the works of edgar allan poe-3-第35章

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observed　from　our　place　of　concealment　on　the　hill。　We　had　proceeded
some　hundred　yards；　threading　our　route　cautiously　between　the　huge
rocks　and　tumuli；　when；　upon　turning　a　corner；　five　savages　sprung
upon　us　from　a　small　cavern；　felling　Peters　to　the　ground　with　a　blow
from　a　club。　As　he　fell　the　whole　party　rushed　upon　him　to　secure
their　victim；　leaving　me　time　to　recover　from　my　astonishment。　T
still　had　the　musket；　but　the　barrel　had　received　so　much　injury　in
being　thrown　from　the　precipice　that　T　cast　it　aside　as　useless；
preferring　to　trust　my　pistols；　which　had　been　carefully　preserved　in
order。　With　these　I　advanced　upon　the　assailants；　firing　one　after
the　other　in　quick　succession。　Two　savages　fell；　and　one；　who　was　in
the　act　of　thrusting　a　spear　into　Peters；　sprung　to　his　feet　without
accomplishing　his　purpose。　My　companion　being　thus　released；　we　had
no　further　difficulty。　He　had　his　pistols　also；　but　prudently
declined　using　them；　confiding　in　his　great　personal　strength；　which
far　exceeded　that　of　any　person　I　have　ever　known。　Seizing　a　club
from　one　of　the　savages　who　had　fallen；　he　dashed　out　the　brains　of
the　three　who　remained；　killing　each　instantaneously　with　a　single
blow　of　the　weapon；　and　leaving　us　completely　masters　of　the　field。

So　rapidly　bad　these　events　passed；　that　we　could　scarcely　believe　in
their　reality；　and　were　standing　over　the　bodies　of　the　dead　in　a
species　of　stupid　contemplation；　when　we　were　brought　to　recollection
by　the　sound　of　shouts　in　the　distance；　It　was　clear　that　the　savages
had　been　alarmed　by　the　firing；　and　that　we　had　little　chance　of
avoiding　discovery。　To　regain　the　cliff；　it　would　be　necessary　to
proceed　in　the　direction　of　the　shouts；　and　even　should　we　succeed　in
arriving　at　its　base；　we　should　never　be　able　to　ascend　it　without
being　seen。　Our　situation　was　one　of　the　greatest　peril；　and　we　were
hesitating　in　which　path　to　commence　a　flight；　when　one　of　the
savages　_whom　_I　bad　shot；　and　supposed　dead；　sprang　briskly　to　his
feet；　and　attempted　to　make　his　escape。　We　overtook　_him；　_however；
before　he　had　advanced　many　paces；　and　were　about　to　put　him　to
death；　when　Peters　suggested　that　we　might　derive　some　benefit　from
forcing　him　to　accompany　us　in　our　attempt　to　escape。　We　therefore
dragged　him　with　us；　making　him　understand　that　we　would　shoot　him　if
he　offered　resistance。　In　a　few　minutes　he　was　perfectly　submissive；
and　ran　by　our　sides　as　we　pushed　in　among　the　rocks；　making　for　the
seashore。

So　far；　the　irregularities　of　the　ground　we　had　been　traversing　hid
the　sea；　except　at　intervals；　from　our　sight；　and；　when　we　first　had
it　fairly　in　view；　it　was　perhaps　two　hundred　yards　distant。　As　we
emerged　into　the　open　beach　we　saw；　to　our　great　dismay；　an　immense
crowd　of　the　natives　pouring　from　the　village；　and　from　all　visible
quarters　of　the　island；　making　toward　us　with　gesticulations　of
extreme　fury；　and　howling　like　wild　beasts。　We　were　upon　the　point　of
turning　upon　our　steps；　and　trying　to　secure　a　retreat　among　the
fastnesses　of　the　rougher　ground；　when　I　discovered　the　bows　of　two
canoes　projecting　from　behind　a　large　rock　which　ran　out　into　the
water。　Toward　these　we　now　ran　with　all　speed；　and；　reaching　them；
found　them　unguarded；　and　without　any　other　freight　than　three　of　the
large　Gallipago　turtles　and　the　usual　supply　of　paddles　for　sixty
rowers。　We　instantly　took　possession　of　one　of　them；　and；　forcing　our
captive　on　board；　pushed　out　to　sea　with　all　the　strength　we　could
command。

We　had　not　made；　however；　more　than　fifty　yards　from　the　shore　before
we　became　sufficiently　calm　to　perceive　the　great　oversight　of　which
we　had　been　guilty　in　leaving　the　other　canoe　in　the　power　of　the
savages；　who；　by　this　time；　were　not　more　than　twice　as　far　from　the
beach　as　ourselves；　and　were　rapidly　advancing　to　the　pursuit。　No
time　was　now　to　be　lost。　Our　hope　was；　at　best；　a　forlorn　one；　but　we
had　none　other。　It　was　very　doubtful　whether；　with　the　utmost
exertion；　we　could　get　back　in　time　to　anticipate　them　in　taking
possession　of　the　canoe；　but　yet　there　was　a　chance　that　we　could。　We
might　save　ourselves　if　we　succeeded；　while　not　to　make　the　attempt
was　to　resign　ourselves　to　inevitable　butchery。

The　canoe　was　modelled　with　the　bow　and　stern　alike；　and；　in　place　of
turning　it　around；　we　merely　changed　our　position　in　paddling。　As
soon　as　the　savages　perceived　this　they　redoubled　their　yells；　as
well　as　their　speed；　and　approached　with　inconceivable　rapidity。　We
pulled；　however；　with　all　the　energy　of　desperation；　and　arrived　at
the　contested　point　before　more　than　one　of　the　natives　had　attained
it。　This　man　paid　dearly　for　his　superior　agility；　Peters　shooting
him　through　the　head　with　a　pistol　as　he　approached　the　shore。　The
foremost　among　the　rest　of　his　party　were　probably　some　twenty　or
thirty　paces　distant　as　we　seized　upon　the　canoe。　We　at　first
endeavored　to　pull　her　into　the　deep　water；　beyond　the　reach　of　the
savages；　but；　finding　her　too　firmly　aground；　and　there　being　no　time
to　spare；　Peters；　with　one　or　two　heavy　strokes　from　the　butt　of　the
musket；　succeeded　in　dashing　out　a　large　portion　of　the　bow　and　of
one　side。　We　then　pushed　off。　Two　of　the　natives　by　this　time　had　got
hold　of　our　boat；　obstinately　refusing　to　let　90；　until　we　were
forced　to　despatch　them　with　our　knives。　We　were　now　clear　off；　and
making　great　way　out　to　sea。　The　main　body　of　the　savages；　upon
reaching　the　broken　canoe；　set　up　the　most　tremendous　yell　of　rage
and　disappointment　conceivable。　In　truth；　from　everything　I　could　see
of　these　wretches；　they　appeared　to　be　the　most　wicked；　hypocritical；
vindictive；　bloodthirsty；　and　altogether　fiendish　race　of　men　upon
the　face　of　the　globe。　It　is　clear　we　should　have　had　no　mercy　had　we
fallen　into　their　hands。　They　made　a　mad　attempt　at　following　us　in
the　fractured　canoe；　but；　finding　it　useless；　again　vented　their　rage
in　a　series　of　hideous　vociferations；　and　rushed　up　into　the　hills。

We　were　thus　relieved　from　immediate　danger；　but　our　situation　was
still　sufficiently　gloomy。　We　knew　that　four　canoes　of　the　kind　we
had　were　at　one　time　in　the　possession　of　the　savages；　and　were　not
aware　of　the　fact　（afterward　ascertained　from　our　captive）　that　two
of　these　had　been　blown　to　pieces　in　the　explosion　of　the　_Jane　Guy。
_We　calculated；　therefore；　upon　being　yet　pursued；　as　soon　as　our
enemies　could　get　round　to　the　bay　（distant　about　three　miles）　where
the　boats　were　usually　laid　up。　Fearing　this；　we　made　every　exertion
to　leave　the　island　behind　us；　and　went　rapidly　through　the　water；
forcing　the　prisoner　to　take　a　paddle。　In　about　half　an　hour；　when　we
had　gained　probably　five　or　six　miles　to　the　southward；　a　large　fleet
of　the　flat…bottomed　canoes　or　rafts　were　seen　to　emerge　from　the　bay
evidently　with　the　design　of　pursuit。　Presently　they　put　back；
despairing　to　overtake　us。

~~~　End　of　Text　Chapter　24　~~~

CHAPTER　XXV

WE　now　found　ourselves　in　the　wide　and　deso　late　Antarctic　Ocean；　in
a　latitude　exceeding　eighty…four　degrees；　in　a　frail　canoe；　and　with
no　provision　but　the　three　turtles。　The　long　polar　winter；　too；　could
not　be　considered　as　far　distant；　and　it　became　necessary　that　we
should　deliberate　well　upon　the　course　to　be　pursued。　There　were　six
or　seven　islands　in　sight　belonging　to　the　same　group；　and　distant
from　each　other　about　five　or　six　leagues；　but　upon　neither　of　these
had　we　any　intention　to　venture。　In　coming　from　the　northward　in　the
_Jane　_Guy　we　bad　been　gradually　leaving　behind　us　the　severest
regions　of　ice…this；　however　little　it　maybe　in　accordance　with　the
generally　received　notions　respecting　the　Antarctic；　was　a　fact…
experience　would　not　permit　us　to　deny。　To　attempt；　therefore；
getting　back　would　be　folly　…　especially　at　so　late　a　period　of　the
season。　Only　one　course　seemed　to　be　left　open　for　hope。　We　resolved
to　steer　boldly　to　the　southward；　where　there　was　at　least　a
probability　of　discovering　other　lands；　and　more　than　a　probability
of　finding　a　still　milder　climate。

So　far　we　had　found　the　Antarctic；　like　the　Arctic　Ocean；　peculiarly
free　from　violent　storms　or　immoderately　rough　water；　but　our　…canoe
was；　at　best；　of　frail　structure；　although　large；　and　we　set　busily
to　work　with　a　view　of　rendering　her　as　safe　as　the　limited　means　in
our　possession　would　admit。　The　body　of　the　boat　was　of　no　better
material　than　bark　…the　bark　of　a　tree　unknown。　The　ribs　were　of　a
tough　osier；　well　adapted　to　the　purpose　for　which　it　was　used。　We
had　fifty　feet　room　from　stem　to　stern；　from　four　to　six　in　breadth；
and　in　depth　throughout　four　feet　and　a　half…the　boats　thus　differing
vastly　in　shape　from　those　of　any　other　inhabitants　of　the　Southern
Ocean　with　whom　civilized　nations　are　acquainted。　We　never　did
believe　them　the　workmanship　of　the　ignorant　islanders　who　owned
them；　and　some　days　after　this　period　discovered；　by　questioning　our
captive；　that　they　were　in　fact　made　by　the　natives　of　a　group　to　the
southwest　of　the　country　where　we　found　them；；　having　fallen
accidentally　into　the　hands　of　our　barbarians。　What　we　could　do　for
the　security　of　our　boat　was　very　little　indeed。　Several　wide　rents
were　discovered　near　both　ends；　and　these　we　contrived　to　patch　up
with　pieces　of　woollen　jacket。　With　the　help　of　the　superfluous
paddles；　of　which　there　were　a　great　many；　we　erected　a　kind　of
framework　about　the　bow；　so　as　to　break　the　force　of　any　seas　which
might　threaten　to　fill　us　in　that　quarter。　We　also　set　up　two
paddle…blades　for　masts；　placing　them　opposite　each　other；　one　by
each　gunwale；　thus　saving　the　necessity　of　a　yard。　To　these　masts　we
attached　a　sail　made　of　our　shirts…doing　this　with　some　difficulty；
as　here　we　could　get　no　assistance　from　our　prisoner　whatever；
although　he　bad　been　willing　enough　to　labor　in　all　the　other
operations。　The　sight　of　the　linen　seemed　to　affect　him　in　a　very
singular　manner。　He　could　not　be　prevailed　upon　to　touch　it　or　go
near　it；　shuddering　when　we　attempted　to　force　him；　and　shrieking
out；　_〃Tekeli…Ii！〃_

Having　completed　our　arrangements　in　regard　to　the　security　of　the
canoe；　we　now　set　sail　to　the　south…southeast　for　the　present；　with
the　view　of　weathering　the　most　southerly　of　the　group　in　sight。　This
being　done；　we　turned　the　bow　full　to　the　southward。　The　weather
could　by　no　means　be　considered　disagreeable。　We　had　a　prevailing
andvery　gentle　wind　from　the　northward；　a　smooth　sea；　and　continual
daylight。　No　ice　whatever　was　to　be　seen；　_nor　did　I　ever　see　one
particle　of　this　after　leaving　the　parallel　of　Bennet's　Islet。
_Indeed；　the　temperature　of　the　water　was　here　far　too　warm　for　its
existence　in　any　quantity。　Having　killed　the　largest　of　our
tortoises；　and　obtained　from　him　not　only　food　but　a　copious　supply
of　water；　we　continued　on　our　course；　without　any　incident　of　moment；
for　perhaps　seven　or　eight　days；　during　which　period　we　must　have
proceeded　a　vast　distance　to　the　southward；　as　the　wind　blew
constantly　with　us；　and　a　very　strong　current　set　continually　in　the
direction　we　were　pursuing。

_March　1st_。　｛*7｝…Many　unusual　phenomena　now　…indicated