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get hold of a heavy stool； several of which lay about the floor。 With
this he beat out the brains of Greely as he was in the act of
discharging a musket at me； and immediately afterward a roll of the
brig throwing him in contact with Hicks； he seized him by the throat；
and； by dint of sheer strength； strangled him instantaneously。 Thus；
in far less time than I have taken to tell it； we found ourselves
masters of the brig。
The only person of our opponents who was left alive was Richard
Parker。 This man； it will be remembered； I had knocked down with a
blow from the pump…handle at the commencement of the attack。 He now
lay motionless by the door of the shattered stateroom； but； upon
Peters touching him with his foot； he spoke； and entreated for mercy。
His head was only slightly cut； and otherwise he had received no
injury； having been merely stunned by the blow。 He now got up； and；
for the present； we secured his hands behind his back。 The dog was
still growling over Jones； but； upon examination； we found him
completely dead； the blood issuing in a stream from a deep wound in
the throat； inflicted； no doubt； by the sharp teeth of the animal。
It was now about one o'clock in the morning； and the wind was
still blowing tremendously。 The brig evidently laboured much more
than usual； and it became absolutely necessary that something should
be done with a view of easing her in some measure。 At almost every
roll to leeward she shipped a sea； several of which came partially
down into the cabin during our scuffle； the hatchway having been left
open by myself when I descended。 The entire range of bulwarks to
larboard had been swept away； as well as the caboose； together with
the jollyboat from the counter。 The creaking and working of the
mainmast； too； gave indication that it was nearly sprung。 To make
room for more stowage in the afterhold； the heel of this mast had
been stepped between decks （a very reprehensible practice；
occasionally resorted to by ignorant ship…builders）； so that it was
in imminent danger of working from its step。 But； to crown all our
difficulties； we plummed the well； and found no less than seven feet
of water。
Leaving the bodies of the crew lying in the cabin； we got to work
immediately at the pumps… Parker； of course； being set at liberty to
assist us in the labour。 Augustus's arm was bound up as well as we
could effect it； and he did what he could； but that was not much。
However； we found that we could just manage to keep the leak from
gaining upon us by having one pump constantly going。 As there were
only four of us； this was severe labour； but we endeavoured to keep
up our spirits； and looked anxiously for daybreak； when we hoped to
lighten the brig by cutting away the mainmast。
In this manner we passed a night of terrible anxiety and fatigue；
and； when the day at length broke； the gale had neither abated in the
least； nor were there any signs of its abating。 We now dragged the
bodies on deck and threw them overboard。 Our next care was to get rid
of the mainmast。 The necessary preparations having been made； Peters
cut away at the mast （having found axes in the cabin）； while the rest
of us stood by the stays and lanyards。 As the brig gave a tremendous
lee…lurch； the word was given to cut away the weather…lanyards； which
being done； the whole mass of wood and rigging plunged into the sea；
clear of the brig； and without doing any material injury。 We now
found that the vessel did not labour quite as much as before； but our
situation was still exceedingly precarious； and in spite of the
utmost exertions； we could not gain upon the leak without the aid of
both pumps。 The little assistance which Augustus could render us was
not really of any importance。 To add to our distress； a heavy sea；
striking the brig to the windward； threw her off several points from
the wind； and； before she could regain her position； another broke
completely over her； and hurled her full upon her beam…ends。 The
ballast now shifted in a mass to leeward （the stowage had been
knocking about perfectly at random for some time）； and for a few
moments we thought nothing could save us from capsizing。 Presently；
however； we partially righted； but the ballast still retaining its
place to larboard； we lay so much along that it was useless to think
of working the pumps； which indeed we could not have done much longer
in any case； as our hands were entirely raw with the excessive labour
we had undergone； and were bleeding in the most horrible manner。
Contrary to Parker's advice； we now proceeded to cut away the
foremast； and at length accomplished it after much difficulty； owing
to the position in which we lay。 In going overboard the wreck took
with it the bowsprit； and left us a complete hulk。
So far we had had reason to rejoice in the escape of our
longboat； which had received no damage from any of the huge seas
which had come on board。 But we had not long to congratulate
ourselves； for the foremast having gone； and； of course； the foresail
with it； by which the brig had been steadied； every sea now made a
complete breach over us； and in five minutes our deck was swept from
stern to stern； the longboat and starboard bulwarks torn off； and
even the windlass shattered into fragments。 It was； indeed； hardly
possible for us to be in a more pitiable condition。
At noon there seemed to be some slight appearance of the gale's
abating； but in this we were sadly disappointed； for it only lulled
for a few minutes to blow with redoubled fury。 About four in the
afternoon it was utterly impossible to stand up against the violence
of the blast； and； as the night closed in upon us； I had not a shadow
of hope that the vessel would hold together until morning。
By midnight we had settled very deep in the water； which was now
up to the orlop deck。 The rudder went soon afterward； the sea which
tore it away lifting the after portion of the brig entirely from the
water； against which she thumped in her descent with such a
concussion as would be occasioned by going ashore。 We had all
calculated that the rudder would hold its own to the last； as it was
unusually strong； being rigged as I have never seen one rigged either
before or since。 Down its main timber there ran a succession of stout
iron hooks； and others in the same manner down the stern…post。
Through these hooks there extended a very thick wrought…iron rod； the
rudder being thus held to the stern…post and swinging freely on the
rod。 The tremendous force of the sea which tore it off may be
estimated by the fact； that the hooks in the stern…post； which ran
entirely through it； being clinched on the inside； were drawn every
one of them completely out of the solid wood。
We had scarcely time to draw breath after the violence of this
shock； when one of the most tremendous waves I had then ever known
broke right on board of us； sweeping the companion…way clear off；
bursting in the hatchways； and firing every inch of the vessel with
water。
~~~ End of Text of Chapter 8 ~~~
CHAPTER 9
LUCKILY； just before night； all four of us had lashed ourselves
firmly to the fragments of the windlass； lying in this manner as flat
upon the deck as possible。 This precaution alone saved us from
destruction。 As it was； we were all more or less stunned by the
immense weight of water which tumbled upon us； and which did not roll
from above us until we were nearly exhausted。 As soon as I could
recover breath； I called aloud to my companions。 Augustus alone
replied； saying： 〃It is all over with us； and may God have mercy upon
our souls！〃 By…and…by both the others were enabled to speak； when
they exhorted us to take courage； as there was still hope； it being
impossible； from the nature of the cargo； that the brig could go
down； and there being every chance that the gale would blow over by
the morning。 These words inspired me with new life； for； strange as
it may seem； although it was obvious that a vessel with a cargo of
empty oil…casks would not sink； I had been hitherto so confused in
mind as to have overlooked this consideration altogether； and the
danger which I had for some time regarded as the most imminent was
that of foundering。 As hope revived within me； I made use of every
opportunity to strengthen the lashings which held me to the remains
of the windlass； and in this occupation I soon discovered that my
companions were also busy。 The night was as dark as it could possibly
be； and the horrible shrieking din and confusion which surrounded us
it is useless to attempt describing。 Our deck lay level with the sea；
or rather we were encircled with a towering ridge of foam； a portion
of which swept over us even instant。 It is not too much to say that
our heads were not fairly out of the water more than one second in
three。 Although we lay close together； no one of us could see the
other； or； indeed； any portion of the brig itself； upon which we were
so tempestuously hurled about。 At intervals we called one to the
other； thus endeavouring to keep alive hope； and render consolation
and encouragement to such of us as stood most in need of it。 The
feeble cond