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already beheld； and partly through a hope of being able soon to bring
me relief。 For the latter purpose he was constantly on the watch；
but； in spite of the most constant vigilance； three days elapsed
after the boat was cut adrift before any chance occurred。 At length；
on the night of the third day； there came on a heavy blow from the
eastward； and all hands were called up to take in sail。 During the
confusion which ensued； he made his way below unobserved； and into
the stateroom。 What was his grief and horror in discovering that the
latter had been rendered a place of deposit for a variety of
sea…stores and ship…furniture； and that several fathoms of old
chain…cable； which had been stowed away beneath the companion…ladder；
had been dragged thence to make room for a chest； and were now lying
immediately upon the trap！ To remove it without discovery was
impossible； and he returned on deck as quickly as he could。 As be
came up； the mate seized him by the throat； and demanding what he had
been doing in the cabin； was about flinging him over the larboard
bulwark； when his life was again preserved through the interference
of Dirk Peters。 Augustus was now put in handcuffs （of which there
were several pairs on board）； and his feet lashed tightly together。
He was then taken into the steerage； and thrown into a lower berth
next to the forecastle bulkheads； with the assurance that he should
never put his foot on deck again 〃until the brig was no longer a
brig。〃 This was the expression of the cook； who threw him into the
berth… it is hardly possible to say what precise meaning intended by
the phrase。 The whole affair； however； proved the ultimate means of
my relief； as will presently appear。
~~~ End of Text of Chapter 4 ~~~
CHAPTER 5
FOR some minutes after the cook had left the forecastle； Augustus
abandoned himself to despair； never hoping to leave the berth alive。
He now came to the resolution of acquainting the first of the men who
should come down with my situation； thinking it better to let me take
my chance with the mutineers than perish of thirst in the hold；… for
it had been ten days since I was first imprisoned； and my jug of
water was not a plentiful supply even for four。 As he was thinking on
this subject； the idea came all at once into his head that it might
be possible to communicate with me by the way of the main hold。 In
any other circumstances； the difficulty and hazard of the undertaking
would have pre。 vented him from attempting it； but now he had； at all
events； little prospect of life； and consequently little to lose； he
bent his whole mind； therefore； upon the task。
His handcuffs were the first consideration。 At first he saw no
method of removing them； and feared that he should thus be baffled in
the very outset； but upon a closer scrutiny he discovered that the
irons could be slipped off and on at pleasure； with very little
effort or inconvenience； merely by squeezing his hands through them；…
this species of manacle being altogether ineffectual in confining
young persons； in whom the smaller bones readily yield to pressure。
He now untied his feet； and； leaving the cord in such a manner that
it could easily be readjusted in the event of any person's coming
down； proceeded to examine the bulkhead where it joined the berth。
The partition here was of soft pine board； an inch thick； and he saw
that he should have little trouble in cutting his way through。 A
voice was now heard at the forecastle companion…way； and he had just
time to put his right hand into its handcuff （the left had not been
removed） and to draw the rope in a slipknot around his ankle； when
Dirk Peters came below； followed by Tiger； who immediately leaped
into the berth and lay down。 The dog had been brought on board by
Augustus； who knew my attachment to the animal； and thought it would
give me pleasure to have him with me during the voyage。 He went up to
our house for him immediately after first taking me into the hold；
but did not think of mentioning the circumstance upon his bringing
the watch。 Since the mutiny； Augustus had not seen him before his
appearance with Dirk Peters； and had given him up for lost； supposing
him to have been thrown overboard by some of the malignant villains
belonging to the mate's gang。 It appeared afterward that he had
crawled into a hole beneath a whale…boat； from which； not having room
to turn round； he could not extricate himself。 Peters at last let him
out； and； with a species of good feeling which my friend knew well
how to appreciate； had now brought him to him in the forecastle as a
companion； leaving at the same time some salt junk and potatoes； with
a can of water； he then went on deck； promising to come down with
something more to eat on the next day。
When he had gone； Augustus freed both hands from the manacles and
unfastened his feet。 He then turned down the head of the mattress on
which he had been lying； and with his penknife （for the ruffians had
not thought it worth while to search him） commenced cutting
vigorously across one of the partition planks； as closely as possible
to the floor of the berth。 He chose to cut here； because； if suddenly
interrupted； he would be able to conceal what had been done by
letting the head of the mattress fall into its proper position。 For
the remainder of the day； however； no disturbance occurred； and by
night he had completely divided the plank。 It should here be observed
that none of the crew occupied the forecastle as a sleeping…place；
living altogether in the cabin since the mutiny； drinking the wines
and feasting on the sea…stores of Captain Barnard； and giving no more
heed than was absolutely necessary to the navigation of the brig。
These circumstances proved fortunate both for myself and Augustus；
for； had matters been otherwise； he would have found it impossible to
reach me。 As it was； he proceeded with confidence in his design。 It
was near daybreak； however； before he completed the second division
of the board （which was about a foot above the first cut）； thus
making an aperture quite large enough to admit his passage through
with facility to the main orlop deck。 Having got here； he made his
way with but little trouble to the lower main hatch； although in so
doing he had to scramble over tiers of oil…casks piled nearly as high
as the upper deck； there being barely room enough left for his body。
Upon reaching the hatch he found that Tiger had followed him below；
squeezing between two rows of the casks。 It was now too late；
however； to attempt getting to me before dawn； as the chief
difficulty lay in passing through the close stowage in the lower
hold。 He therefore resolved to return； and wait till the next night。
With this design； he proceeded to loosen the hatch； so that he might
have as little detention as possible when he should come again。 No
sooner had he loosened it than Tiger sprang eagerly to the small
opening produced； snuffed for a moment； and then uttered a long
whine； scratching at the same time； as if anxious to remove the
covering with his paws。 There could be no doubt； from his behaviour；
that he was aware of my being in the hold； and Augustus thought it
possible that he would be able to get to me if he put him down。 He
now hit upon the expedient of sending the note； as it was especially
desirable that I should make no attempt at forcing my way out at
least under existing circumstances； and there could be no certainty
of his getting to me himself on the morrow as he intended。
After…events proved how fortunate it was that the idea occurred to
him as it did； for； had it not been for the receipt of the note； I
should undoubtedly have fallen upon some plan； however desperate； of
alarming the crew； and both our lives would most probably have been
sacrificed in consequence。
Having concluded to write； the difficulty was now to procure the
mate。 rials for so doing。 An old toothpick was soon made into a pen；
and this by means of feeling altogether； for the between…decks was as
dark as pitch。 Paper enough was obtained from the back of a letter… a
duplicate of the forged letter from Mr。 Ross。 This had been the
original draught； but the handwriting not being sufficiently well
imitated； Augustus had written another； thrusting the first； by good
fortune； into his coat…pocket； where it was now most opportunely
discovered。 Ink alone was thus wanting； and a substitute was
immediately found for this by means of a slight incision with the
pen…knife on the back of a finger just above the nail… a copious flow
of blood ensuing； as usual； from wounds in that vicinity。 The note
was now written； as well as it could be in the dark and under the
circumstances。 It briefly explained that a mutiny had taken place；
that Captain Barnard was set adrift； and that I might expect
immediate relief as far as provisions were concerned； but must not
venture upon making any disturbance。 It concluded with these words：
〃_I have scrawled this with blood… your life depends upon lying
close。_〃
This slip of paper being tied upon the dog； he was now put down
the hatchway； and Augustus made the best of his way back to the
forecastle； wher