the works of edgar allan poe-3-第4章

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account。　Augustus　went　first　up　the　vessel's　side；　and　in　a　short
while　I　followed　him；　without　being　noticed　by　the　men　at　work。　We
proceeded　at　once　into　the　cabin；　and　found　no　person　there。　It　was
fitted　up　in　the　most　comfortable　style…　a　thing　somewhat　unusual　in
a　whaling…vessel。　There　were　four　very　excellent　staterooms；　with
wide　and　convenient　berths。　There　was　also　a　large　stove；　I　took
notice；　and　a　remarkably　thick　and　valuable　carpet　covering　the　floor
of　both　the　cabin　and　staterooms。　The　ceiling　was　full　seven　feet
high；　and；　in　short；　every　thing　appeared　of　a　more　roomy　and
agreeable　nature　than　I　had　anticipated。　Augustus；　however；　would
allow　me　but　little　time　for　observation；　insisting　upon　the
necessity　of　my　concealing　myself　as　soon　as　possible。　He　led　the　way
into　his　own　stateroom；　which　was　on　the　starboard　side　of　the　brig；
and　next　to　the　bulkheads。　Upon　entering；　he　closed　the　door　and
bolted　it。　I　thought　I　had　never　seen　a　nicer　little　room　than　the
one　in　which　I　now　found　myself。　It　was　about　ten　feet　long；　and　had
only　one　berth；　which；　as　I　said　before；　was　wide　and　convenient。　In
that　portion　of　the　closet　nearest　the　bulkheads　there　was　a　space　of
four　feet　square；　containing　a　table；　a　chair；　and　a　set　of　hanging
shelves　full　of　books；　chiefly　books　of　voyages　and　travels。　There
were　many　other　little　comforts　in　the　room；　among　which　I　ought　not
to　forget　a　kind　of　safe　or　refrigerator；　in　which　Augustus　pointed
out　to　me　a　host　of　delicacies；　both　in　the　eating　and　drinking
department。

　　　　He　now　pressed　with　his　knuckles　upon　a　certain　spot　of　the
carpet　in　one　corner　of　the　space　just　mentioned；　letting　me　know
that　a　portion　of　the　flooring；　about　sixteen　inches　square；　had　been
neatly　cut　out　and　again　adjusted。　As　he　pressed；　this　portion　rose
up　at　one　end　sufficiently　to　allow　the　passage　of　his　finger
beneath。　In　this　manner　he　raised　the　mouth　of　the　trap　（to　which　the
carpet　was　still　fastened　by　tacks）；　and　I　found　that　it　led　into　the
after　hold。　He　next　lit　a　small　taper　by　means　of　a　phosphorous
match；　and；　placing　the　light　in　a　dark　lantern；　descended　with　it
through　the　opening；　bidding　me　follow。　I　did　so；　and　be　then　pulled
the　cover　upon　the　hole；　by　means　of　a　nail　driven　into　the　under
side…　the　carpet；　of　course；　resuming　its　original　position　on　the
floor　of　the　stateroom；　and　all　traces　of　the　aperture　being
concealed。

　　　　The　taper　gave　out　so　feeble　a　ray　that　it　was　with　the　greatest
difficulty　I　could　grope　my　way　through　the　confused　mass　of　lumber
among　which　I　now　found　myself。　By　degrees；　however；　my　eyes　became
accustomed　to　the　gloom；　and　I　proceeded　with　less　trouble；　holding
on　to　the　skirts　of　my　friend's　coat。　He　brought　me；　at　length；　after
creeping　and　winding　through　innumerable　narrow　passages；　to　an
iron…bound　box；　such　as　is　used　sometimes　for　packing　fine
earthenware。　It　was　nearly　four　feet　high；　and　full　six　long；　but
very　narrow。　Two　large　empty　oil…casks　lay　on　the　top　of　it；　and
above　these；　again；　a　vast　quantity　of　straw　matting；　piled　up　as
high　as　the　floor　of　the　cabin。　In　every　other　direction　around　was
wedged　as　closely　as　possible；　even　up　to　the　ceiling；　a　complete
chaos　of　almost　every　species　of　ship…furniture；　together　with　a
heterogeneous　medley　of　crates；　hampers；　barrels；　and　bales；　so　that
it　seemed　a　matter　no　less　than　miraculous　that　we　had　discovered　any
passage　at　all　to　the　box。　I　afterward　found　that　Augustus　had
purposely　arranged　the　stowage　in　this　hold　with　a　view　to　affording
me　a　thorough　concealment；　having　had　only　one　assistant　in　the
labour；　a　man　not　going　out　in　the　brig。

　　　　My　companion　now　showed　me　that　one　of　the　ends　of　the　box　could
be　removed　at　pleasure。　He　slipped　it　aside　and　displayed　the
interior；　at　which　I　was　excessively　amused。　A　mattress　from　one　of
the　cabin　berths　covered　the　whole　of　its　bottom；　and　it　contained
almost　every　article　of　mere　comfort　which　could　be　crowded　into　so
small　a　space；　allowing　me；　at　the　same　time；　sufficient　room　for　my
accommodation；　either　in　a　sitting　position　or　lying　at　full　length。
Among　other　things；　there　were　some　books；　pen；　ink；　and　paper；　three
blankets；　a　large　jug　full　of　water；　a　keg　of　sea…biscuit；　three　or
four　immense　Bologna　sausages；　an　enormous　ham；　a　cold　leg　of　roast
mutton；　and　half　a　dozen　bottles　of　cordials　and　liqueurs。　I
proceeded　immediately　to　take　possession　of　my　little　apartment；　and
this　with　feelings　of　higher　satisfaction；　I　am　sure；　than　any
monarch　ever　experienced　upon　entering　a　new　palace。　Augustus　now
pointed　out　to　me　the　method　of　fastening　the　open　end　of　the　box；
and　then；　holding　the　taper　close　to　the　deck；　showed　me　a　piece　of
dark　whipcord　lying　along　it。　This；　he　said；　extended　from　my
hiding…place　throughout　an　the　necessary　windings　among　the　lumber；
to　a　nail　which　was　driven　into　the　deck　of　the　hold；　immediately
beneath　the　trap…door　leading　into　his　stateroom。　By　means　of　this
cord　I　should　be　enabled　readily　to　trace　my　way　out　without　his
guidance；　provided　any　unlooked…for　accident　should　render　such　a
step　necessary。　He　now　took　his　departure；　leaving　with　me　the
lantern；　together　with　a　copious　supply　of　tapers　and　phosphorous；
and　promising　to　pay　me　a　visit　as　often　as　he　could　contrive　to　do
so　without　observation。　This　was　on　the　seventeenth　of　June。

　　　　I　remained　three　days　and　nights　（as　nearly　as　I　could　guess）　in
my　hiding…place　without　getting　out　of　it　at　all；　except　twice　for
the　purpose　of　stretching　my　limbs　by　standing　erect　between　two
crates　just　opposite　the　opening。　During　the　whole　period　I　saw
nothing　of　Augustus；　but　this　occasioned　me　little　uneasiness；　as　I
knew　the　brig　was　expected　to　put　to　sea　every　hour；　and　in　the
bustle　he　would　not　easily　find　opportunities　of　coming　down　to　me。
At　length　I　heard　the　trap　open　and　shut。　and　presently　he　called　in
a　low　voice；　asking　if　all　was　well；　and　if　there　was　any　thing　I
wanted。　〃Nothing；〃　I　replied；　〃I　am　as　comfortable　as　can　be；　when
will　the　brig　sail？〃　〃She　will　be　under　weigh　in　less　than　half　an
hour；〃　he　answered。　〃I　came　to　let　you　know；　and　for　fear　you　should
be　uneasy　at　my　absence。　I　shall　not　have　a　chance　of　coming　down
again　for　some　time…　perhaps　for　three　or　four　days　more。　All　is
going　on　right　aboveboard。　After　I　go　up　and　close　the　trap；　do　you
creep　along　by　the　whipcord　to　where　the　nail　is　driven　in。　You　will
find　my　watch　there　　it　may　be　useful　to　you；　as　you　have　no
daylight　to　keep　time　by。　I　suppose　you　can't　tell　how　long　you　have
been　buried…　only　three　days…　this　is　the　twentieth。　I　would　bring
the　watch　to　your　box；　but　am　afraid　of　being　missed。〃　With　this　he
went　up。

　　　　In　about　an　hour　after　he　had　gone　I　distinctly　felt　the　brig　in
motion；　and　congratulated　myself　upon　having　at　length　fairly
commenced　a　voyage。　Satisfied　with　this　idea；　I　determined　to　make　my
mind　as　easy　as　possible；　and　await　the　course　of　events　until　I
should　be　permitted　to　exchange　the　box　for　the　more　roomy；　although
hardly　more　comfortable；　accommodations　of　the　cabin。　My　first　care
was　to　get　the　watch。　Leaving　the　taper　burning；　I　groped　along　in
the　dark；　following　the　cord　through　windings　innumerable；　in　some　of
which　I　discovered　that；　after　toiling　a　long　distance；　I　was　brought
back　within　a　foot　or　two　of　a　former　position。　At　length　I　reached
the　nail；　and　securing　the　object　of　my　journey；　returned　with　it　in
safety。　I　now　looked　over　the　books　which　had　been　so　thoughtfully
provided；　and　selected　the　expedition　of　Lewis　and　Clarke　to　the
mouth　of　the　Columbia。　With　this　I　amused　myself　for　some　time；　when；
growing　sleepy；　I　extinguished　the　light　with　great　care；　and　soon
fell　into　a　sound　slumber。

　　　　Upon　awakening　I　felt　strangely　confused　in　mind；　and　some　time
elapsed　before　I　could　bring　to　recollection　all　the　various
circumstances　of　my　situation。　By　degrees；　however；　I　remembered　all。
Striking　a　light；　I　looked　at　the　watch；　but　it　was　run　down；　and
there　were；　consequently；　no　means　of　determining　how　long　I　slept。
My　limbs　were　greatly　cramped；　and　I　was　forced　to　relieve　them　by
standing　between　the　crates。　Presently　feeling　an　almost　ravenous
appetite；　I　bethought　myself　of　the　cold　mutton；　some　of　which　I　had
eaten　just　before　going　to　sleep；　and　found　excellent。　What　was　my
astonishment　in　discovering　it　to　be　in　a　state　of　absolute
putrefaction！　This　circumstance　occasioned　me　great　disquietude；　for；
connecting　it　with　the　disorder　of　mind　I　experienced　upon　awakening；
I　began　to　suppose　that　I　must　have　slept　for　an　inordinately　long
period　of　time。　The　close　atmosphere　of　the　hold　might　have　had
something　to　do　with　this；　and　might；　in　the　end；　be　productive　of
the　most　serious　results。　My　head　ached　excessively；　I　fancied　that　I
drew　every　breath　with　difficulty；　and；　in　short；　I　was　oppressed
with　a　multitude　of　gloomy　feelings。　Still　I　could　not　venture　to
make　any　disturbance　by　opening　the　trap　or　otherwise；　and；　having
wound　up　the　watch；　contented　myself　as　well　as　possible。

　　　　Throughout　the　whole　of　the　next　tedious　twenty…four　hours　no
person　came　to　my　relief；　and　I　could　not　help　accusing　Augustus　of
the　grossest　inattention。　What　alarmed　me　chiefly　was；　that　the　water
in　my　jug　was　reduced　to　about　half　a　pint；　and　I　was　suffering　much
from　thirst；　having　eaten　freely　of　the　Bologna　sausages　after　the
loss　of　my　mutton。　I　became　very　uneasy；　and　could　no　longer　take　any
interest　in　my　books。　I　was　overpowered；　too；　with　a　desire　to　sleep；
yet　trembled　at　the　thought　of　indulging　it；　lest　there　might　exist
some　pernicious　influence；　like　that　of　burning　charcoal；　in　the
confined　air　of　the　hold。　In　the　meantime　the　roll　of　the　brig　told
me　that　we　were　far　in　the　main　ocean；　and　a　dull　humming　sound；
which　reached　my　ears　as　if　from　an　immense　distance；　convinced　me　no
ordinary　gale　was　blowing。　I　could　not　imagine　a　reason　for　the
absence　of　Augustus。　We　were　surely　far　enough　advanced　on　our　voyage
to　allow　of　my　going　up。　Some　accident　might　have　happened　to　him…
but　I　could　think　of　none　which　would　account　for　his　suffering　me　to
remain　so　long　a　prisoner；　except；　indeed；　his　having　suddenly　died
or　fallen　overboard；　and　upon　this　idea　I　could　not　dwell　with　any
degree　of　patience。　It　was　possible　that　we　had　been　baffled　by　head
winds；　and　were　still　in　the　near　vicinity　of　Nantucket。　This　notion；
however；　I　was　forced　to　abandon；　for　such　being　the　case；　the　brig
must　have　frequently　gone　about；　and　I　was　entirely　satisfied；　from
her　continual　inclination　to　the　larboard；　that　she　had　been　sailing
all　along　with　a　steady　breeze　on　her　starboard　quarter。　Besides；
granting　that　we　were　still　in　the　neighborhood　of　the　island；　why
should　not　Augustus　have　visited　me　and　informed　me　of　the
circumstance？　Pondering　in　this　manner　upon　the　difficulties　of　my
solitary　and　cheerless　condition；　I　resolved　to　wait　yet　another
twenty…four　hours；　when；　if　no　relief　were　obtained；　I　would　make　my
way　to　the　trap；　and　endeavour　either　to　hold　a　parley　with　my
friend；　or　get　at　least　a　little　fresh　air　through　t