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CHAPTER II.
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 colour, 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 of character. [page 20:]
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 intention 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 [page
21:] 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 enditing 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 everything
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
favour, 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 [page 22:] easily recognised. 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 — d—d
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 [page 23:]
the floor of both the cabin and staterooms. The ceiling was full seven
feet high, and, in short, everything 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 he 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 [page 24:] 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 floor of the cabin. In every
other direction around was wedged as closely as possible, even up to
the
ceiling, a complete chaos of almost every species of ship-furniture,
together
with a heterogeneous medley of crates, hampers, barrels, and bales, so
that it seemed a matter no less than miraculous that we had discovered
any passage at all to the box. I afterward found that Augustus had
purposely
arranged the stowage in this hold with a view to affording me a
thorough
concealment, having had only one assistant in the labour, a man not
going
out in the brig.
My companion now showed me that one
of the ends of
the box could be removed at pleasure. He slipped it aside and displayed
the interior, at which I was excessively amused. A mattress from one of
the cabin berths covered the whole of its bottom, and it contained
almost
every article of mere comfort which could be crowded into so small a
space,
allowing me, at the same time, sufficient room for my accommodation,
either
in a sitting position or lying at full length. Among other things,
there
were some books, pen, ink, and paper, three blankets, a large jug full
of water, a keg of sea-biscuit, three or four immense Bologna sausages,
an enormous ham, a cold leg of roast mutton, and half a dozen bottles
of
cordials and liqueurs. I proceeded immediately to take possession of my
little apartment, and this with feelings of higher satisfaction, I am
sure,
than any monarch ever experienced upon entering a new palace. Augustus
now pointed out to me the method of fastening the open end of the box,
and then, holding the taper close to the deck, showed me a piece of
dark
whipcord lying along it. This, he said, extended from my hiding-place
throughout
all [page 25:] the necessary windings among the
lumber,
to a nail which was driven into the deck of the hold, immediately
beneath
the trapdoor leading into his stateroom. By means of this cord I should
be enabled readily to trace my way out without his guidance, provided
any
unlooked-for accident should render such a step necessary. He now took
his departure, leaving with me the lantern, together with a copious
supply
of tapers and phosphorous, and promising to pay me a visit as often as
he could contrive to do so without observation. This was on the
seventeenth
of June.
I remained three days and nights (as
nearly as I
could guess) in my hiding-place without getting out of it at all,
except
twice for the purpose of stretching my limbs by standing erect between
two crates just opposite the opening. During the whole period I saw
nothing
of Augustus; but this occasioned me little uneasiness, as I knew the
brig
was expected to put to sea every hour, and in the bustle he would not
easily
find opportunities of coming down to me. At length I heard the trap
open
and shut, and presently he called in a low voice, asking if all was
well,
and if there was anything I wanted. "Nothing," I replied; "I am as
comfortable
as can be; when will the brig sail?" "She will be under weigh in less
than
half an hour," he answered. "I came to let you know, and for fear you
should
be uneasy at my absence. I shall not have a chance of coming down again
for some time — perhaps for three or four days more. All is going on
right
aboveboard. After I go up and close the trap, do you creep along by the
whipcord to where the nail is driven in. You will find my watch there —
it may be useful to you, as you have no daylight to keep time by. I
suppose
you can't tell how long you have been buried — only three days — this
is
the twentieth. I would bring the watch to your box, but am afraid of
being
missed." With this he went up.
In about an hour after he had gone I
distinctly felt
the brig in motion, and congratulated myself upon having at length
fairly
commenced a voyage. Satisfied with this idea, I determined to make my
mind
as easy as possible, [page 26:] and await the
course
of events until I should be permitted to exchange the box for the more
roomy, although hardly more comfortable, accommodations of the cabin.
My
first care was to get the watch. Leaving the taper burning, I groped
along
in the dark, following the cord through windings innumerable, in some
of
which I discovered that, after toiling a long distance, I was brought
back
within a foot or two of a former position. At length I reached the
nail,
and, securing the object of my journey, returned with it in safety. I
now
looked over the books which had been so thoughtfully provided, and
selected
the expedition of Lewis and Clarke to the mouth of the Columbia. With
this
I amused myself for some time, when, growing sleepy, I extinguished the
light with great care, and soon fell into a sound slumber.
Upon awakening I felt strangely
confused in mind,
and some time elapsed before I could bring to recollection all the
various
circumstances of my situation. By degrees, however, I remembered all.
Striking
a light, I looked at the watch; but it was run down, and there were,
consequently,
no means of determining how long I had slept. My limbs were greatly
cramped,
and I was forced to relieve them by standing between the crates.
Presently,
feeling an almost ravenous appetite, I bethought myself of the cold
mutton,
some of which I had eaten just before going to sleep, and found
excellent.
What was my astonishment at discovering it to be in a state of absolute
putrefaction! This circumstance occasioned me great disquietude; for,
connecting
it with the disorder of mind I experienced upon awakening, I began to
suppose
that I must have slept for an inordinately long period of time. The
close
atmosphere of the hold might have had something to do with this, and
might,
in the end, be productive of the most serious results. My head ached
excessively;
I fancied that I drew every breath with difficulty; and, in short, I
was
oppressed with a multitude of gloomy feelings. Still I could not
venture
to make any disturbance by opening the trap or otherwise, and, having
wound
up the watch, contented myself as well as possible. [page 27:]
Throughout the whole of the next
tedious twenty-four
hours no person came to my relief, and I could not help accusing
Augustus
of the grossest inattention. What alarmed me chiefly was, that the
water
in my jug was reduced to about half a pint, and I was suffering much
from
thirst, having eaten freely of the Bologna sausages after the loss of
my
mutton. I became very uneasy, and could no longer take any interest in
my books. I was overpowered, too, with a desire to sleep, yet trembled
at the thought of indulging it, lest there might exist some pernicious
influence, like that of burning charcoal, in the confined air of the
hold.
In the mean time the roll of the brig told me that we were far in the
main
ocean, and a dull humming sound, which reached my ears as if from an
immense
distance, convinced me no ordinary gale was blowing. I could not
imagine
a reason for the absence of Augustus. We were surely far enough
advanced
on our voyage to allow of my going up. Some accident might have
happened
to him — but I could think of none which would account for his
suffering
me to remain so long a prisoner, except, indeed, his having suddenly
died
or fallen overboard, and upon this idea I could not dwell with any
degree
of patience. It was possible that we had been baffled by head winds,
and
were still in the near vicinity of Nantucket. This notion, however, I
was
forced to abandon; for, such being the case, the brig must have
frequently
gone about; and I was entirely satisfied, from her continual
inclination
to the larboard, that she had been sailing all along with a steady
breeze
on her starboard quarter. Besides, granting that we were still in the
neighbourhood
of the island, why should not Augustus have visited me and informed me
of the circumstance? Pondering in this manner upon the difficulties of
my solitary and cheerless condition, I resolved to wait yet another
twenty-four
hours, when, if no relief were obtained, I would make my way to the
trap,
and endeavour either to hold a parley with my friend, or get at least a
little fresh air through the opening, and a further supply of water
from
his stateroom. While occupied with this thought, however, I fell in [page
28:] spite of every exertion to the contrary, into a state
of
profound sleep, or rather stupor. My dreams were of the most terrific
description.
Every species of calamity and horror befell me. Among other miseries, I
was smothered to death between huge pillows, by demons of the most
ghastly
and ferocious aspect. Immense serpents held me in their embrace, and
looked
earnestly in my face with their fearfully shining eyes. Then deserts,
limitless,
and of the most forlorn and awe-inspiring character, spread themselves
out before me. Immensely tall trunks of trees, gray and leafless, rose
up in endless succession as far as the eye could reach. Their roots
were
concealed in wide-spreading morasses, whose dreary water lay intensely
black, still, and altogether terrible, beneath. And the strange trees
seemed
endowed with a human vitality, and, waving to and fro their skeleton
arms,
were crying to the silent waters for mercy, in the shrill and piercing
accents of the most acute agony and despair. The scene changed; and I
stood,
naked and alone, amid the burning sand-plains of Zahara. At my feet lay
crouched a fierce lion of the tropics. Suddenly his wild eyes opened
and
fell upon me. With a conculsive bound he sprang to his feet, and laid
bare
his horrible teeth. In another instant there burst from his red throat
a roar like the thunder of the firmament, and I fell impetuously to the
earth. Stifling in a paroxysm of terror, I at last found myself
partially
awake. My dream, then, was not all a dream. Now, at least, I was in
possession
of my senses. The paws of some huge and real monster were pressing
heavily
upon my bosom — his hot breath was in my ear — and his white and
ghastly
fangs were gleaming upon me through the gloom.
Had a thousand lives hung upon the
movement of a
limb or the utterance of a syllable, I could have neither stirred nor
spoken.
The beast, whatever it was, retained his position without attempting
any
immediate violence, while I lay in an utterly helpless, and, I fancied,
a dying condition beneath him. I felt that my powers of body and mind
were
fast leaving me — in a word, that I was perishing, and perishing of
sheer
fright. My brain [page 29:] swam — I grew deadly
sick
— my vision failed — even the glaring eyeballs above me grew dim.
Making
a last strong effort, I at length breathed a faint ejaculation to God,
and resigned myself to die. The sound of my voice seemed to arouse all
the latent fury of the animal. He precipitated himself at full length
upon
my body; but what was my astonishment, when, with a long and low whine,
he commenced licking my face and hands with the greatest eagerness, and
with the most extravagant demonstration of affection and joy! I was
bewildered,
utterly lost in amazement — but I could not forget the peculiar whine
of
my Newfoundland dog Tiger, and the odd manner of his caresses I well
knew.
It was he. I experienced a sudden rush of blood to my temples — a giddy
and overpowering sense of deliverance and reanimation. I rose hurriedly
from the mattress upon which I had been lying, and, throwing myself
upon
the neck of my faithful follower and friend, relieved the long
oppression
of my bosom in a flood of the most passionate tears.
As upon a former occasion, my
conceptions were in
a state of the greatest indistinctness and confusion after leaving the
mattress. For a long time I found it nearly impossible to connect any
ideas
— but, by very slow degrees, my thinking faculties returned, and I
again
called to memory the several incidents of my condition. For the
presence
of Tiger I tried in vain to account; and after busying myself with a
thousand
different conjectures respecting him, was forced to content myself with
rejoicing that he was with me to share my dreary solitude, and render
me
comfort by his caresses. Most people love their dogs — but for Tiger I
had an affection far more ardent than common; and never, certainly, did
any creature more truly deserve it. For seven years he had been my
inseparable
companion, and in a multitude of instances had given evidence of all
the
noble qualities for which we value the animal. I had rescued him, when
a puppy, from the clutches of a malignant little villain in Nantucket,
who was leading him, with a rope around his neck, to the water; and the
[page
30:] grown dog repaid the obligation, about three years
afterward,
by saving me from the bludgeon of a street-robber.
Getting now hold of the watch, I
found, upon applying
it to my ear, that it had again run down; but at this I was not at all
surprised, being convinced, from the peculiar state of my feelings,
that
I had slept, as before, for a very long period of time; how long, it
was
of course impossible to say. I was burning up with fever, and my thirst
was almost intolerable. I felt about the box for my little remaining
supply
of water; for I had no light, the taper having burnt to the socket of
the
lantern, and the phosphorus-box not coming readily to hand. Upon
finding
the jug, however, I discovered it to be empty — Tiger, no doubt, having
been tempted to drink it, as well as to devour the remnant of mutton,
the
bone of which lay, well picked, by the opening of the box. The spoiled
meat I could well spare, but my heart sank as I thought of the water. I
was feeble in the extreme — so much so that I shook all over, as with
an
ague, at the slightest movement or exertion. To add to my troubles, the
brig was pitching and rolling with great violence, and the oil-casks
which
lay upon my box were in momentary danger of falling down, so as to
block
up the only way of ingress or egress. I felt, also, terrible sufferings
from sea-sickness. These considerations determined me to make my way,
at
all hazards, to the trap, and obtain immediate relief, before I should
be incapacitated from doing so altogether. Having come to this resolve,
I again felt about for the phosphorus-box and tapers. The former I
found
after some little trouble; but, not discovering the tapers as soon as I
had expected (for I remembered very nearly the spot in which I had
placed
them), I gave up the search for the present, and bidding Tiger lie
quiet,
began at once my journey towards the trap.
In this attempt my great feebleness
became more than
ever apparent. It was with the utmost difficulty I could crawl along at
all, and very frequently my limbs sank suddenly from beneath me; when,
falling prostrate [page 31:] on my face, I would
remain
for some minutes in a state bordering on insensibility. Still I
struggled
forward by slow degrees, dreading every moment that I should swoon amid
the narrow and intricate windings of the lumber, in which event I had
nothing
but death to expect as the result. At length, upon making a push
forward
with all the energy I could command, I struck my forehead violently
against
the sharp corner of an iron-bound crate. The accident only stunned me
for
a few moments; but I found, to my inexpressible grief, that the quick
and
violent roll of the vessel had thrown the crate entirely across my
path,
so as effectually to block up the passage. With my utmost exertions I
could
not move it a single inch from its position, it being closely wedged in
among the surrounding boxes and ship-furniture. It became necessary,
therefore,
enfeebled as I was, either to leave the guidance of the whipcord and
seek
out a new passage, or to climb over the obstacle, and resume the path
on
the other side. The former alternative presented too many difficulties
and dangers to be thought of without a shudder. In my present weak
state
of both mind and body, I should infallibly lose my way if I attempted
it,
and perish miserably amid the dismal and disgusting labyrinths of the
hold.
I proceeded, therefore, without hesitation, to summon up all my
remaining
strength and fortitude, and endeavour, as I best might, to clamber over
the crate.
Upon standing erect, with this end in
view, I found
the undertaking even a more serious task than my fears had led me to
imagine.
On each side of the narrow passage arose a complete wall of various
heavy
lumber, which the least blunder on my part might be the means of
bringing
down upon my head; or, if this accident did not occur, the path might
be
effectually blocked up against my return by the descending mass, as it
was in front by the obstacle there. The crate itself was a long and
unwieldy
box, upon which no foothold could be obtained. In vain I attempted, by
every means in my power, to reach the top, with the hope of being thus
enabled to draw myself up. Had I succeeded in reaching [page
32:]
it, it is certain that my strength would have proved utterly inadequate
to the task of getting over, and it was better in every respect that I
failed. At length, in a desperate effort to force the crate from its
ground,
I felt a strong vibration in the side next me. I thrust my hand eagerly
to the edge of the planks, and found that a very large one was loose.
With
my pocket-knife, which luckily I had with me, I succeeded, after great
labour, in prying it entirely off; and getting it through the aperture,
discovered, to my exceeding joy, that there were no boards on the
opposite
side — in other words, that the top was wanting, it being the bottom
through
which I had forced my way. I now met with no important difficulty in
proceeding
along the line until I finally reached the nail. With a beating heart I
stood erect, and with a gentle touch pressed against the cover of the
trap.
It did not rise as soon as I had expected, and I pressed it with
somewhat
more determination, still dreading lest some other person than Augustus
might be in his stateroom. The door, however, to my astonishment,
remained
steady, and I became somewhat uneasy, for I knew that it had formerly
required
little or no effort to remove it. I pushed it strongly — it was
nevertheless
firm: with all my strength — it still did not give way: with rage, with
fury, with despair — it set 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 [page 33:]
of the aperture. Having found them, I examined them closely to
ascertain
if they emitted any light from the stateroom; but none was visible. I
then
forced the penblade of my 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 behaviour 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 towards 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
manœuvres.
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, [page 34:]
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. |
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