the works of edgar allan poe-3-第11章

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readily　supply　me　with　a　part　of　his　daily　provision；　and　where　I
could　have　the　advantages　of　breathing　an　atmosphere　comparatively
pure。

　　　　In　explanation　of　some　portions　of　this　narrative；　wherein　I　have
spoken　of　the　stowage　of　the　brig；　and　which　may　appear　ambiguous　to
some　of　my　readers　who　may　have　seen　a　proper　or　regular　stowage；　I
must　here　state　that　the　manner　in　which　this　most　important　duty　had
been　per　formed　on　board　the　Grampus　was　a　most　shameful　piece　of
neglect　on　the　part　of　Captain　Barnard；　who　was　by　no　means　as
careful　or　as　experienced　a　seaman　as　the　hazardous　nature　of　the
service　on　which　he　was　employed　would　seem　necessarily　to　demand。　A
proper　stowage　cannot　be　accomplished　in　a　careless　manner；　and　many
most　disastrous　accidents；　even　within　the　limits　of　my　own
experience；　have　arisen　from　neglect　or　ignorance　in　this　particular。
Coasting　vessels；　in　the　frequent　hurry　and　bustle　attendant　upon
taking　in　or　discharging　cargo；　are　the　most　liable　to　mishap　from
the　want　of　a　proper　attention　to　stowage。　The　great　point　is　to
allow　no　possibility　of　the　cargo　or　ballast　shifting　position　even
in　the　most　violent　rollings　of　the　vessel。　With　this　end；　great
attention　must　be　paid；　not　only　to　the　bulk　taken　in；　but　to　the
nature　of　the　bulk；　and　whether　there　be　a　full　or　only　a　partial
cargo。　In　most　kinds　of　freight　the　stowage　is　accomplished　by　means
of　a　screw。　Thus；　in　a　load　of　tobacco　or　flour；　the　whole　is　screwed
so　tightly　into　the　hold　of　the　vessel　that　the　barrels　or　hogsheads；
upon　discharging；　are　found　to　be　completely　flattened；　and　take　some
time　to　regain　their　original　shape。　This　screwing；　however；　is
resorted　to　principally　with　a　view　of　obtaining　more　room　in　the
hold；　for　in　a　full　load　of　any　such　commodities　as　flour　or　tobacco；
there　can　be　no　danger　of　any　shifting　whatever；　at　least　none　from
which　inconvenience　can　result。　There　have　been　instances；　indeed；
where　this　method　of　screwing　has　resulted　in　the　most　lamentable
consequences；　arising　from　a　cause　altogether　distinct　from　the
danger　attendant　upon　a　shifting　of　cargo。　A　load　of　cotton；　for
example；　tightly　screwed　while　in　certain　conditions；　has　been　known；
through　the　expansion　of　its　bulk；　to　rend　a　vessel　asunder　at　sea。
There　can　be　no　doubt　either　that　the　same　result　would　ensue　in　the
case　of　tobacco；　while　undergoing　its　usual　course　of　fermentation；
were　it　not　for　the　interstices　consequent　upon　the　rotundity　of　the
hogsheads。

　　　　It　is　when　a　partial　cargo　is　received　that　danger　is　chiefly　to
be　apprehended　from　shifting；　and　that　precautions　should　be　always
taken　to　guard　against　such　misfortune。　Only　those　who　have
encountered　a　violent　gale　of　wind；　or　rather　who　have　experienced
the　rolling　of　a　vessel　in　a　sudden　calm　after　the　gale；　can　form　an
idea　of　the　tremendous　force　of　the　plunges；　and　of　the　consequent
terrible　impetus　given　to　all　loose　articles　in　the　vessel。　It　is
then　that　the　necessity　of　a　cautious　stowage；　when　there　is　a
partial　cargo；　becomes　obvious。　When　lying…to　（especially　with　a
small　bead　sail）；　a　vessel　which　is　not　properly　modelled　in　the　bows
is　frequently　thrown　upon　her　beam…ends；　this　occurring　even　every
fifteen　or　twenty　minutes　upon　an　average；　yet　without　any　serious
consequences　resulting；　provided　there　be　a　proper　stowage。　If　this；
however；　has　not　been　strictly　attended　to；　in　the　first　of　these
heavy　lurches　the　whole　of　the　cargo　tumbles　over　to　the　side　of　the
vessel　which　lies　upon　the　water；　and；　being　thus　prevented　from
regaining　her　equilibrium；　as　she　would　otherwise　necessarily　do；　she
is　certain　to　fill　in　a　few　seconds　and　go　down。　It　is　not　too　much
to　say　that　at　least　one…half　of　the　instances　in　which　vessels　have
foundered　in　heavy　gales　at　sea　may　be　attributed　to　a　shifting　of
cargo　or　of　ballast。

　　　　When　a　partial　cargo　of　any　kind　is　taken　on　board；　the　whole；
after　being　first　stowed　as　compactly　as　may　be；　should　be　covered
with　a　layer　of　stout　shifting…boards；　extending　completely　across
the　vessel。　Upon　these　boards　strong　temporary　stanchions　should　be
erected；　reaching　to　the　timbers　above；　and　thus　securing　every　thing
in　its　place。　In　cargoes　consisting　of　grain；　or　any　similar　matter；
additional　precautions　are　requisite。　A　hold　filled　entirely　with
grain　upon　leaving　port　will　be　found　not　more　than　three　fourths
full　upon　reaching　its　destination　　this；　too；　although　the
freight；　when　measured　bushel　by　bushel　by　the　consignee；　will
overrun　by　a　vast　deal　（on　account　of　the　swelling　of　the　grain）　the
quantity　consigned。　This　result　is　occasioned　by　settling　during　the
voyage；　and　is　the　more　perceptible　in　proportion　to　the　roughness　of
the　weather　experienced。　If　grain　loosely　thrown　in　a　vessel；　then；
is　ever　so　well　secured　by　shifting…boards　and　stanchions；　it　will　be
liable　to　shift　in　a　long　passage　so　greatly　as　to　bring　about　the
most　distressing　calamities。　To　prevent　these；　every　method　should　be
employed　before　leaving　port　to　settle　the　cargo　as　much　as　possible；
and　for　this　there　are　many　contrivances；　among　which　may　be
mentioned　the　driving　of　wedges　into　the　grain。　Even　after　all　this
is　done；　and　unusual　pains　taken　to　secure　the　shifting…boards；　no
seaman　who　knows　what　he　is　about　will　feel　altogether　secure　in　a
gale　of　any　violence　with　a　cargo　of　grain　on　board；　and；　least　of
all；　with　a　partial　cargo。　Yet　there　are　hundreds　of　our　coasting
vessels；　and；　it　is　likely；　many　more　from　the　ports　of　Europe；　which
sail　daily　with　partial　cargoes；　even　of　the　most　dangerous　species；
and　without　any　precaution　whatever。　The　wonder　is　that　no　more
accidents　occur　than　do　actually　happen。　A　lamentable　instance　of
this　heedlessness　occurred　to　my　knowledge　in　the　case　of　Captain
Joel　Rice　of　the　schooner　Firefly；　which　sailed　from　Richmond；
Virginia；　to　Madeira；　with　a　cargo　of　corn；　in　the　year　1825。　The
captain　had　gone　many　voyages　without　serious　accident；　although　he
was　in　the　habit　of　paying　no　attention　whatever　to　his　stowage；　more
than　to　secure　it　in　the　ordinary　manner。　He　had　never　before　sailed
with　a　cargo　of　grain；　and　on　this　occasion　had　the　corn　thrown　on
board　loosely；　when　it　did　not　much　more　than　half　fill　the　vessel。
For　the　first　portion　of　the　voyage　he　met　with　nothing　more　than
light　breezes；　but　when　within　a　day's　sail　of　Madeira　there　came　on
a　strong　gale　from　the　N。　N。　E。　which　forced　him　to　lie…to。　He
brought　the　schooner　to　the　wind　under　a　double…reefed　foresail
alone；　when　she　rode　as　well　as　any　vessel　could　be　expected　to　do；
and　shipped　not　a　drop　of　water。　Toward　night　the　gale　somewhat
abated；　and　she　rolled　with　more　unsteadiness　than　before；　but　still
did　very　well；　until　a　heavy　lurch　threw　her　upon　her　beam…ends　to
starboard。　The　corn　was　then　heard　to　shift　bodily；　the　force　of　the
movement　bursting　open　the　main　hatchway。　The　vessel　went　down　like　a
shot。　This　happened　within　hail　of　a　small　sloop　from　Madeira；　which
picked　up　one　of　the　crew　（the　only　person　saved）；　and　which　rode　out
the　gale　in　perfect　security；　as　indeed　a　jolly　boat　might　have　done
under　proper　management。

　　　　The　stowage　on　board　the　Grampus　was　most　clumsily　done；　if
stowage　that　could　be　called　which　was　little　better　than　a
promiscuous　huddling　together　of　oil…casks　｛*1｝　and　ship　furniture。　I
have　already　spoken　of　the　condition　of　articles　in　the　hold。　On　the
orlop　deck　there　was　space　enough　for　my　body　（as　I　have　stated）
between　the　oil…casks　and　the　upper　deck；　a　space　was　left　open
around　the　main　hatchway；　and　several　other　large　spaces　were　left　in
the　stowage。　Near　the　hole　cut　through　the　bulkhead　by　Augustus　there
was　room　enough　for　an　entire　cask；　and　in　this　space　I　found　myself
comfortably　situated　for　the　present。

　　　　By　the　time　my　friend　had　got　safely　into　the　berth；　and
readjusted　his　handcuffs　and　the　rope；　it　was　broad　daylight。　We　had
made　a　narrow　escape　indeed；　for　scarcely　had　he　arranged　all
matters；　when　the　mate　came　below；　with　Dirk　Peters　and　the　cook。
They　talked　for　some　time　about　the　vessel　from　the　Cape　Verds；　and
seemed　to　be　excessively　anxious　for　her　appearance。　At　length　the
cook　came　to　the　berth　in　which　Augustus　was　lying；　and　seated
himself　in　it　near　the　head。　I　could　see　and　hear　every　thing　from　my
hiding…place；　for　the　piece　cut　out　had　not　been　put　back；　and　I　was
in　momentary　expectation　that　the　negro　would　fall　against　the
pea…jacket；　which　was　hung　up　to　conceal　the　aperture；　in　which　case
all　would　have　been　discovered；　and　our　lives　would；　no　doubt；　have
been　instantly　sacrificed。　Our　good　fortune　prevailed；　however；　and
although　he　frequently　touched　it　as　the　vessel　rolled；　he　never
pressed　against　it　sufficiently　to　bring　about　a　discovery。　The
bottom　of　the　jacket　had　been　carefully　fastened　to　the　bulkhead；　so
that　the　hole　might　not　be　seen　by　its　swinging　to　one　side。　All　this
time　Tiger　was　lying　in　the　foot　of　the　berth；　and　appeared　to　have
recovered　in　some　measure　his　faculties；　for　I　could　see　him
occasionally　open　his　eyes　and　draw　a　long　breath。

　　　　After　a　few　minutes　the　mate　and　cook　went　above；　leaving　Dirk
Peters　behind；　who；　as　soon　as　they　were　gone；　came　and　sat　himself
down　in　the　place　just　occupied　by　the　mate。　He　began　to　talk　very
sociably　with　Augustus；　and　we　could　now　see　that　the　greater　part　of
his　apparent　intoxication；　while　the　two　others　were　with　him；　was　a
feint。　He　answered　all　my　companion's　questions　with　perfect　freedom；
told　him　that　he　had　no　doubt　of　his　father's　having　been　picked　up；
as　there　were　no　less　than　five　sail　in　sight　just　before　sundown　on
the　day　he　was　cut　adrift；　and　used　other　language　of　a　consolatory
nature；　which　occasioned　me　no　less　surprise　than　pleasure。　Indeed；　I
began　to　entertain　hopes；　that　through　the　instrumentality　of　Peters
we　might　be　finally　enabled　to　regain　possession　of　the　brig；　and
this　idea　I　mentioned　to　Augustus　as　soon　as　I　found　an　opportunity。
He　thought　the　matter　possible；　but　urged　the　necessity　of　the
greatest　caution　in　making　the　attempt；　as　the　conduct　of　the　hybrid
appeared　to　be　instigated　by　the　most　arbitrary　caprice　alone；　and；
indeed；　it　was　difficult　to　say　if　be　was　at　any　moment　of　sound
mind。　Peters　went　upon　deck　in　about　an　hour；　and　did　not　return
again　until　noon；　when　he　brought　Augustus　a　plentiful　supply　of　junk
beef　and　pudding。　Of　this；　when　we　were　left　alone；　I　partook
heartily；　without　returning　through　the　hole。　No　one　else　came　down
into　the　forecastle　during　the　day；　and　at　night；　I　got　into
Augustus'　berth；　where　I　slept　soundly　and　sweetly　until　nearly
daybreak；　when　he　awakened　me　upon　hearing　a　stir　upon　deck；　and　I
regained　my　hiding…place　as　quickly　as　possible。　When　the　day　was
fully　broke；　we　found　that　Tiger　had　recovered　his　strength　almost
entirely；　and　gave　no　indications　of　hydrophobia；　drinking　a　little
water　that　was　offered　him　with　great　apparent　eagerness。　During　the
day　he　regained　all　his　former　vigour　and　appetite。　His　strange
conduct　had　been　brought　on；　no　doubt；　by　the　deleterious　quality　of
the　air　of　the　hold；　and　had