the works of edgar allan poe-3-第21章

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out。

　　　　The　water　we　drew　carefully　from　the　bag　into　the　jug；　which；　it
will　be　remembered；　had　been　brought　up　before　from　the　cabin。　Having
done　this；　we　broke　off　the　neck　of　a　bottle　so　as　to　form；　with　the
cork；　a　kind　of　glass；　holding　not　quite　half　a　gill。　We　then　each
drank　one　of　these　measures　full；　and　resolved　to　limit　ourselves　to
this　quantity　per　day　as　long　as　it　should　hold　out。

　　　　During　the　last　two　or　three　days；　the　weather　having　been　dry
and　pleasant；　the　bedding　we　had　obtained　from　the　cabin；　as　well　as
our　clothing；　had　become　thoroughly　dry；　so　that　we　passed　this　night
（that　of　the　twenty…third）　in　comparative　comfort；　enjoying　a
tranquil　repose；　after　having　supped　plentifully　on　olives　and　ham；
with　a　small　allowance　of　the　wine。　Being　afraid　of　losing　some　of
our　stores　overboard　during　the　night；　in　the　event　of　a　breeze
springing　up；　we　secured　them　as　well　as　possible　with　cordage　to　the
fragments　of　the　windlass。　Our　tortoise；　which　we　were　anxious　to
preserve　alive　as　long　as　we　could；　we　threw　on　its　back；　and
otherwise　carefully　fastened。

~~~　End　of　Text　of　Chapter　12　~~~

CHAPTER　13



　　　　JULY　24。　This　morning　saw　us　wonderfully　recruited　in　spirits　and
strength。　Notwithstanding　the　perilous　situation　in　which　we　were
still　placed；　ignorant　of　our　position；　although　certainly　at　a　great
distance　from　land；　without　more　food　than　would　last　us　for　a
fortnight　even　with　great　care；　almost　entirely　without　water；　and
floating　about　at　the　mercy　of　every　wind　and　wave　on　the　merest
wreck　in　the　world；　still　the　infinitely　more　terrible　distresses　and
dangers　from　which　we　had　so　lately　and　so　providentially　been
delivered　caused　us　to　regard　what　we　now　endured　as　but　little　more
than　an　ordinary　evil…　so　strictly　comparative　is　either　good　or　ill。

　　　　At　sunrise　we　were　preparing　to　renew　our　attempts　at　getting　up
something　from　the　storeroom；　when；　a　smart　shower　coming　on；　with
some　lightning；　we　turn　our　attention　to　the　catching　of　water　by
means　of　the　sheet　we　had　used　before　for　this　purpose。　We　had　no
other　means　of　collecting　the　rain　than　by　holding　the　sheet　spread
out　with　one　of　the　forechain…plates　in　the　middle　of　it。　The　water；
thus　conducted　to　the　centre；　was　drained　through　into　our　jug。　We
had　nearly　filled　it　in　this　manner；　when；　a　heavy　squall　coming　on
from　the　northward；　obliged　us　to　desist；　as　the　hulk　began　once　more
to　roll　so　violently　that　we　could　no　longer　keep　our　feet。　We　now
went　forward；　and；　lashing　ourselves　securely　to　the　remnant　of　the
windlass　as　before；　awaited　the　event　with　far　more　calmness　than
could　have　been　anticipated　or　would　have　been　imagined　possible
under　the　circumstances。　At　noon　the　wind　had　freshened　into　a
two…reef　breeze；　and　by　night　into　a　stiff　gale；　accompanied　with　a
tremendously　heavy　swell。　Experience　having　taught　us；　however；　the
best　method　of　arranging　our　lashings；　we　weathered　this　dreary　night
in　tolerable　security；　although　thoroughly　drenched　at　almost　every
instant　by　the　sea；　and　in　momentary　dread　of　being　washed　off。
Fortunately；　the　weather　was　so　warm　as　to　render　the　water　rather
grateful　than　otherwise。

　　　　July　25。　This　morning　the　gale　had　diminished　to　a　mere　ten…knot
breeze；　and　the　sea　had　gone　down　with　it　so　considerably　that　we
were　able　to　keep　ourselves　dry　upon　the　deck。　To　our　great　grief；
however；　we　found　that　two　jars　of　our　olives；　as　well　as　the　whole
of　our　ham；　had　been　washed　overboard；　in　spite　of　the　careful　manner
in　which　they　had　been　fastened。　We　determined　not　to　kill　the
tortoise　as　yet；　and　contented　ourselves　for　the　present　with　a
breakfast　on　a　few　of　the　olives；　and　a　measure　of　water　each；　which
latter　we　mixed　half　and　half；　with　wine；　finding　great　relief　and
strength　from　the　mixture；　without　the　distressing　intoxication　which
had　ensued　upon　drinking　the　port。　The　sea　was　still　far　too　rough
for　the　renewal　of　our　efforts　at　getting　up　provision　from　the
storeroom。　Several　articles；　of　no　importance　to　us　in　our　present
situation；　floated　up　through　the　opening　during　the　day；　and　were
immediately　washed　overboard。　We　also　now　observed　that　the　hulk　lay
more　along　than　ever；　so　that　we　could　not　stand　an　instant　without
lashing　ourselves。　On　this　account　we　passed　a　gloomy　and
uncomfortable　day。　At　noon　the　sun　appeared　to　be　nearly　vertical；
and　we　had　no　doubt　that　we　had　been　driven　down　by　the　long
succession　of　northward　and　northwesterly　winds　into　the　near
vicinity　of　the　equator。　Toward　evening　saw　several　sharks；　and　were
somewhat　alarmed　by　the　audacious　manner　in　which　an　enormously　large
one　approached　us。　At　one　time；　a　lurch　throwing　the　deck　very　far
beneath　the　water；　the　monster　actually　swam　in　upon　us；　floundering
for　some　moments　just　over　the　companion…hatch；　and　striking　Peters
violently　with　his　tail。　A　heavy　sea　at　length　hurled　him　overboard；
much　to　our　relief。　In　moderate　weather　we　might　have　easily　captured
him。

　　　　July　26。　This　morning；　the　wind　having　greatly　abated；　and　the
sea　not　being　very　rough；　we　determined　to　renew　our　exertions　in　the
storeroom。　After　a　great　deal　of　hard　labor　during　the　whole　day；　we
found　that　nothing　further　was　to　be　expected　from　this　quarter；　the
partitions　of　the　room　having　been　stove　during　the　night；　and　its
contents　swept　into　the　hold。　This　discovery；　as　may　be　supposed；
filled　us　with　despair。

　　　　July　27。　The　sea　nearly　smooth；　with　a　light　wind；　and　still　from
the　northward　and　westward。　The　sun　coming　out　hotly　in　the
afternoon；　we　occupied　ourselves　in　drying　our　clothes。　Found　great
relief　from　thirst；　and　much　comfort　otherwise；　by　bathing　in　the
sea；　in　this；　however；　we　were　forced　to　use　great　caution；　being
afraid　of　sharks；　several　of　which　were　seen　swimming　around　the　brig
during　the　day。

　　　　July　28。　Good　weather　still。　The　brig　now　began　to　lie　along　so
alarmingly　that　we　feared　she　would　eventually　roll　bottom　up。
Prepared　ourselves　as　well　as　we　could　for　this　emergency；　lashing
our　tortoise；　waterjug；　and　two　remaining　jars　of　olives　as　far　as
possible　over　to　the　windward；　placing　them　outside　the　hull　below
the　main…chains。　The　sea　very　smooth　all　day；　with　little　or　no　wind。

　　　　July　29。　A　continuance　of　the　same　weather。　Augustus's　wounded
arm　began　to　evince　symptoms　of　mortification。　He　complained　of
drowsiness　and　excessive　thirst；　but　no　acute　pain。　Nothing　could　be
done　for　his　relief　beyond　rubbing　his　wounds　with　a　little　of　the
vinegar　from　the　olives；　and　from　this　no　benefit　seemed　to　be
experienced。　We　did　every　thing　in　our　power　for　his　comfort；　and
trebled　his　allowance　of　water。

　　　　July　30。　An　excessively　hot　day；　with　no　wind。　An　enormous　shark
kept　close　by　the　hulk　during　the　whole　of　the　forenoon。　We　made
several　unsuccessful　attempts　to　capture　him　by　means　of　a　noose。
Augustus　much　worse；　and　evidently　sinking　as　much　from　want　of
proper　nourishment　as　from　the　effect　of　his　wounds。　He　constantly
prayed　to　be　relieved　from　his　sufferings；　wishing　for　nothing　but
death。　This　evening　we　ate　the　last　of　our　olives；　and　found　the
water　in　our　jug　so　putrid　that　we　could　not　swallow　it　at　all
without　the　addition　of　wine。　Determined　to　kill　our　tortoise　in　the
morning。

　　　　July　31。　After　a　night　of　excessive　anxiety　and　fatigue；　owing　to
the　position　of　the　hulk；　we　set　about　killing　and　cutting　up　our
tortoise。　He　proved　to　be　much　smaller　than　we　had　supposed；　although
in　good　condition；…　the　whole　meat　about　him　not　amounting　to　more
than　ten　pounds。　With　a　view　of　preserving　a　portion　of　this　as　long
as　possible；　we　cut　it　into　fine　pieces；　and　filled　with　them　our
three　remaining　olive　jars　and　the　wine…bottle　（all　of　which　had　been
kept）；　pouring　in　afterward　the　vinegar　from　the　olives。　In　this
manner　we　put　away　about　three　pounds　of　the　tortoise；　intending　not
to　touch　it　until　we　had　consumed　the　rest。　We　concluded　to　restrict
ourselves　to　about　four　ounces　of　the　meat　per　day；　the　whole　would
thus　last　us　thirteen　days。　A　brisk　shower；　with　severe　thunder　and
lightning；　came　on　about　dusk；　but　lasted　so　short　a　time　that　we
only　succeeded　in　catching　about　half　a　pint　of　water。　The　whole　of
this；　by　common　consent；　was　given　to　Augustus；　who　now　appeared　to
be　in　the　last　extremity。　He　drank　the　water　from　the　sheet　as　we
caught　it　（we　holding　it　above　him　as　he　lay　so　as　to　let　it　run　into
his　mouth）；　for　we　had　now　nothing　left　capable　of　holding　water；
unless　we　had　chosen　to　empty　out　our　wine　from　the　carboy；　or　the
stale　water　from　the　jug。　Either　of　these　expedients　would　have　been
resorted　to　had　the　shower　lasted。

　　　　The　sufferer　seemed　to　derive　but　little　benefit　from　the
draught。　His　arm　was　completely　black　from　the　wrist　to　the　shoulder；
and　his　feet　were　like　ice。　We　expected　every　moment　to　see　him
breathe　his　last。　He　was　frightfully　emaciated；　so　much　so　that；
although　he　weighed　a　hundred　and　twenty…seven　pounds　upon　his
leaving　Nantucket；　he　now　did　not　weigh　more　than　forty　or　fifty　at
the　farthest。　His　eyes　were　sunk　far　in　his　head；　being　scarcely
perceptible；　and　the　skin　of　his　cheeks　hung　so　loosely　as　to　prevent
his　masticating　any　food；　or　even　swallowing　any　liquid；　without
great　difficulty。

　　　　August　1。　A　continuance　of　the　same　calm　weather；　with　an
oppressively　hot　sun。　Suffered　exceedingly　from　thirst；　the　water　in
the　jug　being　absolutely　putrid　and　swarming　with　vermin。　We
contrived；　nevertheless；　to　swallow　a　portion　of　it　by　mixing　it　with
wine；　our　thirst；　however；　was　but　little　abated。　We　found　more
relief　by　bathing　in　the　sea；　but　could　not　avail　ourselves　of　this
expedient　except　at　long　intervals；　on　account　of　the　continual
presence　of　sharks。　We　now　saw　clearly　that　Augustus　could　not　be
saved；　that　he　was　evidently　dying。　We　could　do　nothing　to　relieve
his　sufferings；　which　appeared　to　be　great。　About　twelve　o'clock　he
expired　in　strong　convulsions；　and　without　having　spoken　for　several
days。　His　death　filled　us　with　the　most　gloomy　forebodings；　and　had
so　great　an　effect　upon　our　spirits　that　we　sat　motionless　by　the
corpse　during　the　whole　day；　and　never　addressed　each　other　except　in
a　whisper。　It　was　not　until　some　time　after　dark　that　we　took　courage
to　get　up　and　throw　the　body　overboard。　It　was　then　loathsome　beyond
expression；　and　so　far　decayed　that；　as　Peters　attempted　to　lift　it；
an　entire　leg　came　off　in　his　grasp。　As　the　mass　of　putrefaction
slipped　over　the　vessel's　side　into　the　water；　the　glare　of
phosphoric　light　with　which　it　was　surrounded　plainly　discovered　to
us　seven　or　eight　large　sharks；　the　clashing　of　whose　horrible　teeth；
as　their　prey　was　torn　to　pieces　among　them；　might　have　been　heard　at
the　distance　of　a　mile。　We　shrunk　within　ourselves　in　the　extremity
of　horror　at　the　sound。

　　　　August　2。　The　same　fearfully　calm　and　hot　weather。　The　dawn　found
us　in　a　state　of　pitiable　dejection　as　well　as　bodily　exhaustion。　The
water　in　the　jug　was　now　absolutely　useless；　being　a　thick　gelatinous
mass；　nothing　but　frightful…looking　worms　mingled　with　slime。　We
threw　it　out；　and　washed　the　jug　we