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entered into my state of mind。 It is probable； indeed； that our
intimate communion had resulted in a partial interchange of
character。
About eighteen months after the period of the Ariel's disaster；
the firm of Lloyd and Vredenburgh （a house connected in some manner
with the Messieurs Enderby； I believe； of Liverpool） were engaged in
repairing and fitting out the brig Grampus for a whaling voyage。 She
was an old hulk； and scarcely seaworthy when all was done to her that
could be done。 I hardly know why she was chosen in preference to
other good vessels belonging to the same owners but so it was。 Mr。
Barnard was appointed to command her； and Augustus was going with
him。 While the brig was getting ready； he frequently urged upon me
the excellency of the opportunity now offered for indulging my desire
of travel。 He found me by no means an unwilling listener yet the
matter could not be so easily arranged。 My father made no direct
opposition； but my mother went into hysterics at the bare mention of
the design； and； more than all； my grandfather； from whom I expected
much； vowed to cut me off with a shilling if I should ever broach the
subject to him again。 These difficulties； however； so far from
abating my desire； only added fuel to the flame。 I determined to go
at all hazards； and； having made known my intentions to Augustus； we
set about arranging a plan by which it might be accomplished。 In the
meantime I forbore speaking to any of my relations in regard to the
voyage； and； as I busied myself ostensibly with my usual studies； it
was supposed that I had abandoned the design。 I have since frequently
examined my conduct on this occasion with sentiments of displeasure
as well as of surprise。 The intense hypocrisy I made use of for the
furtherance of my project… an hypocrisy pervading every word and
action of my life for so long a period of time… could only have been
rendered tolerable to myself by the wild and burning expectation with
which I looked forward to the fulfilment of my long…cherished visions
of travel。
In pursuance of my scheme of deception； I was necessarily obliged
to leave much to the management of Augustus； who was employed for the
greater part of every day on board the Grampus； attending to some
arrangements for his father in the cabin and cabin hold。 At night；
however； we were sure to have a conference and talk over our hopes。
After nearly a month passed in this manner； without our hitting upon
any plan we thought likely to succeed； he told me at last that he had
determined upon everything necessary。 I had a relation living in New
Bedford； a Mr。 Ross； at whose house I was in the habit of spending
occasionally two or three weeks at a time。 The brig was to sail about
the middle of June （June； 1827）； and it was agreed that； a day or two
before her putting to sea； my father was to receive a note； as usual；
from Mr。 Ross； asking me to come over and spend a fortnight with
Robert and Emmet （his sons）。 Augustus charged himself with the
inditing of this note and getting it delivered。 Having set out as
supposed； for New Bedford； I was then to report myself to my
companion； who would contrive a hiding…place for me in the Grampus。
This hiding…place； he assured me； would be rendered sufficiently
comfortable for a residence of many days； during which I was not to
make my appearance。 When the brig had proceeded so far on her course
as to make any turning back a matter out of question； I should then；
he said； be formally installed in all the comforts of the cabin； and
as to his father； he would only laugh heartily at the joke。 Vessels
enough would be met with by which a letter might be sent home
explaining the adventure to my parents。
The middle of June at length arrived； and every thing had been
matured。 The note was written and delivered； and on a Monday morning
I left the house for the New Bedford packet； as supposed。 I went；
however； straight to Augustus； who was waiting for me at the corner
of a street。 It had been our original plan that I should keep out of
the way until dark； and then slip on board the brig； but； as there
was now a thick fog in our favor； it was agreed to lose no time in
secreting me。 Augustus led the way to the wharf； and I followed at a
little distance； enveloped in a thick seaman's cloak； which he had
brought with him； so that my person might not be easily recognized。
just as we turned the second corner； after passing Mr。 Edmund's well；
who should appear； standing right in front of me； and looking me full
in the face； but old Mr。 Peterson； my grandfather。 〃Why； bless my
soul； Gordon；〃 said he； after a long pause； 〃why； why；… whose dirty
cloak is that you have on？〃 〃Sir！〃 I replied； assuming； as well as I
could； in the exigency of the moment； an air of offended surprise；
and talking in the gruffest of all imaginable tones… 〃sir！ you are a
sum'mat mistaken… my name； in the first place； bee'nt nothing at all
like Goddin； and I'd want you for to know better； you blackguard；
than to call my new obercoat a darty one。〃 For my life I could hardly
refrain from screaming with laughter at the odd manner in which the
old gentleman received this handsome rebuke。 He started back two or
three steps； turned first pale and then excessively red； threw up his
spectacles； then； putting them down； ran full tilt at me； with his
umbrella uplifted。 He stopped short； however； in his career； as if
struck with a sudden recollection； and presently； turning round；
hobbled off down the street； shaking all the while with rage； and
muttering between his teeth： 〃Won't do new glasses thought it
was Gordon dd good…for…nothing salt water Long Tom。〃
After this narrow escape we proceeded with greater caution； and
arrived at our point of destination in safety。 There were only one or
two of the hands on board； and these were busy forward； doing
something to the forecastle combings。 Captain Barnard； we knew very
well； was engaged at Lloyd and Vredenburgh's； and would remain there
until late in the evening； so we had little to apprehend on his
account。 Augustus went first up the vessel's side； and in a short
while I followed him； without being noticed by the men at work。 We
proceeded at once into the cabin； and found no person there。 It was
fitted up in the most comfortable style… a thing somewhat unusual in
a whaling…vessel。 There were four very excellent staterooms； with
wide and convenient berths。 There was also a large stove； I took
notice； and a remarkably thick and valuable carpet covering the floor
of both the cabin and staterooms。 The ceiling was full seven feet
high； and； in short； every thing appeared of a more roomy and
agreeable nature than I had anticipated。 Augustus； however； would
allow me but little time for observation； insisting upon the
necessity of my concealing myself as soon as possible。 He led the way
into his own stateroom； which was on the starboard side of the brig；
and next to the bulkheads。 Upon entering； he closed the door and
bolted it。 I thought I had never seen a nicer little room than the
one in which I now found myself。 It was about ten feet long； and had
only one berth； which； as I said before； was wide and convenient。 In
that portion of the closet nearest the bulkheads there was a space of
four feet square； containing a table； a chair； and a set of hanging
shelves full of books； chiefly books of voyages and travels。 There
were many other little comforts in the room； among which I ought not
to forget a kind of safe or refrigerator； in which Augustus pointed
out to me a host of delicacies； both in the eating and drinking
department。
He now pressed with his knuckles upon a certain spot of the
carpet in one corner of the space just mentioned； letting me know
that a portion of the flooring； about sixteen inches square； had been
neatly cut out and again adjusted。 As he pressed； this portion rose
up at one end sufficiently to allow the passage of his finger
beneath。 In this manner he raised the mouth of the trap （to which the
carpet was still fastened by tacks）； and I found that it led into the
after hold。 He next lit a small taper by means of a phosphorous
match； and； placing the light in a dark lantern； descended with it
through the opening； bidding me follow。 I did so； and be then pulled
the cover upon the hole； by means of a nail driven into the under
side… the carpet； of course； resuming its original position on the
floor of the stateroom； and all traces of the aperture being
concealed。
The taper gave out so feeble a ray that it was with the greatest
difficulty I could grope my way through the confused mass of lumber
among which I now found myself。 By degrees； however； my eyes became
accustomed to the gloom； and I proceeded with less trouble； holding
on to the skirts of my friend's coat。 He brought me； at length； after
creeping and winding through innumerable narrow passages； to an
iron…bound box； such as is used sometimes for packing fine
earthenware。 It was nearly four feet high； and full six long； but
very narrow。 Two large empty oil…casks lay on the top of it； and
above these； again； a vast quantity of straw matting； piled up as
high as the fl