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at defiance my utmost efforts； and it was evident； from the
unyielding nature of the resistance； that the hole had either been
discovered and effectually nailed up； or that some immense weight had
been placed upon it； which it was useless to think of removing。
My sensations were those of extreme horror and dismay。 In vain I
attempted to reason on the probable cause of my being thus entombed。
I could summon up no connected chain of reflection； and； sinking on
the floor； gave way； unresistingly； to the most gloomy imaginings； in
which the dreadful deaths of thirst； famine； suffocation； and
premature interment crowded upon me as the prominent disasters to be
encountered。 At length there returned to me some portion of presence
of mind。 I arose； and felt with my fingers for the seams or cracks of
the aperture。 Having found them； I examined them closely to ascertain
if they emitted any light from the state…room； but none was visible。
I then forced the blade of my pen…knife through them； until I met
with some hard obstacle。 Scraping against it； I discovered it to be a
solid mass of iron； which； from its peculiar wavy feel as I passed
the blade along it； I concluded to be a chain…cable。 The only course
now left me was to retrace my way to the box； and there either yield
to my sad fate； or try so to tranquilize my mind as to admit of my
arranging some plan of escape。 I immediately set about the attempt；
and succeeded； after innumerable difficulties； in getting back。 As I
sank； utterly exhausted； upon the mattress； Tiger threw himself at
full length by my side； and seemed as if desirous； by his caresses；
of consoling me in my troubles； and urging me to bear them with
fortitude。
The singularity of his behavior at length forcibly arrested my
attention。 After licking my face and hands for some minutes； he would
suddenly cease doing so； and utter a low whine。 Upon reaching out my
hand toward him； I then invariably found him lying on his back； with
his paws uplifted。 This conduct； so frequently repeated； appeared
strange； and I could in no manner account for it。 As the dog seemed
distressed； I concluded that he had received some injury； and； taking
his paws in my hands； I examined them one by one； but found no sign
of any hurt。 I then supposed him hungry； and gave him a large piece
of ham； which he devoured with avidity afterward； however；
resuming his extraordinary manoeuvres。 I now imagined that he was
suffering； like myself； the torments of thirst； and was about
adopting this conclusion as the true one； when the idea occurred to
me that I had as yet only examined his paws； and that there might
possibly be a wound upon some portion of his body or head。 The latter
I felt carefully over； but found nothing。 On passing my hand；
however； along his back； I perceived a slight erection of the hair
extending completely across it。 Probing this with my finger； I
discovered a string； and tracing it up； found that it encircled the
whole body。 Upon a closer scrutiny； I came across a small slip of
what had the feeling of letter paper； through which the string had
been fastened in such a manner as to bring it immediately beneath the
left shoulder of the animal。
~~~ End of Text of Chapter 2 ~~~
CHAPTER 3
THE thought instantly occurred to me that the paper was a note
from Augustus； and that some unaccountable accident having happened
to prevent his relieving me from my dungeon； he had devised this
method of acquainting me with the true state of affairs。 Trembling
with eagerness； I now commenced another search for my phosphorus
matches and tapers。 I had a confused recollection of having put them
carefully away just before falling asleep； and； indeed； previously to
my last journey to the trap； I had been able to remember the exact
spot where I had deposited them。 But now I endeavored in vain to call
it to mind； and busied myself for a full hour in a fruitless and
vexatious search for the missing articles； never； surely； was there a
more tantalizing state of anxiety and suspense。 At length； while
groping about； with my head close to the ballast； near the opening of
the box； and outside of it； I perceived a faint glimmering of light
in the direction of the steerage。 Greatly surprised； I endeavored to
make my way toward it； as it appeared to be but a few feet from my
position。 Scarcely had I moved with this intention； when I lost sight
of the glimmer entirely； and； before I could bring it into view
again； was obliged to feel along by the box until I had exactly
resumed my original situation。 Now； moving my head with caution to
and fro； I found that； by proceeding slowly； with great care； in an
opposite direction to that in which I had at first started； I was
enabled to draw near the light； still keeping it in view。 Presently I
came directly upon it （having squeezed my way through innumerable
narrow windings）； and found that it proceeded from some fragments of
my matches lying in an empty barrel turned upon its side。 I was
wondering how they came in such a place； when my hand fell upon two
or three pieces of taper wax； which had been evidently mumbled by the
dog。 I concluded at once that he had devoured the whole of my supply
of candles； and I felt hopeless of being ever able to read the note
of Augustus。 The small remnants of the wax were so mashed up among
other rubbish in the barrel； that I despaired of deriving any service
from them； and left them as they were。 The phosphorus； of which there
was only a speck or two； I gathered up as well as I could； and
returned with it； after much difficulty； to my box； where Tiger had
all the while remained。
What to do next I could not tell。 The hold was so intensely dark
that I could not see my hand； however close I would hold it to my
face。 The white slip of paper could barely be discerned； and not even
that when I looked at it directly； by turning the exterior portions
of the retina toward it… that is to say； by surveying it slightly
askance； I found that it became in some measure perceptible。 Thus the
gloom of my prison may be imagined； and the note of my friend； if
indeed it were a note from him； seemed only likely to throw me into
further trouble； by disquieting to no purpose my already enfeebled
and agitated mind。 In vain I revolved in my brain a multitude of
absurd expedients for procuring light… such expedients precisely as a
man in the perturbed sleep occasioned by opium would be apt to fall
upon for a similar purpose… each and all of which appear by turns to
the dreamer the most reasonable and the most preposterous of
conceptions； just as the reasoning or imaginative faculties flicker；
alternately； one above the other。 At last an idea occurred to me
which seemed rational； and which gave me cause to wonder； very
justly； that I had not entertained it before。 I placed the slip of
paper on the back of a book； and； collecting the fragments of the
phosphorus matches which I had brought from the barrel； laid them
together upon the paper。 I then； with the palm of my hand； rubbed the
whole over quickly； yet steadily。 A clear light diffused itself
immediately throughout the whole surface； and had there been any
writing upon it； I should not have experienced the least difficulty；
I am sure； in reading it。 Not a syllable was there； however… nothing
but a dreary and unsatisfactory blank； the illumination died away in
a few seconds； and my heart died away within me as it went。
I have before stated more than once that my intellect； for some
period prior to this； had been in a condition nearly bordering on
idiocy。 There were； to be sure； momentary intervals of perfect
sanity； and； now and then； even of energy； but these were few。 It
must be remembered that I had been； for many days certainly； inhaling
the almost pestilential atmosphere of a close hold in a whaling
vessel； and for a long portion of that time but scantily supplied
with water。 For the last fourteen or fifteen hours I had none… nor
had I slept during that time。 Salt provisions of the most exciting
kind had been my chief； and； indeed； since the loss of the mutton； my
only supply of food； with the exception of the sea…biscuit； and these
latter were utterly useless to me； as they were too dry and hard to
be swallowed in the swollen and parched condition of my throat。 I was
now in a high state of fever； and in every respect exceedingly ill。
This will account for the fact that many miserable hours of
despondency elapsed after my last adventure with the phosphorus；
before the thought suggested itself that I had examined only one side
of the paper。 I shall not attempt to describe my feelings of rage
（for I believe I was more angry than any thing else） when the
egregious oversight I had committed flashed suddenly upon my
perception。 The blunder itself would have been unimportant； had not
my own folly and impetuosity rendered it otherwise… in my
disappointment at not finding some words upon the slip； I had
childishly torn it in pieces and thrown it away； it was impossible to
say where。
From the worst part of this dilemma I was relieved by the
sagacity of Tiger。 Having got； after a long search； a small