the works of edgar allan poe-3-第8章

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he　discovered　me　to　be　on　board。　Besides；　upon　thinking　the　matter
over；　Augustus；　so　he　told　me；　could　not　imagine　that　I　was　in
immediate　want；　or　that　I　would　hesitate；　in　such　case；　to　make
myself　heard　at　the　trap。　When；　therefore；　he　considered　everything
he　concluded　to　let　me　stay　until　he　could　meet　with　an　opportunity
of　visiting　me　unobserved。　This；　as　I　said　before；　did　not　occur
until　the　fourth　day　after　his　bringing　me　the　watch；　and　the　seventh
since　I　had　first　entered　the　hold。　He　then　went　down　without　taking
with　him　any　water　or　provisions；　intending　in　the　first　place　merely
to　call　my　attention；　and　get　me　to　come　from　the　box　to　the　trap；…
when　he　would　go　up　to　the　stateroom　and　thence　hand　me　down　a　sup。
ply。　When　he　descended　for　this　purpose　he　found　that　I　was　asleep；
for　it　seems　that　I　was　snoring　very　loudly。　From　all　the
calculations　I　can　make　on　the　subject；　this　must　have　been　the
slumber　into　which　I　fell　just　after　my　return　from　the　trap　with　the
watch；　and　which；　consequently；　must　have　lasted　for　more　than　three
entire　days　and　nights　at　the　very　least。　Latterly；　I　have　had　reason
both　from　my　own　experience　and　the　assurance　of　others；　to　be
acquainted　with　the　strong　soporific　effects　of　the　stench　arising
from　old　fish…oil　when　closely　confined；　and　when　I　think　of　the
condition　of　the　hold　in　which　I　was　imprisoned；　and　the　long　period
during　which　the　brig　had　been　used　as　a　whaling　vessel；　I　am　more
inclined　to　wonder　that　I　awoke　at　all；　after　once　falling　asleep；
than　that　I　should　have　slept　uninterruptedly　for　the　period
specified　above。

　　　　　Augustus　called　to　me　at　first　in　a　low　voice　and　without
closing　the　trap…　but　I　made　him　no　reply。　He　then　shut　the　trap；　and
spoke　to　me　in　a　louder；　and　finally　in　a　very　loud　tone…　still　I
continued　to　snore。　He　was　now　at　a　loss　what　to　do。　It　would　take
him　some　time　to　make　his　way　through　the　lumber　to　my　box；　and　in
the　meanwhile　his　absence　would　be　noticed　by　Captain　Barnard；　who
had　occasion　for　his　services　every　minute；　in　arranging　and　copying
papers　connected　with　the　business　of　the　voyage。　He　determined；
therefore；　upon　reflection；　to　ascend；　and　await　another　opportunity
of　visiting　me。　He　was　the　more　easily　induced　to　this　resolve；　as　my
slumber　appeared　to　be　of　the　most　tranquil　nature；　and　he　could　not
suppose　that　I　had　undergone　any　inconvenience　from　my　incarceration。
He　had　just　made　up　his　mind　on　these　points　when　his　attention　was
arrested　by　an　unusual　bustle；　the　sound　of　which　proceeded
apparently　from　the　cabin。　He　sprang　through　the　trap　as　quickly　as
possible；　closed　it；　and　threw　open　the　door　of　his　stateroom。　No
sooner　had　he　put　his　foot　over　the　threshold　than　a　pistol　flashed
in　his　face；　and　he　was　knocked　down；　at　the　same　moment；　by　a　blow
from　a　handspike。

　　　　　A　strong　hand　held　him　on　the　cabin　floor；　with　a　tight　grasp
upon　his　throat；　still　he　was　able　to　see　what　was　going　on　around
him。　His　father　was　tied　hand　and　foot；　and　lying　along　the　steps　of
the　companion…way；　with　his　head　down；　and　a　deep　wound　in　the
forehead；　from　which　the　blood　was　flowing　in　a　continued　stream。　He
spoke　not　a　word；　and　was　apparently　dying。　Over　him　stood　the　first
mate；　eyeing　him　with　an　expression　of　fiendish　derision；　and
deliberately　searching　his　pockets；　from　which　he　presently　drew
forth　a　large　wallet　and　a　chronometer。　Seven　of　the　crew　（among　whom
was　the　cook；　a　negro）　were　rummaging　the　staterooms　on　the　larboard
for　arms；　where　they　soon　equipped　themselves　with　muskets　and
ammunition。　Besides　Augustus　and　Captain　Barnard；　there　were　nine　men
altogether　in　the　cabin；　and　these　among　the　most　ruffianly　of　the
brig's　company。　The　villains　now　went　upon　deck；　taking　my　friend
with　them　after　having　secured　his　arms　behind　his　back。　They
proceeded　straight　to　the　forecastle；　which　was　fastened　down…　two　of
the　mutineers　standing　by　it　with　axes…　two　also　at　the　main　hatch。
The　mate　called　out　in　a　loud　voice：　〃Do　you　hear　there　below？　tumble
up　with　you；　one　by　one…　now；　mark　that…　and　no　grumbling！〃　It　was
some　minutes　before　any　one　appeared：…　at　last　an　Englishman；　who　had
shipped　as　a　raw　hand；　came　up；　weeping　piteously；　and　entreating　the
mate；　in　the　most　humble　manner；　to　spare　his　life。　The　only　reply
was　a　blow　on　the　forehead　from　an　axe。　The　poor　fellow　fell　to　the
deck　without　a　groan；　and　the　black　cook　lifted　him　up　in　his　arms　as
he　would　a　child；　and　tossed　him　deliberately　into　the　sea。　Hearing
the　blow　and　the　plunge　of　the　body；　the　men　below　could　now　be
induced　to　venture　on　deck　neither　by　threats　nor　promises；　until　a
proposition　was　made　to　smoke　them　out。　A　general　rush　then　ensued；
and　for　a　moment　it　seemed　possible　that　the　brig　might　be　retaken。
The　mutineers；　however；　succeeded　at　last　in　closing　the　forecastle
effectually　before　more　than　six　of　their　opponents　could　get　up。
These　six；　finding　themselves　so　greatly　outnumbered　and　without
arms；　submitted　after　a　brief　struggle。　The　mate　gave　them　fair
words…　no　doubt　with　a　view　of　inducing　those　below　to　yield；　for
they　had　no　difficulty　in　hearing　all　that　was　said　on　deck。　The
result　proved　his　sagacity；　no　less　than　his　diabolical　villainy。　All
in　the　forecastle　presently　signified　their　intention　of　submitting；
and；　ascending　one　by　one；　were　pinioned　and　then　thrown　on　their
backs；　together　with　the　first　six…　there　being　in　all；　of　the　crew
who　were　not　concerned　in　the　mutiny；　twenty…seven。

　　　　　A　scene　of　the　most　horrible　butchery　ensued。　The　bound　seamen
were　dragged　to　the　gangway。　Here　the　cook　stood　with　an　axe；
striking　each　victim　on　the　head　as　he　was　forced　over　the　side　of
the　vessel　by　the　other　mutineers。　In　this　manner　twenty…two
perished；　and　Augustus　had　given　himself　up　for　lost；　expecting　every
moment　his　own　turn　to　come　next。　But　it　seemed　that　the　villains
were　now　either　weary；　or　in　some　measure　disgusted　with　their　bloody
labour；　for　the　four　remaining　prisoners；　together　with　my　friend；
who　had　been　thrown　on　the　deck　with　the　rest；　were　respited　while
the　mate　sent　below　for　rum；　and　the　whole　murderous　party　held　a
drunken　carouse；　which　lasted　until　sunset。　They　now　fell　to
disputing　in　regard　to　the　fate　of　the　survivors；　who　lay　not　more
than　four　paces　off；　and　could　distinguish　every　word　said。　Upon　some
of　the　mutineers　the　liquor　appeared　to　have　a　softening　effect；　for
several　voices　were　heard　in　favor　of　releasing　the　captives
altogether；　on　condition　of　joining　the　mutiny　and　sharing　the
profits。　The　black　cook；　however　（who　in　all　respects　was　a　perfect
demon；　and　who　seemed　to　exert　as　much　influence；　if　not　more；　than
the　mate　himself）；　would　listen　to　no　proposition　of　the　kind；　and
rose　repeatedly　for　the　purpose　of　resuming　his　work　at　the　gangway。
Fortunately　he　was　so　far　overcome　by　intoxication　as　to　be　easily
restrained　by　the　less　bloodthirsty　of　the　party；　among　whom　was　a
line…manager；　who　went　by　the　name　of　Dirk　Peters。　This　man　was　the
son　of　an　Indian　squaw　of　the　tribe　of　Upsarokas；　who　live　among　the
fastnesses　of　the　Black　Hills；　near　the　source　of　the　Missouri。　His
father　was　a　fur…trader；　I　believe；　or　at　least　connected　in　some
manner　with　the　Indian　trading…posts　on　Lewis　river。　Peter　himself
was　one　of　the　most　ferocious…looking　men　I　ever　beheld。　He　was　short
in　stature；　not　more　than　four　feet　eight　inches　high；　but　his　limbs
were　of　Herculean　mould。　His　hands；　especially；　were　so　enormously
thick　and　broad　as　hardly　to　retain　a　human　shape。　His　arms；　as　well
as　legs；　were　bowed　in　the　most　singular　manner；　and　appeared　to
possess　no　flexibility　whatever。　His　head　was　equally　deformed；　being
of　immense　size；　with　an　indentation　on　the　crown　（like　that　on　the
head　of　most　negroes）；　and　entirely　bald。　To　conceal　this　latter
deficiency；　which　did　not　proceed　from　old　age；　he　usually　wore　a　wig
formed　of　any　hair…like　material　which　presented　itself…　occasionally
the　skin　of　a　Spanish　dog　or　American　grizzly　bear。　At　the　time
spoken　of；　he　had　on　a　portion　of　one　of　these　bearskins；　and　it
added　no　little　to　the　natural　ferocity　of　his　countenance；　which
betook　of　the　Upsaroka　character。　The　mouth　extended　nearly　from　ear
to　ear；　the　lips　were　thin；　and　seemed；　like　some　other　portions　of
his　frame；　to　be　devoid　of　natural　pliancy；　so　that　the　ruling
expression　never　varied　under　the　influence　of　any　emotion　whatever。
This　ruling　expression　may　be　conceived　when　it　is　considered　that
the　teeth　were　exceedingly　long　and　protruding；　and　never　even
partially　covered；　in　any　instance；　by　the　lips。　To　pass　this　man
with　a　casual　glance；　one　might　imagine　him　to　be　convulsed　with
laughter；　but　a　second　look　would　induce　a　shuddering　acknowledgment；
that　if　such　an　expression　were　indicative　of　merriment；　the
merriment　must　be　that　of　a　demon。　Of　this　singular　being　many
anecdotes　were　prevalent　among　the　seafaring　men　of　Nantucket。　These
anecdotes　went　to　prove　his　prodigious　strength　when　under
excitement；　and　some　of　them　had　given　rise　to　a　doubt　of　his　sanity。
But　on　board　the　Grampus；　it　seems；　he　was　regarded；　at　the　time　of
the　mutiny；　with　feelings　more　of　derision　than　of　anything　else。　I
have　been　thus　particular　in　speaking　of　Dirk　Peters；　because；
ferocious　as　he　appeared；　he　proved　the　main　instrument　in　preserving
the　life　of　Augustus；　and　because　I　shall　have　frequent　occasion　to
mention　him　hereafter　in　the　course　of　my　narrative…　a　narrative；　let
me　here　say；　which；　in　its　latter　portions；　will　be　found　to　include
incidents　of　a　nature　so　entirely　out　of　the　range　of　human
experience；　and　for　this　reason　so　far　beyond　the　limits　of　human
credulity；　that　I　proceed　in　utter　hopelessness　of　obtaining　credence
for　all　that　I　shall　tell；　yet　confidently　trusting　in　time　and
progressing　science　to　verify　some　of　the　most　important　and　most
improbable　of　my　statements。

　　　　　After　much　indecision　and　two　or　three　violent　quarrels；　it　was
determined　at　last　that　all　the　prisoners　（with　the　exception　of
Augustus；　whom　Peters　insisted　in　a　jocular　manner　upon　keeping　as
his　clerk）　should　be　set　adrift　in　one　of　the　smallest　whaleboats。
The　mate　went　down　into　the　cabin　to　see　if　Captain　Barnard　was　still
living…　for；　it　will　be　remembered；　he　was　left　below　when　the
mutineers　came　up。　Presently　the　two　made　their　appearance；　the
captain　pale　as　death；　but　somewhat　recovered　from　the　effects　of　his
wound。　He　spoke　to　the　men　in　a　voice　hardly　articulate；　entreated
them　not　to　set　him　adrift；　but　to　return　to　their　duty；　and
promising　to　land　them　wherever　they　chose；　and　to　take　no　steps　for
bringing　them　to　justice。　He　might　as　well　have　spoken　to　the　winds。
Two　of　the　ruffians　seized　him　by　the　arms　and　hurled　him　over　the
brig's　side　into　the　boat；　which　had　been　lowered　while　the　mate　went
below。　The　four　men　who　were　lying　on　the　deck　were　then　untied　and
ordered　to　follow；　which　they　did　without　attempting　any　resistance…
Augustus　being　still　left　in　his　painful　position；　although　he
struggled　and　prayed　only　for　the　poor　satisfaction　of　being
permitted　to　bid　his　father　farewell。　A　ha