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us。 Peters and Augustus； not being able to restrain their appetite；
swallowed theirs upon the instant； but I was more cautious； and ate
but a small portion of mine； dreading the thirst which I knew would
ensue。 We now rested a while from our labors； which had been
intolerably severe。
By noon； feeling somewhat strengthened and refreshed； we again
renewed our attempt at getting up provisions； Peters and myself going
down alternately； and always with more or less success； until
sundown。 During this interval we had the good fortune to bring up；
altogether； four more small jars of olives； another ham； a carboy
containing nearly three gallons of excellent Cape Madeira wine； and；
what gave us still more delight； a small tortoise of the Gallipago
breed； several of which had been taken on board by Captain Barnard；
as the _Grampus_ was leaving port； from the schooner _Mary Pitts_；
just returned from a sealing voyage in the Pacific。
In a subsequent portion of this narrative I shall have frequent
occasion to mention this species of tortoise。 It is found
principally； as most of my readers may know； in the group of islands
called the Gallipagos； which； indeed； derive their name from the
animal the Spanish word Gallipago meaning a fresh…water terrapin。
From the peculiarity of their shape and action they have been
sometimes called the elephant tortoise。 They are frequently found of
an enormous size。 I have myself seen several which would weigh from
twelve to fifteen hundred pounds； although I do not remember that any
navigator speaks of having seen them weighing more than eight
hundred。 Their appearance is singular； and even disgusting。 Their
steps are very slow； measured； and heavy； their bodies being carried
about a foot from the ground。 Their neck is long； and exceedingly
slender； from eighteen inches to two feet is a very common length；
and I killed one； where the distance from the shoulder to the
extremity of the head was no less than three feet ten inches。 The
head has a striking resemblance to that of a serpent。 They can exist
without food for an almost incredible length of time； instances
having been known where they have been thrown into the hold of a
vessel and lain two years without nourishment of any kind… being as
fat； and； in every respect； in as good order at the expiration of the
time as when they were first put in。 In one particular these
extraordinary animals bear a resemblance to the dromedary； or camel
of the desert。 In a bag at the root of the neck they carry with them
a constant supply of water。 In some instances； upon killing them
after a full year's deprivation of all nourishment； as much as three
gallons of perfectly sweet and fresh water have been found in their
bags。 Their food is chiefly wild parsley and celery； with purslain；
sea…kelp； and prickly pears； upon which latter vegetable they thrive
wonderfully； a great quantity of it being usually found on the
hillsides near the shore wherever the animal itself is discovered。
They are excellent and highly nutritious food； and have； no doubt；
been the means of preserving the lives of thousands of seamen
employed in the whale…fishery and other pursuits in the Pacific。
The one which we had the good fortune to bring up from the
storeroom was not of a large size； weighing probably sixty…five or
seventy pounds。 It was a female； and in excellent condition； being
exceedingly fat； and having more than a quart of limpid and sweet
water in its bag。 This was indeed a treasure； and； falling on our
knees with one accord； we returned fervent thanks to God for so
seasonable a relief。
We had great difficulty in getting the animal up through the
opening； as its struggles were fierce and its strength prodigious。 It
was upon the point of making its escape from Peter's grasp； and
slipping back into the water； when Augustus； throwing a rope with a
slipknot around its throat； held it up in this manner until I jumped
into the hole by the side of Peters； and assisted him in lifting it
out。
The water we drew carefully from the bag into the jug； which； it
will be remembered； had been brought up before from the cabin。 Having
done this； we broke off the neck of a bottle so as to form； with the
cork； a kind of glass； holding not quite half a gill。 We then each
drank one of these measures full； and resolved to limit ourselves to
this quantity per day as long as it should hold out。
During the last two or three days； the weather having been dry
and pleasant； the bedding we had obtained from the cabin； as well as
our clothing； had become thoroughly dry； so that we passed this night
（that of the twenty…third） in comparative comfort； enjoying a
tranquil repose； after having supped plentifully on olives and ham；
with a small allowance of the wine。 Being afraid of losing some of
our stores overboard during the night； in the event of a breeze
springing up； we secured them as well as possible with cordage to the
fragments of the windlass。 Our tortoise； which we were anxious to
preserve alive as long as we could； we threw on its back； and
otherwise carefully fastened。
~~~ End of Text of Chapter 12 ~~~
CHAPTER 13
JULY 24。 This morning saw us wonderfully recruited in spirits and
strength。 Notwithstanding the perilous situation in which we were
still placed； ignorant of our position； although certainly at a great
distance from land； without more food than would last us for a
fortnight even with great care； almost entirely without water； and
floating about at the mercy of every wind and wave on the merest
wreck in the world； still the infinitely more terrible distresses and
dangers from which we had so lately and so providentially been
delivered caused us to regard what we now endured as but little more
than an ordinary evil… so strictly comparative is either good or ill。
At sunrise we were preparing to renew our attempts at getting up
something from the storeroom； when； a smart shower coming on； with
some lightning； we turn our attention to the catching of water by
means of the sheet we had used before for this purpose。 We had no
other means of collecting the rain than by holding the sheet spread
out with one of the forechain…plates in the middle of it。 The water；
thus conducted to the centre； was drained through into our jug。 We
had nearly filled it in this manner； when； a heavy squall coming on
from the northward； obliged us to desist； as the hulk began once more
to roll so violently that we could no longer keep our feet。 We now
went forward； and； lashing ourselves securely to the remnant of the
windlass as before； awaited the event with far more calmness than
could have been anticipated or would have been imagined possible
under the circumstances。 At noon the wind had freshened into a
two…reef breeze； and by night into a stiff gale； accompanied with a
tremendously heavy swell。 Experience having taught us； however； the
best method of arranging our lashings； we weathered this dreary night
in tolerable security； although thoroughly drenched at almost every
instant by the sea； and in momentary dread of being washed off。
Fortunately； the weather was so warm as to render the water rather
grateful than otherwise。
July 25。 This morning the gale had diminished to a mere ten…knot
breeze； and the sea had gone down with it so considerably that we
were able to keep ourselves dry upon the deck。 To our great grief；
however； we found that two jars of our olives； as well as the whole
of our ham； had been washed overboard； in spite of the careful manner
in which they had been fastened。 We determined not to kill the
tortoise as yet； and contented ourselves for the present with a
breakfast on a few of the olives； and a measure of water each； which
latter we mixed half and half； with wine； finding great relief and
strength from the mixture； without the distressing intoxication which
had ensued upon drinking the port。 The sea was still far too rough
for the renewal of our efforts at getting up provision from the
storeroom。 Several articles； of no importance to us in our present
situation； floated up through the opening during the day； and were
immediately washed overboard。 We also now observed that the hulk lay
more along than ever； so that we could not stand an instant without
lashing ourselves。 On this account we passed a gloomy and
uncomfortable day。 At noon the sun appeared to be nearly vertical；
and we had no doubt that we had been driven down by the long
succession of northward and northwesterly winds into the near
vicinity of the equator。 Toward evening saw several sharks； and were
somewhat alarmed by the audacious manner in which an enormously large
one approached us。 At one time； a lurch throwing the deck very far
beneath the water； the monster actually swam in upon us； floundering
for some moments just over the companion…hatch； and striking Peters
violently with his tail。 A heavy sea at length hurled him overboard；
much to our relief。 In moderate weather we might have easily captured
him。
July 26。 This morning； the wind having greatly abated； and the
sea not being very rough； we determined to renew our exertions in the
store