheolddecayedwharfbythelumber-yardofPankey&Co.,andalmostthumpinghersideoutagainsttheroughlogs.Augustusgotintoherandbailedher,forshewasnearlyhalffullofwater.Thisbeingdone,wehoistedjibandmainsail,keptfull,andstartedboldlyouttosea.

Thewind, as I before said, blew freshly from the southwest.Thenightwasveryclearandcold.Augustushad taken thehelm,andIstationedmyselfbythemast,onthedeckofthecuddy.Weflewalongatagreatrate—neitherofus having said aword since casting loose from thewharf. I now askedmycompanion what course he intended to steer, and what time he thought itprobablewe should get back.Hewhistled for a fewminutes, and then saidcrustily:"Iamgoingtosea—youmaygohomeifyouthinkproper."Turningmy eyes upon him, I perceived at once that, in spite of hisassumednonchalance,hewasgreatlyagitated.Icouldseehimdistinctlybythelightofthemoon—hisfacewaspalerthananymarble,andhishandshooksoexcessively that he could scarcely retain hold of the tiller. I found thatsomething had gonewrong, and became seriously alarmed.At this period Iknewlittleaboutthemanagementofaboat,andwasnowdependingentirelyuponthenauticalskillofmyfriend.Thewind,too,hadsuddenlyincreased,aswewerefastgettingoutoftheleeoftheland—stillIwasashamedtobetrayany trepidation, and for almost half an hourmaintained a resolute silence. Icouldstanditnolonger,however,andspoketoAugustusabouttheproprietyofturningback.Asbefore,itwasnearlyaminutebeforehemadeanswer,ortook any notice of my suggestion. "By-and-by," said he at length—"timeenough—home by-and-by." I had expected a similar reply, but there wassomething in the tone of thesewordswhich filledmewith an indescribablefeeling of dread. I again looked at the speaker attentively. His lips wereperfectly livid, and his knees shook so violently together that he seemedscarcelyable tostand."ForGod'ssake,Augustus,"Iscreamed,nowheartilyfrightened,"whatailsyou?—whatisthematter?—whatareyougoingtodo?""Matter!"hestammered,inthegreatestapparentsurprise,lettinggothetilleratthesamemoment,andfallingforwardintothebottomoftheboat—"matter—why, nothing is the—matter—going home—d—d—don't you see?" Thewhole truthnowflasheduponme. I flew tohimand raisedhimup.Hewasdrunk—beastly drunk—he could no longer either stand, speak, or see. Hiseyeswereperfectlyglazed;andasIlethimgointheextremityofmydespair,herolledlikeamerelogintothebilge-water,fromwhichIhadliftedhim.Itwasevidentthat,duringtheevening,hehaddrunkfarmorethanIsuspected,andthathisconductinbedhadbeentheresultofahighly-concentratedstateofintoxication—astatewhich,likemadness,frequentlyenablesthevictimtoimitatetheoutwarddemeanourofoneinperfectpossessionofhissenses.Thecoolnessofthenightair,however,hadhaditsusualeffect—thementalenergybegantoyieldbeforeitsinfluence—andtheconfusedperceptionwhichhenodoubt then had of his perilous situation had assisted in hastening thecatastrophe.Hewasnowthoroughlyinsensible,andtherewasnoprobabilitythathewouldbeotherwiseformanyhours.

Itishardlypossibletoconceivetheextremityofmyterror.Thefumesofthe

wine lately taken had evaporated, leavingme doubly timid and irresolute. Iknewthat Iwasaltogether incapableofmanaging theboat,and thata fiercewind and strong ebb tide were hurrying us to destruction. A storm wasevidentlygatheringbehindus;wehadneithercompassnorprovisions;anditwasclearthat,ifweheldourpresentcourse,weshouldbeoutofsightoflandbefore daybreak. These thoughts, with a crowd of others equally fearful,flashedthroughmymindwithabewilderingrapidity,andforsomemomentsparalyzedme beyond the possibility ofmaking any exertion. The boat wasgoing through thewater at a terrible rate—full before thewind—no reef ineitherjibormainsail—runningherbowscompletelyunderthefoam.Itwasathousandwondersshedidnotbroachto—Augustushavingletgothetiller,asIsaidbefore,and Ibeing toomuchagitated to thinkof taking itmyself.Bygoodluck,however,shekeptsteady,andgraduallyIrecoveredsomedegreeofpresence ofmind. Still thewindwas increasing fearfully, andwheneverwerosefromaplungeforward,theseabehindfellcombingoverourcounter,anddelugeduswithwater.Iwassoutterlybenumbed,too,ineverylimb,astobenearlyunconsciousof sensation.At length I summonedup the resolutionofdespair,andrushingtothemainsail let itgobytherun.Asmighthavebeenexpected, it flew over the bows, and, getting drenched with water, carriedawaythemastshortoffbytheboard.Thislatteraccidentalonesavedmefrominstantdestruction.Underthejibonly,Inowboomedalongbeforethewind,shippingheavyseasoccasionallyoverthecounter,butrelievedfromtheterrorof immediatedeath. I took thehelm,andbreathedwithgreater freedomas Ifoundthatthereyetremainedtousachanceofultimateescape.Augustusstilllaysenselessinthebottomoftheboat;andastherewasimminentdangerofhis drowning (the water being nearly a foot deep just where he fell), Icontrived to raise him partially up, and keep him in a sitting position, bypassingaroperoundhiswaist,andlashingittoaringboltinthedeckofthecuddy.HavingthusarrangedeverythingaswellasIcouldinmychilledandagitatedcondition, I recommendedmyself toGod,andmadeupmymind tobearwhatevermighthappenwithallthefortitudeinmypower.

HardlyhadIcometothisresolution,when,suddenly,aloudandlongscreamoryell, as if from the throats of a thousanddemons, seemed to pervade thewholeatmospherearoundandabovetheboat.NeverwhileIliveshallIforgettheintenseagonyofterrorIexperiencedatthatmoment.Myhairstooderectonmyhead—Ifeltthebloodcongealinginmyveins—myheartceasedutterlyto beat, andwithout having once raisedmy eyes to learn the source ofmyalarm, I tumbled headlong and insensible upon the body of my fallencompanion.

I found myself, upon reviving, in the cabin of a large whaling-ship (thePenguin) bound to Nantucket. Several persons were standing over me, and

Augustus,paler thandeath,wasbusilyoccupied inchafingmyhands.Uponseeing me open my eyes, his exclamations of gratitude and joy excitedalternate laughter and tears from the rough-looking personages who werepresent.Themysteryofourbeing inexistencewasnowsoonexplained.Wehadbeenrundownbythewhaling-ship,whichwasclose-hauled,beatinguptoNantucketwitheverysailshecouldventuretoset,andconsequentlyrunningalmost at right angles toourowncourse.Severalmenwereon the look-outforward,butdidnotperceiveourboatuntil itwas an impossibility to avoidcoming in contact—their shouts of warning upon seeing us were what soterriblyalarmedme.Thehugeship,Iwastold,rodeimmediatelyoveruswithasmucheaseasourown littlevesselwouldhavepassedovera feather,andwithouttheleastperceptibleimpedimenttoherprogress.Notascreamarosefrom the deck of the victim—there was a slight grating sound to be heardmingling with the roar of wind and water, as the frail bark which wasswalloweduprubbedforamomentalongthekeelofherdestroyer—butthiswasall.Thinkingourboat(whichitwillberememberedwasdismasted)somemereshellcutadriftasuseless, thecaptain (CaptainE.T.V.Block,ofNewLondon)was for proceedingonhis coursewithout troublinghimself furtheraboutthematter.Luckily,thereweretwoofthelook-outwhosworepositivelytohavingseensomepersonatourhelm,andrepresentedthepossibilityofyetsavinghim.Adiscussionensued,whenBlockgrewangry,and,afterawhile,saidthat"itwasnobusinessofhistobeeternallywatchingforegg-shells;thattheshipshouldnotputaboutforanysuchnonsense;andif therewasamanrundown,itwasnobody'sfaultbuthisown,hemightdrownandbedammed"orsomelanguagetothateffect.Henderson,thefirstmate,nowtookthematterup, being justly indignant, as well as the whole ship's crew, at a speechevincing so base a degree of heartless atrocity. He spoke plainly, seeinghimselfupheldbythemen,toldthecaptainheconsideredhimafitsubjectforthegallows,andthathewoulddisobeyhisordersifhewerehangedforitthemomenthesethisfootonshore.Hestrodeaft,jostlingBlock(whoturnedpaleandmadenoanswer)ononeside,andseizingthehelm,gavetheword, inafirmvoice,Hard-a-lee!Themenflewtotheirposts,andtheshipwentcleverlyabout.All this hadoccupiednearly fiveminutes, and itwas supposed tobehardlywithin theboundsofpossibility thatany individualcouldbesaved—allowinganytohavebeenonboardtheboat.Yet,asthereaderhasseen,bothAugustusandmyselfwererescued;andourdeliveranceseemedtohavebeenbrought about by two of those almost inconceivable pieces of good fortunewhich are attributed by the wise and pious to the special interference ofProvidence.

While theshipwasyet instays, themate lowered the jolly-boatand jumpedintoherwiththeverytwomen,Ibelieve,whospokeupashavingseenmeatthe helm. They had just left the lee of the vessel (the moon still shining

brightly)whenshemadealongandheavyrolltowindward,andHenderson,at the samemoment, starting up in his seat bawled out to his crew to backwater.Hewouldsaynothingelse—repeatinghiscryimpatiently,backwater!blackwater!Themenput back as speedily aspossible, but by this time theshiphadgone round,andgotten fullyunderheadway,althoughallhandsonboardweremakinggreatexertionstotakeinsail.Indespiteofthedangeroftheattempt,themateclungtothemain-chainsassoonastheycamewithinhisreach.Anotherhugelurchnowbroughtthestarboardsideofthevesseloutofwater nearly as far as her keel,when the cause of his anxietywas renderedobvious enough. The body of a man was seen to be affixed in the mostsingularmannertothesmoothandshiningbottom(thePenguinwascopperedandcopper-fastened),andbeatingviolentlyagainstitwitheverymovementofthehull.Afterseveralineffectualefforts,madeduringthelurchesoftheship,andattheimminentriskofswampingtheboatIwasfinallydisengagedfrommyperiloussituationandtakenonboard—forthebodyprovedtobemyown.It appeared thatoneof the timber-boltshaving startedandbrokenapassagethroughthecopper,ithadarrestedmyprogressasIpassedundertheship,andfastenedmeinsoextraordinaryamannertoherbottom.Theheadofthebolthadmade itsway through thecollarof thegreenbaize jacket Ihadon, andthroughthebackpartofmyneck,forcingitselfoutbetweentwosinewsandjustbelowtherightear.Iwasimmediatelyputtobed—althoughlifeseemedtobe totally extinct.Therewasno surgeononboard.The captain, however,treatedmewitheveryattention—tomakeamends, Ipresume, in theeyesofhiscrew,forhisatrociousbehaviourinthepreviousportionoftheadventure.

In the meantime, Henderson had again put off from the ship, although thewind was now blowing almost a hurricane. He had not been gone manyminutes when he fell in with some fragments of our boat, and shortlyafterwardoneofthemenwithhimassertedthathecoulddistinguishacryforhelp at intervals amid the roaring of the tempest. This induced the hardyseamen to persevere in their search for more than half an hour, althoughrepeated signals to returnweremade them byCaptain Block, and althougheverymomentonthewaterinsofrailaboatwasfraughttothemwiththemostimminentanddeadlyperil.Indeed,itisnearlyimpossibletoconceivehowthesmall jolly theywere in couldhave escapeddestruction for a single instant.Shewasbuilt,however,forthewhalingservice,andwasfitted,asIhavesincehadreasontobelieve,withair-boxes,inthemannerofsomelife-boatsusedonthecoastofWales.

After searching in vain for about the period of time just mentioned, it wasdeterminedtogetbacktotheship.Theyhadscarcelymadethisresolvewhenafeeblecryarosefromadarkobjectthatfloatedrapidlyby.Theypursuedandsoonovertookit.ItprovedtobetheentiredeckoftheAriel'scuddy.Augustus

wasstrugglingnearit,apparentlyinthelastagonies.Upongettingholdofhimitwasfoundthathewasattachedbyaropetothefloatingtimber.Thisrope,itwill be remembered, I hadmyself tied aroundhiswaist, andmade fast to aringbolt, for the purpose of keeping him in an upright position, andmy sodoing, itappeared,hadbeenultimately themeansofpreservinghis life.TheArielwasslightlyputtogether,andingoingdownherframenaturallywenttopieces;thedeckofthecuddy,asmighthavebeenexpected,waslifted,bytheforceofthewaterrushingin,entirelyfromthemaintimbers,andfloated(withother fragments,nodoubt) to thesurface—Augustuswasbuoyedupwith it,andthusescapedaterribledeath.

Itwasmore than an hour after being taken on board thePenguin before hecouldgiveanyaccountofhimself,orbemadetocomprehendthenatureoftheaccident which had befallen our boat. At length he became thoroughlyaroused,andspokemuchofhissensationswhile in thewater.Uponhisfirstattaininganydegreeofconsciousness,hefoundhimselfbeneath thesurface,whirling round and round with inconceivable rapidity, and with a ropewrappedinthreeorfourfoldstightlyabouthisneck.Inaninstantafterwardhefelthimselfgoingrapidlyupward,when,hisheadstrikingviolentlyagainstahardsubstance,heagainrelapsedintoinsensibility.Upononcemorerevivinghe was in fuller possession of his reason—this was still, however, in thegreatestdegreecloudedandconfused.Henowknewthat someaccidenthadoccurred, and that he was in the water, although his mouth was above thesurface,andhecouldbreathewithsomefreedom.Possibly,atthisperiodthedeck was drifting rapidly before the wind, and drawing him after it, as hefloated upon his back. Of course, as long as he could have retained thisposition, it would have been nearly impossible that he should be drowned.Presently a surge threw him directly athwart the deck, and this post heendeavored tomaintain, screaming at intervals for help. Just before hewasdiscoveredbyMr.Henderson,hehadbeenobliged torelaxhishold throughexhaustion,and,fallingintothesea,hadgivenhimselfupforlost.DuringthewholeperiodofhisstruggleshehadnotthefaintestrecollectionoftheAriel,norofthemattersinconnexionwiththesourceofhisdisaster.Avaguefeelingofterroranddespairhadtakenentirepossessionofhisfaculties.Whenhewasfinallypickedup,everypowerofhismindhadfailedhim;and,asbeforesaid,it was nearly an hour after getting on board the Penguin before he becamefully awareofhis condition. In regard tomyself—Iwas resuscitated fromastateborderingverynearlyupondeath(andaftereveryothermeanshadbeentried in vain for three hours and a half) by vigorous friction with flannelsbathed in hot oil—a proceeding suggested by Augustus. The wound in myneck,althoughofanuglyappearance,provedoflittlerealconsequence,andIsoonrecoveredfromitseffects.

The Penguin got into port about nine o'clock in the morning, afterencounteringoneof the severestgaleseverexperiencedoffNantucket.BothAugustusandmyselfmanagedtoappearatMr.Barnard'sintimeforbreakfast—which,luckily,wassomewhatlate,owingtothepartyovernight.Isupposeall at the table were too much fatigued themselves to notice our jadedappearance—of course, it would not have borne a very rigid scrutiny.Schoolboys,however,canaccomplishwondersinthewayofdeception,andIverilybelievenotoneofourfriendsinNantuckethadtheslightestsuspicionthattheterriblestorytoldbysomesailorsintownoftheirhavingrundownavesselatseaanddrownedsomethirtyorfortypoordevils,hadreferenceeitherto theAriel,my companion, ormyself.We two have since very frequentlytalked the matter over—but never without a shudder. In one of ourconversationsAugustusfranklyconfessedtome,thatinhiswholelifehehadatno timeexperiencedsoexcruciatinga senseofdismay,aswhenonboardourlittleboathefirstdiscoveredtheextentofhisintoxication,andfelthimselfsinkingbeneathitsinfluence.

CHAPTER2

IN no affairs of mere prejudice, pro or con, do we deduce inferences withentirecertainty,evenfromthemostsimpledata. Itmightbesupposed thatacatastrophe such as I have just related would have effectually cooled myincipient passion for the sea. On the contrary, I never experienced a moreardentlongingforthewildadventuresincidenttothelifeofanavigatorthanwithin a week after our miraculous deliverance. This short period provedamplylongenoughtoerasefrommymemorytheshadows,andbringout invividlightallthepleasurablyexcitingpointsofcolor,allthepicturesqueness,ofthelateperilousaccident.MyconversationswithAugustusgrewdailymorefrequentandmore intensely fullof interest.Hehadamannerof relatinghisstoriesoftheocean(morethanonehalfofwhichInowsuspecttohavebeensheer fabrications)well adapted to haveweightwith oneofmy enthusiastictemperament and somewhat gloomy although glowing imagination. It isstrange,too,thathemoststronglyenlistedmyfeelingsinbehalfofthelifeofaseaman,whenhedepictedhismoreterriblemomentsofsufferinganddespair.ForthebrightsideofthepaintingIhadalimitedsympathy.Myvisionswereofshipwreckandfamine;ofdeathorcaptivityamongbarbarianhordes;ofalifetimedraggedoutinsorrowandtears,uponsomegrayanddesolaterock,inan ocean unapproachable and unknown. Such visions or desires—for theyamounted to desires—are common, I have since been assured, to thewhole

numerousraceofthemelancholyamongmen—atthetimeofwhichIspeakIregardedthemonlyaspropheticglimpsesofadestinywhichIfeltmyselfinameasureboundtofulfil.Augustusthoroughlyenteredintomystateofmind.Itis probable, indeed, that our intimate communion had resulted in a partialinterchangeofcharacter.

About eighteen months after the period of the Ariel's disaster, the firm ofLloyd and Vredenburgh (a house connected in some manner with theMessieurs Enderby, I believe, of Liverpool) were engaged in repairing andfittingoutthebrigGrampusforawhalingvoyage.Shewasanoldhulk,andscarcelyseaworthywhenallwasdonetoherthatcouldbedone.Ihardlyknowwhyshewaschoseninpreferencetoothergoodvesselsbelongingtothesameowners—but so it was. Mr. Barnard was appointed to command her, andAugustuswasgoingwithhim.Whilethebrigwasgettingready,hefrequentlyurgeduponmetheexcellencyoftheopportunitynowofferedforindulgingmydesire of travel. He found me by no means an unwilling listener—yet themattercouldnotbesoeasilyarranged.Myfathermadenodirectopposition;butmymotherwentintohystericsatthebarementionofthedesign;and,morethanall,mygrandfather, fromwhomIexpectedmuch,vowed tocutmeoffwith a shilling if I should ever broach the subject to him again. Thesedifficulties, however, so far from abatingmy desire, only added fuel to theflame. I determined to go at all hazards; and, having made known myintentions toAugustus,we set about arranging a plan bywhich itmight beaccomplished. In themeantime I forbore speaking to anyofmy relations inregardtothevoyage,and,asIbusiedmyselfostensiblywithmyusualstudies,it was supposed that I had abandoned the design. I have since frequentlyexaminedmyconductonthisoccasionwithsentimentsofdispleasureaswellasofsurprise.TheintensehypocrisyImadeuseofforthefurtheranceofmyproject—anhypocrisypervadingeverywordandactionofmylifeforsolongaperiodof time—couldonlyhavebeen rendered tolerable tomyself by thewildandburningexpectationwithwhichIlookedforwardtothefulfilmentofmylong-cherishedvisionsoftravel.

Inpursuanceofmy schemeofdeception, Iwasnecessarilyobliged to leavemuchtothemanagementofAugustus,whowasemployedforthegreaterpartofeverydayonboard theGrampus, attending to somearrangements forhisfatherinthecabinandcabinhold.Atnight,however,weweresuretohaveaconference and talk over our hopes. After nearly a month passed in thismanner,without our hitting upon any planwe thought likely to succeed, hetold me at last that he had determined upon everything necessary. I had arelationlivinginNewBedford,aMr.Ross,atwhosehouseIwasinthehabitof spendingoccasionally twoor threeweeks at a time.Thebrigwas to sailabout themiddleof June (June,1827), and itwasagreed that, adayor two

beforeherputtingtosea,myfatherwastoreceiveanote,asusual,fromMr.Ross,askingmetocomeoverandspendafortnightwithRobertandEmmet(hissons).Augustuschargedhimselfwiththeinditingofthisnoteandgettingitdelivered.Havingsetoutassupposed,forNewBedford,Iwasthentoreportmyself tomy companion,whowould contrive a hiding-place forme in theGrampus. This hiding-place, he assuredme, would be rendered sufficientlycomfortableforaresidenceofmanydays,duringwhichIwasnottomakemyappearance.Whenthebrighadproceededsofaronhercourseastomakeanyturning back a matter out of question, I should then, he said, be formallyinstalledinall thecomfortsof thecabin;andas tohisfather,hewouldonlylaughheartilyatthejoke.Vesselsenoughwouldbemetwithbywhichalettermightbesenthomeexplainingtheadventuretomyparents.

ThemiddleofJuneatlengtharrived,andeverythinghadbeenmatured.Thenotewaswrittenanddelivered,andonaMondaymorningIleftthehousefortheNewBedfordpacket,assupposed.Iwent,however,straighttoAugustus,whowaswaitingformeatthecornerofastreet.IthadbeenouroriginalplanthatIshouldkeepoutofthewayuntildark,andthensliponboardthebrig;but,astherewasnowathickfoginourfavor,itwasagreedtolosenotimeinsecretingme. Augustus led theway to thewharf, and I followed at a littledistance,envelopedinathickseaman'scloak,whichhehadbroughtwithhim,sothatmypersonmightnotbeeasilyrecognized.Justasweturnedthesecondcorner,afterpassingMr.Edmund'swell,whoshouldappear,standingrightinfront of me, and looking me full in the face, but old Mr. Peterson, mygrandfather."Why,blessmysoul,Gordon,"saidhe,afteralongpause,"why,why,—whosedirtycloakis thatyouhaveon?""Sir!"I replied,assuming,aswellasIcould,intheexigencyofthemoment,anairofoffendedsurprise,andtalking in the gruffest of all imaginable tones—"sir! you are a sum'matmistaken—myname,inthefirstplace,bee'ntnothingatall likeGoddin,andI'dwantyoufortoknowbetter,youblackguard,thantocallmynewobercoatadartyone."FormylifeIcouldhardlyrefrainfromscreamingwithlaughterattheoddmannerinwhichtheoldgentlemanreceivedthishandsomerebuke.Hestartedbacktwoorthreesteps,turnedfirstpaleandthenexcessivelyred,threwuphisspectacles,then,puttingthemdown,ranfulltiltatme,withhisumbrellauplifted.Hestoppedshort,however,inhiscareer,asifstruckwithasuddenrecollection;andpresently,turninground,hobbledoffdownthestreet,shakingallthewhilewithrage,andmutteringbetweenhisteeth:"Won'tdo—newglasses—thoughtitwasGordon—d—dgood-for-nothingsaltwaterLongTom."

Afterthisnarrowescapeweproceededwithgreatercaution,andarrivedatourpoint of destination in safety. There were only one or two of the hands onboard, and these were busy forward, doing something to the forecastle

combings. CaptainBarnard,we knew verywell,was engaged at Lloyd andVredenburgh's, andwould remain there until late in the evening, sowe hadlittletoapprehendonhisaccount.Augustuswentfirstupthevessel'sside,andinashortwhileIfollowedhim,withoutbeingnoticedbythemenatwork.Weproceededatonceintothecabin,andfoundnopersonthere.Itwasfittedupinthemost comfortable style—a thing somewhat unusual in awhaling-vessel.Therewerefourveryexcellentstaterooms,withwideandconvenientberths.There was also a large stove, I took notice, and a remarkably thick andvaluable carpet covering the floor of both the cabin and staterooms. Theceilingwasfullsevenfeethigh,and,inshort,everythingappearedofamoreroomyandagreeablenaturethanIhadanticipated.Augustus,however,wouldallowme but little time for observation, insisting upon the necessity ofmyconcealingmyselfassoonaspossible.Heledthewayintohisownstateroom,whichwasonthestarboardsideofthebrig,andnexttothebulkheads.Uponentering,heclosedthedoorandbolted it. I thoughtIhadneverseenanicerlittle room than theone inwhich Inow foundmyself. Itwas about ten feetlong, and had only one berth, which, as I said before, was wide andconvenient. In that portion of the closet nearest the bulkheads there was aspace of four feet square, containing a table, a chair, and a set of hangingshelvesfullofbooks,chieflybooksofvoyagesandtravels.Thereweremanyotherlittlecomfortsintheroom,amongwhichIoughtnottoforgetakindofsafeorrefrigerator,inwhichAugustuspointedouttomeahostofdelicacies,bothintheeatinganddrinkingdepartment.

He now pressedwith his knuckles upon a certain spot of the carpet in onecorner of the space just mentioned, letting me know that a portion of theflooring, about sixteen inches square, had been neatly cut out and againadjusted.Ashepressed, thisportionroseupatoneendsufficiently toallowthepassageofhis fingerbeneath. In thismannerhe raised themouthof thetrap (towhich thecarpetwas still fastenedby tacks), and I found that it ledintotheafterhold.Henextlitasmalltaperbymeansofaphosphorousmatch,and,placingthelightinadarklantern,descendedwithitthroughtheopening,biddingme follow. Idid so, andhe thenpulled thecoverupon thehole,bymeansofanaildrivenintotheunderside—thecarpet,ofcourse,resumingitsoriginalpositionon the floorof the stateroom,andall tracesof theaperturebeingconcealed.

The taper gave out so feeble a ray that it waswith the greatest difficulty IcouldgropemywaythroughtheconfusedmassoflumberamongwhichInowfound myself. By degrees, however, my eyes became accustomed to thegloom, and I proceeded with less trouble, holding on to the skirts of myfriend's coat. He broughtme, at length, after creeping andwinding throughinnumerable narrow passages, to an iron-bound box, such as is used

sometimesforpackingfineearthenware.Itwasnearlyfourfeethigh,andfullsixlong,butverynarrow.Twolargeemptyoil-caskslayonthetopofit,andabove these, again, avast quantityof strawmatting, piledup ashigh as thefloorof thecabin. Ineveryotherdirectionaroundwaswedgedascloselyaspossible,evenuptotheceiling,acompletechaosofalmosteveryspeciesofship-furniture, together with a heterogeneous medley of crates, hampers,barrels,andbales,sothatitseemedamatternolessthanmiraculousthatwehaddiscoveredanypassageatalltothebox.IafterwardfoundthatAugustushadpurposelyarrangedthestowageinthisholdwithaviewtoaffordingmeathoroughconcealment,havinghadonlyoneassistantinthelabour,amannotgoingoutinthebrig.

My companion now showed me that one of the ends of the box could beremovedatpleasure.Heslippeditasideanddisplayedtheinterior,atwhichIwasexcessivelyamused.Amattressfromoneofthecabinberthscoveredthewhole of its bottom, and it contained almost every article of mere comfortwhichcouldbecrowdedintososmallaspace,allowingme,atthesametime,sufficientroomformyaccommodation,eitherinasittingpositionorlyingatfulllength.Amongotherthings,thereweresomebooks,pen,ink,andpaper,three blankets, a large jug full of water, a keg of sea-biscuit, three or fourimmenseBolognasausages,anenormousham,acoldlegofroastmutton,andhalfadozenbottlesofcordialsandliqueurs.Iproceededimmediatelytotakepossessionofmylittleapartment,andthiswithfeelingsofhighersatisfaction,I am sure, than anymonarch ever experienced upon entering a new palace.Augustusnowpointedouttomethemethodoffasteningtheopenendofthebox,andthen,holdingthetaperclosetothedeck,showedmeapieceofdarkwhipcord lying along it. This, he said, extended from my hiding-placethroughoutallthenecessarywindingsamongthelumber,toanailwhichwasdriven into the deck of the hold, immediately beneath the trap-door leadingintohisstateroom.BymeansofthiscordIshouldbeenabledreadilytotracemywayoutwithouthisguidance,providedanyunlooked-foraccidentshouldrendersuchastepnecessary.Henowtookhisdeparture,leavingwithmethelantern, together with a copious supply of tapers and phosphorous, andpromising to payme a visit as often as he could contrive to do sowithoutobservation.ThiswasontheseventeenthofJune.

I remained threedays andnights (as nearly as I couldguess) inmyhiding-placewithoutgettingoutofitatall,excepttwiceforthepurposeofstretchingmy limbs by standing erect between two crates just opposite the opening.During thewholeperiod I sawnothingofAugustus;but thisoccasionedmelittleuneasiness,asIknewthebrigwasexpectedtoputtoseaeveryhour,andinthebustlehewouldnoteasilyfindopportunitiesofcomingdowntome.AtlengthIheardthetrapopenandshut,andpresentlyhecalledinalowvoice,

asking if all was well, and if there was any thing I wanted. "Nothing," Ireplied;"Iamascomfortableascanbe;whenwillthebrigsail?""Shewillbeunderweighinlessthanhalfanhour,"heanswered."Icametoletyouknow,andforfearyoushouldbeuneasyatmyabsence.Ishallnothaveachanceofcomingdownagainforsometime—perhapsforthreeorfourdaysmore.Allisgoing on right aboveboard. After I go up and close the trap, do you creepalongbythewhipcordtowherethenailisdrivenin.Youwillfindmywatchthere—itmay be useful to you, as you have no daylight to keep time by. Isupposeyoucan'ttellhowlongyouhavebeenburied—onlythreedays—thisisthetwentieth.Iwouldbringthewatchtoyourbox,butamafraidofbeingmissed."Withthishewentup.

In about an hour after he had gone I distinctly felt the brig inmotion, andcongratulated myself upon having at length fairly commenced a voyage.Satisfiedwith this idea, I determined tomakemymind as easy aspossible,andawaitthecourseofeventsuntilIshouldbepermittedtoexchangetheboxfor themore roomy, although hardlymore comfortable, accommodations ofthe cabin.My first carewas to get thewatch. Leaving the taper burning, Igropedalonginthedark,followingthecordthroughwindingsinnumerable,insomeofwhich Idiscovered that,after toilinga longdistance, Iwasbroughtbackwithina footor twoofa formerposition.At length I reached thenail,andsecuringtheobjectofmyjourney,returnedwithitinsafety.Inowlookedover the books which had been so thoughtfully provided, and selected theexpedition of Lewis and Clarke to the mouth of the Columbia.With this Iamusedmyselfforsometime,when,growingsleepy,Iextinguishedthelightwithgreatcare,andsoonfellintoasoundslumber.

Upon awakening I felt strangely confused in mind, and some time elapsedbefore I could bring to recollection all the various circumstances of mysituation.Bydegrees,however,Irememberedall.Strikingalight,Ilookedatthewatch; but itwas run down, and therewere, consequently, nomeans ofdetermining how long I slept. My limbs were greatly cramped, and I wasforced to relieve them by standing between the crates. Presently feeling analmost ravenous appetite, I bethought myself of the cold mutton, some ofwhichIhadeaten justbeforegoing tosleep,andfoundexcellent.Whatwasmy astonishment in discovering it to be in a state of absolute putrefaction!Thiscircumstanceoccasionedmegreatdisquietude;for,connectingitwiththedisorder of mind I experienced upon awakening, I began to suppose that Imusthavesleptforaninordinatelylongperiodoftime.Thecloseatmosphereoftheholdmighthavehadsomethingtodowiththis,andmight,intheend,beproductiveof themostseriousresults.Myheadachedexcessively; I fanciedthatIdreweverybreathwithdifficulty;and,inshort,Iwasoppressedwithamultitude of gloomy feelings. Still I could not venture to make any

disturbancebyopeningthetraporotherwise,and,havingwoundupthewatch,contentedmyselfaswellaspossible.

Throughoutthewholeofthenexttedioustwenty-fourhoursnopersoncametomyrelief,andIcouldnothelpaccusingAugustusofthegrossestinattention.Whatalarmedmechieflywas,thatthewaterinmyjugwasreducedtoabouthalf apint, and Iwas sufferingmuch from thirst, havingeaten freelyof theBologna sausages after the loss of my mutton. I became very uneasy, andcouldnolongertakeanyinterestinmybooks.Iwasoverpowered,too,withadesire to sleep, yet trembled at the thought of indulging it, lest theremightexistsomeperniciousinfluence,likethatofburningcharcoal,intheconfinedairofthehold.Inthemeantimetherollofthebrigtoldmethatwewerefarinthemainocean,andadullhummingsound,whichreachedmyearsasiffromanimmensedistance,convincedmenoordinarygalewasblowing.Icouldnotimagine a reason for the absence of Augustus.We were surely far enoughadvancedonourvoyagetoallowofmygoingup.Someaccidentmighthavehappened to him—but I could think of none which would account for hissufferingmetoremainsolongaprisoner,except,indeed,hishavingsuddenlydiedorfallenoverboard,anduponthisideaIcouldnotdwellwithanydegreeofpatience.Itwaspossiblethatwehadbeenbaffledbyheadwinds,andwerestill in thenearvicinityofNantucket.Thisnotion,however, Iwas forced toabandon; for suchbeing thecase, thebrigmusthave frequentlygoneabout;andIwasentirelysatisfied,fromhercontinualinclinationtothelarboard,thatshehadbeensailingallalongwithasteadybreezeonherstarboardquarter.Besides, granting thatwewere still in the neighborhood of the island,whyshouldnotAugustushavevisitedmeand informedmeof thecircumstance?Pondering in thismanner upon the difficulties ofmy solitary and cheerlesscondition,Iresolvedtowaityetanothertwenty-fourhours,when,ifnoreliefwereobtained,Iwouldmakemywaytothetrap,andendeavoureithertoholdaparleywithmyfriend,orgetat leasta little freshair throughtheopening,and a further supply ofwater from the stateroom.While occupiedwith thisthought,however,Ifellinspiteofeveryexertiontothecontrary,intoastateofprofound sleep, or rather stupor. My dreams were of the most terrificdescription. Every species of calamity and horror befell me. Among othermiseries Iwas smothered to death between huge pillows, by demons of themost ghastly and ferocious aspect. Immense serpents held me in theirembrace, and looked earnestly inmy facewith their fearfully shining eyes.Then deserts, limitless, and of themost forlorn and awe-inspiring character,spread themselves out before me. Immensely tall trunks of trees, gray andleafless,roseupinendlesssuccessionasfarastheeyecouldreach.Theirrootswereconcealedinwide-spreadingmorasses,whosedrearywaterlayintenselyblack, still, and altogether terrible, beneath. And the strange trees seemedendowedwith a human vitality, andwaving to and fro their skeleton arms,

werecryingtothesilentwatersformercy,intheshrillandpiercingaccentsofthemostacuteagonyanddespair.Thescenechanged;andIstood,nakedandalone, amidst the burning sand-plains of Sahara.Atmy feet lay crouched afierce lion of the tropics. Suddenly hiswild eyes opened and fell uponme.Withaconclusiveboundhesprangtohisfeet,andlaidbarehishorribleteeth.Inanotherinstantthereburstfromhisredthroataroarlikethethunderofthefirmament,andIfellimpetuouslytotheearth.Stiflinginaparoxysmofterror,Iat lastfoundmyselfpartiallyawake.Mydream, then,wasnotalladream.Now,atleast,Iwasinpossessionofmysenses.Thepawsofsomehugeandrealmonsterwerepressingheavilyuponmybosom—hishotbreathwasinmyear—and his white and ghastly fangs were gleaming upon me through thegloom.

Hadathousandliveshunguponthemovementofalimbortheutteranceofasyllable, Icouldhaveneitherstirrednorspoken.Thebeast,whatever itwas,retainedhispositionwithoutattemptinganyimmediateviolence,whileIlayinanutterlyhelpless,and,Ifancied,adyingconditionbeneathhim.Ifeltthatmypowers of body and mind were fast leaving me—in a word, that I wasperishing,andperishingofsheerfright.Mybrainswam—Igrewdeadlysick—myvisionfailed—eventheglaringeyeballsabovemegrewdim.Makingalaststrongeffort,IatlengthbreathedafaintejaculationtoGod,andresignedmyselftodie.Thesoundofmyvoiceseemedtoarouseall thelatentfuryoftheanimal.Heprecipitatedhimselfatfulllengthuponmybody;butwhatwasmyastonishment,when,with a long and lowwhine, he commenced lickingmyfaceandhandswiththegreatesteagerness,andwiththemostextravagantdemonstration of affection and joy! I was bewildered, utterly lost inamazement—but Icouldnot forget thepeculiarwhineofmyNewfoundlanddog Tiger, and the odd manner of his caresses I well knew. It was he. Iexperiencedasuddenrushofbloodtomytemples—agiddyandoverpoweringsenseofdeliveranceandreanimation.Irosehurriedlyfromthemattressuponwhich I had been lying, and, throwingmyself upon the neck ofmy faithfulfollowerandfriend, relieved the longoppressionofmybosomina floodofthemostpassionatetears.

As upon a former occasion my conceptions were in a state of the greatestindistinctnessandconfusionafterleavingthemattress.ForalongtimeIfoundit nearly impossible to connect any ideas; but, by very slow degrees, mythinkingfacultiesreturned,andIagaincalledtomemorytheseveralincidentsofmycondition.ForthepresenceofTigerItriedinvaintoaccount;andafterbusying myself with a thousand different conjectures respecting him, wasforcedtocontentmyselfwithrejoicingthathewaswithmetosharemydrearysolitude,andrendermecomfortbyhiscaresses.Mostpeoplelovetheirdogs—but forTiger Ihadanaffection farmoreardent thancommon;andnever,

certainly,didanycreaturemoretrulydeserveit.Forsevenyearshehadbeenmyinseparablecompanion,andinamultitudeofinstanceshadgivenevidenceof all thenoblequalities forwhichwevalue the animal. I had rescuedhim,whenapuppy,fromtheclutchesofamalignantlittlevillaininNantucketwhowasleadinghim,witharopearoundhisneck,tothewater;andthegrowndogrepaid the obligation, about three years afterward, by saving me from thebludgeonofastreetrobber.

Gettingnowholdofthewatch,Ifound,uponapplyingittomyear,thatithadagainrundown;butat thisIwasnotatallsurprised,beingconvinced,fromthepeculiar stateofmy feelings, that I had slept, asbefore, for avery longperiodoftime,howlong,itwasofcourseimpossibletosay.Iwasburningupwith fever,andmy thirstwasalmost intolerable. I feltabout theboxformylittle remainingsupplyofwater, for Ihadno light, the taperhavingburnt tothesocketofthelantern,andthephosphorus-boxnotcomingreadilytohand.Uponfindingthejug,however,Idiscoveredittobeempty—Tiger,nodoubt,havingbeentemptedtodrinkit,aswellastodevourtheremnantofmutton,the bone ofwhich lay,well picked, by the opening of the box.The spoiledmeat I couldwell spare, butmyheart sank as I thought of thewater. Iwasfeebleintheextreme—somuchsothatIshookallover,aswithanague,attheslightestmovementorexertion.Toaddtomytroubles,thebrigwaspitchingandrollingwithgreatviolence,andtheoil-caskswhichlayuponmyboxwerein momentary danger of falling down, so as to block up the only way ofingress or egress. I felt, also, terrible sufferings from sea-sickness. Theseconsiderationsdeterminedmetomakemyway,atallhazards,tothetrap,andobtain immediate relief, before I should be incapacitated from doing soaltogether.Havingcometothisresolve,Iagainfeltaboutforthephosphorus-box and tapers. The former I found after some little trouble; but, notdiscoveringthetapersassoonasIhadexpected(forIrememberedverynearlythespotinwhichIhadplacedthem),Igaveupthesearchforthepresent,andbiddingTigerliequiet,beganatoncemyjourneytowardthetrap.

In this attemptmygreat feeblenessbecamemore than ever apparent. Itwaswith theutmostdifficulty Icouldcrawlalongatall,andvery frequentlymylimbssanksuddenly frombeneathme;when, fallingprostrateonmyface, Iwould remain for someminutes in a state bordering on insensibility. Still Istruggled forward by slow degrees, dreading every moment that I shouldswoonamidthenarrowandintricatewindingsofthelumber,inwhicheventIhadnothingbutdeathtoexpectastheresult.Atlength,uponmakingapushforwardwithalltheenergyIcouldcommand,Istruckmyforeheadviolentlyagainstthesharpcornerofaniron-boundcrate.Theaccidentonlystunnedmeforafewmoments;butIfound,tomyinexpressiblegrief,thatthequickandviolent rollof thevesselhad thrown thecrateentirelyacrossmypath, soas

effectually to block up the passage. With my utmost exertions I could notmoveitasingleinchfromitsposition,itbeingcloselywedgedinamongthesurrounding boxes and ship-furniture. It became necessary, therefore,enfeebledasIwas,eithertoleavetheguidanceofthewhipcordandseekoutanewpassage,ortoclimbovertheobstacle,andresumethepathontheotherside.Theformeralternativepresentedtoomanydifficultiesanddangerstobethoughtofwithoutashudder.Inmypresentweakstateofbothmindandbody,IshouldinfalliblylosemywayifIattemptedit,andperishmiserablyamidthedismal anddisgusting labyrinthsof thehold. I proceeded, therefore,withouthesitation, to summon up all my remaining strength and fortitude, andendeavour,asIbestmight,toclamberoverthecrate.

Upon standing erect, with this end in view, I found the undertaking even amoreserious task thanmyfearshad ledme to imagine.Oneachsideof thenarrowpassagearoseacompletewallofvariousheavylumber,whichtheleastblunderonmypartmightbethemeansofbringingdownuponmyhead;or,ifthisaccidentdidnotoccur, thepathmightbeeffectuallyblockedupagainstmyreturnbythedescendingmass,asitwasinfrontbytheobstaclethere.Thecrate itselfwas a long and unwieldy box, uponwhich no foothold could beobtained.InvainIattempted,byeverymeansinmypower,toreachthetop,with thehopeofbeing thus enabled todrawmyself up.Had I succeeded inreachingit,itiscertainthatmystrengthwouldhaveprovedutterlyinadequatetothetaskofgettingover,anditwasbetterineveryrespectthatIfailed.Atlength,inadesperateeffort toforcethecratefromitsground,Ifeltastrongvibration in the side next me. I thrust my hand eagerly to the edge of theplanks, 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 itentirelyoff;andgetting it throughtheaperture,discovered, tomyexceedingjoy, that therewerenoboardson theoppositeside—inotherwords, that thetopwaswanting, itbeing thebottom throughwhich Ihad forcedmyway. Inow met with no important difficulty in proceeding along the line until Ifinallyreachedthenail.WithabeatingheartIstooderect,andwithagentletouch pressed against the cover of the trap. It did not rise as soon as I hadexpected, and I pressed itwith somewhatmoredetermination, still dreadinglest someother person thanAugustusmight be in his state-room.Thedoor,however, to my astonishment, remained steady, and I became somewhatuneasy, for I knew that it had formerly required but little or no effort toremoveit.Ipusheditstrongly—itwasneverthelessfirm:withallmystrength—itstilldidnotgiveway:withrage,withfury,withdespair—itsetatdefiancemy utmost efforts; and it was evident, from the unyielding nature of theresistance,thattheholehadeitherbeendiscoveredandeffectuallynailedup,orthatsomeimmenseweighthadbeenplaceduponit,whichitwasuselesstothinkofremoving.

Mysensationswerethoseofextremehorroranddismay.InvainIattemptedtoreasonontheprobablecauseofmybeingthusentombed.Icouldsummonupno connected chain of reflection, and, sinking on the floor, gave way,unresistingly,tothemostgloomyimaginings,inwhichthedreadfuldeathsofthirst, famine,suffocation,andpremature intermentcrowdeduponmeas theprominent disasters to be encountered.At length there returned tome someportionofpresenceofmind.Iarose,andfeltwithmyfingersfortheseamsorcracks of the aperture. Having found them, I examined them closely toascertainiftheyemittedanylightfromthestate-room;butnonewasvisible.Ithen forced the blade ofmy pen-knife through them, until Imetwith somehardobstacle.Scrapingagainst it, Idiscovered it tobea solidmassof iron,which,fromitspeculiarwavyfeelasIpassedthebladealongit,Iconcludedtobeachain-cable.Theonlycoursenowleftmewastoretracemywaytothebox,andthereeitheryieldtomysadfate,ortrysototranquilizemymindasto admit ofmy arranging some plan of escape. I immediately set about theattempt, and succeeded, after innumerable difficulties, in getting back.As Isank,utterlyexhausted,upon themattress,Tiger threwhimselfat full lengthbymyside,andseemedasifdesirous,byhiscaresses,ofconsolingmeinmytroubles,andurgingmetobearthemwithfortitude.

Thesingularityofhisbehavioratlengthforciblyarrestedmyattention.Afterlickingmyfaceandhandsforsomeminutes,hewouldsuddenlyceasedoingso, and utter a lowwhine. Upon reaching outmy hand toward him, I theninvariablyfoundhimlyingonhisback,withhispawsuplifted.Thisconduct,sofrequentlyrepeated,appearedstrange,andIcouldinnomanneraccountforit.Asthedogseemeddistressed,Iconcludedthathehadreceivedsomeinjury;and,takinghispawsinmyhands,Iexaminedthemonebyone,butfoundnosignofanyhurt. I thensupposedhimhungry,andgavehima largepieceofham, which he devoured with avidity—afterward, however, resuming hisextraordinarymanoeuvres.Inowimaginedthathewassuffering,likemyself,thetormentsofthirst,andwasaboutadoptingthisconclusionasthetrueone,whentheideaoccurredtomethatIhadasyetonlyexaminedhispaws,andthattheremightpossiblybeawounduponsomeportionofhisbodyorhead.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 extendingcompletely across it. Probing thiswithmy finger, I discovered a string, andtracingitup,foundthatitencircledthewholebody.Uponacloserscrutiny,Icameacrossasmallslipofwhathadthefeelingofletterpaper,throughwhichthe string had been fastened in such a manner as to bring it immediatelybeneaththeleftshoulderoftheanimal.

CHAPTER3

THE thought instantly occurred to me that the paper was a note fromAugustus,andthatsomeunaccountableaccidenthavinghappenedtopreventhisrelievingmefrommydungeon,hehaddevisedthismethodofacquaintingmewiththetruestateofaffairs.Tremblingwitheagerness,Inowcommencedanother search for my phosphorus matches and tapers. I had a confusedrecollectionofhavingputthemcarefullyawayjustbeforefallingasleep;and,indeed,previouslytomylastjourneytothetrap,IhadbeenabletoremembertheexactspotwhereIhaddeposited them.ButnowIendeavored invain tocall it tomind,andbusiedmyself forafullhour inafruitlessandvexatioussearchforthemissingarticles;never,surely,wasthereamoretantalizingstateofanxietyandsuspense.Atlength,whilegropingabout,withmyheadclosetotheballast,neartheopeningofthebox,andoutsideofit,Iperceivedafaintglimmering of light in the direction of the steerage. Greatly surprised, Iendeavoredtomakemywaytowardit,asitappearedtobebutafewfeetfrommyposition.ScarcelyhadImovedwiththisintention,whenIlostsightoftheglimmerentirely,and,beforeIcouldbringitintoviewagain,wasobligedtofeelalongbytheboxuntilIhadexactlyresumedmyoriginalsituation.Now,movingmyheadwithcautiontoandfro,Ifoundthat,byproceedingslowly,withgreatcare,inanoppositedirectiontothatinwhichIhadatfirststarted,Iwasenabled todrawnear the light,stillkeeping it inview.PresentlyIcamedirectly upon it (having squeezed my way through innumerable narrowwindings),and found that itproceeded fromsome fragmentsofmymatcheslyinginanemptybarrelturneduponitsside.Iwaswonderinghowtheycamein such a place,whenmy hand fell upon two or three pieces of taperwax,whichhadbeen evidentlymumbledby thedog. I concluded at once that hehaddevouredthewholeofmysupplyofcandles,andIfelthopelessofbeingeverabletoreadthenoteofAugustus.Thesmallremnantsofthewaxweresomashedupamongotherrubbishinthebarrel,thatIdespairedofderivinganyservicefromthem,andleftthemastheywere.Thephosphorus,ofwhichtherewasonlyaspeckortwo,IgatheredupaswellasIcould,andreturnedwithit,aftermuchdifficulty,tomybox,whereTigerhadallthewhileremained.

WhattodonextIcouldnottell.TheholdwassointenselydarkthatIcouldnotseemyhand,howevercloseIwouldholdittomyface.Thewhiteslipofpapercouldbarelybediscerned,andnoteventhatwhenIlookedatitdirectly;by turning the exterior portions of the retina toward it—that is to say, bysurveying it slightly askance, I found that it became in some measureperceptible.Thus thegloomofmyprisonmaybe imagined,and thenoteofmyfriend,ifindeeditwereanotefromhim,seemedonlylikelytothrowmeinto further trouble, by disquieting to no purposemy already enfeebled and

agitatedmind.InvainIrevolvedinmybrainamultitudeofabsurdexpedientsforprocuringlight—suchexpedientspreciselyasamanintheperturbedsleepoccasionedbyopiumwouldbe apt to fall upon for a similar purpose—eachandallofwhichappearbyturns to thedreamer themostreasonableandthemost preposterous of conceptions, just as the reasoning or imaginativefaculties flicker, alternately,oneabove theother.At last an ideaoccurred tomewhichseemedrational,andwhichgavemecause towonder,very justly,thatIhadnotentertaineditbefore.Iplacedtheslipofpaperonthebackofabook, and, collecting the fragments of the phosphorusmatcheswhich I hadbrought from the barrel, laid them together upon the paper. I then,with thepalmofmyhand, rubbed thewhole over quickly, yet steadily.A clear lightdiffuseditselfimmediatelythroughoutthewholesurface;andhadtherebeenanywriting upon it, I should not have experienced the least difficulty, I amsure, in reading it.Not a syllablewas there, however—nothingbut adrearyandunsatisfactoryblank;theilluminationdiedawayinafewseconds,andmyheartdiedawaywithinmeasitwent.

Ihavebeforestatedmorethanoncethatmyintellect,forsomeperiodpriortothis, had been in a condition nearly bordering on idiocy. Therewere, to besure, momentary intervals of perfect sanity, and, now and then, even ofenergy;butthesewerefew.ItmustberememberedthatIhadbeen,formanydayscertainly,inhalingthealmostpestilentialatmosphereofacloseholdinawhalingvessel,andforalongportionofthattimebutscantilysuppliedwithwater.ForthelastfourteenorfifteenhoursIhadnone—norhadIsleptduringthat time.Salt provisionsof themost excitingkindhadbeenmychief, and,indeed, since the loss of the mutton, my only supply of food, with theexceptionofthesea-biscuit;andtheselatterwereutterlyuselesstome,astheyweretoodryandhardtobeswallowedintheswollenandparchedconditionofmythroat.Iwasnowinahighstateoffever,andineveryrespectexceedinglyill.Thiswill account for the fact thatmanymiserablehoursofdespondencyelapsed after my last adventure with the phosphorus, before the thoughtsuggested itself that I had examined only one side of the paper. I shall notattempt todescribemyfeelingsofrage(forIbelieveIwasmoreangrythanany thing else) when the egregious oversight I had committed flashedsuddenly upon my perception. The blunder itself would have beenunimportant,hadnotmyownfollyandimpetuosityrendereditotherwise—inmydisappointmentatnotfindingsomewordsupontheslip,Ihadchildishlytornitinpiecesandthrownitaway,itwasimpossibletosaywhere.

Fromtheworstpartof thisdilemmaIwasrelievedby thesagacityofTiger.Havinggot,afteralongsearch,asmallpieceofthenote,Iputittothedog'snose,andendeavoredtomakehimunderstandthathemustbringmetherestof it.Tomyastonishment, (for Ihad taughthimnoneof theusual tricks for

which his breed are famous,) he seemed to enter at once intomymeaning,and, rummaging about for a fewmoments, soon found another considerableportion.Bringingmethis,hepausedawhile,and,rubbinghisnoseagainstmyhand,appeared tobewaiting formyapprovalofwhathehaddone. Ipattedhim on the head, when he immediately made off again. It was now someminutesbeforehecameback—butwhenhedidcome,hebroughtwithhimalarge slip,whichproved tobe all thepapermissing—it havingbeen torn, itseems,only into threepieces.Luckily, I hadno trouble in findingwhat fewfragments of thephosphoruswere left—beingguidedby the indistinct glowone or two of the particles still emitted.My difficulties had taught me thenecessityofcaution,andInowtooktimetoreflectuponwhatIwasabouttodo.Itwasveryprobable,Iconsidered,thatsomewordswerewrittenuponthatside of the paper which had not been examined—but which side was that?Fittingthepiecestogethergavemenoclewinthisrespect,althoughitassuredme that thewords (if therewere any)would be found all on one side, andconnected inapropermanner,aswritten.Therewas thegreaternecessityofascertaining the point in question beyond a doubt, as the phosphorusremainingwouldbealtogetherinsufficientforathirdattempt,shouldIfailintheoneIwasnowabouttomake.Iplacedthepaperonabookasbefore,andsat for someminutes thoughtfully revolving thematterover inmymind.Atlast I thought it barely possible that the written side might have someunevennessonitssurface,whichadelicatesenseoffeelingmightenablemeto detect. I determined to make the experiment and passed my finger verycarefully over the side which first presented itself. Nothing, however, wasperceptible, and I turned the paper, adjusting it on the book. I now againcarriedmyforefingercautiouslyalong,whenIwasawareofanexceedinglyslight,butstilldiscernableglow,whichfollowedasitproceeded.This,Iknew,mustarisefromsomeveryminuteremainingparticlesofthephosphoruswithwhich I had covered the paper inmy previous attempt. The other, or underside, then,was that onwhich lay thewriting, ifwriting there should finallyprove to be.Again I turned the note, andwent towork as I had previouslydone. Having rubbed in the phosphorus, a brilliancy ensued as before—butthis time several lines of MS. in a large hand, and apparently in red ink,becamedistinctlyvisible.Theglimmer, althoughsufficientlybright,wasbutmomentary.Still, had I not been toogreatly excited, therewouldhavebeenampletimeenoughformetoperusethewholethreesentencesbeforeme—forIsawtherewerethree.Inmyanxiety,however,toreadallatonce,Isucceededonlyinreadingthesevenconcludingwords,whichthusappeared—"blood—yourlifedependsuponlyingclose."

HadIbeenabletoascertaintheentirecontentsofthenote-thefullmeaningofthe admonition which my friend had thus attempted to convey, thatadmonition,evenalthoughitshouldhaverevealedastoryofdisasterthemost

unspeakable, could not, I am firmly convinced, have imbuedmymindwithone tithe of the harrowing and yet indefinable horror with which I wasinspired by the fragmentary warning thus received. And "blood," too, thatwordofallwords—sorifeatalltimeswithmystery,andsuffering,andterror—how trebly full of import did it now appear—how chilly and heavily(disjointed, as it thuswas, from any foregoingwords to qualify or render itdistinct)did itsvaguesyllables fall,amid thedeepgloomofmyprison, intotheinnermostrecessesofmysoul!

Augustushad,undoubtedly,goodreasonsforwishingmetoremainconcealed,andIformedathousandsurmisesastowhattheycouldbe—butIcouldthinkofnothingaffordingasatisfactorysolutionofthemystery.Justafterreturningfrommylastjourneytothetrap,andbeforemyattentionhadbeenotherwisedirected by the singular conduct of Tiger, I had come to the resolution ofmakingmyselfheardatalleventsbythoseonboard,or,ifIcouldnotsucceedin this directly, of trying to cut my way through the orlop deck. The halfcertaintywhichIfeltofbeingabletoaccomplishoneofthesetwopurposesinthelastemergency,hadgivenmecourage(whichIshouldnototherwisehavehad) to endure the evils ofmy situation.The fewwords I had been able toread,however,hadcutmeoff from these final resources,and Inow, for thefirst time, felt all themisery of my fate. In a paroxysm of despair I threwmyselfagainuponthemattress,where,forabouttheperiodofadayandnight,Ilayinakindofstupor,relievedonlybymomentaryintervalsofreasonandrecollection.

AtlengthIoncemorearose,andbusiedmyselfinreflectionuponthehorrorswhichencompassedme.Foranothertwenty-fourhoursitwasbarelypossiblethatImightexistwithoutwater—foralongertimeIcouldnotdoso.DuringthefirstportionofmyimprisonmentIhadmadefreeuseofthecordialswithwhichAugustushadsuppliedme,buttheyonlyservedtoexcitefever,withoutintheleastdegreeassuagingthirst.Ihadnowonlyaboutagill left,andthiswasofaspeciesofstrongpeach liqueuratwhichmystomachrevolted.Thesausageswere entirely consumed; of the ham nothing remained but a smallpieceoftheskin;andallthebiscuit,exceptafewfragmentsofone,hadbeeneaten by Tiger. To add to my troubles, I found that my headache wasincreasing momentarily, and with it the species of delirium which haddistressedmemoreorlesssincemyfirstfallingasleep.Forsomehourspastithad been with the greatest difficulty I could breathe at all, and now eachattemptatsodoingwasattendedwiththemostdepressingspasmodicactionofthechest.Buttherewasstillanotherandverydifferentsourceofdisquietude,andone,indeed,whoseharassingterrorshadbeenthechiefmeansofarousingmetoexertionfrommystuporonthemattress.Itarosefromthedemeanorofthedog.

Ifirstobservedanalterationinhisconductwhilerubbinginthephosphorusonthe paper inmy last attempt.As I rubbed, he ran his nose againstmyhandwith a slight snarl; but I was too greatly excited at the time to pay muchattentiontothecircumstance.Soonafterward,itwillberemembered,Ithrewmyselfonthemattress,andfellintoaspeciesoflethargy.PresentlyIbecameaware of a singular hissing sound close at my ears, and discovered it toproceedfromTiger,whowaspantingandwheezinginastateofthegreatestapparentexcitement,hiseyeballsflashingfiercelythroughthegloom.Ispoketohim,whenherepliedwithalowgrowl,andthenremainedquiet.PresentlyIrelapsed into my stupor, from which I was again awakened in a similarmanner. This was repeated three or four times, until finally his behaviourinspiredmewithsogreatadegreeoffear,thatIbecamefullyaroused.Hewasnowlyingclosebythedoorofthebox,snarlingfearfully,althoughinakindofundertone,andgrindinghis teethas ifstronglyconvulsed. Ihadnodoubtwhatever that thewantofwateror theconfinedatmosphereof theholdhaddrivenhimmad,andIwasatalosswhatcoursetopursue.Icouldnotendurethe thought of killing him, yet it seemed absolutely necessary for my ownsafety. I could distinctly perceive his eyes fastened upon me with anexpressionofthemostdeadlyanimosity,andIexpectedeveryinstantthathewouldattackme.At last I couldenduremy terrible situationno longer, anddeterminedtomakemywayfromtheboxatallhazards,anddispatchhim,ifhisoppositionshouldrenderitnecessaryformetodoso.Togetout,Ihadtopassdirectlyoverhisbody,andhealreadyseemedtoanticipatemydesign—missinghimselfuponhis fore-legs (as Iperceivedby thealteredpositionofhis eyes), and displayed the whole of his white fangs, which were easilydiscernible.I tooktheremainsoftheham-skin,andthebottlecontainingtheliqueur,andsecuredthemaboutmyperson,togetherwithalargecarving-knifewhichAugustushadleftme—then,foldingmycloakaroundmeascloselyaspossible,Imadeamovementtowardthemouthofthebox.NosoonerdidIdothis, than the dog sprang with a loud growl toward my throat. The wholeweightofhisbodystruckmeontherightshoulder,andIfellviolentlytotheleft,whiletheenragedanimalpassedentirelyoverme.Ihadfallenuponmyknees,withmyheadburiedamongtheblankets,andtheseprotectedmefroma second furious assault, during which I felt the sharp teeth pressingvigorouslyuponthewoollenwhichenvelopedmyneck—yet,luckily,withoutbeing able to penetrate all the folds. Iwas nowbeneath the dog, and a fewmomentswouldplacemecompletelyinhispower.Despairgavemestrength,andIroseboldlyup,shakinghimfrommebymainforce,anddraggingwithmetheblanketsfromthemattress.TheseInowthrewoverhim,andbeforehecould extricate himself, I had got through the door and closed it effectuallyagainst his pursuit. In this struggle, however, I had been forced to drop themorselofham-skin,andInowfoundmywholestockofprovisionsreducedto

a single gill of liqueur. As this reflection crossed my mind, I felt myselfactuated by one of those fits of perverseness which might be supposed toinfluenceaspoiledchildinsimilarcircumstances,and,raisingthebottletomylips,Idrainedittothelastdrop,anddasheditfuriouslyuponthefloor.

Scarcely had the echo of the crash died away, when I heard my namepronounced inaneagerbut subduedvoice, issuing from thedirectionof thesteerage. So unexpected was anything of the kind, and so intense was theemotionexcitedwithinmebythesound,thatIendeavouredinvaintoreply.Mypowersofspeech totally failed,and inanagonyof terror lestmyfriendshouldconcludemedead,andreturnwithoutattemptingtoreachme,Istoodupbetween the crates near thedoor of thebox, trembling convulsively, andgaspingandstrugglingforutterance.Hadathousandwordsdependeduponasyllable,Icouldnothavespokenit.Therewasaslightmovementnowaudibleamong the lumber somewhere forward of my station. The sound presentlygrew less distinct, then again less so, and still less. Shall I ever forget myfeelings at this moment? He was going—my friend, my companion, fromwhomIhadarighttoexpectsomuch—hewasgoing—hewouldabandonme—hewasgone!Hewouldleavemetoperishmiserably,toexpireinthemosthorrible and loathesome of dungeons—and one word, one little syllable,would saveme—yet that single syllable I could not utter! I felt, I am sure,morethantenthousandtimestheagoniesofdeathitself.Mybrainreeled,andIfell,deadlysick,againsttheendofthebox.

As I fell the carving-knife was shaken out from the waist-band of mypantaloons,anddroppedwitharattlingsoundtothefloor.Neverdidanystrainoftherichestmelodycomesosweetlytomyears!WiththeintensestanxietyIlistenedtoascertaintheeffectofthenoiseuponAugustus—forIknewthatthepersonwhocalledmynamecouldbenoonebuthimself.Allwas silent forsomemoments.AtlengthIagainheardtheword"Arthur!"repeatedinalowtone,andonefullofhesitation.Revivinghopeloosenedatoncemypowersofspeech,andInowscreamedatthetopofmyvoice,"Augustus!oh,Augustus!""Hush! for God's sake be silent!" he replied, in a voice trembling withagitation; "Iwill bewith you immediately—as soon as I canmakemywaythroughthehold."ForalongtimeIheardhimmovingamongthelumber,andevery moment seemed to me an age. At length I felt his hand upon myshoulder, and he placed, at the samemoment, a bottle ofwater tomy lips.Thoseonlywhohavebeensuddenlyredeemedfromthejawsofthetomb,orwho have known the insufferable torments of thirst under circumstances asaggravatedasthosewhichencompassedmeinmydrearyprison,canformanyideaoftheunutterabletransportswhichthatonelongdraughtoftherichestofallphysicalluxuriesafforded.

When Ihad in somedegree satisfiedmy thirst,Augustusproduced fromhispocket three or four boiled potatoes, which I devoured with the greatestavidity.Hehadbroughtwithhimalightinadarklantern,andthegratefulraysaffordedmescarcelylesscomfortthanthefoodanddrink.ButIwasimpatienttolearnthecauseofhisprotractedabsence,andheproceededtorecountwhathadhappenedonboardduringmyincarceration.

CHAPTER4

THEbrigputtosea,asIhadsupposed,inaboutanhourafterhehadleftthewatch.Thiswas on the twentieth of June. Itwill be remembered that I hadthen been in the hold for three days; and, during this period, there was soconstantabustleonboard,andsomuchrunningtoandfro,especiallyinthecabin and staterooms, that he had had no chance of visitingmewithout theriskofhavingthesecretofthetrapdiscovered.Whenatlengthhedidcome,Ihadassuredhim that Iwasdoingaswell aspossible;and, therefore, for thetwo next days he felt but little uneasiness on my account—still, however,watchinganopportunityofgoingdown.Itwasnotuntilthefourthdaythathefoundone.Several timesduringthis intervalhehadmadeuphismindtolethisfatherknowoftheadventure,andhavemecomeupatonce;butwewerestillwithin reaching distance ofNantucket, and itwas doubtful, from someexpressions which had escaped Captain Barnard, whether he would notimmediately put back if he discovered me to be on board. Besides, uponthinkingthematterover,Augustus,sohetoldme,couldnotimaginethatIwasin immediate want, or that I would hesitate, in such case, to make myselfheardat thetrap.When, therefore,heconsideredeverythingheconcludedtoletmestayuntilhecouldmeetwithanopportunityofvisitingmeunobserved.This,asIsaidbefore,didnotoccuruntilthefourthdayafterhisbringingmethewatch, and the seventh since I had first entered the hold.He thenwentdownwithout takingwithhimanywaterorprovisions, intending in thefirstplacemerelytocallmyattention,andgetmetocomefromtheboxtothetrap,—whenhewouldgouptothestateroomandthencehandmedownasupply.Whenhedescendedfor thispurposehefoundthatIwasasleep,for itseemsthat Iwas snoring very loudly. From all the calculations I canmake on thesubject,thismusthavebeentheslumberintowhichIfelljustaftermyreturnfrom the trapwith thewatch,andwhich,consequently,musthave lasted formore than threeentiredaysandnightsat thevery least.Latterly, Ihavehadreason both from my own experience and the assurance of others, to beacquaintedwiththestrongsoporificeffectsofthestencharisingfromoldfish-

oilwhen closely confined; andwhen I think of the condition of the hold inwhichIwasimprisoned,andthelongperiodduringwhichthebrighadbeenusedas awhalingvessel, I ammore inclined towonder that I awokeat all,afteroncefallingasleep,thanthatIshouldhavesleptuninterruptedlyfortheperiodspecifiedabove.

Augustuscalledtomeatfirstinalowvoiceandwithoutclosingthetrap—butImadehimnoreply.Hethenshutthetrap,andspoketomeinalouder,andfinally inavery loud tone—still Icontinued tosnore.Hewasnowata losswhattodo.Itwouldtakehimsometimetomakehiswaythroughthelumbertomy box, and in themeanwhile his absencewould be noticed byCaptainBarnard, who had occasion for his services every minute, in arranging andcopying papers connected with the business of the voyage. He determined,therefore,uponreflection,toascend,andawaitanotheropportunityofvisitingme.Hewasthemoreeasilyinducedtothisresolve,asmyslumberappearedtobeofthemosttranquilnature,andhecouldnotsupposethatIhadundergoneany inconvenience frommy incarceration.Hehad justmadeuphismindonthesepointswhenhisattentionwasarrestedbyanunusualbustle,thesoundofwhich proceeded apparently from the cabin. He sprang through the trap asquicklyaspossible, closed it, and threwopen thedoorofhis stateroom.Nosoonerhadheputhisfootoverthethresholdthanapistolflashedinhisface,andhewasknockeddown,atthesamemoment,byablowfromahandspike.

Astronghandheldhimonthecabinfloor,withatightgraspuponhisthroat;still hewas able to seewhatwas going on around him.His fatherwas tiedhandandfoot,andlyingalongthestepsofthecompanion-way,withhisheaddown,andadeepwoundintheforehead,fromwhichthebloodwasflowinginacontinuedstream.Hespokenotaword,andwasapparentlydying.Overhimstood thefirstmate,eyeinghimwithanexpressionof fiendishderision,anddeliberatelysearchinghispockets,fromwhichhepresentlydrewforthalargewalletandachronometer.Sevenof thecrew(amongwhomwas thecook,anegro)wererummagingthestateroomson the larboardforarms,where theysoon equipped themselveswithmuskets and ammunition.BesidesAugustusandCaptainBarnard, therewereninemenaltogether in thecabin,and theseamongthemostruffianlyofthebrig'scompany.Thevillainsnowwentupondeck, takingmy friendwith them after having secured his arms behind hisback.Theyproceededstraight to the forecastle,whichwas fasteneddown—twoofthemutineersstandingbyitwithaxes—twoalsoatthemainhatch.Themate calledout in a loudvoice: "Doyouhear there below? tumbleupwithyou,onebyone—now,markthat—andnogrumbling!"Itwassomeminutesbeforeanyoneappeared:—atlastanEnglishman,whohadshippedasarawhand,cameup,weepingpiteously,andentreatingthemate,inthemosthumblemanner,tosparehislife.Theonlyreplywasablowontheforeheadfroman

axe.Thepoorfellowfelltothedeckwithoutagroan,andtheblackcookliftedhimup inhisarmsashewouldachild,and tossedhimdeliberately into thesea.Hearingtheblowandtheplungeofthebody,themenbelowcouldnowbe induced to venture on deck neither by threats nor promises, until apropositionwasmadetosmokethemout.Ageneralrushthenensued,andforamoment it seemedpossible that thebrigmight be retaken.Themutineers,however, succeeded at last in closing the forecastle effectually beforemorethan six of their opponents could get up. These six, finding themselves sogreatlyoutnumbered andwithout arms, submitted after abrief struggle.Themategavethemfairwords—nodoubtwithaviewofinducingthosebelowtoyield,fortheyhadnodifficultyinhearingallthatwassaidondeck.Theresultprovedhis sagacity, no less thanhisdiabolical villainy.All in the forecastlepresently signified their intention of submitting, and, ascending one by one,were pinioned and then thrown on their backs, togetherwith the first six—therebeinginall,ofthecrewwhowerenotconcernedinthemutiny,twenty-seven.

A scene of the most horrible butchery ensued. The bound seamen weredraggedtothegangway.Herethecookstoodwithanaxe,strikingeachvictimontheheadashewasforcedoverthesideofthevesselbytheothermutineers.In thismanner twenty-twoperished, andAugustushadgivenhimselfup forlost,expectingeverymomenthisown turn tocomenext.But it seemed thatthevillainswerenoweitherweary,or in somemeasuredisgustedwith theirbloodylabour;forthefourremainingprisoners,togetherwithmyfriend,whohadbeenthrownonthedeckwiththerest,wererespitedwhilethematesentbelowforrum,andthewholemurderouspartyheldadrunkencarouse,whichlasted until sunset. They now fell to disputing in regard to the fate of thesurvivors,wholaynotmorethanfourpacesoff,andcoulddistinguisheverywordsaid.Uponsomeofthemutineerstheliquorappearedtohaveasofteningeffect, for several voices were heard in favor of releasing the captivesaltogether, on condition of joining the mutiny and sharing the profits. Theblack cook, however (who in all respects was a perfect demon, and whoseemedtoexertasmuchinfluence,ifnotmore,thanthematehimself),wouldlisten to no proposition of the kind, and rose repeatedly for the purpose ofresuming hiswork at the gangway. Fortunately hewas so far overcome byintoxication as to be easily restrained by the less bloodthirsty of the party,amongwhomwasaline-manager,whowentbythenameofDirkPeters.Thisman was the son of an Indian squaw of the tribe of Upsarokas, who liveamongthefastnessesoftheBlackHills,nearthesourceoftheMissouri.Hisfatherwasa fur-trader, Ibelieve,orat leastconnected in somemannerwiththe Indian trading-posts on Lewis river. Peter himself was one of themostferocious-lookingmen Ieverbeheld.Hewasshort in stature,notmore thanfourfeeteightincheshigh,buthislimbswereofHerculeanmould.Hishands,

especially,were so enormously thick andbroad as hardly to retain a humanshape.Hisarms,aswellaslegs,werebowedinthemostsingularmanner,andappeared topossessno flexibilitywhatever.Hisheadwasequallydeformed,beingofimmensesize,withanindentationonthecrown(likethatontheheadofmostnegroes),andentirelybald.Toconcealthislatterdeficiency,whichdidnot proceed from old age, he usually wore a wig formed of any hair-likematerial which presented itself—occasionally the skin of a Spanish dog orAmericangrizzlybear.At the timespokenof,hehadonaportionofoneofthese bearskins; and it added no little to the natural ferocity of hiscountenance, which betook of the Upsaroka character. Themouth extendednearlyfromeartoear,thelipswerethin,andseemed,likesomeotherportionsof his frame, to be devoid of natural pliancy, so that the ruling expressionnever varied under the influence of any emotion whatever. This rulingexpression may be conceived when it is considered that the teeth wereexceedingly long and protruding, and never even partially covered, in anyinstance,bythelips.Topassthismanwithacasualglance,onemightimaginehim to be convulsed with laughter, but a second look would induce ashuddering acknowledgment, that if such an expression were indicative ofmerriment, the merriment must be that of a demon. Of this singular beingmanyanecdoteswereprevalentamongtheseafaringmenofNantucket.Theseanecdoteswent toprovehisprodigiousstrengthwhenunderexcitement,andsome of them had given rise to a doubt of his sanity. But on board theGrampus, itseems,hewasregarded,at the timeof themutiny,withfeelingsmoreofderisionthanofanythingelse.Ihavebeenthusparticularinspeakingof Dirk Peters, because, ferocious as he appeared, he proved the maininstrument in preserving the life of Augustus, and because I shall havefrequentoccasion tomentionhimhereafter in thecourseofmynarrative—anarrative,letmeheresay,which,initslatterportions,willbefoundtoincludeincidentsofanaturesoentirelyoutoftherangeofhumanexperience,andforthisreasonsofarbeyondthelimitsofhumancredulity,thatIproceedinutterhopelessness of obtaining credence for all that I shall tell, yet confidentlytrustingintimeandprogressingsciencetoverifysomeofthemostimportantandmostimprobableofmystatements.

Aftermuchindecisionandtwoorthreeviolentquarrels,itwasdeterminedatlast that all the prisoners (with the exception of Augustus, whom Petersinsistedinajocularmanneruponkeepingashisclerk)shouldbesetadriftinoneof thesmallestwhaleboats.Thematewentdowninto thecabintosee ifCaptain Barnard was still living—for, it will be remembered, he was leftbelowwhenthemutineerscameup.Presentlythetwomadetheirappearance,the captain pale as death, but somewhat recovered from the effects of hiswound.Hespoketothemeninavoicehardlyarticulate,entreatedthemnottosethimadrift,buttoreturntotheirduty,andpromisingtolandthemwherever

theychose,andtotakenostepsforbringingthemtojustice.Hemightaswellhave spoken to thewinds. Two of the ruffians seized him by the arms andhurledhimoverthebrig'ssideintotheboat,whichhadbeenloweredwhilethematewentbelow.Thefourmenwhowerelyingonthedeckwerethenuntiedand ordered to follow, which they did without attempting any resistance—Augustus being still left in his painful position, although he struggled andprayed only for the poor satisfaction of being permitted to bid his fatherfarewell.Ahandfulofsea-biscuitandajugofwaterwerenowhandeddown;butneithermast,sail,oar,norcompass.Theboatwastowedasternforafewminutes, duringwhich themutineers held another consultation—itwas thenfinallycutadrift.By this timenighthadcomeon—therewereneithermoonnorstarsvisible—andashortanduglyseawasrunning,althoughtherewasnogreatdealofwind.Theboatwasinstantlyoutofsight,andlittlehopecouldbeentertainedfortheunfortunatesuffererswhowereinit.Thiseventhappened,however,inlatitude35degrees30'north,longitude61degrees20'west,andconsequently at no very great distance from theBermuda Islands.Augustustherefore endeavored to console himself with the idea that the boat mighteither succeed in reaching the land,orcomesufficientlynear tobe fallen inwithbyvesselsoffthecoast.

Allsailwasnowputuponthebrig,andshecontinuedheroriginalcourse tothe southwest—themutineers being bent upon some piratical expedition, inwhich,fromallthatcouldbeunderstood,ashipwastobeinterceptedonherway from the Cape Verd Islands to Porto Rico. No attention was paid toAugustus,whowasuntiedandsufferedtogoaboutanywhereforwardofthecabincompanion-way.DirkPeterstreatedhimwithsomedegreeofkindness,andononeoccasion savedhim from thebrutalityof thecook.His situationwasstilloneofthemostprecarious,asthemenwerecontinuallyintoxicated,andtherewasnorelyingupontheircontinuedgood-humororcarelessnessinregardtohimself.Hisanxietyonmyaccountberepresented,however,asthemost distressing result of his condition; and, indeed, I had never reason todoubt the sincerity of his friendship. More than once he had resolved toacquaint the mutineers with the secret of my being on board, but wasrestrained fromsodoing,partly through recollectionof theatrocitieshehadalready beheld, and partly through a hope of being able soon to bring merelief.For the latterpurposehewasconstantlyon thewatch;but, inspiteofthemost constant vigilance, three days elapsed after the boatwas cut adriftbefore any chance occurred. At length, on the night of the third day, therecameonaheavyblowfromtheeastward,andallhandswerecalleduptotakein sail. During the confusion which ensued, he made his way belowunobserved, and into the stateroom. What was his grief and horror indiscoveringthatthelatterhadbeenrenderedaplaceofdepositforavarietyofsea-stores and ship-furniture, and that several fathoms of old chain-cable,

whichhadbeenstowedawaybeneaththecompanion-ladder,hadbeendraggedthence tomakeroomforachest,andwerenowlying immediatelyupon thetrap!Toremoveitwithoutdiscoverywasimpossible,andhereturnedondeckasquicklyashecould.Ashecameup,themateseizedhimbythethroat,anddemandingwhathehadbeendoinginthecabin,wasaboutflinginghimoverthe larboard bulwark, when his life was again preserved through theinterference of Dirk Peters. Augustus was now put in handcuffs (of whichtherewereseveralpairsonboard),andhisfeetlashedtightlytogether.Hewasthen taken into the steerage, and thrown into a lower berth next to theforecastlebulkheads,with theassurancethatheshouldneverputhisfootondeckagain"untilthebrigwasnolongerabrig."Thiswastheexpressionofthecook,whothrewhimintotheberth—itishardlypossibletosaywhatprecisemeaning intended by the phrase. The whole affair, however, proved theultimatemeansofmyrelief,aswillpresentlyappear.

CHAPTER5

FORsomeminutesafterthecookhadlefttheforecastle,Augustusabandonedhimselftodespair,neverhopingtoleavetheberthalive.Henowcametotheresolutionofacquaintingthefirstofthemenwhoshouldcomedownwithmysituation,thinkingitbettertoletmetakemychancewiththemutineersthanperish of thirst in the hold,—for it had been ten days since I was firstimprisoned,andmyjugofwaterwasnotaplentifulsupplyevenforfour.Ashewasthinkingonthissubject,theideacameallatonceintohisheadthatitmightbepossible tocommunicatewithmeby thewayof themainhold. Inanyother circumstances, the difficulty and hazard of the undertakingwouldhave prevented him from attempting it; but now he had, at all events, littleprospect of life, and consequently little to lose, he bent his whole mind,therefore,uponthetask.

His handcuffs were the first consideration. At first he saw no method ofremoving them,andfeared thatheshould thusbebaffled in theveryoutset;butuponacloserscrutinyhediscoveredthattheironscouldbeslippedoffandonatpleasure,withvery little effortor inconvenience,merelyby squeezinghishandsthroughthem,—thisspeciesofmanaclebeingaltogetherineffectualin confining young persons, in whom the smaller bones readily yield topressure.Henowuntiedhisfeet,and,leavingthecordinsuchamannerthatitcould easily be readjusted in the event of any person's coming down,proceeded to examine the bulkheadwhere it joined the berth. The partition

herewasofsoftpineboard,aninchthick,andhesawthatheshouldhavelittletrouble in cuttinghisway through.Avoicewasnowheard at the forecastlecompanion-way, andhehad just time toputhis righthand into its handcuff(thelefthadnotbeenremoved)andtodrawtheropeinaslipknotaroundhisankle, when Dirk Peters came below, followed by Tiger, who immediatelyleaped into theberth and laydown.Thedoghadbeenbrought onboardbyAugustus,whoknewmyattachmenttotheanimal,andthoughtitwouldgivemepleasuretohavehimwithmeduringthevoyage.Hewentuptoourhouseforhim immediately after first takingme into thehold, but didnot thinkofmentioning thecircumstanceuponhisbringing thewatch.Since themutiny,Augustushadnot seenhimbeforehisappearancewithDirkPeters, andhadgivenhimupforlost,supposinghimtohavebeenthrownoverboardbysomeof themalignantvillainsbelonging to themate'sgang. Itappearedafterwardthathehadcrawledintoaholebeneathawhale-boat,fromwhich,nothavingroomtoturnround,hecouldnotextricatehimself.Petersat last lethimout,and, with a species of good feeling which my friend knew well how toappreciate, had now brought him to him in the forecastle as a companion,leavingatthesametimesomesaltjunkandpotatoes,withacanofwater,hethenwentondeck,promising tocomedownwithsomethingmore toeatonthenextday.

When he had gone, Augustus freed both hands from the manacles andunfastenedhisfeet.Hethenturneddowntheheadofthemattressonwhichhehadbeenlying,andwithhispenknife(fortheruffianshadnotthoughtitworthwhiletosearchhim)commencedcuttingvigorouslyacrossoneofthepartitionplanks,ascloselyaspossible to thefloorof theberth.Hechose tocuthere,because, ifsuddenly interrupted,hewouldbeable toconcealwhathadbeendoneby letting theheadof themattress fall into itsproperposition.For theremainderoftheday,however,nodisturbanceoccurred,andbynighthehadcompletelydividedtheplank.Itshouldherebeobservedthatnoneofthecrewoccupiedtheforecastleasasleeping-place,livingaltogetherinthecabinsincethe mutiny, drinking the wines and feasting on the sea-stores of CaptainBarnard, and giving no more heed than was absolutely necessary to thenavigationofthebrig.Thesecircumstancesprovedfortunatebothformyselfand Augustus; for, had matters been otherwise, he would have found itimpossibletoreachme.Asitwas,heproceededwithconfidenceinhisdesign.Itwasneardaybreak,however,beforehecompletedtheseconddivisionoftheboard (whichwas about a foot above the first cut), thusmakingan aperturequitelargeenoughtoadmithispassagethroughwithfacilitytothemainorlopdeck.Havinggot here, hemadehiswaywith but little trouble to the lowermain hatch, although in so doing he had to scramble over tiers of oil-caskspilednearlyashighastheupperdeck,therebeingbarelyroomenoughleftforhis 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, toattemptgetting tomebeforedawn,as thechiefdifficulty lay inpassingthroughtheclosestowageinthelowerhold.Hethereforeresolvedtoreturn,andwaittillthenextnight.Withthisdesign,heproceededtoloosenthehatch, so that hemight have as little detention as possible when he shouldcome again.No sooner had he loosened it than Tiger sprang eagerly to thesmallopeningproduced,snuffedforamoment,andthenutteredalongwhine,scratching at the same time, as if anxious to remove the covering with hispaws.Therecouldbenodoubt,fromhisbehaviour,thathewasawareofmybeing in thehold,andAugustus thought itpossible thathewouldbeable togettomeifheputhimdown.Henowhitupontheexpedientofsendingthenote,asitwasespeciallydesirablethatIshouldmakenoattemptatforcingmywayoutatleastunderexistingcircumstances,andtherecouldbenocertaintyof his getting to me himself on the morrow as he intended. After-eventsprovedhowfortunateitwasthattheideaoccurredtohimasitdid;for,haditnot been for the receipt of the note, I should undoubtedly have fallen uponsomeplan,howeverdesperate,ofalarmingthecrew,andbothourliveswouldmostprobablyhavebeensacrificedinconsequence.

Havingconcludedtowrite,thedifficultywasnowtoprocurethematerialsforsodoing.Anold toothpickwassoonmade intoapen;and thisbymeansoffeelingaltogether, for thebetween-deckswasasdarkaspitch.Paperenoughwasobtainedfromthebackofa letter—aduplicateof theforgedletterfromMr.Ross.Thishadbeen theoriginaldraught;but thehandwritingnotbeingsufficientlywellimitated,Augustushadwrittenanother,thrustingthefirst,bygood fortune, into his coat-pocket, where it was now most opportunelydiscovered. Ink alone was thus wanting, and a substitute was immediatelyfoundforthisbymeansofaslightincisionwiththepen-knifeonthebackofafinger just above the nail—a copious flow of blood ensuing, as usual, fromwoundsinthatvicinity.Thenotewasnowwritten,aswellasitcouldbeinthedarkandunderthecircumstances.Itbrieflyexplainedthatamutinyhadtakenplace;thatCaptainBarnardwassetadrift;andthatImightexpectimmediatereliefasfarasprovisionswereconcerned,butmustnotventureuponmakingany disturbance. It concluded with these words: "I have scrawled this withblood—yourlifedependsuponlyingclose."

This slip of paper being tied upon the dog, he was now put down thehatchway, 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 hisabsence.Toconcealtheholeinthepartition,hedrovehisknifeinjustaboveit,andhungupapea-jacketwhichhefoundintheberth.Hishandcuffswerethenreplaced,andalsotheropearoundhisankles.

Thesearrangementswere scarcelycompletedwhenDirkPeterscamebelow,very drunk, but in excellent humour, and bringing with him my friend'sallowance of provision for the day. This consisted of a dozen large Irishpotatoesroasted,andapitcherofwater.Hesatforsometimeonachestbytheberth,and talked freelyabout themateand thegeneralconcernsof thebrig.Hisdemeanourwasexceedinglycapricious,andevengrotesque.AtonetimeAugustuswasmuch alarmed by odd conduct.At last, however, hewent ondeck,mutteringapromisetobringhisprisoneragooddinneronthemorrow.Duringthedaytwoofthecrew(harpooners)camedown,accompaniedbythecook,allthreeinnearlythelaststageofintoxication.LikePeters,theymadenoscrupleoftalkingunreservedlyabouttheirplans.Itappearedthattheyweremuch divided among themselves as to their ultimate course, agreeing in nopoint, except theattackon the ship from theCapeVerd Islands,withwhichtheywereinhourlyexpectationofmeeting.Asfarascouldbeascertained,themutinyhadnotbeenbroughtaboutaltogetherforthesakeofbooty;aprivatepique of the chief mate's against Captain Barnard having been the maininstigation.Therenowseemedtobetwoprincipalfactionsamongthecrew—one headed by themate, the other by the cook. The former party were forseizingthefirstsuitablevesselwhichshouldpresentitself,andequippingitatsome of the West India Islands for a piratical cruise. The latter division,however, which was the stronger, and included Dirk Peters among itspartisans,werebentuponpursuingthecourseoriginally laidoutfor thebriginto the South Pacific; there either to take whale, or act otherwise, ascircumstances should suggest. The representations of Peters, who hadfrequently visited these regions, had great weight, apparently, with themutineers,wavering,astheywere,betweenhalf-engenderednotionsofprofitandpleasure.Hedwelton theworldofnoveltyandamusement tobe foundamong the innumerable islands of the Pacific, on the perfect security andfreedom from all restraint to be enjoyed, but, more particularly, on thedeliciousnessoftheclimate,ontheabundantmeansofgoodliving,andonthevoluptuous beauty of the women. As yet, nothing had been absolutelydetermined upon; but the pictures of the hybrid line-manager were takingstrongholdupontheardentimaginationsoftheseamen,andtherewaseverypossibilitythathisintentionswouldbefinallycarriedintoeffect.

The three men went away in about an hour, and no one else entered theforecastleallday.Augustuslayquietuntilnearlynight.Hethenfreedhimselffromtheropeandirons,andpreparedforhisattempt.Abottlewasfoundinoneoftheberths,andthishefilledwithwaterfromthepitcherleftbyPeters,storing his pockets at the same timewith cold potatoes.Tohis great joy healsocameacrossa lantern,withasmallpieceof tallowcandle in it.Thishecould lightatanymoment,ashehad inhispossessionaboxofphosphorusmatches.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 toconveythe ideaofapersoncoveredup.Whenthrough,hehungupthepea-jacketonhisknife,asbefore,toconcealtheaperture—thismanoeuvrebeingeasily effected, as he did not readjust the piece of plank taken out untilafterward.Hewas nowon themain orlop deck, and proceeded tomake hisway, as before, between the upper deck and the oil-casks to the mainhatchway. Having reached this, he lit the piece of candle, and descended,gropingwithextremedifficultyamongthecompactstowageofthehold.Inafewmomentshebecamealarmedattheinsufferablestenchandtheclosenessof the atmosphere. He could not think it possible that I had survived myconfinementforsolongaperiodbreathingsooppressiveanair.Hecalledmynamerepeatedly,butImadehimnoreply,andhisapprehensionsseemedthustobeconfirmed.Thebrigwasrollingviolently,andtherewassomuchnoiseinconsequence,thatitwasuselesstolistenforanyweaksound,suchasthoseofmybreathingorsnoring.Hethrewopenthelantern,andhelditashighaspossible,whenever an opportunity occurred, in order that, by observing thelight,Imight,ifalive,beawarethatsuccorwasapproaching.Stillnothingwasheardfromme,andthesuppositionofmydeathbegantoassumethecharacterofcertainty.Hedetermined,nevertheless,toforceapassage,ifpossible,tothebox,andatleastascertainbeyondadoubtthetruthofhissurmises.Hepushedonforsometimeinamostpitiablestateofanxiety,until,atlength,hefoundthepathwayutterlyblockedup, and that therewasnopossibilityofmakinganyfartherwaybythecourseinwhichhehadsetout.Overcomenowbyhisfeelings,hethrewhimselfamongthelumberindespair,andweptlikeachild.ItwasatthisperiodthatheheardthecrashoccasionedbythebottlewhichIhad thrown down. Fortunate, indeed,was it that the incident occurred—for,upon this incident, trivial as it appears, the thread ofmy destiny depended.Manyyearselapsed,however,beforeIwasawareofthisfact.AnaturalshameandregretforhisweaknessandindecisionpreventedAugustusfromconfidingto me at once what a more intimate and unreserved communion afterwardinducedhimtoreveal.Uponfindinghisfurtherprogressintheholdimpededby obstacleswhich he could not overcome, he had resolved to abandon hisattempt at reaching me, and return at once to the forecastle. Beforecondemning him entirely on this head, the harassing circumstances whichembarrassed him should be taken into consideration. The night was fastwearingaway,andhisabsence fromthe forecastlemightbediscovered;andindeedwouldnecessarilybe so, ifhe should fail togetback to theberthbydaybreak. His candle was expiring in the socket, and there would be thegreatestdifficultyinretracinghiswaytothehatchwayinthedark.Itmustbeallowed,too,thathehadeverygoodreasontobelievemedead;inwhicheventnobenefitcouldresulttomefromhisreachingthebox,andaworldofdangerwouldbeencounteredtonopurposebyhimself.Hehadrepeatedlycalled,and

I hadmadehimnoanswer. I hadbeennowelevendays andnightswithnomorewaterthanthatcontainedinthejugwhichhehadleftwithme—asupplywhich it was not at all probable I had hoarded in the beginning of myconfinement,asIhadeverycausetoexpectaspeedyrelease.Theatmosphereofthehold, too,musthaveappearedtohim,comingfromthecomparativelyopen air of the steerage, of a nature absolutely poisonous, and by farmoreintolerable than ithadseemed tomeuponmyfirst takingupmyquarters inthe box—the hatchways at that time having been constantly open formanymonthsprevious.Add to theseconsiderations thatof thesceneofbloodshedandterrorso latelywitnessedbymyfriend;hisconfinement,privations,andnarrow escapes from death, together with the frail and equivocal tenure bywhichhestillexisted—circumstancesallsowellcalculatedtoprostrateeveryenergy of mind—and the reader will be easily brought, as I have been, toregardhisapparentfallingoffinfriendshipandinfaithwithsentimentsratherofsorrowthanofanger.

Thecrashofthebottlewasdistinctlyheard,yetAugustuswasnotsurethatitproceeded from the hold.The doubt, however,was sufficient inducement topersevere.Heclamberedupnearlytotheorlopdeckbymeansofthestowage,andthen,watchingforalullinthepitchingsofthevessel,hecalledouttomeinasloudatoneashecouldcommand,regardless,forthemoment,ofbeingoverheardbythecrew.Itwillberememberedthatonthisoccasionthevoicereached me, but I was so entirely overcome by violent agitation as to beincapable of reply. Confident, now, that his worst apprehensions were wellfounded,hedescended,withaviewofgettingbackto theforecastlewithoutloss of time. In his haste some small boxes were thrown down, the noiseoccasionedbywhichIheard,aswillberecollected.Hehadmadeconsiderableprogressonhisreturnwhenthefalloftheknifeagaincausedhimtohesitate.He retracedhis steps immediately,and,clamberingup thestowagea secondtime, called outmy name, loudly as before, havingwatched for a lull. ThistimeIfoundvoicetoanswer.Overjoyedatdiscoveringmetobestillalive,henow resolved to brave every difficulty and danger in reaching me. Havingextricated himself as quickly as possible from the labyrinth of lumber bywhichhewashemmedin,heatlengthstruckintoanopeningwhichpromisedbetter, and finally, after a seriesof struggles, arrivedat thebox ina stateofutterexhaustion.

CHAPTER6

THEleadingparticularsofthisnarrationwereallthatAugustuscommunicatedto me while we remained near the box. It was not until afterward that heenteredfullyintoallthedetails.Hewasapprehensiveofbeingmissed,andIwas wild with impatience to leave my detested place of confinement. Weresolved tomakeourwayatonce to thehole in thebulkhead,nearwhich Iwastoremainforthepresent,whilehewentthroughtoreconnoiter.ToleaveTigerintheboxwaswhatneitherofuscouldenduretothinkof,yet,howtoactotherwisewasthequestion.Henowseemedtobeperfectlyquiet,andwecouldnotevendistinguishthesoundofhisbreathinguponapplyingourearscloselytothebox.Iwasconvincedthathewasdead,anddeterminedtoopenthedoor.Wefoundhim lyingat full length,apparently inadeepstupor,yetstillalive.Notimewastobelost,yetIcouldnotbringmyselftoabandonananimalwhohadnowbeentwiceinstrumentalinsavingmylife,withoutsomeattemptatpreservinghim.Wethereforedraggedhimalongwithusaswellaswecould,althoughwith thegreatestdifficultyandfatigue;Augustus,duringpart of the time, being forced to clamber over the impediments in ourwaywith thehugedog in his arms—a feat towhich the feebleness ofmy framerenderedmetotallyinadequate.Atlengthwesucceededinreachingthehole,whenAugustusgotthrough,andTigerwaspushedinafterward.Allwasfoundto be safe, and we did not fail to return sincere thanks to God for ourdeliverancefromtheimminentdangerwehadescaped.Forthepresent,itwasagreed that I should remainnear theopening, throughwhichmycompanioncouldreadilysupplymewithapartofhisdailyprovision,andwhereIcouldhavetheadvantagesofbreathinganatmospherecomparativelypure.

Inexplanationofsomeportionsofthisnarrative,whereinIhavespokenofthestowageofthebrig,andwhichmayappearambiguoustosomeofmyreaderswhomay have seen a proper or regular stowage, Imust here state that themannerinwhichthismostimportantdutyhadbeenperformedonboardtheGrampuswasamostshamefulpieceofneglectonthepartofCaptainBarnard,whowasbynomeansascarefulorasexperiencedaseamanasthehazardousnature of the service onwhich hewas employedwould seemnecessarily todemand.Aproperstowagecannotbeaccomplishedinacarelessmanner,andmanymostdisastrousaccidents,evenwithinthelimitsofmyownexperience,havearisen fromneglector ignorance in thisparticular.Coastingvessels, inthe frequent hurry andbustle attendant upon taking in or discharging cargo,arethemostliabletomishapfromthewantofaproperattentiontostowage.The great point is to allow no possibility of the cargo or ballast shiftingposition even in themost violent rollingsof thevessel.With this end, greatattentionmustbepaid,notonlytothebulktakenin,buttothenatureofthebulk, and whether there be a full or only a partial cargo. In most kinds offreight thestowage isaccomplishedbymeansofascrew.Thus, ina loadoftobaccoorflour,thewholeisscrewedsotightlyintotheholdofthevesselthat

the barrels or hogsheads, upon discharging, are found to be completelyflattened, and take some time to regain their original shape. This screwing,however,isresortedtoprincipallywithaviewofobtainingmoreroominthehold;forinafullloadofanysuchcommoditiesasflourortobacco,therecanbenodangerofanyshiftingwhatever,atleastnonefromwhichinconveniencecanresult.Therehavebeeninstances,indeed,wherethismethodofscrewinghas resulted in the most lamentable consequences, arising from a causealtogetherdistinctfromthedangerattendantuponashiftingofcargo.Aloadofcotton, forexample, tightly screwedwhile incertainconditions,hasbeenknown, through the expansion of its bulk, to rend a vessel asunder at sea.Therecanbenodoubteitherthat thesameresultwouldensueinthecaseoftobacco,whileundergoingitsusualcourseoffermentation,wereitnotfortheintersticesconsequentupontherotundityofthehogsheads.

Itiswhenapartialcargoisreceivedthatdangerischieflytobeapprehendedfrom shifting, and that precautions should be always taken to guard againstsuchmisfortune.Onlythosewhohaveencounteredaviolentgaleofwind,orratherwhohaveexperiencedtherollingofavesselinasuddencalmafterthegale, can form an idea of the tremendous force of the plunges, and of theconsequentterribleimpetusgiventoall loosearticlesinthevessel.It isthenthatthenecessityofacautiousstowage,whenthereisapartialcargo,becomesobvious.Whenlying-to(especiallywithasmallbeadsail),avesselwhichisnotproperlymodelledinthebowsisfrequentlythrownuponherbeam-ends;this occurring even every fifteen or twenty minutes upon an average, yetwithout any serious consequences resulting, provided there be a properstowage.Ifthis,however,hasnotbeenstrictlyattendedto,inthefirstoftheseheavy lurches thewhole of the cargo tumbles over to the side of the vesselwhich lies upon the water, and, being thus prevented from regaining herequilibrium,asshewouldotherwisenecessarilydo,she iscertain to fill inafewsecondsandgodown.Itisnottoomuchtosaythatatleastone-halfoftheinstances in which vessels have foundered in heavy gales at sea may beattributedtoashiftingofcargoorofballast.

Whenapartialcargoofanykindistakenonboard,thewhole,afterbeingfirststowed as compactly as may be, should be covered with a layer of stoutshifting-boards, extending completely across the vessel. Upon these boardsstrongtemporarystanchionsshouldbeerected,reachingtothetimbersabove,and thus securing every thing in its place. In cargoes consistingof grain, oranysimilarmatter,additionalprecautionsarerequisite.Aholdfilledentirelywith grain upon leaving portwill be found notmore than three fourths fulluponreachingitsdestination—this,too,althoughthefreight,whenmeasuredbushelbybushelbytheconsignee,willoverrunbyavastdeal(onaccountoftheswellingofthegrain)thequantityconsigned.Thisresultisoccasionedby

settling during the voyage, and is themore perceptible in proportion to theroughness of the weather experienced. If grain loosely thrown in a vessel,then,iseversowellsecuredbyshifting-boardsandstanchions,itwillbeliableto shift in a long passage so greatly as to bring about the most distressingcalamities.Topreventthese,everymethodshouldbeemployedbeforeleavingport to settle the cargo as much as possible; and for this there are manycontrivances,amongwhichmaybementionedthedrivingofwedgesintothegrain. Even after all this is done, and unusual pains taken to secure theshifting-boards, no seamanwhoknowswhat he is aboutwill feel altogethersecureinagaleofanyviolencewithacargoofgrainonboard,and,leastofall,withapartialcargo.Yettherearehundredsofourcoastingvessels,and,itis likely,manymore from the ports ofEurope,which sail dailywith partialcargoes, even of the most dangerous species, and without any precautionwhatever.Thewonderisthatnomoreaccidentsoccurthandoactuallyhappen.A lamentable instanceof thisheedlessnessoccurred tomyknowledge in thecase of Captain Joel Rice of the schooner Firefly, which sailed fromRichmond,Virginia, toMadeira,withacargoofcorn, in theyear1825.Thecaptainhadgonemanyvoyageswithoutseriousaccident,althoughhewasinthehabitofpayingnoattentionwhatevertohisstowage,morethantosecureitintheordinarymanner.Hehadneverbeforesailedwithacargoofgrain,andonthisoccasionhadthecornthrownonboardloosely,whenitdidnotmuchmorethanhalffillthevessel.Forthefirstportionofthevoyagehemetwithnothingmorethanlightbreezes;butwhenwithinaday'ssailofMadeiratherecame on a strong gale from the N. N. E. which forced him to lie-to. Hebrought theschooner to thewindunderadouble-reefedforesailalone,whensherodeaswellasanyvesselcouldbeexpectedtodo,andshippednotadropofwater.Towardnight thegale somewhat abated, and she rolledwithmoreunsteadinessthanbefore,butstilldidverywell,untilaheavylurchthrewheruponherbeam-endstostarboard.Thecornwasthenheardtoshiftbodily,theforce of the movement bursting open the main hatchway. The vessel wentdown likea shot.Thishappenedwithinhailofa small sloop fromMadeira,whichpickeduponeofthecrew(theonlypersonsaved),andwhichrodeoutthe gale in perfect security, as indeed a jolly boat might have done underpropermanagement.

ThestowageonboardtheGrampuswasmostclumsilydone, ifstowagethatcouldbecalledwhichwaslittlebetterthanapromiscuoushuddlingtogetherofoil-casksandshipfurniture.Ihavealreadyspokenoftheconditionofarticlesinthehold.Ontheorlopdecktherewasspaceenoughformybody(asIhavestated)betweentheoil-casksandtheupperdeck;aspacewasleftopenaroundthemain hatchway; and several other large spaceswere left in the stowage.Near theholecut throughthebulkheadbyAugustus therewasroomenoughforanentirecask,andinthisspaceIfoundmyselfcomfortablysituatedforthe

present.

By the time my friend had got safely into the berth, and readjusted hishandcuffsandtherope,itwasbroaddaylight.Wehadmadeanarrowescapeindeed;forscarcelyhadhearrangedallmatters,whenthematecamebelow,withDirk Peters and the cook. They talked for some time about the vesselfrom the Cape Verds, and seemed to be excessively anxious for herappearance. At length the cook came to the berth in which Augustus waslying,andseatedhimselfinitnearthehead.Icouldseeandheareverythingfrommyhiding-place,forthepiececutouthadnotbeenputback,andIwasinmomentaryexpectationthatthenegrowouldfallagainstthepea-jacket,whichwas hung up to conceal the aperture, in which case all would have beendiscovered,andourliveswould,nodoubt,havebeeninstantlysacrificed.Ourgoodfortuneprevailed,however;andalthoughhefrequentlytoucheditasthevessel rolled, he never pressed against it sufficiently to bring about adiscovery. The bottom of the jacket had been carefully fastened to thebulkhead,sothattheholemightnotbeseenbyitsswingingtooneside.Allthis time Tiger was lying in the foot of the berth, and appeared to haverecoveredinsomemeasurehisfaculties,forIcouldseehimoccasionallyopenhiseyesanddrawalongbreath.

After a few minutes the mate and cook went above, leaving Dirk Petersbehind,who, as soon as theywere gone, came and sat himself down in theplacejustoccupiedbythemate.HebegantotalkverysociablywithAugustus,andwecouldnowseethatthegreaterpartofhisapparentintoxication,whilethe twootherswerewithhim,wasa feint.Heansweredallmycompanion'squestionswithperfectfreedom;toldhimthathehadnodoubtofhisfather'shavingbeenpickedup,astherewerenolessthanfivesailinsightjustbeforesundown on the day he was cut adrift; and used other language of aconsolatory nature, which occasioned me no less surprise than pleasure.Indeed, Ibegan toentertainhopes, that through the instrumentalityofPeterswemightbe finallyenabled to regainpossessionof thebrig,and this idea Imentioned to Augustus as soon as I found an opportunity. He thought thematterpossible,buturgedthenecessityofthegreatestcautioninmakingtheattempt, as the conduct of the hybrid appeared to be instigated by themostarbitrary caprice alone; and, indeed, itwas difficult to say if hewas at anymomentofsoundmind.Peterswentupondeckinaboutanhour,anddidnotreturnagainuntilnoon,whenhebroughtAugustusaplentifulsupplyofjunkbeefandpudding.Ofthis,whenwewereleftalone,Ipartookheartily,withoutreturningthroughthehole.Nooneelsecamedownintotheforecastleduringthe day, and at night, I got intoAugustus' berth,where I slept soundly andsweetlyuntilnearlydaybreak,whenheawakenedmeuponhearingastirupondeck, and I regainedmy hiding-place as quickly as possible.When the day

was fully broke, we found that Tiger had recovered his strength almostentirely, andgaveno indicationsof hydrophobia, drinking a littlewater thatwasofferedhimwithgreatapparenteagerness.Duringthedayheregainedallhisformervigourandappetite.Hisstrangeconducthadbeenbroughton,nodoubt,bythedeleteriousqualityoftheairofthehold,andhadnoconnexionwith caninemadness. I could not sufficiently rejoice that I had persisted inbringinghimwithmefromthebox.ThisdaywasthethirtiethofJune,andthethirteenthsincetheGrampusmadesadfromNantucket.

On the second of July the mate came below drunk as usual, and in anexcessivelygood-humor.HecametoAugustus'sberth,and,givinghimaslapon the back, asked him if he thought he could behave himself if he let himloose,andwhetherhewouldpromisenottobegoingintothecabinagain.Tothis,ofcourse,myfriendansweredintheaffirmative,whentheruffiansethimatliberty,aftermakinghimdrinkfromaflaskofrumwhichhedrewfromhiscoat-pocket. Both nowwent on deck, and I did not seeAugustus for aboutthree hours. He then came belowwith the good news that he had obtainedpermission to go about the brig as he pleased anywhere forward of themainmast,andthathehadbeenorderedtosleep,asusual,intheforecastle.Hebroughtme,too,agooddinner,andaplentifulsupplyofwater.ThebrigwasstillcruisingforthevesselfromtheCapeVerds,andasailwasnowinsight,whichwas thought to be the one in question. As the events of the ensuingeightdayswereoflittleimportance,andhadnodirectbearinguponthemainincidentsofmynarrative,Iwillherethrowthemintotheformofajournal,asIdonotwishtoomitthemaltogether.

July3.Augustus furnishedmewith threeblankets,withwhich Icontrivedacomfortable bed in my hiding-place. No one came below, except mycompanion, during the day. Tiger took his station in the berth just by theaperture,andsleptheavily,asifnotyetentirelyrecoveredfromtheeffectsofhissickness.Towardnightaflawofwindstruckthebrigbeforesailcouldbetaken in, and very nearly capsized her. The puff died away immediately,however,andnodamagewasdonebeyondthesplittingoftheforetopsail.DirkPeterstreatedAugustusallthisdaywithgreatkindnessandenteredintoalongconversationwith him respecting the PacificOcean, and the islands he hadvisitedinthatregion.Heaskedhimwhetherhewouldnotliketogowiththemutineersonakindofexploringandpleasurevoyage in thosequarters,andsaid that the men were gradually coming over to the mate's views. To thisAugustus thought it best to reply that he would be glad to go on such anadventure, since nothing better could be done, and that any thing waspreferabletoapiraticallife.

July4th.ThevesselinsightprovedtobeasmallbrigfromLiverpool,andwas

allowedtopassunmolested.Augustusspentmostofhistimeondeck,withaviewofobtainingalltheinformationinhispowerrespectingtheintentionsofthemutineers.Theyhad frequent andviolentquarrels among themselves, inoneofwhichaharpooner, JimBonner,was thrownoverboard.Thepartyofthe mate was gaining ground. Jim Bonner belonged to the cook's gang, ofwhichPeterswasapartisan.

July5th.Aboutdaybreaktherecameonastiffbreezefromthewest,whichatnoonfreshenedintoagale,sothatthebrigcouldcarrynothingmorethanhertrysail and foresail. In taking in the foretopsail, Simms, oneof the commonhands,andbelongingalsotothecook'sgang,felloverboard,beingverymuchinliquor,andwasdrowned—noattemptbeingmadetosavehim.Thewholenumberofpersonsonboardwasnowthirteen, towit:DirkPeters;Seymour,theblackcook;Jones,Greely,HartmanRogersandWilliamAllen,allof thecook'sparty;themate,whosenameIneverlearned;AbsalomHicks,Wilson,John Hunty Richard Parker, of the mate's party;—besides Augustus andmyself.

July6th.Thegalelastedallthisday,blowinginheavysqualls,accompaniedwithrain.Thebrigtookinagooddealofwaterthroughherseams,andoneofthepumpswaskeptcontinuallygoing,Augustusbeingforcedtotakehisturn.Justattwilightalargeshippassedclosebyus,withouthavingbeendiscovereduntilwithinhail.Theshipwassupposedtobetheoneforwhichthemutineerswereon the lookout.Thematehailedher,but the replywasdrowned in theroaringofthegale.Ateleven,aseawasshippedamidships,whichtoreawayagreat portion of the larboard bulwarks, and did some other slight damage.Towardmorning theweathermoderated, and at sunrise therewas very littlewind.

July7th.Therewasaheavyswellrunningallthisday,duringwhichthebrig,beinglight,rolledexcessively,andmanyarticlesbrokelooseinthehold,asIcouldheardistinctly frommyhiding-place. Isufferedagreatdeal fromsea-sickness.PetershadalongconversationthisdaywithAugustus,andtoldhimthattwoofhisgang,GreelyandAllen,hadgoneovertothemate,andwereresolvedtoturnpirates.HeputseveralquestionstoAugustuswhichhedidnotthenexactlyunderstand.Duringapartofthiseveningtheleakgaineduponthevessel;andlittlecouldbedonetoremedyit,asitwasoccasionedbythebrigsstraining, and taking in thewater through her seams.A sailwas thrummed,andgotunderthebows,whichaidedusinsomemeasure,sothatwebegantogainupontheleak.

July8th.Alightbreezesprangupatsunrisefromtheeastward,whenthemateheaded the brig to the southwest,with the intention ofmaking some of theWest India islands in pursuance of his piratical designs.No oppositionwas

madebyPetersorthecook—atleastnoneinthehearingofAugustus.Allideaof takingthevesselfromtheCapeVerdswasabandoned.Theleakwasnoweasilykeptunderbyonepumpgoingeverythreequartersofanhour.Thesailwasdrawnfrombeneaththebows.Spoketwosmallschoonersduringtheday.

July9th.Fineweather.Allhandsemployedinrepairingbulwarks.PetershadagainalongconversationwithAugustus,andspokemoreplainlythanhehaddoneheretofore.Hesaidnothing should inducehim tocome into themate'sviews, and evenhintedhis intentionof taking thebrig out of his hands.Heasked my friend if he could depend upon his aid in such case, to whichAugustussaid,"Yes,"withouthesitation.Petersthensaidhewouldsoundtheothersofhispartyuponthesubject,andwentaway.DuringtheremainderofthedayAugustushadnoopportunityofspeakingwithhimprivately.

CHAPTER7

JULY10.SpokeabrigfromRio,boundtoNorfolk.Weatherhazy,withalightbafflingwind from the eastward.To-dayHartmanRogers died, havingbeenattackedon the eighthwith spasmsafterdrinkingaglassofgrog.Thismanwasofthecook'sparty,andoneuponwhomPetersplacedhismainreliance.He told Augustus that he believed themate had poisoned him, and that heexpected, ifhedidnotbeonthelook-out,hisownturnwouldcomeshortly.Therewerenowonlyhimself,Jones,andthecookbelongingtohisowngang—ontheothersidetherewerefive.HehadspokentoJonesabouttakingthecommandfromthemate;buttheprojecthavingbeencoollyreceived,hehadbeendeterredfrompressingthematteranyfurther,orfromsayinganythingtothe cook. It was well, as it happened, that he was so prudent, for in theafternoon thecookexpressedhisdeterminationof sidingwith themate, andwent over formally to that party; while Jones took an opportunity ofquarrellingwithPeters,andhintedthathewouldletthemateknowoftheplaninagitation.Therewasnow,evidently,notimetobelost,andPetersexpressedhis determination of attempting to take the vessel at all hazards, providedAugustus would lend him his aid. My friend at once assured him of hiswillingness to enter into any plan for that purpose, and, thinking theopportunityafavourableone,madeknownthefactofmybeingonboard.Atthisthehybridwasnotmoreastonishedthandelighted,ashehadnoreliancewhateveruponJones,whomhealreadyconsideredasbelongingtothepartyofthe mate. They went below immediately, when Augustus called to me byname,andPetersandmyselfweresoonmadeacquainted. Itwasagreed that

weshouldattempttoretakethevesseluponthefirstgoodopportunity,leavingJonesaltogetheroutofourcouncils. In theeventofsuccess,wewere torunthebrigintothefirstportthatoffered,anddeliverherup.Thedesertionofhisparty had frustrated Peters' design of going into the Pacific—an adventurewhichcouldnotbeaccomplishedwithoutacrew,andhedependeduponeithergetting acquitted upon trial, on the score of insanity (which he solemnlyavowedhadactuatedhiminlendinghisaidtothemutiny),oruponobtainingapardon, if foundguilty, through the representationsofAugustus andmyself.Our deliberationswere interrupted for the present by the cry of, "All handstakeinsail,"andPetersandAugustusranupondeck.

Asusual, thecrewwerenearlyalldrunk;and,before sail couldbeproperlytakenin,aviolentsqualllaidthebrigonherbeam-ends.Bykeepingheraway,however, she righted, having shipped a good deal of water. Scarcely waseverything secure, when another squall took the vessel, and immediatelyafterwardanother—nodamagebeingdone.Therewaseveryappearanceofagale of wind, which, indeed, shortly came on, with great fury, from thenorthwardandwestward.Allwasmadeassnugaspossible,andwelaid-to,asusual,underaclose-reefedforesail.Asnightdrewon, thewind increased inviolence,with a remarkably heavy sea. Peters now came into the forecastlewithAugustus,andweresumedourdeliberations.

Weagreedthatnoopportunitycouldbemorefavourablethanthepresentforcarryingourdesignsintoeffect,asanattemptatsuchamomentwouldneverbeanticipated.Asthebrigwassnuglylaid-to,therewouldbenonecessityofmanoeuvringheruntilgoodweather,when,ifwesucceededinourattempt,wemightliberateone,orperhapstwoofthemen,toaidusintakingherintoport.Themaindifficultywasthegreatdisproportioninourforces.Therewereonlythreeofus,andinthecabintherewerenine.Allthearmsonboard,too,wereintheirpossession,withtheexceptionofapairofsmallpistolswhichPetershadconcealedabouthisperson,andthelargeseaman'sknifewhichhealwaysworeinthewaistbandofhispantaloons.Fromcertainindications,too—such,for example, as therebeingno such thingas anaxeor ahandspike lying intheircustomaryplaces—webegantofearthatthematehadhissuspicions,atleastinregardtoPeters,andthathewouldletslipnoopportunityofgettingridofhim.Itwasclear,indeed,thatwhatweshoulddeterminetodocouldnotbedone too soon. Still the odds were too much against us to allow of ourproceedingwithoutthegreatestcaution.

Petersproposedthatheshouldgoupondeck,andenterintoconversationwiththewatch(Allen),whenhewouldbeable to throwhiminto theseawithouttrouble,andwithoutmakinganydisturbance,byseizingagoodopportunity,that Augustus and myself should then come up, and endeavour to provide

ourselveswithsomekindofweaponsfromthedeck,andthatweshouldthenmake a rush together, and secure the companion-way before any oppositioncouldbeoffered.Iobjectedtothis,becauseIcouldnotbelievethatthemate(whowasacunningfellowinallmatterswhichdidnotaffecthissuperstitiousprejudices)would suffer himself to be so easily entrapped.The very fact oftherebeingawatchondeckatallwassufficientproof thathewasuponthealert,—it not being usual except in vessels where discipline is most rigidlyenforced, to station awatch on deckwhen a vessel is lying-to in a gale ofwind.AsIaddressmyselfprincipally, ifnotaltogether, topersonswhohaveneverbeen to sea, itmaybe aswell to state the exact conditionof avesselunder such circumstances. Lying-to, or, in sea-parlance, "laying-to," is ameasureresortedtoforvariouspurposes,andeffectedinvariousmanners.Inmoderate weather it is frequently done with a view of merely bringing thevessel toa stand-still, towait foranothervesseloranysimilarobject. If thevesselwhichlies-toisunderfullsail,themanoeuvreisusuallyaccomplishedbythrowingroundsomeportionofhersails,soas tolet thewindtakethemaback,whenshebecomesstationary.Butwearenowspeakingoflying-toinagaleofwind.Thisisdonewhenthewindisahead,andtooviolenttoadmitofcarryingsailwithoutdangerofcapsizing;andsometimesevenwhenthewindisfair,but thesea tooheavyfor thevessel tobeputbefore it. Ifavesselbesufferedtoscudbeforethewindinaveryheavysea,muchdamageisusuallydoneherbytheshippingofwateroverherstern,andsometimesbytheviolentplunges shemakes forward. Thismanoeuvre, then, is seldom resorted to insuchcase, unless throughnecessity.When thevessel is in a leaky conditionsheisoftenputbeforethewindevenintheheaviestseas;for,whenlying-to,herseamsaresuretobegreatlyopenedbyherviolentstraining,anditisnotsomuchthecasewhenscudding.Often, too, itbecomesnecessarytoscudavessel,eitherwhentheblastissoexceedinglyfuriousastotearinpiecesthesailwhichisemployedwithaviewofbringingherheadtothewind,orwhen,through the false modelling of the frame or other causes, this main objectcannotbeeffected.

Vessels inagaleofwindare laid-to indifferentmanners, according to theirpeculiarconstruction.Somelie-tobestunderaforesail,andthis,Ibelieve,isthesailmostusuallyemployed.Largesquare-riggedvesselshavesailsfortheexpresspurpose,calledstorm-staysails.But the jib isoccasionallyemployedbyitself,—sometimesthejibandforesail,oradouble-reefedforesail,andnotunfrequentlytheafter-sails,aremadeuseof.Foretopsailsareveryoftenfoundtoanswerthepurposebetterthananyotherspeciesofsail.TheGrampuswasgenerallylaid-tounderaclose-reefedforesail.

Whenavesselistobelaid-to,herheadisbroughtuptothewindjustsonearlyas to fill the sail under which she lies when hauled flat aft, that is, when

broughtdiagonallyacrossthevessel.Thisbeingdone,thebowspointwithinafewdegrees of thedirection fromwhich thewind issues, and thewindwardbowofcoursereceivestheshockofthewaves.Inthissituationagoodvesselwillrideoutaveryheavygaleofwindwithoutshippingadropofwater,andwithoutanyfurtherattentionbeingrequisiteonthepartofthecrew.Thehelmisusuallylasheddown,butthisisaltogetherunnecessary(exceptonaccountofthenoiseitmakeswhenloose),fortherudderhasnoeffectuponthevesselwhen lying-to. Indeed, thehelmhadfarbetterbe left loose than lashedveryfast,fortherudderisapttobetornoffbyheavyseasiftherebenoroomforthe helm to play. As long as the sail holds, a well modelled vessel willmaintainhersituation,andrideeverysea,asifinstinctwithlifeandreason.Ifthe violence of the wind, however, should tear the sail into pieces (a featwhich it requires a perfect hurricane to accomplish under ordinarycircumstances), there is then imminent danger.Thevessel falls off from thewind,and,comingbroadside to the sea, is completelyat itsmercy: theonlyresourceinthiscaseistoputherquietlybeforethewind,lettingherscuduntilsomeothersailcanbeset.Somevesselswilllie-toundernosailwhatever,butsucharenottobetrustedatsea.

Buttoreturnfromthisdigression.Ithadneverbeencustomarywiththematetohaveanywatchondeckwhenlying-toinagaleofwind,andthefactthathehad now one, coupled with the circumstance of the missing axes andhandspikes,fullyconvincedusthatthecrewweretoowellonthewatchtobetaken by surprise in themanner Peters had suggested. Something, however,wastobedone,andthatwithaslittledelayaspracticable,fortherecouldbeno doubt that a suspicion having been once entertained against Peters, hewould be sacrificed upon the earliest occasion, and one would certainly beeitherfoundormadeuponthebreakingofthegale.

Augustus now suggested that if Peters could contrive to remove, under anypretext,thepieceofchain-cablewhichlayoverthetrapinthestateroom,wemightpossiblybeabletocomeuponthemunawaresbymeansofthehold;butalittlereflectionconvincedusthatthevesselrolledandpitchedtooviolentlyforanyattemptofthatnature.

BygoodfortuneIatlengthhitupontheideaofworkinguponthesuperstitiousterrorsandguiltyconscienceof themate. Itwillbe remembered thatoneofthecrew,HartmanRogers,haddiedduringthemorning,havingbeenattackedtwodaysbeforewithspasmsafterdrinkingsomespiritsandwater.Petershadexpressedtoushisopinionthatthismanhadbeenpoisonedbythemate,andfor this belief he had reasons, so he said, which were incontrovertible, butwhichhecouldnotbeprevailedupontoexplaintous—thiswaywardrefusalbeingonlyinkeepingwithotherpointsofhissingularcharacter.Butwhether

or not he had any better grounds for suspecting the mate than we hadourselves,wewereeasilyledtofallinwithhissuspicion,anddeterminedtoactaccordingly.

Rogershaddiedaboutelevenintheforenoon,inviolentconvulsions;andthecorpse presented in a few minutes after death one of the most horrid andloathsomespectaclesIeverremembertohaveseen.Thestomachwasswollenimmensely,likethatofamanwhohasbeendrownedandlainunderwaterformany weeks. The hands were in the same condition, while the face wasshrunken,shrivelled,andofachalkywhiteness,exceptwhererelievedbytwoor threeglaring redblotches like thoseoccasionedby the erysipelas: oneoftheseblotchesextendeddiagonallyacrosstheface,completelycoveringupaneyeasifwithabandofredvelvet.Inthisdisgustingconditionthebodyhadbeen brought up from the cabin at noon to be thrown overboard, when themategettingaglimpseof it (forhenowsawit for thefirst time),andbeingeithertouchedwithremorseforhiscrimeorstruckwithterroratsohorribleasight,ordered themen to sew thebodyup in itshammock, andallow it theusualritesofsea-burial.Havinggiventhesedirections,hewentbelow,asiftoavoidanyfurthersightofhisvictim.Whilepreparationsweremakingtoobeyhisorders,thegalecameonwithgreatfury,andthedesignwasabandonedforthepresent.Thecorpse, left toitself,waswashedintothelarboardscuppers,where it still lay at the time of which I speak, floundering about with thefuriouslurchesofthebrig.

Havingarrangedourplan,wesetaboutputtingitinexecutionasspeedilyaspossible.Peterswentupondeck,and,ashehadanticipated,wasimmediatelyaccosted byAllen,who appeared to be stationedmore as awatch upon theforecastle than for any other purpose.The fate of this villain, however,wasspeedily and silently decided; for Peters, approaching him in a carelessmanner, as if about toaddresshim, seizedhimby the throat, and,beforehecoulduttera singlecry, tossedhimover thebulwarks.He thencalled tous,andwecameup.Our first precautionwas to lookabout for somethingwithwhichtoarmourselves,andindoingthiswehadtoproceedwithgreatcare,for it was impossible to stand on deck an instant without holding fast, andviolent seas broke over the vessel at every plunge forward. It wasindispensable,too,thatweshouldbequickinouroperations,foreveryminuteweexpected themate tobeup toset thepumpsgoing,as itwasevident thebrigmustbetakinginwaterveryfast.Aftersearchingaboutforsometime,wecouldfindnothingmorefitforourpurposethanthetwopump-handles,oneofwhichAugustus took,and I theother.Havingsecured these,westrippedofftheshirtofthecorpseanddroppedthebodyoverboard.Petersandmyselfthenwentbelow,leavingAugustustowatchupondeck,wherehetookhisstationjust where Allen had been placed, and with his back to the cabin

companionway, so that, if anyof themates gang should comeup, hemightsupposeitwasthewatch.

AssoonasIgotbelowIcommenceddisguisingmyselfsoastorepresentthecorpseofRogers.Theshirtwhichwehadtakenfromthebodyaidedusverymuch, for itwas of singular form and character, and easily recognizable—akindofsmock,whichthedeceasedworeoverhisotherclothing.Itwasabluestockinett, with large white stripes running across. Having put this on, Iproceeded to equipmyselfwith a false stomach, in imitationof thehorribledeformityoftheswollencorpse.Thiswassooneffectedbymeansofstuffingwith some bedclothes. I then gave the same appearance to my hands bydrawingonapairofwhitewoollenmittens,andfillingtheminwithanykindofragsthatofferedthemselves.Petersthenarrangedmyface,firstrubbingitwelloverwithwhitechalk, andafterwardblotching itwithblood,whichhetookfromacutinhisfinger.Thestreakacrosstheeyewasnotforgottenandpresentedamostshockingappearance.

CHAPTER8

AS I viewed myself in a fragment of looking-glass which hung up in thecabin,andbythedimlightofakindofbattle-lantern,Iwassoimpressedwithasenseofvagueaweatmyappearance,andattherecollectionoftheterrificrealitywhichIwasthusrepresenting,thatIwasseizedwithaviolenttremour,andcouldscarcelysummonresolutiontogoonwithmypart.Itwasnecessary,however,toactwithdecision,andPetersandmyselfwentupondeck.

Wetherefoundeverythingsafe,and,keepingclosetothebulwarks,thethreeof us crept to the cabin companion-way. It was only partially closed,precautionshavingbeen taken toprevent its being suddenlypushed to fromwithout, by means of placing billets of wood on the upper step so as tointerferewiththeshutting.Wefoundnodifficultyingettingafullviewoftheinteriorofthecabinthroughthecrackswherethehingeswereplaced.Itnowproved tohavebeenvery fortunate forus thatwehadnotattempted to takethembysurprise, for theywereevidentlyon thealert.Onlyonewasasleep,and he lying just at the foot of the companion-ladder,with amusket by hisside.Therestwereseatedonseveralmattresses,whichhadbeen takenfromthe berths and thrown on the floor. They were engaged in earnestconversation; and although they had been carousing, as appeared from twoempty jugs,withsome tin tumblerswhich layabout, theywerenotasmuchintoxicatedasusual.Allhadknives,oneor twoof thempistols,andagreat

manymusketswerelyinginaberthcloseathand.

Welistenedtotheirconversationforsometimebeforewecouldmakeupourmindshowtoact,havingasyetresolvedonnothingdeterminate,exceptthatwewouldattempttoparalyzetheirexertions,whenweshouldattackthem,bymeansoftheapparitionofRogers.Theywerediscussingtheirpiraticalplans,inwhichallwecouldheardistinctlywas,thattheywouldunitewiththecrewof a schooner Hornet, and, if possible, get the schooner herself into theirpossession preparatory to some attempt on a large scale, the particulars ofwhichcouldnotbemadeoutbyeitherofus.

OneofthemenspokeofPeters,whenthematerepliedtohiminalowvoicewhichcouldnotbedistinguished,andafterwardaddedmore loudly, that"hecouldnotunderstandhisbeingsomuchforwardwiththecaptain'sbratintheforecastle,andhethoughtthesoonerbothofthemwereoverboardthebetter."To thisnoanswerwasmade,butwecouldeasilyperceive that thehintwaswell received by the whole party, and more particularly by Jones. At thisperiod I was excessively agitated, the more so as I could see that neitherAugustus nor Peters could determine how to act. I made up my mind,however, tosellmylifeasdearlyaspossible,andnot tosuffermyself tobeovercomebyanyfeelingsoftrepidation.

Thetremendousnoisemadebytheroaringofthewindintherigging,andthewashingof theseaover thedeck,preventedus fromhearingwhatwassaid,except during momentary lulls. In one of these, we all distinctly heard thematetelloneofthemento"goforward,haveaneyeuponthem,forhewantednosuchsecretdoingsonboardthebrig."Itwaswellforusthatthepitchingofthevesselat thismomentwassoviolentas toprevent thisorder frombeingcarriedintoinstantexecution.Thecookgotupfromhismattresstogoforus,whenatremendouslurch,whichIthoughtwouldcarryawaythemasts,threwhimheadlong against one of the larboard stateroomdoors, bursting it open,andcreatingagooddealofotherconfusion.Luckily,neitherofourpartywasthrownfromhisposition,andwehadtimetomakeaprecipitateretreattotheforecastle,andarrangeahurriedplanofactionbeforethemessengermadehisappearance,orratherbeforeheputhisheadoutof thecompanion-hatch, forhedidnotcomeondeck.FromthisstationhecouldnotnoticetheabsenceofAllen,andheaccordinglybawledout,asiftohim,repeatingtheordersofthemate. Peters cried out, "Ay, ay," in a disguised voice, and the cookimmediately went below, without entertaining a suspicion that all was notright.

Mytwocompanionsnowproceededboldlyaftanddownintothecabin,Petersclosing the door after him in the same manner he had found it. The matereceived themwith feigned cordiality, and toldAugustus that, since he had

behavedhimselfsowelloflate,hemighttakeuphisquartersinthecabinandbeoneof themfor thefuture.Hethenpouredhimouta tumblerhalffullofrum,andmadehimdrinkit.AllthisIsawandheard,forIfollowedmyfriendsto the cabin as soon as the door was shut, and took up my old point ofobservation. I had brought with me the two pump-handles, one of which Isecurednearthecompanion-way,tobereadyforusewhenrequired.

Inowsteadiedmyselfaswellaspossiblesoastohaveagoodviewofallthatwaspassingwithin,andendeavouredtonervemyselftothetaskofdescendingamongthemutineerswhenPetersshouldmakeasignaltome,asagreedupon.Presentlyhecontrivedto turntheconversationuponthebloodydeedsof themutiny,andbydegreesledthementotalkofthethousandsuperstitionswhichare so universally current among seamen. I could notmakeout all thatwassaid,butIcouldplainlyseetheeffectsoftheconversationinthecountenancesofthosepresent.Thematewasevidentlymuchagitated,andpresently,whensome onementioned the terrific appearance ofRogers' corpse, I thought hewasuponthepointofswooning.Petersnowaskedhimifhedidnotthinkitwould be better to have the body thrown overboard at once as it was toohorribleasighttoseeitflounderingaboutinthescuppers.Atthisthevillainabsolutely gasped for breath, and turned his head slowly round upon hiscompanions,asifimploringsomeonetogoupandperformthetask.Noone,however,stirred,anditwasquiteevidentthatthewholepartywerewounduptothehighestpitchofnervousexcitement.Petersnowmademethesignal.Iimmediately threw open the door of the companion-way, and, descending,withoututteringasyllable,stooderectinthemidstoftheparty.

The intense effect produced by this sudden apparition is not at all to bewondered at when the various circumstances are taken into consideration.Usually,incasesofasimilarnature,thereisleftinthemindofthespectatorsome glimmering of doubt as to the reality of the vision before his eyes; adegreeofhope,howeverfeeble,thatheisthevictimofchicanery,andthattheapparitionisnotactuallyavisitantfromtheoldworldofshadows.Itisnottoomuch to say that such remnantsofdoubthavebeenat thebottomofalmosteverysuchvisitation,andthattheappallinghorrorwhichhassometimesbeenbroughtabout,istobeattributed,eveninthecasesmostinpoint,andwheremostsufferinghasbeenexperienced,moretoakindofanticipativehorror,lestthe apparition might possibly be real, than to an unwavering belief in itsreality. But, in the present instance, it will be seen immediately, that in themindsofthemutineerstherewasnoteventheshadowofabasisuponwhichtorestadoubtthattheapparitionofRogerswasindeedarevivificationofhisdisgustingcorpse,orat least itsspiritual image.The isolatedsituationof thebrig, with its entire inaccessibility on account of the gale, confined theapparentlypossiblemeansofdeceptionwithinsuchnarrowanddefinitelimits,

thattheymusthavethoughtthemselvesenabledtosurveythemallataglance.They had now been at sea twenty-four days, without holding more than aspeakingcommunicationwithanyvesselwhatever.Thewholeofthecrew,too—atleastallwhomtheyhadthemostremotereasonforsuspectingtobeonboard—wereassembledinthecabin,withtheexceptionofAllen, thewatch;andhisgigantic stature (hewassix feet six incheshigh)was too familiar intheireyestopermitthenotionthathewastheapparitionbeforethemtoentertheirmindsevenforaninstant.Addtotheseconsiderationstheawe-inspiringnatureofthetempest,andthatoftheconversationbroughtaboutbyPeters;thedeepimpressionwhichtheloathsomenessoftheactualcorpsehadmadeinthemorningupontheimaginationsofthemen;theexcellenceoftheimitationinmyperson,andtheuncertainandwaveringlightinwhichtheybeheldme,astheglareofthecabinlantern,swingingviolentlytoandfro,felldubiouslyandfitfully upon my figure, and there will be no reason to wonder that thedeceptionhadevenmorethantheentireeffectwhichwehadanticipated.Thematesprangupfromthemattressonwhichhewaslying,and,withoututteringasyllable, fellback,stonedead,upon thecabin floor,andwashurled to theleeward likea logbyaheavyrollof thebrig.Of theremainingseven, therewere but three who had at first any degree of presence of mind. The fourothers sat for some time rooted apparently to the floor, the most pitiableobjects of horror and utter despair my eyes ever encountered. The onlyoppositionweexperiencedatallwasfromthecook,JohnHunt,andRichardParker; but theymade but a feeble and irresolute defence. The two formerwereshotinstantlybyPeters,andIfelledParkerwithablowontheheadfromthe pump-handle which I had brought withme. In themeantime, AugustusseizedoneofthemusketslyingonthefloorandshotanothermutineerWilsonthroughthebreast.Therewerenowbutthreeremaining;butbythistimetheyhad become aroused from their lethargy, and perhaps began to see that adeceptionhadbeenpractiseduponthem,fortheyfoughtwithgreatresolutionand fury, and, but for the immensemuscular strength of Peters,might haveultimately got the better of us. These three men were—Jones, Greely, andAbsolom Hicks. Jones had thrown Augustus to the floor, stabbed him inseveralplacesalongtherightarm,andwouldnodoubthavesoondispatchedhim (as neither Peters nor myself could immediately get rid of our ownantagonists), had it not been for the timely aid of a friend, upon whoseassistance we, surely, had never depended. This friend was no other thanTiger.Withalowgrowl,heboundedintothecabin,atamostcriticalmomentforAugustus,andthrowinghimselfuponJones,pinnedhimtothefloorinaninstant.Myfriend,however,wasnowtoomuchinjured torenderusanyaidwhatever,andIwassoencumberedwithmydisguisethatIcoulddobutlittle.The dog would not leave his hold upon the throat of Jones—Peters,nevertheless,wasfarmorethanamatchforthetwomenwhoremained,and

would,nodoubt,havedispatchedthemsooner,haditnotbeenforthenarrowspace in which he had to act, and the tremendous lurches of the vessel.Presently hewas enabled to get hold of a heavy stool, several ofwhich layaboutthefloor.WiththishebeatoutthebrainsofGreelyashewasintheactofdischargingamusket atme, and immediately afterwarda roll of thebrigthrowinghimincontactwithHicks,heseizedhimbythethroat,and,bydintofsheerstrength,strangledhiminstantaneously.Thus, infar less timethanIhavetakentotellit,wefoundourselvesmastersofthebrig.

TheonlypersonofouropponentswhowasleftalivewasRichardParker.Thisman,itwillberemembered,Ihadknockeddownwithablowfromthepump-handleatthecommencementoftheattack.Henowlaymotionlessbythedoorof the shattered stateroom; but, upon Peters touching himwith his foot, hespoke,andentreatedformercy.Hisheadwasonlyslightlycut,andotherwisehehadreceivednoinjury,havingbeenmerelystunnedbytheblow.Henowgotup,and, for thepresent,wesecuredhishandsbehindhisback.Thedogwas still growling over Jones; but, upon examination, we found himcompletely dead, the blood issuing in a stream from a deep wound in thethroat,inflicted,nodoubt,bythesharpteethoftheanimal.

Itwasnowaboutoneo'clockinthemorning,andthewindwasstillblowingtremendously. The brig evidently laboured much more than usual, and itbecame absolutely necessary that something should be donewith a view ofeasingherinsomemeasure.Atalmosteveryrolltoleewardsheshippedasea,several ofwhich came partially down into the cabin during our scuffle, thehatchwayhavingbeenleftopenbymyselfwhenIdescended.Theentirerangeofbulwarkstolarboardhadbeensweptaway,aswellasthecaboose,togetherwith the jollyboat from the counter. The creaking and working of themainmast, too, gave indication that itwasnearly sprung.Tomake room formorestowageintheafterhold,theheelofthismasthadbeensteppedbetweendecks(averyreprehensiblepractice,occasionallyresortedtobyignorantship-builders),sothatitwasinimminentdangerofworkingfromitsstep.But,tocrownallourdifficulties,weplummedthewell,andfoundnolessthansevenfeetofwater.

Leavingthebodiesofthecrewlyinginthecabin,wegottoworkimmediatelyatthepumps—Parker,ofcourse,beingsetatlibertytoassistusinthelabour.Augustus'sarmwasboundupaswellaswecouldeffectit,andhedidwhathecould,butthatwasnotmuch.However,wefoundthatwecouldjustmanagetokeeptheleakfromgaininguponusbyhavingonepumpconstantlygoing.Astherewereonlyfourofus,thiswasseverelabour;butweendeavouredtokeep up our spirits, and looked anxiously for daybreak, when we hoped tolightenthebrigbycuttingawaythemainmast.

Inthismannerwepassedanightofterribleanxietyandfatigue,and,whenthedayatlengthbroke,thegalehadneitherabatedintheleast,norwerethereanysigns of its abating. We now dragged the bodies on deck and threw themoverboard. Our next care was to get rid of the mainmast. The necessarypreparations having beenmade, Peters cut away at the mast (having foundaxesinthecabin),whiletherestofusstoodbythestaysandlanyards.Asthebriggaveatremendouslee-lurch,thewordwasgiventocutawaytheweather-lanyards,whichbeingdone,thewholemassofwoodandriggingplungedintothesea,clearofthebrig,andwithoutdoinganymaterialinjury.Wenowfoundthat thevesseldidnot labourquiteasmuchasbefore,butour situationwasstillexceedinglyprecarious,andinspiteoftheutmostexertions,wecouldnotgainupontheleakwithouttheaidofbothpumps.ThelittleassistancewhichAugustus could render us was not really of any importance. To add to ourdistress,aheavysea,strikingthebrigtothewindward,threwheroffseveralpointsfromthewind,and,beforeshecouldregainherposition,anotherbrokecompletelyoverher,andhurledherfulluponherbeam-ends.Theballastnowshiftedinamasstoleeward(thestowagehadbeenknockingaboutperfectlyatrandomforsometime),andforafewmomentswethoughtnothingcouldsaveusfromcapsizing.Presently,however,wepartiallyrighted;buttheballaststillretaining its place to larboard, we lay somuch along that it was useless tothink of working the pumps, which indeed we could not have done muchlonger inanycase,asourhandswereentirelyrawwiththeexcessivelabourwehadundergone,andwerebleedinginthemosthorriblemanner.

ContrarytoParker'sadvice,wenowproceededtocutawaytheforemast,andatlengthaccomplisheditaftermuchdifficulty,owingtothepositioninwhichwelay.Ingoingoverboardthewrecktookwithit thebowsprit,andleftusacompletehulk.

Sofarwehadhadreasontorejoiceintheescapeofourlongboat,whichhadreceivednodamagefromanyofthehugeseaswhichhadcomeonboard.Butwehadnotlongtocongratulateourselves;fortheforemasthavinggone,and,ofcourse,theforesailwithit,bywhichthebrighadbeensteadied,everyseanowmadeacompletebreachoverus,andinfiveminutesourdeckwassweptfromsterntostern,thelongboatandstarboardbulwarkstornoff,andeventhewindlassshatteredintofragments.Itwas,indeed,hardlypossibleforustobeinamorepitiablecondition.

Atnoonthereseemedtobesomeslightappearanceofthegale'sabating,butinthisweweresadlydisappointed,for itonlylulledforafewminutestoblowwithredoubledfury.Aboutfour in theafternoonitwasutterly impossible tostandupagainsttheviolenceoftheblast;and,asthenightclosedinuponus,Ihadnotashadowofhopethatthevesselwouldholdtogetheruntilmorning.

Bymidnightwehadsettledverydeepinthewater,whichwasnowuptotheorlopdeck.Therudderwentsoonafterward,theseawhichtoreitawayliftingthe after portion of the brig entirely from the water, against which shethumped in her descentwith such a concussion aswould be occasioned bygoingashore.Wehadallcalculatedthattherudderwouldholditsowntothelast,asitwasunusuallystrong,beingriggedasIhaveneverseenoneriggedeither beforeor since.Down itsmain timber there ran a successionof stoutironhooks,andothersinthesamemannerdownthestern-post.Throughthesehooksthereextendedaverythickwrought-ironrod,therudderbeingthusheldtothestern-postandswingingfreelyontherod.Thetremendousforceoftheseawhichtoreitoffmaybeestimatedbythefact,thatthehooksinthestern-post,whichranentirelythroughit,beingclinchedontheinside,weredrawneveryoneofthemcompletelyoutofthesolidwood.

Wehadscarcelytimetodrawbreathaftertheviolenceofthisshock,whenoneofthemosttremendouswavesIhadtheneverknownbrokerightonboardofus, sweeping the companion-way clear off, bursting in the hatchways, andfillingeveryinchofthevesselwithwater.

CHAPTER9

LUCKILY,justbeforenight,allfourofushadlashedourselvesfirmlytothefragments of the windlass, lying in this manner as flat upon the deck aspossible.Thisprecautionalonesavedusfromdestruction.Asitwas,wewereallmoreorlessstunnedbytheimmenseweightofwaterwhichtumbleduponus,andwhichdidnotrollfromaboveusuntilwewerenearlyexhausted.Assoon as I could recover breath, I called aloud tomy companions.Augustusalonereplied,saying:"It isalloverwithus,andmayGodhavemercyuponour souls!" By-and-by both the others were enabled to speak, when theyexhortedustotakecourage,astherewasstillhope;itbeingimpossible,fromthe nature of the cargo, that the brig could go down, and there being everychance that thegalewouldblowoverby themorning.Thesewords inspiredmewithnewlife;for,strangeasitmayseem,althoughitwasobviousthatavesselwithacargoofemptyoil-caskswouldnotsink,Ihadbeenhithertosoconfusedinmindastohaveoverlookedthisconsiderationaltogether;andthedangerwhichIhadforsometimeregardedasthemostimminentwasthatoffoundering.As hope revivedwithinme, Imade use of every opportunity tostrengthenthelashingswhichheldmetotheremainsofthewindlass,andinthis occupation I soon discovered thatmy companionswere also busy. The

nightwasasdarkas itcouldpossiblybe,and thehorribleshriekingdinandconfusionwhich surroundedus it is useless to attemptdescribing.Ourdecklay levelwith the sea, or ratherwewere encircledwith a towering ridge offoam,aportionofwhichsweptoveruseveninstant.Itisnottoomuchtosaythatourheadswerenotfairlyoutofthewatermorethanonesecondinthree.Althoughwelayclosetogether,nooneofuscouldseetheother,or, indeed,anyportion of the brig itself, uponwhichwewere so tempestuously hurledabout.Atintervalswecalledonetotheother,thusendeavouringtokeepalivehope,andrenderconsolationandencouragementtosuchofusasstoodmostin need of it. The feeble condition of Augustus made him an object ofsolicitudewithusall;andas,fromthelaceratedconditionofhisrightarm,itmusthavebeenimpossibleforhimtosecurehislashingswithanydegreeoffirmness, we were in momentary expectation of finding that he had goneoverboard—yet to renderhimaidwasa thingaltogetheroutof thequestion.Fortunately,hisstationwasmoresecurethanthatofanyoftherestofus;forthe upper part of his body lying just beneath a portion of the shatteredwindlass,theseas,astheytumbledinuponhim,weregreatlybrokenintheirviolence.Inanyothersituationthanthis(intowhichhehadbeenaccidentallythrownafterhavinglashedhimselfinaveryexposedspot)hemustinevitablyhaveperishedbeforemorning.Owing to thebrig's lying somuchalong,wewerealllessliabletobewashedoffthanotherwisewouldhavebeenthecase.Theheel,asIhavebeforestated,wastolarboard,aboutonehalfofthedeckbeingconstantlyunderwater.Theseas,therefore,whichstruckustostarboardweremuchbroken,bythevessel'sside,onlyreachingusinfragmentsaswelay flat onour faces;while thosewhichcame from larboardbeingwhat arecalled back-water seas, and obtaining little hold upon us on account of ourposture,hadnotsufficientforcetodragusfromourfastenings.

In this frightful situationwe lay until the day broke so as to showusmorefullythehorrorswhichsurroundedus.Thebrigwasamerelog,rollingaboutat the mercy of every wave; the gale was upon the increase, if any thing,blowing indeed a complete hurricane, and there appeared to us no earthlyprospect of deliverance. For several hours we held on in silence, expectingeverymomentthatourlashingswouldeithergiveway,thattheremainsofthewindlasswouldgobytheboard,orthatsomeofthehugeseas,whichroaredineverydirectionaroundusandaboveus,woulddrivethehulksofarbeneaththewaterthatweshouldbedrownedbeforeitcouldregainthesurface.BythemercyofGod,however,wewerepreservedfromtheseimminentdangers,andaboutmiddaywerecheeredbythelightoftheblessedsun.Shortlyafterwardwecouldperceiveasensiblediminutionintheforceofthewind,when,nowfor thefirst timesince the latterpartof theeveningbefore,Augustusspoke,askingPeters,wholayclosesttohim,ifhethoughttherewasanypossibilityof our being saved. As no reply was at first made to this question, we all

concluded that thehybridhadbeendrownedwherehe lay; but presently, toourgreatjoy,hespoke,althoughveryfeebly,sayingthathewasingreatpain,beingsocutbythetightnessofhislashingsacrossthestomach,thathemusteither findmeans of loosening them or perish, as it was impossible that hecouldendurehismiserymuchlonger.Thisoccasionedusgreatdistress,asitwas altogether useless to think of aiding him in any manner while the seacontinuedwashingoverusas itdid.Weexhortedhim tobearhis sufferingswithfortitude,andpromisedtoseizethefirstopportunitywhichshouldofferitselftorelievehim.Herepliedthatitwouldsoonbetoolate;thatitwouldbealloverwithhimbeforewecouldhelphim;andthen,aftermoaningforsomeminutes,laysilent,whenweconcludedthathehadperished.

As theeveningdrewon, theseahad fallensomuch thatscarcelymore thanonewavebrokeover thehulk fromwindward in thecourseof fiveminutes,and thewindhadabatedagreatdeal,althoughstillblowingaseveregale. Ihad not heard any of my companions speak for hours, and now called toAugustus. He replied, although very feebly, so that I could not distinguishwhathesaid.I thenspoketoPetersandtoParker,neitherofwhomreturnedanyanswer.

ShortlyafterthisperiodIfellintoastateofpartialinsensibility,duringwhichthe most pleasing images floated in my imagination; such as green trees,wavingmeadowsofripegrain,processionsofdancinggirls,troopsofcavalry,and other phantasies. I now remember that, in all which passed before mymind's eye, motion was a predominant idea. Thus, I never fancied anystationaryobject,suchasahouse,amountain,oranythingof thatkind;butwindmills,ships,largebirds,balloons,peopleonhorseback,carriagesdrivingfuriously, and similar moving objects, presented themselves in endlesssuccession.WhenIrecoveredfromthisstate,thesunwas,asnearasIcouldguess,anhourhigh.Ihadthegreatestdifficultyinbringingtorecollectionthevarious circumstances connected with my situation, and for some timeremainedfirmlyconvincedthatIwasstillintheholdofthebrig,nearthebox,andthatthebodyofParkerwasthatofTiger.

WhenIatlengthcompletelycametomysenses,Ifoundthatthewindblewnomore than amoderate breeze, and that the sea was comparatively calm; somuchsothatitonlywashedoverthebrigamidships.Myleftarmhadbrokenloose from its lashings, and was much cut about the elbow; my right wasentirely benumbed, and the hand and wrist swollen prodigiously by thepressureof the rope,whichhadworked from theshoulderdownward. Iwasalsoingreatpainfromanotherropewhichwentaboutmywaist,andhadbeendrawn to an insufferable degree of tightness. Looking round upon mycompanions, IsawthatPetersstill lived,althougha thick linewaspulledso

forciblyaroundhisloinsastogivehimtheappearanceofbeingcutnearlyintwo;asIstirred,hemadeafeeblemotiontomewithhishand,pointingtotherope. Augustus gave no indication of life whatever, and was bent nearlydoubleacrossasplinterofthewindlass.Parkerspoketomewhenhesawmemoving,andaskedmeifIhadnotsufficientstrengthtoreleasehimfromhissituation,sayingthatifIwouldsummonupwhatspiritsIcould,andcontriveto untie him, we might yet save our lives; but that otherwise we must allperish.Itoldhimtotakecourage,andIwouldendeavortofreehim.Feelinginmypantaloons'pocket,Igotholdofmypenknife,and,afterseveralineffectualattempts,atlengthsucceededinopeningit.Ithen,withmylefthand,managedtofreemyrightfromits fastenings,andafterwardcut theotherropeswhichheldme.Uponattempting,however, tomovefrommyposition, I foundthatmylegsfailedmealtogether,andthatIcouldnotgetup;neithercouldImovemyrightarminanydirection.UponmentioningthistoParker,headvisedmetoliequietforafewminutes,holdingontothewindlasswithmylefthand,soastoallowtimeforthebloodtocirculate.Doingthis,thenumbnesspresentlybegantodieawaysothatIcouldmovefirstoneofmylegs,andthentheother,and, shortly afterward I regained the partial use of my right arm. I nowcrawled with great caution toward Parker, without getting on my legs, andsoon cut loose all the lashings about him,when, after a short delay, he alsorecoveredthepartialuseofhislimbs.WenowlostnotimeingettingloosetheropefromPeters.Ithadcutadeepgashthroughthewaistbandofhiswoollenpantaloons, and through two shirts, and made its way into his groin, fromwhichthebloodflowedoutcopiouslyasweremovedthecordage.Nosoonerhadweremovedit,however,thanhespoke,andseemedtoexperienceinstantrelief—being able to move with much greater ease than either Parker ormyself—thiswasnodoubtowingtothedischargeofblood.

Wehad little hopes thatAugustuswould recover, as he evincedno signs oflife;but,upongettingtohim,wediscoveredthathehadmerelyswoonedfromthelossofblood,thebandageswehadplacedaroundhiswoundedarmhavingbeentornoffbythewater;noneoftheropeswhichheldhimtothewindlassweredrawnsufficientlytighttooccasionhisdeath.Havingrelievedhimfromthefastenings,andgothimclearof thebrokenwoodabout thewindlass,wesecuredhiminadryplacetowindward,withhisheadsomewhatlowerthanhisbody, and all threeofusbusiedourselves in chafinghis limbs. In abouthalf anhourhecame tohimself, although itwasnotuntil thenextmorningthathegavesignsofrecognizinganyofus,orhadsufficientstrengthtospeak.By the timewe had thus got clear of our lashings itwas quite dark, and itbegantocloudup,sothatwewereagaininthegreatestagonylest itshouldcome on to blow hard, in which event nothing could have saved us fromperishing,exhaustedaswewere.Bygoodfortuneitcontinuedverymoderateduringthenight,theseasubsidingeveryminute,whichgaveusgreathopesof

ultimate preservation. A gentle breeze still blew from the N. W., but theweather was not at all cold. Augustus was lashed carefully to windward insuchamannerastopreventhimfromslippingoverboardwiththerollsofthevessel,ashewasstill tooweaktoholdonatall.Forourselvestherewasnosuchnecessity.Wesatclosetogether,supportingeachotherwiththeaidofthebroken ropes about thewindlass, and devisingmethods of escape from ourfrightfulsituation.Wederivedmuchcomfortfromtakingoffourclothesandwringing the water from them. When we put them on after this, they feltremarkablywarmandpleasant,andservedtoinvigorateusinnolittledegree.We helped Augustus off with his, and wrung them for him, when heexperiencedthesamecomfort.

Ourchiefsufferingswerenowthoseofhungerandthirst,andwhenwelookedforward to themeansofrelief in this respect,ourheartssunkwithinus,andwewereinducedtoregretthatwehadescapedthelessdreadfulperilsofthesea.We endeavoured, however, to console ourselveswith the hopeof beingspeedily picked up by some vessel and encouraged each other to bearwithfortitudetheevilsthatmighthappen.

The morning of the fourteenth at length dawned, and the weather stillcontinuedclearandpleasant,withasteadybutverylightbreezefromtheN.W.Theseawasnowquitesmooth,andas,fromsomecausewhichwecouldnotdetermine,thebrigdidnotliesomuchalongasshehaddonebefore,thedeckwascomparativelydry,andwecouldmoveaboutwithfreedom.Wehadnowbeenbetterthanthreeentiredaysandnightswithouteitherfoodordrink,anditbecameabsolutelynecessarythatweshouldmakeanattempttogetupsomethingfrombelow.Asthebrigwascompletelyfullofwater,wewenttothisworkdespondently,andwithbutlittleexpectationofbeingabletoobtainanything.Wemadeakindofdragbydrivingsomenailswhichwebrokeoutfromtheremainsofthecompanion-hatchintotwopiecesofwood.Tyingtheseacrosseachother,andfasteningthemtotheendofarope,wethrewthemintothecabin,anddraggedthemtoandfro,inthefainthopeofbeingthusabletoentanglesomearticlewhichmightbeofusetousforfood,orwhichmightatleastrenderusassistanceingettingit.Wespentthegreaterpartofthemorningin this labourwithouteffect, fishingupnothingmore thanafewbedclothes,whichwerereadilycaughtby thenails. Indeed,ourcontrivancewassoveryclumsythatanygreatersuccesswashardlytobeanticipated.

Wenowtried theforecastle,butequally invain,andwereuponthebrinkofdespair,whenPetersproposedthatweshouldfastenaropetohisbody,andlethim make an attempt to get up something by diving into the cabin. Thispropositionwehailedwithall thedelightwhichrevivinghopecouldinspire.He proceeded immediately to strip off his clotheswith the exception of his

pantaloons;andastrongropewasthencarefullyfastenedaroundhismiddle,being brought up over his shoulders in such a manner that there was nopossibility of its slipping. The undertaking was one of great difficulty anddanger; for,aswecouldhardlyexpect to findmuch, ifany,provision in thecabinitself,itwasnecessarythatthediver,afterlettinghimselfdown,shouldmakeaturntotheright,andproceedunderwateradistanceoftenortwelvefeet, in a narrow passage, to the storeroom, and return, without drawingbreath.

Everythingbeing ready,Petersnowdescended in the cabin,goingdown thecompanion-ladderuntil thewaterreachedhischin.Hethenplungedin,headfirst,turningtotherightasheplunged,andendeavouringtomakehiswaytothestoreroom.Inthisfirstattempt,however,hewasaltogetherunsuccessful.In less than half a minute after his going down we felt the rope jerkedviolently(thesignalwehadagreeduponwhenhedesiredtobedrawnup).Weaccordinglydrewhimupinstantly,butsoincautiouslyastobruisehimbadlyagainsttheladder.Hehadbroughtnothingwithhim,andhadbeenunabletopenetratemorethanaverylittlewayinto thepassage,owingto theconstantexertionshefounditnecessarytomakeinordertokeephimselffromfloatingupagainstthedeck.Upongettingouthewasverymuchexhausted,andhadtorestfullfifteenminutesbeforehecouldagainventuretodescend.

The second attemptmet with even worse success; for he remained so longunderwaterwithoutgiving thesignal, that,becomingalarmedforhissafety,we drew him outwithout it, and found that hewas almost at the last gasp,having, as he said, repeatedly jerked at the ropewithout our feeling it.Thiswas probably owing to a portion of it having become entangled in thebalustradeat the footof the ladder.Thisbalustradewas, indeed, somuch intheway,thatwedeterminedtoremoveit,ifpossible,beforeproceedingwithourdesign.Aswehadnomeansofgettingitawayexceptbymainforce,wealldescendedintothewaterasfaraswecouldontheladder,andgivingapullagainstitwithourunitedstrength,succeededinbreakingitdown.

The third attempt was equally unsuccessful with the two first, and it nowbecameevidentthatnothingcouldbedoneinthismannerwithouttheaidofsomeweightwithwhichthedivermightsteadyhimself,andkeeptothefloorofthecabinwhilemakinghissearch.Foralongtimewelookedaboutinvainforsomethingwhichmightanswerthispurpose;butatlength,toourgreatjoy,wediscoveredoneoftheweather-forechainssoloosethatwehadnottheleastdifficulty in wrenching it off. Having fastened this securely to one of hisankles, Peters now made his fourth descent into the cabin, and this timesucceeded in making his way to the door of the steward's room. To hisinexpressible grief, however, he found it locked, and was obliged to return

withouteffectinganentrance,as,withthegreatestexertion,hecouldremainunderwaternotmore,at theutmostextent, thanasingleminute.Ouraffairsnow looked gloomy indeed, and neither Augustus nor myself could refrainfrom bursting into tears, as we thought of the host of difficulties whichencompassedus,andtheslightprobabilitywhichexistedofourfinallymakinganescape.Butthisweaknesswasnotoflongduration.Throwingourselvesonourknees toGod,we imploredHisaid in themanydangerswhichbesetus;and arosewith renewedhope andvigor to thinkwhat couldyet bedonebymortalmeanstowardaccomplishingourdeliverance.

CHAPTER10

SHORTLYafterwardanincidentoccurredwhichIaminducedtolookuponasmore intenselyproductiveofemotion,as farmore repletewith theextremesfirst of delight and then of horror, than even any of the thousand chanceswhichafterwardbefellmeinninelongyears,crowdedwitheventsofthemoststartling and, in many cases, of the most unconceived and unconceivablecharacter.Wewere lyingon thedecknear thecompanion-way,anddebatingthe possibility of yet making our way into the storeroom, when, lookingtowardAugustus,wholayfrontingmyself,Iperceivedthathehadbecomeallatoncedeadlypale,andthathislipswerequiveringinthemostsingularandunaccountablemanner.Greatlyalarmed, I spoke tohim,buthemademenoreply,andIwasbeginningtothinkthathewassuddenlytakenill,whenItooknoticeofhiseyes,whichwereglaringapparentlyatsomeobjectbehindme.Iturnedmyhead,andshallneverforgettheecstaticjoywhichthrilledthrougheveryparticleofmyframe,whenIperceivedalargebrigbearingdownuponus,andnotmorethanacoupleofmilesoff.Isprungtomyfeetasifamusketbullethadsuddenlystruckmetotheheart;and,stretchingoutmyarmsinthedirection of the vessel, stood in this manner, motionless, and unable toarticulate a syllable. Peters and Parker were equally affected, although indifferentways.Theformerdancedaboutthedecklikeamadman,utteringthemostextravagant rhodomontades, intermingledwithhowlsand imprecations,whilethelatterburstintotears,andcontinuedformanyminutesweepinglikeachild.

The vessel in sight was a large hermaphrodite brig, of a Dutch build, andpaintedblack,witha tawdrygilt figure-head.Shehadevidentlyseenagooddealofroughweather,and,wesupposed,hadsufferedmuchinthegalewhichhadprovedsodisastroustoourselves;forherforetopmastwasgone,andsome

ofherstarboardbulwarks.Whenwefirstsawher,shewas,asIhavealreadysaid,abouttwomilesoffandtowindward,bearingdownuponus.Thebreezewas very gentle, andwhat astonished us chieflywas, that she had no othersailssetthanherforemastandmainsail,withaflyingjib—ofcourseshecamedown but slowly, and our impatience amounted nearly to phrensy. Theawkwardmanner inwhichshesteered, too,wasremarkedbyallofus,evenexcitedaswewere.Sheyawedaboutsoconsiderably, thatonceor twicewethoughtitimpossibleshecouldseeus,orimaginedthat,havingseenus,anddiscoverednopersononboard,shewasabouttotackandmakeoffinanotherdirection.Uponeachoftheseoccasionswescreamedandshoutedatthetopofour voices, when the stranger would appear to change for a moment herintention,andagainholdontowardus—thissingularconductbeingrepeatedtwo or three times, so that at last we could think of no other manner ofaccountingforitthanbysupposingthehelmsmantobeinliquor.

Nopersonwasseenuponherdecksuntilshearrivedwithinaboutaquarterofamileofus.Wethensawthreeseamen,whombytheirdresswetooktobeHollanders.Twoofthesewerelyingonsomeoldsailsneartheforecastle,andthe third,whoappeared tobe lookingatuswithgreatcuriosity,was leaningoverthestarboardbownearthebowsprit.Thislastwasastoutandtallman,withaverydarkskin.Heseemedbyhismannertobeencouragingustohavepatience, nodding to us in a cheerful although rather oddway, and smilingconstantly, so as to display a set of themost brilliantlywhite teeth. As hisvesseldrewnearer,we sawa red flannel capwhichhehadon fall fromhisheadintothewater;butofthishetooklittleornonotice,continuinghisoddsmilesandgesticulations.Irelatethesethingsandcircumstancesminutely,andIrelatethem,itmustbeunderstood,preciselyastheyappearedtous.

Thebrigcameonslowly,andnowmoresteadily thanbefore,and—Icannotspeak calmly of this event—our hearts leaped up wildly within us, and wepoured out our whole souls in shouts and thanksgiving to God for thecomplete,unexpected,andgloriousdeliverancethatwassopalpablyathand.Of a sudden, and all at once, there came wafted over the ocean from thestrangevessel (whichwasnowcloseuponus)asmell,astench,suchas thewholeworldhasnonamefor—noconceptionof—hellish—utterlysuffocating—insufferable, inconceivable. I gasped for breath, and turning to mycompanions,perceivedthattheywerepalerthanmarble.Butwehadnownotimeleft forquestionorsurmise—thebrigwaswithinfiftyfeetofus,and itseemedtobeherintentiontorununderourcounter,thatwemightboardherwithoutputtingoutaboat.Werushedaft,when,suddenly,awideyawthrewherofffullfiveorsixpointsfromthecourseshehadbeenrunning,and,asshepassedunderoursternatthedistanceofabouttwentyfeet,wehadafullviewofherdecks.ShallIeverforgetthetriplehorrorofthatspectacle?Twenty-five

or thirty human bodies, among whom were several females, lay scatteredaboutbetweenthecounterandthegalleyinthelastandmostloathsomestateofputrefaction.Weplainlysawthatnotasoul livedinthatfatedvessel!Yetwecouldnothelpshoutingtothedeadforhelp!Yes,longandloudlydidwebeg, in the agony of the moment, that those silent and disgusting imageswouldstayforus,wouldnotabandonustobecomelikethem,wouldreceiveusamong theirgoodlycompany!Wewere ravingwithhorroranddespair—thoroughlymadthroughtheanguishofourgrievousdisappointment.

As our first loud yell of terror broke forth, it was replied to by something,fromnearthebowspritofthestranger,socloselyresemblingthescreamofahumanvoicethatthenicestearmighthavebeenstartledanddeceived.Atthisinstantanothersuddenyawbroughttheregionoftheforecastleforamomentintoview,andwebeheldatoncetheoriginofthesound.Wesawthetallstoutfigurestill leaningonthebulwark,andstillnoddinghisheadtoandfro,buthisfacewasnowturnedfromussothatwecouldnotbeholdit.Hisarmswereextendedovertherail,andthepalmsofhishandsfelloutward.Hiskneeswerelodgeduponastoutrope,tightlystretched,andreachingfromtheheelofthebowsprittoacathead.Onhisback,fromwhichaportionoftheshirthadbeentorn, leaving it bare, there sat ahuge sea-gull, busilygorging itselfwith thehorribleflesh,itsbillandtalonsdeepburied,anditswhiteplumagespatteredalloverwithblood.Asthebrigmovedfartherroundsoastobringuscloseinview, the bird, withmuch apparent difficulty, drew out its crimsoned head,and,aftereyeingusforamomentas ifstupefied,aroselazilyfromthebodyuponwhichithadbeenfeasting,and,flyingdirectlyaboveourdeck,hoveredthereawhilewithaportionofclottedandliver-likesubstanceinitsbeak.ThehorridmorseldroppedatlengthwithasullensplashimmediatelyatthefeetofParker.MayGodforgiveme,butnow,forthefirsttime,thereflashedthroughmy mind a thought, a thought which I will not mention, and I felt myselfmakingasteptowardtheensanguinedspot.Ilookedupward,andtheeyesofAugustus met my own with a degree of intense and eager meaning whichimmediatelybroughtmetomysenses. Isprangforwardquickly,and,withadeepshudder,threwthefrightfulthingintothesea.

Thebodyfromwhich ithadbeen taken, restingas itdidupon therope,hadbeeneasilyswayedtoandfrobytheexertionsofthecarnivorousbird,anditwas thismotionwhich had at first impressed uswith the belief of its beingalive.As the gull relieved it of itsweight, it swung round and fell partiallyover, so that the facewas fullydiscovered.Never, surely,wasanyobject soterribly full of awe! The eyes were gone, and the whole flesh around themouth, leaving the teeth utterly naked.This, then,was the smilewhich hadcheeredusontohope!thisthe—butIforbear.Thebrig,asIhavealreadytold,passedunderourstern,andmadeitswayslowlybutsteadilytoleeward.With

herandwithherterriblecrewwentallourgayvisionsofdeliveranceandjoy.Deliberatelyasshewentby,wemightpossiblyhavefoundmeansofboardingher, had not our sudden disappointment and the appalling nature of thediscoverywhichaccompanieditlaidentirelyprostrateeveryactivefacultyofmindandbody.Wehadseenandfelt,butwecouldneitherthinknoract,until,alas! too late.Howmuch our intellects had beenweakened by this incidentmaybeestimatedbythefact, thatwhenthevesselhadproceededsofar thatwe could perceive no more than the half of her hull, the proposition wasseriouslyentertainedofattemptingtoovertakeherbyswimming!

I have, since this period, vainly endeavoured to obtain some clew to thehideous uncertaintywhich enveloped the fate of the stranger.Her build andgeneralappearance,asIhavebeforestated,ledustothebeliefthatshewasaDutchtrader,andthedressesofthecrewalsosustainedthisopinion.Wemighthave easily seen the name upon her stern, and, indeed, taken otherobservations,whichwouldhaveguidedusinmakingouthercharacter;buttheintense excitement of the moment blinded us to every thing of that nature.Fromthesaffron-likehueofsuchofthecorpsesaswerenotentirelydecayed,weconcludedthatthewholeofhercompanyhadperishedbytheyellowfever,orsomeothervirulentdiseaseofthesamefearfulkind.Ifsuchwerethecase(andIknownotwhatelse to imagine),death, to judgefromthepositionsofthe bodies, must have come upon them in a manner awfully sudden andoverwhelming, in a way totally distinct from that which generallycharacterizes even the most deadly pestilences with which mankind areacquainted. It is possible, indeed, that poison, accidentally introduced intosome of their sea-stores, may have brought about the disaster, or that theeatingofsomeunknownvenomousspeciesoffish,orothermarineanimal,oroceanic bird, might have induced it—but it is utterly useless to formconjectureswhereallisinvolved,andwill,nodoubt,remainforeverinvolved,inthemostappallingandunfathomablemystery.

CHAPTER11

WEspent the remainderof theday ina conditionof stupid lethargy,gazingaftertheretreatingvesseluntilthedarkness,hidingherfromoursight,recalledus in some measure to our senses. The pangs of hunger and thirst thenreturned, absorbing all other cares and considerations. Nothing, however,couldbedoneuntil themorning,and,securingourselvesaswellaspossible,we endeavoured to snatch a little repose. In this I succeeded beyond my

expectations, sleepinguntilmy companions,whohadnot been so fortunate,arousedmeatdaybreak to renewourattemptsatgettingupprovisions fromthehull.

Itwasnowadeadcalm,withtheseaassmoothashaveeverknownit,—theweatherwarm and pleasant. The brigwas out of sight.We commenced ouroperationsbywrenchingoff,withsometrouble,anotheroftheforechains;andhavingfastenedbothtoPeters'feet,heagainmadeanendeavourtoreachthedoor of the storeroom, thinking it possible that hemight be able to force itopen,providedhecouldgetatitinsufficienttime;andthishehopedtodo,asthehulklaymuchmoresteadilythanbefore.

Hesucceededveryquickly in reaching thedoor,when, looseningoneof thechainsfromhisankle,hemadeeveryexertiontoforcethepassagewithit,butinvain,theframeworkoftheroombeingfarstrongerthanwasanticipated.Hewasquiteexhaustedwithhislongstayunderwater,anditbecameabsolutelynecessary that some other one of us should take his place. For this serviceParker immediately volunteered; but, after making three ineffectual efforts,foundthathecouldneverevensucceedingettingnearthedoor.TheconditionofAugustus'swoundedarmrenderedituselessforhimtoattemptgoingdown,as he would be unable to force the room open should he reach it, and itaccordingly now devolved upon me to exert myself for our commondeliverance.

Petershadleftoneofthechainsinthepassage,andIfound,uponplungingin,that I had not sufficient balance to keep me firmly down. I determined,therefore, to attempt nomore, inmy first effort, thanmerely to recover theother chain. In groping along the floor of the passage for this, I felt a hardsubstance,whichIimmediatelygrasped,nothavingtimetoascertainwhatitwas,butreturningandascendinginstantlytothesurface.Theprizeprovedtobeabottle,andourjoymaybeconceivedwhenIsaythatitwasfoundtobefullofportwine.GivingthankstoGodforthistimelyandcheeringassistance,weimmediatelydrewthecorkwithmypenknife,and,eachtakingamoderatesup,feltthemostindescribablecomfortfromthewarmth,strength,andspiritswithwhichitinspiredus.Wethencarefullyrecorkedthebottle,and,bymeansofahandkerchief,swungitinsuchamannerthattherewasnopossibilityofitsgettingbroken.

Having rested awhile after this fortunate discovery, I again descended, andnowrecoveredthechain,withwhichIinstantlycameup.Ithenfasteneditonand went down for the third time, when I became fully satisfied that noexertionswhatever,inthatsituation,wouldenablemetoforceopenthedoorofthestoreroom.Ithereforereturnedindespair.

Thereseemednowtobenolongeranyroomforhope,andIcouldperceiveinthe countenances of my companions that they had made up their minds toperish.Thewinehadevidentlyproducedinthemaspeciesofdelirium,which,perhaps,IhadbeenpreventedfromfeelingbytheimmersionIhadundergonesince drinking it. They talked incoherently, and about matters unconnectedwith our condition, Peters repeatedly askingme questions aboutNantucket.Augustus, too, I remember, approachedmewitha seriousair, and requestedme to lend him a pocket-comb, as his hair was full of fish-scales, and hewishedtogetthemoutbeforegoingonshore.Parkerappearedsomewhatlessaffected, and urgedme to dive at random into the cabin, and bring up anyarticlewhichmightcometohand.TothisIconsented,and,inthefirstattempt,afterstayingunderafullminute,broughtupasmallleathertrunkbelongingtoCaptainBarnard.Thiswasimmediatelyopenedinthefainthopethatitmightcontainsomethingtoeatordrink.Wefoundnothing,however,exceptaboxofrazorsandtwolinenshirts.Inowwentdownagain,andreturnedwithoutanysuccess.Asmy head came abovewater I heard a crash on deck, and, upongettingup,sawthatmycompanionshadungratefullytakenadvantageofmyabsence to drink the remainder of thewine, having let the bottle fall in theendeavour to replace it before I saw them. I remonstratedwith themon theheartlessnessoftheirconduct,whenAugustusburstintotears.Theothertwoendeavouredtolaughthematteroffasajoke,butIhopeneveragaintobeholdlaughter of such a species: the distortion of countenance was absolutelyfrightful.Indeed,itwasapparentthatthestimulus,intheemptystateoftheirstomachs, had taken instant and violent effect, and that they were allexceedingly intoxicated. With great difficulty I prevailed upon them to liedown,whentheyfellverysoonintoaheavyslumber,accompaniedwithloudstertorousbreathing.

I now foundmyself, as itwere, alone in the brig, andmy reflections, to besure,wereofthemostfearfulandgloomynature.Noprospectoffereditselftomy view but a lingering death by famine, or, at the best, by beingoverwhelmed in the first gale which should spring up, for in our presentexhaustedconditionwecouldhavenohopeoflivingthroughanother.

ThegnawinghungerwhichInowexperiencedwasnearlyinsupportable,andIfeltmyself capable of going to any lengths in order to appease it.WithmyknifeIcutoffasmallportionoftheleathertrunk,andendeavouredtoeatit,butfounditutterlyimpossibletoswallowasinglemorsel,althoughIfanciedthat some little alleviation of my suffering was obtained by chewing smallpiecesof itandspitting themout.Towardnightmycompanionsawoke,onebyone,eachinanindescribablestateofweaknessandhorror,broughtonbythewine,whosefumeshadnowevaporated.Theyshookas ifwithaviolentague,andutteredthemostlamentablecriesforwater.Theirconditionaffected

me in themost lively degree, at the same time causingme to rejoice in thefortunatetrainofcircumstanceswhichhadpreventedmefromindulginginthewine, and consequently from sharing theirmelancholy andmost distressingsensations.Theirconduct,however,gavemegreatuneasinessandalarm;foritwasevidentthat,unlesssomefavourablechangetookplace,theycouldaffordmenoassistanceinprovidingforourcommonsafety.Ihadnotyetabandonedallideabeingabletogetupsomethingfrombelow;buttheattemptcouldnotpossiblyberesumeduntilsomeoneofthemwassufficientlymasterofhimselftoaidmebyholdingtheendoftheropewhileIwentdown.Parkerappearedto be somewhat more in possession of his senses than the others, and Iendeavoured, by every means in my power, to rouse him. Thinking that aplungeinthesea-watermighthaveabeneficialeffect,Icontrivedtofastentheendofa ropearoundhisbody,and then, leadinghim to thecompanion-way(he remaining quite passive all thewhile), pushed him in, and immediatelydrewhimout.Ihadgoodreasontocongratulatemyselfuponhavingmadethisexperiment;forheappearedmuchrevivedandinvigorated,and,upongettingout, asked me, in a rational manner, why I had so served him. Havingexplainedmyobject,heexpressedhimselfindebtedtome,andsaidthathefeltgreatly better from the immersion, afterward conversing sensibly upon oursituation. We then resolved to treat Augustus and Peters in the same way,whichweimmediatelydid,whentheybothexperiencedmuchbenefitfromtheshock.Thisideaofsuddenimmersionhadbeensuggestedtomebyreadinginsomemedicalwork the good effect of the shower-bath in a casewhere thepatientwassufferingfrommaniaapotu.

FindingthatIcouldnowtrustmycompanions tohold theendof therope,Iagainmade three or four plunges into the cabin, although itwas now quitedark, and a gentle but long swell from the northward rendered the hulksomewhatunsteady.InthecourseoftheseattemptsIsucceededinbringinguptwocase-knives,a three-gallon jug,empty,andablanket,butnothingwhichcould serve us for food. I continuedmy efforts, after getting these articles,until I was completely exhausted, but brought up nothing else. During thenightParkerandPetersoccupiedthemselvesbyturnsinthesamemanner;butnothingcomingtohand,wenowgaveupthisattemptindespair,concludingthatwewereexhaustingourselvesinvain.

Wepassedtheremainderofthisnightinastateofthemostintensementalandbodilyanguishthatcanpossiblybeimagined.Themorningofthesixteenthatlengthdawned,andwelookedeagerlyaroundthehorizonforrelief,buttonopurpose.Theseawasstillsmooth,withonlyalongswellfromthenorthward,as on yesterday. This was the sixth day since we had tasted either food ordrink,with theexceptionof thebottleofportwine,and itwasclear thatwecould hold out but a very little while longer unless something could be

obtained.Ineversawbefore,norwishtoseeagain,humanbeingssoutterlyemaciatedasPetersandAugustus.HadImet themonshore in theirpresentconditionIshouldnothavehadtheslightestsuspicionthatIhadeverbeheldthem.Theircountenancesweretotallychangedincharacter,sothatIcouldnotbring myself to believe them really the same individuals with whom I hadbeenincompanybutafewdaysbefore.Parker,althoughsadlyreduced,andsofeeblethathecouldnotraisehisheadfromhisbosom,wasnotsofargoneas theother two.Hesufferedwithgreatpatience,makingnocomplaint,andendeavouring to inspire uswith hope in everymanner he could devise. Formyself,althoughatthecommencementofthevoyageIhadbeeninbadhealth,andwasatall timesofadelicateconstitution,Isufferedless thananyofus,being much less reduced in frame, and retaining my powers of mind in asurprisingdegree,while the restwere completelyprostrated in intellect, andseemedtobebroughttoaspeciesofsecondchildhood,generallysimperingintheirexpressions,withidioticsmiles,andutteringthemostabsurdplatitudes.Atintervals,however,theywouldappeartorevivesuddenly,asifinspiredallatoncewithaconsciousnessoftheircondition,whentheywouldspringupontheirfeetinamomentaryflashofvigour,andspeak,forashortperiod,oftheirprospects, in amanner altogether rational, although full of themost intensedespair.Itispossible,however,thatmycompanionsmayhaveentertainedthesame opinion of their own condition as I did ofmine, and that Imay haveunwittingly been guilty of the same extravagances and imbecilities asthemselves—thisisamatterwhichcannotbedetermined.

AboutnoonParkerdeclared thathesaw landoff the larboardquarter,and itwaswiththeutmostdifficultyIcouldrestrainhimfromplungingintotheseawiththeviewofswimmingtowardit.PetersandAugustustooklittlenoticeofwhat he said, being apparently wrapped up in moody contemplation. Uponlooking in the direction pointed out, I could not perceive the faintestappearanceoftheshore—indeed,Iwastoowellawarethatwewerefarfromanylandtoindulgeinahopeofthatnature.Itwasalongtime,nevertheless,before I couldconvinceParkerofhismistake.He thenburst intoa floodoftears,weeping likeachild,with loudcriesandsobs, for twoor threehours,whenbecomingexhausted,hefellasleep.

PetersandAugustusnowmadeseveralineffectualeffortstoswallowportionsof the leather. I advised them to chew it and spit it out; but theywere tooexcessively debilitated to be able to followmy advice. I continued to chewpiecesofitatintervals,andfoundsomerelieffromsodoing;mychiefdistresswasforwater,andIwasonlypreventedfromtakingadraughtfromtheseabyremembering the horrible consequences which thus have resulted to otherswhoweresimilarlysituatedwithourselves.

The day wore on in this manner, when I suddenly discovered a sail to theeastward,andonourlarboardbow.Sheappearedtobealargeship,andwascomingnearlyathwartus,beingprobablytwelveorfifteenmilesdistant.Noneofmycompanionshadasyetdiscoveredher,andIforboretotellthemofherforthepresent,lestwemightagainbedisappointedofrelief.Atlengthuponhergettingnearer, I sawdistinctly that shewasheading immediately forus,withherlightsailsfilled.Icouldnowcontainmyselfnolonger,andpointedherout tomy fellow-sufferers.They immediately sprang to their feet, againindulginginthemostextravagantdemonstrationsofjoy,weeping,laughinginan idioticmanner, jumping, stamping upon the deck, tearing their hair, andprayingandcursingbyturns.Iwassoaffectedbytheirconduct,aswellasbywhatIconsideredasureprospectofdeliverance,thatIcouldnotrefrainfromjoininginwith theirmadness,andgavewayto the impulsesofmygratitudeandecstasybylyingandrollingonthedeck,clappingmyhands,shouting,andother similar acts, until I was suddenly called tomy recollection, and oncemore to theextremehumanmiseryanddespair,byperceiving theshipallatonce with her stern fully presented toward us, and steering in a directionnearlyoppositetothatinwhichIhadatfirstperceivedher.

Itwassome timebefore Icould inducemypoorcompanions tobelieve thatthissadreverseinourprospectshadactuallytakenplace.Theyrepliedtoallmy assertionswith a stare and a gesture implying that theywere not to bedeceivedbysuchmisrepresentations.TheconductofAugustusmostsensiblyaffectedme. In spiteof all I could sayordo to thecontrary,hepersisted insayingthattheshipwasrapidlynearingus,andinmakingpreparationstogoonboardofher.Someseaweedfloatingbythebrig,hemaintainedthatitwasthe ship's boat, and endeavoured to throw himself upon it, howling andshrieking in the most heartrending manner, when I forcibly restrained himfromthuscastinghimselfintothesea.

Havingbecomeinsomedegreepacified,wecontinuedtowatchtheshipuntilwe finally lost sight of her, theweather becoming hazy,with a light breezespringingup.Assoonasshewasentirelygone,Parkerturnedsuddenlytowardmewith an expression of countenancewhichmademe shudder. Therewasabouthimanairofself-possessionwhichIhadnotnoticedinhimuntilnow,and before he opened his lips my heart told me what he would say. Heproposed,inafewwords,thatoneofusshoulddietopreservetheexistenceoftheothers.

CHAPTER12

Ihadforsometimepast,dweltupontheprospectofourbeingreducedtothislasthorribleextremity,andhadsecretlymadeupmymindtosufferdeath inanyshapeorunderanycircumstancesratherthanresorttosuchacourse.NorwasthisresolutioninanydegreeweakenedbythepresentintensityofhungerunderwhichIlaboured.ThepropositionhadnotbeenheardbyeitherPetersorAugustus. I therefore took Parker aside; and mentally praying to God forpowertodissuadehimfromthehorriblepurposeheentertained,Iexpostulatedwithhimforalongtime,andinthemostsupplicatingmanner,begginghiminthe name of every thing which he held sacred, and urging him by everyspeciesofargumentwhichtheextremityofthecasesuggested,toabandontheidea,andnottomentionittoeitheroftheothertwo.

HeheardallIsaidwithoutattemptingtocontrovertanyofmyarguments,andIhadbeguntohopethathewouldbeprevailedupontodoasIdesired.ButwhenIhadceasedspeaking,hesaidthatheknewverywellallIhadsaidwastrue,andthattoresorttosuchacoursewasthemosthorriblealternativewhichcould enter into themind ofman; but that he had now held out as long ashuman nature could be sustained; that it was unnecessary for all to perish,when, by the death of one, itwas possible, and even probable, that the restmight be finally preserved; adding that I might save myself the trouble oftryingtoturnhimfromhispurpose,hismindhavingbeenthoroughlymadeupon the subject even before the appearance of the ship, and that only herheavinginsighthadpreventedhimfrommentioninghisintentionatanearlierperiod.

Inowbeggedhim,ifhewouldnotbeprevailedupontoabandonhisdesign,atleast todefer it foranotherday,whensomevesselmightcometoourrelief;againreiteratingeveryargumentIcoulddevise,andwhichIthoughtlikelytohaveinfluencewithoneofhisroughnature.Hesaid,inreply,thathehadnotspoken until the very last possible moment, that he could exist no longerwithout sustenance of some kind, and that therefore in another day hissuggestionwouldbetoolate,asregardedhimselfatleast.

FindingthathewasnottobemovedbyanythingIcouldsayinamildtone,Inowassumedadifferentdemeanor,andtoldhimthathemustbeawareIhadsufferedlessthananyofusfromourcalamities;thatmyhealthandstrength,consequently,wereatthatmomentfarbetterthanhisown,orthanthateitherofPetersorAugustus;inshort,thatIwasinaconditiontohavemyownwayby force if I found it necessary; and that if he attempted in anymanner toacquainttheotherswithhisbloodyandcannibaldesigns,Iwouldnothesitatetothrowhimintothesea.Uponthisheimmediatelyseizedmebythethroat,and drawing a knife, made several ineffectual efforts to stab me in the

stomach; an atrocitywhich his excessive debility alone prevented him fromaccomplishing. In the meantime, being roused to a high pitch of anger, Iforced him to the vessel's side, with the full intention of throwing himoverboard.Hewassavedfromhisfate,however,bytheinterferenceofPeters,whonow approached and separated us, asking the cause of the disturbance.ThisParkertoldbeforeIcouldfindmeansinanymannertopreventhim.

The effect of hiswordswas evenmore terrible thanwhat I had anticipated.BothAugustus and Peters, who, it seems, had long secretly entertained thesame fearful idea which Parker had beenmerely the first to broach, joinedwith him in his design and insisted upon its immediately being carried intoeffect.Ihadcalculatedthatoneatleastofthetwoformerwouldbefoundstillpossessedof sufficient strengthofmind to sidewithmyself in resisting anyattempt to execute so dreadful a purpose, and,with the aid of either one ofthem, I had no fear of being able to prevent its accomplishment. Beingdisappointedinthisexpectation,itbecameabsolutelynecessarythatIshouldattendtomyownsafety,asafurtherresistanceonmypartmightpossiblybeconsideredbymenintheirfrightfulconditionasufficientexcuseforrefusingmefairplayinthetragedythatIknewwouldspeedilybeenacted.

InowtoldthemIwaswillingtosubmittotheproposal,merelyrequestingadelayofaboutonehour, inorder that the fogwhichhadgatheredaroundusmighthaveanopportunityoflifting,whenitwaspossiblethattheshipwehadseenmight be again in sight. After great difficulty I obtained from them apromisetowaitthuslong;and,asIhadanticipated(abreezerapidlycomingin), the fog liftedbefore thehourhadexpired,when,novessel appearing insight,wepreparedtodrawlots.

It is with extreme reluctance that I dwell upon the appalling scene whichensued;ascenewhich,withitsminutestdetails,noaftereventshavebeenabletoeffaceintheslightestdegreefrommymemory,andwhosesternrecollectionwill embitter every future moment of my existence. Let me run over thisportionofmynarrativewithasmuchhasteas thenatureof theevents tobespokenofwillpermit.Theonlymethodwecoulddevisefortheterrificlottery,inwhichwewere to take each a chance,was that of drawing straws.Smallsplintersofwoodweremadetoanswerourpurpose,anditwasagreedthatIshould be the holder. I retired to one end of the hulk, while my poorcompanionssilentlytookuptheirstationintheotherwiththeirbacksturnedtowardme.ThebitterestanxietywhichIenduredatanyperiodofthisfearfuldramawaswhileIoccupiedmyselfinthearrangementofthelots.Therearefewconditionsintowhichmancanpossiblyfallwherehewillnotfeeladeepinterestinthepreservationofhisexistence;aninterestmomentarilyincreasingwiththefrailnessofthetenurebywhichthatexistencemaybeheld.Butnow

that the silent, definite, and stern nature of the business in which I wasengaged (so different from the tumultuous dangers of the storm or thegradually approaching horrors of famine) allowedme to reflect on the fewchancesIhadofescapingthemostappallingofdeaths—adeathforthemostappalling of purposes—every particle of that energy which had so longbuoyedmeupdeparted like feathersbefore thewind, leavingmeahelplesspreytothemostabjectandpitiableterror.Icouldnot,atfirst,evensummonupsufficientstrengthtotearandfit togetherthesmallsplintersofwood,myfingers absolutely refusing their office, and my knees knocking violentlyagainst eachother.Mymind ranover rapidly a thousandabsurdprojectsbywhich to avoid becoming a partner in the awful speculation. I thought offallingonmykneestomycompanions,andentreatingthemtoletmeescapethisnecessity;ofsuddenlyrushinguponthem,and,byputtingoneofthemtodeath,ofrenderingthedecisionbylotuseless—inshort,ofeverythingbutofgoingthroughwiththematterIhadinhand.Atlast,afterwastingalongtimeinthis imbecileconduct, IwasrecalledtomysensesbythevoiceofParker,who urged me to relieve them at once from the terrible anxiety they wereenduring.EventhenIcouldnotbringmyselftoarrangethesplintersuponthespot, but thought over every species of finesse bywhich I could trick someoneofmyfellow-suffererstodrawtheshortstraw,asithadbeenagreedthatwhoeverdrewtheshortestoffoursplintersfrommyhandwastodiefor thepreservation of the rest. Before any one condemn me for this apparentheartlessness,lethimbeplacedinasituationpreciselysimilartomyown.

Atlengthdelaywasnolongerpossible,and,withaheartalmostburstingfrommybosom,Iadvancedtotheregionoftheforecastle,wheremycompanionswere awaiting me. I held out my hand with the splinters, and Petersimmediatelydrew.Hewasfree—his,atleast,wasnottheshortest;andtherewasnowanotherchanceagainstmyescape.Isummonedupallmystrength,andpassed the lots toAugustus.Healsodrewimmediately,andhealsowasfree; andnow,whether I should liveor die, the chanceswerenomore thanprecisely even.At thismoment all the fierceness of the tiger possessedmybosom,andIfelttowardmypoorfellow-creature,Parker,themostintense,themost diabolical hatred. But the feeling did not last; and, at length, with aconvulsive shudder and closed eyes, I held out the two remaining splinterstowardhim. Itwas fully fiveminutesbeforehecouldsummonresolution todraw,duringwhichperiodofheartrendingsuspenseIneveronceopenedmyeyes. Presently one of the two lots was quickly drawn frommy hand. Thedecisionwasthenover,yetIknewnotwhether itwasformeoragainstme.Noonespoke,andstillIdarednotsatisfymyselfbylookingatthesplinterIheld.Peters at length tookmeby the hand, and I forcedmyself to lookup,whenIimmediatelysawbythecountenanceofParkerthatIwassafe,andthatheitwaswhohadbeendoomedtosuffer.Gaspingforbreath,Ifellsenseless

tothedeck.

Irecoveredfrommyswoonintimetobeholdtheconsummationofthetragedyinthedeathofhimwhohadbeenchieflyinstrumentalinbringingitabout.Hemadenoresistancewhatever,andwasstabbedinthebackbyPeters,whenhefellinstantlydead.Imustnotdwelluponthefearfulrepastwhichimmediatelyensued.Suchthingsmaybeimagined,butwordshavenopowertoimpressthemindwiththeexquisitehorroroftheirreality.Letitsufficetosaythat,havinginsomemeasureappeasedtheragingthirstwhichconsumedusbythebloodof thevictim,andhavingbycommonconsent takenoff thehands, feet, andhead,throwingthemtogetherwiththeentrails,intothesea,wedevouredtherest of the body, piecemeal, during the four ever memorable days of theseventeenth,eighteenth,nineteenth,andtwentiethofthemonth.

On the nineteenth, there coming on a smart shower which lasted fifteen ortwentyminutes,wecontrivedtocatchsomewaterbymeansofasheetwhichhadbeenfishedupfromthecabinbyourdragjustafterthegale.Thequantitywetookinalldidnotamounttomorethanhalfagallon;buteventhisscantyallowancesupplieduswithcomparativestrengthandhope.

Onthetwenty-firstwewereagainreducedto the lastnecessity.Theweatherstillremainedwarmandpleasant,withoccasionalfogsandlightbreezes,mostusuallyfromN.toW.

On the twenty-second, as we were sitting close huddled together, gloomilyrevolvingoverourlamentablecondition,thereflashedthroughmymindallatoncean ideawhich inspiredmewith abrightgleamofhope. I rememberedthat, when the foremast had been cut away, Peters, being in the windwardchains, passed one of the axes into my hand, requesting me to put it, ifpossible, inaplaceofsecurity,and thata fewminutesbefore the lastheavyseastruck thebrigandfilledher Ihad taken thisaxe into the forecastleandlaiditinoneofthelarboardberths.Inowthoughtitpossiblethat,bygettingatthisaxe,wemightcutthroughthedeckoverthestoreroom,andthusreadilysupplyourselveswithprovisions.

When I communicated this object tomy companions, they uttered a feebleshoutofjoy,andweallproceededforthwithtotheforecastle.Thedifficultyofdescendingherewasgreaterthanthatofgoingdowninthecabin,theopeningbeingmuchsmaller,foritwillberememberedthatthewholeframeworkaboutthecabincompanion-hatchhadbeencarriedaway,whereastheforecastle-way,beingasimplehatchofonlyaboutthreefeetsquare,hadremaineduninjured.Idid not hesitate, however, to attempt the descent; and a rope being fastenedroundmybodyasbefore, I plungedboldly in, feet foremost,mademywayquicklytotheberth,andatthefirstattemptbroughtuptheaxe.Itwashailed

with themostecstatic joyand triumph,and theeasewithwhich ithadbeenobtainedwasregardedasanomenofourultimatepreservation.

Wenowcommencedcuttingatthedeckwithalltheenergyofrekindledhope,Peters and myself taking the axe by turns, Augustus's wounded arm notpermitting him to aid us in any degree.Aswewere still so feeble as to bescarcelyabletostandunsupported,andcouldconsequentlyworkbutaminuteortwowithoutresting,itsoonbecameevidentthatmanylonghourswouldbenecessarytoaccomplishourtask—thatis,tocutanopeningsufficientlylargeto admit of a free access to the storeroom.This consideration, however, didnot discourage us; and, working all night by the light of the moon, wesucceededineffectingourpurposebydaybreakonthemorningofthetwenty-third.

Peters now volunteered to go down; and, havingmade all arrangements asbefore, he descended, and soon returned bringing up with him a small jar,which,toourgreatjoy,provedtobefullofolives.Havingsharedtheseamongus,anddevouredthemwiththegreatestavidity,weproceededtolethimdownagain. This time he succeeded beyond our utmost expectations, returninginstantlywithalargehamandabottleofMadeirawine.Ofthelatterweeachtook a moderate sup, having learned by experience the perniciousconsequencesofindulgingtoofreely.Theham,exceptabouttwopoundsnearthebone,wasnotinaconditiontobeeaten,havingbeenentirelyspoiledbythesaltwater.Thesoundpartwasdividedamongus.PetersandAugustus,notbeingable to restrain their appetite, swallowed theirsupon the instant;but Iwasmore cautious, and ate but a small portion ofmine, dreading the thirstwhichIknewwouldensue.Wenowrestedawhilefromourlabors,whichhadbeenintolerablysevere.

Bynoon,feelingsomewhatstrengthenedandrefreshed,weagainrenewedourattempt at getting up provisions, Peters andmyself going down alternately,andalwayswithmoreorlesssuccess,untilsundown.Duringthisintervalwehad the good fortune to bringup, altogether, fourmore small jars of olives,another ham, a carboy containing nearly three gallons of excellent CapeMadeira wine, and, what gave us still more delight, a small tortoise of theGallipago breed, several of which had been taken on board by CaptainBarnard,astheGrampuswasleavingport,fromtheschoonerMaryPitts,justreturnedfromasealingvoyageinthePacific.

In a subsequent portion of this narrative I shall have frequent occasion tomentionthisspeciesoftortoise.Itisfoundprincipally,asmostofmyreadersmayknow,inthegroupofislandscalledtheGallipagos,which,indeed,derivetheir name from the animal—the SpanishwordGallipagomeaning a fresh-waterterrapin.Fromthepeculiarityoftheirshapeandactiontheyhavebeen

sometimes called the elephant tortoise. They are frequently found of anenormoussize.Ihavemyselfseenseveralwhichwouldweighfromtwelvetofifteenhundredpounds,althoughIdonotrememberthatanynavigatorspeaksofhavingseen themweighingmore thaneighthundred.Theirappearance issingular,andevendisgusting.Theirstepsareveryslow,measured,andheavy,their bodiesbeing carried about a foot from theground.Their neck is long,andexceedinglyslender, fromeighteen inches to twofeet isaverycommonlength,andIkilledone,wherethedistancefromtheshouldertotheextremityof the headwas no less than three feet ten inches. The head has a strikingresemblance to that of a serpent.They can existwithout food for an almostincrediblelengthoftime,instanceshavingbeenknownwheretheyhavebeenthrownintotheholdofavesselandlaintwoyearswithoutnourishmentofanykind—beingasfat,and,ineveryrespect,inasgoodorderattheexpirationofthetimeaswhentheywerefirstput in.Inoneparticular theseextraordinaryanimalsbeararesemblancetothedromedary,orcamelofthedesert.Inabagat the root of the neck they carrywith them a constant supply ofwater. Insome instances, upon killing them after a full year's deprivation of allnourishment,asmuchasthreegallonsofperfectlysweetandfreshwaterhavebeen found in theirbags.Their food ischieflywildparsleyandcelery,withpurslain,sea-kelp,andpricklypears,uponwhich lattervegetable they thrivewonderfully,agreatquantityofitbeingusuallyfoundonthehillsidesneartheshorewherevertheanimalitselfisdiscovered.Theyareexcellentandhighlynutritiousfood,andhave,nodoubt,beenthemeansofpreservingthelivesofthousandsofseamenemployedinthewhale-fisheryandotherpursuitsinthePacific.

Theonewhichwehadthegoodfortunetobringupfromthestoreroomwasnotofa largesize,weighingprobablysixty-fiveorseventypounds. Itwasafemale, and in excellent condition, being exceedingly fat, and havingmorethanaquartoflimpidandsweetwaterinitsbag.Thiswasindeedatreasure;and,fallingonourkneeswithoneaccord,wereturnedferventthankstoGodforsoseasonablearelief.

We had great difficulty in getting the animal up through the opening, as itsstruggles were fierce and its strength prodigious. It was upon the point ofmakingitsescapefromPeter'sgrasp,andslippingbackintothewater,whenAugustus,throwingaropewithaslipknotarounditsthroat,helditupinthismanneruntilIjumpedintotheholebythesideofPeters,andassistedhiminliftingitout.

The water we drew carefully from the bag into the jug; which, it will beremembered,hadbeenbroughtupbeforefromthecabin.Havingdonethis,webroke off the neck of a bottle so as to form,with the cork, a kind of glass,

holdingnotquitehalfagill.Wetheneachdrankoneof thesemeasuresfull,and resolved to limit ourselves to this quantity per day as long as it shouldholdout.

Duringthelast twoor threedays, theweatherhavingbeendryandpleasant,the bedding we had obtained from the cabin, as well as our clothing, hadbecomethoroughlydry,sothatwepassedthisnight(thatofthetwenty-third)in comparative comfort, enjoying a tranquil repose, after having suppedplentifully on olives and ham, with a small allowance of the wine. Beingafraidoflosingsomeofourstoresoverboardduringthenight,intheeventofabreezespringingup,wesecuredthemaswellaspossiblewithcordagetothefragments of thewindlass.Our tortoise,whichwewere anxious to preservealive as long as we could, we threw on its back, and otherwise carefullyfastened.

CHAPTER13

JULY24.Thismorningsawuswonderfully recruited inspiritsandstrength.Notwithstandingtheperiloussituationinwhichwewerestillplaced,ignorantofourposition,althoughcertainlyatagreatdistancefromland,withoutmorefood thanwould last us for a fortnight evenwithgreat care, almost entirelywithoutwater,andfloatingaboutatthemercyofeverywindandwaveonthemerest wreck in the world, still the infinitely more terrible distresses anddangers from which we had so lately and so providentially been deliveredcausedustoregardwhatwenowenduredasbutlittlemorethananordinaryevil—sostrictlycomparativeiseithergoodorill.

Atsunrisewewerepreparing to renewourattemptsatgettingupsomethingfromthestoreroom,when,asmartshowercomingon,withsomelightning,weturnourattentiontothecatchingofwaterbymeansofthesheetwehadusedbeforeforthispurpose.Wehadnoothermeansofcollectingtherainthanbyholdingthesheetspreadoutwithoneoftheforechain-platesinthemiddleofit.Thewater,thusconductedtothecentre,wasdrainedthroughintoourjug.Wehadnearlyfilleditinthismanner,when,aheavysquallcomingonfromthe northward, obliged us to desist, as the hulk began oncemore to roll soviolently thatwecouldno longerkeepour feet.Wenowwent forward,and,lashingourselves securely to the remnantof thewindlassasbefore, awaitedtheeventwithfarmorecalmness thancouldhavebeenanticipatedorwouldhavebeenimaginedpossibleunder thecircumstances.Atnoonthewindhadfreshenedintoa two-reefbreeze,andbynight intoastiffgale,accompanied

witha tremendouslyheavyswell.Experiencehavingtaughtus,however, thebest method of arranging our lashings, we weathered this dreary night intolerablesecurity,althoughthoroughlydrenchedatalmosteveryinstantbythesea, and inmomentary dread of beingwashed off. Fortunately, theweatherwassowarmastorenderthewaterrathergratefulthanotherwise.

July25.Thismorningthegalehaddiminishedtoamereten-knotbreeze,andthe sea had gone down with it so considerably that we were able to keepourselvesdryuponthedeck.Toourgreatgrief,however,wefoundthat twojars of our olives, as well as the whole of our ham, had been washedoverboard,inspiteofthecarefulmannerinwhichtheyhadbeenfastened.Wedetermined not to kill the tortoise as yet, and contented ourselves for thepresentwithabreakfastonafewoftheolives,andameasureofwatereach,which latter we mixed half and half, with wine, finding great relief andstrength from the mixture, without the distressing intoxication which hadensuedupondrinkingtheport.Theseawasstillfartooroughfortherenewalofoureffortsatgettingupprovisionfromthestoreroom.Severalarticles,ofno importance tous inourpresent situation, floatedup through theopeningduring the day, and were immediately washed overboard. We also nowobservedthatthehulklaymorealongthanever,sothatwecouldnotstandaninstantwithout lashing ourselves.On this accountwe passed a gloomy anduncomfortableday.Atnoonthesunappearedtobenearlyvertical,andwehadnodoubtthatwehadbeendrivendownbythelongsuccessionofnorthwardandnorthwesterlywindsintothenearvicinityoftheequator.Towardeveningwesawseveralsharks,andweresomewhatalarmedbytheaudaciousmannerin which an enormously large one approached us. At one time, a lurchthrowing thedeckvery far beneath thewater, themonster actually swam inuponus, floundering for somemoments just over the companion-hatch, andstriking Peters violently with his tail. A heavy sea at length hurled himoverboard, much to our relief. In moderate weather we might have easilycapturedhim.

July26.Thismorning,thewindhavinggreatlyabated,andtheseanotbeingvery rough,wedetermined to renewour exertions in the storeroom.After agreatdealofhard laborduring thewholeday,wefound thatnothing furtherwas tobeexpectedfromthisquarter, thepartitionsof theroomhavingbeenstoveduringthenight,anditscontentssweptintothehold.Thisdiscovery,asmaybesupposed,filleduswithdespair.

July27.Theseanearlysmooth,withalightwind,andstillfromthenorthwardand westward. The sun coming out hotly in the afternoon, we occupiedourselves in drying our clothes. Found great relief from thirst, and muchcomfortotherwise,bybathinginthesea;inthis,however,wewereforcedto

use great caution, being afraid of sharks, several of which were seenswimmingaroundthebrigduringtheday.

July28.Goodweatherstill.Thebrignowbegantoliealongsoalarminglythatwefearedshewouldeventuallyrollbottomup.Preparedourselvesaswellaswecouldforthisemergency,lashingourtortoise,waterjug,andtworemainingjarsofolivesasfaraspossibleovertothewindward,placingthemoutsidethehull below the main-chains. The sea very smooth all day, with little or nowind.

July29.Acontinuanceof thesameweather.Augustus'swoundedarmbeganto evince symptoms of mortification. He complained of drowsiness andexcessivethirst,butnoacutepain.Nothingcouldbedoneforhisreliefbeyondrubbinghiswoundswithalittleofthevinegarfromtheolives,andfromthisnobenefitseemedtobeexperienced.Wedideverythinginourpowerforhiscomfort,andtrebledhisallowanceofwater.

July30.Anexcessivelyhotday,withnowind.Anenormoussharkkeptclosebythehulkduringthewholeoftheforenoon.Wemadeseveralunsuccessfulattempts to capture him by means of a noose. Augustus much worse, andevidentlysinkingasmuchfromwantofpropernourishmentasfromtheeffectof his wounds. He constantly prayed to be relieved from his sufferings,wishingfornothingbutdeath.Thiseveningweatethelastofourolives,andfoundthewaterinourjugsoputridthatwecouldnotswallowitatallwithouttheadditionofwine.Determinedtokillourtortoiseinthemorning.

July31.Afteranightofexcessiveanxietyandfatigue,owingtothepositionofthehulk,wesetaboutkillingandcuttingupourtortoise.Heprovedtobemuchsmallerthanwehadsupposed,althoughingoodcondition,—thewholemeat about him not amounting to more than ten pounds. With a view ofpreservingaportionofthisaslongaspossible,wecutitintofinepieces,andfilled with them our three remaining olive jars and the wine-bottle (all ofwhichhadbeenkept),pouringinafterwardthevinegarfromtheolives.Inthismannerweputawayaboutthreepoundsofthetortoise,intendingnottotouchituntilwehadconsumedtherest.Weconcludedtorestrictourselvestoaboutfourouncesofthemeatperday;thewholewouldthuslastusthirteendays.Abrisk shower, with severe thunder and lightning, came on about dusk, butlastedsoshortatimethatweonlysucceededincatchingabouthalfapintofwater.Thewhole of this, by common consent,was given toAugustus,whonowappearedtobeinthelastextremity.Hedrankthewaterfromthesheetaswe caught it (we holding it above him as he lay so as to let it run into hismouth),forwehadnownothingleftcapableofholdingwater,unlesswehadchosentoemptyoutourwinefromthecarboy,orthestalewaterfromthejug.Eitheroftheseexpedientswouldhavebeenresortedtohadtheshowerlasted.

Thesuffererseemedtoderivebutlittlebenefitfromthedraught.Hisarmwascompletelyblackfromthewristtotheshoulder,andhisfeetwerelikeice.Weexpected every moment to see him breathe his last. He was frightfullyemaciated;somuchsothat,althoughheweighedahundredandtwenty-sevenpoundsuponhisleavingNantucket,henowdidnotweighmorethanfortyorfifty at the farthest. His eyes were sunk far in his head, being scarcelyperceptible, and the skin of his cheeks hung so loosely as to prevent hismasticatinganyfood,orevenswallowinganyliquid,withoutgreatdifficulty.

August1.Acontinuanceofthesamecalmweather,withanoppressivelyhotsun. Suffered exceedingly from thirst, thewater in the jug being absolutelyputrid and swarmingwith vermin.We contrived, nevertheless, to swallow aportionofitbymixingitwithwine;ourthirst,however,wasbutlittleabated.Wefoundmorereliefbybathing in thesea,butcouldnotavailourselvesofthisexpedientexceptatlongintervals,onaccountofthecontinualpresenceofsharks.We now saw clearly thatAugustus could not be saved; that hewasevidentlydying.Wecoulddonothingtorelievehissufferings,whichappearedto be great. About twelve o'clock he expired in strong convulsions, andwithout having spoken for several hours. His death filled us with themostgloomy forebodings, and had so great an effect upon our spirits thatwe satmotionlessbythecorpseduringthewholeday,andneveraddressedeachotherexceptinawhisper.Itwasnotuntilsometimeafterdarkthatwetookcourageto get up and throw the body overboard. It was then loathsome beyondexpression,andsofardecayedthat,asPetersattemptedtoliftit,anentirelegcame off in his grasp.As themass of putrefaction slipped over the vessel'ssideintothewater,theglareofphosphoriclightwithwhichitwassurroundedplainly discovered to us seven or eight large sharks, the clashing of whosehorribleteeth,astheirpreywastorntopiecesamongthem,mighthavebeenheardatthedistanceofamile.Weshrunkwithinourselvesintheextremityofhorroratthesound.

August2.Thesamefearfullycalmandhotweather.Thedawnfoundusinastateofpitiabledejectionaswell asbodilyexhaustion.Thewater in the jugwas now absolutely useless, being a thick gelatinous mass; nothing butfrightful-lookingwormsmingledwithslime.Wethrewitout,andwashedthejugwellinthesea,afterwardpouringalittlevinegarinitfromourbottlesofpickled tortoise. Our thirst could now scarcely be endured, and we tried invain to relieve it bywine,which seemedonly to add fuel to the flame, andexcited us to a high degree of intoxication. We afterward endeavoured torelieve our sufferings by mixing the wine with seawater; but this instantlybroughtaboutthemostviolentretchings,sothatweneveragainattemptedit.During thewholedayweanxiouslysoughtanopportunityofbathing,but tonopurpose;forthehulkwasnowentirelybesiegedonallsideswithsharks—

nodoubttheidenticalmonsterswhohaddevouredourpoorcompanionontheevening before, andwhowere inmomentary expectation of another similarfeast.Thiscircumstanceoccasionedusthemostbitterregretandfilleduswiththe most depressing and melancholy forebodings. We had experiencedindescribablereliefinbathing,andtohavethisresourcecutoffinsofrightfulamannerwasmorethanwecouldbear.Nor,indeed,werewealtogetherfreefrom the apprehension of immediate danger, for the least slip or falsemovementwouldhavethrownusatoncewithinreachofthosevoraciousfish,whofrequently thrust themselvesdirectlyuponus,swimmingupto leeward.Noshoutsorexertionsonourpartseemedtoalarmthem.EvenwhenoneofthelargestwasstruckwithanaxebyPetersandmuchwounded,hepersistedinhisattemptstopushinwherewewere.Acloudcameupatdusk,but,toourextremeanguish,passedoverwithoutdischargingitself.Itisquiteimpossibleto conceive our sufferings from thirst at this period.We passed a sleeplessnight,bothonthisaccountandthroughdreadofthesharks.

August3.Noprospectofrelief,andthebriglyingstillmoreandmorealong,sothatnowwecouldnotmaintainafootingupondeckatall.Busiedourselvesinsecuringourwineandtortoise-meat,sothatwemightnotlosethemintheeventofourrollingover.Gotouttwostoutspikesfromtheforechains,and,bymeansoftheaxe,drovethemintothehulltowindwardwithinacoupleoffeetofthewater,thisnotbeingveryfarfromthekeel,aswewerenearlyuponourbeam-ends. To these spikes we now lashed our provisions, as being moresecure than their former position beneath the chains. Suffered great agonyfrom thirst during the whole day—no chance of bathing on account of thesharks,whichneverleftusforamoment.Founditimpossibletosleep.

August 4. A little before daybreak we perceived that the hulk was heelingover,andarousedourselvestopreventbeingthrownoffbythemovement.Atfirst the roll was slow and gradual, and we contrived to clamber over towindwardverywell,havingtakentheprecautiontoleaveropeshangingfromthe spikes we had driven in for the provision. But we had not calculatedsufficiently upon the acceleration of the impetus; for, presently the heelbecametooviolenttoallowofourkeepingpacewithit;and,beforeeitherofusknewwhatwastohappen,wefoundourselveshurledfuriouslyintothesea,and struggling several fathoms beneath the surface, with the huge hullimmediatelyaboveus.

IngoingunderthewaterIhadbeenobligedtoletgomyholdupontherope;andfindingthatIwascompletelybeneaththevessel,andmystrengthnearlyexhausted, I scarcelymadeastruggle for life,and resignedmyself, ina fewseconds, to die. But here again I was deceived, not having taken intoconsideration the natural reboundof the hull towindward.Thewhirl of the

waterupward,which thevesseloccasioned in rollingpartiallyback,broughtmetothesurfacestillmoreviolentlythanIhadbeenplungedbeneath.UponcomingupIfoundmyselfabouttwentyyardsfromthehulk,asnearasIcouldjudge.Shewaslyingkeelup,rockingfuriouslyfromsidetoside,andtheseain all directions aroundwasmuch agitated, and full of strongwhirlpools. IcouldseenothingofPeters.Anoil-caskwasfloatingwithinafewfeetofme,andvariousotherarticlesfromthebrigwerescatteredabout.

Myprincipalterrorwasnowonaccountofthesharks,whichIknewtobeinmy vicinity. In order to deter these, if possible, from approaching me, IsplashedthewatervigorouslywithbothhandsandfeetasIswamtowardsthehulk,creatingabodyoffoam.Ihavenodoubtthattothisexpedient,simpleasitwas,Iwasindebtedformypreservation;fortheseaallroundthebrig,justbeforeherrollingover,wassocrowdedwiththesemonsters,thatImusthavebeen,andreallywas,inactualcontactwithsomeofthemduringmyprogress.By great good fortune, however, I reached the side of the vessel in safety,althoughsoutterlyweakenedbytheviolentexertionIhadusedthatIshouldnever have been able to get upon it but for the timely assistance of Peters,who,now,tomygreatjoy,madehisappearance(havingscrambleduptothekeelfromtheoppositesideofthehull),andthrewmetheendofarope—oneofthosewhichhadbeenattachedtothespikes.

Having barely escaped this danger, our attention was now directed to thedreadfulimminencyofanother—thatofabsolutestarvation.Ourwholestockofprovisionhadbeensweptoverboardinspiteofallourcareinsecuringit;andseeingnolongertheremotestpossibilityofobtainingmore,wegavewaybothofustodespair,weepingaloudlikechildren,andneitherofusattemptingto offer consolation to the other. Suchweakness can scarcely be conceived,and to thosewho have never been similarly situatedwill, no doubt, appearunnatural; but it must be remembered that our intellects were so entirelydisordered by the long course of privation and terror towhichwehad beensubjected,thatwecouldnotjustlybeconsidered,atthatperiod,inthelightofrationalbeings.Insubsequentperils,nearlyasgreat, ifnotgreater,Iboreupwithfortitudeagainstalltheevilsofmysituation,andPeters,itwillbeseen,evinced a stoical philosophy nearly as incredible as his present childlikesupinenessandimbecility—thementalconditionmadethedifference.

The overturning of the brig, evenwith the consequent loss of thewine andturtle, would not, in fact, have rendered our situationmore deplorable thanbefore,exceptforthedisappearanceofthebedclothesbywhichwehadbeenhitherto enabled to catch rainwater, and of the jug inwhichwe had kept itwhencaught;forwefoundthewholebottom,fromwithintwoorthreefeetofthebendsasfarasthekeel,togetherwiththekeelitself,thicklycoveredwith

largebarnacles,whichprovedtobeexcellentandhighlynutritiousfood.Thus,intwoimportantrespects,theaccidentwehadsogreatlydreadedprovedtobea benefit rather than an injury; it had opened to us a supply of provisionswhichwe could not have exhausted, using itmoderately, in amonth; and ithad greatly contributed to our comfort as regards position, we being muchmoreatease,andininfinitelylessdanger,thanbefore.

Thedifficulty,however,ofnowobtainingwaterblindedustoallthebenefitsofthechangeinourcondition.Thatwemightbereadytoavailourselves,asfaraspossible,ofanyshowerwhichmightfallwetookoffourshirts,tomakeuseofthemaswehadofthesheets—nothoping,ofcourse,togetmoreinthisway,evenunder themostfavorablecircumstances, thanhalfagillata time.Nosignsofacloudappearedduringtheday,andtheagoniesofourthirstwerenearly intolerable.At night, Peters obtained about an hour's disturbed sleep,butmyintensesufferingswouldnotpermitmetoclosemyeyesforasinglemoment.

August 5. To-day, a gentle breeze springing up carried us through a vastquantity of seaweed, among which we were so fortunate as to find elevensmall crabs, which afforded us several delicious meals. Their shells beingquitesoft,weate thementire,andfoundthat theyirritatedour thirst far lessthan the barnacles. Seeing no trace of sharks among the seaweed, we alsoventured to bathe, and remained in thewater for four or five hours, duringwhichweexperiencedavery sensiblediminutionofour thirst.Weregreatlyrefreshed,andspent thenightsomewhatmorecomfortably thanbefore,bothofussnatchingalittlesleep.

August6.Thisdaywewereblessedbyabriskandcontinualrain,lastingfromaboutnoonuntilafterdark.Bitterlydidwenowregretthelossofourjugandcarboy;for,inspiteofthelittlemeanswehadofcatchingthewater,wemighthave filled one, if not both of them.As it was, we contrived to satisfy thecravings of thirst by suffering the shirts to become saturated, and thenwringing them so as to let the grateful fluid trickle into ourmouths. In thisoccupationwepassedtheentireday.

August7.Justatdaybreakwebothat thesame instantdescriedasail to theeastward,andevidentlycomingtowardsus!Wehailedtheglorioussightwitha long, although feeble shout of rapture; and began instantly tomake everysignalinourpower,byflaringtheshirtsintheair,leapingashighasourweakcondition would permit, and even by hallooing with all the strength of ourlungs,althoughthevesselcouldnothavebeenlessthanfifteenmilesdistant.However,shestillcontinuedtonearourhulk,andwefeltthat,ifshebutheldher present course, shemust eventually come so close as to perceive us. Inaboutanhourafterwefirstdiscoveredher,wecouldclearlyseethepeopleon

her decks. Shewas a long, low, and rakish-looking topsail schooner,with ablackballinherforetopsail,andhad,apparently,afullcrew.Wenowbecamealarmed,forwecouldhardlyimagineitpossiblethatshedidnotobserveus,andwereapprehensivethatshemeanttoleaveustoperishaswewere—anactof fiendish barbarity, which, however incredible it may appear, has beenrepeatedlyperpetuatedatsea,undercircumstancesverynearlysimilar,andbybeingswhowereregardedasbelongingtothehumanspecies.Inthisinstance,however,bythemercyofGod,weweredestinedtobemosthappilydeceived;for, presently we were aware of a sudden commotion on the deck of thestranger,who immediately afterward ran up a British flag, and, hauling herwind,boreupdirectlyuponus.Inhalfanhourmorewefoundourselvesinhercabin.SheprovedtobetheJaneGuy,ofLiverpool,CaptainGuy,boundonasealingandtradingvoyagetotheSouthSeasandPacific.

CHAPTER14

THEJaneGuywasa fine-looking topsail schoonerof ahundredandeightytonsburden.Shewasunusuallysharpinthebows,andonawind,inmoderateweather,thefastestsailerIhaveeverseen.Herqualities,however,asaroughsea-boat,werenotsogood,andherdraughtofwaterwasbyfartoogreatforthetradetowhichshewasdestined.Forthispeculiarservice,alargervessel,and one of a light proportionate draught, is desirable—say a vessel of fromthreehundredtothreehundredandfiftytons.Sheshouldbebark-rigged,andinotherrespectsofadifferentconstructionfromtheusualSouthSeaships.Itis absolutelynecessary that she shouldbewell armed.She shouldhave, saytenor twelve twelve-pound carronades, and twoor three long twelves,withbrassblunderbusses,andwater-tightarm-chestsforeachtop.Heranchorsandcablesshouldbeoffargreaterstrengththanisrequiredforanyotherspeciesoftrade,and,aboveall,hercrewshouldbenumerousandefficient—notless,forsuchavesselasIhavedescribed,thanfiftyorsixtyable-bodiedmen.TheJaneGuyhadacrewof thirty-five, all able seamen,besides thecaptainandmate, but shewas not altogether aswell armed or otherwise equipped, as anavigatoracquaintedwiththedifficultiesanddangersofthetradecouldhavedesired.

CaptainGuywasagentlemanofgreaturbanityofmanner,andofconsiderableexperienceinthesoutherntraffic,towhichhehaddevotedagreatportionofhislife.Hewasdeficient,however,inenergy,and,consequently,inthatspiritofenterprisewhichisheresoabsolutelyrequisite.Hewaspartownerof the

vesselinwhichhesailed,andwasinvestedwithdiscretionarypowerstocruisein theSouthSeasforanycargowhichmightcomemostreadily tohand.Hehadonboard,asusualinsuchvoyages,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,andothersimilararticles.

TheschoonersailedfromLiverpoolonthetenthofJuly,crossedtheTropicofCanceronthetwenty-fifth,inlongitudetwentydegreeswest,andreachedSal,oneoftheCapeVerdislands,onthetwenty-ninth,whereshetookinsaltandother necessaries for the voyage. On the third ofAugust, she left the CapeVerdsandsteeredsouthwest,stretchingovertowardthecoastofBrazil,soastocrosstheequatorbetweenthemeridiansoftwenty-eightandthirtydegreeswestlongitude.ThisisthecourseusuallytakenbyvesselsboundfromEuropetotheCapeofGoodHope,orbythatroutetotheEastIndies.Byproceedingthus they avoid the calms and strong contrary currents which continuallyprevailonthecoastofGuinea,while,intheend,itisfoundtobetheshortesttrack, aswesterlywinds are neverwanting afterward bywhich to reach theCape.ItwasCaptainGuy'sintentiontomakehisfirststoppageatKerguelen'sLand—I hardly know for what reason. On the day we were picked up theschooner was off Cape St. Roque, in longitude thirty-one degrees west; sothat,whenfound,wehaddriftedprobably,fromnorthtosouth,notlessthanfive-and-twentydegrees!

Onboard the JaneGuywewere treatedwithall thekindnessourdistressedsituation demanded. In about a fortnight, during which time we continuedsteeringtothesoutheast,withgentlebreezesandfineweather,bothPetersandmyself recoveredentirely from the effectsofour lateprivationanddreadfulsufferings, andwebegan to rememberwhat had passed rather as a frightfuldreamfromwhichwehadbeenhappilyawakened,thanaseventswhichhadtakenplaceinsoberandnakedreality.Ihavesincefoundthatthisspeciesofpartial oblivion is usually brought about by sudden transition,whether fromjoy to sorrow or from sorrow to joy—the degree of forgetfulness beingproportioned to the degree of difference in the exchange. Thus, inmy owncase,Inowfeel it impossible torealize thefullextentof themiserywhichIenduredduringthedaysspentuponthehulk.Theincidentsareremembered,butnotthefeelingswhichtheincidentselicitedatthetimeoftheiroccurrence.I only know, that when they did occur, I then thought human nature couldsustainnothingmoreofagony.

We continued our voyage for some weeks without any incidents of greatermomentthantheoccasionalmeetingwithwhaling-ships,andmorefrequentlywiththeblackorrightwhale,socalledincontradistinctiontothespermaceti.

These,however,werechieflyfoundsouthofthetwenty-fifthparallel.OnthesixteenthofSeptember,being in thevicinityof theCapeofGoodHope, theschoonerencounteredherfirstgaleofanyviolencesinceleavingLiverpool.Inthis neighborhood, but more frequently to the south and east of thepromontory(weweretothewestward),navigatorshaveoftentocontendwithstorms from the northward, which rage with great fury. They always bringwith them a heavy sea, and one of their most dangerous features is theinstantaneous chopping round of the wind, an occurrence almost certain totake place during the greatest force of the gale.A perfect hurricanewill beblowingatonemomentfromthenorthwardornortheast,andinthenextnotabreathofwindwillbefelt in thatdirection,whilefromthesouthwest itwillcomeoutallatoncewithaviolencealmostinconceivable.Abrightspottothesouthwardisthesureforerunnerofthechange,andvesselsarethusenabledtotaketheproperprecautions.

Itwasaboutsixinthemorningwhentheblowcameonwithawhitesquall,and,asusual, fromthenorthward.Byeight ithad increasedverymuch,andbrought down upon us one of the most tremendous seas I had then everbeheld. Every thing had been made as snug as possible, but the schoonerlaboured excessively, and gave evidence of her bad qualities as a seaboat,pitchingher forecastleunderateveryplungeandwith thegreatestdifficultystruggling up from one wave before she was buried in another. Just beforesunset the bright spot for which we had been on the look-out made itsappearanceinthesouthwest,andinanhourafterwardweperceivedthelittleheadsailwecarriedflappinglistlesslyagainstthemast.Intwominutesmore,in spite of every preparation, we were hurled on our beam-ends, as if bymagic,andaperfectwildernessoffoammadeaclearbreachoverusaswelay.The blow from the southwest, however, luckily proved to be nothingmorethanasquall,andwehadthegoodfortunetorightthevesselwithoutthelossofaspar.Aheavycrossseagaveusgreattroubleforafewhoursafterthis,buttowardmorningwefoundourselvesinnearlyasgoodconditionasbeforethegale. Captain Guy considered that he had made an escape little less thanmiraculous.

On the thirteenthofOctoberwecame in sightofPrinceEdward's Island, inlatitude46degrees53'S.,longitude37degrees46'E.Twodaysafterwardwefound ourselves near Possession Island, and presently passed the islands ofCrozet,inlatitude42degrees59'S.,longitude48degreesE.OntheeighteenthwemadeKerguelen'sorDesolationIsland,intheSouthernIndianOcean,andcametoanchorinChristmasHarbour,havingfourfathomsofwater.

Thisisland,orrathergroupofislands,bearssoutheastfromtheCapeofGoodHope, and is distant therefrom nearly eight hundred leagues. It was first

discovered in 1772, by theBaron deKergulen, orKerguelen, a Frenchman,who, thinking the land to form a portion of an extensive southern continentcarriedhome information to thateffect,whichproducedmuchexcitementatthe time. The government, taking thematter up, sent the baron back in thefollowing year for the purpose of giving his new discovery a criticalexamination,whenthemistakewasdiscovered.In1777,CaptainCookfellinwith the same group, and gave to the principal one the name ofDesolationIsland, a title which it certainly well deserves. Upon approaching the land,however,thenavigatormightbeinducedtosupposeotherwise,asthesidesofmost of the hills, from September toMarch, are clothedwith very brilliantverdure. This deceitful appearance is caused by a small plant resemblingsaxifrage, which is abundant, growing in large patches on a species ofcrumblingmoss.Besidesthisplantthereisscarcelyasignofvegetationontheisland,ifweexceptsomecoarserankgrassneartheharbor,somelichen,andashrubwhichbearsresemblancetoacabbageshootingintoseed,andwhichhasabitterandacridtaste.

Thefaceofthecountryishilly,althoughnoneofthehillscanbecalledlofty.Their tops are perpetually coveredwith snow. There are several harbors, ofwhichChristmasHarbouristhemostconvenient.Itisthefirsttobemetwithon thenortheast sideof the islandafterpassingCapeFrancois,which formsthenorthernshore,and,byitspeculiarshape,servestodistinguishtheharbour.Itsprojectingpoint terminates inahigh rock, throughwhich isa largehole,forminganaturalarch.Theentranceisinlatitude48degrees40'S.,longitude69 degrees 6' E. Passing in here, good anchorage may be found under theshelter of several small islands, which form a sufficient protection from alleasterlywinds. Proceeding on eastwardly from this anchorage you come toWasp Bay, at the head of the harbour. This is a small basin, completelylandlocked, intowhichyoucangowithfour fathoms,andfindanchorage infromtentothree,hardclaybottom.Ashipmightlieherewithherbestboweraheadall theyear roundwithout risk.To thewestward,at theheadofWaspBay,isasmallstreamofexcellentwater,easilyprocured.

Some seal of the fur and hair species are still to be found on Kerguelen'sIsland,andseaelephantsabound.Thefeatheredtribesarediscoveredingreatnumbers.Penguinsareveryplenty,andofthesetherearefourdifferentkinds.Theroyalpenguin,socalledfromitssizeandbeautifulplumage,isthelargest.Theupperpartofthebodyisusuallygray,sometimesofalilactint;theunderportion of the purest white imaginable. The head is of a glossy and mostbrilliantblack,thefeetalso.Thechiefbeautyofplumage,however,consistsintwobroadstripesofagoldcolor,whichpassalongfromtheheadtothebreast.Thebillislong,andeitherpinkorbrightscarlet.Thesebirdswalkerect;withastatelycarriage.Theycarrytheirheadshighwiththeirwingsdroopinglike

twoarms,and,astheirtailsprojectfromtheirbodyinalinewiththelegs,theresemblance toahumanfigure isverystriking,andwouldbeapt todeceivethe spectator at a casual glance or in the gloom of the evening. The royalpenguinswhichwemetwith onKerguelen'sLandwere rather larger than agoose.Theotherkindsarethemacaroni,thejackass,andtherookerypenguin.These are much smaller, less beautiful in plumage, and different in otherrespects.

Besidesthepenguinmanyotherbirdsareheretobefound,amongwhichmaybementioned sea-hens, blue peterels, teal, ducks, Port Egmont hens, shags,Cape pigeons, the nelly, sea swallows, terns, sea gulls, Mother Carey'schickens,MotherCarey'sgeese,orthegreatpeterel,and,lastly,thealbatross.

Thegreatpeterelisaslargeasthecommonalbatross,andiscarnivorous.Itisfrequentlycalled thebreak-bones,orospreypeterel.Theyarenot at all shy,and,whenproperlycooked,arepalatablefood.Inflyingtheysometimessailvery close to the surface of the water, with the wings expanded, withoutappearingtomovethemintheleastdegree,ormakeanyexertionwiththemwhatever.

ThealbatrossisoneofthelargestandfiercestoftheSouthSeabirds.Itisofthegullspecies,andtakesitspreyonthewing,nevercomingonlandexceptfor the purpose of breeding. Between this bird and the penguin the mostsingular friendship exists. Their nests are constructed with great uniformityupon a plan concerted between the two species—that of the albatross beingplaced in the centre of a little square formed by the nests of four penguins.Navigators have agreed in calling an assemblage of such encampments arookery.Theserookerieshavebeenoftendescribed,butasmyreadersmaynotallhaveseenthesedescriptions,andasIshallhaveoccasionhereaftertospeakofthepenguinandalbatross,itwillnotbeamisstosaysomethinghereoftheirmodeofbuildingandliving.

When the season for incubationarrives, thebirdsassemble invastnumbers,and for some days appear to be deliberating upon the proper course to bepursued.Atlengththeyproceedtoaction.Alevelpieceofgroundisselected,ofsuitableextent,usuallycomprisingthreeorfouracres,andsituatedasnearthe sea as possible, being still beyond its reach. The spot is chosen withreference to its evenness of surface, and that is preferredwhich is the leastencumberedwithstones.Thismatterbeingarranged, thebirdsproceed,withone accord, and actuated apparently by one mind, to trace out, withmathematicalaccuracy,eitherasquareorotherparallelogram,asmaybestsuitthenatureoftheground,andofjustsufficientsizetoaccommodateeasilyallthebirdsassembled,andnomore—inthisparticularseemingdetermineduponpreventing the access of future stragglers who have not participated in the

laboroftheencampment.Onesideoftheplacethusmarkedoutrunsparallelwiththewater'sedge,andisleftopenforingressoregress.

Havingdefinedthe limitsof therookery, thecolonynowbegintoclear itofeveryspeciesofrubbish,pickingupstonebystone,andcarryingthemoutsideofthelines,andclosebythem,soastoformawallonthethreeinlandsides.Justwithinthiswallaperfectlylevelandsmoothwalkisformed,fromsixtoeight feet wide, and extending around the encampment—thus serving thepurposeofageneralpromenade.

Thenextprocessistopartitionoutthewholeareaintosmallsquaresexactlyequalinsize.Thisisdonebyformingnarrowpaths,verysmooth,andcrossingeachotheratrightanglesthroughouttheentireextentoftherookery.Ateachintersection of these paths the nest of an albatross is constructed, and apenguin'snestinthecentreofeachsquare—thuseverypenguinissurroundedby four albatrosses, and each albatross by a like number of penguins. Thepenguin'snestconsistsofaholeintheearth,veryshallow,beingonlyjustofsufficientdepthtokeephersingleeggfromrolling.Thealbatrossissomewhatlesssimpleinherarrangements,erectingahillockaboutafoothighandtwoindiameter.Thisismadeofearth,seaweed,andshells.Onitssummitshebuildshernest.

The birds take especial care never to leave their nests unoccupied for aninstantduringtheperiodofincubation,or,indeed,untiltheyoungprogenyaresufficientlystrongtotakecareofthemselves.Whilethemaleisabsentatseainsearchoffood,thefemaleremainsonduty,anditisonlyuponthereturnofherpartnerthatsheventuresabroad.Theeggsareneverleftuncoveredatall—whileonebirdleavesthenesttheothernestlinginbyitsside.Thisprecautionisrenderednecessarybythethievingpropensitiesprevalentintherookery,theinhabitants making no scruple to purloin each other's eggs at every goodopportunity.

Althoughtherearesomerookeriesinwhichthepenguinandalbatrossarethesolepopulation,yet inmostof themavarietyofoceanicbirdsaretobemetwith,enjoyingalltheprivilegesofcitizenship,andscatteringtheirnestshereandthere,wherever theycanfindroom,never interfering,however,withthestations of the larger species. The appearance of such encampments, whenseen from a distance, is exceedingly singular. The whole atmosphere justabove the settlement is darkenedwith the immense number of the albatross(mingledwiththesmallertribes)whicharecontinuallyhoveringoverit,eithergoingtotheoceanorreturninghome.Atthesametimeacrowdofpenguinsare to be observed, somepassing to and fro in the narrowalleys, and somemarching with the military strut so peculiar to them, around the generalpromenadegroundwhichencirclestherookery.Inshort,surveyitaswewill,

nothingcanbemoreastonishingthanthespiritofreflectionevincedbythesefeatheredbeings,andnothingsurelycanbebettercalculatedtoelicitreflectionineverywell-regulatedhumanintellect.

On themorning after our arrival in Christmas Harbour the chief mate,Mr.Patterson,tooktheboats,and(althoughitwassomewhatearlyintheseason)went in search of seal, leaving the captain and a young relation of his on apointofbarrenlandtothewestward,theyhavingsomebusiness,whosenatureIcouldnotascertain,totransactintheinterioroftheisland.CaptainGuytookwith him a bottle, inwhichwas a sealed letter, andmade hisway from thepoint onwhich hewas set on shore toward one of the highest peaks in theplace. It isprobable thathisdesignwas to leave the letteron thatheight forsomevesselwhichheexpectedtocomeafterhim.Assoonaswelostsightofhimweproceeded(Petersandmyselfbeinginthemate'sboat)onourcruisearound the coast, looking for seal. In this businesswewere occupied aboutthreeweeks, examiningwith great care every nook and corner, not only ofKerguelen'sLand,butoftheseveralsmallislandsinthevicinity.Ourlabours,however,werenotcrownedwithanyimportantsuccess.Wesawagreatmanyfur seal, but theywere exceedingly shy, andwith the greatest exertions,wecould only procure three hundred and fifty skins in all. Sea elephantswereabundant, especially on the western coast of themainland, but of these wekilled only twenty, and thiswith great difficulty.On the smaller islandswediscoveredagoodmanyofthehairseal,butdidnotmolestthem.Wereturnedto the schooner: on the eleventh, where we found Captain Guy and hisnephew,whogaveaverybadaccountoftheinterior,representingitasoneofthemostdrearyandutterlybarrencountriesintheworld.Theyhadremainedtwonightsontheisland,owingtosomemisunderstanding,onthepartofthesecondmate, in regard to the sending a jollyboat from the schooner to takethemoff.

CHAPTER15

ONthetwelfthwemadesailfromChristmasHarbourretracingourwaytothewestward,andleavingMarion'sIsland,oneofCrozet'sgroup,onthelarboard.WeafterwardpassedPrinceEdward'sIsland,leavingitalsoonourleft,then,steeringmore to thenorthward,made, in fifteendays, the islandsofTristand'Acunha,inlatitude37degrees8'S,longitude12degrees8'W.

Thisgroup,nowsowellknown,andwhichconsistsofthreecircularislands,wasfirstdiscoveredbythePortuguese,andwasvisitedafterwardbytheDutch

in1643,andbytheFrenchin1767.Thethreeislandstogetherformatriangle,andaredistantfromeachotherabouttenmiles,therebeingfineopenpassagesbetween.Thelandinallofthemisveryhigh,especiallyinTristand'Acunha,properly so called. This is the largest of the group, being fifteen miles incircumference, and so elevated that it can be seen in clear weather at thedistance of eighty or ninetymiles.Apart of the land toward the north risesmore than a thousand feet perpendicularly from the sea.A tableland at thisheightextendsbacknearlytothecentreoftheisland,andfromthistablelandarisesaloftyconelikethatofTeneriffe.Thelowerhalfofthisconeisclothedwith trees of good size, but the upper region is barren rock, usually hiddenamongtheclouds,andcoveredwithsnowduringthegreaterpartoftheyear.There are no shoals or other dangers about the island, the shores beingremarkablyboldandthewaterdeep.Onthenorthwesterncoastisabay,withabeach of black sand where a landing with boats can be easily effected,provided there be a southerly wind. Plenty of excellent water may here bereadilyprocured;alsocodandotherfishmaybetakenwithhookandline.

Thenextislandinpointofsize,andthemostwestwardlyofthegroup,isthatcalled the Inaccessible. Its precise situation is 37 degrees 17' S. latitude,longitude12degrees24'W.Itissevenoreightmilesincircumference,andonallsidespresentsaforbiddingandprecipitousaspect.Itstopisperfectlyflat,andthewholeregionissterile,nothinggrowinguponitexceptafewstuntedshrubs.

Nightingale Island, thesmallestandmostsoutherly, is in latitude37degrees26'S.,longitude12degrees12'W.Offitssouthernextremityisahighledgeofrockyislets;afewalsoofasimilarappearanceareseentothenortheast.Thegroundisirregularandsterile,andadeepvalleypartiallyseparatesit.

Theshoresof these islandsabound, in theproperseason,withsea lions,seaelephants,thehairandfurseal,togetherwithagreatvarietyofoceanicbirds.Whalesarealsoplenty in theirvicinity.Owing to theeasewithwhich thesevarious animalswere here formerly taken, the group has beenmuch visitedsinceitsdiscovery.TheDutchandFrenchfrequenteditataveryearlyperiod.In 1790,Captain Patten, of the ship Industry, of Philadelphia,made Tristand'Acunha, where he remained seven months (from August, 1790, to April,1791)forthepurposeofcollectingsealskins.Inthistimehegatherednolessthanfivethousandsixhundred,andsaysthathewouldhavehadnodifficultyinloadingalargeshipwithoil in threeweeks.Uponhisarrivalhefoundnoquadrupeds,with theexceptionofa fewwildgoats; the islandnowaboundswithallourmostvaluabledomesticanimals,whichhavebeenintroducedbysubsequentnavigators.

IbelieveitwasnotlongafterCaptainPatten'svisitthatCaptainColquhoun,of

theAmericanbrigBetsey,touchedatthelargestoftheislandsforthepurposeofrefreshment.Heplantedonions,potatoes,cabbages,andagreatmanyothervegetables,anabundanceofallwhichisnowtobemetwith.

In 1811, aCaptainHaywood, in theNereus, visitedTristan.He found therethreeAmericans,whowereresidingupontheislandtopreparesealskinsandoil.OneofthesemenwasnamedJonathanLambert,andhecalledhimselfthesovereignof the country.Hehad cleared and cultivated about sixty acresofland,andturnedhisattentiontoraisingthecoffee-plantandsugar-cane,withwhichhehadbeen furnishedby theAmericanMinister atRio Janeiro.Thissettlement, however, was finally abandoned, and in 1817 the islands weretakenpossessionofbytheBritishGovernment,whosentadetachmentforthatpurpose from the Cape of GoodHope. They did not, however, retain themlong;but,upontheevacuationof thecountryasaBritishpossession, twoorthree English families took up their residence there independently of theGovernment. On the twenty-fifth of March, 1824, the Berwick, CaptainJeffrey,fromLondontoVanDiemen'sLand,arrivedattheplace,wheretheyfoundanEnglishmanofthenameofGlass,formerlyacorporalintheBritishartillery.Heclaimedtobesupremegovernoroftheislands,andhadunderhiscontroltwenty-onemenandthreewomen.Hegaveaveryfavourableaccountof the salubrity of the climate and of the productiveness of the soil. Thepopulation occupied themselves chiefly in collecting sealskins and seaelephantoil,withwhichtheytradedtotheCapeofGoodHope,Glassowningasmallschooner.Attheperiodofourarrivalthegovernorwasstillaresident,but his little community had multiplied, there being fifty-six persons uponTristan,besidesasmallersettlementofsevenonNightingaleIsland.Wehadnodifficultyinprocuringalmosteverykindofrefreshmentwhichwerequired—sheep, hogs, bullocks, rabbits, poultry, goats, fish in great variety, andvegetables were abundant. Having come to anchor close in with the largeisland, in eighteen fathoms, we took all we wanted on board veryconveniently.CaptainGuyalsopurchasedofGlassfivehundredsealskinsandsome ivory. We remained here a week, during which the prevailing windswerefromthenorthwardandwestward,andtheweathersomewhathazy.OnthefifthofNovemberwemadesailtothesouthwardandwestward,withtheintentionofhavingathoroughsearchforagroupofislandscalledtheAuroras,respectingwhoseexistenceagreatdiversityofopinionhasexisted.

These islands are said to have been discovered as early as 1762, by thecommanderoftheshipAurora.In1790,CaptainManueldeOyarvido,,intheship Princess, belonging to the Royal Philippine Company, sailed, as heasserts,directlyamongthem.In1794,theSpanishcorvetteAtrevidawentwiththe determination of ascertaining their precise situation, and, in a paperpublishedby theRoyalHydrographicalSocietyofMadrid in theyear1809,

the following language is used respecting this expedition: "The corvetteAtrevida practised, in their immediate vicinity, from the twenty-first to thetwenty-seventh of January, all the necessary observations, andmeasured bychronometersthedifferenceoflongitudebetweentheseislandsandtheportofSoledadintheManillas.Theislandsarethree,theyareverynearlyinthesamemeridian;thecentreoneisratherlow,andtheothertwomaybeseenatnineleagues' distance." The observations made on board the Atrevida give thefollowingresultsastheprecisesituationofeachisland.Themostnorthernisinlatitude52degrees37'24"S.,longitude47degrees,43'15"W.;themiddleoneinlatitude53degrees2'40"S.,longitude47degrees55'15"W.;andthemostsoutherninlatitude53degrees15'22"S.,longitude47degrees57'15"W.

Onthetwenty-seventhofJanuary,1820,CaptainJamesWeddel,oftheBritishnavy,sailedfromStatenLandalsoinsearchof theAuroras.Hereports that,havingmade themostdiligent searchandpassednotonly immediatelyoverthespotsindicatedbythecommanderoftheAtrevida,butineverydirectionthroughoutthevicinityofthesespots,hecoulddiscovernoindicationofland.Theseconflictingstatementshaveinducedothernavigatorstolookoutfortheislands;and,strangetosay,whilesomehavesailedthrougheveryinchofseawheretheyaresupposedtoliewithoutfindingthem,therehavebeennotafewwhodeclarepositivelythattheyhaveseenthem;andevenbeencloseinwiththeirshores.ItwasCaptainGuy'sintentiontomakeeveryexertionwithinhispowertosettlethequestionsooddlyindispute.

We kept on our course, between the south andwest,with variableweather,until the twentieth of the month, when we found ourselves on the debatedground,beinginlatitude53degrees15'S.,longitude47degrees58'W.—thatis to say, very nearly upon the spot indicated as the situation of the mostsouthernof thegroup.Notperceivingany signof land,wecontinued to thewestwardoftheparalleloffifty-threedegreessouth,asfarasthemeridianoffiftydegreeswest.Wethenstoodtothenorthasfarastheparalleloffifty-twodegrees south, when we turned to the eastward, and kept our parallel bydouble altitudes,morningandevening, andmeridian altitudesof theplanetsandmoon.HavingthusgoneeastwardlytothemeridianofthewesterncoastofGeorgia,wekeptthatmeridianuntilwewereinthelatitudefromwhichweset out. We then took diagonal courses throughout the entire extent of seacircumscribed, keeping a lookout constantly at the masthead, and repeatingour examination with the greatest care for a period of three weeks, duringwhichtheweatherwasremarkablypleasantandfair,withnohazewhatsoever.Of course we were thoroughly satisfied that, whatever islands might haveexisted in thisvicinityat any formerperiod,novestigeof themremainedatthepresentday.SincemyreturnhomeIfindthatthesamegroundwastraced

over,withequalcare,in1822,byCaptainJohnson,oftheAmericanschoonerHenry,andbyCaptainMorrellintheAmericanschoonerWasp—inbothcaseswiththesameresultasinourown.

CHAPTER16

IthadbeenCaptainGuy'soriginalintention,aftersatisfyinghimselfabouttheAuroras,toproceedthroughtheStraitofMagellan,andupalongthewesterncoastofPatagonia;butinformationreceivedatTristand'Acunhainducedhimtosteertothesouthward,inthehopeoffallinginwithsomesmallislandssaidto lieabout theparallelof60degreesS., longitude41degrees20'W.In theeventofhisnotdiscoveringtheselands,hedesigned,shouldtheseasonprovefavourable, to push on toward the pole. Accordingly, on the twelfth ofDecember, we made sail in that direction. On the eighteenth we foundourselves about the station indicatedbyGlass, and cruised for threedays inthatneighborhoodwithoutfindinganytracesoftheislandshehadmentioned.Onthetwenty-first,theweatherbeingunusuallypleasant,weagainmadesailto the southward,with the resolution of penetrating in that course as far aspossible.Beforeenteringuponthisportionofmynarrative,itmaybeaswell,for the information of those readers who have paid little attention to theprogressofdiscoveryintheseregions,togivesomebriefaccountoftheveryfewattemptsatreachingthesouthernpolewhichhavehithertobeenmade.

ThatofCaptainCookwasthefirstofwhichwehaveanydistinctaccount.In1772 he sailed to the south in the Resolution, accompanied by LieutenantFurneauxintheAdventure.InDecemberhefoundhimselfasfarasthefifty-eighthparallel of south latitude, and in longitude26degrees57'E.Herehemet with narrow fields of ice, about eight or ten inches thick, and runningnorthwest and southeast. This ice was in large cakes, and usually it waspackedsocloselythatthevesselhadgreatdifficultyinforcingapassage.AtthisperiodCaptainCooksupposed,fromthevastnumberofbirdstobeseen,andfromotherindications,thathewasinthenearvicinityofland.Hekeptonto the southward, the weather being exceedingly cold, until he reached thesixty-fourthparallel,inlongitude38degrees14'E..Herehehadmildweather,with gentle breezes, for five days, the thermometer being at thirty-six. InJanuary,1773,thevesselscrossedtheAntarcticcircle,butdidnotsucceedinpenetratingmuchfarther;foruponreachinglatitude67degrees15'theyfoundallfartherprogress impededbyanimmensebodyof ice,extendingallalongthe southern horizon as far as the eye could reach. This ice was of every

variety—andsomelargefloesof it,miles inextent, formedacompactmass,risingeighteenortwentyfeetabovethewater.Itbeinglateintheseason,andno hope entertained of rounding these obstructions, Captain Cook nowreluctantlyturnedtothenorthward.

IntheNovemberfollowingherenewedhissearchintheAntarctic.Inlatitude59 degrees 40' he met with a strong current setting to the southward. InDecember, when the vessels were in latitude 67 degrees 31', longitude 142degrees54'W., thecoldwasexcessive,withheavygalesandfog.Herealsobirdswereabundant;thealbatross,thepenguin,andthepeterelespecially.Inlatitude70degrees23'somelargeislandsoficewereencountered,andshortlyafterward the clouds to the southward were observed to be of a snowywhiteness, indicating the vicinity of field ice. In latitude 71 degrees 10',longitude106degrees54'W., thenavigatorswere stopped, asbefore, by animmensefrozenexpanse,whichfilledthewholeareaofthesouthernhorizon.Thenorthernedgeofthisexpansewasraggedandbroken,sofirmlywedgedtogether as to be utterly impassible, and extending about a mile to thesouthward.Behind it the frozensurfacewascomparativelysmooth forsomedistance,untilterminatedintheextremebackgroundbygiganticrangesoficemountains,theonetoweringabovetheother.CaptainCookconcludedthatthisvast field reached the southern pole orwas joined to a continent.Mr. J.N.Reynolds,whosegreatexertionsandperseverancehaveatlengthsucceededingetting seton foot anational expedition,partly for thepurposeof exploringthese regions, thus speaks of the attempt of the Resolution. "We are notsurprisedthatCaptainCookwasunabletogobeyond71degrees10',butweareastonishedthathedidattainthatpointonthemeridianof106degrees54'west longitude. Palmer's Land lies south of the Shetland, latitude sixty-fourdegrees,andtendstothesouthwardandwestwardfartherthananynavigatorhas yet penetrated. Cookwas standing for this landwhen his progress wasarrested by the ice; which, we apprehend, must always be the case in thatpoint,andsoearlyintheseasonasthesixthofJanuary—andweshouldnotbesurprisedifaportionoftheicymountainsdescribedwasattachedtothemainbodyofPalmer'sLand,ortosomeotherportionsoflandlyingfarthertothesouthwardandwestward."

In1803,CaptainsKreutzensternandLisiauskyweredispatchedbyAlexanderofRussia for thepurposeofcircumnavigating theglobe. Inendeavouring togetsouth, theymadeno farther than59degrees58', in longitude70degrees15'W. They heremetwith strong currents setting eastwardly.Whaleswereabundant,buttheysawnoice.Inregardtothisvoyage,Mr.Reynoldsobservesthat,ifKreutzensternhadarrivedwherehedidearlierintheseason,hemusthaveencountered ice—itwasMarchwhenhe reached the latitude specified.The winds, prevailing, as they do, from the southward and westward, had

carriedthefloes,aidedbycurrents,intothaticyregionboundedonthenorthbyGeorgia,eastbySandwichLandandtheSouthOrkneys,andwestbytheSouthShetlandislands.

In 1822, Captain JamesWeddell, of the British navy, with two very smallvessels,penetratedfarther to thesouththananypreviousnavigator,andthis,too,withoutencounteringextraordinarydifficulties.Hestatesthatalthoughhewasfrequentlyhemmedinbyicebeforereachingtheseventy-secondparallel,yet, upon attaining it, not a particle was to be discovered, and that, uponarrivingat the latitudeof74degrees15',nofields,andonly three islandsoficewerevisible.Itissomewhatremarkablethat,althoughvastflocksofbirdswere seen, and other usual indications of land, and although, south of theShetlands, unknown coasts were observed from the masthead tendingsouthwardly,Weddelldiscouragestheideaoflandexistinginthepolarregionsofthesouth.

On the 11th of January, 1823, Captain BenjaminMorrell, of the AmericanschoonerWasp,sailedfromKerguelen'sLandwithaviewofpenetratingasfarsouth as possible. On the first of February he found himself in latitude 64degrees52'S.,longitude118degrees27'E.Thefollowingpassageisextractedfrom his journal of that date. "The wind soon freshened to an eleven-knotbreeze, and we embraced this opportunity of making to the west; beinghoweverconvinced that thefartherwewentsouthbeyond latitudesixty-fourdegrees, the less ice was to be apprehended, we steered a little to thesouthward, until we crossed the Antarctic circle, and were in latitude 69degrees15'E.Inthislatitudetherewasnofieldice,andveryfewiceislandsinsight."

Under thedateofMarchfourteenthI findalso thisentry."Theseawasnowentirelyfreeoffieldice,andtherewerenotmorethanadozeniceislandsinsight. At the same time the temperature of the air and water was at leastthirteen degrees higher (moremild) thanwe had ever found it between theparallelsofsixtyandsixty-twosouth.Wewerenowinlatitude70degrees14'S.,andthetemperatureoftheairwasforty-seven,andthatofthewaterforty-four. In this situation I found thevariation tobe14degrees27' easterly,perazimuth....IhaveseveraltimespassedwithintheAntarcticcircle,ondifferentmeridians,andhaveuniformlyfoundthetemperature,bothoftheairandthewater,tobecomemoreandmoremildthefartherIadvancedbeyondthesixty-fifth degree of south latitude, and that the variation decreases in the sameproportion.Whilenorthofthislatitude,saybetweensixtyandsixty-fivesouth,wefrequentlyhadgreatdifficultyinfindingapassageforthevesselbetweenthe immense and almost innumerable ice islands, someofwhichwere fromonetotwomilesincircumference,andmorethanfivehundredfeetabovethe

surfaceofthewater."

Being nearly destitute of fuel andwater, andwithout proper instruments, itbeingalso late in the season,CaptainMorrellwasnowobliged toputback,withoutattemptinganyfurtherprogresstothewestward,althoughanentirelyopen, sea lay before him. He expresses the opinion that, had not theseoverrulingconsiderationsobligedhimtoretreat,hecouldhavepenetrated, ifnottothepoleitself,atleasttotheeighty-fifthparallel.Ihavegivenhisideasrespecting these matters somewhat at length, that the reader may have anopportunity of seeing how far they were borne out by my own subsequentexperience.

In1831,CaptainBriscoe,intheemployoftheMessieursEnderby,whale-shipownersofLondon,sailedinthebrigLivelyfortheSouthSeas,accompaniedby the cutter Tula. On the twenty-eighth of February, being in latitude 66degrees 30' S., longitude 47 degrees 31' E., he descried land, and "clearlydiscoveredthroughthesnowtheblackpeaksofarangeofmountainsrunningE.S.E."Heremainedinthisneighbourhoodduringthewholeofthefollowingmonth,butwasunable toapproach thecoastnearer thanwithin ten leagues,owing to the boisterous state of theweather. Finding it impossible tomakefurtherdiscoveryduring this season,he returnednorthward towinter inVanDiemen'sLand.

Inthebeginningof1832heagainproceededsouthwardly,andonthefourthofFebruary was seen to the southeast in latitude 67 degrees 15' longitude 69degrees29'W.Thiswassoonfoundtobeanislandneartheheadlandofthecountryhehadfirstdiscovered.Onthetwenty-firstofthemonthhesucceededinlandingonthelatter,andtookpossessionofit inthenameofWilliamIV,callingitAdelaide'sIsland,inhonouroftheEnglishqueen.Theseparticularsbeing made known to the Royal Geographical Society of London, theconclusionwas drawnby that body "that there is a continuous tract of landextendingfrom47degrees30'E.to69degrees29'W.longitude,runningtheparalleloffromsixty-sixtosixty-sevendegreessouthlatitude."Inrespecttothis conclusion Mr. Reynolds observes: "In the correctness of it we by nomeans concur; nor do the discoveries of Briscoe warrant any suchindifference. It was within these limits that Weddel proceeded south on ameridian to the east ofGeorgia,SandwichLand, and theSouthOrkney andShetlandislands."Myownexperiencewillbefoundtotestifymostdirectlytothefalsityoftheconclusionarrivedatbythesociety.

These are the principal attempts which have beenmade at penetrating to ahighsouthernlatitude,anditwillnowbeseenthatthereremained,previoustothevoyageoftheJane,nearlythreehundreddegreesoflongitudeinwhichtheAntarcticcirclehadnotbeencrossedatall.Ofcourseawidefieldlaybefore

usfordiscovery,anditwaswithfeelingsofmostintenseinterestthatIheardCaptainGuyexpresshisresolutionofpushingboldlytothesouthward.

CHAPTER17

Wekeptourcoursesouthwardly for fourdaysaftergivingup thesearch forGlass's islands,withoutmeetingwith any ice at all.On the twenty-sixth, atnoon,wewereinlatitude63degrees23'S., longitude41degrees25'W.Wenowsawseverallargeiceislands,andafloeoffieldice,not,however,ofanygreat extent.Thewinds generally blew from the southeast, or the northeast,butwereverylight.Wheneverwehadawesterlywind,whichwasseldom,itwas invariably attendedwith a rain squall. Every daywe hadmore or lesssnow.Thethermometer,onthetwenty-seventhstoodatthirty-five.

January1,1828.—Thisdaywefoundourselvescompletelyhemmedinbytheice,andourprospectslookedcheerlessindeed.Astronggaleblew,duringthewholeforenoon,fromthenortheast,anddrovelargecakesofthedriftagainstthe rudder and counter with such violence that we all trembled for theconsequences.Towardevening,thegalestillblowingwithfury,alargefieldinfront separated, andwewere enabled, by carrying a press of sail to force apassage through the smaller flakes into some open water beyond. As weapproached this spacewe took in sail by degrees, and having at length gotclear,lay-tounderasinglereefedforesail.

January 2.—We had now tolerably pleasant weather. At noon we foundourselves in latitude 69 degrees 10' S, longitude 42 degrees 20'W, havingcrossed theAntarctic circle.Very little icewas tobe seen to the southward,although large fieldsof it laybehindus.Thisdaywe riggedsomesoundinggear,usinga large ironpot capableofholding twentygallons, anda lineoftwo hundred fathoms. We found the current setting to the north, about aquarterofamileperhour.The temperatureof theairwasnowabout thirty-three.Herewefoundthevariationtobe14degrees28'easterly,perazimuth.

January 5.—We had still held on to the southward without any very greatimpediments.On thismorning,however,being in latitude73degrees15'E.,longitude42degrees10'W,wewereagainbroughttoastandbyanimmenseexpanseoffirmice.Wesaw,nevertheless,muchopenwatertothesouthward,andfeltnodoubtofbeingabletoreachiteventually.Standingtotheeastwardalongtheedgeofthefloe,weatlengthcametoapassageofaboutamileinwidth,throughwhichwewarpedourwaybysundown.Theseainwhichwe

nowwerewas thicklycoveredwith ice islands,buthadnofield ice,andwepushedonboldlyasbefore.Thecolddidnot seem to increase, althoughwehad snow very frequently, and now and then hail squalls of great violence.Immenseflocksof thealbatross flewover theschooner thisday,goingfromsoutheasttonorthwest.

January 7.—The sea still remained pretty well open, so that we had nodifficultyinholdingonourcourse.Tothewestwardwesawsomeicebergsofincrediblesize,andintheafternoonpassedverynearonewhosesummitcouldnothavebeenless thanfourhundredfathomsfromthesurfaceof theocean.Its girth was probably, at the base, three-quarters of a league, and severalstreamsofwaterwererunningfromcrevicesinitssides.Weremainedinsightofthisislandtwodays,andthenonlylostitinafog.

January 10.—Early this morning we had the misfortune to lose a manoverboard.HewasanAmericannamedPeterVredenburgh,anativeofNewYork,andwasoneofthemostvaluablehandsonboardtheschooner.Ingoingover the bowshis foot slipped, andhe fell between two cakes of ice, neverrisingagain.Atnoonofthisdaywewereinlatitude78degrees30',longitude40 degrees 15' W. The cold was now excessive, and we had hail squallscontinually from the northward and eastward. In this direction alsowe sawseveral more immense icebergs, and the whole horizon to the eastwardappeared tobeblockedupwith field ice, rising in tiers,onemassabove theother.Somedriftwoodfloatedbyduringtheevening,andagreatquantityofbirds flewover, amongwhichwerenellies,peterels, albatrosses, anda largebirdofabrilliantblueplumage.Thevariationhere,perazimuth,waslessthanithadbeenpreviouslytoourpassingtheAntarcticcircle.

January12.-Ourpassagetothesouthagainlookeddoubtful,asnothingwastobeseeninthedirectionofthepolebutoneapparentlylimitlessfloe,backedbyabsolute mountains of ragged ice, one precipice of which arose frowninglyabovetheother.Westoodtothewestwarduntilthefourteenth,inthehopeoffindinganentrance.

January14.-Thismorningwereachedthewesternextremityofthefieldwhichhadimpededus,and,weatheringit,cametoanopensea,withoutaparticleofice.Uponsoundingwithtwohundredfathoms,weherefoundacurrentsettingsouthwardlyattherateofhalfamileperhour.Thetemperatureoftheairwasforty-seven, that of the water thirtyfour. We now sailed to the southwardwithoutmeetinganyinterruptionofmomentuntilthesixteenth,when,atnoon,wewere in latitude 81 degrees 21', longitude 42 degreesW.We here againsounded,andfoundacurrentsettingstillsouthwardly,andattherateofthreequartersofamileperhour.Thevariationperazimuthhaddiminished,andthetemperatureoftheairwasmildandpleasant,thethermometerbeingashighas

fifty-one.Atthisperiodnotaparticleoficewastobediscovered.Allhandsonboardnowfeltcertainofattainingthepole.

January17.—Thisdaywasfullofincident.Innumerableflightsofbirdsflewoverusfromthesouthward,andseveralwereshotfromthedeck,oneofthem,aspeciesofpelican,provedtobeexcellenteating.Aboutmiddayasmallfloeof icewas seen from themasthead off the larboard bow, and upon it thereappearedtobesomelargeanimal.Astheweatherwasgoodandnearlycalm,CaptainGuyorderedouttwooftheboatstoseewhatitwas.DirkPetersandmyself accompanied themate in the larger boat. Upon coming upwith thefloe,weperceived that itwas in thepossessionofagiganticcreatureof theraceoftheArcticbear,butfarexceedinginsizethelargestoftheseanimals.Beingwellarmed,wemadenoscrupleofattacking itatonce.Severalshotswere fired inquicksuccession, themostofwhich tookeffect, apparently, intheheadandbody.Nothingdiscouraged,however,themonsterthrewhimselffromtheice,andswamwithopenjaws,totheboatinwhichwerePetersandmyself. Owing to the confusionwhich ensued among us at this unexpectedturnof theadventure,nopersonwas ready immediatelywitha secondshot,and the bear had actually succeeded in getting half his vast bulk across ourgunwale, and seizing one of the men by the small of his back, before anyefficient means were taken to repel him. In this extremity nothing but thepromptnessandagilityofPeterssavedusfromdestruction.Leapingupontheback of the huge beast, he plunged the blade of a knife behind the neck,reachingthespinalmarrowatablow.Thebrutetumbledintothesealifeless,andwithoutastruggle,rollingoverPetersashefell.Thelattersoonrecoveredhimself,andaropebeingthrownhim,hesecuredthecarcassbeforeenteringthe boat. We then returned in triumph to the schooner, towing our trophybehindus.Thisbear,uponadmeasurement,provedtobefullfifteenfeetinhisgreatestlength.Hiswoolwasperfectlywhite,andverycoarse,curlingtightly.The eyeswere of a blood red, and larger than those of theArctic bear, thesnoutalsomorerounded,ratherresemblingthesnoutofthebulldog.Themeatwastender,butexcessivelyrankandfishy,althoughthemendevoureditwithavidity,anddeclareditexcellenteating.

Scarcelyhadwegotourprizealongside,whenthemanatthemastheadgavethejoyfulshoutof"landonthestarboardbow!"Allhandswerenowuponthealert, and, a breeze springing up very opportunely from the northward andeastward,weweresoonclose inwith thecoast. Itproved tobea lowrockyislet,ofaboutaleagueincircumference,andaltogetherdestituteofvegetation,ifweexceptaspeciesofpricklypear.Inapproachingitfromthenorthward,asingular ledge of rock is seen projecting into the sea, and bearing a strongresemblancetocordedbalesofcotton.Aroundthisledgetothewestwardisasmallbay,atthebottomofwhichourboatseffectedaconvenientlanding.

It did not take us long to explore every portion of the island, but,with oneexception, we found nothing worthy of our observation. In the southernextremity,wepickedupneartheshore,halfburiedinapileofloosestones,apieceofwood,whichseemedtohaveformedtheprowofacanoe.Therehadbeenevidentlysomeattemptatcarvinguponit,andCaptainGuyfanciedthathemadeoutthefigureofatortoise,buttheresemblancedidnotstrikemeveryforcibly.Besidesthisprow,ifsuchitwere,wefoundnoothertokenthatanyliving creature had ever been here before. Around the coast we discoveredoccasionalsmallfloesofice—butthesewereveryfew.Theexactsituationoftheislet(towhichCaptainGuygavethenameofBennet'sIslet,inhonourofhispartnerintheownershipoftheschooner)is82degrees50'S.latitude,42degrees20'W.longitude.

Wehadnowadvancedtothesouthwardmorethaneightdegreesfartherthanany previous navigators, and the sea still lay perfectly open before us.Wefound,too,thatthevariationuniformlydecreasedasweproceeded,and,whatwas stillmore surprising, that the temperature of the air, and latterly of thewater,becamemilder.Theweathermightevenbecalledpleasant,andwehada steady but very gentle breeze always from some northern point of thecompass.Theskywasusuallyclear,withnowandthenaslightappearanceofthin vapour in the southern horizon—this, however, was invariably of briefduration. Two difficulties alone presented themselves to our view;weweregettingshortoffuel,andsymptomsofscurvyhadoccurredamongseveralofthe crew. These considerations began to impress upon Captain Guy thenecessity of returning, and he spoke of it frequently. For my own part,confidentasIwasofsoonarrivingatlandofsomedescriptionuponthecoursewe were pursuing, and having every reason to believe, from presentappearances, thatweshouldnotfindit thesterilesoilmetwithinthehigherArcticlatitudes,Iwarmlypresseduponhimtheexpediencyofpersevering,atleastforafewdayslonger,inthedirectionwewerenowholding.SotemptinganopportunityofsolvingthegreatprobleminregardtoanAntarcticcontinenthadneveryetbeenaffordedtoman,andIconfessthatIfeltmyselfburstingwith indignation at the timid and ill-timed suggestions of our commander. Ibelieve,indeed,thatwhatIcouldnotrefrainfromsayingtohimonthisheadhad the effect of inducing him to push on. While, therefore, I cannot butlamentthemostunfortunateandbloodyeventswhichimmediatelyarosefrommy advice, I must still be allowed to feel some degree of gratification athavingbeeninstrumental,howeverremotely,inopeningtotheeyeofscienceone of the most intensely exciting secrets which has ever engrossed itsattention.

CHAPTER18

January 18.—This morning we continued to the southward, with the samepleasant weather as before. The sea was entirely smooth, the air tolerablywarmandfromthenortheast,thetemperatureofthewaterfifty-three.Wenowagaingotoursounding-gearinorder,and,withahundredandfiftyfathomsofline, found the current setting toward thepole at the rate of amile anhour.Thisconstanttendencytothesouthward,bothinthewindandcurrent,causedsome degree of speculation, and even of alarm, in different quarters of theschooner,andIsawdistinctlythatnolittleimpressionhadbeenmadeuponthemindofCaptainGuy.Hewasexceedinglysensitivetoridicule,however,andIfinallysucceededinlaughinghimoutofhisapprehensions.Thevariationwasnowverytrivial.Inthecourseofthedaywesawseverallargewhalesoftherightspecies,andinnumerableflightsofthealbatrosspassedoverthevessel.Wealsopickedupabush,fullofredberries,likethoseofthehawthorn,andthecarcassofasingular-lookingland-animal.Itwasthreefeetinlength,andbut six inches inheight,with fourvery short legs, the feet armedwith longclawsofabrilliantscarlet,andresemblingcoral insubstance.Thebodywascoveredwithastraightsilkyhair,perfectlywhite.Thetailwaspeakedlikethatofarat,andaboutafootandahalflong.Theheadresembledacat's,withtheexception of the ears—thesewere flopped like the ears of a dog. The teethwereofthesamebrilliantscarletastheclaws.

January19.—To-day,beinginlatitude83degrees20',longitude43degrees5'W.(theseabeingofanextraordinarilydarkcolour),weagainsawlandfromthemasthead,and,uponacloserscrutiny,foundittobeoneofagroupofverylarge islands.The shorewas precipitous, and the interior seemed to bewellwooded, a circumstancewhich occasioned us great joy. In about four hoursfromourfirstdiscovering the landwecametoanchor in tenfathoms,sandybottom,a leaguefromthecoast,asahighsurf,withstrongrippleshereandthere, rendered a nearer approach of doubtful expediency. The two largestboats were now ordered out, and a party, well armed (among whom werePeters and myself), proceeded to look for an opening in the reef whichappeared to encircle the island. After searching about for some time, wediscoveredaninlet,whichwewereentering,whenwesawfourlargecanoesput off from the shore, filled withmenwho seemed to be well armed.Wewaitedforthemtocomeup,and,astheymovedwithgreatrapidity,theyweresoonwithinhail.CaptainGuynowheldupawhitehandkerchiefonthebladeof an oar, when the strangers made a full stop, and commenced a loudjabberingallatonce,intermingledwithoccasionalshouts,inwhichwecoulddistinguishthewordsAnamoo-moo!andLama-Lama!Theycontinuedthisforat least half an hour, duringwhichwe had a good opportunity of observing

theirappearance.

Inthefourcanoes,whichmighthavebeenfiftyfeetlongandfivebroad,therewereahundredandtensavagesinall.TheywereabouttheordinarystatureofEuropeans,butofamoremuscularandbrawnyframe.Theircomplexionajetblack, with thick and long woolly hair. They were clothed in skins of anunknownblackanimal,shaggyandsilky,andmadetofitthebodywithsomedegreeofskill,thehairbeinginside,exceptwhereturnedoutabouttheneck,wrists, and ankles.Their arms consisted principally of clubs, of a dark, andapparently very heavy wood. Some spears, however, were observed amongthem,headedwithflint,andafewslings.Thebottomsofthecanoeswerefullofblackstonesaboutthesizeofalargeegg.

Whentheyhadconcludedtheirharangue(foritwascleartheyintendedtheirjabberingforsuch),oneof themwhoseemedtobethechiefstoodupintheprowofhiscanoe,andmadesignsforustobringourboatsalongsideofhim.This hint we pretended not to understand, thinking it the wiser plan tomaintain, if possible, the interval between us, as their number more thanquadrupledourown.Finding this tobe the case, the chiefordered the threeothercanoestoholdback,whileheadvancedtowarduswithhisown.Assoonashecameupwithusheleapedonboardthelargestofourboats,andseatedhimselfbythesideofCaptainGuy,pointingatthesametimetotheschooner,andrepeatingthewordAnamoo-moo!andLama-Lama!Wenowputbacktothevessel,thefourcanoesfollowingatalittledistance.

Upongettingalongside, thechiefevincedsymptomsofextremesurpriseanddelight, clapping his hands, slapping his thighs and breast, and laughingobstreperously. His followers behind joined in hismerriment, and for someminutesthedinwassoexcessiveastobeabsolutelydeafening.Quietbeingatlengthrestored,CaptainGuyorderedtheboatstobehoistedup,asanecessaryprecaution,andgavethechief(whosenamewesoonfoundtobeToo-wit)tounderstandthatwecouldadmitnomorethantwentyofhismenondeckatonetime.With this arrangement he appeared perfectly satisfied, and gave somedirections to the canoes, when one of them approached, the rest remainingaboutfiftyyardsoff.Twentyofthesavagesnowgotonboard,andproceededtorambleovereverypartofthedeck,andscrambleaboutamongtherigging,making themselves much at home, and examining every article with greatinquisitiveness.

Itwasquiteevident that theyhadneverbeforeseenanyof thewhiterace—fromwhose complexion, indeed, they appeared to recoil. They believed theJane to be a living creature, and seemed to be afraid of hurting it with thepointsoftheirspears,carefullyturningthemup.Ourcrewweremuchamusedwith the conduct of Too-wit in one instance. The cook was splitting some

woodnearthegalley,and,byaccident,struckhisaxeintothedeck,makingagash of considerable depth. The chief immediately ran up, and pushing thecookononesideratherroughly,commencedahalfwhine,halfhowl,stronglyindicativeofsympathy inwhatheconsidered thesufferingsof theschooner,pattingandsmoothingthegashwithhishand,andwashingitfromabucketofseawaterwhichstoodby.Thiswasadegreeofignoranceforwhichwewerenotprepared,andformypartIcouldnothelpthinkingsomeofitaffected.

Whenthevisitorshadsatisfied,aswellastheycould,theircuriosityinregardto our upper works, they were admitted below, when their amazementexceededallbounds.Theirastonishmentnowappearedtobefartoodeepforwords,fortheyroamedaboutinsilence,brokenonlybylowejaculations.Thearms afforded them much food for speculation, and they were suffered tohandle and examine themat leisure. I donot believe that theyhad the leastsuspicionoftheiractualuse,butrathertookthemforidols,seeingthecarewehadofthem,andtheattentionwithwhichwewatchedtheirmovementswhilehandling them. At the great guns their wonder was redoubled. Theyapproachedthemwitheverymarkoftheprofoundestreverenceandawe,butforboretoexaminethemminutely.Thereweretwolargemirrorsinthecabin,andherewastheacmeoftheiramazement.Too-witwasthefirsttoapproachthem,andhehadgotinthemiddleofthecabin,withhisfacetooneandhisbacktotheother,beforehefairlyperceivedthem.Uponraisinghiseyesandseeinghisreflectedselfintheglass,Ithoughtthesavagewouldgomad;but,upon turning short round tomake a retreat, andbeholdinghimself a secondtimeintheoppositedirection,Iwasafraidhewouldexpireuponthespot.Nopersuasion could prevail upon him to take another look; throwing himselfupon the floor,withhis faceburied inhishands, he remained thusuntilwewereobligedtodraghimupondeck.

Thewholeofthesavageswereadmittedonboardinthismanner,twentyatatime,Too-wit being suffered to remain during the entire period.We sawnodispositiontothieveryamongthem,nordidwemissasinglearticleaftertheirdeparture.Throughoutthewholeoftheirvisittheyevincedthemostfriendlymanner. There were, however, some points in their demeanour which wefound it impossible to understand; for example, we could not get them toapproachseveralveryharmlessobjects—suchastheschooner'ssails,anegg,an open book, or a pan of flour. We endeavoured to ascertain if they hadamong them any articles which might be turned to account in the way oftraffic, but found great difficulty in being comprehended. We made out,nevertheless,whatgreatlyastonishedus,thattheislandsaboundedinthelargetortoiseoftheGallipagos,oneofwhichwesawinthecanoeofToo-wit.Wesaw also some biche de mer in the hands of one of the savages, who wasgreedilydevouringitinitsnaturalstate.Theseanomalies—fortheyweresuch

whenconsideredinregardtothelatitude—inducedCaptainGuytowishforathorough investigation of the country, in the hope of making a profitablespeculation in his discovery. For my own part, anxious as I was to knowsomethingmoreoftheseislands,Iwasstillmoreearnestlybentonprosecutingthe voyage to the southward without delay.We had now fine weather, buttherewasnotellinghowlongitwouldlast;andbeingalreadyin theeighty-fourth parallel,with an open sea before us, a current setting strongly to thesouthward, and the wind fair, I could not listen with any patience to apropositionofstoppinglongerthanwasabsolutelynecessaryforthehealthofthecrewandthetakingonboardapropersupplyoffuelandfreshprovisions.Irepresentedtothecaptainthatwemighteasilymakethisgrouponourreturn,andwinterhereintheeventofbeingblockedupbytheice.Heatlengthcameintomyviews(forinsomeway,hardlyknowntomyself,Ihadacquiredmuchinfluenceoverhim),anditwasfinallyresolvedthat,evenintheeventofourfinding biche demer,we should only stay here aweek to recruit, and thenpush on to the southward while we might. Accordingly we made everynecessary preparation, and, under the guidance of Too-wit, got the Janethroughthereefinsafety,comingtoanchoraboutamilefromtheshore,inanexcellent bay, completely landlocked, on the southeastern coast of themainisland,and in ten fathomsofwater,blacksandybottom.At theheadof thisbay therewere three finesprings (wewere told)ofgoodwater,andwesawabundanceofwood in thevicinity.Thefourcanoesfollowedus in,keeping,however, at a respectful distance. Too-wit himself remained on board, and,uponourdroppinganchor,invitedustoaccompanyhimonshore,andvisithisvillage in the interior.To thisCaptainGuyconsented;and tensavagesbeingleftonboardashostages,apartyofus,twelveinall,gotinreadinesstoattendthe chief.We tookcare tobewell armed,yetwithout evincinganydistrust.Theschoonerhadhergunsrunout,herboarding-nettingsup,andeveryotherproper precaution was taken to guard against surprise. Directions were leftwith thechiefmate toadmitnopersononboardduringourabsence,and, inthe event of our not appearing in twelve hours, to send the cutter, with aswivel,aroundtheislandinsearchofus.

Ateverystepwetookinlandtheconvictionforceditselfuponusthatwewerein a countrydifferingessentially fromanyhithertovisitedbycivilizedmen.We saw nothing with which we had been formerly conversant. The treesresemblednogrowthofeitherthetorrid,thetemperate,ofthenorthernfrigidzones,andwerealtogetherunlikethoseofthelowersouthernlatitudeswehadalready traversed. The very rockswere novel in theirmass, their color, andtheir stratification; and the streams themselves, utterly incredible as it mayappear, had so little in commonwith those of other climates, that wewerescrupulousoftastingthem,and,indeed,haddifficultyinbringingourselvestobelievethattheirqualitieswerepurelythoseofnature.Atasmallbrookwhich

crossedourpath(thefirstwehadreached)Too-witandhisattendantshaltedtodrink.Onaccountofthesingularcharacterofthewater,werefusedtotasteit,supposingittobepolluted;anditwasnotuntilsometimeafterwardwecameto understand that such was the appearance of the streams throughout thewholegroup.Iamatalosstogiveadistinctideaofthenatureofthisliquid,andcannotdosowithoutmanywords.Althoughitflowedwithrapidityinalldeclivitieswherecommonwaterwoulddoso,yetnever,exceptwhenfallingin a cascade, had it the customary appearance of limpidity. It was,nevertheless, in point of fact, as perfectly limpid as any limestonewater inexistence, the difference being only in appearance. At first sight, andespecially in caseswhere little declivitywas found, it bore resemblance, asregardsconsistency, toa thickinfusionofgumarabic incommonwater.Butthis was only the least remarkable of its extraordinary qualities. It was notcolourless,norwasitofanyoneuniformcolour—presentingtotheeye,asitflowed,everypossibleshadeofpurple;likethehuesofachangeablesilk.Thisvariation in shade was produced in a manner which excited as profoundastonishmentinthemindsofourpartyas themirrorhaddoneinthecaseofToo-wit.Uponcollectingabasinful, andallowing it to settle thoroughly,weperceivedthatthewholemassofliquidwasmadeupofanumberofdistinctveins,eachofadistincthue;thattheseveinsdidnotcommingle;andthattheircohesionwasperfect inregard to theirownparticlesamongthemselves,andimperfectinregardtoneighbouringveins.Uponpassingthebladeofaknifeathwarttheveins,thewaterclosedoveritimmediately,aswithus,andalso,inwithdrawingit,alltracesofthepassageoftheknifewereinstantlyobliterated.If,however, thebladewaspasseddownaccuratelybetween the twoveins,aperfect separation was effected, which the power of cohesion did notimmediatelyrectify.Thephenomenaofthiswaterformedthefirstdefinitelinkin that vast chain of apparent miracles with which I was destined to be atlengthencircled.

CHAPTER19

Wewere nearly three hours in reaching the village, it beingmore than ninemiles in the interior, and the path lying through a rugged country. As wepassedalong,thepartyofToo-wit(thewholehundredandtensavagesofthecanoes)wasmomentarilystrengthenedbysmallerdetachments,offromtwotosixorseven,whichjoinedus,asifbyaccident,atdifferentturnsoftheroad.ThereappearedsomuchofsysteminthisthatIcouldnothelpfeelingdistrust,and I spoke to Captain Guy of my apprehensions. It was now too late,

however,torecede,andweconcludedthatourbestsecuritylayinevincingaperfect confidence in the good faith of Too-wit. We accordingly went on,keepingawaryeyeupon themanoeuvresof thesavages,andnotpermittingthem to divide our numbers by pushing in between. In this way, passingthroughaprecipitousravine,weatlengthreachedwhatweweretoldwastheonlycollectionofhabitationsupon the island.Aswecame insightof them,thechiefsetupashout,andfrequentlyrepeatedthewordKlock-klock,whichwesupposed tobe thenameof thevillage,orperhaps thegenericname forvillages.

Thedwellingswereofthemostmiserabledescriptionimaginable,and,unlikethose of even the lowest of the savage races with which mankind areacquainted, were of no uniform plan. Some of them (and these we foundbelongedtotheWampoosorYampoos,thegreatmenoftheland)consistedofatreecutdownataboutfourfeetfromtheroot,withalargeblackskinthrownover it, and hanging in loose folds upon the ground.Under this the savagenestled. Others were formed by means of rough limbs of trees, with thewitheredfoliageuponthem,madetorecline,atanangleofforty-fivedegrees,againstabankofclay,heapedup,withoutregularform,totheheightoffiveorsixfeet.Others,again,weremereholesdugintheearthperpendicularly,andcoveredoverwithsimilarbranches,thesebeingremovedwhenthetenantwasabout to enter, and pulled on againwhen he had entered.A fewwere builtamongtheforkedlimbsoftreesastheystood,theupperlimbsbeingpartiallycut through, soas tobendoverupon the lower, thus forming thicker shelterfrom theweather. The greater number, however, consisted of small shallowcaverns,apparentlyscratchedinthefaceofaprecipitousledgeofdarkstone,resemblingfuller'searth,withwhichthreesidesofthevillagewerebounded.At the door of each of these primitive cavernswas a small rock,which thetenant carefully placed before the entrance upon leaving his residence, forwhatpurposeIcouldnotascertain,asthestoneitselfwasneverofsufficientsizetocloseupmorethanathirdoftheopening.

Thisvillage,ifitwereworthyofthename,layinavalleyofsomedepth,andcouldonlybeapproachedfromthesouthward,theprecipitousledgeofwhichIhave already spoken cutting off all access in other directions. Through themiddleofthevalleyranabrawlingstreamofthesamemagical-lookingwaterwhich has been described. We saw several strange animals about thedwellings, all appearing to be thoroughly domesticated.The largest of thesecreaturesresembledourcommonhogin thestructureof thebodyandsnout;thetail,however,wasbushy,andthelegsslenderasthoseoftheantelope.Itsmotionwasexceedinglyawkwardandindecisive,andweneversawitattemptto run.Wenoticedalso several animalsvery similar in appearance,butof agreater length of body, and covered with a blackwool. There were a great

varietyoftamefowlsrunningabout,andtheseseemedtoconstitutethechieffoodofthenatives.Toourastonishmentwesawblackalbatrossamongthesebirdsinastateofentiredomestication,goingtoseaperiodicallyforfood,butalwaysreturningtothevillageasahome,andusingthesouthernshoreinthevicinityasaplaceof incubation.There theywere joinedby their friends thepelicansasusual,buttheselatterneverfollowedthemtothedwellingsofthesavages.Amongtheotherkindsoftamefowlswereducks,differingverylittlefromthecanvass-backofourowncountry,blackgannets,andalargebirdnotunlikethebuzzardinappearance,butnotcarnivorous.Offishthereseemedtobe a great abundance.We saw, during our visit, a quantity of dried salmon,rockcod,bluedolphins,mackerel,blackfish,skate,congereels,elephantfish,mullets,soles,parrotfish,leather-jackets,gurnards,hake,flounders,paracutas,and innumerable other varieties. We noticed, too, that most of them weresimilar tothefishaboutthegroupofLordAucklandIslands, ina latitudeaslowasfifty-onedegreessouth.TheGallipagotortoisewasalsoveryplentiful.Wesawbut fewwildanimals,andnoneofa largesize,orofaspecieswithwhichwewere familiar.Oneor twoserpentsofa formidableaspectcrossedourpath,butthenativespaidthemlittleattention,andweconcludedthattheywerenotvenomous.

AsweapproachedthevillagewithToo-witandhisparty,avastcrowdofthepeoplerushedouttomeetus,withloudshouts,amongwhichwecouldonlydistinguish the everlasting Anamoo-moo! and Lama-Lama! We were muchsurprised at perceiving that, with one or two exceptions, these new comerswereentirelynaked,andskinsbeingusedonlybythemenofthecanoes.Alltheweaponsof thecountryseemedalso tobe in thepossessionof the latter,for therewasnoappearanceof anyamong thevillagers.Therewereagreatmanywomenandchildren,theformernotaltogetherwantinginwhatmightbetermedpersonalbeauty.Theywerestraight,tall,andwellformed,withagraceand freedom of carriage not to be found in civilized society. Their lips,however, like those of themen,were thick and clumsy, so that, evenwhenlaughing,theteethwereneverdisclosed.Theirhairwasofafinertexturethanthatof themales.Amongthesenakedvillagerstheremighthavebeentenortwelvewhowereclothed, like thepartyofToo-wit, indressesofblackskin,and armed with lances and heavy clubs. These appeared to have greatinfluence among the rest, andwere always addressed by the titleWampoo.These, too,were the tenants of the black skin palaces.That ofToo-witwassituatedinthecentreofthevillage,andwasmuchlargerandsomewhatbetterconstructedthanothersofitskind.Thetreewhichformeditssupportwascutoff at adistanceof twelve feetor thereabouts from the root, and therewereseveralbranchesleftjustbelowthecut,theseservingtoextendthecovering,andinthiswaypreventitsflappingaboutthetrunk.Thecovering,too,whichconsistedoffourverylargeskinsfastenedtogetherwithwoodenskewers,was

secured at the bottomwith pegs driven through it and into the ground. Thefloorwasstrewedwithaquantityofdryleavesbywayofcarpet.

To this hut we were conducted with great solemnity, and as many of thenativescrowdedinafterusaspossible.Too-witseatedhimselfontheleaves,andmadesignsthatweshouldfollowhisexample.Thiswedid,andpresentlyfoundourselvesinasituationpeculiarlyuncomfortable,ifnotindeedcritical.Wewereontheground,twelveinnumber,withthesavages,asmanyasforty,sittingontheirhamssocloselyaroundusthat,ifanydisturbancehadarisen,weshouldhavefounditimpossibletomakeuseofourarms,orindeedtohaverisentoourfeet.Thepressurewasnotonlyinsidethetent,butoutside,whereprobablywaseveryindividualonthewholeisland,thecrowdbeingpreventedfromtramplingustodeathonlybytheincessantexertionsandvociferationsofToo-wit.Ourchief security lay,however, in thepresenceofToo-withimselfamong us, and we resolved to stick by him closely, as the best chance ofextricatingourselvesfromthedilemma,sacrificinghimimmediatelyuponthefirstappearanceofhostiledesign.

After some trouble a certain degree of quiet was restored, when the chiefaddressedusinaspeechofgreat length,andverynearlyresemblingtheonedeliveredinthecanoes,withtheexceptionthattheAnamoo-moos!werenowsomewhatmorestrenuouslyinsisteduponthantheLama-Lamas!Welistenedinprofoundsilenceuntil theconclusionof thisharangue,whenCaptainGuyrepliedbyassuringthechiefofhiseternalfriendshipandgoodwill,concludingwhathehadtosaybeapresentofseveralstringsofbluebeadsandaknife.Attheformer themonarch,muchtooursurprise, turneduphisnosewithsomeexpression of contempt, but the knife gave him the most unlimitedsatisfaction,andheimmediatelyordereddinner.Thiswashandedintothetentovertheheadsoftheattendants,andconsistedofthepalpitatingentrailsofaspecialsofunknownanimal,probablyoneoftheslim-leggedhogswhichwehad observed in our approach to the village. Seeing us at a loss how toproceed,hebegan,bywayofsettingusanexample,todevouryardafteryardoftheenticingfood,untilwecouldpositivelystanditnolonger,andevincedsuchmanifestsymptomsofrebellionofstomachasinspiredhismajestywithadegree of astonishment only inferior to that brought about by the looking-glasses. We declined, however, partaking of the delicacies before us, andendeavoured to make him understand that we had no appetite whatever,havingjustfinishedaheartydejeuner.

Whenthemonarchhadmadeanendofhismeal,wecommencedaseriesofcross-questioningineveryingeniousmannerwecoulddevise,withaviewofdiscoveringwhatwerethechiefproductionsofthecountry,andwhetheranyofthemmightbeturnedtoprofit.Atlengthheseemedtohavesomeideaof

ourmeaning,andofferedtoaccompanyustoapartofcoastwhereheassuredusthebichedemer(pointingtoaspecimenofthatanimal)wastobefoundingreatabundance.Weweregladofthisearlyopportunityofescapingfromtheoppressionofthecrowd,andsignifiedoureagernesstoproceed.Wenowleftthe tent, and, accompaniedby thewholepopulationof thevillage, followedthe chief to the southeastern extremity of the island, nor far from the baywhere our vessel lay at anchor.Wewaited here for about an hour, until thefourcanoeswerebroughtaroundbysomeof thesavages toourstation.Thewholeofourpartythengettingintooneofthem,wewerepaddledalongtheedgeof thereefbeforementioned,andofanotherstill fartherout,wherewesawa fargreaterquantityofbichedemer than theoldest seamenamongushadever seen in thosegroupsof the lower latitudesmostcelebrated for thisarticleofcommerce.Westayednear these reefsonly longenough to satisfyourselves that we could easily load a dozen vessels with the animal ifnecessary,whenweweretakenalongsidetheschooner,andpartedwithToo-wit,afterobtainingfromhimapromisethathewouldbringus,inthecourseof twenty-four hours, as many of the canvass-back ducks and Gallipagotortoises as his canoes would hold. In the whole of this adventure we sawnothing in the demeanour of the natives calculated to create suspicion,withthe single exception of the systematic manner in which their party wasstrengthenedduringourroutefromtheschoonertothevillage.

CHAPTER20

THEchiefwas as good as hisword, andwewere soon plentifully suppliedwithfreshprovisions.Wefoundthetortoisesasfineaswehadeverseen,andtheduckssurpassedourbestspeciesofwildfowl,beingexceedingly tender,juicy, and well-flavoured. Besides these, the savages brought us, upon ourmaking them comprehend our wishes, a vast quantity of brown celery andscurvygrass,withacanoe-loadoffreshfishandsomedried.Thecelerywasatreat indeed,and the scurvygrassprovedof incalculablebenefit in restoringthoseofourmenwhohadshownsymptomsofdisease.Inaveryshorttimewehadnotasinglepersononthesick-list.Wehadalsoplentyofotherkindsoffresh provisions, among which may be mentioned a species of shellfishresemblingthemusselinshape,butwiththetasteofanoyster.Shrimps,too,and prawns were abundant, and albatross and other birds' eggs with darkshells.Wetookin,too,aplentifulstockofthefleshofthehogwhichIhavementionedbefore.Mostofthemenfounditapalatablefood,butIthoughtitfishyandotherwisedisagreeable.Inreturnforthesegoodthingswepresented

the natives with blue beads, brass trinkets, nails, knives, and pieces of redcloth, they being fully delighted in the exchange.We established a regularmarket on shore, just under the guns of the schooner, where our barteringswere carried onwith every appearance of good faith, and a degree of orderwhichtheirconductatthevillageofKlock-klockhadnotledustoexpectfromthesavages.

Matterswentonthusveryamicablyforseveraldays,duringwhichpartiesofthe natives were frequently on board the schooner, and parties of our menfrequentlyonshore,makinglongexcursionsintotheinterior,andreceivingnomolestationwhatever.Findingtheeasewithwhichthevesselmightbeloadedwithbichedemer,owingtothefriendlydispositionoftheislanders,andthereadinesswithwhichtheywouldrenderusassistanceincollectingit,CaptainGuy resolved to enter into negotiations with Too-wit for the erection ofsuitablehousesinwhichtocurethearticle,andfortheservicesofhimselfandtribeingatheringasmuchaspossible,whilehehimselftookadvantageofthefineweathertoprosecutehisvoyagetothesouthward.Uponmentioningthisproject to the chief he seemed very willing to enter into an agreement. Abargainwasaccordinglystruck,perfectlysatisfactorytobothparties,bywhichitwasarranged that, aftermaking thenecessarypreparations, suchas layingoff the proper grounds, erecting a portion of the buildings, and doing someotherwork inwhich thewholeofourcrewwouldbe required, theschoonershould proceed on her route, leaving three of her men on the island tosuperintend the fulfilment of the project, and instruct the natives in dryingthe biche demer. In regard to terms, these weremade to depend upon theexertions of the savages in our absence. They were to receive a stipulatedquantity of blue beads, knives, red cloth, and so forth, for every certainnumberofpiculsofthebichedemerwhichshouldbereadyonourreturn.

A description of the nature of this important article of commerce, and themethodofpreparing it,mayproveofsomeinterest tomyreaders,andIcanfind no more suitable place than this for introducing an account of it. Thefollowing comprehensive notice of the substance is taken from a modernhistoryofavoyagetotheSouthSeas.

"ItisthatmolluscafromtheIndianSeaswhichisknowntocommercebytheFrenchnamebouchedemer (anicemorsel from thesea). If Iamnotmuchmistaken, the celebrated Cuvier calls it gasteropeda pulmonifera. It isabundantly gathered in the coasts of the Pacific islands, and gatheredespeciallyfortheChinesemarket,whereitcommandsagreatprice,perhapsasmuchastheirmuch-talked-ofediblebirds'nests,whichareproperlymadeupofthegelatinousmatterpickedupbyaspeciesofswallowfromthebodyofthesemolluscae.Theyhavenoshell,nolegs,noranyprominentpart,except

anabsorbingandanexcretory,oppositeorgans;but,bytheirelasticwings,likecaterpillarsorworms,theycreepinshallowwaters,inwhich,whenlow,theycanbeseenbyakindofswallow,thesharpbillofwhich,insertedinthesoftanimal,drawsagummyandfilamentoussubstance,which,bydrying,canbewrought into the solid walls of their nest. Hence the name of gasteropedapulmonifera.

"Thismolluscaisoblong,andofdifferentsizes,fromthreetoeighteeninchesin length;andIhaveseena fewthatwerenot less than twofeet long.Theywerenearlyround,alittleflattishononeside,whichliesnexttothebottomofthe sea; and they are from one to eight inches thick. They crawl up intoshallowwater at particular seasons of the year, probably for the purpose ofgendering, as we often find them in pairs. It is when the sun has themostpoweronthewater,renderingittepid,thattheyapproachtheshore;andtheyoftengoupintoplacessoshallowthat,onthetide'sreceding,theyareleftdry,exposed to the beat of the sun. But they do not bring forth their young inshallowwater,asweneverseeanyoftheirprogeny,andfull-grownonesarealways observed coming in from deep water. They feed principally on thatclassofzoophyteswhichproducethecoral.

"Thebichedemerisgenerallytakeninthreeorfourfeetofwater;afterwhichtheyarebroughtonshore,andsplitatoneendwithaknife,theincisionbeingoneinchormore,accordingtothesizeofthemollusca.Throughthisopeningthe entrails are forced out by pressure, and they aremuch like those of anyothersmalltenantofthedeep.Thearticleisthenwashed,andafterwardboiledtoacertaindegree,whichmustnotbe toomuchor too little.Theyare thenburied in theground for fourhours, thenboiledagain fora short time,afterwhichtheyaredried,eitherbythefireorthesun.Thosecuredbythesunareworththemost;butwhereonepicul(1331/3lbs.)canbecuredthatway,Icancurethirtypiculsbythefire.Whenonceproperlycured,theycanbekeptinadryplacefortwoorthreeyearswithoutanyrisk;buttheyshouldbeexaminedonce in every fewmonths, say four times a year, to see if any dampness islikelytoaffectthem.

"The Chinese, as before stated, consider biche de mer a very great luxury,believingthatitwonderfullystrengthensandnourishesthesystem,andrenewsthe exhausted system of the immoderate voluptuary. The first qualitycommands a high price in Canton, being worth ninety dollars a picul; thesecondquality, seventy-fivedollars; the third, fifty dollars; the fourth, thirtydollars; the fifth, twentydollars; the sixth, twelvedollars; the seventh, eightdollars;andtheeighth,fourdollars;smallcargoes,however,willoftenbringmoreinManilla,Singapore,andBatavia."

An agreement having been thus entered into, we proceeded immediately to

landeverythingnecessaryforpreparingthebuildingsandclearingtheground.Alargeflatspaceneartheeasternshoreofthebaywasselected,wheretherewasplentyofbothwoodandwater,andwithinaconvenientdistanceof theprincipalreefsonwhichthebichedemerwastobeprocured.Wenowallsettowork ingoodearnest,andsoon, to thegreatastonishmentof thesavages,hadfelledasufficientnumberoftreesforourpurpose,gettingthemquicklyinorderfortheframeworkofthehouses,whichintwoorthreedaysweresofarunderway that we could safely trust the rest of thework to the threemenwhomwe intended to leavebehind.Thesewere JohnCarson,AlfredHarris,and ___ Peterson (all natives of London, I believe), who volunteered theirservicesinthisrespect.

Bythelastofthemonthwehadeverythinginreadinessfordeparture.Wehadagreed,however,topayaformalvisitofleave-takingtothevillage,andToo-wit insisted so pertinaciously uponour keeping the promise thatwedid notthinkitadvisabletoruntheriskofoffendinghimbyafinalrefusal.Ibelievethatnotoneofushadatthistimetheslightestsuspicionofthegoodfaithofthesavages.Theyhaduniformlybehavedwiththegreatestdecorum,aidinguswith alacrity in ourwork, offering us their commodities, frequentlywithoutprice,andnever, inany instance,pilferingasinglearticle,although thehighvaluetheysetuponthegoodswehadwithuswasevidentbytheextravagantdemonstrationsofjoyalwaysmanifesteduponourmakingthemapresent.Thewomenespeciallyweremostobligingineveryrespect,and,uponthewhole,weshouldhavebeenthemostsuspiciousofhumanbeingshadweentertainedasinglethoughtofperfidyonthepartofapeoplewhotreatedussowell.Avery shortwhile sufficed to prove that this apparent kindness of dispositionwas only the result of a deeply laid plan for our destruction, and that theislanders forwhomwe entertained such inordinate feelings of esteem,wereamong the most barbarous, subtle, and bloodthirsty wretches that evercontaminatedthefaceoftheglobe.

ItwasonthefirstofFebruarythatwewentonshoreforthepurposeofvisitingthe village. Although, as said before, we entertained not the slightestsuspicion, stillnoproperprecautionwasneglected.Sixmenwere left in theschooner, with instructions to permit none of the savages to approach thevessel during our absence, under any pretence whatever, and to remainconstantly on deck. The boarding-nettingswere up, the guns double-shottedwithgrapeandcanister,andtheswivelsloadedwithcanistersofmusket-balls.She lay,with her anchor apeak, about amile from the shore, and no canoecouldapproachherinanydirectionwithoutbeingdistinctlyseenandexposedtothefullfireofourswivelsimmediately.

The six men being left on board, our shore-party consisted of thirty-two

persons in all.Wewere armed to the teeth, havingwithusmuskets, pistols,and cutlasses; besides, each had a long kind of seaman's knife, somewhatresembling the bowie knife now somuch used throughout our western andsoutherncountry.Ahundredof theblackskinwarriorsmetusat thelandingfor thepurposeofaccompanyingusonourway.Wenoticed,however,withsome surprise, that they were now entirely without arms; and, uponquestioning Too-wit in relation to this circumstance, he merely answeredthatMatteenonwepapasi—meaningthattherewasnoneedofarmswhereallwerebrothers.Wetookthisingoodpart,andproceeded.

WehadpassedthespringandrivuletofwhichIbeforespoke,andwerenowentering upon a narrow gorge leading through the chain of soapstone hillsamongwhichthevillagewassituated.Thisgorgewasveryrockyanduneven,somuchsothatitwaswithnolittledifficultywescrambledthroughitonourfirstvisit toKlock-klock.Thewhole lengthof the ravinemighthavebeenamileandahalf,orprobably twomiles. Itwound ineverypossibledirectionthroughthehills(havingapparentlyformed,atsomeremoteperiod,thebedofatorrent),innoinstanceproceedingmorethantwentyyardswithoutanabruptturn.Thesidesofthisdellwouldhaveaveraged,Iamsure,seventyoreightyfeetinperpendicularaltitudethroughoutthewholeoftheirextent,andinsomeportions they arose to an astonishing height, overshadowing the pass socompletelythatbutlittleofthelightofdaycouldpenetrate.Thegeneralwidthwas about forty feet, and occasionally it diminished so as not to allow thepassageofmore than fiveorsixpersonsabreast. Inshort, therecouldbenoplaceintheworldbetteradaptedfortheconsummationofanambuscade,anditwasnomore thannatural thatweshould lookcarefully toourarmsasweentereduponit.WhenInowthinkofouregregiousfolly,thechiefsubjectofastonishment seems to be, that we should have ever ventured, under anycircumstances,socompletelyintothepowerofunknownsavagesastopermitthemtomarchbothbeforeandbehindusinourprogressthroughthisravine.Yet suchwas theorderweblindly tookup, trusting foolishly to the forceofourparty,theunarmedconditionofToo-witandhismen,thecertainefficacyofourfirearms(whoseeffectwasyetasecrettothenatives),and,morethanall, to the long-sustainedpretensionof friendshipkeptupby these infamouswretches. Five or six of them went on before, as if to lead the way,ostentatiouslybusying themselves in removing the larger stones and rubbishfromthepath.Nextcameourownparty.Wewalkedcloselytogether, takingcare only to prevent separation. Behind followed the main body of thesavages,observingunusualorderanddecorum.

DirkPeters,amannamedWilsonAllen,andmyselfwereontherightofourcompanions, examining, aswewent along, the singular stratification of theprecipicewhichoverhungus.Afissureinthesoftrockattractedourattention.

It was about wide enough for one person to enter without squeezing, andextendedbackintothehillsomeeighteenortwentyfeetinastraightcourse,slopingafterwardtotheleft.Theheightoftheopening,isfaraswecouldseeintoitfromthemaingorge,wasperhapssixtyorseventyfeet.Therewereoneor twostuntedshrubsgrowingfromthecrevices,bearingaspeciesoffilbertwhichIfeltsomecuriositytoexamine,andpushedinbrisklyforthatpurpose,gathering fiveor sixof thenuts at a grasp, and thenhastily retreating.As Iturned, I found thatPetersandAllenhad followedme. Idesired them togoback,astherewasnotroomfortwopersonstopass,sayingtheyshouldhavesomeofmynuts.Theyaccordinglyturned,andwerescramblingback,Allenbeing close to the mouth of the fissure, when I was suddenly aware of aconcussion resembling nothing I had ever before experienced, and whichimpressedmewithavagueconception, if indeedI thenthoughtofanything,thatthewholefoundationsofthesolidglobeweresuddenlyrentasunder,andthatthedayofuniversaldissolutionwasathand.

CHAPTER21

AS soon as I could collect my scattered senses, I found myself nearlysuffocated,andgrovelling inutterdarknessamongaquantityof looseearth,whichwasalsofallinguponmeheavilyineverydirection,threateningtoburymeentirely.Horriblyalarmedatthisidea,Istruggledtogainmyfeet,andatlastsucceeded.I thenremainedmotionlessforsomemoments,endeavouringtoconceivewhathadhappened tome,andwhere Iwas.Presently Iheardadeepgroanjustatmyear,andafterwardthesmotheredvoiceofPeterscallingtomeforaidinthenameofGod.Iscrambledoneortwopacesforward,whenI fell directly over the head and shoulders of my companion, who, I soondiscovered, was buried in a loose mass of earth as far as his middle, andstrugglingdesperately to freehimself from thepressure. I tore thedirt fromaroundhimwithalltheenergyIcouldcommand,andatlengthsucceededingettinghimout.

As soon as we sufficiently recovered from our fright and surprise to becapableofconversingrationally,webothcametotheconclusionthatthewallsofthefissureinwhichwehadventuredhad,bysomeconvulsionofnature,orprobably from their own weight, caved in overhead, and that we wereconsequentlylostforever,beingthusentombedalive.Foralongtimewegaveup supinely to the most intense agony and despair, such as cannot beadequately imagined by thosewho have never been in a similar position. I

firmlybelievedthatnoincidenteveroccurringinthecourseofhumaneventsismoreadaptedtoinspirethesupremenessofmentalandbodilydistressthana case likeourown,of living inhumation.Theblacknessofdarknesswhichenvelops thevictim, the terrificoppressionof lungs, the stifling fumes fromthedampearth,unitewith theghastlyconsiderations thatwearebeyond theremotestconfinesofhope,andthatsuchistheallottedportionofthedead,tocarry into the human heart a degree of appalling awe and horror not to betolerated—nevertobeconceived.

AtlengthPetersproposedthatweshouldendeavourtoascertainpreciselytheextentofourcalamity,andgropeaboutourprison;itbeingbarelypossible,heobserved,thatsomeopeningmightyetbeleftusforescape.Icaughteagerlyat this hope, and, arousing myself to exertion, attempted to force my waythroughthelooseearth.HardlyhadIadvancedasinglestepbeforeaglimmerof light became perceptible, enough to convince me that, at all events, weshouldnot immediatelyperish forwantofair.Wenowtooksomedegreeofheart,andencouragedeachothertohopeforthebest.Havingscrambledoverabankofrubbishwhich impededourfartherprogress in thedirectionof thelight,wefoundlessdifficulty inadvancingandalsoexperiencedsomerelieffromtheexcessiveoppressionoflungswhichhadtormentedus.Presentlywewereenabledtoobtainaglimpseoftheobjectsaround,anddiscoveredthatwewereneartheextremityofthestraightportionofthefissure,whereitmadeaturntotheleft.Afewstrugglesmore,andwereachedthebend,whentoourinexpressible joy, there appeared a long seam or crack extending upward avast distance, generally at an angle of about forty-five degrees, althoughsometimesmuchmoreprecipitous.Wecouldnotseethroughthewholeextentofthisopening;but,asagooddealoflightcamedownit,wehadlittledoubtof finding at the top of it (ifwe could by anymeans reach the top) a clearpassageintotheopenair.

I nowcalled tomind that three of us had entered the fissure from themaingorge, and that our companion, Allen, was still missing; we determined atonce to retrace our steps and look for him. After a long search, andmuchdangerfromthefarthercavinginoftheearthaboveus,Petersatlengthcriedouttomethathehadholdofourcompanion'sfoot,andthathiswholebodywas deeply buried beneath the rubbish beyond the possibility of extricatinghim.Isoonfoundthatwhathesaidwastootrue,andthat,ofcourse,lifehadbeen long extinct.With sorrowful hearts, therefore,we left the corpse to itsfate,andagainmadeourwaytothebend.

Thebreadthof the seamwasbarely sufficient toadmitus, and, afteroneortwo ineffectual efforts at gettingup,webeganoncemore to despair. I havebefore said that the chain of hills through which ran the main gorge was

composedofaspeciesofsoftrockresemblingsoapstone.Thesidesofthecleftwe were now attempting to ascend were of the same material, and soexcessivelyslippery,beingwet,thatwecouldgetbutlittlefootholduponthemeven in their least precipitous parts; in some places, where the ascent wasnearly perpendicular, the difficulty was, of course, much aggravated; and,indeed,forsometimewethoughtinsurmountable.Wetookcourage,however,from despair, and what, by dint of cutting steps in the soft stone with ourbowieknives,andswingingattheriskofourlives,tosmallprojectingpointsof a harder species of slaty rock which now and then protruded from thegeneral mass, we at length reached a natural platform, from which wasperceptibleapatchofblue sky, at theextremityofa thickly-wooded ravine.Lookingbacknow,withsomewhatmoreleisure,atthepassagethroughwhichwehad thus farproceeded,weclearly saw from theappearanceof its sides,thatitwasoflateformation,andweconcludedthattheconcussion,whateverit was, which had so unexpectedly overwhelmed us, had also, at the samemoment, laidopenthispathforescape.Beingquiteexhaustedwithexertion,and indeed,soweak thatwewerescarcelyable tostandorarticulate,Petersnowproposedthatweshouldendeavourtobringourcompanionstotherescuebyfiringthepistolswhichstillremainedinourgirdles—themusketsaswellascutlasseshadbeenlostamongthelooseearthat thebottomofthechasm.Subsequenteventsprovedthat,hadwefired,weshouldhavesorelyrepentedit,butluckilyahalfsuspicionoffoulplayhadbythistimeariseninmymind,andweforboretoletthesavagesknowofourwhereabouts.

Afterhaving reposed foraboutanhour,wepushedonslowlyup the ravine,andhadgonenogreatwaybeforeweheardasuccessionoftremendousyells.Atlengthwereachedwhatmightbecalledthesurfaceoftheground;forourpathhitherto,sinceleavingtheplatform,hadlainbeneathanarchwayofhighrockandfoliage,atavastdistanceoverhead.Withgreatcautionwestoletoanarrow opening, through which we had a clear sight of the surroundingcountry,when thewholedreadful secretof theconcussionbrokeuponus inonemomentandatoneview.

Thespot fromwhichwe lookedwasnot far from the summitof thehighestpeakintherangeofthesoapstonehills.Thegorgeinwhichourpartyofthirty-two had entered ranwithin fifty feet to the left of us. But, for at least onehundredyards,thechannelorbedofthisgorgewasentirelyfilledupwiththechaotic ruins of more than a million tons of earth and stone that had beenartificially tumbled within it. The means by which the vast mass had beenprecipitated were not more simple than evident, for sure traces of themurderous work were yet remaining. In several spots along the top of theeasternsideofthegorge(wewerenowonthewestern)mightbeseenstakesofwooddrivenintotheearth.Inthesespotstheearthhadnotgivenway,but

throughoutthewholeextentofthefaceoftheprecipicefromwhichthemasshadfallen,itwasclear,frommarksleftinthesoilresemblingthosemadebythedrillof therockblaster, thatstakessimilar to thosewesawstandinghadbeen inserted, at notmore than ayard apart, for the lengthofperhaps threehundred feet, and ranging at about ten feet back from the edge of the gulf.Strongcordsofgrapevinewereattachedto thestakesstill remainingon thehill,anditwasevidentthatsuchcordshadalsobeenattachedtoeachoftheother stakes. I have already spoken of the singular stratification of thesesoapstonehills;andthedescriptionjustgivenofthenarrowanddeepfissurethroughwhichweeffectedourescape from inhumationwill afforda furtherconceptionof itsnature.Thiswassuch thatalmosteverynaturalconvulsionwould be sure to split the soil into perpendicular layers or ridges runningparallel with one another, and a very moderate exertion of art would besufficientforeffectingthesamepurpose.Ofthisstratificationthesavageshadavailed themselves to accomplish their treacherous ends. There can be nodoubt that,by thecontinuous lineof stakes, apartial ruptureof the soilhadbeenbroughtaboutprobablytothedepthofoneortwofeet,whenbymeansofasavagepullingattheendofeachofthecords(thesecordsbeingattachedtothetopsofthestakes,andextendingbackfromtheedgeofthecliff),avastleverage powerwas obtained, capable of hurling thewhole face of the hill,uponagivensignal,intothebosomoftheabyssbelow.Thefateofourpoorcompanionswasnolongeramatterofuncertainty.Wealonehadescapedfromthetempestofthatoverwhelmingdestruction.Weweretheonlylivingwhitemenupontheisland.

CHAPTER22

OURsituation,as itnowappeared,wasscarcelylessdreadful thanwhenwehadconceivedourselvesentombedforever.Wesawbeforeusnoprospectbutthat of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging out a miserableexistenceincaptivityamongthem.Wemight,tobesure,concealourselvesforatimefromtheirobservationamongthefastnessesofthehills,and,asafinalresort,inthechasmfromwhichwehadjustissued;butwemusteitherperishinthelongpolarwinterthroughcoldandfamine,orbeultimatelydiscoveredinoureffortstoobtainrelief.

Thewholecountryaroundusseemedtobeswarmingwithsavages,crowdsofwhom,wenowperceived,hadcomeoverfromtheislandstothesouthwardonflatrafts,doubtlesswithaviewoflendingtheiraidinthecaptureandplunder

of the Jane.Thevessel still lay calmly at anchor in thebay, thoseonboardbeing apparently quite unconscious of any danger awaiting them. How welongedatthatmomenttobewiththem!eithertoaidineffectingtheirescape,or to perishwith them in attempting a defence.We saw no chance even ofwarningthemoftheirdangerwithoutbringingimmediatedestructionuponourownheads,with but a remote hope of benefit to them.Apistol firedmightsuffice to apprise them that something wrong had occurred; but the reportcouldnotpossiblyinformthemthattheironlyprospectofsafetylayingettingout of the harbour forthwith—it could not tell them that no principles ofhonour now bound them to remain, that their companions were no longeramong the living. Upon hearing the discharge they could not be morethoroughlyprepared tomeet the foe,whowerenowgetting ready to attack,thantheyalreadywere,andalwayshadbeen.Nogood,therefore,andinfiniteharm,wouldresultfromourfiring,andaftermaturedeliberation,weforbore.

Ournextthoughtwastoattempttorushtowardthevessel,toseizeoneofthefourcanoeswhichlayattheheadofthebay,andendeavourtoforceapassageonboard.Buttheutterimpossibilityofsucceedinginthisdesperatetasksoonbecameevident.Thecountry,asIsaidbefore,wasliterallyswarmingwiththenatives,skulkingamong thebushesandrecessesof thehills, soasnot tobeobserved from the schooner. In our immediate vicinity especially, andblockading the sole path bywhichwe could hope to attain the shore at theproperpointwere stationed thewholepartyof theblack skinwarriors,withToo-witattheirhead,andapparentlyonlywaitingforsomere-enforcementtocommencehisonsetupontheJane.Thecanoes,too,whichlayattheheadofthebay,weremannedwithsavages,unarmed,itistrue,butwhoundoubtedlyhad arms within reach.We were forced, therefore, however unwillingly, toremain in our place of concealment, mere spectators of the conflict whichpresentlyensued.

Inabouthalfanhourwesawsomesixtyorseventyrafts,orflatboats,withoutriggers, filled with savages, and coming round the southern bight of theharbor.Theyappeared tohavenoarmsexceptshortclubs,andstoneswhichlayinthebottomoftherafts.Immediatelyafterwardanotherdetachment,stilllarger,appearedinanoppositedirection,andwithsimilarweapons.Thefourcanoes,too,werenowquicklyfilledwithnatives,startingupfromthebushesattheheadofthebay,andputoffswiftlytojointheotherparties.Thus,inlesstime than I have taken to tell it, and as if by magic, the Jane saw herselfsurrounded by an immense multitude of desperadoes evidently bent uponcapturingheratallhazards.

Thattheywouldsucceedinsodoingcouldnotbedoubtedforaninstant.Thesix men left in the vessel, however resolutely they might engage in her

defence,werealtogetherunequaltothepropermanagementoftheguns,orinanymannertosustainacontestatsuchodds.Icouldhardlyimaginethattheywouldmake resistance at all, but in this was deceived; for presently I sawthemgetspringsuponthecable,andbringthevessel'sstarboardbroadsidetobearupon the canoes,whichby this timewerewithinpistol range, the raftsbeingnearlyaquarterofamiletowindward.Owingtosomecauseunknown,butmostprobablytotheagitationofourpoorfriendsatseeingthemselvesinsohopelessasituation,thedischargewasanentirefailure.Notacanoewashitorasinglesavage injured, theshotsstrikingshortand ricochetingover theirheads. The only effect produced upon them was astonishment at theunexpectedreportandsmoke,whichwassoexcessivethatforsomemomentsI almost thought theywouldabandon theirdesignentirely, and return to theshore.And this theywouldmost likelyhavedonehadourmen followeduptheirbroadsidebyadischargeofsmallarms,inwhich,asthecanoeswerenowsonearathand,theycouldnothavefailedindoingsomeexecution,sufficient,atleast,todeterthispartyfromafartheradvance,untiltheycouldhavegiventhe rafts also a broadside.But, in place of this, they left the canoe party torecoverfromtheirpanic,and,bylookingaboutthem,toseethatnoinjuryhadbeensustained,whiletheyflewtothelarboardtogetreadyfortherafts.

The discharge to larboard produced the most terrible effect. The star anddouble-headedshotofthelargegunscutsevenoreightoftheraftscompletelyasunder, and killed, perhaps, thirty or forty of the savages outright,while ahundred of them, at least, were thrown into the water, the most of themdreadfully wounded. The remainder, frightened out of their senses,commenced at once a precipitate retreat, not even waiting to pick up theirmaimedcompanions,whowereswimmingaboutineverydirection,screamingand yelling for aid. This great success, however, came too late for thesalvationofourdevotedpeople.Thecanoepartywerealreadyonboard theschooner to thenumberofmore than a hundred and fifty, themost of themhaving succeeded in scramblingup thechainsandover theboarding-nettingevenbeforethematcheshadbeenappliedtothelarboardguns.Nothingnowcould withstand their brute rage. Our men were borne down at once,overwhelmed,troddenunderfoot,andabsolutelytorntopiecesinaninstant.

Seeingthis,thesavagesontheraftsgotthebetteroftheirfears,andcameupinshoalstotheplunder.InfiveminutestheJanewasapitiablesceneindeedofhavocandtumultuousoutrage.Thedecksweresplitopenandrippedup;thecordage, sails, and everythingmovable on deck demolished as if bymagic,while,bydintofpushingatthestern,towingwiththecanoes,andhaulingatthe sides, as they swam in thousandsaround thevessel, thewretches finallyforcedheronshore(thecablehavingbeenslipped),anddeliveredherovertothe good offices ofToo-wit,who, during thewhole of the engagement, had

maintained, like a skilful general, his post of security and reconnaissanceamong thehills, but, now that thevictorywascompleted tohis satisfaction,condescended to scamper down with his warriors of the black skin, andbecomeapartakerinthespoils.

Too-wit'sdescentleftusatlibertytoquitourhidingplaceandreconnoitrethehillinthevicinityofthechasm.Ataboutfiftyyardsfromthemouthofitwesawa small springofwater, atwhichwe slaked theburning thirst thatnowconsumed us. Not far from the spring we discovered several of the filbert-bushes which I mentioned before. Upon tasting the nuts we found thempalatable,andverynearlyresembling inflavour thecommonEnglishfilbert.Wecollectedourhatsfullimmediately,depositedthemwithintheravine,andreturned for more. While we were busily employed in gathering these, arustlinginthebushesalarmedus,andwewereuponthepointofstealingbacktoourcovert,whena largeblackbirdof thebitternspeciesstrugglinglyandslowlyaroseabovetheshrubs.IwassomuchstartledthatIcoulddonothing,butPetershadsufficientpresenceofmindtorunuptoitbeforeitcouldmakeitsescape,andseizeitbytheneck.Itsstrugglesandscreamsweretremendous,andwehadthoughtsoflettingitgo, lest thenoiseshouldalarmsomeofthesavageswhomightbestilllurkingintheneighbourhood.Astabwithabowieknife,however,atlengthbroughtittotheground,andwedraggeditintotheravine, congratulating ourselves that, at all events, we had thus obtained asupplyoffoodenoughtolastusforaweek.

Wenowwentoutagaintolookaboutus,andventuredaconsiderabledistancedownthesoutherndeclivityofthehill,butmetwithnothingelsewhichcouldserveusforfood.Wethereforecollectedaquantityofdrywoodandreturned,seeingoneortwolargepartiesofthenativesontheirwaytothevillage,ladenwiththeplunderofthevessel,andwho,wewereapprehensive,mightdiscoverusinpassingbeneaththehill.

Ournextcarewas to renderourplaceofconcealmentas secureaspossible,andwiththisobject,wearrangedsomebrushwoodovertheaperturewhichIhavebeforespokenofastheonethroughwhichwesawthepatchofbluesky,onreaching theplatformfromthe interiorof thechasm.Weleftonlyaverysmall opening justwide enough to admit of our seeing the bay,without therisk of being discovered from below. Having done this, we congratulatedourselves upon the security of the position; for we were now completelyexcluded fromobservation, as longaswechose to remainwithin the ravineitself, andnot venture out upon thehill,We couldperceiveno traces of thesavageshaving everbeenwithin this hollow;but, indeed,whenwecame toreflectupontheprobability that thefissure throughwhichweattained ithadbeenonlyjustnowcreatedbythefallofthecliffopposite,andthatnoother

wayofattaining it couldbeperceived,wewerenot somuch rejoicedat thethought of being secure from molestation as fearful lest there should beabsolutelynomeansleftusfordescent.Weresolvedtoexplorethesummitofthehillthoroughly,whenagoodopportunityshouldoffer.Inthemeantimewewatchedthemotionsofthesavagesthroughourloophole.

They had already made a complete wreck of the vessel, and were nowpreparing tosetheron fire. Ina littlewhilewesaw thesmokeascending inhugevolumesfromhermainhatchway,and,shortlyafterward,adensemassofflameburstupfromtheforecastle.Therigging,mastsandwhatremainedofthesailscaughtimmediately,andthefirespreadrapidlyalongthedecks.Stillagreatmanyofthesavagesretainedtheirstationsabouther,hammeringwithlarge stones, axes, and cannon balls at the bolts and other iron and copperwork.Onthebeach,andincanoesandrafts,therewerenotless,altogether,intheimmediatevicinityoftheschooner,thantenthousandnatives,besidestheshoalsofthemwho,ladenwithbooty,weremakingtheirwayinlandandoverto theneighbouring islands.Wenowanticipatedacatastrophe,andwerenotdisappointed.Firstofalltherecameasmartshock(whichwefeltasdistinctlywherewewereasifwehadbeenslightlygalvanized),butunattendedwithanyvisiblesignsofanexplosion.Thesavageswereevidentlystartled,andpausedfor an instant from their labours and yellings. Theywere upon the point ofrecommencing,when suddenly amass of smoke puffed up from the decks,resemblingablackandheavythundercloud—then,asiffromitsbowels,aroseatallstreamofvividfiretotheheight,apparently,ofaquarterofamile—thenthere came a sudden circular expansion of the flame—then the wholeatmospherewasmagicallycrowded, inasingle instant,withawildchaosofwood, and metal, and human limbs-and, lastly, came the concussion in itsfullestfury,whichhurledusimpetuouslyfromourfeet,whilethehillsechoedandre-echoedthetumult,andadenseshoweroftheminutestfragmentsoftheruinstumbledheadlongineverydirectionaroundus.

Thehavocamongthesavagesfarexceededourutmostexpectation,andtheyhadnow,indeed,reapedthefullandperfectfruitsoftheirtreachery.Perhapsathousand perished by the explosion, while at least an equal number weredesperatelymangled.Thewholesurfaceof thebaywas literallystrewnwiththestrugglinganddrowningwretches,andonshorematterswereevenworse.They seemed utterly appalled by the suddenness and completeness of theirdiscomfiture, and made no efforts at assisting one another. At length weobserved a total change in their demeanour. From absolute stupor, theyappeared to be, all at once, aroused to the highest pitch of excitement, andrushedwildlyabout,goingtoandfromacertainpointonthebeach,withthestrangest expressions ofmingled horror, rage, and intense curiosity depictedon their countenances, and shouting, at the top of their voices, "Tekeli-li!

Tekeli-li!"

Presentlywesawalargebodygooffintothehills,whencetheyreturnedinashort time,carryingstakesofwood.These theybrought to thestationwherethecrowdwasthethickest,whichnowseparatedsoastoaffordusaviewoftheobjectofallthisexcitement.Weperceivedsomethingwhitelyingupontheground,but couldnot immediatelymakeoutwhat itwas.At lengthwe sawthat itwas thecarcassof thestrangeanimalwith thescarlet teethandclawswhichtheschoonerhadpickedupatseaontheeighteenthofJanuary.CaptainGuyhadhadthebodypreservedforthepurposeofstuffingtheskinandtakingittoEngland.Irememberhehadgivensomedirectionsaboutitjustbeforeourmakingtheisland,andithadbeenbroughtintothecabinandstowedawayinoneofthelockers.Ithadnowbeenthrownonshorebytheexplosion;butwhyit had occasioned so much concern among the savages was more than wecould comprehend. Although they crowded around the carcass at a littledistance,noneof themseemedwilling toapproach it closely.By-and-by themenwiththestakesdrovetheminacirclearoundit,andnosoonerwasthisarrangementcompleted,thanthewholeofthevastassemblagerushedintotheinterioroftheisland,withloudscreamsof"Tekeli-li!Tekeli-li!"

CHAPTER23

DURING the six or seven days immediately followingwe remained in ourhiding-place upon the hill, going out only occasionally, and then with thegreatestprecaution,forwaterandfilberts.Wehadmadeakindofpenthouseontheplatform,furnishingitwithabedofdryleaves,andplacinginitthreelarge flat stones,which servedus forboth fireplaceand table.Wekindledafirewithout difficulty by rubbing two pieces of drywood together, the onesoft, the other hard. The bird we had taken in such good season provedexcellenteating,althoughsomewhattough.Itwasnotanoceanicfowl,butaspeciesofbittern,withjetblackandgrizzlyplumage,anddiminutivewingsinproportiontoitsbulk.Weafterwardsawthreeofthesamekindinthevicinityof the ravine, apparently seeking for the onewe had captured; but, as theyneveralighted,wehadnoopportunityofcatchingthem.

Aslongasthisfowllastedwesufferednothingfromoursituation,butitwasnow entirely consumed, and it became absolutely necessary that we shouldlookoutforprovision.Thefilbertswouldnotsatisfy thecravingsofhunger,afflictingus,too,withseveregripingsofthebowels,and,iffreelyindulgedin,withviolentheadache.Wehadseenseverallargetortoisesneartheseashoreto

theeastwardofthehill,andperceivedtheymightbeeasilytaken,ifwecouldgetatthemwithouttheobservationofthenatives.Itwasresolved,therefore,tomakeanattemptatdescending.

Wecommencedbygoingdownthesoutherndeclivity,whichseemedtoofferthe fewestdifficulties,buthadnotproceededahundredyardsbefore (aswehad anticipated from appearances on the hilltop) our progress was entirelyarrestedbyabranchofthegorgeinwhichourcompanionshadperished.Wenowpassedalongtheedgeofthisforaboutaquarterofamile,whenwewereagainstoppedbyaprecipiceof immensedepth,and,notbeingable tomakeourwayalongthebrinkofit,wewereforcedtoretraceourstepsbythemainravine.

Wenowpushedovertotheeastward,butwithpreciselysimilarfortune.Afteranhour's scramble,at the riskofbreakingournecks,wediscovered thatwehadmerely descended into a vast pit of black granite,with fine dust at thebottom,andwhencetheonlyegresswasbytheruggedpathinwhichwehadcomedown.Toilingagainupthispath,wenowtriedthenorthernedgeofthehill. Here we were obliged to use the greatest possible caution in ourmaneuvers, as the least indiscretionwould exposeus to the full viewof thesavagesinthevillage.Wecrawledalong,therefore,onourhandsandknees,and,occasionally,wereevenforcedtothrowourselvesatfulllength,draggingour bodies along bymeans of the shrubbery. In this carefulmannerwe hadproceededbutalittleway,whenwearrivedatachasmfardeeperthananywehad yet seen, and leading directly into themain gorge.Thus our fearswerefully confirmed, andwe found ourselves cut off entirely from access to theworldbelow.Thoroughlyexhaustedbyourexertions,wemadethebestofourwaybacktotheplatform,andthrowingourselvesuponthebedofleaves,sleptsweetlyandsoundlyforsomehours.

For several days after this fruitless search we were occupied in exploringeverypartofthesummitofthehill,inordertoinformourselvesofitsactualresources.Wefoundthatitwouldaffordusnofood,withtheexceptionoftheunwholesome filberts, and a rank species of scurvy grass, which grew in alittlepatchofnotmorethanfourrodssquare,andwouldbesoonexhausted.OnthefifteenthofFebruary,asnearasIcanremember,therewasnotabladeof this left,and thenutsweregrowingscarce;oursituation, therefore,couldhardlybemorelamentable.Onthesixteenthweagainwentroundthewallsofourprison,inhopeoffindingsomeavenueofescape;buttonopurpose.Wealsodescendedthechasminwhichwehadbeenoverwhelmed,withthefaintexpectation of discovering, through this channel, some opening to themainravine.Here, too,weweredisappointed, althoughwe found andbrought upwithusamusket.

On the seventeenth we set out with the determination of examining morethoroughlythechasmofblackgraniteintowhichwehadmadeourwayinthefirstsearch.Werememberedthatoneofthefissuresinthesidesofthispithadbeen but partially looked into, andwewere anxious to explore it, althoughwithnoexpectationofdiscoveringhereanyopening.

Wefoundnogreatdifficulty inreaching thebottomof thehollowasbefore,and were now sufficiently calm to survey it with some attention. It was,indeed, one of the most singular-looking places imaginable, and we couldscarcelybringourselves to believe it altogether theworkof nature.Thepit,from its eastern to its western extremity, was about five hundred yards inlength,whenallitswindingswerethreaded;thedistancefromeasttowestinastraight linenotbeingmore (I shouldsuppose,havingnomeansofaccurateexamination) thanfortyorfiftyyards.Uponfirstdescendingintothechasm,that is to say, for ahundred feetdownward from the summitof thehill, thesidesoftheabyssborelittleresemblancetoeachother,and,apparently,hadatnotimebeenconnected,theonesurfacebeingofthesoapstone,andtheotherofmarl,granulatedwithsomemetallicmatter.Theaveragebreadthorintervalbetweenthetwocliffswasprobablyheresixtyfeet,butthereseemedtobenoregularityof formation.Passingdown,however,beyond the limitspokenof,the interval rapidlycontracted,and thesidesbegan to runparallel,although,forsomedistancefarther,theywerestilldissimilarintheirmaterialandformofsurface.Uponarrivingwithinfifty feetof thebottom,aperfect regularitycommenced.Thesideswerenowentirelyuniforminsubstance,incolour,andinlateraldirection,thematerialbeingaveryblackandshininggranite,andthedistancebetweenthetwosides,atallpointsfacingeachother,exactlytwentyyards.Thepreciseformationofthechasmwillbebestunderstoodbymeansofadelineationtakenuponthespot;forIhadluckilywithmeapocketbookandpencil,whichIpreservedwithgreatcarethroughalongseriesofsubsequentadventure,andtowhichIamindebtedformemorandaofmanysubjectswhichwouldotherwisehavebeencrowdedfrommyremembrance.

It gives the general outlines of the chasm,without theminor cavities in thesides, of which there were several, each cavity having a correspondingprotuberance opposite. The bottom of the gulf was covered to the depth ofthree or four inches with a powder almost impalpable, beneath which wefoundacontinuationoftheblackgranite.Totheright,atthelowerextremity,willbenoticedtheappearanceofasmallopening;thisisthefissurealludedtoabove,andtoexaminewhichmoreminutelythanbeforewastheobjectofoursecond visit.We now pushed into it with vigor, cutting away a quantity ofbrambles which impeded us, and removing a vast heap of sharp flintssomewhatresemblingarrowheadsinshape.Wewereencouragedtopersevere,however,byperceivingsomelittlelightproceedingfromthefartherend.We

at lengthsqueezedourwayforabout thirty feet,and found that theaperturewasalowandregularlyformedarch,havingabottomofthesameimpalpablepowder as that in themain chasm.A strong light now broke upon us, and,turningashortbend,wefoundourselvesinanotherloftychamber,similartotheonewehadleftineveryrespectbutlongitudinalform.Itsgeneralfigureisheregiven.

Thetotallengthofthischasm,commencingattheopeningaandproceedingroundthecurvebtotheextremityd,isfivehundredandfiftyyards.Atcwediscovered a small aperture similar to theone throughwhichwehad issuedfrom the other chasm, and this was choked up in the same manner withbrambles and a quantity of the white arrowhead flints.We forced our waythrough it, finding it about forty feet long, and emerged into a third chasm.This, too,wasprecisely like thefirst,except in its longitudinalshape,whichwasthus.

Wefoundtheentirelengthofthethirdchasmthreehundredandtwentyyards.Atthepointawasanopeningaboutsixfeetwide,andextendingfifteenfeetintotherock,whereitterminatedinabedofmarl,therebeingnootherchasmbeyond,aswehadexpected.Wewereabout leaving this fissure, intowhichvery little lightwas admitted,whenPeters calledmyattention to a rangeofsingular-lookingindenturesinthesurfaceofthemarlformingtheterminationof thecul-de-sac.Withavery slight exertionof the imagination, the left,ormostnorthernof these indenturesmighthavebeen taken for the intentional,although rude, representation of a human figure standing erect, withoutstretched arm. The rest of them bore also some little resemblance toalphabeticalcharacters,andPeterswaswilling,atallevents,toadopttheidleopinion that theywere really such. I convinced him of his error, finally, bydirectinghisattentiontothefloorofthefissure,where,amongthepowder,wepickedup,piecebypiece,severallargeflakesofthemarl,whichhadevidentlybeen broken off by some convulsion from the surfacewhere the indentureswere found, and which had projecting points exactly fitting the indentures;thusprovingthemtohavebeentheworkofnature.

Aftersatisfyingourselvesthatthesesingularcavernsaffordedusnomeansofescapefromourprison,wemadeourwayback,dejectedanddispirited,tothesummit of the hill. Nothing worth mentioning occurred during the nexttwenty-fourhours,exceptthat,inexaminingthegroundtotheeastwardofthethirdchasm,wefoundtwotriangularholesofgreatdepth,andalsowithblackgranite sides. Into these holes we did not think it worth while to attemptdescending,astheyhadtheappearanceofmerenaturalwells,withoutoutlet.Theywereeachabouttwentyyardsincircumference,andtheirshape,aswellasrelativepositioninregardtothethirdchasm,isshowninfigure5.{image}

CHAPTER24

ONthetwentiethofthemonth,findingitaltogetherimpossibletosubsistanylongeruponthefilberts,theuseofwhichoccasionedusthemostexcruciatingtorment,weresolvedtomakeadesperateattemptatdescendingthesoutherndeclivityofthehill.Thefaceoftheprecipicewashereofthesoftestspeciesofsoapstone,althoughnearlyperpendicularthroughoutitswholeextent(adepthofahundredandfiftyfeetattheleast),andinmanyplacesevenoverarching.Afteralongsearchwediscoveredanarrowledgeabouttwentyfeetbelowthebrink of the gulf; upon this Peters contrived to leap,withwhat assistance Icould render him bymeans of our pocket-handkerchiefs tied together.WithsomewhatmoredifficultyIalsogotdown;andwethensawthepossibilityofdescendingthewholewaybytheprocessinwhichwehadclamberedupfromthechasmwhenwehadbeenburiedbythefallof thehill-that is,bycuttingstepsinthefaceofthesoapstonewithourknives.Theextremehazardoftheattempt can scarcely be conceived; but, as there was no other resource, wedeterminedtoundertakeit.

Upontheledgewherewestoodtheregrewsomefilbert-bushes;andtooneofthesewemadefastanendofourropeofhandkerchiefs.Theotherendbeingtied roundPeters'waist, I loweredhimdownover the edgeof theprecipiceuntilthehandkerchiefswerestretchedtight.Henowproceededtodigadeepholeinthesoapstone(asfarinaseightorteninches),slopingawaytherockabovetotheheightofafoot,orthereabout,soastoallowofhisdriving,withthebuttofapistol,atolerablystrongpegintothelevelledsurface.Ithendrewhim up for about four feet,when hemade a hole similar to the one below,driving inapegasbefore, andhaving thusa resting-place forboth feetandhands. I nowunfastened thehandkerchiefs from thebush, throwinghim theend, which he tied to the peg in the uppermost hole, letting himself downgently toastationabout threefeet lower thanhehadyetbeen that is, to thefullextentofthehandkerchiefs.Hereheduganotherhole,anddroveanotherpeg.Hethendrewhimselfup,soastoresthisfeetintheholejustcut,takingholdwithhishandsupon thepeg in theoneabove. Itwasnownecessary tountiethehandkerchiefsfromthetopmostpeg,withtheviewoffasteningthemtothesecond;andherehefoundthatanerrorhadbeencommittedincuttingtheholesatsogreatadistanceapart.However,afteroneortwounsuccessfulanddangerousattemptsat reaching theknot (having toholdonwithhis lefthandwhilehelaboredtoundothefasteningwithhisright),heatlengthcutthestring,leavingsixinchesofitaffixedtothepeg.Tyingthehandkerchiefsnow

tothesecondpeg,hedescendedtoastationbelowthethird,takingcarenottogotoofardown.Bythesemeans(meanswhichIshouldneverhaveconceivedofmyself,andforwhichwewereindebtedaltogethertoPeters'ingenuityandresolution) my companion finally succeeded, with the occasional aid ofprojectionsinthecliff,inreachingthebottomwithoutaccident.

ItwassometimebeforeIcouldsummonsufficientresolutiontofollowhim;butIdidatlengthattemptit.Petershadtakenoffhisshirtbeforedescending,and this, withmy own, formed the rope necessary for the adventure. Afterthrowing down the musket found in the chasm, I fastened this rope to thebushes,andletmyselfdownrapidly,striving,bythevigorofmymovements,to banish the trepidationwhich I could overcome in no othermanner. Thisansweredsufficientlywellforthefirstfourorfivesteps;butpresentlyIfoundmyimaginationgrowingterriblyexcitedbythoughtsofthevastdepthsyettobedescended,andtheprecariousnatureofthepegsandsoapstoneholeswhichweremyonlysupport.ItwasinvainIendeavoredtobanishthesereflections,andtokeepmyeyessteadilybentupontheflatsurfaceofthecliffbeforeme.ThemoreearnestlyIstrugglednottothink,themoreintenselyvividbecamemyconceptions,andthemorehorriblydistinct.Atlengtharrivedthatcrisisoffancy,sofearfulinallsimilarcases,thecrisisinwhichwebegantoanticipatethefeelingswithwhichweshallfall-topicturetoourselvesthesickness,anddizziness,andthelaststruggle,andthehalfswoon,andthefinalbitternessofthe rushing and headlong descent. And now I found these fancies creatingtheirownrealities,andall imaginedhorrorscrowdinguponmeinfact.Ifeltmy knees strike violently together, while my fingers were gradually butcertainlyrelaxingtheirgrasp.Therewasaringinginmyears,andIsaid,"Thisismyknellofdeath!"AndnowIwasconsumedwiththeirrepressibledesireoflookingbelow.Icouldnot,Iwouldnot,confinemyglancestothecliff;and,withawild,indefinableemotion,halfofhorror,halfofarelievedoppression,Ithrewmyvisionfardownintotheabyss.Foronemomentmyfingersclutchedconvulsivelyupontheirhold,while,withthemovement,thefaintestpossibleidea of ultimate escapewandered, like a shadow, throughmymind—in thenextmywholesoulwaspervadedwithalongingtofall;adesire,ayearning,apassion utterly uncontrollable. I let go at oncemygrasp upon the peg, and,turninghalfroundfromtheprecipice,remainedtotteringforaninstantagainstitsnakedface.Butnowtherecameaspinningofthebrain;ashrill-soundingand phantom voice screamed within my ears; a dusky, fiendish, and filmyfigure stood immediately beneath me; and, sighing, I sunk down with aburstingheart,andplungedwithinitsarms.

I had swooned, and Peters had caught me as I fell. He had observed myproceedings from his station at the bottom of the cliff; and perceiving myimminent danger, had endeavored to inspire me with courage by every

suggestionhecoulddevise;althoughmyconfusionofmindhadbeensogreatas topreventmyhearingwhathe said, orbeing conscious that hehad evenspokentomeatall.Atlength,seeingmetotter,hehastenedtoascendtomyrescue,andarrivedjustintimeformypreservation.HadIfallenwithmyfullweight, the rope of linenwould inevitably have snapped, and I should havebeenprecipitatedintotheabyss;asitwas,hecontrivedtoletmedowngently,soastoremainsuspendedwithoutdangeruntilanimationreturned.Thiswasinaboutfifteenminutes.Onrecovery,mytrepidationhadentirelyvanished;Ifeltanewbeing,and,withsomelittlefurtheraidfrommycompanion,reachedthebottomalsoinsafety.

Wenowfoundourselvesnotfarfromtheravinewhichhadprovedthetombofour friends, and to the southward of the spotwhere the hill had fallen.Theplace was one of singular wildness, and its aspect brought tomymind thedescriptions given by travellers of those dreary regions marking the site ofdegraded Babylon. Not to speak of the ruins of the disrupted cliff, whichformed a chaotic barrier in the vista to the northward, the surface of theground ineveryotherdirectionwasstrewnwithhuge tumuli,apparently thewreckofsomegiganticstructuresofart;although,indetail,nosemblanceofartcouldbedetected.Scoriawereabundant,andlargeshapelessblocksoftheblack granite, intermingled with others of marl, and both granulated withmetal.Ofvegetationtherewerenotraceswhatsoeverthroughoutthewholeofthe desolate area within sight. Several immense scorpions were seen, andvariousreptilesnotelsewheretobefoundin thehighlatitudes.Asfoodwasour most immediate object, we resolved to make our way to the seacoast,distant notmore than half amile,with a view of catching turtle, several ofwhichwe had observed from our place of concealment on the hill.We hadproceeded some hundred yards, threading our route cautiously between thehugerocksandtumuli,when,uponturningacorner,fivesavagessprunguponusfromasmallcavern,fellingPeterstothegroundwithablowfromaclub.Ashefellthewholepartyrusheduponhimtosecuretheirvictim,leavingmetime to recover frommyastonishment. I still had themusket, but thebarrelhadreceivedsomuchinjuryinbeingthrownfromtheprecipicethatIcastitaside as useless, preferring to trust my pistols, which had been carefullypreservedinorder.WiththeseIadvancedupontheassailants,firingoneaftertheotherinquicksuccession.Twosavagesfell,andone,whowasintheactofthrusting a spear into Peters, sprung to his feet without accomplishing hispurpose.Mycompanionbeingthusreleased,wehadnofurtherdifficulty.Hehadhispistolsalso,butprudentlydeclinedusingthem,confidinginhisgreatpersonalstrength,whichfarexceededthatofanypersonIhaveeverknown.Seizing a club from one of the savages who had fallen, he dashed out thebrainsof the threewho remained, killing each instantaneouslywith a singleblowoftheweapon,andleavinguscompletelymastersofthefield.

So rapidly bad these events passed, that we could scarcely believe in theirreality, andwere standingover thebodiesof thedead in a speciesof stupidcontemplation,whenwewerebrought torecollectionbythesoundofshoutsin thedistance. Itwasclear that thesavageshadbeenalarmedby thefiring,and that we had little chance of avoiding discovery. To regain the cliff, itwouldbenecessarytoproceedinthedirectionoftheshouts,andevenshouldwesucceedinarrivingatitsbase,weshouldneverbeabletoascenditwithoutbeingseen.Oursituationwasoneofthegreatestperil,andwewerehesitatinginwhichpathtocommenceaflight,whenoneofthesavageswhomIhadshot,and supposed dead, sprang briskly to his feet, and attempted to make hisescape.Weovertookhim,however,beforehehadadvancedmanypaces,andwereabout toputhimtodeath,whenPeterssuggested thatwemightderivesomebenefitfromforcinghimtoaccompanyusinourattempttoescape.Wethereforedraggedhimwithus,makinghimunderstand thatwewould shoothimifheofferedresistance.Inafewminuteshewasperfectlysubmissive,andranbyoursidesaswepushedinamongtherocks,makingfortheseashore.

So far, the irregularities of the ground we had been traversing hid the sea,exceptatintervals,fromoursight,and,whenwefirsthaditfairlyinview,itwasperhaps twohundredyardsdistant.Asweemerged into theopenbeachwesaw, toourgreatdismay,an immensecrowdof thenativespouringfromthevillage,andfromallvisiblequartersoftheisland,makingtowarduswithgesticulationsofextremefury,andhowlinglikewildbeasts.Wewereuponthepoint of turning upon our steps, and trying to secure a retreat among thefastnessesof therougherground,whenIdiscoveredthebowsof twocanoesprojectingfrombehindalargerockwhichranoutintothewater.Towardthesewenow ranwith all speed, and, reaching them, found themunguarded, andwithoutanyotherfreightthanthreeofthelargeGallipagoturtlesandtheusualsupply of paddles for sixty rowers.We instantly took possession of one ofthem,and,forcingourcaptiveonboard,pushedouttoseawithallthestrengthwecouldcommand.

Wehadnotmade,however,more than fiftyyards from the shorebeforewebecamesufficientlycalmtoperceivethegreatoversightofwhichwehadbeenguilty in leaving the other canoe in the power of the savages,who, by thistime,werenotmorethantwiceasfarfromthebeachasourselves,andwererapidlyadvancingtothepursuit.Notimewasnowtobelost.Ourhopewas,atbest,aforlornone,butwehadnoneother.Itwasverydoubtfulwhether,withthe utmost exertion,we could get back in time to anticipate them in takingpossessionofthecanoe;butyettherewasachancethatwecould.Wemightsaveourselves ifwesucceeded,whilenot tomaketheattemptwastoresignourselvestoinevitablebutchery.

Thecanoewasmodelledwiththebowandsternalike,and,inplaceofturningitaround,wemerelychangedourpositioninpaddling.Assoonasthesavagesperceived this they redoubled their yells, as well as their speed, andapproached with inconceivable rapidity. We pulled, however, with all theenergyofdesperation,andarrivedatthecontestedpointbeforemorethanoneof the natives had attained it. Thisman paid dearly for his superior agility,Petersshootinghimthroughtheheadwithapistolasheapproachedtheshore.Theforemostamongtherestofhispartywereprobablysometwentyorthirtypacesdistantasweseizeduponthecanoe.Weatfirstendeavoredtopullherinto the deep water, beyond the reach of the savages, but, finding her toofirmly aground, and there being no time to spare, Peters, with one or twoheavy strokes from thebuttof themusket, succeeded indashingout a largeportionofthebowandofoneside.Wethenpushedoff.Twoofthenativesbythistimehadgotholdofourboat,obstinatelyrefusingtoletgo,untilwewereforcedtodespatchthemwithourknives.Wewerenowclearoff,andmakinggreatwayouttosea.Themainbodyofthesavages,uponreachingthebrokencanoe, set up the most tremendous yell of rage and disappointmentconceivable. In truth, from everything I could see of these wretches, theyappeared to be the most wicked, hypocritical, vindictive, bloodthirsty, andaltogether fiendish race of men upon the face of the globe. It is clear weshouldhavehadnomercyhadwefallen into theirhands.Theymadeamadattempt at following us in the fractured canoe, but, finding it useless, againvented their rage inaseriesofhideousvociferations,andrushedup into thehills.

We were thus relieved from immediate danger, but our situation was stillsufficientlygloomy.Weknewthatfourcanoesofthekindwehadwereatonetime in the possession of the savages, and were not aware of the fact(afterwardascertainedfromourcaptive)thattwoofthesehadbeenblowntopiecesintheexplosionoftheJaneGuy.Wecalculated,therefore,uponbeingyetpursued,assoonasourenemiescouldgetroundtothebay(distantaboutthreemiles)wheretheboatswereusuallylaidup.Fearingthis,wemadeeveryexertion 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 hadgainedprobably five or sixmiles to the southward, a large fleet of the flat-bottomedcanoesorraftswereseentoemergefromthebayevidentlywiththedesignofpursuit.Presentlytheyputback,despairingtoovertakeus.

CHAPTER25

WE now found ourselves in the wide and desolate Antarctic Ocean, in alatitudeexceedingeighty-fourdegrees,inafrailcanoe,andwithnoprovisionbutthethreeturtles.Thelongpolarwinter,too,couldnotbeconsideredasfardistant, and it became necessary that we should deliberate well upon thecoursetobepursued.Thereweresixorsevenislandsinsightbelongingtothesamegroup,anddistant fromeachotherabout fiveor six leagues;butuponneither of these had we any intention to venture. In coming from thenorthward in the Jane Guy we had been gradually leaving behind us theseverest regions of ice-this, however little it maybe in accordance with thegenerally received notions respecting the Antarctic, was a fact—experiencewouldnotpermitustodeny.Toattempt,therefore,gettingbackwouldbefolly—especiallyatso lateaperiodof theseason.Onlyonecourseseemedtobeleftopenforhope.Weresolvedtosteerboldlytothesouthward,wheretherewas at least a probability of discovering other lands, and more than aprobabilityoffindingastillmilderclimate.

SofarwehadfoundtheAntarctic,liketheArcticOcean,peculiarlyfreefromviolent storms or immoderately roughwater; but our canoewas, at best, offrail structure, although large, and we set busily to work with a view ofrenderingherassafeasthelimitedmeansinourpossessionwouldadmit.Thebody of the boat was of no better material than bark—the bark of a treeunknown. The ribs were of a tough osier, well adapted to the purpose forwhichitwasused.Wehadfiftyfeetroomfromstemtostern,fromfourtosixinbreadth,andindepththroughoutfourfeetandahalf-theboatsthusdifferingvastlyinshapefromthoseofanyotherinhabitantsoftheSouthernOceanwithwhom civilized nations are acquainted. We never did believe them theworkmanshipoftheignorantislanderswhoownedthem;andsomedaysafterthisperioddiscovered,byquestioningourcaptive,thattheywereinfactmadeby the natives of a group to the southwest of the country where we foundthem, having fallen accidentally into the hands of our barbarians.What wecoulddoforthesecurityofourboatwasverylittleindeed.Severalwiderentswere discovered near both ends, and these we contrived to patch up withpiecesofwoollen jacket.With thehelpof thesuperfluouspaddles,ofwhichtherewereagreatmany,weerectedakindofframeworkaboutthebow,soastobreak theforceofanyseaswhichmight threaten to fillus in thatquarter.Wealsosetuptwopaddle-bladesformasts,placingthemoppositeeachother,onebyeachgunwale,thussavingthenecessityofayard.Tothesemastsweattachedasailmadeofourshirts-doingthiswithsomedifficulty,asherewecould get no assistance from our prisoner whatever, although he bad beenwilling enough to labor in all the other operations. The sight of the linenseemed to affect him in a very singularmanner. He could not be prevailedupontotouchitorgonearit,shudderingwhenweattemptedtoforcehim,andshriekingout,"Tekeli-li!"

Havingcompletedourarrangementsinregardtothesecurityofthecanoe,wenowsetsailtothesouth-southeastforthepresent,withtheviewofweatheringthemostsoutherlyofthegroupinsight.Thisbeingdone,weturnedthebowfull to the southward. The weather could by no means be considereddisagreeable.Wehadaprevailingandverygentlewindfromthenorthward,asmoothsea,andcontinualdaylight.Noicewhateverwastobeseen;nordidIeverseeoneparticleofthisafterleavingtheparallelofBennet'sIslet.Indeed,the temperature of thewaterwas here far toowarm for its existence in anyquantity.Havingkilledthelargestofourtortoises,andobtainedfromhimnotonlyfoodbutacopioussupplyofwater,wecontinuedonourcourse,withoutanyincidentofmoment,forperhapssevenoreightdays,duringwhichperiodwemusthaveproceededavastdistance to the southward, as thewindblewconstantlywithus,andaverystrongcurrentsetcontinuallyinthedirectionwewerepursuing.

March1st.-Manyunusualphenomenanow—indicatedthatwewereenteringupon a region of novelty and wonder. A high range of light gray vaporappeared constantly in the southern horizon, flaring up occasionally in loftystreaks, now darting from east to west, now from west to east, and againpresentingalevelanduniformsummit-inshort,havingallthewildvariationsoftheAuroraBorealis.Theaverageheightofthisvapor,asapparentfromourstation,wasabouttwenty-fivedegrees.Thetemperatureoftheseaseemedtobe increasingmomentarily, and therewas averyperceptible alteration in itscolor.

March 2d.-To-day by repeated questioning of our captive, we came to theknowledge of many particulars in regard to the island of the massacre, itsinhabitants, and customs-butwith these how can I now detain the reader? Imaysay,however, thatwe learned therewereeight islands in thegroup-thattheyweregovernedbyacommonking,namedTsalemonorPsalemoun,whoresidedinoneofthesmallestoftheislands;thattheblackskinsformingthedressofthewarriorscamefromananimalofhugesizetobefoundonlyinavalleynearthecourtoftheking-thattheinhabitantsofthegroupfabricatednootherboatsthantheflat-bottomedrafts;thefourcanoesbeingallofthekindintheir possession, and, these having been obtained, by mere accident, fromsomelargeislandinthesouthwest-thathisownnamewasNu-Nu-thathehadnoknowledgeofBennet's Islet-and that the appellationof the islandhehadleft was Tsalal. The commencement of the wordsTsalemon and Tsalalwasgiven with a prolonged hissing sound, which 'we found it impossible toimitate,evenafterrepeatedendeavors,andwhichwaspreciselythesamewiththenoteoftheblackbitternwehadeatenuponthesummitofthehill.

March3d.-Theheatofthewaterwasnowtrulyremarkable,andincolorwas

undergoing a rapid change, being no longer transparent, but of a milkyconsistencyandhue.Inourimmediatevicinityitwasusuallysmooth,neversoroughastoendangerthecanoe-butwewerefrequentlysurprisedatperceiving,toourrightandleft,atdifferentdistances,suddenandextensiveagitationsofthe surface; these, we at length noticed, were always preceded by wildflickeringsintheregionofvaportothesouthward.

March4th.-To-day,with the view ofwidening our sail, the breeze from thenorthward dying away perceptibly, I took from my coat-pocket a whitehandkerchief. Nu-Nu was seated at my elbow, and the linen accidentallyflaringinhisface,hebecameviolentlyaffectedwithconvulsions.Theseweresucceeded by drowsiness and stupor, and low murmurings of "'Tekeli-li!Tekeli-li!"

March5th.-Thewindhadentirelyceased,butitwasevidentthatwewerestillhurryingontothesouthward,undertheinfluenceofapowerfulcurrent.Andnow,—indeed, it would seem reasonable that we should experience somealarm at the turn events were taking-but we felt none. The countenance ofPetersindicatednothingofthisnature,althoughitworeattimesanexpressionIcouldnotfathom.Thepolarwinterappearedtobecomingon—butcomingwithout its terrors. I felt a numbness of body and mind—a dreaminess ofsensationbutthiswasall.

March 6th.-The gray vapor had now arisen many more degrees above thehorizon,andwasgradually losing itsgraynessof tint.Theheatof thewaterwas extreme, even unpleasant to the touch, and its milky hue was moreevidentthanever.Todayaviolentagitationofthewateroccurredveryclosetothecanoe.Itwasattended,asusual,withawildflaringupofthevaporatitssummit, and a momentary division at its base. A fine white powder,resembling ashes-but certainlynot such-fell over the canoe andover a largesurface of the water, as the flickering died away among the vapor and thecommotionsubsidedinthesea.Nu-Nunowthrewhimselfonhisfaceinthebottomoftheboat,andnopersuasionscouldinducehimtoarise.

March 7th.-This day we questioned Nu-Nu concerning the motives of hiscountrymen indestroyingourcompanions;butheappeared tobe tooutterlyovercomeby terror toaffordusanyrational reply.Hestillobstinately lay inthebottomof theboat; and,upon reiterating thequestions as to themotive,madeuseonlyofidioticgesticulations,suchasraisingwithhisforefingertheupperlip,anddisplayingtheteethwhichlaybeneathit.Thesewereblack.WehadneverbeforeseentheteethofaninhabitantofTsalal.

March 8th.-To-day there floated by us one of the white animals whoseappearance 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 asuddenlistlessness,andIforbore.Theheatofthewaterstillincreased,andthehandcouldnolongerbeenduredwithinit.Petersspokelittle,andIknewnotwhattothinkofhisapathy.Nu-Nubreathed,andnomore.

March9th.-Thewhole ashymaterial fell now continually around us, and invastquantities.Therangeofvaportothesouthwardhadarisenprodigiouslyinthehorizon,andbegantoassumemoredistinctnessofform.Icanlikenit tonothing but a limitless cataract, rolling silently into the sea from someimmense and far-distant rampart in the heaven. The gigantic curtain rangedalongthewholeextentofthesouthernhorizon.Itemittednosound.

March21st.-Asullendarknessnowhoveredaboveus-butfromoutthemilkydepthsoftheoceanaluminousglarearose,andstoleupalongthebulwarksoftheboat.Wewerenearlyoverwhelmedbythewhiteashyshowerwhichsettleduponusanduponthecanoe,butmeltedintothewaterasitfell.Thesummitofthe cataract was utterly lost in the dimness and the distance. Yet we wereevidently approaching it with a hideous velocity. At intervals there werevisible in itwide, yawning, butmomentary rents, and from out these rents,withinwhichwasachaosofflittingandindistinctimages,therecamerushingand mighty, but soundless winds, tearing up the enkindled ocean in theircourse.

March22d.-Thedarknesshadmateriallyincreased,relievedonlybytheglareofthewaterthrownbackfromthewhitecurtainbeforeus.Manygiganticandpallidly white birds flew continuously now from beyond the veil, and theirscreamwastheeternalTekeli-li!astheyretreatedfromourvision.HereuponNu-Nustirredinthebottomoftheboat;butupontouchinghimwefoundhisspiritdeparted.Andnowwerushedintotheembracesofthecataract,whereachasm threw itself open to receive us. But there arose in our pathway ashrouded human figure, very far larger in its proportions than any dwelleramongmen.Andthehueoftheskinofthefigurewasoftheperfectwhitenessofthesnow.

NOTE

THE circumstances connectedwith the late sudden and distressing death ofMr.Pymarealreadywellknowntothepublicthroughthemediumofthedailypress. It is feared that the few remaining chapters which were to havecompleted his narrative, and which were retained by him, while the abovewereintype,forthepurposeofrevision,havebeenirrecoverablylostthroughtheaccidentbywhichheperishedhimself.This,however,mayprovenottobethecase,andthepapers,ifultimatelyfound,willbegiventothepublic.

No means have been left untried to remedy the deficiency. The gentlemanwhosename ismentioned in thepreface, andwho, from the statement theremade,mightbe supposedable to fill thevacuum,hasdeclined the task-this,for satisfactory reasons connectedwith the general inaccuracy of the detailsaffordedhim,andhisdisbelief intheentire truthof thelatterportionsof thenarration. Peters, from whom some information might be expected, is stillalive, and a resident of Illinois, but cannot bemetwith at present.Hemayhereafterbefound,andwill,nodoubt,affordmaterialforaconclusionofMr.Pym'saccount.

Thelossoftwoorthreefinalchapters(fortherewerebuttwoorthree)isthemore deeply to be regretted, as it can not be doubted they containedmatterrelativetothePoleitself,oratleasttoregionsinitsverynearproximity;andas,too,thestatementsoftheauthorinrelationtotheseregionsmayshortlybeverified or contradicted by means of the governmental expedition nowpreparingfortheSouthernOcean.

Ononepointinthenarrativesomeremarksmaywellbeoffered;anditwouldaffordthewriterofthisappendixmuchpleasureifwhathemayhereobserveshouldhaveatendencytothrowcredit,inanydegree,upontheverysingularpagesnowpublished.Weallude to thechasmsfound in the islandofTsalal,and to thewholeof the figuresuponpages245-47{of theprintededition—ed.}.

(Note:Nofigureswereincludedwiththistext)

Mr. Pymhas given the figures of the chasmswithout comment, and speaksdecidedlyoftheindenturesfoundattheextremityofthemosteasterlyofthesechasmsashavingbutafancifulresemblancetoalphabeticalcharacters,and,inshort, as being positively not such.This assertion is made in a manner sosimple, and sustained by a species of demonstration so conclusive (viz., thefitting of the projections of the fragments found among the dust into theindenturesuponthewall),thatweareforcedtobelievethewriterinearnest;andnoreasonablereadershouldsupposeotherwise.Butasthefactsinrelationtoallthefiguresaremostsingular(especiallywhentakeninconnectionwithstatementsmadeinthebodyofthenarrative),itmaybeaswelltosayawordor two concerning them all-this, too, the more especially as the facts inquestionhave,beyonddoubt,escapedtheattentionofMr.Poe.

Figure 1, then, figure 2, figure 3, and figure 5, when conjoined with oneanotherinthepreciseorderwhichthechasmsthemselvespresented,andwhendeprivedofthesmalllateralbranchesorarches(which,itwillberemembered,served only as ameans of communication between themain chambers, andwereoftotallydistinctcharacter),constituteanEthiopianverbalroot-theroot

"Tobeshady,'—whencealltheinflectionsofshadowordarkness.

Inregardtothe"leftormostnorthwardly"oftheindenturesinfigure4, it ismore than probable that the opinion of Peters was correct, and that thehieroglyphical appearance was really the work of art, and intended as therepresentationofahumanform.Thedelineation isbefore thereader,andhemay, or may not, perceive the resemblance suggested; but the rest of theindentures afford strong confirmation of Peters' idea. The upper range isevidently theArabicverbal root"Tobewhite,"whenceall the inflectionsofbrilliancyandwhiteness.Thelowerrangeisnotsoimmediatelyperspicuous.Thecharactersaresomewhatbrokenanddisjointed;nevertheless,itcannotbedoubtedthat, intheirperfectstate, theyformedthefullEgyptianword."Theregionof the south.' It shouldbeobserved that these interpretations confirmtheopinionofPetersinregardtothe"mostnorthwardly"ofthefigures.Thearmisoutstretchedtowardthesouth.

Conclusions such as these open a wide field for speculation and excitingconjecture.Theyshouldberegarded,perhaps,inconnectionwithsomeofthemostfaintlydetailedincidentsofthenarrative;althoughinnovisiblemanneris this chainof connection complete.Tekeli-li!was the cryof the affrightednativesofTsalalupondiscoveringthecarcaseofthewhiteanimalpickedupatsea.ThisalsowastheshudderingexclamativesofTsalalupondiscoveringthecarcass of thewhitematerials in possession ofMr. Pym. This alsowas theshriek of the swift-flying,white, and gigantic birds which issued from thevaporywhitecurtainof theSouth.Nothingwhitewas to be found at Tsalal,andnothingotherwiseinthesubsequentvoyagetotheregionbeyond.Itisnotimpossible that "Tsalal," theappellationof the islandof thechasms,maybefound,uponminutephilologicalscrutiny, tobetrayeithersomealliancewiththe chasms themselves, or some reference to the Ethiopian characters somysteriouslywrittenintheirwindings.

"Ihavegravenitwithinthehills,andmyvengeanceuponthedustwithintherock."

LIGEIA

Andthewillthereinlieth,whichdiethnot.Whoknoweththemysteriesofthewill,withitsvigor?ForGodisbutagreatwillpervadingallthingsbynatureof its intentness. Man doth not yield himself to the angels, nor unto deathutterly,saveonlythroughtheweaknessofhisfeeblewill.—JosephGlanvill.

Icannot, formysoul, rememberhow,when,orevenpreciselywhere, I firstbecameacquaintedwith the ladyLigeia.Longyearshavesinceelapsed,andmymemoryisfeeblethroughmuchsuffering.Or,perhaps,Icannotnowbringthesepoints tomind,because, in truth, thecharacterofmybeloved,herrarelearning,hersingularyetplacidcastofbeauty,andthethrillingandenthrallingeloquenceofherlowmusicallanguage,madetheirwayintomyheartbypacesso steadily and stealthily progressive that they have been unnoticed andunknown.YetIbelievethatImetherfirstandmostfrequentlyinsomelarge,old, decaying city near the Rhine. Of her family—I have surely heard herspeak.Thatitisofaremotelyancientdatecannotbedoubted.Ligeia!Ligeia!instudiesofanaturemorethanallelseadaptedtodeadenimpressionsoftheoutwardworld,itisbythatsweetwordalone—byLigeia—thatIbringbeforemineeyesinfancytheimageofherwhoisnomore.Andnow,whileIwrite,arecollectionflashesuponmethatIhaveneverknownthepaternalnameofherwho was my friend and my betrothed, and who became the partner of mystudies,andfinallythewifeofmybosom.WasitaplayfulchargeonthepartofmyLigeia?orwasitatestofmystrengthofaffection,thatIshouldinstitutenoinquiriesuponthispoint?orwasitratheracapriceofmyown—awildlyromantic offering on the shrine of the most passionate devotion? I butindistinctlyrecallthefactitself—whatwonderthatIhaveutterlyforgottenthecircumstanceswhich originated or attended it?And, indeed, if ever she, thewan and themisty-wingedAshtophet of idolatrous Egypt, presided, as theytell,overmarriagesill-omened,thenmostsurelyshepresidedovermine.

Thereisonedeartopic,however,onwhichmymemoryfallsmenot.ItisthepersonofLigeia.Instatureshewastall,somewhatslender,and, inherlatterdays,evenemaciated.Iwouldinvainattempttoportraythemajesty,thequietease,ofherdemeanor,ortheincomprehensiblelightnessandelasticityofherfootfall.Shecameanddepartedasashadow.Iwasnevermadeawareofherentranceintomyclosedstudysavebythedearmusicofherlowsweetvoice,assheplacedhermarblehanduponmyshoulder.Inbeautyoffacenomaideneverequalledher.Itwastheradianceofanopium-dream—anairyandspirit-lifting vision more wildly divine than the phantasies which hovered visionabout the slumbering souls of thedaughters ofDelos.Yet her featureswerenotofthatregularmouldwhichwehavebeenfalselytaughttoworshipintheclassical labors of the heathen. "There is no exquisite beauty," says Bacon,LordVerulam,speakingtrulyofalltheformsandgeneraofbeauty,"withoutsomestrangeness in theproportion."Yet,although I saw that the featuresofLigeia were not of a classic regularity—although I perceived that herloveliness was indeed "exquisite," and felt that there was much of"strangeness"pervadingit,yetIhavetriedinvaintodetecttheirregularityandtotracehomemyownperceptionof"thestrange."Iexaminedthecontourofthe lofty and pale forehead—it was faultless—how cold indeed that word

whenappliedtoamajestysodivine!—theskinrivallingthepurestivory,thecommanding extent and repose, the gentle prominence of the regions abovethetemples;andthentheraven-black,theglossy,theluxuriantandnaturally-curling tresses, setting forth the full force of the Homeric epithet,"hyacinthine!"Ilookedatthedelicateoutlinesofthenose—andnowherebutin thegracefulmedallionsof theHebrewshad Ibehelda similarperfection.There were the same luxurious smoothness of surface, the same scarcelyperceptible tendency to the aquiline, the same harmoniously curved nostrilsspeaking the free spirit. I regarded the sweet mouth. Here was indeed thetriumphofallthingsheavenly—themagnificentturnoftheshortupperlip—thesoft,voluptuousslumberoftheunder—thedimpleswhichsported,andthecolorwhichspoke—theteethglancingback,withabrilliancyalmoststartling,everyrayoftheholylightwhichfellupontheminhersereneandplacid,yetmostexultinglyradiantofallsmiles.Iscrutinizedtheformationofthechin—andhere,too,Ifoundthegentlenessofbreadth,thesoftnessandthemajesty,the fullness and the spirituality, of the Greek—the contour which the godApollorevealedbut inadream,toCleomenes, thesonoftheAthenian.AndthenIpeeredintothelargeeyesofLigeia.

Foreyeswehavenomodelsintheremotelyantique.Itmighthavebeen,too,thatintheseeyesofmybelovedlaythesecrettowhichLordVerulamalludes.Theywere,Imustbelieve,farlargerthantheordinaryeyesofourownrace.Theywereeven fuller than the fullestof thegazelle eyesof the tribeof thevalley of Nourjahad. Yet it was only at intervals—in moments of intenseexcitement—that this peculiarity became more than slightly noticeable inLigeia. And at such moments was her beauty—in my heated fancy thus itappearedperhaps—thebeautyofbeingseitheraboveorapartfromtheearth—thebeautyofthefabulousHourioftheTurk.Thehueoftheorbswasthemostbrilliant of black, and, far over them, hung jetty lashes of great length.Thebrows, slightly irregular in outline, had the same tint. The "strangeness,"however, which I found in the eyes, was of a nature distinct from theformation,orthecolor,orthebrilliancyofthefeatures,andmust,afterall,bereferred to the expression. Ah, word of no meaning! behind whose vastlatitudeofmeresoundweintrenchourignoranceofsomuchofthespiritual.The expression of the eyes of Ligeia!How for long hours have I ponderedupon it!Howhave I, through thewholeofamidsummernight, struggled tofathom it! What was it—that something more profound than the well ofDemocritus—whichlayfarwithin thepupilsofmybeloved?Whatwas it?Iwas possessed with a passion to discover. Those eyes! those large, thoseshining, those divine orbs! they became tome twin stars of Leda, and I tothemdevoutestofastrologers.

Thereisnopoint,amongthemanyincomprehensibleanomaliesofthescience

ofmind,more thrillingly exciting than the fact—never, I believe, noticed inthe schools—that, in our endeavors to recall to memory something longforgotten, we often find ourselves upon the very verge of remembrance,withoutbeingable,intheend,toremember.Andthushowfrequently,inmyintensescrutinyofLigeia'seyes,haveIfeltapproachingthefullknowledgeoftheirexpression—feltitapproaching—yetnotquitebemine—andsoatlengthentirely depart! And (strange, oh strangest mystery of all!) I found, in thecommonestobjectsoftheuniverse,acircleofanalogiestothatexpression.Imeantosaythat,subsequentlytotheperiodwhenLigeia'sbeautypassedintomyspirit,theredwellingasinashrine,Iderived,frommanyexistencesinthematerialworld, a sentiment such as I felt always arousedwithinme by herlarge and luminous orbs.Yet not themore could I define that sentiment, oranalyze,orevensteadilyviewit.Irecognizedit,letmerepeat,sometimesinthe survey of a rapidly-growing vine—in the contemplation of a moth, abutterfly,achrysalis,astreamofrunningwater.Ihavefeltitintheocean;inthefallingofameteor.Ihavefeltitintheglancesofunusuallyagedpeople.Andthereareoneortwostarsinheaven—(oneespecially,astarofthesixthmagnitude,doubleandchangeable,tobefoundnearthelargestarinLyra)inatelescopic scrutiny ofwhich I have beenmade aware of the feeling. I havebeen filled with it by certain sounds from stringed instruments, and notunfrequentlybypassagesfrombooks.Amonginnumerableother instances, Iwell remember something in a volume of Joseph Glanvill, which (perhapsmerely from itsquaintness—whoshall say?)never failed to inspiremewiththesentiment;—"Andthewillthereinlieth,whichdiethnot.Whoknoweththemysteriesofthewill,withitsvigor?ForGodisbutagreatwillpervadingallthingsbynatureof its intentness.Mandothnotyieldhim to theangels,noruntodeathutterly,saveonlythroughtheweaknessofhisfeeblewill."

Lengthofyears,andsubsequentreflection,haveenabledmetotrace,indeed,some remote connection between this passage in theEnglishmoralist and aportionof thecharacterofLigeia.Anintensity in thought,action,orspeech,was possibly, in her, a result, or at least an index, of that gigantic volitionwhich,duringour long intercourse, failed togiveotherandmore immediateevidenceofitsexistence.OfallthewomenwhomIhaveeverknown,she,theoutwardlycalm, theever-placidLigeia,was themostviolentlyaprey to thetumultuous vultures of stern passion. And of such passion I could form noestimate, save by themiraculous expansion of those eyeswhich at once sodelighted and appalled me—by the almost magical melody, modulation,distinctness and placidity of her very low voice—and by the fierce energy(rendered doubly effective by contrastwith hermanner of utterance) of thewildwordswhichshehabituallyuttered.

IhavespokenofthelearningofLigeia:itwasimmense—suchasIhavenever

knowninwoman.Intheclassicaltongueswasshedeeplyproficient,andasfarasmyownacquaintanceextendedinregardtothemoderndialectsofEurope,Ihaveneverknownheratfault.Indeeduponanythemeofthemostadmired,because simply the most abstruse of the boasted erudition of the academy,have I ever foundLigeiaat fault?Howsingularly—how thrillingly, thisonepointinthenatureofmywifehasforceditself,atthislateperiodonly,uponmyattention!IsaidherknowledgewassuchasIhaveneverknowninwoman—but where breathes the man who has traversed, and successfully, all thewideareasofmoral,physical,andmathematicalscience?IsawnotthenwhatI now clearly perceive, that the acquisitions of Ligeia were gigantic, wereastounding; yet Iwas sufficiently aware of her infinite supremacy to resignmyself, with a child-like confidence, to her guidance through the chaoticworld of metaphysical investigation at which I was most busily occupiedduringtheearlieryearsofourmarriage.Withhowvastatriumph—withhowvividadelight—withhowmuchofallthatisetherealinhope—didIfeel,asshebentovermeinstudiesbutlittlesought—butlessknown—thatdeliciousvistabyslowdegreesexpandingbeforeme,downwhoselong,gorgeous,andalluntroddenpath,Imightatlengthpassonwardtothegoalofawisdomtoodivinelypreciousnottobeforbidden!

Howpoignant,then,musthavebeenthegriefwithwhich,aftersomeyears,Ibeheldmywell-groundedexpectationstakewingstothemselvesandflyaway!Without Ligeia I was but as a child groping benighted. Her presence, herreadings alone, rendered vividly luminous the many mysteries of thetranscendentalisminwhichwewere immersed.Wanting theradiant lustreofher eyes, letters, lambent and golden, grew duller than Saturnian lead. Andnow those eyes shone less and less frequently upon the pages overwhich Ipored. Ligeia grew ill. The wild eyes blazed with a too—too gloriouseffulgence;thepalefingersbecameofthetransparentwaxenhueofthegrave,andtheblueveinsupontheloftyforeheadswelledandsankimpetuouslywiththe tides of the gentle emotion. I saw that she must die—and I struggleddesperatelyinspiritwiththegrimAzrael.Andthestrugglesofthepassionatewifewere,tomyastonishment,evenmoreenergeticthanmyown.Therehadbeenmuchinhersternnaturetoimpressmewiththebeliefthat,toher,deathwould have come without its terrors;—but not so. Words are impotent toconveyany just ideaof the fiercenessof resistancewithwhich shewrestledwiththeShadow.Igroanedinanguishatthepitiablespectacle.Iwouldhavesoothed—Iwouldhave reasoned; but, in the intensity of herwilddesire forlife,—for life—but for life—solace and reasonwere the uttermost folly.Yetnot until the last instance, amid themost convulsivewrithings of her fiercespirit,wasshakentheexternalplacidityofherdemeanor.Hervoicegrewmoregentle—grew more low—yet I would not wish to dwell upon the wildmeaning of the quietly uttered words. My brain reeled as I hearkened

entranced, to a melody more than mortal—to assumptions and aspirationswhichmortalityhadneverbeforeknown.

That she lovedme I shouldnothavedoubted; and Imighthavebeeneasilyaware that, in a bosom such as hers, love would have reigned no ordinarypassion. But in death only, was I fully impressed with the strength of heraffection.For longhours,detainingmyhand,wouldshepouroutbeforemetheoverflowingofaheartwhosemorethanpassionatedevotionamountedtoidolatry.HowhadIdeservedtobesoblessedbysuchconfessions?—howhadIdeservedtobesocursedwiththeremovalofmybelovedinthehourofhermakingthem,ButuponthissubjectIcannotbear todilate.Letmesayonly,that in Ligeia's more than womanly abandonment to a love, alas! allunmerited,allunworthilybestowed,Iatlengthrecognizedtheprincipleofherlongingwithsowildlyearnestadesireforthelifewhichwasnowfleeingsorapidlyaway.Itisthiswildlonging—itisthiseagervehemenceofdesireforlife—but for life—that I havenopower toportray—noutterancecapableofexpressing.

Athighnoonofthenightinwhichshedeparted,beckoningme,peremptorily,toherside,shebademerepeatcertainversescomposedbyherselfnotmanydaysbefore.Iobeyedher.—Theywerethese:

Lo!'tisagalanight

Withinthelonesomelatteryears!

Anangelthrong,bewinged,bedight

Inveils,anddrownedintears,

Sitinatheatre,tosee

Aplayofhopesandfears,

Whiletheorchestrabreathesfitfully

Themusicofthespheres.

Mimes,intheformofGodonhigh,

Mutterandmumblelow,

Andhitherandthitherfly;

Merepuppetsthey,whocomeandgo

Atbiddingofvastformlessthings

Thatshiftthescenerytoandfro,

FlappingfromouttheirCondorwings

InvisibleWo!

Thatmotleydrama!—oh,besure

Itshallnotbeforgot!

WithitsPhantomchasedforevermore,

Byacrowdthatseizeitnot,

Throughacirclethateverreturnethin

Totheself-samespot,

AndmuchofMadnessandmoreofSin

AndHorrorthesouloftheplot.

Butsee,amidthemimicrout,

Acrawlingshapeintrude!

Ablood-redthingthatwrithesfromout

Thescenicsolitude!

Itwrithes!—itwrithes!—withmortalpangs

Themimesbecomeitsfood,

Andtheseraphssobatverminfangs

Inhumangoreimbued.

Out—outarethelights—outall!

Andovereachquiveringform,

Thecurtain,afuneralpall,

Comesdownwiththerushofastorm,

Andtheangels,allpallidandwan,

Uprising,unveiling,affirm

Thattheplayisthetragedy,"Man,"

AnditsherotheConquerorWorm.

"OGod!"halfshriekedLigeia,leapingtoherfeetandextendingherarmsaloftwith a spasmodicmovement, as Imade an end of these lines—"OGod!ODivineFather!—shallthesethingsbeundeviatinglyso?—shallthisConquerorbe not once conquered? Are we not part and parcel in Thee? Who—whoknoweththemysteriesofthewillwithitsvigor?Mandothnotyieldhimtotheangels, nor unto death utterly, save only through theweakness of his feeblewill."

Andnow, as if exhaustedwith emotion, she sufferedherwhite arms to fall,andreturnedsolemnlytoherbedofdeath.Andasshebreathedherlastsighs,therecamemingledwiththemalowmurmurfromherlips.Ibenttothemmyearanddistinguished,again,theconcludingwordsofthepassageinGlanvill—"Man doth not yield him to the angels, nor unto death utterly, save onlythroughtheweaknessofhisfeeblewill."

She died;—and I, crushed into the very dust with sorrow, could no longerendurethelonelydesolationofmydwellinginthedimanddecayingcitybytheRhine.Ihadnolackofwhattheworldcallswealth.Ligeiahadbroughtmefarmore,veryfarmorethanordinarilyfallstothelotofmortals.Afterafewmonths, therefore, ofweary and aimlesswandering, I purchased, and put insomerepair,anabbey,whichIshallnotname,inoneofthewildestandleastfrequentedportionsof fairEngland.Thegloomyanddrearygrandeurof thebuilding, the almost savageaspectof thedomain, themanymelancholyandtime-honored memories connected with both, had much in unison with thefeelings of utter abandonment which had driven me into that remote andunsocial region of the country. Yet although the external abbey, with itsverdantdecayhangingaboutit,sufferedbutlittlealteration,Igaveway,withachild-like perversity, and perchance with a faint hope of alleviating mysorrows, to a display of more than regal magnificence within.—For suchfollies,even inchildhood, Ihad imbibeda tasteandnowtheycameback tome as if in the dotage of grief. Alas, I feel how much even of incipientmadnessmighthavebeendiscoveredinthegorgeousandfantasticdraperies,in the solemn carvings of Egypt, in the wild cornices and furniture, in theBedlampatternsofthecarpetsoftuftedgold!Ihadbecomeaboundenslaveinthe trammels of opium, andmy labors andmy orders had taken a coloring

frommydreams.Buttheseabsurditiesmustnotpausetodetail.Letmespeakonly of that one chamber, ever accursed, whither in a moment of mentalalienation, I led from the altar as my bride—as the successor of theunforgottenLigeia—thefair-hairedandblue-eyedLadyRowenaTrevanion,ofTremaine.

Thereisnoindividualportionofthearchitectureanddecorationofthatbridalchamber which is not now visibly beforeme.Where were the souls of thehaughty family of the bride,when, through thirst of gold, they permitted topass the thresholdofanapartmentsobedecked,amaidenandadaughtersobeloved?IhavesaidthatIminutelyrememberthedetailsofthechamber—yetIamsadlyforgetfulontopicsofdeepmoment—andheretherewasnosystem,nokeeping,inthefantasticdisplay,totakeholduponthememory.Theroomlay inahigh turretof thecastellatedabbey,waspentagonal inshape,andofcapacious size.Occupying thewhole southern face of the pentagonwas thesole window—an immense sheet of unbroken glass from Venice—a singlepane, and tintedofa leadenhue, so that the raysofeither the sunormoon,passing through it, fellwith a ghastly lustre on the objectswithin.Over theupperportionofthishugewindow,extendedthetrellice-workofanagedvine,which clambered up themassy walls of the turret. The ceiling, of gloomy-looking oak,was excessively lofty, vaulted, and elaborately frettedwith thewildest and most grotesque specimens of a semi-Gothic, semi-Druidicaldevice. From out the most central recess of this melancholy vaulting,depended,byasinglechainofgoldwithlonglinks,ahugecenserofthesamemetal,Saracenicinpattern,andwithmanyperforationssocontrivedthattherewrithed in and out of them, as if enduedwith a serpent vitality, a continualsuccessionofparti-coloredfires.

Somefewottomansandgoldencandelabra,ofEasternfigure,wereinvariousstations about—and there was the couch, too—bridal couch—of an Indianmodel,andlow,andsculpturedofsolidebony,withapall-likecanopyabove.Ineachof theanglesof thechamberstoodonendagiganticsarcophagusofblackgranite,fromthetombsofthekingsoveragainstLuxor,withtheiragedlidsfullofimmemorialsculpture.Butinthedrapingoftheapartmentlay,alas!the chief phantasy of all. The lofty walls, gigantic in height—evenunproportionably so—were hung from summit to foot, in vast folds,with aheavyandmassive-lookingtapestry—tapestryofamaterialwhichwasfoundalike as a carpet on the floor, as a covering for theottomans and the ebonybed,asacanopyforthebed,andasthegorgeousvolutesofthecurtainswhichpartiallyshadedthewindow.Thematerialwastherichestclothofgold.Itwasspottedallover,atirregularintervals,witharabesquefigures,aboutafootindiameter,andwroughtupontheclothinpatternsofthemostjettyblack.Butthese figures partook of the true character of the arabesque only when

regarded from a single point of view. By a contrivance now common, andindeed traceable to a very remote period of antiquity, they were madechangeable inaspect.Tooneentering theroom, theybore theappearanceofsimplemonstrosities; but upon a farther advance, this appearance graduallydeparted;andstepbystep,asthevisitormovedhisstationinthechamber,hesawhimselfsurroundedbyanendlesssuccessionoftheghastlyformswhichbelongtothesuperstitionoftheNorman,orariseintheguiltyslumbersofthemonk. The phantasmagoric effect was vastly heightened by the artificialintroduction of a strong continual current of wind behind the draperies—givingahideousanduneasyanimationtothewhole.

Inhalls suchas these—inabridal chamber suchas this—Ipassed,with theLadyofTremaine,theunhallowedhoursofthefirstmonthofourmarriage—passed them with but little disquietude. That my wife dreaded the fiercemoodiness of my temper—that she shunned me and loved me but little—Icould not help perceiving; but it gave me rather pleasure than otherwise. Iloathedherwithahatredbelongingmoretodemonthantoman.Mymemoryflew back, (oh, with what intensity of regret!) to Ligeia, the beloved, theaugust,thebeautiful,theentombed.Irevelledinrecollectionsofherpurity,ofherwisdom,ofherlofty,heretherealnature,ofherpassionate,heridolatrouslove.Now,then,didmyspiritfullyandfreelyburnwithmorethanallthefiresof her own. In the excitement of my opium dreams (for I was habituallyfetteredintheshacklesofthedrug)Iwouldcallalouduponhername,duringthesilenceofthenight,oramongtheshelteredrecessesoftheglensbyday,asif,throughthewildeagerness,thesolemnpassion,theconsumingardorofmylongingforthedeparted,Icouldrestorehertothepathwayshehadabandoned—ah,coulditbeforever?—upontheearth.

About the commencement of the second month of the marriage, the LadyRowenawasattackedwithsuddenillness,fromwhichherrecoverywasslow.The fever which consumed her rendered her nights uneasy; and in herperturbedstateofhalf-slumber, shespokeofsounds,andofmotions, inandaboutthechamberof theturret,whichIconcludedhadnooriginsaveinthedistemper of her fancy, or perhaps in the phantasmagoric influences of thechamber itself. She became at length convalescent—finally well. Yet but abriefperiodelapsed,ereasecondmoreviolentdisorderagainthrewheruponabedof suffering; and from this attackher frame,at all times feeble,neveraltogether recovered. Her illnesses were, after this epoch, of alarmingcharacter,andofmorealarmingrecurrence,defyingaliketheknowledgeandthegreatexertionsofherphysicians.Withtheincreaseofthechronicdiseasewhich had thus, apparently, taken too sure hold upon her constitution to beeradicatedbyhumanmeans, Icouldnot fall toobserveasimilar increase inthe nervous irritation of her temperament, and in her excitability by trivial

causesoffear.Shespokeagain,andnowmorefrequentlyandpertinaciously,of thesounds—of theslight sounds—andof theunusualmotionsamong thetapestries,towhichshehadformerlyalluded.

One night, near the closing in of September, she pressed this distressingsubject with more than usual emphasis upon my attention. She had justawakened from an unquiet slumber, and I had beenwatching,with feelingshalf of anxiety, half of vague terror, the workings of her emaciatedcountenance.Isatbythesideofherebonybed,upononeoftheottomansofIndia.Shepartlyarose,andspoke,inanearnestlowwhisper,ofsoundswhichshe thenheard,butwhichIcouldnothear—ofmotionswhichshe thensaw,butwhich I could not perceive. Thewindwas rushing hurriedly behind thetapestries, and Iwished to showher (what, letmeconfess it, I couldnotallbelieve) that those almost inarticulate breathings, and those very gentlevariations of the figures upon the wall, were but the natural effects of thatcustomary rushingof thewind.But a deadly pallor, overspreadingher face,had proved tome thatmy exertions to reassure herwould be fruitless. Sheappeared to be fainting, and no attendants were within call. I rememberedwherewasdepositedadecanteroflightwinewhichhadbeenorderedbyherphysicians, andhastened across the chamber toprocure it.But, as I steppedbeneath the light of the censer, two circumstances of a startling natureattractedmyattention.Ihadfeltthatsomepalpablealthoughinvisibleobjecthad passed lightly bymy person; and I saw that there lay upon the goldencarpet,intheverymiddleoftherichlustrethrownfromthecenser,ashadow—afaint, indefiniteshadowofangelicaspect—suchasmightbe fancied fortheshadowofashade.ButIwaswildwiththeexcitementofanimmoderatedose of opium, and heeded these things but little, nor spoke of them toRowena.Having found thewine, I recrossed the chamber, andpouredout agobletful,whichIheldtothelipsofthefaintinglady.Shehadnowpartiallyrecovered,however,andtookthevesselherself,whileIsankuponanottomannearme,withmy eyes fasteneduponher person. Itwas then that I becamedistinctlyawareofagentlefootfalluponthecarpet,andnearthecouch;andinasecondthereafter,asRowenawasintheactofraisingthewinetoherlips,Isaw,ormayhavedreamedthatIsaw,fallwithinthegoblet,asiffromsomeinvisiblespringintheatmosphereoftheroom,threeorfourlargedropsofabrilliantandrubycoloredfluid.IfthisIsaw—notsoRowena.Sheswallowedthewineunhesitatingly,andIforboretospeaktoherofacircumstancewhichmust, after all, I considered, have been but the suggestion of a vividimagination,renderedmorbidlyactivebytheterrorofthelady,bytheopium,andbythehour.

YetIcannotconcealitfrommyownperceptionthat,immediatelysubsequentto the fall of the ruby-drops, a rapid change for theworse tookplace in the

disorderofmywife; so that,on the thirdsubsequentnight, thehandsofhermenials prepared her for the tomb, and on the fourth, I sat alone, with hershroudedbody,inthatfantasticchamberwhichhadreceivedherasmybride.—Wild visions, opium-engendered, flitted, shadow-like, before me. I gazedwith unquiet eye upon the sarcophagi in the angles of the room, upon thevaryingfiguresofthedrapery,anduponthewrithingoftheparti-coloredfiresin the censer overhead. My eyes then fell, as I called to mind thecircumstances of a former night, to the spot beneath the glare of the censerwhere I had seen the faint traces of the shadow. It was there, however, nolonger;andbreathingwithgreaterfreedom,Iturnedmyglancestothepallidandrigidfigureuponthebed.ThenrusheduponmeathousandmemoriesofLigeia—andthencamebackuponmyheart,withtheturbulentviolenceofaflood, thewhole of that unutterablewowithwhich I had regarded her thusenshrouded.Thenightwaned;andstill,withabosomfullofbitterthoughtsofthe one only and supremely beloved, I remained gazing upon the body ofRowena.

Itmight have beenmidnight, or perhaps earlier, or later, for I had taken nonoteof time,whenasob, low,gentle,butverydistinct,startledmefrommyrevery.—Ifeltthatitcamefromthebedofebony—thebedofdeath.Ilistenedinanagonyofsuperstitiousterror—buttherewasnorepetitionofthesound.Istrainedmyvisiontodetectanymotioninthecorpse—buttherewasnottheslightestperceptible.YetIcouldnothavebeendeceived.Ihadheardthenoise,however faint, and my soul was awakened within me. I resolutely andperseveringlykeptmyattentionriveteduponthebody.Manyminuteselapsedbeforeanycircumstanceoccurredtendingtothrowlightuponthemystery.Atlength it became evident that a slight, a very feeble, and barely noticeabletingeofcolorhad flushedupwithin thecheeks,andalong thesunkensmallveins of the eyelids. Through a species of unutterable horror and awe, forwhichthelanguageofmortalityhasnosufficientlyenergeticexpression,Ifeltmyheartceasetobeat,mylimbsgrowrigidwhereIsat.Yetasenseofdutyfinallyoperatedtorestoremyself-possession.Icouldnolongerdoubtthatwehad been precipitate in our preparations—that Rowena still lived. It wasnecessary that some immediate exertion be made; yet turret was altogetherapartfromtheportionoftheabbeytenantedbytheservants—therewerenonewithincall—Ihadnomeansof summoning them tomyaidwithout leavingthe room formanyminutes—and this I could not venture to do. I thereforestruggledaloneinmyendeavorstocallbackthespiritillhovering.Inashortperiod it was certain, however, that a relapse had taken place; the colordisappeared fromboth eyelid and cheek, leaving awanness evenmore thanthatofmarble;thelipsbecamedoublyshrivelledandpinchedupintheghastlyexpressionofdeath;arepulsiveclamminessandcoldnessoverspreadrapidlythe surface of the body; and all the usual rigorous illness immediately

supervened.IfellbackwithashudderuponthecouchfromwhichIhadbeensostartlinglyaroused,andagaingavemyselfuptopassionatewakingvisionsofLigeia.

Anhourthuselapsedwhen(coulditbepossible?)Iwasasecondtimeawareof some vague sound issuing from the region of the bed. I listened—inextremity of horror. The sound came again—it was a sigh. Rushing to thecorpse,Isaw—distinctlysaw—atremoruponthelips.Inaminuteafterwardthey relaxed, disclosing a bright line of the pearly teeth. Amazement nowstruggled in my bosom with the profound awe which had hitherto reignedtherealone. I felt thatmyvisiongrewdim, thatmyreasonwandered;and itwasonlybyaviolenteffortthatIatlengthsucceededinnervingmyselftothetaskwhichdutythusoncemorehadpointedout.Therewasnowapartialglowupon the forehead and upon the cheek and throat; a perceptible warmthpervadedthewholeframe;therewasevenaslightpulsationattheheart.Theladylived;andwithredoubledardorIbetookmyselftothetaskofrestoration.Ichafedandbathedthetemplesandthehands,andusedeveryexertionwhichexperience, and no little medical reading, could suggest. But in vain.Suddenly,thecolorfled,thepulsationceased,thelipsresumedtheexpressionofthedead,and,inaninstantafterward,thewholebodytookuponitselftheicychilliness,thelividhue,theintenserigidity,thesunkenoutline,andalltheloathsomepeculiaritiesofthatwhichhasbeen,formanydays,atenantofthetomb.

And again I sunk into visions of Ligeia—and again, (what marvel that IshudderwhileIwrite,)againtherereachedmyearsalowsobfromtheregionoftheebonybed.ButwhyshallIminutelydetail theunspeakablehorrorsofthat night?Why shall I pause to relate how, time after time, until near theperiod of the gray dawn, this hideous drama of revivificationwas repeated;how each terrific relapse was only into a sterner and apparently moreirredeemabledeath;howeachagonyworetheaspectofastrugglewithsomeinvisible foe; and how each strugglewas succeeded by I know notwhat ofwild change in the personal appearance of the corpse? Let me hurry to aconclusion.

Thegreater part of the fearful night hadworn away, and shewhohadbeendead, once again stirred—and nowmore vigorously than hitherto, althougharousingfromadissolutionmoreappallinginitsutterhopelessnessthanany.Ihadlongceasedtostruggleortomove,andremainedsittingrigidlyupontheottoman,ahelplesspreytoawhirlofviolentemotions,ofwhichextremeawewas perhaps the least terrible, the least consuming. The corpse, I repeat,stirred,andnowmorevigorouslythanbefore.Thehuesoflifeflushedupwithunwontedenergyintothecountenance—thelimbsrelaxed—and,savethatthe

eyelidswereyetpressedheavilytogether,andthatthebandagesanddraperiesof thegravestill imparted theircharnelcharacter to the figure, ImighthavedreamedthatRowenahadindeedshakenoff,utterly,thefettersofDeath.Butif this ideawasnot, even then, altogether adopted, I couldat leastdoubtnolonger,when, arising from the bed, tottering,with feeble steps,with closedeyes, andwith themannerofonebewildered inadream, the thing thatwasenshroudedadvancedboldlyandpalpablyintothemiddleoftheapartment.

I trembled not—I stirred not—for a crowd of unutterable fancies connectedwiththeair,thestature,thedemeanorofthefigure,rushinghurriedlythroughmybrain,hadparalyzed—hadchilledmeintostone.Istirrednot—butgazedupon the apparition. There was a mad disorder in my thoughts—a tumultunappeasable. Could it, indeed, be the living Rowena who confronted me?CoulditindeedbeRowenaatall—thefair-haired,theblue-eyedLadyRowenaTrevanionofTremaine?Why,whyshouldIdoubtit?Thebandagelayheavilyaboutthemouth—butthenmightitnotbethemouthofthebreathingLadyofTremaine?And the cheeks-therewere the roses as in her noonof life—yes,thesemightindeedbethefaircheeksofthelivingLadyofTremaine.Andthechin,with itsdimples, as inhealth,might it notbehers?—buthad she thengrown taller since hermalady?What inexpressiblemadness seizedmewiththat thought? One bound, and I had reached her feet! Shrinking from mytouch,sheletfallfromherhead,unloosened,theghastlycerementswhichhadconfined it, and there streamed forth, into the rushing atmosphere of thechamber, hugemasses of long and dishevelled hair; itwas blacker than theravenwingsof themidnight!Andnowslowlyopened theeyesof the figurewhichstoodbeforeme."Herethen,atleast,"Ishriekedaloud,"canInever—canIneverbemistaken—thesearethefull,andtheblack,andthewildeyes—ofmylostlove—ofthelady—oftheLADYLIGEIA."

MORELLA

Itself,byitself,solely,oneeverlasting,andsingle.

PLATO:SYMPOS.

WITH a feeling of deep yet most singular affection I regarded my friendMorella.Thrownbyaccident intohersocietymanyyearsago,mysoulfromour firstmeeting,burnedwith fires it hadneverbeforeknown;but the fires

were not of Eros, and bitter and tormenting to my spirit was the gradualconvictionthatIcouldinnomannerdefinetheirunusualmeaningorregulatetheirvagueintensity.Yetwemet;andfateboundustogetheratthealtar,andInever spoke of passion nor thought of love. She, however, shunned society,and, attaching herself to me alone rendered me happy. It is a happiness towonder;itisahappinesstodream.

Morella's eruditionwas profound.As I hope to live, her talentswere of nocommonorder—herpowersofmindweregigantic. I felt this, and, inmanymatters,becameherpupil.Isoon,however,foundthat,perhapsonaccountofher Presburg education, she placed before me a number of those mysticalwritings which are usually considered the mere dross of the early Germanliterature.These,forwhatreasonIcouldnotimagine,wereherfavouriteandconstantstudy—andthat inprocessof timetheybecamemyown,shouldbeattributedtothesimplebuteffectualinfluenceofhabitandexample.

Inallthis,ifIerrnot,myreasonhadlittletodo.Myconvictions,orIforgetmyself,wereinnomanneracteduponbytheideal,norwasanytinctureofthemysticismwhichIreadtobediscovered,unlessIamgreatlymistaken,eitherin my deeds or in my thoughts. Persuaded of this, I abandoned myselfimplicitly to theguidanceofmywife,andenteredwithanunflinchingheartinto the intricacies of her studies. And then—then, when poring overforbidden pages, I felt a forbidden spirit enkindling within me—wouldMorellaplacehercoldhanduponmyown,and rakeup from theashesofadead philosophy some low, singular words, whose strange meaning burnedthemselvesinuponmymemory.Andthen,hourafterhour,wouldIlingerbyherside,anddwelluponthemusicofhervoice,untilatlengthitsmelodywastaintedwithterror,andtherefellashadowuponmysoul,andIgrewpale,andshudderedinwardlyatthosetoounearthlytones.Andthus,joysuddenlyfadedinto horror, and the most beautiful became the most hideous, as HinnonbecameGe-Henna.

It is unnecessary to state the exact character of those disquisitions which,growing out of the volumes I havementioned, formed, for so long a time,almost the sole conversationofMorella andmyself.By the learned inwhatmightbe termed theologicalmorality theywillbe readilyconceived,andbythe unlearned they would, at all events, be little understood. The wildPantheism of Fichte; the modified Paliggenedia of the Pythagoreans; and,aboveall, thedoctrinesofIdentityasurgedbySchelling,weregenerally thepointsofdiscussionpresentingthemostofbeautytotheimaginativeMorella.That identitywhich is termed personal,Mr. Locke, I think, truly defines toconsistinthesanenessofrationalbeing.Andsincebypersonweunderstandanintelligentessencehavingreason,andsincethereisaconsciousnesswhich

alwaysaccompaniesthinking,itisthiswhichmakesusalltobethatwhichwecall ourselves, thereby distinguishing us from other beings that think, andgivingusourpersonal identity.But theprincipiumindivduationis, thenotionofthatidentitywhichatdeathisorisnotlostforever,wastome,atalltimes,aconsiderationofintenseinterest;notmorefromtheperplexingandexcitingnature of its consequences, than from the marked and agitated manner inwhichMorellamentionedthem.

But,indeed,thetimehadnowarrivedwhenthemysteryofmywife'smanneroppressedmeasaspell.Icouldnolongerbearthetouchofherwanfingers,nor the low tone of hermusical language, nor the lustre of hermelancholyeyes.Andsheknewallthis,butdidnotupbraid;sheseemedconsciousofmyweaknessormyfolly,and,smiling,calleditfate.Sheseemedalsoconsciousofacause, tomeunknown, for thegradualalienationofmyregard;but shegavemenohintor tokenof itsnature.Yetwasshewoman,andpinedawaydaily. In time thecrimson spot settled steadilyupon thecheek, and theblueveins upon the pale forehead became prominent; and one instantmy naturemeltedintopity,but in,nextImet theglanceofhermeaningeyes,andthenmy soul sickened and became giddy with the giddiness of one who gazesdownwardintosomedrearyandunfathomableabyss.

Shall I then say that I longedwith an earnest and consuming desire for themomentofMorella'sdecease?Idid;butthefragilespiritclungtoitstenementofclayformanydays,formanyweeksandirksomemonths,untilmytorturednervesobtainedthemasteryovermymind,andIgrewfuriousthroughdelay,and,with the heart of a fiend, cursed the days and the hours and the bittermoments,whichseemedtolengthenandlengthenashergentlelifedeclined,likeshadowsinthedyingoftheday.

Butoneautumnalevening,whenthewindslaystillinheaven,Morellacalledmetoherbedside.Therewasadimmistoveralltheearth,andawarmglowupon thewaters, and amid the richOctober leaves of the forest, a rainbowfromthefirmamenthadsurelyfallen.

"Itisadayofdays,"shesaid,asIapproached;"adayofalldayseithertoliveor die. It is a fair day for the sons of earth and life—ah,more fair for thedaughtersofheavenanddeath!"

Ikissedherforehead,andshecontinued:

"Iamdying,yetshallIlive."

"Morella!"

"Thedayshaveneverbeenwhenthoucouldstloveme—butherwhominlife

thoudidstabhor,indeaththoushaltadore."

"Morella!"

"I repeat I am dying. Butwithinme is a pledge of that affection—ah, howlittle!—which thou didst feel for me,Morella. And whenmy spirit departsshallthechildlive—thychildandmine,Morella's.Butthydaysshallbedaysof sorrow—that sorrow which is the most lasting of impressions, as thecypressisthemostenduringoftrees.Forthehoursofthyhappinessareoverandjoyisnotgatheredtwiceinalife,astherosesofPaestumtwiceinayear.Thoushaltnolonger,then,playtheTeianwithtime,but,beingignorantofthemyrtleandthevine,thoushaltbearaboutwiththeethyshroudontheearth,asdotheMosleminatMecca."

"Morella!"Icried,"Morella!howknowestthouthis?"butsheturnedawayherfaceuponthepillowandaslighttremorcomingoverherlimbs,shethusdied,andIheardhervoicenomore.

Yet, as she had foretold, her child, to which in dying she had given birth,whichbreathednotuntil themotherbreathednomore,herchild,adaughter,lived. And she grew strangely in stature and intellect, and was the perfectresemblanceofherwhohaddeparted,andIlovedherwithalovemoreferventthanIhadbelieveditpossibletofeelforanydenizenofearth.

But,erelongtheheavenofthispureaffectionbecamedarkened,andgloom,andhorror,andgriefsweptoveritinclouds.Isaidthechildgrewstrangelyinstatureandintelligence.Strange,indeed,washerrapidincreaseinbodilysize,butterrible,oh!terriblewerethetumultuousthoughtswhichcrowdeduponmewhilewatching thedevelopmentofhermentalbeing.Could itbeotherwise,whenIdailydiscoveredintheconceptionsofthechildtheadultpowersandfacultiesof thewoman?when the lessonsofexperiencefell fromthe lipsofinfancy? and when the wisdom or the passions of maturity I found hourlygleaming from its full and speculative eye? When, I say, all this becameevidenttomyappalledsenses,whenIcouldnolongerhideitfrommysoul,northrowitofffromthoseperceptionswhichtrembledtoreceiveit,isittobewonderedatthatsuspicions,ofanaturefearfulandexciting,creptinuponmyspirit, or thatmy thoughts fell back aghast upon thewild tales and thrillingtheoriesoftheentombedMorella?Isnatchedfromthescrutinyoftheworldabeingwhomdestinycompelledmetoadore,andintherigorousseclusionofmy home,watchedwith an agonizing anxiety over allwhich concerned thebeloved.

Andasyearsrolledaway,andIgazeddayafterdayuponherholy,andmild,and eloquent face, and poured over hermaturing form, day after day did I

discovernewpointsofresemblanceinthechildtohermother,themelancholyandthedead.Andhourlygrewdarkertheseshadowsofsimilitude,andmorefull, andmoredefinite, andmoreperplexing, andmorehideously terrible intheiraspect.Forthathersmilewaslikehermother'sIcouldbear;butthenIshudderedatitstooperfectidentity,thathereyeswerelikeMorella'sIcouldendure;butthenthey,too,oftenlookeddownintothedepthsofmysoulwithMorella's own intense and bewilderingmeaning. And in the contour of thehigh forehead, and in the ringlets of the silken hair, and in thewan fingerswhichburiedthemselvestherein,andinthesadmusical tonesofherspeech,andaboveall—oh,aboveall,inthephrasesandexpressionsofthedeadonthelips of the loved and the living, I found food for consuming thought andhorror,forawormthatwouldnotdie.

Thus passed away two lustra of her life, and as yet my daughter remainednameless upon the earth. "My child," and "my love,"were the designationsusually promptedby a father's affection, and the rigid seclusionof her daysprecludedallotherintercourse.Morella'snamediedwithheratherdeath.Ofthemother I had never spoken to the daughter, it was impossible to speak.Indeed, during the brief period of her existence, the latter had received noimpressionsfromtheoutwardworld,savesuchasmighthavebeenaffordedby the narrow limits of her privacy. But at length the ceremony of baptismpresented to my mind, in its unnerved and agitated condition, a presentdeliverance from the terrors of my destiny. And at the baptismal font Ihesitated for a name.Andmany titles of thewise and beautiful, of old andmoderntimes,ofmyownandforeignlands,camethrongingtomylips,withmany, many fair titles of the gentle, and the happy, and the good. Whatpromptedme then to disturb thememory of the buried dead?What demonurgedme to breathe that sound,which in its very recollectionwaswont tomake ebb the purple blood in torrents from the temples to the heart?Whatfiendspokefromtherecessesofmysoul,whenamidthosedimaisles,andinthe silence of the night, I whispered within the ears of the holy man thesyllables—Morella?Whatmorethanfiendconvulsedthefeaturesofmychild,and overspread themwith hues of death, as starting at that scarcely audiblesound, she turned her glassy eyes from the earth to heaven, and fallingprostrateontheblackslabsofourancestralvault,responded—"Iamhere!"

Distinct,coldly,calmlydistinct, fell those fewsimplesoundswithinmyear,andthencelikemoltenleadrolledhissinglyintomybrain.Years—yearsmaypassaway,butthememoryofthatepochnever.NorwasIindeedignorantoftheflowersandthevine—butthehemlockandthecypressovershadowedmenightandday.AndIkeptnoreckoningoftimeorplace,andthestarsofmyfate faded from heaven, and therefore the earth grew dark, and its figurespassed by me like flitting shadows, and among them all I beheld only—

Morella.Thewindsofthefirmamentbreathedbutonesoundwithinmyears,andtheripplesupontheseamurmuredevermore—Morella.Butshedied;andwithmyownhandsIborehertothetomb;andIlaughedwithalongandbitterlaughasIfoundnotracesofthefirstinthechannelwhereIlaidthesecond.—Morella.

ATALEOFTHERAGGEDMOUNTAINS

DURING the fall of the year 1827, while residing near Charlottesville,Virginia, I casually made the acquaintance of Mr. Augustus Bedloe. Thisyoung gentleman was remarkable in every respect, and excited in me aprofoundinterestandcuriosity.Ifounditimpossibletocomprehendhimeitherin his moral or his physical relations. Of his family I could obtain nosatisfactoryaccount.Whencehecame,Ineverascertained.Evenabouthisage—although I call him a young gentleman—there was something whichperplexedmeinnolittledegree.Hecertainlyseemedyoung—andhemadeapoint of speaking about his youth—yet there weremoments when I shouldhave had little trouble in imagining him a hundred years of age. But in noregard was he more peculiar than in his personal appearance. He wassingularly tall and thin.He stoopedmuch.His limbswere exceedingly longand emaciated. His forehead was broad and low. His complexion wasabsolutely bloodless. His mouth was large and flexible, and his teeth weremorewildly uneven, although sound, than I had ever before seen teeth in ahuman head. The expression of his smile, however, was by no meansunpleasing,asmightbesupposed;butithadnovariationwhatever.Itwasoneofprofoundmelancholy—ofaphaselessandunceasinggloom.Hiseyeswereabnormally large, and round like those of a cat. The pupils, too, upon anyaccessionordiminutionof light,underwentcontractionordilation, justsuchas is observed in the feline tribe. In moments of excitement the orbs grewbrighttoadegreealmostinconceivable;seemingtoemitluminousrays,notofa reflected but of an intrinsic lustre, as does a candle or the sun; yet theirordinaryconditionwassototallyvapid,filmy,anddullastoconveytheideaoftheeyesofalong-interredcorpse.

Thesepeculiaritiesofpersonappearedtocausehimmuchannoyance,andhewascontinuallyalludingtotheminasortofhalfexplanatory,halfapologeticstrain, which, when I first heard it, impressed me very painfully. I soon,however,grewaccustomedtoit,andmyuneasinessworeoff.Itseemedtobehisdesignrathertoinsinuatethandirectlytoassertthat,physically,hehadnot

alwaysbeenwhathewas—thatalongseriesofneuralgicattackshadreducedhimfromaconditionofmorethanusualpersonalbeauty,tothatwhichIsaw.Formanyyearspasthehadbeenattendedbyaphysician,namedTempleton—an old gentleman, perhaps seventy years of age—whom he had firstencountered at Saratoga, and from whose attention, while there, he eitherreceived,orfanciedthathereceived,greatbenefit.TheresultwasthatBedloe,whowaswealthy,hadmadeanarrangementwithDr.Templeton,bywhichthelatter,inconsiderationofaliberalannualallowance,hadconsentedtodevotehistimeandmedicalexperienceexclusivelytothecareoftheinvalid.

DoctorTempletonhadbeena traveller inhisyoungerdays,andatParishadbecome a convert, in great measure, to the doctrines of Mesmer. It wasaltogetherbymeansofmagneticremediesthathehadsucceededinalleviatingtheacutepainsofhispatient;andthissuccesshadverynaturallyinspiredthelatter with a certain degree of confidence in the opinions from which theremedies had been educed. The Doctor, however, like all enthusiasts, hadstruggled hard to make a thorough convert of his pupil, and finally so fargainedhispointastoinducethesufferertosubmittonumerousexperiments.Bya frequent repetitionof these, a resulthadarisen,whichof latedayshasbecomesocommonastoattractlittleornoattention,butwhich,attheperiodofwhichIwrite,hadveryrarelybeenknowninAmerica.Imeantosay,thatbetweenDoctorTempletonandBedloe therehadgrownup, littleby little, avery distinct and strongly marked rapport, or magnetic relation. I am notpreparedtoassert,however,thatthisrapportextendedbeyondthelimitsofthesimple sleep-producing power, but this power itself had attained greatintensity. At the first attempt to induce the magnetic somnolency, themesmeristentirelyfailed.Inthefifthorsixthhesucceededverypartially,andafter long continued effort. Only at the twelfth was the triumph complete.Afterthisthewillofthepatientsuccumbedrapidlytothatofthephysician,sothat,when I first became acquaintedwith the two, sleepwas brought aboutalmost instantaneously by themere volition of the operator, evenwhen theinvalidwasunawareofhispresence. It isonlynow, in theyear1845,whensimilarmiraclesarewitnesseddailybythousands,thatIdareventuretorecordthisapparentimpossibilityasamatterofseriousfact.

The temperature of Bedloe was, in the highest degree sensitive, excitable,enthusiastic. His imagination was singularly vigorous and creative; and nodoubtitderivedadditionalforcefromthehabitualuseofmorphine,whichheswallowed in great quantity, and without which he would have found itimpossible to exist. It was his practice to take a very large dose of itimmediatelyafterbreakfasteachmorning—or,rather,immediatelyafteracupofstrongcoffee,forheatenothingintheforenoon—andthensetforthalone,orattendedonlybyadog,upona longrambleamong thechainofwildand

drearyhills that liewestwardandsouthwardofCharlottesville,andare theredignifiedbythetitleoftheRaggedMountains.

Uponadim,warm,mistyday,towardthecloseofNovember,andduringthestrange interregnum of the seasons which in America is termed the IndianSummer,Mr.Bedloedepartedasusualforthehills.Thedaypassed,andstillhedidnotreturn.

About eight o'clock at night, having become seriously alarmed at hisprotracted absence, we were about setting out in search of him, when heunexpectedly made his appearance, in health no worse than usual, and inrathermorethanordinaryspirits.Theaccountwhichhegaveofhisexpedition,andoftheeventswhichhaddetainedhim,wasasingularoneindeed.

"Youwillremember,"saidhe,"thatitwasaboutnineinthemorningwhenIleftCharlottesville.Ibentmystepsimmediatelytothemountains,and,aboutten,enteredagorgewhichwasentirelynewtome.Ifollowedthewindingsofthispasswithmuchinterest.Thescenerywhichpresenteditselfonallsides,althoughscarcelyentitledtobecalledgrand,hadaboutitanindescribableandtomeadeliciousaspectofdrearydesolation.Thesolitudeseemedabsolutelyvirgin.IcouldnothelpbelievingthatthegreensodsandthegrayrocksuponwhichItrodhadbeentroddenneverbeforebythefootofahumanbeing.Soentirelysecluded,andinfactinaccessible,exceptthroughaseriesofaccidents,is the entrance of the ravine, that it is by no means impossible that I wasindeed the first adventurer—thevery first and soleadventurerwhohadeverpenetrateditsrecesses.

"The thick and peculiar mist, or smoke, which distinguishes the IndianSummer, andwhichnowhungheavilyover allobjects, served,nodoubt, todeepenthevagueimpressionswhichtheseobjectscreated.Sodensewasthispleasant fog that Icouldatno timeseemore thanadozenyardsof thepathbeforeme. This pathwas excessively sinuous, and as the sun could not beseen,IsoonlostallideaofthedirectioninwhichIjourneyed.Inthemeantimethemorphinehaditscustomaryeffect—thatofenduingalltheexternalworldwithanintensityofinterest.Inthequiveringofaleaf—inthehueofabladeofgrass—intheshapeofatrefoil—inthehummingofabee—inthegleamingofadew-drop—inthebreathingofthewind—inthefaintodorsthatcamefromthe forest—there came a whole universe of suggestion—a gay and motleytrainofrhapsodicalandimmethodicalthought.

"Busiedinthis,Iwalkedonforseveralhours,duringwhichthemistdeepenedaroundme to so great an extent that at length Iwas reduced to an absolutegroping of theway.And now an indescribable uneasiness possessedme—aspecies of nervous hesitation and tremor. I feared to tread, lest I should be

precipitated into some abyss. I remembered, too, strange stories told abouttheseRaggedHills,andoftheuncouthandfierceracesofmenwhotenantedtheir groves and caverns. A thousand vague fancies oppressed anddisconcertedme—fanciesthemoredistressingbecausevague.Verysuddenlymyattentionwasarrestedbytheloudbeatingofadrum.

"Myamazementwas, of course, extreme.Adrum in these hillswas a thingunknown.Icouldnothavebeenmoresurprisedatthesoundofthetrumpofthe Archangel. But a new and still more astounding source of interest andperplexityarose.Therecameawildrattlingorjinglingsound,asifofabunchoflargekeys,andupontheinstantadusky-visagedandhalf-nakedmanrushedpastmewithashriek.HecamesoclosetomypersonthatIfelthishotbreathuponmyface.Heboreinonehandaninstrumentcomposedofanassemblageof steel rings, and shook them vigorously as he ran. Scarcely had hedisappearedinthemistbefore,pantingafterhim,withopenmouthandglaringeyes,theredartedahugebeast.Icouldnotbemistakeninitscharacter.Itwasahyena.

"The sight of thismonster rather relieved thanheightenedmy terrors—for Inowmade sure that I dreamed, and endeavored to arousemyself towakingconsciousness. I stepped boldly and briskly forward. I rubbed my eyes. Icalledaloud. Ipinchedmylimbs.Asmallspringofwaterpresented itself tomyview,andhere,stooping,Ibathedmyhandsandmyheadandneck.Thisseemedtodissipatetheequivocalsensationswhichhadhithertoannoyedme.Iarose,as I thought,anewman,andproceededsteadilyandcomplacentlyonmyunknownway.

"Atlength,quiteovercomebyexertion,andbyacertainoppressiveclosenessof the atmosphere, I seated myself beneath a tree. Presently there came afeeblegleamofsunshine,andtheshadowoftheleavesofthetreefellfaintlybutdefinitelyupon thegrass.At this shadowIgazedwonderingly formanyminutes. Itscharacterstupefiedmewithastonishment. I lookedupward.Thetreewasapalm.

"Inowarosehurriedly,andinastateoffearfulagitation—forthefancythatIdreamedwouldservemenolonger.Isaw—IfeltthatIhadperfectcommandofmysenses—andthesesensesnowbroughttomysoulaworldofnovelandsingular sensation. The heat became all at once intolerable. A strange odorloadedthebreeze.Alow,continuousmurmur,likethatarisingfromafull,butgentlyflowingriver,cametomyears,intermingledwiththepeculiarhumofmultitudinoushumanvoices.

"WhileIlistenedinanextremityofastonishmentwhichIneednotattempttodescribe,astrongandbriefgustofwindboreoff theincumbentfogas ifby

thewandofanenchanter.

"Ifoundmyselfatthefootofahighmountain,andlookingdownintoavastplain,throughwhichwoundamajesticriver.Onthemarginofthisriverstoodan Eastern-looking city, such as we read of in the Arabian Tales, but of acharacter even more singular than any there described. From my position,whichwasfarabovethelevelofthetown,Icouldperceiveitseverynookandcorner,asifdelineatedonamap.Thestreetsseemedinnumerable,andcrossedeach other irregularly in all directions, but were rather long winding alleysthanstreets,andabsolutelyswarmedwithinhabitants.Thehouseswerewildlypicturesque. On every hand was a wilderness of balconies, of verandas, ofminarets,ofshrines,andfantasticallycarvedoriels.Bazaarsabounded;andinthese were displayed rich wares in infinite variety and profusion—silks,muslins, the most dazzling cutlery, the most magnificent jewels and gems.Besides these things,were seen, on all sides, banners andpalanquins, litterswith stately dames close veiled, elephants gorgeously caparisoned, idolsgrotesquelyhewn,drums,banners,andgongs,spears,silverandgildedmaces.Andamidthecrowd,andtheclamor,andthegeneralintricacyandconfusion—amid the million of black and yellow men, turbaned and robed, and offlowingbeard,thereroamedacountlessmultitudeofholyfilletedbulls,whilevast legionsof thefilthybutsacredapeclambered,chatteringandshrieking,about thecornicesof themosques,orclungto theminaretsandoriels.Fromthe swarming streets to the banks of the river, there descended innumerableflightsofstepsleadingtobathingplaces,whiletheriveritselfseemedtoforcea passagewith difficulty through the vast fleets of deeply—burthened shipsthatfarandwideencountereditssurface.Beyondthelimitsofthecityarose,in frequentmajesticgroups, thepalmand thecocoa,withothergiganticandweird treesofvastage,andhereand theremightbeseena fieldof rice, thethatchedhutofapeasant,a tank,astraytemple,agypsycamp,orasolitarygracefulmaidentakingherway,withapitcheruponherhead,tothebanksofthemagnificentriver.

"Youwillsaynow,ofcourse,thatIdreamed;butnotso.WhatIsaw—whatIheard—whatIfelt—whatIthought—hadaboutitnothingoftheunmistakableidiosyncrasy of the dream. All was rigorously self-consistent. At first,doubtingthatIwasreallyawake,Ienteredintoaseriesof tests,whichsoonconvincedme that I reallywas.Now,when one dreams, and, in the dream,suspects that he dreams, the suspicion never fails to confirm itself, and thesleeper is almost immediately aroused. ThusNovalis errs not in saying that'wearenearwakingwhenwedreamthatwedream.'Hadthevisionoccurredtomeas I describe it,withoutmy suspecting it as adream, then adream itmightabsolutelyhavebeen,but,occurringasitdid,andsuspectedandtestedasitwas,Iamforcedtoclassitamongotherphenomena."

"In this I am not sure that you are wrong," observed Dr. Templeton, "butproceed.Youaroseanddescendedintothecity."

"I arose," continued Bedloe, regarding the Doctor with an air of profoundastonishment"Iarose,asyousay,anddescendedinto thecity.OnmywayIfell inwithanimmensepopulace,crowdingthrougheveryavenue,all in thesame direction, and exhibiting in every action the wildest excitement. Verysuddenly,andbysomeinconceivableimpulse,Ibecameintenselyimbuedwithpersonalinterestinwhatwasgoingon.IseemedtofeelthatIhadanimportantpart to play, without exactly understanding what it was. Against the crowdwhichenvironedme,however,Iexperiencedadeepsentimentofanimosity.Ishrankfromamidthem,and,swiftly,byacircuitouspath,reachedandenteredthecity.Hereallwasthewildesttumultandcontention.Asmallpartyofmen,cladingarmentshalf-Indian,half-European,andofficeredbygentlemeninauniformpartlyBritish,wereengaged,atgreatodds,withtheswarmingrabbleofthealleys.Ijoinedtheweakerparty,armingmyselfwiththeweaponsofafallen officer, and fighting I knew not whom with the nervous ferocity ofdespair.Weweresoonoverpoweredbynumbers,anddriventoseekrefugeina species of kiosk.Herewe barricaded ourselves, and, for the presentweresecure. From a loop-hole near the summit of the kiosk, I perceived a vastcrowd, in furious agitation, surrounding and assaulting a gay palace thatoverhung the river. Presently, from an upper window of this place, theredescended an effeminate-looking person, bymeans of a stringmade of theturbans of his attendants. A boat was at hand, in which he escaped to theoppositebankoftheriver.

"Andnowanewobjecttookpossessionofmysoul.Ispokeafewhurriedbutenergeticwords tomycompanions,and,havingsucceeded ingainingoverafewof them tomypurposemade a frantic sally from the kiosk.We rushedamid the crowd that surrounded it. They retreated, at first, before us. Theyrallied,foughtmadly,andretreatedagain.Inthemeantimewewerebornefarfrom the kiosk, and became bewildered and entangled among the narrowstreets of tall, overhanging houses, into the recesses of which the sun hadneverbeenabletoshine.Therabblepressedimpetuouslyuponus,harrassinguswiththeirspears,andoverwhelminguswithflightsofarrows.Theselatterwereveryremarkable,andresembledinsomerespectsthewrithingcreeseoftheMalay. They weremade to imitate the body of a creeping serpent, andwerelongandblack,withapoisonedbarb.Oneof themstruckmeupontherighttemple.Ireeledandfell.Aninstantaneousanddreadfulsicknessseizedme. I struggled—I gasped—I died." "You will hardly persist now," said Ismiling, "that the whole of your adventure was not a dream. You are notpreparedtomaintainthatyouaredead?"

WhenIsaidthesewords,IofcourseexpectedsomelivelysallyfromBedloein reply, but, to my astonishment, he hesitated, trembled, became fearfullypallid,andremainedsilent.IlookedtowardTempleton.Hesaterectandrigidinhischair—histeethchattered,andhiseyeswerestartingfromtheirsockets."Proceed!"heatlengthsaidhoarselytoBedloe.

"For many minutes," continued the latter, "my sole sentiment—my solefeeling—wasthatofdarknessandnonentity,withtheconsciousnessofdeath.Atlengththereseemedtopassaviolentandsuddenshockthroughmysoul,asifofelectricity.Withitcamethesenseofelasticityandoflight.ThislatterIfelt—not saw. In an instant I seemed to rise from the ground.But I had nobodily,novisible,audible,orpalpablepresence.Thecrowdhaddeparted.Thetumult had ceased.The citywas in comparative repose.Beneathme laymycorpse, with the arrow in my temple, the whole head greatly swollen anddisfigured.ButallthesethingsIfelt—notsaw.Itookinterestinnothing.EventhecorpseseemedamatterinwhichIhadnoconcern.VolitionIhadnone,butappeared to be impelled into motion, and flitted buoyantly out of the city,retracing the circuitouspathbywhich I had entered it.When I had attainedthatpointoftheravineinthemountainsatwhichIhadencounteredthehyena,Iagainexperiencedashockasofagalvanicbattery, thesenseofweight,ofvolition,ofsubstance,returned.Ibecamemyoriginalself,andbentmystepseagerly homeward—but the past hadnot lost the vividness of the real—andnotnow,evenforaninstant,canIcompelmyunderstandingtoregarditasadream."

"Norwasit,"saidTempleton,withanairofdeepsolemnity,"yetitwouldbedifficult tosayhowotherwise it shouldbe termed.Letussupposeonly, thatthesoulof themanof to-day isupon thevergeofsomestupendouspsychaldiscoveries.Letuscontentourselveswiththissupposition.FortherestIhavesomeexplanationtomake.Hereisawatercolordrawing,whichIshouldhaveshown you before, but which an unaccountable sentiment of horror hashithertopreventedmefromshowing."

We looked at the picture which he presented. I saw nothing in it of anextraordinarycharacter,butitseffectuponBedloewasprodigious.Henearlyfaintedashegazed.Andyet itwasbutaminiatureportrait—amiraculouslyaccurate one, to be sure—ofhis ownvery remarkable features.At least thiswasmythoughtasIregardedit.

"You will perceive," said Templeton, "the date of this picture—it is here,scarcelyvisible,inthiscorner—1780.Inthisyearwastheportraittaken.Itisthelikenessofadeadfriend—aMr.Oldeb—towhomIbecamemuchattachedat Calcutta, during the administration ofWarren Hastings. I was then onlytwenty years old.When I first sawyou,Mr.Bedloe, at Saratoga, itwas the

miraculoussimilaritywhichexistedbetweenyourselfandthepaintingwhichinducedme to accostyou, to seekyour friendship, and tobring about thosearrangements which resulted in my becoming your constant companion. Inaccomplishing this point, I was urged partly, and perhaps principally, by aregretful memory of the deceased, but also, in part, by an uneasy, and notaltogetherhorrorlesscuriosityrespectingyourself.

"Inyourdetailofthevisionwhichpresenteditselftoyouamidthehills,youhavedescribed,with theminutestaccuracy, theIndiancityofBenares,upontheHolyRiver.Theriots,thecombat,themassacre,weretheactualeventsoftheinsurrectionofCheyteSing,whichtookplacein1780,whenHastingswasput in imminent peril of his life.Theman escapingby the stringof turbanswas Cheyte Sing himself. The party in the kiosk were sepoys and Britishofficers, headedbyHastings.Of thisparty Iwasone, anddid all I could topreventtherashandfatalsallyoftheofficerwhofell,inthecrowdedalleys,by thepoisonedarrowof aBengalee.Thatofficerwasmydearest friend. Itwas Oldeb. You will perceive by these manuscripts," (here the speakerproduced anote-book inwhich several pages appeared tohavebeen freshlywritten,)"thatat theveryperiod inwhichyoufancied these thingsamid thehills,Iwasengagedindetailingthemuponpaperhereathome."

Inaboutaweekafterthisconversation,thefollowingparagraphsappearedinaCharlottesvillepaper:

"WehavethepainfuldutyofannouncingthedeathofMr.AugustusBedlo,agentlemanwhoseamiablemannersandmanyvirtueshavelongendearedhimtothecitizensofCharlottesville.

"Mr.B., for someyearspast,hasbeensubject toneuralgia,whichhasoftenthreatened to terminate fatally; but this canbe regardedonly as themediatecauseofhisdecease.Theproximatecausewasoneofespecialsingularity.Inan excursion to the RaggedMountains, a few days since, a slight cold andfeverwerecontracted,attendedwithgreatdeterminationofbloodtothehead.To relieve this, Dr. Templeton resorted to topical bleeding. Leeches wereapplied to the temples. In a fearfully brief period the patient died, when itappeared that in the jar containing the leeches, had been introduced, byaccident,oneof thevenomousvermicular sangsueswhicharenowand thenfound in the neighboring ponds. This creature fastened itself upon a smallarteryintherighttemple.Itscloseresemblancetothemedicinalleechcausedthemistaketobeoverlookeduntiltoolate.

"N.B.ThepoisonoussangsueofCharlottesvillemayalwaysbedistinguishedfrom themedicinal leech by its blackness, and especially by itswrithing orvermicularmotions,whichverynearlyresemblethoseofasnake."

Iwasspeakingwiththeeditorofthepaperinquestion,uponthetopicofthisremarkableaccident,whenitoccurredtometoaskhowithappenedthatthenameofthedeceasedhadbeengivenasBedlo.

"I presume," I said, "youhave authority for this spelling, but I have alwayssupposedthenametobewrittenwithaneattheend."

"Authority?—no,"he replied. "It is amere typographical error.Thename isBedlowithane,alltheworldover,andIneverknewittobespeltotherwiseinmylife."

"Then,"saidImutteringly,asIturneduponmyheel,"thenindeedhasitcometopassthatonetruthisstrangerthananyfiction—forBedloe,withoutthee,whatisitbutOldebconversed!Andthismantellsmethatitisatypographicalerror."

THESPECTACLES

MANYyearsago,itwasthefashiontoridiculetheideaof"loveatfirstsight;"but those who think, not less than those who feel deeply, have alwaysadvocated itsexistence.Moderndiscoveries, indeed, inwhatmaybe termedethical magnetism or magnetoesthetics, render it probable that the mostnatural,and,consequently,thetruestandmostintenseofthehumanaffectionsarethosewhichariseintheheartasifbyelectricsympathy—inaword,thatthe brightest and most enduring of the psychal fetters are those which arerivetedbyaglance.TheconfessionIamabouttomakewilladdanothertothealreadyalmostinnumerableinstancesofthetruthoftheposition.

MystoryrequiresthatIshouldbesomewhatminute.Iamstillaveryyoungman—notyet twenty-twoyearsofage.Myname,atpresent, isaveryusualandratherplebeianone—Simpson.Isay"atpresent;"foritisonlylatelythatIhavebeensocalled—havinglegislativelyadoptedthissurnamewithinthelastyearinordertoreceivealargeinheritanceleftmebyadistantmalerelative,Adolphus Simpson, Esq. The bequest was conditioned upon my taking thenameofthetestator,—thefamily,nottheChristianname;myChristiannameis Napoleon Bonaparte—or, more properly, these are my first and middleappellations.

Iassumedthename,Simpson,withsomereluctance,asinmytruepatronym,Froissart,Ifeltaverypardonablepride—believingthatIcouldtraceadescentfromtheimmortalauthorofthe"Chronicles."Whileonthesubjectofnames,

by the bye, I may mention a singular coincidence of sound attending thenames of some of my immediate predecessors. My father was a MonsieurFroissart,ofParis.Hiswife—mymother,whomhemarriedatfifteen—wasaMademoiselleCroissart,eldestdaughterofCroissart thebanker,whosewife,again,beingonlysixteenwhenmarried,wastheeldestdaughterofoneVictorVoissart. Monsieur Voissart, very singularly, had married a lady of similarname—aMademoiselleMoissart. She, too,wasquite a childwhenmarried;and hermother, also,MadameMoissart,was only fourteenwhen led to thealtar.TheseearlymarriagesareusualinFrance.Here,however,areMoissart,Voissart, Croissart, and Froissart, all in the direct line of descent.My ownname, though, as I say,becameSimpson,byactofLegislature, andwith somuch repugnance onmy part, that, at one period, I actually hesitated aboutacceptingthelegacywiththeuselessandannoyingprovisoattached.

As topersonal endowments, I ambynomeansdeficient.On the contrary, IbelievethatIamwellmade,andpossesswhatninetenthsoftheworldwouldcall a handsome face. In height I am five feet eleven.Myhair is black andcurling. My nose is sufficiently good. My eyes are large and gray; andalthough, infact theyareweakavery inconvenientdegree,stillnodefect inthis regardwould be suspected from their appearance. Theweakness itself,however,hasalwaysmuchannoyedme,andIhaveresortedtoeveryremedy—short of wearing glasses. Being youthful and good-looking, I naturallydislike these, and have resolutely refused to employ them. I know nothing,indeed, which so disfigures the countenance of a young person, or soimpresses every feature with an air of demureness, if not altogether ofsanctimoniousnessandofage.Aneyeglass,ontheotherhand,hasasavorofdownrightfopperyandaffectation.IhavehithertomanagedaswellasIcouldwithout either. But something too much of these merely personal details,which,afterall,areoflittleimportance.Iwillcontentmyselfwithsaying,inaddition,thatmytemperamentissanguine,rash,ardent,enthusiastic—andthatallmylifeIhavebeenadevotedadmirerofthewomen.

Onenight lastwinter Ienteredaboxat theP—-Theatre, incompanywithafriend,Mr.Talbot. Itwasanoperanight, and thebillspresentedavery rareattraction, so that the house was excessively crowded. We were in time,however, to obtain the front seatswhich had been reserved for us, and intowhich,withsomelittledifficulty,weelbowedourway.

Fortwohoursmycompanion,whowasamusicalfanatico,gavehisundividedattentiontothestage;and,inthemeantime,Iamusedmyselfbyobservingtheaudience,whichconsisted, inchiefpart,of theveryeliteof thecity.Havingsatisfiedmyself upon this point, I was about turningmy eyes to the primadonna,whentheywerearrestedandrivetedbyafigure inoneof theprivate

boxeswhichhadescapedmyobservation.

IfIliveathousandyears,IcanneverforgettheintenseemotionwithwhichIregarded this figure. It was that of a female, themost exquisite I had everbeheld.Thefacewassofarturnedtowardthestagethat,forsomeminutes,Icould not obtain a view of it—but the formwas divine; no otherword cansufficiently express its magnificent proportion—and even the term "divine"seemsridiculouslyfeebleasIwriteit.

The magic of a lovely form in woman—the necromancy of femalegracefulness—wasalwaysapowerwhichIhadfoundit impossible toresist,but herewas grace personified, incarnate, the beau ideal ofmywildest andmostenthusiasticvisions.Thefigure,almostallofwhichtheconstructionofthe box permitted to be seen,was somewhat above themediumheight, andnearly approached, without positively reaching, the majestic. Its perfectfullness and tournurewere delicious. The head ofwhich only the backwasvisible,rivalledinoutlinethatoftheGreekPsyche,andwasratherdisplayedthanconcealedbyanelegantcapofgazeaerienne,whichputmeinmindoftheventumtextilemofApuleius.Therightarmhungoverthebalustradeofthebox, and thrilled every nerve of my frame with its exquisite symmetry. Itsupperportionwasdraperiedbyoneofthelooseopensleevesnowinfashion.Thisextendedbutlittlebelowtheelbow.Beneathitwaswornanunderoneofsomefrailmaterial,close-fitting,andterminatedbyacuffofrichlace,whichfell gracefully over the top of the hand, revealing only the delicate fingers,upon one of which sparkled a diamond ring, which I at once saw was ofextraordinaryvalue.Theadmirableroundnessofthewristwaswellsetoffbyabraceletwhichencircledit,andwhichalsowasornamentedandclaspedbyamagnificentaigretteofjewels-telling,inwordsthatcouldnotbemistaken,atonceofthewealthandfastidioustasteofthewearer.

I gazed at this queenly apparition for at least half an hour, as if I had beensuddenlyconverted tostone;and,during thisperiod, I felt the full forceandtruth of all that has been said or sung concerning "love at first sight."Myfeelingswere totallydifferent fromanywhich Ihadhithertoexperienced, inthepresenceofeventhemostcelebratedspecimensoffemaleloveliness.Anunaccountable,andwhatIamcompelledtoconsideramagnetic,sympathyofsoul for soul, seemed to rivet, not onlymyvision, butmywholepowers ofthought and feeling, upon the admirable object beforeme. I saw—I felt—Iknew that I was deeply, madly, irrevocably in love—and this even beforeseeingthefaceofthepersonbeloved.Sointense,indeed,wasthepassionthatconsumed me, that I really believe it would have received little if anyabatementhad thefeatures,yetunseen,provedofmerelyordinarycharacter,soanomalous is thenatureof theonlytrue love—ofthe loveatfirstsight—

and so little really dependent is it upon the external conditions which onlyseemtocreateandcontrolit.

While I was thus wrapped in admiration of this lovely vision, a suddendisturbanceamongtheaudiencecausedher to turnherheadpartially towardme,sothatIbeheldtheentireprofileoftheface.Itsbeautyevenexceededmyanticipations—and yet therewas something about itwhich disappointedmewithoutmybeingable to tell exactlywhat itwas. I said "disappointed,"butthis is not altogether the word. My sentiments were at once quieted andexalted. They partook less of transport and more of calm enthusiasm ofenthusiastic repose.This state of feeling arose, perhaps, from theMadonna-likeandmatronlyairoftheface;andyetIatonceunderstoodthatitcouldnothave arisen entirely from this. There was something else—some mysterywhich I could not develope—some expression about the countenancewhichslightlydisturbedmewhileitgreatlyheightenedmyinterest.Infact,Iwasjustinthatconditionofmindwhichpreparesayoungandsusceptiblemanforanyact of extravagance. Had the lady been alone, I should undoubtedly haveentered her box and accosted her at all hazards; but, fortunately, she wasattendedbytwocompanions—agentleman,andastrikinglybeautifulwoman,toallappearanceafewyearsyoungerthanherself.

IrevolvedinmymindathousandschemesbywhichImightobtain,hereafter,an introduction to the elder lady, or, for the present, at all events, a moredistinctviewofherbeauty.Iwouldhaveremovedmypositiontoonenearerherown,butthecrowdedstateofthetheatrerenderedthisimpossible;andthestern decrees of Fashion had, of late, imperatively prohibited the use of theopera-glassinacasesuchasthis,evenhadIbeensofortunateastohaveonewithme—butIhadnot—andwasthusindespair.

AtlengthIbethoughtmeofapplyingtomycompanion.

"Talbot,"Isaid,"youhaveanopera-glass.Letmehaveit."

"An opera—glass!—no!—what do you suppose I would be doing with anopera-glass?"Hereheturnedimpatientlytowardthestage.

"But,Talbot,"Icontinued,pullinghimbytheshoulder,"listentomewillyou?Doyousee thestage—box?—there!—no, thenext.—didyoueverbeholdaslovelyawoman?"

"Sheisverybeautiful,nodoubt,"hesaid.

"Iwonderwhoshecanbe?"

"Why, in thenameofall that isangelic,don'tyouknowwhosheis? 'Not to

knowherarguesyourselfunknown.'SheisthecelebratedMadameLalande—the beauty of the day par excellence, and the talk of the whole town.Immenselywealthy too—awidow,andagreatmatch—hasjustarrivedfromParis."

"Doyouknowher?"

"Yes;Ihavethehonor."

"Willyouintroduceme?"

"Assuredly,withthegreatestpleasure;whenshallitbe?"

"To-morrow,atone,IwillcalluponyouatB—'s.

"Verygood;andnowdoholdyourtongue,ifyoucan."

In this latter respect I was forced to take Talbot's advice; for he remainedobstinatelydeaftoeveryfurtherquestionorsuggestion,andoccupiedhimselfexclusively for the rest of the evening with what was transacting upon thestage.

InthemeantimeIkeptmyeyesrivetedonMadameLalande,andatlengthhadthe good fortune to obtain a full front view of her face. It was exquisitelylovely—this,ofcourse,myhearthadtoldmebefore,evenhadnotTalbotfullysatisfiedme upon the point—but still the unintelligible something disturbedme. I finally concluded that my senses were impressed by a certain air ofgravity, sadness, or, stillmoreproperly, ofweariness,which took somethingfrom the youth and freshness of the countenance, only to endow it with aseraphic tendernessandmajesty, and thus,of course, tomyenthusiasticandromantictemperment,withaninteresttenfold.

WhileIthusfeastedmyeyes,Iperceived,atlast,tomygreattrepidation,byan almost imperceptible start on the part of the lady, that she had becomesuddenlyawareoftheintensityofmygaze.Still,Iwasabsolutelyfascinated,andcouldnotwithdrawit,evenforaninstant.Sheturnedasideherface,andagainIsawonlythechiselledcontourof thebackportionof thehead.Aftersome minutes, as if urged by curiosity to see if I was still looking, shegradually brought her face again around and again encounteredmy burninggaze.Her largedarkeyesfell instantly,andadeepblushmantledhercheek.Butwhatwasmyastonishmentatperceivingthatshenotonlydidnotasecondtime avert her head, but that she actually took from her girdle a doubleeyeglass—elevatedit—adjustedit—andthenregardedmethroughit,intentlyanddeliberately,forthespaceofseveralminutes.

Had a thunderbolt fallen atmy feet I could not have beenmore thoroughly

astounded—astoundedonly—notoffendedordisgustedintheslightestdegree;although an action so bold in any other woman would have been likely tooffendordisgust.But thewhole thingwasdonewithsomuchquietude—somuch nonchalance—somuch repose—with so evident an air of the highestbreeding, in short—thatnothingofmere effronterywasperceptible, andmysolesentimentswerethoseofadmirationandsurprise.

Iobservedthat,uponherfirstelevationoftheglass,shehadseemedsatisfiedwith a momentary inspection of my person, and was withdrawing theinstrument, when, as if struck by a second thought, she resumed it, and socontinuedtoregardmewithfixedattentionforthespaceofseveralminutes—forfiveminutes,attheveryleast,Iamsure.

This action, so remarkable in an American theatre, attracted very generalobservation, and gave rise to an indefinite movement, or buzz, among theaudience, which for a moment filled me with confusion, but produced novisibleeffectuponthecountenanceofMadameLalande.

Having satisfied her curiosity—if such it was—she dropped the glass, andquietly gave her attention again to the stage; her profile now being turnedtowardmyself, asbefore. I continued towatchherunremittingly, although Iwas fully conscious of my rudeness in so doing. Presently I saw the headslowlyandslightlychangeitsposition;andsoonIbecameconvincedthatthelady,whilepretending to lookat thestagewas, in fact,attentively regardingmyself. It is needless to say what effect this conduct, on the part of sofascinatingawoman,haduponmyexcitablemind.

Havingthusscrutinizedmeforperhapsaquarterofanhour,thefairobjectofmypassionaddressedthegentlemanwhoattendedher,andwhileshespoke,Isawdistinctly,by theglancesofboth, that theconversationhadreference tomyself.

Uponitsconclusion,MadameLalandeagainturnedtowardthestage,and,forafewminutes,seemedabsorbedintheperformance.Attheexpirationofthisperiod, however, I was thrown into an extremity of agitation by seeing herunfold, for the second time, the eye-glass which hung at her side, fullyconfrontme as before, and, disregarding the renewed buzz of the audience,surveyme,fromheadtofoot,withthesamemiraculouscomposurewhichhadpreviouslysodelightedandconfoundedmysoul.

Thisextraordinarybehavior,bythrowingmeintoaperfectfeverofexcitement—into an absolute delirium of love-served rather to embolden than todisconcertme.Inthemadintensityofmydevotion,Iforgoteverythingbutthepresenceandthemajesticlovelinessofthevisionwhichconfrontedmygaze.

Watchingmy opportunity, when I thought the audience were fully engagedwiththeopera,IatlengthcaughttheeyesofMadameLalande,and,upontheinstant,madeaslightbutunmistakablebow.

Sheblushedverydeeply—thenavertedhereyes—thenslowlyandcautiouslylooked around, apparently to see if my rash action had been noticed—thenleanedovertowardthegentlemanwhosatbyherside.

InowfeltaburningsenseoftheimproprietyIhadcommitted,andexpectednothinglessthaninstantexposure;whileavisionofpistolsuponthemorrowfloated rapidly and uncomfortably through my brain. I was greatly andimmediately relieved, however, when I saw the lady merely hand thegentlemanaplay-bill,withoutspeaking,butthereadermayformsomefeebleconception ofmy astonishment—ofmy profound amazement—mydeliriousbewilderment of heart and soul—when, instantly afterward, having againglancedfurtivelyaround,sheallowedherbrighteyestosetfullyandsteadilyupon my own, and then, with a faint smile, disclosing a bright line of herpearly teeth, made two distinct, pointed, and unequivocal affirmativeinclinationsofthehead.

Itisuseless,ofcourse,todwelluponmyjoy—uponmytransport—uponmyillimitableecstasyofheart.Ifevermanwasmadwithexcessofhappiness,itwasmyselfatthatmoment.Iloved.Thiswasmyfirstlove—soIfeltittobe.It was love supreme-indescribable. It was "love at first sight;" and at firstsight,too,ithadbeenappreciatedandreturned.

Yes, returned. How and why should I doubt it for an instant. What otherconstructioncouldIpossiblyputuponsuchconduct,onthepartofaladysobeautiful—sowealthy—evidentlysoaccomplished—ofsohighbreeding—ofsoloftyapositioninsociety—ineveryregardsoentirelyrespectableasIfeltassured was Madame Lalande? Yes, she loved me—she returned theenthusiasmofmylove,withanenthusiasmasblind—asuncompromising—asuncalculating—as abandoned—and as utterly unbounded asmy own! Thesedeliciousfanciesandreflections,however,werenowinterruptedbythefallingof the drop-curtain. The audience arose; and the usual tumult immediatelysupervened.QuittingTalbotabruptly,ImadeeveryefforttoforcemywayintocloserproximitywithMadameLalande.Havingfailed in this,onaccountofthe crowd, I at length gave up the chase, and bent my steps homeward;consolingmyselfformydisappointmentinnothavingbeenabletotoucheventhehemofherrobe,bythereflectionthatIshouldbeintroducedbyTalbot,indueform,uponthemorrow.

Thismorrowatlastcame,thatistosay,adayfinallydawneduponalongandwearynight of impatience; and then the hours until "one"were snail-paced,

dreary,andinnumerable.ButevenStamboul,itissaid,shallhaveanend,andtherecameanendtothislongdelay.Theclockstruck.Asthelastechoceased,IsteppedintoB—'sandinquiredforTalbot.

"Out,"saidthefootman—Talbot'sown.

"Out!"Ireplied,staggeringbackhalfadozenpaces—"letmetellyou,myfinefellow,thatthisthingisthoroughlyimpossibleandimpracticable;Mr.Talbotisnotout.Whatdoyoumean?"

"Nothing, sir; only Mr. Talbot is not in, that's all. He rode over to S—,immediatelyafterbreakfast,andleftwordthathewouldnotbeintownagainforaweek."

I stoodpetrifiedwithhorror and rage. I endeavored to reply,butmy tonguerefused its office. At length I turned on my heel, livid with wrath, andinwardlyconsigningthewholetribeoftheTalbotstotheinnermostregionsofErebus. It was evident that my considerate friend, il fanatico, had quiteforgotten his appointment with myself—had forgotten it as soon as it wasmade.Atno timewasheaveryscrupulousmanofhisword.Therewasnohelpforit;sosmotheringmyvexationaswellasIcould,Istrolledmoodilyupthestreet,propoundingfutileinquiriesaboutMadameLalandetoeverymaleacquaintance Imet. By report shewas known, I found, to all—tomany bysight—butshehadbeenintownonlyafewweeks,andtherewereveryfew,therefore, who claimed her personal acquaintance. These few, being stillcomparatively strangers, could not, or would not, take the liberty ofintroducingmethroughtheformalityofamorningcall.WhileIstoodthusindespair,conversingwithatriooffriendsupontheallabsorbingsubjectofmyheart,itsohappenedthatthesubjectitselfpassedby.

"AsIlive,theresheis!"criedone.

"Surprisinglybeautiful!"exclaimedasecond.

"Anangeluponearth!"ejaculatedathird.

Ilooked;andinanopencarriagewhichapproachedus,passingslowlydownthestreet,sattheenchantingvisionoftheopera,accompaniedbytheyoungerladywhohadoccupiedaportionofherbox.

"Hercompanionalsowearsremarkablywell,"saidtheoneofmytriowhohadspokenfirst.

"Astonishingly," said the second; "still quite a brilliant air, but art will dowonders.Uponmyword,shelooksbetterthanshedidatParisfiveyearsago.Abeautifulwomanstill;—don'tyouthinkso,Froissart?—Simpson,Imean."

"Still!"saidI,"andwhyshouldn'tshebe?Butcomparedwithherfriendsheisasarush—lighttotheeveningstar—aglow—wormtoAntares.

"Ha! ha! ha!—why, Simpson, you have an astonishing tact at makingdiscoveries—originalones,Imean."Andhereweseparated,whileoneofthetriobeganhummingagayvaudeville,ofwhichIcaughtonlythelines—

Ninon,Ninon,Ninonabas—

AbasNinonDeL'Enclos!

Duringthislittlescene,however,onethinghadservedgreatlytoconsoleme,although it fed the passion by which I was consumed. As the carriage ofMadameLalanderolledbyourgroup,Ihadobservedthatsherecognizedme;andmorethanthis,shehadblessedme,bythemostseraphicofallimaginablesmiles,withnoequivocalmarkoftherecognition.

Asforanintroduction,IwasobligedtoabandonallhopeofituntilsuchtimeasTalbot should think proper to return from the country. In themeantime Iperseveringly frequentedevery reputableplaceofpublicamusement; and,atlength,atthetheatre,whereIfirstsawher,Ihadthesupremeblissofmeetingher, and of exchanging glances with her once again. This did not occur,however,untilthelapseofafortnight.Everyday,intheinterim,IhadinquiredforTalbotathishotel,andeverydayhadbeenthrownintoaspasmofwrathbytheeverlasting"Notcomehomeyet"ofhisfootman.

Upon the evening in question, therefore, Iwas in a condition little short ofmadness.MadameLalande,Ihadbeentold,wasaParisian—hadlatelyarrivedfromParis—mightshenotsuddenlyreturn?—returnbeforeTalbotcameback—andmightshenotbethuslosttomeforever?Thethoughtwastooterribletobear.Sincemyfuturehappinesswasatissue,Iresolvedtoactwithamanlydecision.Inaword,uponthebreakingupoftheplay,Itracedtheladytoherresidence,notedtheaddress,andthenextmorningsentherafullandelaborateletter,inwhichIpouredoutmywholeheart.

Ispokeboldly,freely—inaword,Ispokewithpassion.Iconcealednothing—nothingevenofmyweakness.Ialludedtotheromanticcircumstancesofourfirstmeeting—eventotheglanceswhichhadpassedbetweenus.IwentsofarastosaythatIfeltassuredofherlove;whileIofferedthisassurance,andmyown intensity of devotion, as two excuses for my otherwise unpardonableconduct.Asa third, I spokeofmy fear that shemightquit thecitybefore Icould have the opportunity of a formal introduction. I concluded the mostwildlyenthusiasticepistleeverpenned,withafrankdeclarationofmyworldlycircumstances—ofmy affluence—andwith an offer ofmy heart and ofmyhand.

InanagonyofexpectationIawaitedthereply.Afterwhatseemedthelapseofacenturyitcame.

Yes,actuallycame.Romanticasallthismayappear,Ireallyreceivedaletterfrom Madame Lalande—the beautiful, the wealthy, the idolized MadameLalande.Hereyes—hermagnificenteyes,hadnotbeliedhernobleheart.Likea true Frenchwoman as she was she had obeyed the frank dictates of herreason—the generous impulses of her nature—despising the conventionalpruderies of the world. She had not scorned my proposals. She had notshelteredherselfinsilence.Shehadnotreturnedmyletterunopened.Shehadevensentme,inreply,onepennedbyherownexquisitefingers.Itranthus:

"MonsieurSimpsonvillpardonnemefornotcomposedebutefulletongofhiscontreesovellasmight.ItisonlydelatedatIamarrive,andnotyetavedoopportuniteforto—l'etudier.

"Vid dis apologie for the maniere, I vill now say dat, helas!—MonsieurSimpsonaveguessbutdetootrue.NeedIsaydemore?Helas!amInotreadyspeakdetoomoshe?

"EUGENIELALAND."

Thisnoble—spiritednoteIkissedamillion times,andcommitted,nodoubt,on its account, a thousand other extravagances that have now escaped mymemory.StillTalbotwouldnot return.Alas!couldhehave formedeven thevaguestideaofthesufferinghisabsencehadoccasionedhisfriend,wouldnothissympathizingnaturehaveflownimmediatelytomyrelief?Still,however,he came not. Iwrote.He replied.Hewas detained by urgent business—butwould shortly return. He begged me not to be impatient—to moderate mytransports—to read soothing books—to drink nothing stronger thanHock—and tobring theconsolationsofphilosophy tomyaid.The fool! ifhecouldnotcomehimself,why,inthenameofeverythingrational,couldhenothaveenclosed me a letter of presentation? I wrote him again, entreating him toforward one forthwith. My letter was returned by that footman, with thefollowingendorsement inpencil.Thescoundrelhad joinedhismaster in thecountry:

"LeftS—-yesterday,forpartsunknown—didnotsaywhere—orwhenbeback—sothoughtbesttoreturnletter,knowingyourhandwriting,andashowyouisalways,moreorless,inahurry.

"Yourssincerely,

"STUBBS."

After this, it is needless to say, that I devoted to the infernal deities bothmasterandvalet:—buttherewaslittleuseinanger,andnoconsolationatallincomplaint.

But I had yet a resource left, inmy constitutional audacity. Hitherto it hadservedmewell,andInowresolved tomake itavailmeto theend.Besides,after the correspondence which had passed between us, what act of mereinformality could I commit, within bounds, that ought to be regarded asindecorousbyMadameLalande?Since theaffairof the letter, Ihadbeen inthe habit ofwatching her house, and thus discovered that, about twilight, itwashercustomtopromenade,attendedonlybyanegroinlivery,inapublicsquareoverlookedbyherwindows.Here,amid the luxuriantandshadowinggroves, in the gray gloom of a sweet midsummer evening, I observed myopportunityandaccostedher.

Thebettertodeceivetheservantinattendance,Ididthiswiththeassuredairofanoldand familiaracquaintance.Withapresenceofmind trulyParisian,shetookthecueatonce,and,togreetme,heldoutthemostbewitchinglylittleof hands. The valet at once fell into the rear, and now, with hearts full tooverflowing,wediscoursedlongandunreservedlyofourlove.

AsMadameLalande spokeEnglisheven less fluently than shewrote it, ourconversationwas necessarily in French. In this sweet tongue, so adapted topassion,Igaveloosetotheimpetuousenthusiasmofmynature,and,withallthe eloquence I could command, besought her to consent to an immediatemarriage.

Atthisimpatienceshesmiled.Sheurgedtheoldstoryofdecorum—thatbug-bear which deters so many from bliss until the opportunity for bliss hasforever goneby. I hadmost imprudentlymade it knownamongmy friends,sheobserved,thatIdesiredheracquaintance—thusthatIdidnotpossessit—thus, again, there was no possibility of concealing the date of our firstknowledgeofeachother.Andthensheadverted,withablush,totheextremerecency of this date. To wed immediately would be improper—would beindecorous—wouldbeoutre.Allthisshesaidwithacharmingairofnaivetewhichenrapturedwhileitgrievedandconvincedme.Shewentevensofarastoaccuseme,laughingly,ofrashness—ofimprudence.Shebademerememberthat I really even know not who she was—what were her prospects, herconnections, her standing in society. She begged me, but with a sigh, toreconsidermyproposal,andtermedmyloveaninfatuation—awillo'thewisp

—afancyorfantasyofthemoment—abaselessandunstablecreationratheroftheimaginationthanoftheheart.Thesethingssheutteredastheshadowsofthesweettwilightgathereddarklyandmoredarklyaroundus—andthen,withagentlepressureofherfairy-likehand,overthrew,inasinglesweetinstant,alltheargumentativefabricshehadreared.

I replied as best I could—as only a true lover can. I spoke at length, andperseveringlyofmydevotion,ofmypassion—ofherexceedingbeauty,andofmy own enthusiastic admiration. In conclusion, I dwelt, with a convincingenergy,upontheperilsthatencompassthecourseoflove—thatcourseoftruelove that never did run smooth—and thus deduced the manifest danger ofrenderingthatcourseunnecessarilylong.

This latter argument seemed finally to soften the rigorof her determination.Sherelented;buttherewasyetanobstacle,shesaid,whichshefeltassuredIhadnotproperlyconsidered.Thiswasadelicatepoint—forawomantourge,especiallyso;inmentioningit,shesawthatshemustmakeasacrificeofherfeelings;still,forme,everysacrificeshouldbemade.Shealludedtothetopicofage.WasIaware—wasIfullyawareofthediscrepancybetweenus?Thatthe age of the husband, should surpass by a few years—even by fifteen ortwenty—the ageof thewife,was regardedby theworld as admissible, and,indeed,asevenproper,butshehadalwaysentertainedthebeliefthattheyearsof the wife should never exceed in number those of the husband. Adiscrepancyof thisunnaturalkindgaverise, toofrequently,alas! toa lifeofunhappiness.Now shewas aware thatmy own age did not exceed two andtwenty; and I, on the contrary, perhaps,was not aware that the years ofmyEugenieextendedveryconsiderablybeyondthatsum.

About all this there was a nobility of soul—a dignity of candor—whichdelighted—whichenchantedme—whicheternally rivetedmychains. Icouldscarcelyrestraintheexcessivetransportwhichpossessedme.

"My sweetest Eugenie," I cried, "what is all this about which you arediscoursing?Your years surpass in somemeasuremy own. But what then?Thecustomsoftheworldaresomanyconventionalfollies.Tothosewholoveas ourselves, inwhat respect differs a year fromanhour? I am twenty-two,yousay,granted:indeed,youmayaswellcallme,atonce,twenty-three.Nowyou yourself, my dearest Eugenie, can have numbered no more than—canhavenumberednomorethan—nomorethan—than—than—than—"

HereIpausedforan instant, in theexpectation thatMadameLalandewouldinterruptmebysupplyinghertrueage.ButaFrenchwomanisseldomdirect,and has always, by way of answer to an embarrassing query, some littlepractical reply of her own. In the present instance, Eugenie,who for a few

moments past had seemed to be searching for something in her bosom, atlengthletfalluponthegrassaminiature,whichIimmediatelypickedupandpresentedtoher.

"Keep it!" she said,withoneof hermost ravishing smiles. "Keep it formysake—for the sakeof herwhom it too flatteringly represents.Besides, uponthebackof the trinketyoumaydiscover,perhaps, thevery informationyouseem to desire. It is now, to be sure, growing rather dark—but you canexamine itatyour leisure in themorning. In themeantime,youshallbemyescorthometo-night.Myfriendsareaboutholdingalittlemusicallevee.Icanpromiseyou,too,somegoodsinging.WeFrencharenotnearlysopunctiliousasyouAmericans,andIshallhavenodifficulty insmugglingyou in, in thecharacterofanoldacquaintance."

Withthis,shetookmyarm,andIattendedherhome.Themansionwasquiteafineone,and,Ibelieve,furnishedingoodtaste.Ofthislatterpoint,however,Iam scarcely qualified to judge; for it was just dark as we arrived; and inAmerican mansions of the better sort lights seldom, during the heat ofsummer,maketheirappearanceatthis,themostpleasantperiodoftheday.Inaboutanhouraftermyarrival,tobesure,asingleshadedsolarlampwaslitintheprincipaldrawing-room;andthisapartment,Icouldthussee,wasarrangedwithunusualgoodtasteandevensplendor;buttwootherroomsofthesuite,and in which the company chiefly assembled, remained, during the wholeevening,inaveryagreeableshadow.Thisisawell-conceivedcustom,givingthepartyatleastachoiceoflightorshade,andonewhichourfriendsoverthewatercouldnotdobetterthanimmediatelyadopt.

The evening thus spent was unquestionably the most delicious of my life.MadameLalandehadnotoverratedthemusicalabilitiesofherfriends;andthesinging I here heard I had never heard excelled in any private circle out ofVienna.Theinstrumentalperformersweremanyandofsuperior talents.Thevocalistswerechieflyladies,andnoindividualsanglessthanwell.Atlength,upon a peremptory call for "Madame Lalande," she arose at once, withoutaffectationordemur, from thechaise longueuponwhich shehad satbymyside,and,accompaniedbyoneortwogentlemenandherfemalefriendoftheopera,repairedtothepianointhemaindrawing-room.Iwouldhaveescortedhermyself, but felt that, under the circumstances ofmy introduction to thehouse,IhadbetterremainunobservedwhereIwas.Iwasthusdeprivedofthepleasureofseeing,althoughnotofhearing,hersing.

The impression she produced upon the company seemed electrical but theeffectuponmyselfwassomethingevenmore.Iknownothowadequatelytodescribeit.Itaroseinpart,nodoubt,fromthesentimentoflovewithwhichIwasimbued;butchieflyfrommyconvictionoftheextremesensibilityofthe

singer.Itisbeyondthereachofarttoendoweitherairorrecitativewithmoreimpassionedexpressionthanwashers.HerutteranceoftheromanceinOtello—thetonewithwhichshegavethewords"Sulmiosasso,"intheCapuletti—isringinginmymemoryyet.Herlowertoneswereabsolutelymiraculous.Hervoiceembracedthreecompleteoctaves,extendingfromthecontraltoDtotheD upper soprano, and, though sufficiently powerful to have filled the SanCarlos, executed, with the minutest precision, every difficulty of vocalcomposition-ascending and descending scales, cadences, or fiorituri. In thefinalof theSomnambula, shebrought about amost remarkable effect at thewords:

Ah!nonguingeumanpensiero

Alcontentoond'iosonpiena.

Here,inimitationofMalibran,shemodifiedtheoriginalphraseofBellini,soas to let her voice descend to the tenorG,when, by a rapid transition, shestrucktheGabovethetreblestave,springingoveranintervaloftwooctaves.

Upon rising from the piano after these miracles of vocal execution, sheresumedherseatbymyside;whenIexpressedtoher,intermsofthedeepestenthusiasm,mydelightatherperformance.OfmysurpriseIsaidnothing,andyet was I most unfeignedly surprised; for a certain feebleness, or rather acertain tremulous indecisionofvoice inordinaryconversation,hadpreparedme to anticipate that, in singing, she would not acquit herself with anyremarkableability.

Ourconversationwasnowlong,earnest,uninterrupted,andtotallyunreserved.Shemademerelatemanyoftheearlierpassagesofmylife,andlistenedwithbreathlessattention toeverywordof thenarrative. Iconcealednothing—feltthat I had a right to conceal nothing—from her confiding affection.Encouragedbyhercandoruponthedelicatepointofherage,Ientered,withperfectfrankness,notonlyintoadetailofmymanyminorvices,butmadefullconfessionofthosemoralandevenofthosephysicalinfirmities,thedisclosureofwhich,indemandingsomuchhigheradegreeofcourage,issomuchsureran evidence of love. I touched upon my college indiscretions—upon myextravagances—uponmy carousals—uponmy debts—uponmy flirtations. Ievenwentsofarastospeakofaslightlyhecticcoughwithwhich,atonetime,Ihadbeentroubled—ofachronicrheumatism—ofatwingeofhereditarygout—and, in conclusion, of the disagreeable and inconvenient, but hithertocarefullyconcealed,weaknessofmyeyes.

"Upon this latter point," saidMadameLalande, laughingly, "you have been

surelyinjudiciousincomingtoconfession;for,withouttheconfession,Itakeit forgranted thatnoonewouldhaveaccusedyouof thecrime.By theby,"she continued, "have you any recollection-" and here I fancied that a blush,eventhroughthegloomof theapartment,becamedistinctlyvisibleuponhercheek—"haveyouanyrecollection,moncheramiofthislittleocularassistant,whichnowdependsfrommyneck?"

Asshespokeshe twirled inher fingers the identicaldoubleeye-glasswhichhadsooverwhelmedmewithconfusionattheopera.

"Full well—alas! do I remember it," I exclaimed, pressing passionately thedelicate hand which offered the glasses for my inspection. They formed acomplexandmagnificent toy,richlychasedandfiligreed,andgleamingwithjewels,which,eveninthedeficientlight,Icouldnothelpperceivingwereofhighvalue.

"Ehbien!monami"sheresumedwithacertainempressmentofmannerthatrathersurprisedme—"Ehbien!monami,youhaveearnestlybesoughtofmeafavor which you have been pleased to denominate priceless. You havedemandedofmemyhanduponthemorrow.ShouldIyieldtoyourentreaties—and,Imayadd,tothepleadingsofmyownbosom—wouldInotbeentitledtodemandofyouavery—averylittlebooninreturn?"

"Name it!" I exclaimed with an energy that had nearly drawn upon us theobservation of the company, and restrained by their presence alone fromthrowingmyselfimpetuouslyatherfeet."Nameit,mybeloved,myEugenie,myown!—nameit!—but,alas!itisalreadyyieldederenamed."

"You shall conquer, then,mon ami," said she, "for the sake of the Eugeniewhomyou love, this littleweaknesswhichyouhave at last confessed—thisweakness more moral than physical—and which, let me assure you, is sounbecomingthenobilityofyourrealnature—soinconsistentwiththecandorof your usual character—and which, if permitted further control, willassuredlyinvolveyou,soonerorlater,insomeverydisagreeablescrape.Youshallconquer, formysake, thisaffectationwhich leadsyou,asyouyourselfacknowledge, to the tacit or implied denial of your infirmity of vision. For,this infirmityyouvirtuallydeny, inrefusingtoemploythecustomarymeansfor its relief. Youwill understandme to say, then, that I wish you towearspectacles;—ah, hush!—you have already consented to wear them, for mysake.YoushallacceptthelittletoywhichInowholdinmyhand,andwhich,thoughadmirableasanaidtovision,isreallyofnoveryimmensevalueasagem.You perceive that, by a triflingmodification thus—or thus—it can beadaptedtotheeyesintheformofspectacles,orworninthewaistcoatpocketas an eye-glass. It is in the formermode, however, and habitually, that you

havealreadyconsentedtowearitformysake."

This request—must I confess it?—confusedme in no little degree. But theconditionwithwhich itwascoupled renderedhesitation,of course, amatteraltogetheroutofthequestion.

"Itisdone!"Icried,withalltheenthusiasmthatIcouldmusteratthemoment."It is done—it is most cheerfully agreed. I sacrifice every feeling for yoursake.To-nightIwearthisdeareye-glass,asaneye-glass,anduponmyheart;but with the earliest dawn of thatmorning which givesme the pleasure ofcallingyouwife,Iwillplaceituponmy—uponmynose,—andthereweariteverafterward,inthelessromantic,andlessfashionable,butcertainlyinthemoreserviceable,formwhichyoudesire."

Our conversation now turned upon the details of our arrangements for themorrow.Talbot,Ilearnedfrommybetrothed,hadjustarrivedintown.Iwastoseehimatonce,andprocureacarriage.Thesoireewouldscarcelybreakupbefore two;andby thishour thevehiclewas tobeat thedoor,when, in theconfusion occasioned by the departure of the company, Madame L. couldeasilyenter itunobserved.Wewere then tocallat thehouseofaclergymanwhowould be in waiting; there bemarried, drop Talbot, and proceed on ashorttourtotheEast,leavingthefashionableworldathometomakewhatevercommentsuponthematteritthoughtbest.

Having planned all this, I immediately took leave, and went in search ofTalbot,but,ontheway,Icouldnotrefrainfromsteppingintoahotel,forthepurposeofinspectingtheminiature;andthisIdidbythepowerfulaidoftheglasses. The countenance was a surpassingly beautiful one! Those largeluminous eyes!—that proud Grecian nose!—those dark luxuriant curls!—"Ah!"saidI,exultinglytomyself,"thisisindeedthespeakingimageofmybeloved!"I turnedthereverse,anddiscoveredthewords—"EugenieLalande—agedtwenty-sevenyearsandsevenmonths."

IfoundTalbotathome,andproceededatoncetoacquainthimwithmygoodfortune.Heprofessedexcessiveastonishment,ofcourse,butcongratulatedmemost cordially, and proffered every assistance in his power. In a word, wecarriedoutourarrangementtotheletter,and,at twointhemorning,just tenminutesafter theceremony,Ifoundmyself inaclosecarriagewithMadameLalande—withMrs.Simpson,Ishouldsay—anddrivingatagreatrateoutoftown,inadirectionNortheastbyNorth,half-North.

IthadbeendeterminedforusbyTalbot,that,asweweretobeupallnight,weshouldmakeourfirststopatC—,avillageabouttwentymilesfromthecity,andtheregetanearlybreakfastandsomerepose,beforeproceedinguponour

route. At four precisely, therefore, the carriage drew up at the door of theprincipalinn.Ihandedmyadoredwifeout,andorderedbreakfastforthwith.Inthemeantimewewereshownintoasmallparlor,andsatdown.

Itwasnownearlyifnotaltogetherdaylight;and,asIgazed,enraptured,attheangelbymyside, thesingularideacame,allatonce, intomyhead,that thiswas really the very firstmoment sincemy acquaintancewith the celebratedloveliness ofMadameLalande, that I had enjoyed a near inspection of thatlovelinessbydaylightatall.

"Andnow,monami,"saidshe,takingmyhand,andsointerruptingthistrainofreflection,"andnow,moncherami,sinceweareindissolublyone—sinceIhaveyielded toyourpassionateentreaties,andperformedmyportionofouragreement—Ipresumeyouhavenotforgottenthatyoualsohavealittlefavortobestow—alittlepromisewhichitisyourintentiontokeep.Ah!letmesee!Letmeremember!Yes;fulleasilydoIcall tomindtheprecisewordsofthedear promise youmade toEugenie last night. Listen!You spoke thus: 'It isdone!—itismostcheerfullyagreed!Isacrificeeveryfeelingforyoursake.To-nightIwearthisdeareye-glassasaneye-glass,anduponmyheart;butwiththeearliestdawnofthatmorningwhichgivesmetheprivilegeofcallingyouwife, I will place it upon my—upon my nose,—and there wear it everafterward,inthelessromantic,andlessfashionable,butcertainlyinthemoreserviceable,formwhichyoudesire.'Theseweretheexactwords,mybelovedhusband,weretheynot?"

"They were," I said; "you have an excellent memory; and assuredly, mybeautifulEugenie,thereisnodispositiononmyparttoevadetheperformanceof the trivialpromise they imply.See!Behold! theyarebecoming—rather—aretheynot?"Andhere,havingarrangedtheglassesintheordinaryformofspectacles, I applied them gingerly in their proper position; whileMadameSimpson,adjustinghercap,andfoldingherarms,satboltuprightinherchair,inasomewhatstiffandprim,andindeed,inasomewhatundignifiedposition.

"Goodnessgraciousme!"Iexclaimed,almostat theveryinstantthat therimof the spectacles had settled uponmy nose—"Mygoodness graciousme!—why,whatcanbethematterwiththeseglasses?"andtakingthemquicklyoff,Iwipedthemcarefullywithasilkhandkerchief,andadjustedthemagain.

But if, in the first instance, there hadoccurred somethingwhichoccasionedme surprise, in the second, this surprise became elevated into astonishment;andthisastonishmentwasprofound—wasextreme—indeedImaysayitwashorrific.What, in the name of everything hideous, did this mean? Could Ibelievemyeyes?—couldI?—thatwasthequestion.Wasthat—wasthat—wasthatrouge?Andwerethose—andwerethose—werethosewrinkles,uponthe

visageofEugenieLalande?Andoh! Jupiter, andeveryoneof thegodsandgoddesses,littleandbig!what—what—what—whathadbecomeofherteeth?Idashedthespectaclesviolentlytotheground,and,leapingtomyfeet,stooderectinthemiddleofthefloor,confrontingMrs.Simpson,withmyarmsseta-kimbo, and grinning and foaming, but, at the same time, utterly speechlesswithterrorandwithrage.

Now I have already said that Madame Eugenie Lalande—that is to say,Simpson—spoketheEnglishlanguagebutverylittlebetterthanshewroteit,andforthisreasonsheveryproperlyneverattemptedtospeakituponordinaryoccasions.Butragewillcarryaladytoanyextreme;andinthepresentcareitcarriedMrs.Simpsontotheveryextraordinaryextremeofattemptingtoholdaconversationinatonguethatshedidnotaltogetherunderstand.

"Vell,Monsieur,"saidshe,aftersurveyingme,ingreatapparentastonishment,forsomemoments—"Vell,Monsieur?—andvatden?—vatdematternow?IsitdedanceofdeSaintitussedatyouave?Ifnotlikeme,vatforvybuydepiginthepoke?"

"You wretch!" said I, catching my breath—"you—you—you villainous oldhag!"

"Ag?—ole?—menotsoverole,afterall!Menotonesingledaymoredandeeighty-doo."

"Eighty-two!" I ejaculated, staggering to the wall—"eighty-two hundredthousandbaboons!Theminiaturesaidtwenty-sevenyearsandsevenmonths!"

"Tobesure!—datisso!—vertrue!butdendeportraitehasbeentakefordesefifty-fiveyear.VenIgomarrymysegondeusbande,MonsieurLalande,atdattime I haddeportraite take formydaughter bymy first usbande,MonsieurMoissart!"

"Moissart!"saidI.

"Yes,Moissart," said she,mimickingmypronunciation,which, to speak thetruth,wasnoneofthebest,—"andvatden?VatyouknowaboutdeMoissart?"

"Nothing, you old fright!—I know nothing about him at all; only I had anancestorofthatname,onceuponatime."

"Datname!andvatyouaveforsaytodatname?'Tisvergootname;andsoisVoissart—datisvergootnametoo.Mydaughter,MademoiselleMoissart,shemarryvonMonsieurVoissart,—anddenameisbotverrespectaablename."

"Moissart?"Iexclaimed,"andVoissart!Why,whatisityoumean?"

"VatImean?—ImeanMoissartandVoissart;andfordematterofdat,ImeanCroissart and Froisart, too, if I only tink proper to mean it. My daughter'sdaughter,MademoiselleVoissart,shemarryvonMonsieurCroissart,anddenagain,mydaughter'sgrandedaughter,MademoiselleCroissart,shemarryvonMonsieurFroissart;andIsupposeyousaydatdatisnotvonverrespectaablename.-"

"Froissart!"saidI,beginningtofaint,"why,surelyyoudon'tsayMoissart,andVoissart,andCroissart,andFroissart?"

"Yes,"shereplied,leaningfullybackinherchair,andstretchingoutherlowerlimbsatgreatlength;"yes,Moissart,andVoissart,andCroissart,andFroissart.ButMonsieurFroissart,hevasvonverbigvatyoucallfool—hevasvonvergreat big donce like yourself—for he lef la belle France for come to disstupideAmerique—andvenhegetherehewentandavevonverstupide,vonver,verstupidesonn,so Ihear,doughInotyetavaddeplaisir tomeetvidhim—neitherme normy companion, deMadame Stephanie Lalande. He isnamedeNapoleonBonaparteFroissart,andIsupposeyousaydatdat,too,isnotvonverrespectablename."

Either the length or the nature of this speech, had the effect ofworking upMrs.Simpson intoaveryextraordinarypassion indeed; andas shemadeanend of it, with great labor, she lumped up from her chair like somebodybewitched,droppingupontheflooranentireuniverseofbustleasshelumped.Onceuponherfeet,shegnashedhergums,brandishedherarms,rolleduphersleeves,shookherfistinmyface,andconcludedtheperformancebytearingthecapfromherhead,andwithitanimmensewigofthemostvaluableandbeautifulblackhair, thewholeofwhich shedashedupon thegroundwithayell, and there trammpled and danced a fandango upon it, in an absoluteecstasyandagonyofrage.

MeantimeIsankaghast into thechairwhichshehadvacated."MoissartandVoissart!" I repeated, thoughtfully, as she cut one of her pigeon-wings, and"Croissart andFroissart!" as she completed another—"Moissart andVoissartand Croissart and Napoleon Bonaparte Froissart!—why, you ineffable oldserpent, that'sme—that'sme—d'yehear? that'sme"—here I screamedat thetopofmyvoice—"that'sme-e-e!IamNapoleonBonaparteFroissart!andifIhavn't marriedmy great, great, grandmother, I wish I may be everlastinglyconfounded!"

MadameEugenieLalande,quasiSimpson—formerlyMoissart—was,insoberfact,mygreat, great, grandmother. Inheryouth shehadbeenbeautiful, andeven at eighty-two, retained the majestic height, the sculptural contour ofhead,thefineeyesandtheGreciannoseofhergirlhood.Bytheaidofthese,

ofpearl-powder,ofrouge,offalsehair,falseteeth,andfalsetournure,aswellas of themost skilfulmodistes of Paris, she contrived to hold a respectablefooting among thebeauties enpeupasseesof theFrenchmetropolis. In thisrespect, indeed,shemighthavebeenregardedas little less than theequalofthecelebratedNinonDeL'Enclos.

She was immensely wealthy, and being left, for the second time, a widowwithout children, shebethoughtherselfofmyexistence inAmerica, and forthe purpose of making me her heir, paid a visit to the United States, incompany with a distant and exceedingly lovely relative of her secondhusband's—aMadameStephanieLalande.

At the opera, my great, great, grandmother's attention was arrested by mynotice;and,uponsurveyingmethroughhereye-glass,shewasstruckwithacertain family resemblance toherself.Thus interested, andknowing that theheir she sought was actually in the city, she made inquiries of her partyrespectingme.Thegentlemanwhoattendedherknewmyperson,andtoldherwhoIwas.Theinformationthusobtainedinducedhertorenewherscrutiny;andthisscrutinyitwaswhichsoemboldenedmethatIbehavedintheabsurdmanneralreadydetailed.Shereturnedmybow,however,undertheimpressionthat,bysomeoddaccident,Ihaddiscoveredheridentity.When,deceivedbymyweakness of vision, and the arts of the toilet, in respect to the age andcharmsofthestrangelady,IdemandedsoenthusiasticallyofTalbotwhoshewas,heconcludedthatImeanttheyoungerbeauty,asamatterofcourse,andso informed me, with perfect truth, that she was "the celebrated widow,MadameLalande."

Inthestreet,nextmorning,mygreat,great,grandmotherencounteredTalbot,anoldParisianacquaintance;andtheconversation,verynaturallyturneduponmyself. My deficiencies of vision were then explained; for these werenotorious,althoughIwasentirelyignorantoftheirnotoriety,andmygoodoldrelative discovered, much to her chagrin, that she had been deceived insupposingmeawareofheridentity,andthatIhadbeenmerelymakingafoolofmyself inmakingopen love, ina theatre, toanoldwomanunknown.Bywayofpunishingme for this imprudence, sheconcoctedwithTalbot aplot.He purposely kept out ofmyway to avoid givingme the introduction.Mystreetinquiriesabout"thelovelywidow,MadameLalande,"weresupposedtorefer totheyoungerlady,ofcourse,andthustheconversationwiththethreegentlemen whom I encountered shortly after leaving Talbot's hotel will beeasily explained, as also their allusion to Ninon De L'Enclos. I had noopportunity of seeingMadame Lalande closely during daylight; and, at hermusical soiree, my silly weakness in refusing the aid of glasses effectuallypreventedmefrommakingadiscoveryofherage.When"MadameLalande"

wascalledupontosing, theyounger ladywas intended;and itwasshewhoarosetoobeythecall;mygreat,great,grandmother,tofurtherthedeception,arisingat the samemoment andaccompanyingher to thepiano in themaindrawing-room. Had I decided upon escorting her thither, it had been herdesign to suggest the propriety ofmy remainingwhere I was; butmy ownprudential views rendered this unnecessary. The songs which I so muchadmired,andwhichsoconfirmedmyimpressionoftheyouthofmymistress,wereexecutedbyMadameStephanieLalande.Theeyeglasswaspresentedbywayofaddingareprooftothehoax—astingtotheepigramofthedeception.Itspresentationaffordedanopportunity for the lectureuponaffectationwithwhich I was so especially edified. It is almost superfluous to add that theglassesoftheinstrument,aswornbytheoldlady,hadbeenexchangedbyherforapairbetteradaptedtomyyears.Theysuitedme,infact,toaT.

The clergyman, who merely pretended to tie the fatal knot, was a booncompanionofTalbot's, andnopriest.Hewasanexcellent "whip,"however;andhavingdoffedhiscassocktoputonagreat-coat,hedrovethehackwhichconveyedthe"happycouple"outoftown.Talbottookaseatathisside.Thetwoscoundrelswerethus"inatthedeath,"andthroughahalf-openwindowofthebackparloroftheinn,amusedthemselvesingrinningatthedenouementofthedrama.IbelieveIshallbeforcedtocallthembothout.

Nevertheless,Iamnotthehusbandofmygreat,great,grandmother;andthisisa reflection which affords me infinite relief,—but I am the husband ofMadameLalande—ofMadameStephanieLalande—withwhommygoodoldrelative,besidesmakingmehersoleheirwhenshedies—ifsheeverdoes—hasbeenat the troubleofconcoctingmeamatch. Inconclusion: I amdoneforeverwithbilletsdouxandamnevertobemetwithoutSPECTACLES.

KINGPEST.

ATaleContaininganAllegory.

Thegodsdobearandwillallowinkings

Thethingswhichtheyabhorinrascalroutes.

Buckhurst'sTragedyofFerrexandPorrex.

ABOUT twelve o'clock, one night in themonth ofOctober, and during thechivalrousreignofthethirdEdward,twoseamenbelongingtothecrewofthe"Free andEasy," a trading schooner plying between Sluys and the Thames,and then at anchor in that river, were much astonished to find themselvesseatedinthetap-roomofanale-houseintheparishofSt.Andrews,London—whichale-houseboreforsigntheportraitureofa"JollyTar."

Theroom,althoughill-contrived,smoke-blackened,low-pitched,andineveryotherrespectagreeingwiththegeneralcharacterofsuchplacesattheperiod—was, nevertheless, in the opinionof the grotesquegroups scatteredhere andtherewithinit,sufficientlywelladaptedtoitspurpose.

Of thesegroupsour twoseamenformed, I think, themost interesting, ifnotthemostconspicuous.

Theonewhoappearedtobetheelder,andwhomhiscompanionaddressedbythecharacteristicappellationof"Legs,"wasatthesametimemuchthetallerofthetwo.Hemighthavemeasuredsixfeetandahalf,andanhabitualstoopintheshouldersseemedtohavebeenthenecessaryconsequenceofanaltitudesoenormous.—Superfluitiesinheightwere,however,morethanaccountedforbydeficiencies inotherrespects.Hewasexceedinglythin;andmight,ashisassociates asserted, have answered, when drunk, for a pennant at themast-head,or,whensober,haveservedforajib-boom.Butthesejests,andothersofa similar nature, had evidently produced, at no time, any effect upon thecachinnatorymuscles of the tar.With high cheek-bones, a large hawk-nose,retreating chin, fallen under-jaw, and huge protruding white eyes, theexpression of his countenance, although tinged with a species of doggedindifference tomattersand things ingeneral,wasnot the lessutterlysolemnandseriousbeyondallattemptsatimitationordescription.

The younger seaman was, in all outward appearance, the converse of hiscompanion.His staturecouldnothaveexceeded four feet.Apairof stumpybow-legssupportedhissquat,unwieldyfigure,whilehisunusuallyshortandthickarms,withnoordinaryfistsattheirextremities,swungoffdanglingfromhis sides like the fins of a sea-turtle. Small eyes, of no particular color,twinkledfarbackinhishead.Hisnoseremainedburiedinthemassoffleshwhichenvelopedhisround,full,andpurpleface;andhisthickupper-lipresteduponthestill thickeronebeneathwithanairofcomplacentself-satisfaction,much heightened by the owner's habit of licking them at intervals. Heevidently regarded his tall shipmate with a feeling half-wondrous, half-quizzical;andstaredupoccasionallyinhisfaceastheredsettingsunstaresupatthecragsofBenNevis.

Various and eventful, however, had been the peregrinations of the worthy

coupleinandaboutthedifferenttap-housesoftheneighbourhoodduringtheearlier hours of the night. Funds even the most ample, are not alwayseverlasting:anditwaswithemptypocketsourfriendshadventureduponthepresenthostelrie.

Atthepreciseperiod,then,whenthishistoryproperlycommences,Legs,andhisfellowHughTarpaulin,sat,eachwithbothelbowsrestinguponthelargeoakentableinthemiddleofthefloor,andwithahanduponeithercheek.Theywere eyeing, frombehind a huge flagonof unpaid-for "humming-stuff," theportentouswords, "NoChalk," which to their indignation and astonishmentwerescoredoverthedoorwaybymeansofthatverymineralwhosepresencetheypurportedtodeny.Notthatthegiftofdecypheringwrittencharacters—agiftamongthecommonaltyofthatdayconsideredlittlelesscabalisticalthanthe art of inditing—could, in strict justice, have been laid to the charge ofeitherdiscipleofthesea;buttherewas,tosaythetruth,acertaintwistintheformationoftheletters—anindescribablelee-lurchaboutthewhole—-whichforeboded, in the opinion of both seamen, a long run of dirtyweather; anddeterminedthematonce, in theallegoricalwordsofLegshimself, to"pumpship,clewupallsail,andscudbeforethewind."

Havingaccordinglydisposedofwhatremainedoftheale,andloopedupthepointsoftheirshortdoublets,theyfinallymadeaboltforthestreet.AlthoughTarpaulin rolled twice into the fire-place,mistaking it for thedoor, yet theirescapewasatlengthhappilyeffected—andhalfaftertwelveo'clockfoundourheroesripeformischief,andrunningforlifedownadarkalleyinthedirectionofSt.Andrew'sStair,hotlypursuedbythelandladyofthe"JollyTar."

Attheepochofthiseventfultale,andperiodically,formanyyearsbeforeandafter, all England, but more especially the metropolis, resounded with thefearfulcryof"Plague!"Thecitywasinagreatmeasuredepopulated—andinthose horrible regions, in the vicinity of the Thames, where amid the dark,narrow, and filthy lanes and alleys, theDemon ofDiseasewas supposed tohave had his nativity,Awe,Terror, and Superstitionwere alone to be foundstalkingabroad.

Byauthorityofthekingsuchdistrictswereplacedunderban,andallpersonsforbidden, under pain of death, to intrude upon their dismal solitude. Yetneither the mandate of the monarch, nor the huge barriers erected at theentrancesofthestreets,northeprospectofthatloathsomedeathwhich,withalmostabsolutecertainty,overwhelmedthewretchwhomnoperilcoulddeterfromtheadventure,preventedtheunfurnishedanduntenanteddwellingsfrombeing stripped, by the hand of nightly rapine, of every article, such as iron,brass, or lead-work, which could in any manner be turned to a profitableaccount.

Above all, it was usually found, upon the annual winter opening of thebarriers,thatlocks,bolts,andsecretcellars,hadprovedbutslenderprotectiontothoserichstoresofwinesandliquorswhich,inconsiderationoftheriskandtrouble of removal, many of the numerous dealers having shops in theneighbourhood had consented to trust, during the period of exile, to soinsufficientasecurity.

But there were very few of the terror-stricken people who attributed thesedoingstotheagencyofhumanhands.Pest-spirits,plague-goblins,andfever-demons,werethepopular impsofmischief;andtalessoblood-chillingwerehourly told, that the whole mass of forbidden buildings was, at length,envelopedinterrorasinashroud,andtheplundererhimselfwasoftenscaredawaybythehorrorshisowndepreciationshadcreated;leavingtheentirevastcircuitofprohibiteddistricttogloom,silence,pestilence,anddeath.

Itwasbyoneof the terrificbarriersalreadymentioned,andwhich indicatedtheregionbeyondtobeunderthePest-ban,that,inscramblingdownanalley,LegsandtheworthyHughTarpaulinfoundtheirprogresssuddenlyimpeded.Toreturnwasoutofthequestion,andnotimewastobelost,astheirpursuerswere close upon their heels.With thorough-bred seamen to clamber up theroughly fashioned plank-workwas a trifle; and,maddenedwith the twofoldexcitementofexerciseandliquor,theyleapedunhesitatinglydownwithintheenclosure,andholdingontheirdrunkencoursewithshoutsandyellings,weresoonbewilderedinitsnoisomeandintricaterecesses.

Had they not, indeed, been intoxicated beyond moral sense, their reelingfootstepsmusthavebeenpalsiedbythehorrorsoftheirsituation.Theairwascold and misty. The paving-stones, loosened from their beds, lay in wilddisorderamidthetall,rankgrass,whichspranguparoundthefeetandankles.Fallen houses choked up the streets. The most fetid and poisonous smellseverywhere prevailed;—and by the aid of that ghastly light which, even atmidnight,neverfailstoemanatefromavaporyandpestilentialatatmosphere,might be discerned lying in the by-paths and alleys, or rotting in thewindowlesshabitations,thecarcassofmanyanocturnalplundererarrestedbythehandoftheplagueintheveryperpetrationofhisrobbery.

—Butitlaynotinthepowerofimages,orsensations,orimpedimentssuchasthese, to stay the course of men who, naturally brave, and at that timeespecially,brimfulofcourageandof"humming-stuff!"wouldhavereeled,asstraight as their condition might have permitted, undauntedly into the veryjaws of Death. Onward—still onward stalked the grim Legs, making thedesolatesolemnityechoandre-echowithyellsliketheterrificwar-whoopoftheIndian:andonward,stillonwardrolledthedumpyTarpaulin,hangingonto the doublet of hismore active companion, and far surpassing the latter's

moststrenuousexertionsinthewayofvocalmusic,bybull-roaringsinbasso,fromtheprofundityofhisstentorianlungs.

Theyhadnowevidentlyreachedthestrongholdofthepestilence.Theirwayateverysteporplungegrewmorenoisomeandmorehorrible—thepathsmorenarrowandmoreintricate.Hugestonesandbeamsfallingmomentlyfromthedecayingroofsabovethem,gaveevidence,bytheirsullenandheavydescent,ofthevastheightofthesurroundinghouses;andwhileactualexertionbecamenecessarytoforceapassagethroughfrequentheapsofrubbish, itwasbynomeansseldomthatthehandfelluponaskeletonorresteduponamorefleshlycorpse.

Suddenly,as theseamenstumbledagainst theentranceofa tallandghastly-lookingbuilding,ayellmorethanusuallyshrillfromthethroatoftheexcitedLegs,wasrepliedtofromwithin,inarapidsuccessionofwild,laughter-like,and fiendish shrieks.Nothing daunted at soundswhich, of such a nature, atsuchatime,andinsuchaplace,mighthavecurdledtheverybloodinheartslessirrevocablyonfire,thedrunkencouplerushedheadlongagainstthedoor,burstitopen,andstaggeredintothemidstofthingswithavolleyofcurses.

The roomwithinwhich they found themselves proved to be the shop of anundertaker;butanopen trap-door, inacornerof the floornear theentrance,lookeddownuponalongrangeofwine-cellars,whosedepthstheoccasionalsoundofburstingbottlesproclaimed tobewellstoredwith theirappropriatecontents.Inthemiddleoftheroomstoodatable—inthecentreofwhichagainaroseahugetubofwhatappearedtobepunch.Bottlesofvariouswinesandcordials,togetherwithjugs,pitchers,andflagonsofeveryshapeandquality,werescatteredprofuselyupontheboard.Aroundit,uponcoffin-tressels,wasseated a companyof six.This company Iwill endeavor to delineate onebyone.

Fronting the entrance, and elevated a little above his companions, sat apersonagewhoappearedtobethepresidentofthetable.Hisstaturewasgauntandtall,andLegswasconfoundedtobeholdinhimafiguremoreemaciatedthanhimself.Hisfacewasasyellowassaffron—butnofeatureexceptingonealone, was sufficiently marked to merit a particular description. This oneconsisted in a forehead so unusually and hideously lofty, as to have theappearanceofabonnetorcrownof fleshsuperaddedupon thenaturalhead.Hismouthwaspuckeredanddimpledintoanexpressionofghastlyaffability,and his eyes, as indeed the eyes of all at table, were glazed over with thefumes of intoxication. This gentleman was clothed from head to foot in arichly-embroidered black silk-velvet pall, wrapped negligently around hisformafter the fashionofaSpanishcloak.—Hisheadwasstuckfullofsablehearse-plumes,which he nodded to and frowith a jaunty and knowing air;

and, in his right hand, he held a huge human thigh-bone, with which heappearedtohavebeenjustknockingdownsomememberofthecompanyforasong.

Oppositehim,andwithherback to thedoor,wasa ladyofnowhit the lessextraordinarycharacter.Althoughquiteastallasthepersonjustdescribed,shehadnorighttocomplainofhisunnaturalemaciation.Shewasevidentlyinthelast stage of a dropsy; and her figure resembled nearly that of the hugepuncheonofOctoberbeerwhichstood,withtheheaddrivenin,closebyherside,inacornerofthechamber.Herfacewasexceedinglyround,red,andfull;and the same peculiarity, or ratherwant of peculiarity, attached itself to hercountenance,whichIbeforementionedinthecaseofthepresident—thatistosay, only one feature of her face was sufficiently distinguished to need aseparate characterization: indeed the acute Tarpaulin immediately observedthat the same remark might have applied to each individual person of theparty;everyoneofwhomseemed topossessamonopolyofsomeparticularportionofphysiognomy.With the lady inquestion thisportionproved tobethemouth.Commencingattherightear,itsweptwithaterrificchasmtotheleft—theshortpendantswhichsheworeineitherauriclecontinuallybobbingintotheaperture.Shemade,however,everyexertiontokeephermouthclosedandlookdignified,inadressconsistingofanewlystarchedandironedshroudcomingupcloseunderherchin,withacrimpledruffleofcambricmuslin.

Atherrighthandsatadiminutiveyoungladywhomsheappearedtopatronise.Thisdelicatelittlecreature,inthetremblingofherwastedfingers,inthelividhueofherlips,andintheslighthecticspotwhichtingedherotherwiseleadencomplexion, gave evident indications of a galloping consumption.An air ofgaveextremehautton,however,pervadedherwholeappearance;sheworeinagracefulanddegagemanner,alargeandbeautifulwinding-sheetofthefinestIndialawn;herhairhunginringletsoverherneck;asoftsmileplayedabouthermouth;buthernose,extremelylong,thin,sinuous,flexibleandpimpled,hung down far below her under lip, and in spite of the delicate manner inwhich she nowand thenmoved it to one side or the otherwith her tongue,gavetohercountenanceasomewhatequivocalexpression.

Over against her, and upon the left of the dropsical lady,was seated a littlepuffy,wheezing,andgoutyoldman,whosecheeksreposedupontheshouldersoftheirowner,liketwohugebladdersofOportowine.Withhisarmsfolded,and with one bandaged leg deposited upon the table, he seemed to thinkhimself entitled to some consideration. He evidently prided himself muchuponeveryinchofhispersonalappearance,buttookmoreespecialdelightincallingattentiontohisgaudy-coloredsurtout.This,tosaythetruth,musthavecost himno littlemoney, andwasmade to fit himexceedinglywell—being

fashionedfromoneofthecuriouslyembroideredsilkencoversappertainingtothosegloriousescutcheonswhich,inEnglandandelsewhere,arecustomarilyhung up, in some conspicuous place, upon the dwellings of departedaristocracy.

Next tohim,andat therighthandof thepresident,wasagentlemanin longwhitehoseandcottondrawers.Hisframeshook,inaridiculousmanner,withafitofwhatTarpaulincalled"thehorrors."Hisjaws,whichhadbeennewlyshaved, were tightly tied up by a bandage of muslin; and his arms beingfastenedinasimilarwayatthewrists,IIpreventedhimfromhelpinghimselftoofreelytotheliquorsuponthetable;aprecautionrenderednecessary,intheopinionofLegs,bythepeculiarlysottishandwine-bibbingcastofhisvisage.A pair of prodigious ears, nevertheless, which it was no doubt foundimpossibletoconfine,toweredawayintotheatmosphereoftheapartment,andwere occasionally pricked up in a spasm, at the sound of the drawing of acork.

Fronting him, sixthly and lastly, was situated a singularly stiff-lookingpersonage,who,beingafflictedwithparalysis,must,tospeakseriously,havefelt very ill at ease in his unaccommodating habiliments. He was habited,somewhatuniquely,inanewandhandsomemahoganycoffin.Itstoporhead-piecepressedupontheskullofthewearer,andextendedoveritinthefashionofahood,givingtotheentirefaceanairofindescribableinterest.Arm-holeshad been cut in the sides, for the sake not more of elegance than ofconvenience;butthedress,nevertheless,preventeditsproprietorfromsittingaserectashisassociates;andashelayrecliningagainsthistressel,atanangleofforty-fivedegrees,apairofhugegoggleeyesrolleduptheirawfulwhitestowardstheceilinginabsoluteamazementattheirownenormity.

Beforeeachofthepartylayaportionofaskull,whichwasusedasadrinkingcup. Overhead was suspended a human skeleton, by means of a rope tiedround one of the legs and fastened to a ring in the ceiling. The other limb,confinedbynosuchfetter,stuckofffromthebodyatrightangles,causingthewholelooseandrattlingframetodangleandtwirlaboutatthecapriceofeveryoccasional puff of wind which found its way into the apartment. In thecraniumofthishideousthinglayquantityofignitedcharcoal,whichthrewafitful but vivid light over the entire scene; while coffins, and other waresappertainingtotheshopofanundertaker,werepiledhighuparoundtheroom,andagainstthewindows,preventinganyrayfromescapingintothestreet.

At sightof this extraordinaryassembly, andof their stillmoreextraordinaryparaphernalia,ourtwoseamendidnotconductthemselveswiththatdegreeofdecorumwhichmighthavebeenexpected.Legs,leaningagainstthewallnearwhich he happened to be standing, dropped his lower jaw still lower than

usual,andspreadopenhiseyestotheirfullestextent:whileHughTarpaulin,stooping down so as to bring his nose upon a level with the table, andspreading out a palm upon either knee, burst into a long, loud, andobstreperousroarofveryill-timedandimmoderatelaughter.

Without, however, taking offence at behaviour so excessively rude, the tallpresident smiled very graciously upon the intruders—nodded to them in adignifiedmannerwithhisheadofsableplumes—and,arising,tookeachbyanarm,andledhimtoaseatwhichsomeothersofthecompanyhadplacedinthemeantime for his accommodation. Legs to all this offered not the slightestresistance,butsatdownashewasdirected;whilethegallantHugh,removinghiscoffintresselfromitsstationneartheheadofthetable,tothevicinityofthelittleconsumptiveladyinthewindingsheet,plumpeddownbyhersideinhigh glee, and pouring out a skull of red wine, quaffed it to their betteracquaintance.Butatthispresumptionthestiffgentlemaninthecoffinseemedexceedinglynettled;andseriousconsequencesmighthaveensued,hadnotthepresident,rappinguponthetablewithhistruncheon,divertedtheattentionofallpresenttothefollowingspeech:

"Itbecomesourdutyuponthepresenthappyoccasion"—

"Avastthere!"interruptedLegs,lookingveryserious,"avastthereabit,Isay,andtelluswhothedevilyeallare,andwhatbusinessyehavehere,riggedofflikethefoulfiends,andswillingthesnugblueruinstowedawayforthewinterbymyhonestshipmate,WillWimbletheundertaker!"

At this unpardonable piece of ill-breeding, all the original company halfstarted to their feet, and uttered the same rapid succession of wild fiendishshriekswhichhadbefore caught the attentionof the seamen.Thepresident,however,wasthefirsttorecoverhiscomposure,andatlength,turningtoLegswithgreatdignity,recommenced:

"Mostwillinglywillwegratifyanyreasonablecuriosityonthepartofguestssoillustrious,unbiddenthoughtheybe.KnowthenthatinthesedominionsIammonarch,andhererulewithundividedempireunderthetitleof'KingPesttheFirst.'

"Thisapartment,whichyounodoubtprofanelysupposetobetheshopofWillWimble the undertaker—a man whom we know not, and whose plebeianappellation has never before this night thwarted our royal ears—thisapartment,Isay,istheDais-ChamberofourPalace,devotedtothecouncilsofourkingdom,andtoothersacredandloftypurposes.

"The noble lady who sits opposite is Queen Pest, our Serene Consort. Theotherexaltedpersonageswhomyoubeholdareallofourfamily,andwearthe

insigniaof thebloodroyalunder the respective titlesof 'HisGrace theArchDukePest-Iferous'—'HisGracetheDukePest-Ilential'—'HisGracetheDukeTem-Pest'—and'HerSereneHighnesstheArchDuchessAna-Pest.'

"Asregards,"continuedhe,"yourdemandofthebusinessuponwhichwesithere in council, we might be pardoned for replying that it concerns, andconcerns alone, our own private and regal interest, and is in no mannerimportant to any other than ourself. But in consideration of those rights towhich as guests and strangers you may feel yourselves entitled, we willfurthermoreexplainthatweareherethisnight,preparedbydeepresearchandaccurate investigation, to examine, analyze, and thoroughly determine theindefinable spirit—the incomprehensible qualities and nature—of thoseinestimabletreasuresofthepalate,thewines,ales,andliqueursofthisgoodlymetropolis: by so doing to advancenotmore our owndesigns than the truewelfare of that unearthly sovereign whose reign is over us all, whosedominionsareunlimited,andwhosenameis'Death.'

"Whose name isDavy Jones!" ejaculatedTarpaulin, helping the lady by hissidetoaskullofliqueur,andpouringoutasecondforhimself.

"Profane varlet!" said the president, now turning his attention to theworthyHugh,"profaneandexecrablewretch!—wehavesaid,thatinconsiderationofthoserightswhich,eveninthyfilthyperson,wefeelnoinclinationtoviolate,wehavecondescendedtomakereplytothyrudeandunseasonableinquiries.Wenevertheless, foryourunhallowed intrusionuponourcouncils,believe itourdutytomulct theeandthycompanionineachagallonofBlackStrap—havingimbibedwhichtotheprosperityofourkingdom—atasingledraught—and upon your bended knees—ye shall be forthwith free either to proceedupon your way, or remain and be admitted to the privileges of our table,accordingtoyourrespectiveandindividualpleasures."

"It would be a matter of utter impossibility," replied Legs, whom theassumptions and dignity ofKing Pest the First had evidently inspired somefeelings of respect, and who arose and steadied himself by the table as hespoke—"Itwould, please yourmajesty, be amatter of utter impossibility tostow away inmy hold even one-fourth part of the same liquor which yourmajestyhasjustmentioned.Tosaynothingofthestuffsplacedonboardintheforenoonbywayofballast,andnot tomentionthevariousalesandliqueursshipped thiseveningatdifferent sea-ports, Ihave,atpresent,a fullcargoof'hummingstuff' taken inanddulypaid forat the signof the 'JollyTar.'Youwill,therefore,pleaseyourmajesty,besogoodastotakethewillforthedeed—forbynomannerofmeans either can Iorwill I swallowanotherdrop—least of all a drop of that villainous bilge-water that answers to the hall of'BlackStrap.'"

"Belay that!" interruptedTarpaulin, astonishednotmore at the length of hiscompanion'sspeechthanatthenatureofhisrefusal—"Belaythatyoutubber!—and I say, Legs, none of your palaver! My hull is still light, although Iconfess you yourself seem to be a little top-heavy; and as for thematter ofyour share of the cargo, why rather than raise a squall I would findstowageroomforitmyself,but"—

"This proceeding," interposed the president, "is by nomeans in accordancewiththetermsofthemulctorsentence,whichisinitsnatureMedian,andnottobealteredorrecalled.Theconditionswehaveimposedmustbefulfilledtothe letter, and that without a moment's hesitation—in failure of whichfulfilmentwedecreethatyoudoherebetiedneckandheelstogether,anddulydrownedasrebelsinyonhogsheadofOctoberbeer!"

"Asentence!—asentence!—arighteousandjustsentence!—agloriousdecree!—a most worthy and upright, and holy condemnation!" shouted the Pestfamilyaltogether.Thekingelevatedhis forehead into innumerablewrinkles;thegoutylittleoldmanpuffedlikeapairofbellows;theladyofthewindingsheetwavedhernosetoandfro;thegentlemaninthecottondrawersprickeduphis ears; sheof the shroudgasped likeadying fish; andheof thecoffinlookedstiffandrolleduphiseyes.

"Ugh!ugh!ugh!"chuckledTarpaulinwithoutheedingthegeneralexcitation,"ugh!ugh!ugh!—ugh!ugh!ugh!—ugh!ugh!ugh!—Iwassaying,"saidhe,"Iwas saying when Mr. King Pest poked in his marlin-spike, that as for thematteroftwoorthreegallonsmoreorlessofBlackStrap,itwasatrifletoatightsea-boatlikemyselfnotoverstowed—butwhenitcomestodrinkingthehealthof theDevil (whomGodassoilzie)andgoingdownuponmymarrowbonestohisill-favoredmajestythere,whomIknow,aswellasIknowmyselftobeasinner,tobenobodyinthewholeworld,butTimHurlygurlythestage-player—why!it'squiteanotherguesssortofathing,andutterlyandaltogetherpastmycomprehension."

He was not allowed to finish this speech in tranquillity. At the name TimHurlygurlythewholeassemblyleapedfromtheirnameseats.

"Treason!"shoutedhisMajestyKingPesttheFirst.

"Treason!"saidthelittlemanwiththegout.

"Treason!"screamedtheArchDuchessAna-Pest.

"Treason!"mutteredthegentlemanwithhisjawstiedup.

"Treason!"growledheofthecoffin.

"Treason! treason!" shrieked her majesty of the mouth; and, seizing by thehinder part of his breeches the unfortunate Tarpaulin, who had justcommencedpouringoutforhimselfaskullofliqueur,sheliftedhimhighintotheair,andlethimfallwithoutceremonyintothehugeopenpuncheonofhisbelovedale.Bobbingupanddown,forafewseconds,likeanappleinabowloftoddy,he,atlength,finallydisappearedamidthewhirlpooloffoamwhich,inthealreadyeffervescentliquor,hisstruggleseasilysucceededincreating.

Not tamely, however, did the tall seaman behold the discomfiture of hiscompanion. Jostling King Pest through the open trap, the valiant Legsslammedthedoordownuponhimwithanoath,andstrodetowardsthecentreof theroom.Here tearingdowntheskeletonwhichswungover the table,helaiditabouthimwithsomuchenergyandgoodwill,that,asthelastglimpsesof light died away within the apartment, he succeeded in knocking out thebrains of the little gentlemanwith the gout.Rushing thenwith all his forceagainstthefatalhogsheadfullofOctoberaleandHughTarpaulin,herolleditover and over in an instant. Out burst a deluge of liquor so fierce—soimpetuous—sooverwhelming—that the roomwasfloodedfromwall towall—theloadedtablewasoverturned—thetresselswerethrownupontheirbacks—thetubofpunchintothefire-place—andtheladiesintohysterics.Pilesofdeath-furniture floundered about. Jugs, pitchers, and carboys mingledpromiscuouslyinthemelee,andwickerflagonsencountereddesperatelywithbottlesofjunk.Themanwiththehorrorswasdrowneduponthespot-thelittlestiffgentlemanfloatedoff inhiscoffin—and thevictoriousLegs, seizingbythewaist the fat lady in the shroud, rushedoutwith her into the street, andmade a bee-line for the "Free and Easy," followed under easy sail by theredoubtableHughTarpaulin,who,havingsneezedthreeorfourtimes,pantedandpuffedafterhimwiththeArchDuchessAna-Pest.

THREESUNDAYSINAWEEK

"YOUhard-headed,dunder-headed,obstinate, rusty, crusty,musty, fusty,oldsavage!" said I, in fancy, one afternoon, tomy grand uncleRumgudgeon—shakingmyfistathiminimagination.

Onlyinimagination.Thefactis,sometrivialdiscrepancydidexist,justthen,betweenwhatIsaidandwhatIhadnot thecouragetosay—betweenwhatIdidandwhatIhadhalfamindtodo.

Theoldporpoise,asIopenedthedrawing-roomdoor,wassittingwithhisfeet

upon themantel-piece, and a bumper of port in his paw,making strenuouseffortstoaccomplishtheditty.

Remplistonverrevide!

Videtonverreplein!

"Mydearuncle,"saidI,closingthedoorgently,andapproachinghimwiththeblandest of smiles, "you are always so very kind and considerate, and haveevincedyourbenevolenceinsomany—soverymanyways—that—thatIfeelIhaveonlytosuggestthislittlepointtoyouoncemoretomakesureofyourfullacquiescence."

"Hem!"saidhe,"goodboy!goon!"

"Iamsure,mydearestuncle(youconfoundedoldrascal!), thatyouhavenodesignreally,seriously,toopposemyunionwithKate.Thisismerelyajokeofyours,Iknow—ha!ha!ha!—howverypleasantyouareattimes."

"Ha!ha!ha!"saidhe,"curseyou!yes!"

"Tobesure—ofcourse!Iknewyouwerejesting.Now,uncle,allthatKateandmyselfwishatpresent, is thatyouwouldobligeuswithyouradviceas—asregardsthetime—youknow,uncle—inshort,whenwillitbemostconvenientforyourself,thattheweddingshall—shallcomeoff,youknow?"

"Come off, you scoundrel!—what do youmean by that?—Betterwait till itgoeson."

"Ha! ha! ha!—he! he! he!—hi! hi! hi!—ho! ho! ho!—hu! hu! hu!—that'sgood!—oh that's capital—such awit! But allwewant just now, you know,uncle,isthatyouwouldindicatethetimeprecisely."

"Ah!—precisely?"

"Yes,uncle—thatis,ifitwouldbequiteagreeabletoyourself."

"Wouldn'titanswer,Bobby,ifIweretoleaveitatrandom—sometimewithinayearorso,forexample?—mustIsayprecisely?"

"Ifyouplease,uncle—precisely."

"Well,then,Bobby,myboy—you'reafinefellow,aren'tyou?—sinceyouwillhavetheexacttimeI'll—whyI'llobligeyouforonce:"

"Dearuncle!"

"Hush, sir!" (drowningmyvoice)—"I'llobligeyou foronce.Youshallhave

my consent—and the plum, we mus'n't forget the plum—let me see! whenshall it be? To-day's Sunday—isn't it? Well, then, you shall be marriedprecisely—precisely, now mind!—when three Sundays come together in aweek!Doyouhearme,sir!Whatareyougapingat?Isay,youshallhaveKateandherplumwhenthreeSundayscometogetherinaweek—butnottillthen—youyoung scapegrace—not till then, if I die for it.Youknowme—I'mamanofmyword—nowbeoff!"Hereheswallowedhisbumperofport,whileIrushedfromtheroomindespair.

Avery"fineoldEnglishgentleman,"wasmygrand-uncleRumgudgeon,butunlike him of the song, he had his weak points. He was a little, pursy,pompous, passionate semicircular somebody, with a red nose, a thick scull,(sic)a longpurse,andastrongsenseofhisownconsequence.Withthebestheartintheworld,hecontrived,throughapredominantwhimofcontradiction,to earn for himself, among those who only knew him superficially, thecharacterofacurmudgeon.Likemanyexcellentpeople,heseemedpossessedwithaspiritoftantalization,whichmighteasily,atacasualglance,havebeenmistaken for malevolence. To every request, a positive "No!" was hisimmediate answer, but in the end—in the long, long end—there wereexceedinglyfewrequestswhichherefused.Againstallattacksuponhispursehemade themoststurdydefence;but theamountextortedfromhim,at last,wasgenerallyindirectratiowiththelengthofthesiegeandthestubbornnessoftheresistance.Incharitynoonegavemoreliberallyorwithaworsegrace.

Forthefinearts,andespeciallyforthebelles-lettres,heentertainedaprofoundcontempt.WiththishehadbeeninspiredbyCasimirPerier,whosepertlittlequery"Aquoiunpoeteestilbon?"hewasinthehabitofquoting,withaverydrollpronunciation,as theneplusultraof logicalwit.ThusmyowninklingfortheMuseshadexcitedhisentiredispleasure.Heassuredmeoneday,whenIaskedhimforanewcopyofHorace,thatthetranslationof"Poetanasciturnon fit" was "a nasty poet for nothing fit"—a remarkwhich I took in highdudgeon. His repugnance to "the humanities" had, also, much increased oflate,byanaccidentalbiasinfavorofwhathesupposedtobenaturalscience.Somebody had accosted him in the street, mistaking him for no less apersonagethanDoctorDubbleL.Dee,thelectureruponquackphysics.Thisset him off at a tangent; and just at the epoch of this story—for story it isgetting to be after all—my grand-uncle Rumgudgeon was accessible andpacificonlyuponpointswhichhappenedtochimeinwiththecapriolesofthehobbyhewasriding.Fortherest,helaughedwithhisarmsandlegs,andhispoliticswere stubbornandeasilyunderstood.He thought,withHorsley, that"thepeoplehavenothingtodowiththelawsbuttoobeythem."

I had lived with the old gentleman all my life. My parents, in dying, had

bequeathedmetohimasarichlegacy.Ibelievetheoldvillainlovedmeashisownchild—nearly if notquite aswell ashe lovedKate—but itwas adog'sexistencethatheledme,afterall.Frommyfirstyearuntilmyfifth,heobligedmewithveryregularfloggings.Fromfivetofifteen,hethreatenedme,hourly,with the House of Correction. From fifteen to twenty, not a day passed inwhichhedidnotpromisetocutmeoffwithashilling.Iwasasaddog,itistrue—but then it was a part of my nature—a point of my faith. In Kate,however,Ihadafirmfriend,andIknewit.Shewasagoodgirl,andtoldmeverysweetlythatImighthaveher(plumandall)wheneverIcouldbadgermygrand-uncle Rumgudgeon, into the necessary consent. Poor girl!—she wasbarelyfifteen,andwithoutthisconsent,herlittleamountinthefundswasnotcome-at-ableuntilfiveimmeasurablesummershad"draggedtheirslowlengthalong."What, then, to do?At fifteen, or even at twenty-one (for I hadnowpassedmyfiftholympiad) fiveyears inprospectareverymuch thesameasfivehundred.Invainwebesiegedtheoldgentlemanwithimportunities.Herewas a piece de resistance (asMessieursUde andCaremewould say)whichsuitedhisperverse fancy toaT. Itwouldhavestiffed the indignationofJobhimself, to see how much like an old mouser he behaved to us two poorwretchedlittlemice.Inhishearthewishedfornothingmoreardentlythanourunion.Hehadmadeuphismindtothisallalong.Infact,hewouldhavegiventen thousand pounds from his own pocket (Kate's plumwas her own) if hecould have invented any thing like an excuse for complying with our verynaturalwishes.But thenwehadbeen so imprudent as tobroach the subjectourselves.Nottoopposeitundersuchcircumstances,Isincerelybelieve,wasnotinhispower.

I have said already that he had hisweak points; but in speaking of these, Imust not be understood as referring to his obstinacy:whichwas one of hisstrong points—"assurement ce n' etait pas sa foible." When I mention hisweakness Ihaveallusion toabizarreold-womanishsuperstitionwhichbesethim.Hewasgreatindreams,portents,etidgenusomneofrigmarole.Hewasexcessively punctilious, too, upon small points of honor, and, after his ownfashion,wasamanofhisword,beyonddoubt.Thiswas, in fact,oneofhishobbies.Thespiritofhisvowshemadenoscrupleofsettingatnaught,buttheletter was a bond inviolable. Now it was this latter peculiarity in hisdisposition,ofwhichKates ingenuityenabledusonefineday,not longafterour interview in thedining-room, to takeaveryunexpectedadvantage, and,having thus, in the fashion of all modern bards and orators, exhausted inprolegomena, all the time at my command, and nearly all the room at mydisposal,Iwillsumupinafewwordswhatconstitutesthewholepithofthestory.

It happened then—so the Fates ordered it—that among the naval

acquaintances of my betrothed, were two gentlemen who had just set footupontheshoresofEngland,afterayear'sabsence,each,inforeigntravel.Incompanywith these gentlemen,my cousin and I, preconcertedly paid uncleRumgudgeonavisitontheafternoonofSunday,Octoberthetenth,—justthreeweeksafterthememorabledecisionwhichhadsocruellydefeatedourhopes.Forabouthalfanhourtheconversationranuponordinarytopics,butatlast,wecontrived,quitenaturally,togiveitthefollowingturn:

CAPT.PRATT."WellIhavebeenabsentjustoneyear.—Justoneyearto-day,as I live—let me see! yes!—this is October the tenth. You remember, Mr.Rumgudgeon,Icalled,thisdayyeartobidyougood-bye.Andbytheway,itdoesseemsomethinglikeacoincidence,doesitnot—thatourfriend,CaptainSmitherton,here,hasbeenabsentexactlyayearalso—ayearto-day!"

SMITHERTON. "Yes! just one year to a fraction. You will remember, Mr.Rumgudgeon,thatIcalledwithCapt.Pratolonthisveryday,lastyear,topaymypartingrespects."

UNCLE."Yes,yes,yes—Irememberitverywell—veryqueerindeed!Bothofyougonejustoneyear.Averystrangecoincidence,indeed!JustwhatDoctorDubble L. Dee would denominate an extraordinary concurrence of events.DoctorDub-"

KATE. (Interrupting.) "To be sure, papa, it is something strange; but thenCaptainPrattandCaptainSmithertondidn'tgoaltogetherthesameroute,andthatmakesadifference,youknow."

UNCLE."Idon'tknowanysuch thing,youhuzzy!Howshould I? I think itonlymakesthemattermoreremarkable,DoctorDubbleL.Dee—"

KATE. "Why, papa, Captain Pratt went round Cape Horn, and CaptainSmithertondoubledtheCapeofGoodHope."

UNCLE. "Precisely!—the onewent east and the otherwentwest, you jade,andtheybothhavegonequiteroundtheworld.Bytheby,DoctorDubbleL.Dee—"

MYSELF.(Hurriedly.)"CaptainPratt,youmustcomeandspendtheeveningwith us to-morrow—you and Smitherton—you can tell us all about yourvoyage,andwellhaveagameofwhistand—"

PRATT."Wist,mydearfellow—youforget.To-morrowwillbeSunday.Someotherevening—"

KATE."Oh,no,fie!—Robert'snotquitesobadasthat.To-day'sSunday."

PRATT."Ibegbothyourpardons—butIcan'tbesomuchmistaken.Iknowto-morrow'sSunday,because-"

SMITHERTON.(Muchsurprised.)"Whatareyouall thinkingabout?Wasn'tyesterday,Sunday,Ishouldliketoknow?"

ALL."Yesterdayindeed!youareout!"

UNCLE."To-daysSunday,Isay—don'tIknow?"

PRATT."Ohno!—to-morrow'sSunday."

SMITHERTON. "You are allmad—every one of you. I am as positive thatyesterdaywasSundayasIamthatIsituponthischair."

KATE. (jumpingupeagerly.) "I see it—I see it all.Papa, this is a judgmentuponyou,about—aboutyouknowwhat.Letmealone,andI'llexplainitallina minute. It's a very simple thing, indeed. Captain Smitherton says thatyesterdaywasSunday:so itwas;he isright.CousinBobby,anduncleandIsaythatto-dayisSunday:soitis;weareright.CaptainPrattmaintainsthatto-morrowwillbeSunday:soitwill;heisright,too.Thefactis,weareallright,andthusthreeSundayshavecometogetherinaweek."

SMITHERTON. (After a pause.) "By the by, Pratt,Kate has us completely.What foolswe twoare!Mr.Rumgudgeon, thematter stands thus: the earth,youknow,istwenty-fourthousandmilesincircumference.Nowthisglobeoftheearthturnsuponitsownaxis—revolves—spinsround—thesetwenty-fourthousandmiles of extent, going fromwest to east, in precisely twenty-fourhours.DoyouunderstandMr.Rumgudgeon?-"

UNCLE."Tobesure—tobesure—DoctorDub-"

SMITHERTON. (Drowning his voice.) "Well, sir; that is at the rate of onethousandmilesperhour.Now,supposethatIsailfromthispositionathousandmileseast.OfcourseIanticipatetherisingofthesunhereatLondonbyjustonehour.Iseethesunriseonehourbeforeyoudo.Proceeding,inthesamedirection, yet another thousandmiles, I anticipate the risingby twohours—another thousand, and I anticipate it by three hours, and so on, until I goentirelyroundtheglobe,andbacktothisspot,when,havinggonetwenty-fourthousandmileseast,IanticipatetherisingoftheLondonsunbynolessthantwenty-four hours; that is to say, I am a day in advance of your time.Understand,eh?"

UNCLE."ButDoubleL.Dee-"

SMITHERTON. (Speakingvery loud.)"CaptainPratt,on thecontrary,when

hehadsailedathousandmileswestofthisposition,wasanhour,andwhenhehad sailed twenty-four thousandmiles west, was twenty-four hours, or oneday,behindthetimeatLondon.Thus,withme,yesterdaywasSunday—thus,withyou,to-dayisSunday—andthus,withPratt,to-morrowwillbeSunday.Andwhatismore,Mr.Rumgudgeon,itispositivelyclearthatweareallright;for therecanbenophilosophical reasonassignedwhy the ideaofoneofusshouldhavepreferenceoverthatoftheother."

UNCLE."Myeyes!—well,Kate—well,Bobby!—thisisajudgmentuponme,asyousay.ButIamamanofmyword—markthat!youshallhaveher,boy,(plumand all),whenyouplease.Doneup, by Jove!ThreeSundays all in arow!I'llgo,andtakeDubbleL.Dee'sopinionuponthat."

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