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[page 34:]
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CHAPTER III.
THE thought
instantly occurred
to me that the paper was a note from Augustus, and that some
unaccountable
accident having happened to prevent his relieving me from my dungeon,
he
had devised this method of acquainting me with the true state of
affairs.
Trembling with eagerness, I now commenced another search for my
phosphorus
matches and tapers. I had a confused recollection of having put them
carefully
away just before falling asleep; and, indeed, previously to my last
journey
to the trap, I had been able to remember the exact spot where I had
deposited
them. But now I endeavoured in vain to call it to mind, and busied
myself
for a full hour in a fruitless and vexatious search for the missing
articles;
never, surely, was there a more tantalizing state of anxiety and
suspense.
At length, while groping about, with my head close to the ballast, near
the opening of the box, and outside of it, I perceived a faint
glimmering
of light in the direction of the steerage. Greatly surprised, I
endeavoured
to make my way towards it, as it appeared to be but a few feet from my
position. Scarcely had I moved with this intention, when I lost sight
of
the glimmer entirely, and, before I could bring it into view again, was
obliged to feel along by the box until I had exactly resumed my
original
situation. Now, moving my head with caution to and fro, I found that,
by
proceeding slowly, with great care, in an opposite direction to that in
which I had at first [page 35:] started, I was
enabled
to draw near the light, still keeping it in view. Presently I came
directly
upon it (having squeezed my way through innumerable narrow windings),
and
found that it proceeded from some fragments of my matches lying in an
empty
barrel turned upon its side. I was wondering how they came in such a
place,
when my hand fell upon two or three pieces of taper wax, which had been
evidently mumbled by the dog. I concluded at once that he had devoured
the whole of my supply of candles, and I felt hopeless of being ever
able
to read the note of Augustus. The small remnants of the wax were so
mashed
up among other rubbish in the barrel, that I despaired of deriving any
service from them, and left them as they were. The phosphorus, of which
there was only a speck or two, I gathered up as well as I could, and
returned
with it, after much difficulty, to my box, where Tiger had all the
while
remained.
What to do next I could not tell. The
hold was so
intensely dark that I could not see my hand, however close I would hold
it to my face. The white slip of paper could barely be discerned, and
not
even that when I looked at it directly; by turning the exterior
portions
of the retina towards it, that is to say, by surveying it slightly
askance,
I found that it became in some measure perceptible. Thus the gloom of
my
prison may be imagined, and the note of my friend, if indeed it were a
note from him, seemed only likely to throw me into further trouble, by
disquieting to no purpose my already enfeebled and agitated mind. In
vain
I revolved in my brain a multitude of absurd expedients for procuring
light
— such expedients precisely as a man in the perturbed sleep occasioned
by opium would be apt to fall upon for a similar purpose — each and all
of which appear by turns to the dreamer the most reasonable and the
most
preposterous of conceptions, just as the reasoning or imaginative
faculties
flicker, alternately, one above the other. At last an idea occurred to
me which seemed rational, and which gave me cause to wonder, very
justly,
that I had not entertained it before. I [page 36:]
placed the slip of paper on the back of a book, and, collecting the
fragments
of the phosphorus matches which I had brought from the barrel, laid
them
together upon the paper. I then, with the palm of my hand, rubbed the
whole
over quickly yet steadily. A clear light diffused itself immediately
throughout
the whole surface; and had there been any writing upon it, I should not
have experienced the least difficulty, I am sure, in reading it. Not a
syllable was there, however — nothing but a dreary and unsatisfactory
blank;
the illumination died away in a few seconds, and my heart died away
within
me as it went.
I have before stated more than once
that my intellect,
for some period prior to this, had been in a condition nearly bordering
on idiocy. There were, to be sure, momentary intervals of perfect
sanity,
and, now and then, even of energy; but these were few. It must be
remembered
that I had been, for many days certainly, inhaling the almost
pestilential
atmosphere of a close hold in a whaling vessel, and a long portion of
that
time but scantily supplied with water. For the last fourteen or fifteen
hours I had none — nor had I slept during that time. Salt provisions of
the most exciting kind had been my chief, and, indeed, since the loss
of
the mutton, my only supply of food, with the exception of the
sea-biscuit;
and these latter were utterly useless to me, as they were too dry and
hard
to be swallowed in the swollen and parched condition of my throat. I
was
now in a high state of fever, and in every respect exceedingly ill.
This
will account for the fact that many miserable hours of despondency
elapsed
after my last adventure with the phosphorus, before the thought
suggested
itself that I had examined only one side of the paper. I shall not
attempt
to describe my feelings of rage (for I believe I was more angry than
anything
else) when the egregious oversight I had committed flashed suddenly
upon
my perception. The blunder itself would have been unimportant, had not
my own folly and impetuosity rendered it otherwise — in my
disappointment
at not finding some words upon the slip, I had [page 37:]
childishly torn it in pieces and thrown it away, it was impossible to
say
where.
From the worst part of this dilemma I
was relieved
by the sagacity of Tiger. Having got, after a long search, a small
piece
of the note, I put it to the dog's nose, and endeavoured to make him
understand
that he must bring me the rest of it. To my astonishment (for I had
taught
him none of the usual tricks for which his breed are famous), he seemed
to enter at once into my meaning, and, rummaging about for a few
moments,
soon found another considerable portion. Bringing me this, he paused a
while, and, rubbing his nose against my hand, appeared to be waiting
for
my approval of what he had done. I patted him on the head, when he
immediately
made off again. It was now some minutes before he came back — but when
he did come, he brought with him a large slip, which proved to be all
the
paper missing — it having been torn, it seems, only into three pieces.
Luckily, I had no trouble in finding what few fragments of the
phosphorus
were left — being guided by the indistinct glow one or two of the
particles
still emitted. My difficulties had taught me the necessity of caution,
and I now took time to reflect upon what I was about to do. It was very
probable, I considered, that some words were written upon that side of
the paper which had not been examined — but which side was that?
Fitting
the pieces together gave me no clew in this respect, although it
assured
me that the words (if there were any) would be found all on one side,
and
connected in a proper manner, as written. There was the greater
necessity
of ascertaining the point in question beyond a doubt, as the phosphorus
remaining would be altogether insufficient for a third attempt, should
I fail in the one I was now about to make. I placed the paper on a book
as before, and sat for some minutes thoughtfully revolving the matter
over
in my mind. At last I thought it barely possible that the written side
might have some unevenness on its surface, which a delicate sense of
feeling
might enable me to detect. I determined to make the experiment, and
passed
my finger very carefully [page 38:] over the side
which
first presented itself — nothing however, was perceptible, and I turned
the paper, adjusting it on the book. I now again carried my forefinger
cautiously along, when I was aware of an exceedingly slight, but still
discernable glow, which followed as it proceeded. This, I knew, must
arise
from some very minute remaining particles of the phosphorus with which
I had covered the paper in my previous attempt. The other, or under
side,
then, was that on which lay the writing, if writing there should
finally
prove to be. Again I turned the note, and went to work as I had
previously
done. Having rubbed in the phosphorus, a brilliancy ensued as before —
but this time several lines of MS. in a large hand, and apparently in
red
ink, became distinctly visible. The glimmer, although sufficiently
bright,
was but momentary. Still, had I not been too greatly excited, there
would
have been ample time enough for me to peruse the whole three sentences
before me — for I saw there were three. In my anxiety, however, to read
all at once, I succeeded only in reading the seven concluding words,
which
thus appeared: — "blood — your life depends upon lying close."
Had I been able to ascertain the
entire contents
of the note — the full meaning of the admonition which my friend had
thus
attempted to convey, that admonition, even although it should have
revealed
a story of disaster the most unspeakable, could not, I am firmly
convinced,
have imbued my mind with one tithe of the harrowing and yet indefinable
horror with which I was inspired by the fragmentary warning thus
received.
And "blood" too, that word of all words — so rife at all times
with
mystery, and suffering, and terror — how trebly full of import did it
now
appear — how chillily and heavily (disjointed, as it thus was, from any
foregoing words to qualify or render it distinct) did its vague
syllables
fall, amid the deep gloom of my prison, into the innermost recesses of
my soul!
Augustus had, undoubtedly, good
reasons for wishing
me to remain concealed, and I formed a thousand surmises as to what
they
could be — but I could think of [page 39:] nothing
affording a satisfactory solution of the mystery. Just after returning
from my last journey to the trap, and before my attention had been
otherwise
directed by the singular conduct of Tiger, I had come to the resolution
of making myself heard at all events by those on board, or, if I could
not succeed in this directly, of trying to cut my way through the orlop
deck. The half certainty which I felt of being able to accomplish one
of
these two purposes in the last emergency, had given me courage (which I
should not otherwise have had) to endure the evils of my situation. The
few words I had been able to read, however, had cut me off from these
final
resources, and I now, for the first time, felt all the misery of my
fate.
In a paroxysm of despair I threw myself again upon the mattress, where,
for about the period of a day and night, I lay in a kind of stupor,
relieved
only by momentary intervals of reason and recollection.
At length I once more arose, and
busied myself in
reflection upon the horrors which encompassed me. For another
twenty-four
hours it was barely possible that I might exist without water — for a
longer
time I could not do so. During the first portion of my imprisonment I
had
made free use of the cordials with which Augustus had supplied me, but
they only served to excite fever, without in the least degree assuaging
my thirst. I had now only about a gill left, and this was of a species
of strong peach liqueur at which my stomach revolted. The sausages were
entirely consumed; of the ham nothing remained but a small piece of the
skin; and all the biscuit, except a few fragments of one, had been
eaten
by Tiger. To add to my troubles, I found that my headache was
increasing
momentarily, and with it the species of delirium which had distressed
me
more or less since my first falling asleep. For some hours past it had
been with the greatest difficulty I could breathe at all, and now each
attempt at so doing was attended with the most distressing spasmodic
action
of the chest. But there was still another and very different source of
disquietude, and one, indeed, whose harassing terrors [page
40:]
had been the chief means of arousing me to exertion from my stupor on
the
mattress. It arose from the demeanour of the dog.
I first observed an alteration in his
conduct while
rubbing in the phosphorus on the paper in my last attempt. As I rubbed,
he ran his nose against my hand with a slight snarl; but I was too
greatly
excited at the time to pay much attention to the circumstance. Soon
afterward,
it will be remembered, I threw myself on the mattress, and fell into a
species of lethargy. Presently I became aware of a singular hissing
sound
close at my ears, and discovered it to proceed from Tiger, who was
panting
and wheezing in a state of the greatest apparent excitement, his
eyeballs
flashing fiercely through the gloom. I spoke to him, when he replied
with
a low growl, and then remained quiet. Presently I relapsed into my
stupor,
from which I was again awakened in a similar manner. This was repeated
three or four times, until finally his behaviour inspired me with so
great
a degree of fear that I became fully aroused. He was now lying close by
the door of the box, snarling fearfully, although in a kind of under
tone,
and grinding his teeth as if strongly convulsed. I had no doubt
whatever
that the want of water or the confined atmosphere of the hold had
driven
him mad, and I was at a loss what course to pursue. I could not endure
the thought of killing him, yet it seemed absolutely necessary for my
own
safety. I could distinctly perceive his eyes fastened upon me with an
expression
of the most deadly animosity, and I expected every instant that he
would
attack me. At last I could endure my terrible situation no longer, and
determined to make my way from the box at all hazards, and despatch
him,
if his opposition should render it necessary for me to do so. To get
out,
I had to pass directly over his body, and he already seemed to
anticipate
my design — raising himself upon his fore legs (as I perceived by the
altered
position of his eyes), and displaying the whole of his white fangs,
which
were easily discernible. I took the remains of the ham-skin, and the
bottle
containing the liqueur, and secured them about [page 41:]
my person, together with a large carving-knife which Augustus had left
me — then, folding my cloak as closely around me as possible, I made a
movement towards the mouth of the box. No sooner did I do this than the
dog sprang with a loud growl towards my throat. The whole weight of his
body struck me on the right shoulder, and I fell violently to the left,
while the enraged animal passed entirely over me. I had fallen upon my
knees, with my head buried among the blankets, and these protected me
from
a second furious assault, during which I felt the sharp teeth pressing
vigorously upon the woollen which enveloped my neck — yet, luckily,
without
being able to penetrate all the folds. I was now beneath the dog, and a
few moments would place me completely in his power. Despair gave me
strength,
and I rose bodily up, shaking him from me by main force, and dragging
with
me the blankets from the mattress. These I now threw over him, and
before
he could extricate himself I had got through the door and closed it
effectually
against his pursuit. In this struggle, however, I had been forced to
drop
the morsel of ham-skin, and I now found my whole stock of provisions
reduced
to a single gill of liqueur. As this reflection crossed my mind, I felt
myself actuated by one of those fits of perverseness which might be
supposed
to influence a spoiled child in similar circumstances, and, raising the
bottle to my lips, I drained it to the last drop, and dashed it
furiously
upon the floor.
Scarcely had the echo of the crash
died away, when
I heard my name pronounced in an eager but subdued voice, issuing from
the direction of the steerage. So unexpected was anything of the kind,
and so intense was the emotion excited within me by the sound, that I
endeavoured
in vain to reply. My powers of speech totally failed, and, in an agony
of terror lest my friend should conclude me dead, and return without
attempting
to reach me, I stood up between the crates near the door of the box,
trembling
convulsively, and gasping and struggling for utterance. Had a thousand
worlds depended upon a syllable, I could not have spoken it. [page
42:] There was a slight movement now audible among the
lumber
somewhere forward of my station. The sound presently grew less
distinct,
then again less so, and still less. Shall I ever forget my feelings at
this moment? He was going — my friend — my companion, from whom I had a
right to expect so much — he was going — he would abandon me — he was
gone!
He would leave me to perish miserably, to expire in the most horrible
and
loathsome of dungeons — and one word — one little syllable would save
me
— yet that single syllable I could not utter! I felt, I am sure, more
than
ten thousand times the agonies of death itself. My brain reeled, and I
fell, deadly sick, against the end of the box.
As I fell, the carving-knife was
shaken out from
the waistband of my pantaloons, and dropped with a rattling sound to
the
floor. Never did any strain of the richest melody come so sweetly to my
ears! With the intensest anxiety I listened to ascertain the effect of
the noise upon Augustus — for I knew that the person who called my name
could be no one but himself. All was silent for some moments. At length
I again heard the word [["]]Arthur! [["]]
repeated in a low tone,
and one full of hesitation. Reviving hope loosened at once my powers of
speech, and I now screamed, at the top of my voice, "Augustus! oh
Augustus!"
"Hush — for God's sake be silent!" he replied, in a voice trembling
with
agitation; "I will be with you immediately — as soon as I can make my
way
through the hold." For a long time I heard him moving among the lumber,
and every moment seemed to me an age. At length I felt his hand upon my
shoulder, and he placed at the same moment a bottle of water to my
lips.
Those only who have been suddenly redeemed from the jaws of the tomb,
or
who have known the insufferable torments of thirst under circumstances
as aggravated as those which encompassed me in my dreary prison, can
form
any idea of the unutterable transports which that one long draught of
the
richest of all physical luxuries afforded.
When I had in some degree satisfied
my thirst, Augustus
produced from his pocket three or four cold [page 43:]boiled
potatoes, which I devoured with the greatest avidity. He had brought
with
him a light in a dark lantern, and the grateful rays afforded me
scarcely
less comfort than the food and drink. But I was impatient to learn the
cause of his protracted absence, and he proceeded to recount what had
happened
on board during my incarceration. |
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