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the deck being constantly under water. The seas, therefore, which
struck us to starboard were much broken by the vessel's side, only
reaching us in fragments as we lay flat on our faces; while those
which came from larboard, being what are called back-water seas,
and obtaining little hold upon us on account of our posture, had not
sufficient force to drag us from our fastenings.

In this frightful situation we lay until the day broke so as to show us

more fully the horrors which surrounded us. The brig was a mere
log, rolling about at the mercy of every wave; the gale was upon the
increase, if anything, blowing indeed a complete hurricane, and
there appeared to us no earthly prospect of deliverance. For several
hours we held on in silence, expecting every moment that our
lashings would either give way, that the remains of the windlass
would go by the board, or that some of the huge seas, which roared
in every direction around us and above us, would drive the hulk so
far beneath the water that we should be drowned before it could
regain the surface. By the mercy of God, however, we were
preserved from these imminent dangers, and about midday were
cheered by the light of the blessed sun. Shortly afterward we could
perceive a sensible diminution in the force of the wind, when, now
for the first time since the latter part of the evening before,
Augustus spoke, asking Peters, who lay closest to him, if he thought
there was any possibility of our being saved. As no reply was at first
made to this question, we all concluded that the hybrid had been
drowned where he lay; but presently, to our great joy, he spoke,
although very feebly, saying that he was in great pain, being so cut
by the tightness of his lashings across the stomach, that he must
either find means of loosening them or perish, as it was impossible
that he could endure his misery much longer. This occasioned us
great distress, as it was altogether useless to think of aiding him in
any manner while the sea continued washing over us as it did. We
exhorted him to bear his sufferings with fortitude, and promised to
seize the first opportunity which should offer itself to relieve him. He
replied that it would soon be too late; that it would be all over with
him before we could help him; and then, after moaning for some
minutes, lay silent, when we concluded that he had perished.

As the evening drew on, the sea had fallen so much that scarcely
more than one wave broke over the hulk from windward in the
course of five minutes, and the wind had abated a great deal,
although still blowing a severe gale. I had not heard any of my
companions speak for hours, and now called to Augustus. He
replied, although very feebly, so that I could not distinguish what he
said. I then spoke to Peters and to Parker, neither of whom returned
any answer.

Shortly after this period I fell into a state of partial insensibility,

during which the most pleasing images floated in my imagination;
such as green trees, waving meadows of ripe grain, processions of
dancing girls, troops of cavalry, and other phantasies. I now
remember that, in all which passed before my mind's eye, motion
was a predominant idea. Thus, I never fancied any stationary object,
such as a house, a mountain, or anything of that kind; but windmills,
ships, large birds, balloons, people on horseback, carriages driving
furiously, and similar moving objects, presented themselves in
endless succession. When I recovered from this state, the sun was,
as near as I could guess, an hour high. I had the greatest difficulty
in bringing to recollection the various circumstances connected with
my situation, and for some time remained firmly convinced that I
was still in the hold of the brig, near the box, and that the body of
Parker was that of Tiger.

When I at length completely came to my senses, I found that the

wind blew no more than a moderate breeze, and that the sea was
comparatively calm; so much so that it only washed over the brig
amidships. My left arm had broken loose from its lashings, and was
much cut about the elbow; my right was entirely benumbed, and the
hand and wrist swollen prodigiously by the pressure of the rope,
which had worked from the shoulder downward. I was also in great
pain from another rope which went about my waist, and had been
drawn to an insufferable degree of tightness. Looking round upon
my companions, I saw that Peters still lived, although a thick line
was pulled so forcibly around his loins as to give him the appearance
of being cut nearly in two; as I stirred, he made a feeble motion to
me with his hand, pointing to the rope. Augustus gave no indication
of life whatever, and was bent nearly double across a splinter of the
windlass. Parker spoke to me when he saw me moving, and asked
me if I had not sufficient strength to release him from his situation;
saying, that if I would summon up what spirits I could, and contrive
to untie him, we might yet save our lives; but that otherwise we
must all perish. I told him to take courage, and I would endeavour
to free him. Feeling in my pantaloons' pocket, I got hold of my
penknife, and, after several ineffectual attempts, at length
succeeded in opening it. I then, with my left hand, managed to free
my right from its fastenings, and afterward cut the other ropes
which held me. Upon attempting, however, to move from my
position, I found that my legs failed me altogether, and that I could
not get up; neither could I move my right arm in any direction. Upon
mentioning this to Parker, he advised me to lie quiet for a few
minutes, holding on to the windlass with my left hand, so as to allow
time for the blood to circulate. Doing this, the numbness presently
began to die away, so that I could move first one of my legs, and
then the other; and, shortly afterward, I regained the partial use of
my right arm. I now crawled with great caution towards Parker,
without getting on my legs, and soon cut loose all the lashings about
him, when, after a short delay, he also recovered the partial use of
his limbs. We now lost no time in getting loose the rope from Peters.
It had cut a deep gash through the waistband of his woollen
pantaloons, and through two shirts, and made its way into his groin,
from which the blood flowed out copiously as we removed the
cordage. No sooner had we removed it, however, than he spoke, and
seemed to experience instant relief—being able to move with much
greater ease than either Parker or myself—this was no doubt owing
to the discharge of blood.
We had little hope that Augustus would recover, as he evinced no
signs of life; but, upon getting to him, we discovered that he had
merely swooned from loss of blood, the bandages we had placed
around his wounded arm having been torn off by the water; none of
the ropes which held him to the windlass were drawn sufficiently
tight to occasion his death. Having relieved him from the fastenings,
and got him clear of the broken wood about the windlass, we
secured him in a dry place to windward, with his head somewhat
lower than his body, and all three of us busied ourselves in chafing
his limbs. In about half an hour he came to himself, although it was
not until the next morning that he gave signs of recognising any of
us, or had sufficient strength to speak. By the time we had thus got
clear of our lashings it was quite dark, and it began to cloud up, so
that we were again in the greatest agony lest it should come on to
blow hard, in which event nothing could have saved us from
perishing, exhausted as we were. By good fortune it continued very
moderate during the night, the sea subsiding every minute, which
gave us great hopes of ultimate preservation. A gentle breeze still
blew from the N. W., but the weather was not at all cold. Augustus
was lashed carefully to windward in such a manner as to prevent
him from slipping overboard with the rolls of the vessel, as he was
still too weak to hold on at all. For ourselves there was no such
necessity. We sat close together, supporting each other with the aid
of the broken ropes about the windlass, and devising methods of
escape from our frightful situation. We derived much comfort from
taking off our clothes and wringing the water from them. When we
put them on after this, they felt remarkably warm and pleasant, and
served to invigorate us in no little degree. We helped Augustus off
with his, and wrung them for him, when he experienced the same
comfort.

Our chief sufferings were now those of hunger and thirst, and, when
we looked forward to the means of relief in this respect, our hearts
sunk within us, and we were induced to regret that we had escaped
the less dreadful perils of the sea. We endeavoured, however, to
console ourselves with the hope of being speedily picked up by some
vessel, and encouraged each other to bear with fortitude the evils
that might happen.

The morning of the fourteenth at length dawned, and the weather

still continued clear and pleasant, with a steady but very light breeze
from the N. W. The sea was now quite smooth, and as, from some
cause which we could not determine, the brig did not lie so much
along as she had done before, the deck was comparatively dry, and
we could move about with freedom. We had now been better than
three entire days and nights without either food or drink, and it
became absolutely necessary that we should make an attempt to get
up something from below. As the brig was completely full of water,
we went to this work despondingly, and with but little expectation of
being able to obtain anything. We made a kind of drag by driving
some nails which we broke out from the remains of the companion-
hatch into two pieces of wood. Tying these across each other, and
fastening them to the end of a rope, we threw them into the cabin,
and dragged them to and fro, in the faint hope of being thus able to
entangle some article which might be of use to us for food, or which
might at least render us assistance in getting it. We spent the
greater part of the morning in this labour without effect, fishing up
nothing more than a few bedclothes, which were readily caught by
the nails. Indeed, our contrivance was so very clumsy, that any
greater success was hardly to be anticipated.

We now tried the forecastle, but equally in vain, and were upon the
brink of despair, when Peters proposed that we should fasten a rope
to his body, and let him make an attempt to get up something by
diving into the cabin. This proposition we hailed with all the delight
which reviving hope could inspire. He proceeded immediately to strip
off his clothes with the exception of his pantaloons; and a strong
rope was then carefully fastened around his middle, being brought
up over his shoulders in such a manner that there was no possibility
of its slipping. The undertaking was one of great difficulty and
danger; for, as we could hardly expect to find much, if any provision
in the cabin itself, it was necessary that the diver, after letting
himself down, should make a turn to the right, and proceed under
water a distance of ten or twelve feet, in a narrow passage, to the
storeroom, and return, without drawing breath.

Everything being ready, Peters now descended into the cabin, going
down the companion-ladder until the water reached his chin. He
then plunged in, head first, turning to the right as he plunged, and
endeavouring to make his way to the storeroom. In this first
attempt, however, he was altogether unsuccessful. In less than half
a minute after his going down we felt the rope jerked violently (the
signal we had agreed upon when he desired to be drawn up). We
accordingly drew him up instantly, but so incautiously as to bruise
him badly against the ladder. He had brought nothing with him, and
had been unable to penetrate more than a very little way into the
passage, owing to the constant exertions he found it necessary to
make in order to keep himself from floating up against the deck.
Upon getting out he was very much exhausted, and had to rest full
fifteen minutes before he could again venture to descend.

The second attempt met with even worse success; for he remained
so long under water without giving the signal, that, becoming
alarmed for his safety, we drew him out without it, and found that
he was almost at the last gasp, having, as he said, repeatedly jerked
at the rope without our feeling it. This was probably owing to a
portion of it having become entangled in the balustrade at the foot
of the ladder. This balustrade was, indeed, so much in the way, that
we determined to remove it, if possible, before proceeding with our
design. As we had no means of getting it away except by main force,
we all descended into the water as far as we could on the ladder,
and, giving a pull against it with our united strength, succeeded in
breaking it down.

The third attempt was equally unsuccessful with the two first, and it
now became evident that nothing could be done in this manner
without the aid of some weight with which the diver might steady
himself, and keep to the floor of the cabin while making his search.
For a long time we looked about in vain for something which might
answer this purpose; but at length, to our great joy, we discovered
one of the weather-forechains so loose that we had not the least
difficulty in wrenching it off. Having fastened this securely to one of
his ancles, Peters now made his fourth descent into the cabin, and
this time succeeded in making his way to the door of the steward's
room. To his inexpressible grief, however, he found it locked, and
was obliged to return without effecting an entrance, as, with the
greatest exertion, he could remain under water not more, at the
utmost extent, than a single minute. Our affairs now looked gloomy
indeed, and neither Augustus nor myself could refrain from bursting
into tears, as we thought of the host of difficulties which
encompassed us, and the slight probability which existed of our
finally making an escape. But this weakness was not of long
duration. Throwing ourselves on our knees to God, we implored his
aid in the many dangers which beset us; and arose with renewed
hope and vigour to think what could yet be done by mortal means
towards accomplishing our deliverance.

CHAPTER X.

Shortly afterward an incident occurred which I am induced to look

upon as more intensely productive of emotion, as far more replete
with the extremes first of delight and then of horror, than even any
of the thousand chances which afterward befell me in nine long
years, crowded with events of the most startling, and, in many
cases, of the most unconceived and unconceivable character. We
were lying on the deck near the companion-way, and debating the
possibility of yet making our way into the storeroom, when, looking
towards Augustus, who lay fronting myself, I perceived that he had
become all at once deadly pale, and that his lips were quivering in
the most singular and unaccountable manner. Greatly alarmed, I
spoke to him, but he made me no reply, and I was beginning to
think that he was suddenly taken ill, when I took notice of his eyes,
which were glaring apparently at some object behind me. I turned
my head, and shall never forget the ecstatic joy which thrilled
through every particle of my frame, when I perceived a large brig
bearing down upon us, and not more than a couple of miles off. I
sprung to my feet as if a musket bullet had suddenly struck me to
the heart; and, stretching out my arms in the direction of the vessel,
stood in this manner, motionless, and unable to articulate a syllable.
Peters and Parker were equally affected, although in different ways.
The former danced about the deck like a madman, uttering the most
extravagant rhodomontades, intermingled with howls and
imprecations, while the latter burst into tears, and continued for
many minutes weeping like a child.

The vessel in sight was a large hermaphrodite brig, of a Dutch build,

and painted black, with a tawdry gilt figurehead. She had evidently
seen a good deal of rough weather, and, we supposed, had suffered
much in the gale which had proved so disastrous to ourselves; for
her foretopmast was gone, and some of her starboard bulwarks.
When we first saw her, she was, as I have already said, about two
miles off and to windward, bearing down upon us. The breeze was
very gentle, and what astonished us chiefly was, that she had no
other sails set than her foresail and mainsail, with a flying jib—of
course she came down but slowly, and our impatience amounted
nearly to phrensy. The awkward manner in which she steered, too,
was remarked by all of us, even excited as we were. She yawed
about so considerably, that once or twice we thought it impossible
she could see us, or imagined that, having seen us, and discovered
no person on board, she was about to tack and make off in another
direction. Upon each of these occasions we screamed and shouted
at the top of our voices, when the stranger would appear to change
for a moment her intention, and again hold on towards us—this
singular conduct being repeated two or three times, so that at last
we could think of no other manner of accounting for it than by
supposing the helmsman to be in liquor.

No person was seen upon her decks until she arrived within about a
quarter of a mile of us. We then saw three seamen, whom by their
dress we took to be Hollanders. Two of these were lying on some old
sails near the forecastle, and the third, who appeared to be looking
at us with great curiosity, was leaning over the starboard bow near
the bowsprit. This last was a stout and tall man, with a very dark
skin. He seemed by his manner to be encouraging us to have
patience, nodding to us in a cheerful although rather odd way, and
smiling constantly so as to display a set of the most brilliantly white
teeth. As his vessel drew nearer, we saw a red flannel cap which he
had on fall from his head into the water; but of this he took little or
no notice, continuing his odd smiles and gesticulations. I relate these
things and circumstances minutely, and I relate them, it must be
understood, precisely as they appeared to us.

The brig came on slowly, and now more steadily than before, and—I
cannot speak calmly of this event—our hearts leaped up wildly
within us, and we poured out our whole souls in shouts and
thanksgiving to God for the complete, unexpected, and glorious
deliverance that was so palpably at hand. Of a sudden, and all at
once, there came wafted over the ocean from the strange vessel
(which was now close upon us) a smell, a stench, such as the whole
world has no name for—no conception of—hellish—utterly
suffocating—insufferable, inconceivable. I gasped for breath, and,
turning to my companions, perceived that they were paler than
marble. But we had now no time left for question or surmise—the
brig was within fifty feet of us, and it seemed to be her intention to
run under our counter, that we might board her without her putting
out a boat. We rushed aft, when, suddenly, a wide yaw threw her off
full five or six points from the course she had been running, and, as
she passed under our stern at the distance of about twenty feet, we
had a full view of her decks. Shall I ever forget the triple horror of
that spectacle? Twenty-five or thirty human bodies, among whom
were several females, lay scattered about between the counter and
the galley, in the last and most loathsome state of putrefaction! We
plainly saw that not a soul lived in that fated vessel! Yet we could
not help shouting to the dead for help! Yes, long and loudly did we
beg, in the agony of the moment, that those silent and disgusting
images would stay for us, would not abandon us to become like
them, would receive us among their goodly company! We were
raving with horror and despair—thoroughly mad through the anguish
of our grievous disappointment.

As our first loud yell of terror broke forth, it was replied to by

something, from near the bowsprit of the stranger, so closely
resembling the scream of a human voice that the nicest ear might
have been startled and deceived. At this instant another sudden yaw
brought the region of the forecastle for a moment into view, and we
beheld at once the origin of the sound. We saw the tall stout figure
still leaning on the bulwark, and still nodding his head to and fro, but
his face was now turned from us so that we could not behold it. His
arms were extended over the rail, and the palms of his hands fell
outward. His knees were lodged upon a stout rope, tightly stretched,
and reaching from the heel of the bowsprit to a cathead. On his
back, from which a portion of the shirt had been torn, leaving it
bare, there sat a huge seagull, busily gorging itself with the horrible
flesh, its bill and talons deep buried, and its white plumage
spattered all over with blood. As the brig moved further round so as
to bring us close in view, the bird, with much apparent difficulty,
drew out its crimsoned head, and, after eying us for a moment as if
stupified, arose lazily from the body upon which it had been
feasting, and, flying directly above our deck, hovered there a while
with a portion of clotted and liver-like substance in its beak. The
horrid morsel dropped at length with a sullen splash immediately at
the feet of Parker. May God forgive me, but now, for the first time,
there flashed through my mind a thought, a thought which I will not
mention, and I felt myself making a step towards the ensanguined
spot. I looked upward, and the eyes of Augustus met my own with a
degree of intense and eager meaning which immediately brought me
to my senses. I sprang forward quickly, and, with a deep shudder,
threw the frightful thing into the sea.

The body from which it had been taken, resting as it did upon the
rope, had been easily swayed to and fro by the exertions of the
carnivorous bird, and it was this motion which had at first impressed
us with the belief of its being alive. As the gull relieved it of its
weight, it swung round and fell partially over, so that the face was
fully discovered. Never, surely, was any object so terribly full of awe!
The eyes were gone, and the whole flesh around the mouth, leaving
the teeth utterly naked. This, then, was the smile which had cheered
us on to hope! this the—but I forbear. The brig, as I have already
told, passed under our stern, and made its way slowly but steadily to
leeward. With her and with her terrible crew went all our gay visions
of deliverance and joy. Deliberately as she went by, we might
possibly have found means of boarding her, had not our sudden
disappointment, and the appalling nature of the discovery which
accompanied it, laid entirely prostrate every active faculty of mind
and body. We had seen and felt, but we could neither think nor act,
until, alas, too late. How much our intellects had been weakened by
this incident may be estimated by the fact, that, when the vessel
had proceeded so far that we could perceive no more than the half
of her hull, the proposition was seriously entertained of attempting
to overtake her by swimming!

I have, since this period, vainly endeavoured to obtain some clew to

the hideous uncertainty which enveloped the fate of the stranger.
Her build and general appearance, as I have before stated, led us to
the belief that she was a Dutch trader, and the dresses of the crew
also sustained this opinion. We might have easily seen the name
upon her stern, and, indeed, taken other observations which would
have guided us in making out her character; but the intense
excitement of the moment blinded us to everything of that nature.
From the saffron-like hue of such of the corpses as were not entirely
decayed, we concluded that the whole of her company had perished
by the yellow fever, or some other virulent disease of the same
fearful kind. If such were the case (and I know not what else to
imagine), death, to judge from the positions of the bodies, must
have come upon them in a manner awfully sudden and
overwhelming, in a way totally distinct from that which generally
characterizes even the most deadly pestilences with which mankind
are acquainted. It is possible, indeed, that poison, accidentally
introduced into some of their sea-stores, may have brought about
the disaster; or that the eating some unknown venomous species of
fish, or other marine animal, or oceanic bird, might have induced it—
but it is utterly useless to form conjectures where all is involved, and
will, no doubt, remain for ever involved, in the most appalling and
unfathomable mystery.

CHAPTER XI.

We spent the remainder of the day in a condition of stupid lethargy,

gazing after the retreating vessel until the darkness, hiding her from
our sight, recalled us in some measure to our senses. The pangs of
hunger and thirst then returned, absorbing all other cares and
considerations. Nothing, however, could be done until the morning,
and, securing ourselves as well as possible, we endeavoured to
snatch a little repose. In this I succeeded beyond my expectation,
sleeping until my companions, who had not been so fortunate,
aroused me at daybreak to renew our attempts at getting up
provision from the hull.

It was now a dead calm, with the sea as smooth as I have ever
known it—the weather warm and pleasant. The brig was out of
sight. We commenced our operations by wrenching off, with some
trouble, another of the forechains; and having fastened both to
Peters's feet, he again made an endeavour to reach the door of the
storeroom, thinking it possible that he might be able to force it open,
provided he could get at it in sufficient time; and this he hoped to
do, as the hulk lay much more steadily than before.

He succeeded very quickly in reaching the door, when, loosening one

of the chains from his ankle, he made every exertion to force a
passage with it, but in vain, the framework of the room being far
stronger than was anticipated. He was quite exhausted with his long
stay under water, and it became absolutely necessary that some
other one of us should take his place. For this service Parker
immediately volunteered; but, after making three ineffectual efforts,
found that he could never even succeed in getting near the door.
The condition of Augustus's wounded arm rendered it useless for
him to attempt going down, as he would be unable to force the
room open should he reach it, and it accordingly now devolved upon
me to exert myself for our common deliverance.

Peters had left one of the chains in the passage, and I found, upon
plunging in, that I had not sufficient ballast to keep me firmly down.
I determined, therefore, to attempt no more, in my first effort, than
merely to recover the other chain. In groping along the floor of the
passage for this I felt a hard substance, which I immediately
grasped, not having time to ascertain what it was, but returning and
ascending instantly to the surface. The prize proved to be a bottle,
and our joy may be conceived when I say that it was found to be full
of Port wine. Giving thanks to God for this timely and cheering
assistance, we immediately drew the cork with my penknife, and,
each taking a moderate sup, felt the most indescribable comfort
from the warmth, strength, and spirits with which it inspired us. We
then carefully recorked the bottle, and, by means of a handkerchief,
swung it in such a manner that there was no possibility of its getting
broken.

Having rested a while after this fortunate discovery, I again

descended, and now recovered the chain, with which I instantly
came up. I then fastened it on and went down for the third time,
when I became fully satisfied that no exertions whatever, in that
situation, would enable me to force open the door of the storeroom.
I therefore returned in despair.

There seemed now to be no longer any room for hope, and I could
perceive in the countenances of my companions that they had made
up their minds to perish. The wine had evidently produced in them a
species of delirium, which, perhaps, I had been prevented from
feeling by the immersion I had undergone since drinking it. They
talked incoherently, and about matters unconnected with our
condition, Peters repeatedly asking me questions about Nantucket.
Augustus, too, I remember, approached me with a serious air, and
requested me to lend him a pocket-comb, as his hair was full of fish
scales, and he wished to get them out before going on shore. Parker
appeared somewhat less affected, and urged me to dive at random
into the cabin, and bring up any article which might come to hand.
To this I consented, and, in the first attempt, after staying under a
full minute, brought up a small leather trunk belonging to Captain
Barnard. This was immediately opened in the faint hope that it might
contain something to eat or drink. We found nothing, however,
except a box of razors and two linen shirts. I now went down again,
and returned without any success. As my head came above water I
heard a crash on deck, and, upon getting up, saw that my
companions had ungratefully taken advantage of my absence to
drink the remainder of the wine, having let the bottle fall in the
endeavour to replace it before I saw them. I remonstrated with them
on the heartlessness of their conduct, when Augustus burst into
tears. The other two endeavoured to laugh the matter off as a joke,
but I hope never again to behold laughter of such a species: the
distortion of countenance was absolutely frightful. Indeed, it was
apparent that the stimulus, in the empty state of their stomachs,
had taken instant and violent effect, and that they were all
exceedingly intoxicated. With great difficulty I prevailed upon them
to lie down, when they fell very soon into a heavy slumber,
accompanied with loud stertorous breathing.

I now found myself, as it were, alone in the brig, and my reflections,

to be sure, were of the most fearful and gloomy nature. No prospect
offered itself to my view but a lingering death by famine, or, at the
best, by being overwhelmed in the first gale which should spring up,
for in our present exhausted condition we could have no hope of
living through another.

The gnawing hunger which I now experienced was nearly

insupportable, and I felt myself capable of going to any lengths in
order to appease it. With my knife I cut off a small portion of the
leather trunk, and endeavoured to eat it, but found it utterly
impossible to swallow a single morsel, although I fancied that some
little alleviation of my suffering was obtained by chewing small
pieces of it and spitting them out. Towards night my companions
awoke, one by one, each in an indescribable state of weakness and
horror, brought on by the wine, whose fumes had now evaporated.
They shook as if with a violent ague, and uttered the most
lamentable cries for water. Their condition affected me in the most
lively degree, at the same time causing me to rejoice in the
fortunate train of circumstances which had prevented me from
indulging in the wine, and consequently from sharing their
melancholy and most distressing sensations. Their conduct, however,
gave me great uneasiness and alarm; for it was evident that, unless
some favourable change took place, they could afford me no
assistance in providing for our common safety. I had not yet
abandoned all idea of being able to get up something from below;
but the attempt could not possibly be resumed until some one of
them was sufficiently master of himself to aid me by holding the end
of the rope while I went down. Parker appeared to be somewhat
more in possession of his senses than the others, and I
endeavoured, by every means in my power, to arouse him. Thinking
that a plunge in the seawater might have a beneficial effect, I
contrived to fasten the end of a rope around his body, and then,
leading him to the companion-way (he remaining quite passive all
the while), pushed him in, and immediately drew him out. I had
good reason to congratulate myself upon having made this
experiment; for he appeared much revived and invigorated, and,
upon getting out, asked me, in a rational manner, why I had so
served him. Having explained my object, he expressed himself
indebted to me, and said that he felt greatly better from the
immersion, afterward conversing sensibly upon our situation. We
then resolved to treat Augustus and Peters in the same way, which
we immediately did, when they both experienced much benefit from
the shock. This idea of sudden immersion had been suggested to me
by reading in some medical work the good effect of the shower-bath
in a case where the patient was suffering from mania à potu.

Finding that I could now trust my companions to hold the end of the
rope, I again made three or four plunges into the cabin, although it
was now quite dark, and a gentle but long swell from the northward
rendered the hulk somewhat unsteady. In the course of these
attempts I succeeded in bringing up two case-knives, a three-gallon
jug, empty, and a blanket, but nothing which could serve us for
food. I continued my efforts, after getting these articles, until I was
completely exhausted, but brought up nothing else. During the night
Parker and Peters occupied themselves by turns in the same
manner; but nothing coming to hand, we now gave up this attempt
in despair, concluding that we were exhausting ourselves in vain.

We passed the remainder of this night in a state of the most intense

mental and bodily anguish that can possibly be imagined. The
morning of the sixteenth at length dawned, and we looked eagerly
around the horizon for relief, but to no purpose. The sea was still
smooth, with only a long swell from the northward, as on yesterday.
This was the sixth day since we had tasted either food or drink, with
the exception of the bottle of Port wine, and it was clear that we
could hold out but a very little while longer unless something could
be obtained. I never saw before, nor wish to see again, human
beings so utterly emaciated as Peters and Augustus. Had I met them
on shore in their present condition I should not have had the
slightest suspicion that I had ever beheld them. Their countenances
were totally changed in character, so that I could not bring myself to
believe them really the same individuals with whom I had been in
company but a few days before. Parker, although sadly reduced, and
so feeble that he could not raise his head from his bosom, was not
so far gone as the other two. He suffered with great patience,
making no complaint, and endeavouring to inspire us with hope in
every manner he could devise. For myself, although at the
commencement of the voyage I had been in bad health, and was at
all times of a delicate constitution, I suffered less than any of us,
being much less reduced in frame, and retaining my powers of mind
in a surprising degree, while the rest were completely prostrated in
intellect, and seemed to be brought to a species of second
childhood, generally simpering in their expressions, with idiotic
smiles, and uttering the most absurd platitudes. At intervals,
however, they would appear to revive suddenly, as if inspired all at
once with a consciousness of their condition, when they would
spring upon their feet in a momentary flash of vigour, and speak, for
a short period, of their prospects, in a manner altogether rational,
although full of the most intense despair. It is possible, however, that
my companions may have entertained the same opinion of their own
condition as I did of mine, and that I may have unwittingly been
guilty of the same extravagances and imbecilities as themselves—
this is a matter which cannot be determined.

About noon Parker declared that he saw land off the larboard
quarter, and it was with the utmost difficulty I could restrain him
from plunging into the sea with the view of swimming towards it.
Peters and Augustus took little notice of what he said, being
apparently wrapped up in moody contemplation. Upon looking in the
direction pointed out I could not perceive the faintest appearance of
the shore—indeed, I was too well aware that we were far from any
land to indulge in a hope of that nature. It was a long time,
nevertheless, before I could convince Parker of his mistake. He then
burst into a flood of tears, weeping like a child, with loud cries and
sobs, for two or three hours, when, becoming exhausted, he fell
asleep.

Peters and Augustus now made several ineffectual efforts to swallow

portions of the leather. I advised them to chew it and spit it out; but
they were too excessively debilitated to be able to follow my advice.
I continued to chew pieces of it at intervals, and found some relief
from so doing; my chief distress was for water, and I was only
prevented from taking a draught from the sea by remembering the
horrible consequences which thus have resulted to others who were
similarly situated with ourselves.

The day wore on in this manner, when I suddenly discovered a sail

to the eastward, and on our larboard bow. She appeared to be a
large ship, and was coming nearly athwart us, being probably twelve
or fifteen miles distant. None of my companions had as yet
discovered her, and I forbore to tell them of her for the present, lest
we might again be disappointed of relief. At length, upon her getting
nearer, I saw distinctly that she was heading immediately for us,
with her light sails filled. I could now contain myself no longer, and
pointed her out to my fellow-sufferers. They immediately sprang to
their feet, again indulging in the most extravagant demonstrations of
joy, weeping, laughing in an idiotic manner, jumping, stamping upon
the deck, tearing their hair, and praying and cursing by turns. I was
so affected by their conduct, as well as by what I now considered a
sure prospect of deliverance, that I could not refrain from joining in
with their madness, and gave way to the impulses of my gratitude
and ecstasy by lying and rolling on the deck, clapping my hands,
shouting, and other similar acts, until I was suddenly called to my
recollection, and once more to the extreme of human misery and
despair, by perceiving the ship all at once with her stern fully
presented towards us, and steering in a direction nearly opposite to
that in which I had at first perceived her.

It was some time before I could induce my poor companions to

believe that this sad reverse in our prospects had actually taken
place. They replied to all my assertions with a stare and a gesture
implying that they were not to be deceived by such
misrepresentations. The conduct of Augustus most sensibly affected
me. In spite of all I could say or do to the contrary, he persisted in
saying that the ship was rapidly nearing us, and in making
preparations to go on board of her. Some seaweed floating by the
brig, he maintained that it was the ship's boat, and endeavoured to
throw himself upon it, howling and shrieking in the most
heartrending manner, when I forcibly restrained him from thus
casting himself into the sea.

Having become in some degree pacified, we continued to watch the

ship until we finally lost sight of her, the weather becoming hazy,
with a light breeze springing up. As soon as she was entirely gone,
Parker turned suddenly towards me with an expression of
countenance which made me shudder. There was about him an air
of self-possession which I had not noticed in him until now, and
before he opened his lips my heart told me what he would say. He
proposed, in a few words, that one of us should die to preserve the
existence of the others.

CHAPTER XII.
I had, for some time past, dwelt upon the prospect of our being
reduced to this last horrible extremity, and had secretly made up my
mind to suffer death in any shape or under any circumstances rather
than resort to such a course. Nor was this resolution in any degree
weakened by the present intensity of hunger under which I
laboured. The proposition had not been heard by either Peters or
Augustus. I therefore took Parker aside; and mentally praying to God
for power to dissuade him from the horrible purpose he entertained,
I expostulated with him for a long time and in the most supplicating
manner, begging him in the name of everything which he held
sacred, and urging him by every species of argument which the
extremity of the case suggested, to abandon the idea, and not to
mention it to either of the other two.

He heard all I said without attempting to controvert any of my

arguments, and I had begun to hope that he would be prevailed
upon to do as I desired. But when I had ceased speaking, he said
that he knew very well all I had said was true, and that to resort to
such a course was the most horrible alternative which could enter
into the mind of man; but that he had now held out as long as
human nature could be sustained; that it was unnecessary for all to
perish, when, by the death of one, it was possible, and even
probable, that the rest might be finally preserved; adding that I
might save myself the trouble of trying to turn him from his purpose,
his mind having been thoroughly made up on the subject even
before the appearance of the ship, and that only her heaving in sight
had prevented him from mentioning his intention at an earlier
period.

I now begged him, if he would not be prevailed upon to abandon his

design, at least to defer it for another day, when some vessel might
come to our relief; again reiterating every argument I could devise,
and which I thought likely to have influence with one of his rough
nature. He said, in reply, that he had not spoken until the very last
possible moment; that he could exist no longer without sustenance
of some kind; and that therefore in another day his suggestion
would be too late, as regarded himself at least.

Finding that he was not to be moved by anything I could say in a

mild tone, I now assumed a different demeanour, and told him that
he must be aware I had suffered less than any of us from our
calamities; that my health and strength, consequently, were at that
moment far better than his own, or than that either of Peters or
Augustus; in short, that I was in a condition to have my own way by
force if I found it necessary; and that, if he attempted in any manner
to acquaint the others with his bloody and cannibal designs, I would
not hesitate to throw him into the sea. Upon this he immediately
seized me by the throat, and drawing a knife, made several
ineffectual efforts to stab me in the stomach; an atrocity which his
excessive debility alone prevented him from accomplishing. In the
mean time, being roused to a high pitch of anger, I forced him to the
vessel's side, with the full intention of throwing him overboard. He
was saved from this fate, however, by the interference of Peters,
who now approached and separated us, asking the cause of the
disturbance. This Parker told before I could find means in any
manner to prevent him.

The effect of his words was even more terrible than what I had
anticipated. Both Augustus and Peters, who, it seems, had long
secretly entertained the same fearful idea which Parker had been
merely the first to broach, joined with him in his design, and insisted
upon its being immediately carried into effect. I had calculated that
one at least of the two former would be found still possessed of
sufficient strength of mind to side with myself in resisting any
attempt to execute so dreadful a purpose; and, with the aid of either
one of them, I had no fear of being able to prevent its
accomplishment. Being disappointed in this expectation, it became
absolutely necessary that I should attend to my own safety, as a
further resistance on my part might possibly be considered by men
in their frightful condition a sufficient excuse for refusing me fair play
in the tragedy that I knew would speedily be enacted.
I now told them I was willing to submit to the proposal, merely
requesting a delay of about one hour, in order that the fog which
had gathered around us might have an opportunity of lifting, when it
was possible that the ship we had seen might be again in sight.
After great difficulty I obtained from them a promise to wait thus
long; and, as I had anticipated (a breeze rapidly coming in), the fog
lifted before the hour had expired, when, no vessel appearing in
sight, we prepared to draw lots.

It is with extreme reluctance that I dwell upon the appalling scene

which ensued; a scene which, with its minutest details, no after
events have been able to efface in the slightest degree from my
memory, and whose stern recollection will imbitter every future
moment of my existence. Let me run over this portion of my
narrative with as much haste as the nature of the events to be
spoken of will permit. The only method we could devise for the
terrific lottery, in which we were to take each a chance, was that of
drawing straws. Small splinters of wood were made to answer our
purpose, and it was agreed that I should be the holder. I retired to
one end of the hulk, while my poor companions silently took up their
station in the other with their backs turned towards me. The
bitterest anxiety which I endured at any period of this fearful drama
was while I occupied myself in the arrangement of the lots. There
are few conditions into which man can possibly fall where he will not
feel a deep interest in the preservation of his existence; an interest
momentarily increasing with the frailness of the tenure by which that
existence may be held. But now that the silent, definite, and stern
nature of the business in which I was engaged (so different from the
tumultuous dangers of the storm or the gradually approaching
horrors of famine) allowed me to reflect on the few chances I had of
escaping the most appalling of deaths—a death for the most
appalling of purposes—every particle of that energy which had so
long buoyed me up departed like feathers before the wind, leaving
me a helpless prey to the most abject and pitiable terror. I could not,
at first, even summon up sufficient strength to tear and fit together
the small splinters of wood, my fingers absolutely refusing their
office, and my knees knocking violently against each other. My mind
ran over rapidly a thousand absurd projects by which to avoid
becoming a partner in the awful speculation. I thought of falling on
my knees to my companions, and entreating them to let me escape
this necessity; of suddenly rushing upon them, and, by putting one
of them to death, of rendering the decision by lot useless—in short,
of everything but of going through with the matter I had in hand. At
last, after wasting a long time in this imbecile conduct, I was
recalled to my senses by the voice of Parker, who urged me to
relieve them at once from the terrible anxiety they were enduring.
Even then I could not bring myself to arrange the splinters upon the
spot, but thought over every species of finesse by which I could trick
some one of my fellow-sufferers to draw the short straw, as it had
been agreed that whoever drew the shortest of four splinters from
my hand was to die for the preservation of the rest. Before any one
condemn me for this apparent heartlessness, let him be placed in a
situation precisely similar to my own.

At length delay was no longer possible, and, with a heart almost

bursting from my bosom, I advanced to the region of the forecastle,
where my companions were awaiting me. I held out my hand with
the splinters, and Peters immediately drew. He was free—his, at
least, was not the shortest; and there was now another chance
against my escape. I summoned up all my strength, and passed the
lots to Augustus. He also drew immediately, and he also was free;
and now, whether I should live or die, the chances were no more
than precisely even. At this moment all the fierceness of the tiger
possessed my bosom, and I felt towards my poor fellow-creature,
Parker, the most intense, the most diabolical hatred. But the feeling
did not last; and, at length, with a convulsive shudder and closed
eyes, I held out the two remaining splinters towards him. It was full
five minutes before he could summon resolution to draw, during
which period of heartrending suspense I never once opened my
eyes. Presently one of the two lots was quickly drawn from my hand.
The decision was then over, yet I knew not whether it was for me or
against me. No one spoke, and still I dared not satisfy myself by
looking at the splinter I held. Peters at length took me by the hand,
and I forced myself to look up, when I immediately saw by the
countenance of Parker that I was safe, and that he it was who had
been doomed to suffer. Gasping for breath, I fell senseless to the
deck.

I recovered from my swoon in time to behold the consummation of

the tragedy in the death of him who had been chiefly instrumental in
bringing it about. He made no resistance whatever, and was stabbed
in the back by Peters, when he fell instantly dead. I must not dwell
upon the fearful repast which immediately ensued. Such things may
be imagined, but words have no power to impress the mind with the
exquisite horror of their reality. Let it suffice to say that, having in
some measure appeased the raging thirst which consumed us by the
blood of the victim, and having by common consent taken off the
hands, feet, and head, throwing them, together with the entrails,
into the sea, we devoured the rest of the body, piecemeal, during
the four ever memorable days of the seventeenth, eighteenth,
nineteenth, and twentieth of the month.

On the nineteenth, there coming on a smart shower which lasted

fifteen or twenty minutes, we contrived to catch some water by
means of a sheet which had been fished up from the cabin by our
drag just after the gale. The quantity we took in all did not amount
to more than half a gallon; but even this scanty allowance supplied
us with comparative strength and hope.

On the twenty-first we were again reduced to the last necessity. The

weather still remained warm and pleasant, with occasional fogs and
light breezes, most usually from N. to W.

On the twenty-second, as we were sitting close huddled together,

gloomily revolving over our lamentable condition, there flashed
through my mind all at once an idea which inspired me with a bright
gleam of hope. I remembered that, when the foremast had been cut
away, Peters, being in the windward chains, passed one of the axes
into my hand, requesting me to put it, if possible, in a place of
security, and that a few minutes before the last heavy sea struck the
brig and filled her I had taken this axe into the forecastle, and laid it
in one of the larboard berths. I now thought it possible that, by
getting at this axe, we might cut through the deck over the
storeroom, and thus readily supply ourselves with provisions.

When I communicated this project to my companions, they uttered a

feeble shout of joy, and we all proceeded forthwith to the forecastle.
The difficulty of descending here was greater than that of going
down in the cabin, the opening being much smaller, for it will be
remembered that the whole framework about the cabin companion-
hatch had been carried away, whereas the forecastle-way, being a
simple hatch of only about three feet square, had remained
uninjured. I did not hesitate, however, to attempt the descent; and,
a rope being fastened round my body as before, I plunged boldly in,
feet foremost, made my way quickly to the berth, and, at the very
first attempt, brought up the axe. It was hailed with the most
ecstatic joy and triumph, and the ease with which it had been
obtained was regarded as an omen of our ultimate preservation.

We now commenced cutting at the deck with all the energy of

rekindled hope, Peters and myself taking the axe by turns,
Augustus's wounded arm not permitting him to aid us in any degree.
As we were still so feeble as to be scarcely able to stand
unsupported, and could consequently work but a minute or two
without resting, it soon became evident that many long hours would
be requisite to accomplish our task—that is, to cut an opening
sufficiently large to admit of a free access to the storeroom. This
consideration, however, did not discourage us; and, working all night
by the light of the moon, we succeeded in effecting our purpose by
daybreak on the morning of the twenty-third.

Peters now volunteered to go down; and, having made all

arrangements as before, he descended, and soon returned, bringing
up with him a small jar, which, to our great joy, proved to be full of
olives. Having shared these among us, and devoured them with the
greatest avidity, we proceeded to let him down again. This time he
succeeded beyond our utmost expectations, returning instantly with
a large ham and a bottle of Madeira wine. Of the latter we each took
a moderate sup, having learned by experience the pernicious
consequences of indulging too freely. The ham, except about two
pounds near the bone, was not in a condition to be eaten, having
been entirely spoiled by the salt water. The sound part was divided
among 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 labours,
which had been intolerably severe.

By noon, feeling somewhat strengthened and refreshed, we again

renewed our attempt at getting up provision, 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 terapin. 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 Peters's grasp, and slipping back
into the water, when Augustus, throwing a rope with a slip-knot
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 his back, and
otherwise carefully fastened.

CHAPTER XIII.

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 turned 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. Towards 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
storeroom. After a great deal of hard labour during the whole day,
we found that nothing further was to be expected from this quarter,
the partitions of the room having been stove during the night, and
its contents swept into the hold. This discovery, as may be
supposed, filled us with despair.

July 27. The sea nearly smooth, with a light wind, and still from the
northward and westward. The sun coming out hotly in the
afternoon, we occupied ourselves in drying our clothes. Found great
relief from thirst, and much comfort otherwise, by bathing in the
sea; in this, however, we were forced to use great caution, being
afraid of sharks, several of which were seen swimming around the
brig during the day.

July 28. Good weather still. The brig now began to lie along so
alarmingly that we feared she would eventually roll bottom up.
Prepared ourselves as well as we could for this emergency, lashing
our tortoise, water-jug, and two remaining jars of olives as far as
possible over to the windward, placing them outside the hull, below
the main-chains. The sea very smooth all day, with little or no wind.

July 29. A continuance of the same weather. Augustus's wounded

arm began to evince symptoms of mortification. He complained of
drowsiness and excessive thirst, but no acute pain. Nothing could be
done for his relief beyond rubbing his wounds with a little of the
vinegar from the olives, and from this no benefit seemed to be
experienced. We did everything in our power for his comfort, and
trebled his allowance of water.

July 30. An excessively hot day, with no wind. An enormous shark

kept close by the hulk during the whole of the forenoon. We made
several unsuccessful attempts to capture him by means of a noose.
Augustus much worse, and evidently sinking as much from want of
proper nourishment as from the effect of his wounds. He constantly
prayed to be released from his sufferings, wishing for nothing but
death. This evening we ate the last of our olives, and found the
water in our jug so putrid that we could not swallow it at all without
the addition of wine. Determined to kill our tortoise in the morning.

July 31. After a night of excessive anxiety and fatigue, owing to the
position of the hulk, we set about killing and cutting up our tortoise.
He proved to be much smaller than we had supposed, although in
good condition—the whole meat about him not amounting to more
than ten pounds. With a view of preserving a portion of this as long
as possible, we cut it into fine pieces, and filled with them our three
remaining olive-jars and the wine-bottle (all of which had been
kept), pouring in afterward the vinegar from the olives. In this
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