the works of edgar allan poe-3-第2章

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eyes　were　perfectly　glazed；　and　as　I　let　him　go　in　the　extremity　of
my　despair；　he　rolled　like　a　mere　log　into　the　bilge…water；　from
which　I　had　lifted　him。　It　was　evident　that；　during　the　evening；　he
had　drunk　far　more　than　I　suspected；　and　that　his　conduct　in　bed　had
been　the　result　of　a　highly…concentrated　state　of　intoxication…　a
state　which；　like　madness；　frequently　enables　the　victim　to　imitate
the　outward　demeanour　of　one　in　perfect　possession　of　his　senses。　The
coolness　of　the　night　air；　however；　had　had　its　usual　effect…　the
mental　energy　began　to　yield　before　its　influence…　and　the　confused
perception　which　he　no　doubt　then　had　of　his　perilous　situation　had
assisted　in　hastening　the　catastrophe。　He　was　now　thoroughly
insensible；　and　there　was　no　probability　that　he　would　be　otherwise
for　many　hours。

　　　　It　is　hardly　possible　to　conceive　the　extremity　of　my　terror。　The
fumes　of　the　wine　lately　taken　had　evaporated；　leaving　me　doubly
timid　and　irresolute。　I　knew　that　I　was　altogether　incapable　of
managing　the　boat；　and　that　a　fierce　wind　and　strong　ebb　tide　were
hurrying　us　to　destruction。　A　storm　was　evidently　gathering　behind
us；　we　had　neither　compass　nor　provisions；　and　it　was　clear　that；　if
we　held　our　present　course；　we　should　be　out　of　sight　of　land　before
daybreak。　These　thoughts；　with　a　crowd　of　others　equally　fearful；
flashed　through　my　mind　with　a　bewildering　rapidity；　and　for　some
moments　paralyzed　me　beyond　the　possibility　of　making　any　exertion。
The　boat　was　going　through　the　water　at　a　terrible　rate…　full　before
the　wind…　no　reef　in　either　jib　or　mainsail…　running　her　bows
completely　under　the　foam。　It　was　a　thousand　wonders　she　did　not
broach　to…　Augustus　having　let　go　the　tiller；　as　I　said　before；　and　I
being　too　much　agitated　to　think　of　taking　it　myself。　By　good　luck；
however；　she　kept　steady；　and　gradually　I　recovered　some　degree　of
presence　of　mind。　Still　the　wind　was　increasing　fearfully；　and
whenever　we　rose　from　a　plunge　forward；　the　sea　behind　fell　combing
over　our　counter；　and　deluged　us　with　water。　I　was　so　utterly
benumbed；　too；　in　every　limb；　as　to　be　nearly　unconscious　of
sensation。　At　length　I　summoned　up　the　resolution　of　despair；　and
rushing　to　the　mainsail　let　it　go　by　the　run。　As　might　have　been
expected；　it　flew　over　the　bows；　and；　getting　drenched　with　water；
carried　away　the　mast　short　off　by　the　board。　This　latter　accident
alone　saved　me　from　instant　destruction。　Under　the　jib　only；　I　now
boomed　along　before　the　wind；　shipping　heavy　seas　occasionally　over
the　counter；　but　relieved　from　the　terror　of　immediate　death。　I　took
the　helm；　and　breathed　with　greater　freedom　as　I　found　that　there　yet
remained　to　us　a　chance　of　ultimate　escape。　Augustus　still　lay
senseless　in　the　bottom　of　the　boat；　and　as　there　was　imminent　danger
of　his　drowning　（the　water　being　nearly　a　foot　deep　just　where　he
fell）；　I　contrived　to　raise　him　partially　up；　and　keep　him　in　a
sitting　position；　by　passing　a　rope　round　his　waist；　and　lashing　it
to　a　ringbolt　in　the　deck　of　the　cuddy。　Having　thus　arranged　every
thing　as　well　as　I　could　in　my　chilled　and　agitated　condition；　I
recommended　myself　to　God；　and　made　up　my　mind　to　bear　whatever　might
happen　with　all　the　fortitude　in　my　power。

　　　　Hardly　had　I　come　to　this　resolution；　when；　suddenly；　a　loud　and
long　scream　or　yell；　as　if　from　the　throats　of　a　thousand　demons；
seemed　to　pervade　the　whole　atmosphere　around　and　above　the　boat。
Never　while　I　live　shall　I　forget　the　intense　agony　of　terror　I
experienced　at　that　moment。　My　hair　stood　erect　on　my　head　　I　felt
the　blood　congealing　in　my　veins　　my　heart　ceased　utterly　to　beat；
and　without　having　once　raised　my　eyes　to　learn　the　source　of　my
alarm；　I　tumbled　headlong　and　insensible　upon　the　body　of　my　fallen
companion。

　　　　I　found　myself；　upon　reviving；　in　the　cabin　of　a　large
whaling…ship　（the　Penguin）　bound　to　Nantucket。　Several　persons　were
standing　over　me；　and　Augustus；　paler　than　death；　was　busily　occupied
in　chafing　my　hands。　Upon　seeing　me　open　my　eyes；　his　exclamations　of
gratitude　and　joy　excited　alternate　laughter　and　tears　from　the
rough…looking　personages　who　were　present。　The　mystery　of　our　being
in　existence　was　now　soon　explained。　We　had　been　run　down　by　the
whaling…ship；　which　was　close…hauled；　beating　up　to　Nantucket　with
every　sail　she　could　venture　to　set；　and　consequently　running　almost
at　right　angles　to　our　own　course。　Several　men　were　on　the　look…out
forward；　but　did　not　perceive　our　boat　until　it　was　an　impossibility
to　avoid　coming　in　contact…　their　shouts　of　warning　upon　seeing　us
were　what　so　terribly　alarmed　me。　The　huge　ship；　I　was　told；　rode
immediately　over　us　with　as　much　ease　as　our　own　little　vessel　would
have　passed　over　a　feather；　and　without　the　least　perceptible
impediment　to　her　progress。　Not　a　scream　arose　from　the　deck　of　the
victim…　there　was　a　slight　grating　sound　to　be　heard　mingling　with
the　roar　of　wind　and　water；　as　the　frail　bark　which　was　swallowed　up
rubbed　for　a　moment　along　the　keel　of　her　destroyer…　but　this　was
all。　Thinking　our　boat　（which　it　will　be　remembered　was　dismasted）
some　mere　shell　cut　adrift　as　useless；　the　captain　（Captain　E。　T。　V。
Block；　of　New　London）　was　for　proceeding　on　his　course　without
troubling　himself　further　about　the　matter。　Luckily；　there　were　two
of　the　look…out　who　swore　positively　to　having　seen　some　person　at
our　helm；　and　represented　the　possibility　of　yet　saving　him。　A
discussion　ensued；　when　Block　grew　angry；　and；　after　a　while；　said
that　〃it　was　no　business　of　his　to　be　eternally　watching　for
egg…shells；　that　the　ship　should　not　put　about　for　any　such　nonsense；
and　if　there　was　a　man　run　down；　it　was　nobody's　fault　but　Henderson；
the　first　mate；　now　took　the　matter　up；　being　justly　indignant；　as
well　as　the　whole　ship's　crew；　at　a　speech　evincing　so　base　a　degree
of　heartless　atrocity。　He　spoke　plainly；　seeing　himself　upheld　by　the
men；　told　the　captain　he　considered　him　a　fit　subject　for　the
gallows；　and　that　he　would　disobey　his　orders　if　he　were　hanged　for
it　the　moment　he　set　his　foot　on　shore。　He　strode　aft；　jostling　Block
（who　turned　pale　and　made　no　answer）　on　one　side；　and　seizing　the
helm；　gave　the　word；　in　a　firm　voice；　Hard…a…lee！　The　men　flew　to
their　posts；　and　the　ship　went　cleverly　about。　All　this　had　occupied
nearly　five　minutes；　and　it　was　supposed　to　be　hardly　within　the
bounds　of　possibility　that　any　individual　could　be　saved…　allowing
any　to　have　been　on　board　the　boat。　Yet；　as　the　reader　has　seen；　both
Augustus　and　myself　were　rescued；　and　our　deliverance　seemed　to　have
been　brought　about　by　two　of　those　almost　inconceivable　pieces　of
good　fortune　which　are　attributed　by　the　wise　and　pious　to　the
special　interference　of　Providence。

　　　　While　the　ship　was　yet　in　stays；　the　mate　lowered　the　jolly…boat
and　jumped　into　her　with　the　very　two　men；　I　believe；　who　spoke　up　as
having　seen　me　at　the　helm。　They　had　just　left　the　lee　of　the　vessel
（the　moon　still　shining　brightly）　when　she　made　a　long　and　heavy　roll
to　windward；　and　Henderson；　at　the　same　moment；　starting　up　in　his
seat　bawled　out　to　his　crew　to　back　water。　He　would　say　nothing　else…
repeating　his　cry　impatiently；　back　water！　black　water！　The　men　put
back　as　speedily　as　possible；　but　by　this　time　the　ship　had　gone
round；　and　gotten　fully　under　headway；　although　all　hands　on　board
were　making　great　exertions　to　take　in　sail。　In　despite　of　the　danger
of　the　attempt；　the　mate　clung　to　the　main…chains　as　soon　as　they
came　within　his　reach。　Another　huge　lurch　now　brought　the　starboard
side　of　the　vessel　out　of　water　nearly　as　far　as　her　keel；　when　the
cause　of　his　anxiety　was　rendered　obvious　enough。　The　body　of　a　man
was　seen　to　be　affixed　in　the　most　singular　manner　to　the　smooth　and
shining　bottom　（the　Penguin　was　coppered　and　copper…fastened）；　and
beating　violently　against　it　with　every　movement　of　the　hull。　After
several　ineffectual　efforts；　made　during　the　lurches　of　the　ship；　and
at　the　imminent　risk　of　swamping　the　boat　I　was　finally　disengaged
from　my　perilous　situation　and　taken　on　board…　for　the　body　proved　to
be　my　own。　It　appeared　that　one　of　the　timber…bolts　having　started
and　broken　a　passage　through　the　copper；　it　had　arrested　my　progress
as　I　passed　under　the　ship；　and　fastened　me　in　so　extraordinary　a
manner　to　her　bottom。　The　head　of　the　bolt　had　made　its　way　through
the　collar　of　the　green　baize　jacket　I　had　on；　and　through　the　back
part　of　my　neck；　forcing　itself　out　between　two　sinews　and　just　below
the　right　ear。　I　was　immediately　put　to　bed…　although　life　seemed　to
be　totally　extinct。　There　was　no　surgeon　on　board。　The　captain；
however；　treated　me　with　every　attention…　to　make　amends；　I　presume；
in　the　eyes　of　his　crew；　for　his　atrocious　behaviour　in　the　previous
portion　of　the　adventure。

　　　　In　the　meantime；　Henderson　had　again　put　off　from　the　ship；
although　the　wind　was　now　blowing　almost　a　hurricane。　He　had　not　been
gone　many　minutes　when　he　fell　in　with　some　fragments　of　our　boat；
and　shortly　afterward　one　of　the　men　with　him　asserted　that　he　could
distinguish　a　cry　for　help　at　intervals　amid　the　roaring　of　the
tempest。　This　induced　the　hardy　seamen　to　persevere　in　their　search
for　more　than　half　an　hour；　although　repeated　signals　to　return　were
made　them　by　Captain　Block；　and　although　every　moment　on　the　water　in
so　frail　a　boat　was　fraught　to　them　with　the　most　imminent　and　deadly
peril。　Indeed；　it　is　nearly　impossible　to　conceive　how　the　small
jolly　they　were　in　could　have　escaped　destruction　for　a　single
instant。　She　was　built；　however；　for　the　whaling　service；　and　was
fitted；　as　I　have　since　had　reason　to　believe；　with　air…boxes；　in　the
manner　of　some　life…boats　used　on　the　coast　of　Wales。

　　　　After　searching　in　vain　for　about　the　period　of　time　just
mentioned；　it　was　determined　to　get　back　to　the　ship。　They　had
scarcely　made　this　resolve　when　a　feeble　cry　arose　from　a　dark　object
that　floated　rapidly　by。　They　pursued　and　soon　overtook　it。　It　proved
to　be　the　entire　deck　of　the　Ariel's　cuddy。　Augustus　was　struggling
near　it；　apparently　in　the　last　agonies。　Upon　getting　hold　of　him　it
was　found　that　he　was　attached　by　a　rope　to　the　floating　timber。　This
rope；　it　will　be　remembered；　I　had　myself　tied　around　his　waist；　and
made　fast　to　a　ringbolt；　for　the　purpose　of　keeping　him　in　an　upright
position；　and　my　so　doing；　it　appeared；　had　been　ultimately　the　means
of　preserving　his　life。　The　Ariel　was　slightly　put　together；　and　in
going　down　her　frame　naturally　went　to　pieces；　the　deck　of　the　cuddy；
as　might　have　been　expected；　was　lifted；　by　the　force　of　the　water
rushing　in；　entirely　from　the　main　timbers；　and　floated　（with　other
fragments；　no　doubt）　to　the　surface…　Augustus　was　buoyed　up　with　it；
and　thus　escaped　a　terrible　death。

　　　　It　was　more　than　an　hour　after　being　taken　on　board　the　Penguin
before　he　could　give　any　account　of　himself；　or　be　made　to　comprehend
the　nature　of　the　accident　which　had　befallen　our　boat。　At　length　he
became　thoroughly　aroused；　and　spoke　much　of　his　sensations　while　in
the　water。　Upon　his　first　attaining　any　degree　of　consciousness