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[page 43:]
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CHAPTER IV.
THE brig put
to sea, as I had
supposed, in about an hour after he had left the watch. This was on the
twentieth of June. It will be remembered that I had then been in the
hold
for three days; and, during this period, there was so constant a bustle
on board, and so much running to and fro, especially in the cabin and
staterooms,
that he had had no chance of visiting me without the risk of having the
secret of the trap discovered. When at length he did come, I had
assured
him that I was doing as well as possible; and, therefore, for the two
next
days be felt but little uneasiness on my account — still, however,
watching
an opportunity of going down. It was not until the fourth day
that
he found one. Several times during this interval he had made up his
mind
to let his father know of the adventure, and have me come up at once;
but
we were still within reaching distance of Nantucket, and it was
doubtful,
from some expressions which had escaped Captain Barnard, whether he
would
not immediately put back if he discovered me to be on board. Besides,
upon
thinking the matter over, Augustus, so he told me, could not imagine
that
I was in immediate want, or that I would hesitate, in such case, to
make
myself heard at the trap. When, therefore, he considered everything, he
concluded to let me stay until he could meet with an opportunity of
visiting
me unobserved. This, as I said before, did [page 44:]
not occur until the fourth day after his bringing me the watch, and the
seventh since I had first entered the hold. He then went down without
taking
with him any water or provisions, intending in the first place merely
to
call my attention, and get me to come from the box to the trap — when
he
would go up to the stateroom and thence hand me down a supply. When he
descended for this purpose he found that I was asleep, for it seems
that
I was snoring very loudly. From all the calculations I can make on the
subject, this must have been the slumber into which I fell just after
my
return from the trap with the watch, and which, consequently, must have
lasted for more than three entire days and nights at the very
least.
Latterly, I have had reason, both from my own experience and the
assurance
of others, to be acquainted with the strong soporific effects of the
stench
arising from old fish-oil when closely confined; and when I think of
the
condition of the hold in which I was imprisoned, and the long period
during
which the brig had been used as a whaling vessel, I am more inclined to
wonder that I awoke at all, after once falling asleep, than that I
should
have slept uninterruptedly for the period specified above.
Augustus called to me at first in a
low voice and
without closing the trap — but I made him no reply. He then shut the
trap,
and spoke to me in a louder, and finally in a very loud tone — still I
continued to snore. He was now at a loss what to do. It would take him
some time to make his way through the lumber to my box, and in the mean
while his absence would be noticed by Captain Barnard, who had occasion
for his services every minute, in arranging and copying papers
connected
with the business of the voyage. He determined, therefore, upon
reflection,
to ascend, and await another opportunity of visiting me. He was the
more
easily induced to this resolve, as my slumber appeared to be of the
most
tranquil nature, and he could not suppose that I had undergone any
inconvenience
from my incarceration. He had just made up his mind on these points
when
his attention was arrested by an unusual bustle, the sound of [page
45:] which proceeded apparently from the cabin. He sprang
through
the trap as quickly as possible, closed it, and threw open the door of
his stateroom. No sooner had he put his foot over the threshold than a
pistol flashed in his face, and he was knocked down, at the same
moment,
by a blow from a handspike.
A strong hand held him on the cabin
floor, with a
tight grasp upon his throat — still he was able to see what was going
on
around him. His father was tied hand and foot, and lying along the
steps
of the companion-way with his head down, and a deep wound in the
forehead,
from which the blood was flowing in a continued stream. He spoke not a
word, and was apparently dying. Over him stood the first mate, eying
[[eyeing]]
him with an expression of fiendish derision, and deliberately searching
his pockets, from which he presently drew forth a large wallet and a
chronometer.
Seven of the crew (among whom was the cook, a negro) were rummaging the
staterooms on the larboard for arms, where they soon equipped
themselves
with muskets and ammunition. Besides Augustus and Captain Barnard,
there
were nine men altogether in the cabin, and these among the most
ruffianly
of the brig's company. The villains now went upon deck, taking my
friend
with them, after having secured his arms behind his back. They
proceeded
straight to the forecastle, which was fastened down — two of the
mutineers
standing by it with axes — two also at the main hatch. The mate called
out in a loud voice, "Do you hear there below? tumble up with you — one
by one, now, mark that — and no grumbling." It was some minutes before
any one appeared: at last an Englishman, who had shipped as a raw hand,
came up, weeping piteously, and entreating the mate in the most humble
manner to spare his life. The only reply was a blow on the forehead
from
an axe. The poor fellow fell to the deck without a groan, and the black
cook lifted him up in his arms as he would a child, and tossed him
deliberately
into the sea. Hearing the blow and the plunge of the body, the men
below
could now be induced to venture on deck neither by threats nor
promises, [page
46:] until a proposition was made to smoke them out. A
general
rush then ensued, and for a moment it seemed possible that the brig
might
be retaken. The mutineers, however, succeeded at last in closing the
forecastle
effectually before more than six of their opponents could get up. These
six, finding themselves so greatly outnumbered and without arms,
submitted
after a brief struggle. The mate gave them fair words — no doubt with a
view of inducing those below to yield, for they had no difficulty in
hearing
all that was said on deck. The result proved his sagacity, no less than
his diabolical villany. All in the forecastle presently signified their
intention of submitting, and, ascending one by one, were pinioned and
thrown
on their backs together with the first six — there being in all, of the
crew who were not concerned in the mutiny, twenty-seven.
A scene of the most horrible butchery
ensued. The
bound seamen were dragged to the gangway. Here the cook stood with an
axe,
striking each victim on the head as he was forced over the side of the
vessel by the other mutineers. In this manner twenty-two perished, and
Augustus had given himself up for lost, expecting every moment his own
turn to come next. But it seemed that the villains were now either
weary,
or in some measure disgusted with their bloody labour; for the four
remaining
prisoners, together with my friend, who had been thrown on the deck
with
the rest, were respited while the mate sent below for rum, and the
whole
murderous party held a drunken carouse, which lasted until sunset. They
now fell to disputing in regard to the fate of the survivors, who lay
not
more than four paces off, and could distinguish every word said. Upon
some
of the mutineers the liquor appeared to have a softening effect, for
several
voices were heard in favour of releasing the captives altogether, on
condition
of joining the mutiny and sharing the profits. The black cook, however
(who in all respects was a perfect demon, and who seemed to exert as
much
influence, if not more, than the mate himself), would listen to no
proposition
of the kind, and rose repeatedly for the purpose of resuming his work
at [page
47:] the gangway. Fortunately, he was so far overcome by
intoxication
as to be easily restrained by the less bloodthirsty of the party, among
whom was a line-manager, who went by the name of Dirk Peters. This man
was the son of an Indian squaw of the tribe of Upsarokas, who live
among
the fastnesses of the Black Hills near the source of the Missouri. His
father was a fur-trader, I believe, or at least connected in some
manner
with the Indian trading-posts on Lewis river. Peters himself was one of
the most purely ferocious-looking men I ever beheld. He was short in
stature
— not more than four feet eight inches high — but his limbs were of the
most Herculean mould. His hands, especially, were so enormously thick
and
broad as hardly to retain a human shape. His arms, as well as legs,
were bowed
in the most singular manner, and appeared to possess no flexibility
whatever.
His head was equally deformed, being of immense size, with an
indentation
on the crown (like that on the head of most negroes), and entirely
bald.
To conceal this latter deficiency, which did not proceed from old age,
he usually wore a wig formed of any hair-like material which presented
itself — occasionally the skin of a Spanish dog or American grizzly
bear.
At the time spoken of he had on a portion of one of these bearskins;
and
it added no little to the natural ferocity of his countenance, which
betook
of the Upsaroka character. The mouth extended nearly from ear to ear;
the
lips were thin, and seemed, like some other portions of his frame, to
be
devoid of natural pliancy, so that the ruling expression never varied
under
the influence of any emotion whatever. This ruling expression may be
conceived
when it is considered that the teeth were exceedingly long and
protruding,
and never even partially covered, in any instance, by the lips. To pass
this man with a casual glance, one might imagine him to be convulsed
with
laughter — but a second look would induce a shuddering acknowledgment,
that if such an expression were indicative of merriment, the merriment
must be that of a demon. Of this singular being many anecdotes were
prevalent
among the seafaring men of Nantucket. [page 48:] These
anecdotes went to prove his prodigious strength when under excitement,
and some of them had given rise to a doubt of his sanity. But on board
the Grampus, it seems, he was regarded at the time of the mutiny with
feelings
more of derision than of anything else. I have been thus particular in
speaking of Dirk Peters, because, ferocious as he appeared, he proved
the
main instrument in preserving the life of Augustus, and because I shall
have frequent occasion to mention him hereafter in the course of my
narrative
— a narrative, let me here say, which, in its latter portions, will be
found to include incidents of a nature so entirely out of the range of
human experience, and for this reason so far beyond the limits of human
credulity, that I proceed in utter hopelessness of obtaining credence
for
all that I shall tell, yet confidently trusting in time and progressing
science to verify some of the most important and most improbable of my
statements.
After much indecision and two or
three violent quarrels,
it was determined at last that all the prisoners (with the exception of
Augustus, whom Peters insisted in a jocular manner upon keeping as his
clerk) should be set adrift in one of the smallest whaleboats. The mate
went down into the cabin to see if Captain Barnard was still living —
for,
it will be remembered, he was left below when the mutineers came up.
Presently
the two made their appearance, the captain pale as death, but somewhat
recovered from the effects of his wound. He spoke to the men in a voice
hardly articulate, entreated them not to set him adrift, but to return
to their duty, and promising to land them wherever they chose, and to
take
no steps for bringing them to justice. He might as well have spoken to
the winds. Two of the ruffians seized him by the arms and hurled him
over
the brig's side into the boat, which had been lowered while the mate
went
below. The four men who were lying on the deck were then untied and
ordered
to follow, which they did without attempting any resistance — Augustus
being still left in his painful position, although he struggled and
prayed
only for the poor satisfaction of [page 49:] being
permitted to bid his father farewell. A handful of sea-biscuit and a
jug
of water were now handed down; but neither mast, sail, oar, nor
compass.
The boat was towed astern for a few minutes, during which the mutineers
held another consultation — it was then finally cut adrift. By this
time
night had come on — there were neither moon nor stars visible — and a
short
and ugly sea was running, although there was no great deal of wind. The
boat was instantly out of sight, and little hope could be entertained
for
the unfortunate sufferers who were in it. This event happened, however,
in latitude 35º 30' north, longitude 61º 20' west, and
consequently
at no very great distance from the Bermuda Islands. Augustus therefore
endeavoured to console himself with the idea that the boat might either
succeed in reaching the land, or come sufficiently near to be fallen in
with by vessels off the coast.
All sail was now put upon the brig, and she
continued
her original course to the southwest — the mutineers being bent upon
some
piratical expedition, in which, from all that could be understood, a
ship
was to be intercepted on her way from the Cape Verd Islands to Porto
Rico.
No attention was paid to Augustus, who was untied and suffered to go
about
anywhere forward of the cabin companion-way. Dirk Peters treated him
with
some degree of kindness, and on one occasion saved him from the
brutality
of the cook. His situation was still one of the most precarious, as the
men were continually intoxicated, and there was no relying upon their
continued
good-humour or carelessness in regard to himself. His anxiety on my
account
he represented, however, as the most distressing result of his
condition;
and, indeed, I had never reason to doubt the sincerity of his
friendship.
More than once he had resolved to acquaint the mutineers with the
secret
of my being on board, but was restrained from so doing, partly through
recollection of the atrocities he had already beheld, and partly
through
a hope of being able soon to bring me relief. For the latter purpose he
was constantly on the watch; but, in spite of the most constant
vigilance,
three days elapsed [page 50:] after the boat was
cut
adrift before any chance occurred. At length, on the night of the third
day, there came on a heavy blow from the eastward, and all hands were
called
up to take in sail. During the confusion which ensued, he made his way
below unobserved, and into the stateroom. What was his grief and horror
in discovering that the latter had been rendered a place of deposite
for
a variety of sea-stores and ship-furniture, and that several fathoms of
old chain-cable, which had been stowed away beneath the
companion-ladder,
had been dragged thence to make room for a chest, and were now lying
immediately
upon the trap! To remove it without discovery was impossible, and he
returned
on deck as quickly as he could. As he came up the mate seized him by
the
throat, and demanding what he had been doing in the cabin, was about
flinging
him over the larboard bulwark, when his life was again preserved
through
the interference of Dirk Peters. Augustus was now put in handcuffs (of
which there were several pairs on board), and his feet lashed tightly
together.
He was then taken into the steerage, and thrown into a lower berth next
to the forecastle bulkheads, with the assurance that he should never
put
his foot on deck again "until the brig was no longer a brig." This was
the expression of the cook, who threw him into the berth — it is hardly
possible to say what precise meaning was intended by the phrase. The
whole
affair, however, proved the ultimate means of my relief, as will
presently
appear. |
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