按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
to windward； and Henderson； at the same moment； starting up in his
seat bawled out to his crew to back water。 He would say nothing else…
repeating his cry impatiently； back water！ black water！ The men put
back as speedily as possible； but by this time the ship had gone
round； and gotten fully under headway； although all hands on board
were making great exertions to take in sail。 In despite of the danger
of the attempt； the mate clung to the main…chains as soon as they
came within his reach。 Another huge lurch now brought the starboard
side of the vessel out of water nearly as far as her keel； when the
cause of his anxiety was rendered obvious enough。 The body of a man
was seen to be affixed in the most singular manner to the smooth and
shining bottom （the Penguin was coppered and copper…fastened）； and
beating violently against it with every movement of the hull。 After
several ineffectual efforts； made during the lurches of the ship； and
at the imminent risk of swamping the boat I was finally disengaged
from my perilous situation and taken on board… for the body proved to
be my own。 It appeared that one of the timber…bolts having started
and broken a passage through the copper； it had arrested my progress
as I passed under the ship； and fastened me in so extraordinary a
manner to her bottom。 The head of the bolt had made its way through
the collar of the green baize jacket I had on； and through the back
part of my neck； forcing itself out between two sinews and just below
the right ear。 I was immediately put to bed… although life seemed to
be totally extinct。 There was no surgeon on board。 The captain；
however； treated me with every attention… to make amends； I presume；
in the eyes of his crew； for his atrocious behaviour in the previous
portion of the adventure。
In the meantime； Henderson had again put off from the ship；
although the wind was now blowing almost a hurricane。 He had not been
gone many minutes when he fell in with some fragments of our boat；
and shortly afterward one of the men with him asserted that he could
distinguish a cry for help at intervals amid the roaring of the
tempest。 This induced the hardy seamen to persevere in their search
for more than half an hour； although repeated signals to return were
made them by Captain Block； and although every moment on the water in
so frail a boat was fraught to them with the most imminent and deadly
peril。 Indeed； it is nearly impossible to conceive how the small
jolly they were in could have escaped destruction for a single
instant。 She was built； however； for the whaling service； and was
fitted； as I have since had reason to believe； with air…boxes； in the
manner of some life…boats used on the coast of Wales。
After searching in vain for about the period of time just
mentioned； it was determined to get back to the ship。 They had
scarcely made this resolve when a feeble cry arose from a dark object
that floated rapidly by。 They pursued and soon overtook it。 It proved
to be the entire deck of the Ariel's cuddy。 Augustus was struggling
near it； apparently in the last agonies。 Upon getting hold of him it
was found that he was attached by a rope to the floating timber。 This
rope； it will be remembered； I had myself tied around his waist； and
made fast to a ringbolt； for the purpose of keeping him in an upright
position； and my so doing； it appeared； had been ultimately the means
of preserving his life。 The Ariel was slightly put together； and in
going down her frame naturally went to pieces； the deck of the cuddy；
as might have been expected； was lifted； by the force of the water
rushing in； entirely from the main timbers； and floated （with other
fragments； no doubt） to the surface… Augustus was buoyed up with it；
and thus escaped a terrible death。
It was more than an hour after being taken on board the Penguin
before he could give any account of himself； or be made to comprehend
the nature of the accident which had befallen our boat。 At length he
became thoroughly aroused； and spoke much of his sensations while in
the water。 Upon his first attaining any degree of consciousness； he
found himself beneath the surface； whirling round and round with
inconceivable rapidity； and with a rope wrapped in three or four
folds tightly about his neck。 In an instant afterward he felt himself
going rapidly upward； when； his head striking violently against a
hard substance； he again relapsed into insensibility。 Upon once more
reviving he was in fuller possession of his reason… this was still；
however； in the greatest degree clouded and confused。 He now knew
that some accident had occurred； and that he was in the water；
although his mouth was above the surface； and he could breathe with
some freedom。 Possibly； at this period the deck was drifting rapidly
before the wind； and drawing him after it； as he floated upon his
back。 Of course； as long as he could have retained this position； it
would have been nearly impossible that he should be drowned。
Presently a surge threw him directly athwart the deck； and this post
he endeavored to maintain； screaming at intervals for help。 just
before he was discovered by Mr。 Henderson； he had been obliged to
relax his hold through exhaustion； and； falling into the sea； had
given himself up for lost。 During the whole period of his struggles
he had not the faintest recollection of the Ariel； nor of the matters
in connexion with the source of his disaster。 A vague feeling of
terror and despair had taken entire possession of his faculties。 When
he was finally picked up； every power of his mind had failed him；
and； as before said； it was nearly an hour after getting on board the
Penguin before he became fully aware of his condition。 In regard to
myself… I was resuscitated from a state bordering very nearly upon
death （and after every other means had been tried in vain for three
hours and a half） by vigorous friction with flannels bathed in hot
oil… a proceeding suggested by Augustus。 The wound in my neck；
although of an ugly appearance； proved of little real consequence；
and I soon recovered from its effects。
The Penguin got into port about nine o'clock in the morning；
after encountering one of the severest gales ever experienced off
Nantucket。 Both Augustus and myself managed to appear at Mr。
Barnard's in time for breakfast… which； luckily； was somewhat late；
owing to the party over night。 I suppose all at the table were too
much fatigued themselves to notice our jaded appearance… of course；
it would not have borne a very rigid scrutiny。 Schoolboys； however；
can accomplish wonders in the way of deception； and I verily believe
not one of our friends in Nantucket had the slightest suspicion that
the terrible story told by some sailors in town of their having run
down a vessel at sea and drowned some thirty or forty poor devils；
had reference either to the Ariel； my companion； or myself。 We two
have since very frequently talked the matter over… but never without
a shudder。 In one of our conversations Augustus frankly confessed to
me； that in his whole life he had at no time experienced so
excruciating a sense of dismay； as when on board our little boat he
first discovered the extent of his intoxication； and felt himself
sinking beneath its influence。
~~~ End of Text of Chapter 1 ~~~
CHAPTER 2
IN no affairs of mere prejudice； pro or con； do we deduce
inferences with entire certainty； even from the most simple data。 It
might be supposed that a catastrophe such as I have just related
would have effectually cooled my incipient passion for the sea。 On
the contrary； I never experienced a more ardent longing for the wild
adventures incident to the life of a navigator than within a week
after our miraculous deliverance。 This short period proved amply long
enough to erase from my memory the shadows； and bring out in vivid
light all the pleasurably exciting points of color； all the
picturesqueness； of the late perilous accident。 My conversations with
Augustus grew daily more frequent and more intensely full of
interest。 He had a manner of relating his stories of the ocean （more
than one half of which I now suspect to have been sheer fabrications）
well adapted to have weight with one of my enthusiastic temperament
and somewhat gloomy although glowing imagination。 It is strange； too；
that he most strongly enlisted my feelings in behalf of the life of a
seaman； when he depicted his more terrible moments of suffering and
despair。 For the bright side of the painting I had a limited
sympathy。 My visions were of shipwreck and famine； of death or
captivity among barbarian hordes； of a lifetime dragged out in sorrow
and tears； upon some gray and desolate rock； in an ocean
unapproachable and unknown。 Such visions or desires… for they
amounted to desires… are common； I have since been assured； to the
whole numerous race of the melancholy among men… at the time of which
I speak I regarded them only as prophetic glimpses of a destiny which
I felt myself in a measure bound to fulfil。 Augustus thoroughly
entered into my state of mind。 It is probable； indeed； that our
intimate communion had resulted in a partial interchange o