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the gale in perfect security； as indeed a jolly boat might have done
under proper management。
The stowage on board the Grampus was most clumsily done； if
stowage that could be called which was little better than a
promiscuous huddling together of oil…casks ｛*1｝ and ship furniture。 I
have already spoken of the condition of articles in the hold。 On the
orlop deck there was space enough for my body （as I have stated）
between the oil…casks and the upper deck； a space was left open
around the main hatchway； and several other large spaces were left in
the stowage。 Near the hole cut through the bulkhead by Augustus there
was room enough for an entire cask； and in this space I found myself
comfortably situated for the present。
By the time my friend had got safely into the berth； and
readjusted his handcuffs and the rope； it was broad daylight。 We had
made a narrow escape indeed； for scarcely had he arranged all
matters； when the mate came below； with Dirk Peters and the cook。
They talked for some time about the vessel from the Cape Verds； and
seemed to be excessively anxious for her appearance。 At length the
cook came to the berth in which Augustus was lying； and seated
himself in it near the head。 I could see and hear every thing from my
hiding…place； for the piece cut out had not been put back； and I was
in momentary expectation that the negro would fall against the
pea…jacket； which was hung up to conceal the aperture； in which case
all would have been discovered； and our lives would； no doubt； have
been instantly sacrificed。 Our good fortune prevailed； however； and
although he frequently touched it as the vessel rolled； he never
pressed against it sufficiently to bring about a discovery。 The
bottom of the jacket had been carefully fastened to the bulkhead； so
that the hole might not be seen by its swinging to one side。 All this
time Tiger was lying in the foot of the berth； and appeared to have
recovered in some measure his faculties； for I could see him
occasionally open his eyes and draw a long breath。
After a few minutes the mate and cook went above； leaving Dirk
Peters behind； who； as soon as they were gone； came and sat himself
down in the place just occupied by the mate。 He began to talk very
sociably with Augustus； and we could now see that the greater part of
his apparent intoxication； while the two others were with him； was a
feint。 He answered all my companion's questions with perfect freedom；
told him that he had no doubt of his father's having been picked up；
as there were no less than five sail in sight just before sundown on
the day he was cut adrift； and used other language of a consolatory
nature； which occasioned me no less surprise than pleasure。 Indeed； I
began to entertain hopes； that through the instrumentality of Peters
we might be finally enabled to regain possession of the brig； and
this idea I mentioned to Augustus as soon as I found an opportunity。
He thought the matter possible； but urged the necessity of the
greatest caution in making the attempt； as the conduct of the hybrid
appeared to be instigated by the most arbitrary caprice alone； and；
indeed； it was difficult to say if be was at any moment of sound
mind。 Peters went upon deck in about an hour； and did not return
again until noon； when he brought Augustus a plentiful supply of junk
beef and pudding。 Of this； when we were left alone； I partook
heartily； without returning through the hole。 No one else came down
into the forecastle during the day； and at night； I got into
Augustus' berth； where I slept soundly and sweetly until nearly
daybreak； when he awakened me upon hearing a stir upon deck； and I
regained my hiding…place as quickly as possible。 When the day was
fully broke； we found that Tiger had recovered his strength almost
entirely； and gave no indications of hydrophobia； drinking a little
water that was offered him with great apparent eagerness。 During the
day he regained all his former vigour and appetite。 His strange
conduct had been brought on； no doubt； by the deleterious quality of
the air of the hold； and had no connexion with canine madness。 I
could not sufficiently rejoice that I had persisted in bringing him
with me from the box。 This day was the thirtieth of June； and the
thirteenth since the Grampus made sad from Nantucket。
On the second of July the mate came below drunk as usual； and in
an excessively good…humor。 He came to Augustus's berth； and； giving
him a slap on the back； asked him if he thought he could behave
himself if he let him loose； and whether he would promise not to be
going into the cabin again。 To this； of course； my friend answered in
the affirmative； when the ruffian set him at liberty； after making
him drink from a flask of rum which he drew from his coat…pocket。
Both now went on deck； and I did not see Augustus for about three
hours。 He then came below with the good news that he had obtained
permission to go about the brig as be pleased anywhere forward of the
mainmast； and that he had been ordered to sleep； as usual； in the
forecastle。 He brought me； too； a good dinner； and a plentiful supply
of water。 The brig was still cruising for the vessel from the Cape
Verds； and a sail was now in sight； which was thought to be the one
in question。 As the events of the ensuing eight days were of little
importance； and had no direct bearing upon the main incidents of my
narrative； I will here throw them into the form of a journal； as I do
not wish to omit them altogether。
July 3。 Augustus furnished me with three blankets； with which I
contrived a comfortable bed in my hiding…place。 No one came below；
except my companion； during the day。 Tiger took his station in the
berth just by the aperture； and slept heavily； as if not yet entirely
recovered from the effects of his sickness。 Toward night a flaw of
wind struck the brig before sail could be taken in； and very nearly
capsized her。 The puff died away immediately； however； and no damage
was done beyond the splitting of the foretopsail。 Dirk Peters treated
Augustus all this day with great kindness and entered into a long
conversation with him respecting the Pacific Ocean； and the islands
he had visited in that region。 He asked him whether be would not like
to go with the mutineers on a kind of exploring and pleasure voyage
in those quarters； and said that the men were gradually coming over
to the mate's views。 To this Augustus thought it best to reply that
he would be glad to go on such an adventure； since nothing better
could be done； and that any thing was preferable to a piratical life。
July 4th。 The vessel in sight proved to be a small brig from
Liverpool； and was allowed to pass unmolested。 Augustus spent most of
his time on deck； with a view of obtaining all the information in his
power respecting the intentions of the mutineers。 They had frequent
and violent quarrels among themselves； in one of which a harpooner；
Jim Bonner； was thrown overboard。 The party of the mate was gaining
ground。 Jim Bonner belonged to the cook's gang； of which Peters was a
partisan。
July 5th。 About daybreak there came on a stiff breeze from the
west； which at noon freshened into a gale； so that the brig could
carry nothing more than her trysail and foresail。 In taking in the
foretopsail； Simms； one of the common hands； and belonging also to
the cook's gang； fell overboard； being very much in liquor； and was
drowned… no attempt being made to save him。 The whole number of
persons on board was now thirteen； to wit： Dirk Peters； Seymour； the
of the cook's party； the mate； whose name I never learned； Absalom
party；… besides Augustus and myself。
July 6th。 The gale lasted all this day； blowing in heavy squalls；
accompanied with rain。 The brig took in a good deal of water through
her seams； and one of the pumps was kept continually going； Augustus
being forced to take his turn。 just at twilight a large ship passed
close by us； without having been discovered until within hail。 The
ship was supposed to be the one for which the mutineers were on the
lookout。 The mate hailed her； but the reply was drowned in the
roaring of the gale。 At eleven； a sea was shipped amidships； which
tore away a great portion of the larboard bulwarks； and did some
other slight damage。 Toward morning the weather moderated； and at
sunrise there was very little wind。
July 7th。 There was a heavy swell running all this day； during
which the brig； being light； rolled excessively； and many articles
broke loose in the hold； as I could hear distinctly from my
hiding…place。 I suffered a great deal from sea…sickness。 Peters had a
long conversation this day with Augustus； and told him that two of
his gang； Greely and Allen； had gone over to the mate； and were
resolved to turn pirates。 He put several questions to Augustus which
he did not then exactly understand。 During a part of this evening the
leak gained upon the vessel； and little could be done to remedy it；
as it was occasioned by the brigs straining； and taking in the water
through her seams。 A sail was thrummed； and got under the bows； which
aided us in some measure； so that we began to gain upon the l