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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； where be found no reason to believe that any of the crew
had been in his absence。 To conceal the hole in the partition； he
drove his knife in just above it； and hung up a pea…jacket which he
found in the berth。 His handcuffs were then replaced； and also the
rope around his ankles。
These arrangements were scarcely completed when Dirk Peters came
below； very drunk； but in excellent humour； and bringing with him my
friend's allowance of provision for the day。 This consisted of a
dozen large Irish potatoes roasted； and a pitcher of water。 He sat
for some time on a chest by the berth； and talked freely about the
mate and the general concerns of the brig。 His demeanour was
exceedingly capricious； and even grotesque。 At one time Augustus was
much alarmed by odd conduct。 At last； however； he went on deck；
muttering a promise to bring his prisoner a good dinner on the
morrow。 During the day two of the crew （harpooners） came down；
accompanied by the cook； all three in nearly the last stage of
intoxication。 Like Peters； they made no scruple of talking
unreservedly about their plans。 It appeared that they were much
divided among themselves as to their ultimate course； agreeing in no
point； except the attack on the ship from the Cape Verd Islands； with
which they were in hourly expectation of meeting。 As far as could be
ascertained； the mutiny had not been brought about altogether for the
sake of booty； a private pique of the chief mate's against Captain
Barnard having been the main instigation。 There now seemed to be two
principal factions among the crew… one headed by the mate； the other
by the cook。 The former party were for seizing the first suitable
vessel which should present itself； and equipping it at some of the
West India Islands for a piratical cruise。 The latter division；
however； which was the stronger； and included Dirk Peters among its
partisans； were bent upon pursuing the course originally laid out for
the brig into the South Pacific； there either to take whale； or act
otherwise； as circumstances should suggest。 The representations of
Peters； who had frequently visited these regions； had great weight；
apparently； with the mutineers； wavering； as they were； between
half…engendered notions of profit and pleasure。 He dwelt on the world
of novelty and amusement to be found among the innumerable islands of
the Pacific； on the perfect security and freedom from all restraint
to be enjoyed； but； more particularly； on the deliciousness of the
climate； on the abundant means of good living； and on the voluptuous
beauty of the women。 As yet； nothing had been absolutely determined
upon； but the pictures of the hybrid line…manager were taking strong
hold upon the ardent imaginations of the seamen； and there was every
possibility that his intentions would be finally carried into effect。
The three men went away in about an hour； and no one else entered
the forecastle all day。 Augustus lay quiet until nearly night。 He
then freed himself from the rope and irons； and prepared for his
attempt。 A bottle was found in one of the berths； and this he filled
with water from the pitcher left by Peters； storing his pockets at
the same time with cold potatoes。 To his great joy he also came
across a lantern； with a small piece of tallow candle in it。 This he
could light at any moment； as be had in his possession a box of
phosphorus matches。 When it was quite dark； he got through the hole
in the bulkhead； having taken the precaution to arrange the
bedclothes in the berth so as to convey the idea of a person covered
up。 When through； he hung up the pea…jacket on his knife； as before；
to conceal the aperture… this manoeuvre being easily effected； as he
did not readjust the piece of plank taken out until afterward。 He was
now on the main orlop deck； and proceeded to make his way； as before；
between the upper deck and the oil…casks to the main hatchway。 Having
reached this； he lit the piece of candle； and descended； groping with
extreme difficulty among the compact stowage of the hold。 In a few
moments he became alarmed at the insufferable stench and the
closeness of the atmosphere。 He could not think it possible that I
had survived my confinement for so long a period breathing so
oppressive an air。 He called my name repeatedly； but I made him no
reply； and his apprehensions seemed thus to be confirmed。 The brig
was rolling violently； and there was so much noise in consequence；
that it was useless to listen for any weak sound； such as those of my
breathing or snoring。 He threw open the lantern； and held it as high
as possible； whenever an opportunity occurred； in order that； by
observing the light； I might； if alive； be aware that succor was
approaching。 Still nothing was heard from me； and the supposition of
my death began to assume the character of certainty。 He determined；
nevertheless； to force a passage； if possible； to the box； and at
least ascertain beyond a doubt the truth of his surmises。 He pushed
on for some time in a most pitiable state of anxiety； until； at
length； he found the pathway utterly blocked up； and that there was
no possibility of making any farther way by the course in which he
had set out。 Overcome now by his feelings； he threw himself among the
lumber in despair； and wept like a child。 It was at this period that
he heard the crash occasioned by the bottle which I had thrown down。
Fortunate； indeed； was it that the incident occurred… for； upon this
incident； trivial as it appears； the thread of my destiny depended。
Many years elapsed； however； before I was aware of this fact。 A
natural shame and regret for his weakness and indecision prevented
Augustus from confiding to me at once what a more intimate and
unreserved communion afterward induced him to reveal。 Upon finding
his further progress in the hold impeded by obstacles which he could
not overcome； he had resolved to abandon his attempt at reaching me；
and return at once to the forecastle。 Before condemning him entirely
on this head； the harassing circumstances which embarrassed him
should be taken into consideration。 The night was fast wearing away；
and his absence from the forecastle might be discovered； and indeed
would necessarily be so； if be should fail to get back to the berth
by daybreak。 His candle was expiring in the socket； and there would
be the greatest difficulty in retracing his way to the hatchway in
the dark。 It must be allowed； too； that he had every good reason to
believe me dead； in which event no benefit could result to me from
his reaching the box； and a world of danger would be encountered to
no purpose by himself。 He had repeatedly called； and I had made him
no answer。 I had been now eleven days and nights with no more water
than that contained in the jug which he had left with me… a supply
which it was not at all probable I had boarded in the beginning of my
confinement； as I had every cause to expect a speedy release。 The
atmosphere of the hold； too； must have appeared to him； coming from
the comparatively open air of the steerage； of a nature absolutely
poisonous； and by far more intolerable than it had seemed to me upon
my first taking up my quarters in the box… the hatchways at that time
having been constantly open for many months previous。 Add to these
considerations that of the scene of bloodshed and terror so lately
witnessed by my friend； his confinement； privations； and narrow
escapes from death； together with the frail and equivocal tenure by
which he still existed… circumstances all so well calculated to
prostrate every energy of mind… and the reader will be easily
brought； as I have been； to regard his apparent falling off in
friendship and in faith with sentiments rather of sorrow than of
anger。
The crash of the bottle was distinctly heard； yet Augustus was
not sure that it proceeded from the hold。 The doubt； however； was
sufficient inducement to persevere。 He clambered up nearly to the
orlop deck by means of the stowage； and then； watching for a lull in
the pitchings of the vessel； he called out to me in as loud a tone as
he could command； regardless； for the moment； of being overheard by
the crew。 It will be remembered that on this occasion the voice
reached me； but I was so entirely overcome by violent agitation as to
be incapable of reply。 Confident； now； that his worst apprehensions
were well founded； be descended； with a view of getting back to the
forecastle without loss of time。 In his haste some small boxes were
thrown down； the noise occasioned by which I heard； as will be
recollected。 He had made considerable progress on his return when the
fall of the knife again caused him to hesitate。 He retraced his steps
immediately； and； clambering up the stowage a second time； called out
my name； loudly as before； having watched for a lull。 This time I
found voice to answer。 Overjoyed at discovering me to be still alive；
he now resolved to brave every difficulty and danger in reaching me。
Having extricated himself as quickly as possible from the