Classic Audiobook Collection - The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe ~ Full Audiobook [horror]

Episode Date: March 31, 2023

The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe audiobook. Genre: horror When young Arthur Gordon Pym, a restless teenager in Nantucket, convinces his friend Augustus Barnard to help him stow away on a whaling voyage, he expects adventure - not a descent into terror. Hidden in the cramped hold of the Grampus, Pym is plunged into darkness, hunger, and delirium as the ship lurches into crisis. When disaster erupts above deck, he and a handful of survivors are forced into uneasy alliances, facing mutiny, brutal violence, and the thin line between courage and desperation. Cast adrift on an indifferent ocean, their struggle becomes a grim test of endurance as they chase uncertain rescue and reckon with what people will do to live. Yet survival only opens the door to stranger horizons. As Pym's journey carries him farther south into unknown seas, the familiar rules of navigation, nature, and human behavior begin to warp, and the expedition turns into an eerie exploration of the boundaries between fact and nightmare. Poe blends sea tale realism with mounting dread, building a voyage that is as much about the mind's extremes as the world's edge. For ad-free listening try our premium subscription Chapters (Approximate) (00:00:00) Chapter 00 (00:05:06) Chapter 01 (00:27:09) Chapter 02 (01:06:05) Chapter 03 (01:27:25) Chapter 04 (01:45:44) Chapter 05 (02:03:00) Chapter 06 (02:23:18) Chapter 07 (02:38:57) Chapter 08 (02:55:56) Chapter 09 (03:14:35) Chapter 10 (03:26:16) Chapter 11 (03:42:04) Chapter 12 (04:05:35) Chapter 13 (04:27:38) Chapter 14 (04:48:42) Chapter 15 (05:00:18) Chapter 16 (05:11:59) Chapter 17 (05:24:24) Chapter 18 (05:39:38) Chapter 19 (05:52:48) Chapter 20 (06:08:37) Chapter 21 (06:20:42) Chapter 22 (06:35:01) Chapter 23 (06:45:41) Chapter 24 (07:00:43) Chapter 25 (07:13:05) Chapter 26 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pim of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe. Chapter 1 My name is Arthur Gordon Pim. My father was a respectable trader in C-Stores at Nantucket, where I was born. My maternal grandfather was an attorney in good practice. He was fortunate in everything, and had speculated very successfully in stocks of the Edgerton New Bank, as it was formerly called. By these and other means, he had managed to leave. lay by a tolerable sum of money. He was more attached to myself, I believe, than to any other person

in the world, and I expected to inherit the most of his property at his death. He sent me, at six years of age, to the school of old Mr. Ricketts, a gentleman with only one arm and of eccentric manners. He is well known to almost every person who has visited New Bedford. I stayed at his school until I was when I left him for Mr. E. Ronald's Academy on the hill. Here I became intimate with the son of Mr. Bernard, a sea-captain, who generally sailed in the employ of Lloyd and Vredenburg. Mr. Bernard is also very well known in New Bedford, and has many relations, I am certain, in Edgerton.

His son was named Augustus, and he was nearly two years older than myself. He had been on a whaling voyage with his father in the John Donaldson and was always talking to me of his adventures in the South Pacific Ocean. I used frequently to go home with him and remain all day and sometimes all night. We occupied the same bed, and he would be sure to keep me awake until almost light, telling me stories of the natives of the island of Tinian and other places he had visited in his travels. At last I could not help being interested in what he said, and by degrees I felt the greatest desire to go to sea.

I owned a sailboat called the Ariel, and worth about seventy-five. She had a half-deck or cuddy and was rigged sloop fashion. I forget her tonnage, but she would hold ten persons without much crowding. In this boat we are in the habit of going on some of the maddest freaks in the world, and, when I now think of them, it appears to me a thousand wonders that I am alive today. I will relate one of these adventures by way of introduction to a longer and more momentous narrative. One night there was a party at Mr. Bernard's, and both Augustus and myself were not a little intoxicated toward the close of it. As usual, in such cases, I took part of his bed in preference to going home. He went to sleep, as I thought, very quietly, it being nearly one when the party broke up, and without saying a word on his favorite topic. It might have been half an hour from the time of our getting in bed, and I was just about falling into a doze,

when he suddenly started up and swore with the terrible, oath that he would not go to sleep for any Arthur Pim and Christendom when there was so glorious a breeze from the South West. I never was so astonished in my life, not knowing what he intended, and thinking that the wines and liquors he had drunk had set him entirely beside himself. He proceeded to talk very coolly, however, saying he knew that I supposed him intoxicated, but that he was never more sober in his life. He was only tired, he added, of lying in bed on such a fine night like a dog, and was determined to get up and dress and go out on a frolic with the boat. I can hardly tell what possessed me, but the words were no sooner out of his mouth

than I felt a thrill of the greatest excitement and pleasure, and thought his mad idea one of the most delightful and most reasonable things in the world. It was blowing almost a gale, and the weather was very cold, it being late in October. I sprang out of bed, nevertheless, in a kind of ecstasy, and told him I was quite as brave as himself,

and quite as tired as he was of lying in bed like a dog, and quite as ready for any fun or frolic as any Augustus Bernard in Nantucket. We lost no time in getting on her clothes and hurrying down to the boat. She was lying at the old decayed wharf by the lumberyard of Panky and company, and almost thumping her side out against the rough logs. Augustus got into her and bailed her, for she was nearly half full of water. This being done, we hoisted jib and mainsail, kept full, and started boldly out to sea.

The wind, as I before said, blew freshly from the southwest. The night was very clear and cold. Augustus had taken the helm, and I stationed myself by the mast, on the deck of the cuddy. We flew along at a great rate, neither of us having said a word

since casting loose from the wharf. I now asked my companion what course he intended to steer, and what time he thought it probable we should get back. He whistled for a few minutes and then said crustily, I am going to see. You may go home if you think proper. Turning my eyes upon him, I perceived at once that, in spite of his assumed nonchalance, he was greatly agitated. I could see him distinctly by the light of the moon.

His face was paler than any marble, and his hand shook so excessively that he could scarcely retain hold of the tiller. I found that something had gone wrong. and became seriously alarmed. At this period I knew little about the management of a boat, and was now depending entirely upon the nautical skill of my friend. The wind, too, had suddenly increased, as we were fast getting out of the lee of the land.

Still, I was ashamed to betray any trepidation, and for almost half an hour maintained a resolute silence. I could stand it no longer, however, and spoke to Augustus about the propriety of turning back. as before it was nearly a minute before he made answer or took any notice of my suggestion. By and by, he said at length. Time enough. Home, by and by. I had expected a similar reply, but there was something in the tone of these words

which filled me with an indescribable feeling of dread. I again looked at the speaker attentively. His lips were perfectly livid, and his knees shook so violently together that he seemed scarcely able to stand. For God's sake, Augustus, I screamed. Now heartily frightened, what ails you? What is the matter? What are you going to do?

Matter, he stammered, in the greatest apparent surprise, letting go the tiller at the same moment and falling forward into the bottom of the boat. Matter, why, nothing is the matter. Going home, don't you see? The whole truth now flashed upon me. I flew to him and raised him up. He was drunk, beastly drunk. He could no longer either stand, speak, or see. His eyes were perfectly glazed, and as I let him go in the extremity of my despair, he rolled like a mere log into the bilge water from which I had lifted him. It was evident that, during the evening, he had drunk far more than I suspected, and that his conduct in bed had been the result of a highly concentrated state of intoxication. A state which, like madness, frequently enables the victim to imitate the outward demeanor of one in perfect possession of his senses.

The coolness of the night air, however, had had its usual effect. The mental energy began to yield before its influence, and the confused perception which he no doubt then had of his perilous situation had assisted in hastening the catastrophe. He was now thoroughly insensible, and there was no probability that he would be otherwise for many hours. It is hardly possible to conceive the extremity of my terror. The fumes of the wine lately taken had evaporated, leaving me doubly timid and irresolute.

I knew that I was altogether incapable of managing the boat, and that a fierce wind and strong ebb tide were hurrying us to destruction. A storm was evidently gathering behind us. We had neither compass nor provisions, and it was clear that, if we held our present course, we should be out of sight of land before daybreak. These thoughts, with a crowd of others equally fearful, flashed through my mind with a bewildering rapidity, and for some moments paralys me beyond the possibility of making any exertion.

The boat was going through the water at a terrible rate, full before the wind, no reef in either jib or mainsail, running her bows completely under the foam. It was a thousand wonders she did not broach, too, Augustus having let go of the tiller, as I said before, and I being too much agitated to think of taking it myself. By good luck, however, she kept steady, and gradually I recovered some degree of presence of mind. Still the wind was increasing fearfully, and whenever we rose from a plunge forward, the sea behind fell combing over our counter, and deluged us with water. I was so utterly benumbed, too, in every limb as to be nearly unconscious of sensation.

At length I summoned up the resolution of despair, and rushing to the mainsail, let it go by the run. As might have been expected, it flew over the boughs, and getting drenched with water, carried away the mast short off by the board. This latter accident alone saved me from instant destruction. Under the jib only, I now boomed along before the wind, shipping heavy seas occasionally over the counter, but relieved from the terror of immediate death. I took the helm and breathed with utter freedom as I found that there yet remained to us a chance of ultimate escape. Augustus still lay senseless in the bottom of the boat, and as there was imminent danger of his drowning, the water was nearly a foot deep just where he fell, I contrived to raise him partially up, and keep him in a sitting position by passing a rope round his waist,

and lashing it to a ring bolt in the deck of the cuddy. Having thus arranged everything as well as I could in my chilled and agitated condition, I recommended myself to God, and made up my mind to bear whatever might happen with all the fortitude in my power. Hardly had I come to this resolution when suddenly, a loud and long scream or yell, as if from the throats of a thousand demons, seem to pervade the whole atmosphere around and above the boat. Never while I live shall I forget the intense egg-egette. of terror I experienced at that moment. My hair stood erect on my head. I felt the blood congealing in my veins. My heart ceased utterly to beat. And without having once raised my eyes to

learn the source of my alarm, I tumbled headlong and insensible upon the body of my fallen companion. I found myself upon reviving, in the cabin of a large whaling ship, the penguin, bound to Nantucket. Several persons were standing over me, and Augustus, paler than death, was busily occupied in chafing my hands. Upon seeing me open my eyes, his exclamations of gratitude and joy, excited alternate laughter and tears from the rough-looking personages who were present. The mystery of our being in existence was now soon explained. We had been run down by the whaling ship, which was close-hauled, beating up to Nantucket with every sail-she could venture to set, and consequently running almost at right angles to our own course. Several men were on the lookout forward,

but did not perceive our boat until it was an impossibility to avoid coming in contact. Their shouts of warning upon seeing us were what so terribly alarmed me. The huge ship, I was told, rode immediately over us with as much ease as our own little vessel would have passed over a feather, and without the least perceptible impediment to her progress. Not a scream arose from the deck of the victim. There was a slight grating sound to be heard mingling with the roar of wind and water, as the frail bark which was swallowed up rubbed for a moment along the keel of her destroyer.

But this was all. Thinking our boat, which it will be remembered was dismasted, some mere shell cut adrift as useless, the captain, Captain E, T, V, Block of New London, was for proceeding on his course without troubling himself further about the matter. luckily there were two of the lookout who swore positively to having seen some person at our helm and represented the possibility of yet saving him a discussion ensued when block grew angry and after a while said that it was no business of his to be eternally watching for egg-shells that the ship should not put about for any such nonsense as if there was a man run down it was nobody's fault but his own he might drown and be damned or some language to that effect henderson the first mate now took the matter up being justly indignant as well as the whole ship's crew at a speech evincing no base a degree of heartless atrocity

he spoke plainly seeing himself upheld by the men told the captain he considered him a fit subject for the gallows and that he would disobey his orders if he were hanged for it the moment he set his foot on shore he strode aft jostling block who turned pale and made no answer on one side and seizing the helm, gave the word, in a firm voice, Hard Ali! The men flew to their posts, and the ship went cleverly about. All this had occupied nearly five minutes, and it was supposed to be hardly within the bounds of possibility that any individual could be saved, allowing any to have been on board the boat. Yet, as the reader has seen, both Augustus and myself were rescued, and our deliverance seemed to have been brought about by two of those almost inconceivable

pieces of good fortune, which are attributed by the wise and pious to the special interference of Providence. While the ship was yet in stays, the mate lowered the jolly boat and jumped into her with the very two men, I believe, who spoke up as having seen me at the helm. They had just left the lee of the vessel, the moon still shining brightly, when she made a long and heavy roll to windward, and Henderson, at the same moment, starting up in his seat, bawled out to his crew to backwater. He would say nothing else, repeating his cry impatiently, backwater, backwater! The men put back as speedily as possible, but by this time the ship had gone round and gotten fully under headway, although all hands on board were making great exertions to take in sail.

In despite of the danger of the attempt, the mate clung to the main chains as soon as they came within his reach. Another huge lurch now brought the starboard side of the vessel out of water nearly as far as your keel, when the cause of his anxiety was rendered obvious enough. The body of a man was seen to be affixed in the most singular manner to the smooth and shining bottom, the penguin was coppered and copper fastened, and beating violently against it with every movement of the hull. After several ineffectual efforts, made during the lurches of the ship, and at the imminent risk of swamping the boat, I was finally disengaged for my perilous situation and taken on board, for the body proved to be my own.

It appeared that one of the timber bolts, having started and broken a passage through the copper, it had rested my progress as I passed under the ship, and fastened me in so extraordinary a manner to her bottom. The head of the bolt had made its way through the collar of the green-based jacket I had on, and through the back part of my neck, forcing itself out between two sinews and just below the right ear. I was immediately put to bed, although life seemed to be totally extinct. There was no surgeon on board. The captain, however, treated me with every attention,

to make amends, I presume, in the eyes of his crew, for his atrocious behavior in the previous portion of the adventure. In the meantime, Henderson had again put off from the ship, although the wind was now blowing almost a hurricane. He'd not been gone many minutes when he fell in with some fragments of our boat, and shortly afterward one of the men with him asserted that he could distinguish a cry for help at intervals amid the roaring of the tempest. This induced the hardy seaman to persevere in their search for more than half an hour,

although repeated signals to return were made them by Captain Block, and although every moment on the water in so frail a boat was fraught to them with the most imminent and deadly peril. Indeed, it is nearly impossible to conceive how the small jolly they were in could have escaped destruction for a single instant. She was built, however, for the whaling service, and was fitted, as I have since had reason to believe, with air-boxes in the manner of some life-boats used on the coast of whales.

After searching in vain for about the period of time just mentioned, it was determined to get back to the ship. They had scarcely made this resolve when a feeble cry arose from a dark object that floated rapidly by. They pursued and soon overtook it. It proved to be the infant, entire deck of the Ariel's cuddy. Augustus was struggling near it, apparently in the last agonies. Upon getting hold of him it was found that he was attached by a rope to the floating timber.

This rope, it will be remembered, I had myself tied around his waist, and made fast to a ring bolt, for the purpose of keeping him in an upright position, and my so doing, it appeared, had been ultimately the means of preserving his life. The Ariel was slightly put together, and in going down, her frame naturally went to pieces. The deck of the cuddy, as might have been expected, was lifted by the force of the water rushing in, entirely from the main timbers, and floated, with other fragments, no doubt, to the surface. Augustus was buoyed up with it, and thus escaped a terrible death. It was more than an hour after being taken on board the penguin, before he could give any account of himself, or we made to comprehend the nature of the accident

which had befallen our boat. At length, he became thoroughly aroused, and spoke much of his sensations while in the water. Upon his first attaining any degree of consciousness, he found himself beneath the surface, whirling round and round with inconceivable rapidity, and with a rope wrapped in three or four folds tightly about his neck. In an instant afterward he felt himself going rapidly upward, when his head striking violently against a hard substance, he again relapsed into insensibility. Upon once more reviving, he was was in fuller possession of his reason. This was still, however, in the greatest degree clouded and confused. He now knew that some accident had occurred, and that he was in the water, although his

mouth was above the surface, and he could breathe with some freedom. Possibly at this period, the deck was drifting rapidly before the wind, and drawing him after it as he floated upon his back. Of course, as long as he could have retained this position, it would have been nearly impossible that he should be drowned. Presently a surge threw him directly. directly athwart the deck, and this post he endeavored to maintain, screaming at intervals for help. Just before he was discovered by Mr. Henderson, he had been obliged to relax his hold through exhaustion, and, falling into the sea, had given himself up for lost. During the whole period of his struggles, he had not the faintest recollection of the aerial,

nor of the matters in connection with the source of his disaster. A vague feeling of terror and despair had taken entire possession of his faculties, When he was finally picked up, every power of his mind had failed him, and, as before said, it was nearly an hour after getting on board the penguin before he became fully aware of his condition. In regard to myself, I was resuscitated from a state bordering very nearly upon death, and after every other means had been tried in vain for three hours and a half, by vigorous friction with flannels bathed in hot oil, a proceeding suggested by Augustus. The wound in my neck, although of an ugly appearance, proved a little real consequence,

and I soon recovered from its effects. The penguin got into port about nine o'clock in the morning, after encountering one of the severest gales ever experienced off in Antucket. Both Augustus and myself managed to appear at Mr. Bernard's in time for breakfast, which, luckily, was somewhat late, owing to the party overnight. I suppose all at the table were too much. fatigued themselves to notice our jaded appearance. Of course, it would not have borne a very rigid scrutiny. Schoolboys, however, can accomplish wonders in the way of deception, and I verily believe

not one of our friends in Nantucket had the slightest suspicion that the terrible story told by some sailors in town of their having run down a vessel at sea, and drowned some thirty or forty poor devils, had reference either to the aerial, my companion, or myself. We too have since very frequently talked the matter over, but never without a shudder. In one of our conversations, Augustus frankly confessed to me that in his whole life he had at no time experienced so excruciating a sense of dismay, as when on board our little boat he first discovered the extent of his intoxication and felt himself sinking beneath its influence. End of Chapter 1. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain.

more information or to volunteer please visit libravox.org recording by joseph laverte miamisburg ohio may 2006 www.kaneflyrods dot us the narrative of arthur gordon pymn of nantucket by edgar allan poe chapter two 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 color, 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 half of which I now suspect to have been sheer fabrication, 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, which he depicted his more terrible moments of suffering and despair. As to the bright side of the painting, I had 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 the amount of two 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 fulfill. Augustus thoroughly entered into my state of mind. It is probable indeed that our intimate communion had resulted, in a partial interchange of character. About 18 months after the period of the Ariel's disaster, the firm of Lloyd and Vrendenburg, a house connected in some manner with Ms. Surz 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 one all was done to her that could be done. I hardly know why she was chosen in preference to the other good vessels belonging to the same owners. But so it was.

Mr. Bernard was appointed to commander, 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 to all hazards, and having made known my intentions to Augustus, we set out about arranging a plan by which it would be accomplished.

In the meantime, I forbore speaking to any of my relations in regard to the voyage, and 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 surprise. The intense hypocrisy I made use of for the furtherance of my project, and 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 look forward to the fulfillment 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. It was employed for the greater part of every day

on board the grampas, attending to some arrangements for his father in the cabin and cabin hauled. 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 a habit of spending a 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 Emmett, his sons. Augustus charged himself with indicting of this note and getting it delivered, having set out as opposed 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 our 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 Monday morning I left the house for New Bedford Packet. as supposed. I went, however, straight to Augustus, who was waiting for me at the corner of the 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 favor,

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 easily recognized. 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, whose dirty cloak is that you have on?' "'Sir,' I replied, assuming. as well as I could in the extenancy of the moment, an air of offended surprise, and talking in the gruffus of all imaginable tones, Sir, you are somewhat mistaken, my name in the first place,

bent nothing at all like gotten, and I want you to for no better, you blackguard, than to call my new Obercoat a d'artaguan. 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 turned around, 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 did it good for nothing saltwater long tom After this narrow escape, we proceeded with greater caution and arrived at our point of destination and safety. There were only one or two of the hands on board, and these were busy forward doing something to the folks of comings. Captain Bernard, we knew very well, was engaged at Lloyd and Redenburgs, and would remain there until late in the evening, so he 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 the floor of both the cabin and estate rooms. The ceiling was a 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 foot long and had only one berth, which as I said before was wide and convenient. In that portion of the closet nearest the bulkhead there was a space of four square feet,

a table, a chair, and a set of hanging shells 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 16 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 a finger beneath.

In this manner, he raised a moth of the trap, to which the carpet was still fastened by tacks. And I found that it led into the afterhold. He next lit a small taper by the means of a phosphorus match, and placing the light in a dark lantern, descended with it through the opening, bidding me fall off. I did so, and he then pulled the cover upon the hole

by means of a nail driven into the underside. 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 lump among which I now found myself. By degrees, however, my eyes became accustomed 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 used sometimes for packing fine earthenware. It was nearly four feet high, and I fold six long. but very narrow. Two large empty oil casts lay on 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 Iran was wedged as closely as possible, even up to the ceiling, a complete chaos of almost every species of ship furniture, together with a heretrogenious medley of crates, ampers, 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 Augusta had purposely arranged the stowage in this hall with a view to affording me a thorough concealment, having had only one assistant in the labor, a man not going out in the brig. My companion now showed me that, 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 end of the cabin burrs covered the hole of its bottom, and it contained almost every article of mere comfort which could be crowded into so small 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 baloney sausages, an enormous ham, a cold leg of roast mutton, and a half-dozen bottles of cordials and liquors.

I proceeded immediately to take possession of my little apartment, and with feelings of higher satisfaction, I am sure, than any moment. 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 whip cord lying along it. This, he said, extended from my hiding place throughout and the necessary windings among the lumber to a nail which was driven into the deck of the hold, immediately beneath the trap door leaning into his stateroom. By means of this cord, I should be enabled,

ready to trace my way out without his guidance, provided any unlook-for accident should render such a step necessary. He now took his departure, leaving me with a lantern, together with a copious supply of tapers and phosphorus, and promising to pay me a visit as often as he could contrived to do without observation. This was on the 17th 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 the sea every hour, and in the bustle he would not easily find opportunities of coming down to me.

At length I heard the trapdoor 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 I can be. When will the brig sail? She will be underway in less than a half hour, he answered. I came to let you know, and for fear you should be uneasy in my absence. I shall not have a chance of coming down to you again for some time, perhaps three or four days. All was going right above board. After I go up and close the trap, do you creep along by the whip cord 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've been buried. Only three days. This is the 20th. I would bring the watch to your box, but I'm 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 and wait 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 the windings innumerable, and some of which I discovered that, after tolling 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 Clark 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 recollectual. and 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 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 in discovering it to be in a state of absolute putrefication? This circumstance occasioned may 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 in an ordinately 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. Throughout the whole of the next tedious 24 hours,

no person came to my relief, and I could not help accusing Augustus of the grossest in attention. 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 balona, 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 the desire to sleep, yet trembled at the thought of indulging in it, lest there might exist some pernicious influence like that of burning charcoal in the confined air of a hold.

In the meantime, the roll of the brig told me that we were far in the main ocean, and the dull humming sound which reached my ears as if from an immense distance, convinced to 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 my going up. Some accident must 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 the headwinds 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.

Pondering in this manner upon the difficulties of my solitary and cheerless condition, I resolved to wait yet another 24 hours when, if no relief were obtained, I would make my way to the trap, an endeavor 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 the stateroom. While occupied with this thought, however, I fell in 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 a death between huge pillows by demons of the most ghastly and ferocious aspect. Ement serpents held me in their embrace and looked earnestly in my face with their fearfully shining eyes. Then deserts, limitless,

end of the most forlorn and awe-inspiring character spread themselves out before me. Rose up in endless succession as far as the eye could reach. Their roots were concealed in widespread marays, whose dreary water lay intensely black, still, and altogether terrible beneath.

And the strange trees seemed endowed with human vitality, and waved to and fro with their skeleton arms, were crying to the silent waters for mercy and the shrill and piercing accents of the most acute agony and despair. The scene changed, and I stood naked and alone, and missed the burning sand, plains of the sands, Sahara. At my feet lay crouched a fierce lion of the tropics. Suddenly his wild eyes opened and fell upon me. With a conglusive 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 proxium of terror, I at last found,

myself partially awake. My dream then was not all a dream. Now at least I was in the 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 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 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 arise all the latent fury of the animal. He precipitated himself at full end upon my body,

but what was my astonishment when, with a long and low wine. He commenced licking my face and hands with great 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 wine 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 and 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 important, possible to connect any ideas, but by very slow degrees my thinking faculty's 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 busing myself of a thousand different conjectures respecting him, was forced to content myself with rejoicing that he was with me to share my jury solitude, and render me comfort by him. his caresses. Most people love their dogs, but for Tagger, 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 of which we value the animal. I had rescued him when a puppy from the clutches of a in lignant little villain in Nantucket who was leading him with a rope around his neck to the water. And the grown dog repaid the obligation about three years afterward by saving me from the bludgeon of a street robber. Getting now a 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 from 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 the 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 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 castes 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 in conversation. capacitated 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 had remembered very nearly the spot in which I had placed them. I gave up the search for the present, and biting tiger lay quiet, began at once my journey toward the trap. In this attempt, my 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. 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 forward push 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 to effectually to block up the passage. With my utmost exertions, I could not move it in a single inch from its position, it being closely wedged in amongst the surrounding boxes and ship furniture. It became necessary, therefore, enfeebled as I was, either to leave the guidance of the whip-court 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 in day, 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 endeavor 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 timber, 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 it It is certain that my strength would have been utterly inadequate to the task of getting over And it is 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 labor 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 less some other person than Augustus might be in his state room. The door, however, to my astonishment, remained steady. And I became somewhat uneasy, for I knew that it had formerly required but 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 predominant disasters to be encountered. At length, there returned to me some portion of presence of mind. I arose and felt with my fingers for the seams or cracks of the

aperture. Having found them, I examined them closely to ascertain if they admitted any light from the stateroom, but none was visible. I then forced the blade of my penknife 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 it to be a chain cable. the only course now left for me was to retrace my way to the box and there yet yield to my sad fate or try to tranquilize my mind as to admit 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, consoling me in my troubles,

and urging me to bear with fortitude. The singularity of his behavior at length forcibly arrested my attention. After licking my face and hands for some minutes, he would suddenly cease doing so and utter a low whine. Upon reaching out my hand toward him, I 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 received some injury and, taking his paws in my hands, I examined them one by one but found no sign of hurt.

I then supposed him hungry and gave him a large piece of ham, which he devoured with avidity. afterward however resuming his extraordinary maneuvers I now imagine that he was suffering like myself the torments of thirst and was about adopting this conclusion as a true one when the idea occurred to me that I had yet only examined his paws and that there might be possibly 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. Proving this with my finger, I discovered a string, and tracing it up found that it encircled the whole body. Upon a closer scrutiny, I came across a small slip of what had the feeling of letter paper,

through which the string had been fastened in such a manner as to bring it immediately beneath the left shoulder of the animal. End of Chapter 2. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by Joseph Laverte, Miami-Sburg, Ohio, May 2006. www.companflyrods.

The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pim of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe. Chapter 3 The thought instantly occurred to me that the paper was a note from Augustus, and that some unaccountable accident having happened to prevent his relieve me from the dungeon, he had devised this method of acquainting me with the true state of affairs. Trumbling with eagerness, I now commenced another search for my phosphorus matches and tapers. I had a confused recollection of having put them carefully away before falling asleep, and, indeed, previously to my last journey to the trap,

I had been able to remember the exact spot where I had deposited them. But now I endeavored in vain to call it the mind and busied myself for a full hour in fruitless and vexatious search for the missing. articles. Never, surely, was there a more tantalizing state of anxiety and suspense. At length, while groping about with my head close to the ballast, near the opening of the box and outside of it, I perceived a faint glimmering of light in the direction of the steerage. Greatly surprised, I endeavored to make my way toward it, as it appeared to be but a few feet from my position. Scarcely had I moved with this intention when I lost sight of the glimmer entirely, and before I could

bring it into view again was obliged to feel along by the box until I had exactly resumed my original situation. Now moving my head with caution to and fro, I found that by proceeding slowly with great care in an opposite direction to that in which I had first started, I was enabled to draw near the light, still keeping it in view. Presently, I came directly upon it, having squeezed my way through innumerable narrow windings, and found that it proceeded from some fragment 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 supply of my candles, and I felt hopeless of

ever being able to read the note of Augustus. The small remnants of the wax were so mashed up among the 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 Tagger 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 measurable, perceptible.

Thus the gloom of my prison may be imagined, and the note of my friend, if it indeed 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 expedience for procuring light. Such expedience precisely as a man in a perturbed sleep occasion by opium would be apt to fall upon for a similar purpose, each and all which appear by turns to the dreamer

the most reasonable and the most preposterous of all conceptions. Just as the reasoning or imaginative faculties flicker, alternatively, one above the other. At last an idea occurred to me which seemed rational and which gave me cause to wonder, very justly that I had not entertained it before. I placed the slip of the paper on the back of a book and collecting the fragments of the phosphorus matches

which I had brought from the barrel, lay them together upon the paper. I then, with the palm of my hand, rubbed a hole 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 energy, but these were few. It must be remembered that I had been, for many days, certainly, inhaling the almost pestilential atmosphere of a closed-hauled and a welling vessel, and for a long portion of that time but scantily supplied with water.

For the last 14 or 15 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 my 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 harsh 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 a phosphorus, before the thought suggested itself to me 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 childishly torn at the 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, an endeavor 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, 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. Yet 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 of 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 of the words were written upon the side of the paper, which had not been examined. But which side was that?

Fitting the pieces together gave me no clue in this respect, although it assured me that the word, 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 by passing my finger very carefully over the side which first presented itself. Nothing, however, was perceptible, and I turned the paper adjusting it on the book. I now carried my forefinger cautiously along when I was aware of an exceedingly slight but still discernible glow, which followed as it proceeded. This I knew must arise from some minute remaining particles of the phosphorus, with which I had covered the paper in my previous attempt. The other, or underside 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 M.S. in a large hand, and apparently in red ink, became distinctly visible. The glimmer, although sufficiently bright, was but momentary. Still, I had 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 that there were three. In my anxiety, however, to read it 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 though 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 indefined, 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 chilling and heavily disjointed as it was thus,

from any foregoing words to qualify or render it distinct, did its vague syllables fall amid the deep gloom of my prison, and 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 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'd come to the resolution of making myself heard at all events by those on board,

or if I could not succeed at this directly of trying to cut my way through the 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 have otherwise 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 paroxium of despair, I threw my... myself again upon the mattress where, for about the period of a day and a 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 hoars 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, the sogging thirst. I now had 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 doing so was attended with the most depressing spasmodic action of my chest. But there was still another and very different sort of disquietude. and one indeed whose harassing terrors had been the chief means of arousing me to exertion from my stupor on the mattress. It arose from the demeanor 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. It 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 he 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 behavior 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 undertone,

and grinding his teeth as if strongly convulsed. I had no doubt whatever that the one of water or the confined act, 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 in an impression 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 hazard and dispatch 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, missing himself upon his forelakes, as I perceived by the altered position of his eyes, and displayed 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 my person, together with a large carving-knife which Augusted had left me.

Then, folding my cloak around me as closely as possible, I've made movement toward the mouth of the box. No sooner did I do this than the dog sprang with a loud growl toward 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, growing which I felt the sharp teeth pressing vigorously upon the woolen 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 boldly 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 hamskin, and I now found my whole provision of stock reduced to a single gill of liqueur. As this reflection crossed my mind, I felt myself actuated by one of those fits of perversiveness, 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 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 endeavored in vain to reply. My powers of speech totally failed and in agony of terror lest my friend should conclude me, dead and returned 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 words

depended upon a syllable, I could not have spoken it. There was a slight movement now audible among the lumber somewhere forward of my station. The sound presently grew less distinct, and 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 loathom of dungeons. And one word, one little syllable, would save me. Yet that single syllable I could not utter. I felt, I'm sure, more than ten thousand times the agonies of death itself. My brain reeled, and I was a little syllable. I could not utter. I felt, I'm sure, more than ten thousand times the agonies of death itself. My brain reeled, and I was a little. My brain reeled, 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 their 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 moments. At length I again heard the word, Author, repeated in a low tone, and one fool 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 be 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 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 unalterable 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 boiled potatoes, which I had 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 the 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. End of Chapter 3. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org.

recording by joseph laverty miamisburg ohio may 2006 www.w.kaneflyrods dot us the narrative of arthur gordon pym of nantucket by edgar allen poe chapter four the brig put to sea as i had supposed in about an hour after he had left the watch This was on the 20th of June. It will be remembered that I had 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 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 next two days he 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 Capron Bernard, whether he would not immediately put back if he discovered me 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 a case, to make myself hurt at the trap. When, therefore, he considered everything he concluded to let me stay

until he could meet me with an opportunity of visiting me unobserved. This, as I said before, did 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 to get me to come from the box to the trap. Then he would go to the stateroom and then 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 calculations I can make on the subject. This must have been the slumber into which I fell just shortly after my return from the trap with a watch,

and which consequently must have lasted more than three entire days and nights at the very least. Laterally, I have had reasoned both from my own experience and the assurance of others to be acquainted with the strong sephoric 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, then 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 of what to do. It would take him some time to make his way through the lumber to my box, and in the meanwhile, this absence would be noticed by Captain Bernard, 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 the incarceration. He had just made up his mind on these points when his attention was arrested by an unusual bustle, the sound of which proceeded apparently from the cabin. He sprang through the trap as quickly as possible, closed it, and threw open the door of a 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 hand spike.

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 companionway, with his head down and a deep wound in his 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, 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 rubbaging the state rooms and the lorbert for arms, where they were soon equipped themselves with muskets and ammunition. Besides Augustus and Captain Bernard, there were nine men altogether in the cabin, and these were among the most ruffinly of the Briggs Company. The villains now went upon deck, taking my friend with him after having secured his arms behind his back. They proceeded straight to the forecastle, which was fastened on, 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 me there below? Tumble up with you one by one now mark that. No grumbling. It was some minutes before anyone 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 in the forehead from an axe. The poor fellow fell to the deck without a groan,

and the black cook lifted him up in the way. 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 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 set on deck. The results proved his sagacity, no less than his diabolical villainy. All in the folks who presently signified their intention of submitting, and ascending one by one were pinied and then thrown on their backs together with the first six. There being an all of the crew who were not concerned in a mutiny. 27. A sane 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, 22 perished. And Augustus's had given himself up for lost, expecting every moment his turn to come next.

But it seemed that the villains were now either weary or, in some measure, disgusted with their bloody labor. 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 corrals, 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 favor of releasing the captives altogether, on the condition of joining the mutiny and sharing the profits. The black cook, however, who in all respects was a person.

demon and who seemed to exert as much influence of 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 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 the up Sarcos. He'll live among the vastness 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 post on the Lewis River. Peter himself was one of the

most ferocious looking men I have ever beheld. He was short in stature, not more than four-foot, eight inches high, but his limbs were herlican mold. His hand, 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 ladder 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 the portion of one of these bear skins and it added no little to the natural veracity of his countenance which betook of the absurka 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 acknowledgement that if such an expression were indicative of merriment the merriment must be that of a demon of the singular being many antidotes were prevalent among the seafaring men of nantucket these antidotes went to prove his prodigious strength when under excitement and some of them had given rise to the doubt of his sanity but on board of the grampus it seemed 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

an occasion to mention him hereafter in the course of my narrative. A narrative, let me here say, which in its latter portions will be forced to include incidents of the 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 the most improbable of my statements. After much indecision and two or three violent quarrels, it was determined at last at all the prisoners, with the exception of Augustus, whom Peters insisted in a jocular manner upon keeping his clerk, should be set adrift in one of the smallest whaleboats.

The mate went down in the cabin to see if Captain Bernard was still living, for it will be remembered he was left below when the mutineers came up. Presently, 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 them 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 were lying on the deck when they were untied in order to follow, which they did without attempting any resistance. Augustus being still left in his painful position, although he had struggled and prayed only for the poor satisfaction of 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, ore, 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. The event happened, however, in latitude 35 degrees, 30 minutes north,

longitude 61 degrees, 20 minutes west, and consequently at no very great distance from the Bermuda Islands. Augustus, therefore, endeavored to console himself 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 Verde Islands to Puerto 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 humor or carelessness in regard to himself. His anxiety on my account be represented. however, as the most distressing result of his condition. And indeed, I had never reasoned 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 doing so, partly through recollection of the atrocities he had already beheld,

and partially through a hope of being able to bring me relief. For the latter purpose, he was constantly on watch, but in spite of the most constant vigilance, three days elapsed 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 ladder had been rendered a place of deposit 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 vents to make room for a chest, and were now lying immediately upon the trap. To remove it without discovery was impossible, and he returned to the 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 borg when his life was again preserved through the interference of Dirk Peters.

Augustus was now put in handcuffs, of which there were several pairs aboard, and his feet lashed tightly together. He was then taken into the steerage and thrown into a lower berth next to the folks of ballcheads, with the assurance that he should never put his foot on deck again, until the brig was no longer a brig. This was a threatening expression of the cook who threw him into the birth. It is hardly possible to say what precise meaning was intended by the phrase. The whole affair, however,

prove the ultimate means of my relief, as will presently appear. End of chapter four. This is a Libervox recording. All Libervox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit Librovox.org. The narrative of Arthur Gordon Pim of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe.

Chapter 5 For some minutes after the cook had left the forecastle, Augustus abandoned himself to despair, never hoping to leave the birth alive. He now came to the resolution of acquainting the first of the men who should come down with my situation, thinking it better to let me take my chance with the mutual. mutineers, than perish of thirst in the hold, for it had been ten days since I was first imprisoned, and my jug of water was not a plentiful supply even for four. As he was thinking on this subject, the idea came all at once into his head that it might be possible to communicate with me

by way of the main hold. In any other circumstances, the difficulty in hazard of the undertaking would have prevented him from attempting it. But now he had, at all events, little prospect of life, and consequently little to lose. He bent his whole mind, therefore, upon the task. His handcuffs were the first consideration. At first he saw no method of removing them, and feared that he should thus be baffled in the very outset. But upon a closer scrutiny,

he discovered that the irons could be slipped off and on at pleasure, with very little effort or inconvenience, merely by squeezing his hands through them. This species of manacle, being altogether ineffectual in confining young, persons, in whom the smaller bones readily yield to pressure. He now untied his feet, and leaving the cord in such a manner that it could easily be readjusted in the event of any persons coming down, proceeded to examine the bulkhead where it joined the berth. The partition here was of soft pine board,

an inch thick, and he saw that he should have little trouble in cutting his way through. A voice was now heard at the forecastle companionway, and he had just time to put his right hand into its handcuff. The left had not been removed, and to draw the rope in a slip-k-knot around his ankle, when Dirk Peters came below, followed by Tiger, who immediately leaped into the berth and lay down. The dog had been brought on board by Augustus, who knew my attachment to the animal, and thought it would give me pleasure to have him with me during the voyage. He went up to our house for him immediately after first taking me into the hold, but did not think of mentioning the circumstance upon his bringing the watch.

Since the mutiny, Augustus had not seen him before his appearance with Dirk Peters, and had given him up for lost, supposing him to have been thrown overboard by some of the malignant villains belonging to the mate's gang. It appeared afterward that he had crawled into a hole beneath a whaleboat, from which, not having room to turn round, he could not extricate himself. Peters at last let him out, and with a species of good feeling which my friend knew well how to appreciate, had now brought him to him to him, in the forecastle as a companion, leaving at the same time some salt junk and potatoes with a can of water. He then went on deck, promising to come down with something more to eat on the next day. When he had gone, Augustus freed both hands from the manacles and unfastened his feet. He then turned down the head of the mattress on which he had been lying, and with his penknife, for the ruffians had not thought it worthwhile to search him, commenced cutting vigorously across one of the partition planks.

as closely as possible to the floor of the berth. He chose to cut here because, if suddenly interrupted, he would be able to conceal what had been done by letting the head of the mattress fall into its proper position. For the remainder of the day, however, no disturbance occurred, and by night he had completely divided the plank. It should here be observed that none of the crew occupied the forecastle as a sleeping place, living altogether in the cabin since the mutiny,

drinking the wines and feasting on the sea stores of Captain Barnard, and giving no more heed than was absolutely necessary to the navigation of the brig. These circumstances proved fortunate both for myself and Augustus, for, had matters been otherwise he would have found it impossible to reach me. As it was, he proceeded with confidence in his design. It was near daybreak, however, before he completed the second division of the board, which was about a foot above the first cut. thus making an aperture quite large enough to admit his passage through with facility to the main orlop deck. Having got here, he made his way with but little trouble to the lower main hatch,

although in so doing he had to scramble over tiers of oil casks piled nearly as high as the upper deck, there being barely room enough left for his body. Upon reaching the hatch, he found that Tiger had followed him below, squeezing between two rows of the casks. It was now too late, however. to attempt getting to me before dawn, as the chief difficulty lay in passing through the close stowage in the lower hold. He therefore resolved to return and wait till the next night. With this design, he proceeded to loosen the hatch, so that he might have as little

detention as possible when he should come again. No sooner had he loosened it, then Tiger sprang eagerly to the small opening produced, snuffed for a moment, and then uttered a long wine, scratching at the same time, as if anxious to remove the covering with his paws. There could be no doubt from his behavior that he was aware of my being in the hold, and Augustus thought it possible that he would be able to get to me if he put him down. He now hit upon the expedient of sending the note, as it was especially desirable that I should make no attempt at forcing my way out, at least under existing circumstances, and there could be no certainty of his getting to me himself on the morrow as he intended.

After events proved how fortunate it was that the idea occurred to him as it did, for, had it not been for the receipt of the note, I should undoubtedly have fallen upon some plan, however desperate, of alarming the crew, and both our lives would most probably have been sacrificed in consequence. Having concluded to write, the difficulty was now to procure the materials for doing so. An old toothpick was soon made into a pen. and this by means of feeling altogether, for between decks was as dark as pitch. Paper enough was obtained from the back of a letter, a duplicate of the forged letter from Mr. Ross. This had been the original draft, but the handwriting not being sufficiently well-imitated

Augustus had written another, thrusting the first, by good fortune, into his coat-pocket, where it was now most opportunely discovered. Ink alone was thus wanting, and a substitute was immediately found for this by means of a slight incision with the penknife on the back of a finger just above the nail, a copious flow of blood ensuing, as usual, from wounds in that vicinity. The note was now written, as well as it could be in the dark and under the circumstances. It briefly explained that a mutiny had taken place, that Captain Barnard was set adrift, and that I might expect immediate relief as far as provisions were concerned,

but must not venture upon making any disturbance. It concluded with these words, I have scrawled this with blood, your life depends upon lying close. This slip of paper being tied upon the dog, he was now put down the hatchway, and Augustus made the best of his way back to the forecastle, where he found no reason to believe

that any of the crew had been in his absence. To conceal the hole in the partition, he drove his knife in just above it, and hung up a pea-jacket, which he found in the berth. his handcuffs were then replaced, and also the rope around his ankles. These arrangements were scarcely completed when Dirk Peters came below, very drunk, but in excellent humor, and bringing with him my friend's allowance of provision for the day. This consisted of a dozen large Irish potatoes roasted and a pitcher of water.

He sat for some time on a chest by the berth, and talked freely about the mate and the general concerns of the brig. his demeanor was exceedingly capricious and even grotesque. At one time, Augustus was much alarmed by odd conduct. At last, however, he went on deck, muttering a promise to bring his prisoner a good dinner on the morrow. During the day, two of the crew, harpooners, came down, accompanied by the cook, all three in nearly the last stage of intoxication. Like Peters, they made no scruple of talking unreservedly about their plans. It appeared that they were much divided, among them themselves as to their ultimate course, agreeing in no point except the attack on the ship from the Cape Verde Islands, with which they were an hourly expectation of meeting.

As far as could be ascertained, the mutiny had not been brought about altogether for the sake of booty, a private peak of the chief mates against Captain Barnard, having been the main instigation. There now seemed to be two principal factions among the crew, one headed by the mate, the other by the Cook. The former party were for seizing the first suitable vessel which should present itself and equipping it at some of the West India Islands for a piratical cruise. The latter division, however, which was the stronger, and included Dirk Peters among its partisans, were bent upon pursuing the course originally laid out for the break into the South Pacific, there either to take whale or act otherwise, as circumstances should suggest. The representations of Peters,

who had frequently visited these regions, had great weight, apparently, with the mutineers, wavering, as they were, between half-engendered notions of profit and pleasure. He dwelt on the world of novelty and amusement to be found among the innumerable islands of the Pacific, on the perfect security and freedom from all restraint to be enjoyed, but, more particularly, on the deliciousness of the climate, on the abundant means of good living, and on the voluptuous beauty of the women. As yet, nothing had been absolutely determined upon. But the pictures of the hybrid line manager were taking strong hold upon the ardent imaginations of the seamen,

and there was every possibility that his intentions would be finally carried into effect. The three men went away in about an hour, and no one else entered the forecastle all day. Augustus lay quiet until nearly night. He then freed himself from the rope and irons and prepared for his attempt. A bottle was found in one of the bursts, and this he filled with water from the pitcher left by Peters, storing his pockets at the same time with cold potatoes. To his great joy, he also came across a lantern, with a small piece of tallow candle in it. This he could light at any moment, as he had in his possession a box of phosphorus matches. When it was quite dark, he got through the hole in the

bulkhead, having taken the precaution to arrange the bedclothes in the berth so as to convey the idea of a person covered up. When through, he hung up the pea jacket on his knife as before to conceal the aperture. This maneuver being easily affected, as he did not readjust the piece of plank taken out until afterward. He was now on the main Orlop deck and proceeded to make his way, as before, between the upper deck and the oil casks to the main hatchway. Having reached this, he lit the piece of candle and descended, groping with extreme difficulty among the compact stowa. of the hold. In a few moments he became alarmed at the insufferable stench and the closeness of the atmosphere. He could not think it possible that I had survived my confinement for so long a period breathing so oppressive an air. He called my name repeatedly, but I made him no reply,

and his apprehension seemed thus to be confirmed. The brig was rolling violently, and there was so much noise and consequence that it was useless to listen for any weak sound, such as those of my breathing or He threw open the lantern and held it as high as possible, whenever an opportunity occurred, in order that, by observing the light, I might, if alive, be aware that Sucker was approaching. Still nothing was heard from me, and the supposition of my death began to assume the character of certainty. He determined, nevertheless, to forge a passage, if possible, to the box, and at least ascertain beyond a doubt the truth of his surmises. he pushed on for some time in a most pitiable state of anxiety until at length he found the pathway utterly blocked up and that there was no possibility of making any farther way by the course in which he had set out

overcome now by his feelings he threw himself among the lumber in despair and wept like a child it was at this period that he heard the crash occasioned by the bottle which i had thrown down fortunate indeed was it that the incident occurred for upon this incident trivial as it appears, the thread of my destiny depended. Many years elapsed, however, before I was aware of this fact. A natural shame and regret for his weakness and indecision prevented Augustus from confiding to me at once what a more intimate and unreserved communion afterward induced him to reveal. Upon finding his further progress in the hold impeded by obstacles which he could not overcome, he had resolved to abandon his attempt at reaching me

and return at once to the forecastle. Before condemning him entirely on this head, the harassing circumstances which embarrassed him should be taken into consideration. The night was fast wearing away, and his absence from the forecastle might be discovered, and indeed would necessarily be so if he should fail to get back to the berth by daybreak.

His candle was expiring in the socket, and there would be the greatest difficulty in retracing his way to the hatchway in the dark. It must be allowed, too, that he had every good reason to believe me dead, in which event no benefit could result to me from his reaching the box, and a world of danger would be encountered to no purpose by himself. He had repeatedly called, and I had made him no answer. I had been now eleven days and nights, with no more water than that contained in the jug which he had left with me, a supply which it was not

at all probable I had boarded in the beginning of my confinement, as I had every cause to expect a speedy release. The atmosphere of the whole, too, must have appeared to him, coming from the comparatively open air of the steerage, of a nature absolutely poisonous, and by far more intolerable than it had seemed to me upon my first taking up quarters in the box, the hatchways at that time, having been constantly open for many months previous. Add to these considerations that of the scene of bloodshed and terror so lately witnessed by my friend, his confinement, privations, and narrowly. escapes from death, together with the frail and equivocal tenure by which he still existed, circumstances also well calculated to prostrate every energy of mind, and the reader will be

easily brought, as I have been, to regard his apparent falling off in friendship and in faith with sentiments rather of sorrow than of anger. The crash of the bottle was distinctly heard, yet Augustus was not sure that it proceeded from the hold. The doubt, however, was sufficient inducement to persevere. He clambered up nearly to the Orlop deck by means of the stowage, and then, watching for a lull in the pitchings of the vessel, he called out to me in as loud a tone as he could command, regardless for the moment of being overheard by the crew. It will be remember that on this occasion the voice reached me, but I was so entirely overcome by violent agitation as to be incapable of reply. Confident now that his worst apprehensions were

well-founded, he descended, with a view of getting back to the forecastle without loss of time. In his haste some small boxes were thrown down, the noise occasioned by which I heard, as will be recollected. He had made considerable progress on his return when the fall of the knife again caused him to hesitate. He retraced his steps immediately, and clamoring up the stowage a second time, called out my name, loudly as before, having watched for a lull. This time I found sound voice to answer. Overjoyed at discovering me to be still alive, he now resolved to brave every difficulty and danger in reaching me. Having extricated himself as quickly as possible from the labyrinth of lumber by which he was hemmed in, he at length struck into an opening, which promised

better, and finally, after a series of struggles, arrived at the box in a state of utter exhaustion. End of Chapter 5. This is a Libervox recording, all Librevox Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit librivox.org. The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pim of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe. Chapter 6 The leading particulars of this narrative were all that Augustus communicated to me while we remained near the box. It was not until afterward that he entered fully into all the details.

He was apprehensive of being missed, and I was wild with impatience to leave my detested place of confinement. We resolved to make our way at once to the hole in the bulkhead, near which I was to remain for the present, while he went through to reconnoiter. To leave Tiger in the box was what neither of us could endure to think of, yet how to act otherwise was the question. He now seemed to be perfectly quiet, and we could not even distinguish the sound of his breathing upon applying our ears closely to the box. I was convinced that he was dead, and determined

to open the door. We found him lying at full length, apparently in a deep stupor, yet still alive. No time was to be lost, yet I could not bring myself to abandon an animal who had been twice instrumental in saving my life, without some attempt at preserving him. We therefore dragged him along with us as well as we could, although with the greatest difficulty and fatigue. Augustus, during part of the time, being forced to clamber over the impediments in our way with a huge dog in his arms, a feat to which the feebleness of my frame rendered me totally inadequate. At length, we succeeded in reaching the hole, when Augustus got through, and Tiger was pushed in afterward. All was found to be safe, and we did not fail to return sincere thanks to God for our

deliverance from the imminent danger we had escaped. For the present, it was agreed that I should remain near the opening, through which my companion could readily supply me with a part of his daily provision, and where I could have the advantages of breathing an atmosphere comparatively pure. In explanation of some portions of this narrative, wherein I have spoken of the stowage of the brig, and which may appear ambiguous to some of my readers who may have seen a proper or regular stowage, I must here state that the manner in which this most important duty had been performed on board the Grampus was a most shameful piece of neglect on the part of Captain Barnard, who was by no means as careful or as experienced a seaman as the hazardous nature of the service on which he was employed

would seem necessarily to demand. A proper stowage cannot be accomplished in a careless manner, and many most disastrous accidents, even within the limits of my own experience, have a risen from neglect or ignorance in this particular. Coasting vessels in the frequent hurry and bustle attendant upon taking in or discharging cargo are the most liable to mishap from the want of a proper attention to stowage. The great point is to allow no possibility of the cargo or ballast shifting position even in the most violent rulings of the vessel. With this end, great attention must be paid, not only to the bulk taken in, but to the nature

of the bulk, and whether there will be a full or only a partial cargo. In most kinds of freight, the stowage is accomplished by means of a screw. Thus, in a load of tobacco or flour, the hole is screwed so tightly into the hold of the vessel that the barrels or hogsheads, upon discharging, are found to be completely flattened and take some time to regain their original shape. This screwing, however, is resorted to principally with a view of obtaining more room in the hold, for in a full load of any such commodities as flour or tobacco, there can be no danger of any shifting whatever, at least none from which inconvenience can result. There have been instances

indeed, where this method of screwing has resulted in the most lamentable consequences, arising from a cause altogether distinct from the danger attendant upon a shifting of cargo. A load of cotton, for example, tightly screwed, while in certain conditions, has been known through the expansion of its bulk to render a vessel asunder at sea. There can be no doubt either that the same result would ensue in the case of tobacco, while undergoing its usual course of fermentation, were it not for the interstices consequent upon the rotundity of the hogsheads. It is when a partial cargo is received that danger is chiefly to be apprehended from shifting,

and that precautions should be always taken to guard against such misfortune. Only those who have encountered a violent gale of wind, or rather who have experienced the rolling of a vessel in a sudden calm after the gale, can form an idea of the tremendous force of the plunges and of the consequent terrible impetus given to all loose articles in the vessel. It is then that the necessity of a cautious stowage when there is a partial cargo becomes obvious. When lying too, especially with a small bead sail, a vessel which is not properly modeled, in the bows, is frequently thrown upon her beam ends. This occurring even every 15 or 20 minutes upon an average, yet without any serious consequences resulting, provided there be a proper stowage. If this, however, was not strictly attended to, in the first of these heavy lurches, the whole of the cargo tumbles over to the side of the vessel which lies upon the water, and, being thus

prevented from regaining her equilibrium, as she would otherwise necessarily do, she is certain to fill in a few seconds and go down. It is not too much to say that at least one half of the instances in which vessels have floundered in heavy gales at sea may be attributed to a shifting of cargo or of ballast. When a partial cargo of any kind is taken on board, the whole, after being first stowed as compactly as may be, should be covered with a layer of stout shifting boards, extending completely across the vessel. Upon these boards, strong temporary stanchions should be erected, reaching to the timbers above, and thus securing everything in its place. In cargoes consisting of grain or any similar matter, additional precautions are requisite.

A hold filled entirely with grain upon leaving port will be found not more than three-fourths full upon reaching its destination. This too, although the freight, when measured bushel by bushel by the consignee, will overrun by a vast deal on account of the swelling of the grain. the quantity consigned. This result is occasioned by settling during the voyage, and is the more perceptible in proportion to the roughness of the weather experienced. If grain loosely thrown in a vessel then is ever so well secured by shifting boards and stanchions, it will be liable to shift in a long passage so greatly as to bring about the most distressing calamities. To prevent these, every method should be employed before leaving port to settle the cargo as much as possible.

as possible, and for this there are many contrivances, among which may be mentioned the driving of wedges into the grain. Even after all this is done, an unusual pains taken to secure the shifting boards, no seaman who knows what he is about, will feel altogether secure in a gale of any violence with a cargo of grain on board, and, least of all, with a partial cargo. Yet there are hundreds of our coasting vessels, and it is likely many more from the ports of york. Europe, which sailed daily with partial cargoes, even of the most dangerous species, and without any precaution whatever. The wonder is that no more accidents occur than do actually happen. A lamentable instance of this heedlessness occurred to my knowledge in the case of Captain

Joel Rice of the Schooner Firefly, which sailed from Richmond, Virginia to Madeira with a cargo of corn in the year 1825. The captain had gone many voyages without serious accidents. although he was in the habit of paying no attention whatever to his stowage, more than to secure it in the ordinary manner. He had never before sailed with a cargo of grain, and on this occasion had the corn thrown on board loosely, when it did not much more than half fill the vessel. For the first portion of the voyage, he met with nothing more than light breezes. But when, within a day's sail of Maduro, there came on a strong gale from the north-north-east which forced him to lie to, He brought the schooner to the wind under a double-reefed foresail alone,

when she rode as well as any vessel could be expected to and shipped not a drop of water. Toward night, the gale somewhat abated, and she rolled with more unsteadiness than before, but still did very well, until a heavy lurch threw her upon her beam ends to starboard. The corn was then heard to shift bodily, the force of the movement bursting open the main hatchway. The vessel went down like a shot. This happened with a hail of a small sloop from Madeira, which picked up one of the crew, the only person saved, and which rode out the gale in perfect security,

as indeed a jolly boat might have done under proper management. The stowage on board the Grampus was most clumsily done, if stowage that could be called, which was little better than a promiscuous huddling together of oil casks and ship furniture. I have already spoken of the condition of articles in the hold. On the orlop deck there was space enough for my body, as I have stated, between the oil casks and the upper deck.

A space was left open around the main hatchway, and several other large spaces were left in the stowage. Near the hole cut through the bulkhead by Augustus, there was room enough for an entire cask, and in this space I found myself comfortably situated for the present. By the time my friend had got safely into the burglow. and readjusted his handcuffs and the rope. It was broad daylight. We had made a narrow escape indeed, for scarcely had he arranged all matters when the mate came below with Dirk Peters and the cook.

They talked for some time about the vessel from Cape Verdes, and seemed to be excessively anxious for her appearance. At length the cook came to the berth in which Augustus was lying, and seated himself in it near the head. I could see and hear everything from my hiding place, for the piece cut out had not been put back, and I was in momentary expectation that the negro would fall against the pea-jacket, which was hung up to conceal the aperture, in which case all would have been discovered, and our lives would, no doubt, have been instantly sacrificed. Our good fortune prevailed, however, and although he frequently touched it as the vessel rolled, he never pressed against it sufficiently to bring about a discovery.

The bottom of the jacket had been carefully fastened to the bulkhead, so that the whole might not be seen by its swinging to one side. All this time, Tiger was lying in the foot of the berth, and appeared to have recovered, in some measure, his faculties, for I could see him occasionally open his eyes and draw a long breath. After a few minutes, the mate and the cook went above, leaving Dirk Peters behind, who, as soon as they were gone, came and sat himself down in the place just occupied by the mate. he began to talk very sociably with augustus and we could now see that the greater part of his apparent intoxication while the two others were with him was a faint he answered all my companion's questions with perfect freedom told him that he had no doubt of his father's having been picked up as there was no less than five sail in sight just before sundown on the day he was cut adrift and used other language of a consolatory nature which occasioned me no less surprise than pleasure Indeed, I began to entertain hopes that through the instrumentality of Peters we might be finally enabled to regain possession of the brig, and this idea I mentioned to Augustus as

soon as I found an opportunity. He thought the matter possible, but urged the necessity of the greatest caution in making the attempt, as the conduct of the hybrid appeared to be instigated by the most arbitrary caprice alone, and indeed it was difficult to say if he was at any moment of sound mind. Peters went upon deck in about an hour, and did not return again until noon, when he brought Augustus a plentiful supply of junk beef and pudding. Of this, when we were left alone, I partook heartily, without returning through the hole. No one else came down into the forecastle during the day, and at night I got into Augustus's birth, where I slept soundly and sweetly until nearly

daybreak, when he awakened me upon hearing a stir upon the deck, and I regained my hiding place as quickly as possible. When the day was fully broke, we found that Tiger had recovered his strength almost entirely and gave no indications of hydrophobia, drinking a little water that was offered him with great apparent eagerness. During the day, he regained all his former vigor and appetite. His strange conduct had been brought on, no doubt, by the deleterious quality of the air of the hold, and had no connection with canine madness. I could not sufficiently rejoice, that I had persisted in bringing him with me from the box.

This day was the 30th of June, and the 13th since the Grampus made sail from Nantucket. On the 2nd of July, the mate came below drunk as usual, and in excessively good humor. He came to Augustus's birth, and giving him a slap on the back, asked him if he thought he could behave himself if he let him loose, and whether he would promise not to be going into the cabin again.

To this, of course, my friend answered in the affirmative, when the ruffian set him at liberty after making him drink from a flask of rum, which he drew from his coat pocket. Both now went on deck, and I did not sit Augustus for about three hours. He then came below with the good news that he had obtained permission to go about the brig as he pleased, anywhere forward of the mainmast, and that he had been ordered to sleep, as usual, in the forecastle. He brought me to a good dinner, and a plentiful supply of water. The brig was still cruising for the vessel from the Cape Bairds, and a sail was now in sight,

which was thought to be the one in question. As the events of the ensuing eight days were of little importance, and had no direct bearing upon the main incidents of my narrative, I will here throw them into the form of a journal, as I do not wish to admit them altogether. July 3rd, Augustus furnished me with three blankets, with which I contrived a comfortable bed in my hiding place. No one came below except my companion during the day.

Tiger took his station in the berth, just by the aperture, and slept heavily, as if not yet entirely recovered from the effects of his sickness. Toward night, a flaw of wind struck the brig before a sail could be taken in, and very nearly capsized her. The puff died away immediately, however, and no damage was done beyond the splitting of the four-top sail. Peter's treated Augustus all this day with great kindness and entered into a long conversation with him respecting the Pacific Ocean and the islands he had visited in that region. He asked him whether he would not like to go with the mutineers on a kind of exploring and pleasure voyage in those quarters,

and said that the men were gradually coming over to the mate's views. To this, Augustus thought it best to reply that he would be glad to go on such an adventure, since nothing better could be done, and that anything was preferable to a piratical life. July 4th. The vessel in sight proved to be a small brig from Liverpool and was allowed to pass unmolested. Augustus spent most of his time on deck with a view of obtaining all the information in his power

respecting the intentions of the mutineers. They had frequent and violent quarrels among themselves, and one of which a harpooner, Jim Bonner, was thrown overboard. The party of the mate was given. raining ground. Jim Bonner belonged to the Cooks Gang, of which Peters was a partisan. July 5th. About daybreak, there came on a stiff breeze from the west, which at noon freshened into a gale, so that the brig could carry nothing more than her tri-sail and foresail.

In taking in the fore-top sail, Sims, one of the common hands, and belonging also to the Cook's gang, fell overboard, being very much in liquor, and was drowned, no attempt being made to save him. The whole number of persons on board was now 13. To wit, Dirk Peters, Seymour, the Black Cook, Jones, Greely, Hartman Rogers, and William Allen, all of the Cook's Party, The Mate, Whose Name I Never Learned, Absalom Hicks, Wilson, John Hunty, Richard Parker, of the Mates Party, besides Augustus and myself. July 6th, The Gale lasted all this day, flowing in heavy squalls, accompanied with rain.

The brig took in a good deal of water through her seams, and one of the pumps was kept continually going, Augustus being forced to take his turn. Just at twilight, a large ship passed close by us, without having been discovered until within hail. The ship was supposed to be the one for which the mutineers were on the lookout. The mate hailed her, but the reply was drowned in the roaring of the gale. At eleven, a sea was shipped amid ships,

which tore away a great portion of the larboard bulwarks and did some other slight damage. Toward morning the weather moderated, and at sunrise there was very little wind. July 7th, there was a heavy swell running all this day, during which the brig, being light, rolled excessively, and many articles broke loose in the hold, as I could hear distinctly from my hiding place. I suffered a great deal from seasickness. Peters had a long conversation this day with Augustus and told him that two of his gang, Greeley and Alan,

had gone over to the mate and were resolved to turn pirates. He put several questions to Augustus, which he did not then exactly understand. During a part of this evening the leak gained upon the vessel, and little could be done to remedy it, as it was occasioned by the Briggs straining and taking in the water through her seams. A sail was thrummed and got under the back,

which aided us in some measure so that we began to gain upon the leak. July 8th, a light breeze sprang up at sunrise from the eastward, when the mate headed the break to the southwest, with the intention of making some of the West India Islands in pursuance of his piratical designs. No opposition was made by Peters or the cook, at least none in the hearing of Augustus. All idea of taking the vessel from the Cape Verdes was abandoned. The The leak was now easily kept under by one pump going every three-quarters of an hour. The sail was drawn from beneath the boughs, spoke two small schooners during the day. July 9th. Fine weather. All hands employed in repairing bulwarks.

Peters had again a long conversation with Augustus, and spoke more plainly than he had done heretofore. He said nothing should induce him to come into the mate's views, and even hinted his intention of taking the brig out of his hands. He asked my friend if he could depend upon his aid in such case, to which Augustus said, yes, without hesitation. Pedrus then said he would sound the others of his party upon the subject, and went away. During the remainder of the day, Augustus had no opportunity of speaking with him privately. End of Chapter 6.

This is a Libervox recording. All Libervox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. The narrative of Arthur Gordon Pim of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe. Chapter 7. July 10. Spoke a brig from Rio, bound to Norfolk.

Weather, hazy, with a light baffling wind from the eastward. Today, Hartman Rogers died, having been attacked on the 8th with spasms after drinking a glass of grog. This man was of the Cook's Party, and one upon whom Peters placed his main reliance. He told Augustus that he believed the mate had poisoned him, and that he expected, if he did not be on the lookout, his own turn would come shortly. There were now only himself, Jones, and the cook, belonging to his own gang. On the other side, there were five. He had spoken to Jones about taking the command from the mate, but the project having been coolly received,

he had been deterred from pressing the matter any further, or from saying anything to the cook. It was well, as it happened, that he was so prudent, for in the afternoon, the cook expressed his determination of siding with the mate, and went over formally to that party, while Jones took an opportunity of quarreling with Peters, and hinted that he would let the mate know of the plan in agitation. There was now, evidently, no time to be lost, and Peters expressed his determination of attempting to take the vessel at all hazards, providing Augustus would lend him his aid. My friend at once assured him of his willingness to enter into any plan for that purpose, and thinking the opportunity a favorable one may known the fact of my being on board.

At this the hybrid was not more astonished than delighted, as he had no reliance whatever upon Jones, whom he already considered as belonging to the party of the mate. They went below immediately, when Augustus called to me by name, and Peters and myself were soon made acquainted. It was agreed that we should attempt to retake the vessel upon the first good opportunity, leaving Jones altogether out of our councils. In the event of success, we were to run the brig into the first port that offered and deliver her up.

The desertion of his party had frustrated Peter's design of going into the Pacific, an adventure which could not be accomplished without a crew, and he depended upon either getting acquitted upon trial on the score of insanity, which he solemnly avowed had actuated him in lending his aid to the mutiny, or upon obtaining a pardon if found guilty through the representations of Augustus and myself. Our deliberations were interrupted for the present by the cry of, All hands take in sail, and Peter and Augustus ran up on deck. As usual, the crew were nearly all drunk, and before sail could be properly taken in,

a violent squall laid the brig on her beam ends. By keeping her away, however, she righted, having shipped a good deal of water. Scarcely was everything super, cure when another squall took the vessel, and immediately afterward another, no damage being done. There was every appearance of a gale of wind, which indeed shortly came on, with great fury, from the northward and westward. All was made as snug as possible, and we laid to, as usual, under a close-reefed foresail. As night drew on, the wind increased in violence, with a remarkably heavy sea. Peters now came into the forecastle with Augustus, and we resumed our deliberation.

We agreed that no opportunity could be more favorable than the present for carrying our designs into effect, as an attempt at such a moment would never be anticipated. As the brig was snugly laid to, there would be no necessity of maneuvering her until good weather, when, if we succeeded in our attempt, we might liberate one or perhaps two of the men to aid us and taking her into port. The main difficulty was the great disproportion in our forces. There were only three of us, and in the cabin there were nine. All the arms on board, too, were in their possession, with the exception of a pair of small pistols

which Peters had concealed about his person, and the large seaman's knife which he always wore in the waistband of his pantaloons. From certain indications, too, such, for example, as there being no such thing as an axe or a hand-spike lying in their customary places, we began to fear that the mate had his suspicions, at least in regard to Peters, and that he would let slip no opportunity of getting rid of him. It was clear indeed that what we should determine to do could not be done too soon.

Still, the odds were too much against us to allow of our proceeding without the greatest caution. Peters proposed that he should go up on deck and enter into conversation with the watch, Alan, when he would be able to throw him into the sea without trouble, and without making any disturbance by seizing a good opportunity, that Augustus and myself should then come up and endeavor to provide ourselves with some kind of weapons from the deck, and that we should then make a rush together and secure the companion way before any opposition could be offered. I objected to this because I could not believe that the mate, who was a cunning fellow in all matters which did not affect his superstitious prejudices, would suffer himself to be so easily entrapped.

The very fact of there being a watch on deck at all was sufficient proof that he would, was upon the alert, it not being usual except in vessels where discipline is most rigidly enforced, to station a watch on deck when a vessel is lying to in a gale of wind. As I address myself principally, if not altogether, to persons who have never been to see, it may be as well to state the exact condition of a vessel under such circumstances. Lying to, or in sea parlance laying to, is a measure resorted to for various purposes, and affected in various manners. In moderate weather, it is frequently done with a view of merely bringing the vessel to a standstill

to wait for another vessel or similar object. If the vessel which lies to is under full sail, the maneuver is usually accomplished by throwing around some portion of her sails so as to let the wind take them aback when she becomes stationary. But we are now speaking of lying to in a gale of wind. This is done when the wind is ahead, and too violent to admit of carrying sail without danger of capsizing, and sometimes even when the wind is fair, but the sea too heavy for the vessel to be put before it. If a vessel be suffered to

scud before the wind in a very heavy sea, much damage is usually done her by the shipping of water over her stern, and sometimes by the violent plunges she makes forward. This maneuver, then, is seldom resorted to in such case, unless through necessity. When the vessel is in a leaky condition, she is often put before the wind, even in the heaviest seas, for, when lying to, her seams are sure to be greatly opened by her violent straining, and it is not so much the case when scudding. Often, too, it becomes necessary to scut a vessel, either when the blast is so exceedingly furious as to tear in pieces the sail, which is employed with a view of bringing her head to the wind, or when, through the false modeling of the frame or other causes, this main

object cannot be affected. Vessels in a gale of wind are laid to in different manners, according to their peculiar construction. Some lie to best under a foresail, and this, I believe, is the sail most usually employed. Large, square-rigged vessels have sails for the express purpose, called storm stay sails. But the jib is occasionally employed by itself, sometimes the jib and foresail, or a double-reefed foresail, and not unfrequently the after-sails are made use of. Four-top sails are very often found to answer the purpose better than any other species of sail. The grampus was generally laid to under a close-reefed foresail. When a vessel is to be laid to, her head is brought up to the wind just so nearly as to fill the sail under which she lies when

hauled flat aft, that is, when brought diagonally across the vessel. This being done, the bowels point within a few degrees of the direction from which the wind issues, and the windward bow, of course, receives the shock of the waves. In this situation, a good vessel will ride out a very heavy gale of wind without shipping a drop of water, and without any further attention being requisite on the part of the crew. The helm is usually lashed down, but this is altogether unnecessary, except on the count of the noise it makes one loose,

for the rudder has no effect upon the vessel when lying too. Indeed, the helm had far better be left loose than lashed very fast, for the rudder is apt to be torn off by heavy seas if there be no room for the helm to play. As long as the sail holds, a well-modelled vessel will maintain her situation, and ride every sea as if instinct with life and reason. If the violence of the wind, however, should tear the sail into pieces, a feat which it requires a perfect hurricane to accomplish under ordinary circumstances, there is then imminent danger. The vessel falls off from the wind, and coming broadside to the sea

is completely at its mercy. The only resource in this case is to put her quietly before the wind, letting her scud until some other sail can be set. Some vessels will lie to under no sail whatever, but such are not to be trusted at sea. But to return from this digression. It had never been customary with the mate to have any watch on deck when lying to in a gale of wind, and the fact that he had now one, coupled with the circumstance of the missing axes and hand spikes, fully convinced us that the crew were too well on the watch to be taken by surprise in the manner Peters had suggested. Something, however, was to be done, and that with as little delay as practicable, for there could be no doubt that a suspicion having been once entertained against Peters,

he would be sacrificed upon the earliest occasion, and one would certainly be either found or made upon the breaking of the gale. Augustus now suggested that if Peters could contrive to remove under any pretext, the piece of chain cable which lay over the trap in the stateroom, we might possibly be able to come upon them unawares by means of the hold. But a little reflection convinced us that the vessel rolled and pitched too violently for any attempt of that nature. By good fortune, I at length hit upon the idea of working upon the superstitious terrors

and guilty conscience of the mate. It will be remembered that one of the crew, Hartman Rogers, had died during the morning, having been attacked two days before with spasms after drinking some spirits and water. Peters had expressed to us his opinion that this man had been poisoned by the mate, and for this belief he had reasons, so he said,

which were incontrovertible, but which he could not be prevailed upon to explain to us, this wayward refusal being only in keeping with other points of his singular character. but whether or not he had any better grounds for suspecting the mate than we had ourselves. We were easily led to fall in with his suspicion, and determined to act accordingly. Rogers had died about eleven in the forenoon, in violent convulsions, and the corpse presented in a very few minutes after death,

one of the most hard and loathsome spectacles I ever remember to have seen. The stomach was swollen immensely, like that of a man who has been drowned, and lain underwater for many weeks. The hands were in the same condition, while the face was shrunken, shriveled, and of a chalky whiteness, except were relieved by two or three glaring red blotches, like those occasioned by the erysipolis. One of these blotches extended diagonally across the face,

completely covering up an eye as if with a band of red velvet. In this disgusting condition, the body had been brought up from the cabin at noon to be thrown overboard, when the mate, getting a glimpse of it, for he now saw it for the first time, and being either touched with remorse for his crime, or struck with a terror at so horrible a sight, ordered the men to sew up the body in its hammock, and allow it the usual rights of sea burial.

Having given these directions, he went below, as if to avoid any further sight of his victim. While preparations were making to obey his orders, the gale came on with great fury, and the design was abandoned for the present. The corpse, left to itself, was washed into the larboard scuppers, where it lay, at the time of which I speak, floundering about with the furious lurches of the brig. Having arranged our plan, we set about putting it in execution as speedily as possible. Peters went upon the deck, and as he had anticipated was immediately accosted by Alan,

who appeared to be stationed more as a watch upon the forecastle than for any other purpose. The fate of this villain, however, was speedily and silently decided, for Peters, approaching him in a careless manner as if about to address him, seized him by the throat, and before he could utter a single cry, tossed him over the bulwarks. He then called to us, and we came up. Our first precaution was to look about for something with which to arm ourselves, and in doing this we had to proceed with great care, for it was impossible to stand on deck an instant without holding fast, and violent seas broke over the vessel at every plunge forward. It was indispensable, too, that we should be quick in our operations, for every minute we expected the mate to be up to set the pumps going, as it was evident the brig must be taking in water very fast.

After searching about for some time, we could find nothing more fit for our purpose than the two pump handles, one of which Augustus took and I the other. Having secured these, we stripped off the shirt of the corpse and dropped the body overboard. Peters and myself then went below, leaving Augustus to watch upon the deck, where he took his station just where Alan had been placed,

and with his back to the cabin companionway, so that, if any of the maids' gang should come up, he might suppose it was the watch. As soon as I got below, I commenced disguising myself so as to represent the corpse of Rogers. The shirt which we had taken from the body aided us very much,

for it was of singular form. form and character and easily recognizable, a kind of smock which the deceased wore over his other clothing. It was a blue stockinette, with large white stripes running across. Having put this on, I proceeded to equip myself with a false stomach, an imitation of the horrible deformity of the swollen corpse. This was soon affected by means of stuffing with some bedclothes. I then gave the same appearance to my hands by drawing on a pair of white woolen mittens and filling them in with any kind of rags that offered themselves. Peters then arranged my face, first rubbing it well over with white chalk, and afterward blotching it with blood, which he took from a cut in his

finger. The streak across the eye was not forgotten, and presented a most shocking appearance. End of Chapter 7. This is a Librevox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, visit Libravox. org. Recorded by Kirsten Ferreri, Los Angeles, California, August 2006. The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe. Chapter 8 As I viewed myself in a fragment of looking-glass which hung up in the cabin, and by the dim

light of a kind of battle-lantern, I was so impressed with a sense of vague awe at my appearance, and at the recollection of the terrific reality which I was thus representing, that I was seized with a violent tremor, and could scarcely summon resolution to go on with my part. It was necessary, however, to act with decision, and Peters and myself went up on deck. We there found everything safe, and, keeping close to the bulwarks, the three of us crept to the cabin companionway. It was only partially closed, precautions having been taken to prevent its being suddenly pushed to from without, by means of placing billets of wood on the upper step so as to interfere with the shutting. We found no difficulty in getting a full view of the interior of the

cabin through the cracks where the hinges were placed. It now proved to have been very fortunate for us that we had not attempted to take them by surprise, for they were evidently on the alert. Only one was asleep, and he lying just at the foot of the companion ladder, with a musket at his side. The rest were seated on several mattresses, which had been taken from the berths and thrown on the floor. They were engaged in earnest conversation, and although they had, they had been carousing, as appeared from two empty jugs, with some tin tumblers which lay about, they were not as much intoxicated as usual. All had knives, one or two of them pistols, and a great many muskets were lying on a berth close at hand. We listened to their conversation

for some time before we could make up our minds how to act, having as yet resolved on nothing to terminate, except that we would attempt to paralyze their exertions when we should attack them by means of the apparition of Rogers. They were discussing their own. They were discussing their piratical plans, in which all we could hear distinctly was that they would unite with the crew of the schooner-hornet, and, if possible, get the schooner herself into their possession preparatory to some attempt on a large scale, the particulars of which could not be made out by either of us. One of the men spoke of Peters, when the maid replied to him in a low voice which could not be distinguished, and afterwards added more loudly, that he could not understand his being so much

forward with the captain's brat in the forecastle, and he thought, the sooner both of them were overboard, the better. To this no answer was made, but we could easily perceive that the hint was well received by the whole party, and more particularly by Jones. At this period I was excessively agitated, the more so as I could see that neither Augustus nor Peters could determine how to act. I made up my mind, however, to sell my life as dearly as possible, and not to suffer myself to be overcome by any feelings of trepidation. The tremendous noise made by the roaring of wind in the rigging, and the washing of the sea over the deck, prevented us from hearing what was said, except during momentary lulls. In one of these we all distinctly heard the mate tell one of the

men to go forward, have an eye upon them, for he wanted no such secret doings on board the brig. It was well for us that the pitching of the vessel at this moment was so violent as to prevent this order from being carried into instant execution. The cook got up from his mattress to go for us when a tremendous lurch, which I thought would carry away the masts, threw him headlong against one of the Lerbert's stateroom doors, bursting it open and creating a good deal of other confusion. Luckily, neither of our party was thrown from his position, and we had time to make a precipitate retreat to the forecastle, and arrange a hurried plan of action before the messenger made his appearance, or rather before he put his head out of the

companion hatch, for he did not come on deck. From this station he could not know the absence of Alan, and he accordingly bawled out, as if to him, repeating the orders of the mate. Peters cried out, aye, in a disguised voice, and the cook immediately went below, without entertaining a suspicion that all was not right. My two companions now proceeded boldly aft and down into the cabin, Peters closing the door after him in the same manner he had found it. The mate received them with feigned cordiality, and told Augustus that, since he had behaved himself so well of late, He might take up his quarters in the cabin and be one of them for the future. He then poured him out a tumbler half full of rum and made him drink it.

All this I saw and heard, for I followed my friends to the cabin as soon as the door was shut, and took up my old point of observation. I had brought with me the two pump handles, one of which I secured near the companionway, to be ready for use when it was required. I now steadied myself as well as possible so as to have a good view of all that was passing within, and endeavoured to nerve myself to the task of descending among the mutineers when Peters should make a signal to me, as agreed upon. Presently he contrived to turn the conversation upon the bloody deeds of the mutiny, and by degrees led the men to talk of the thousand superstitions which are so universally current among seamen.

I could not make out all that was said, but I could plainly see the effects of the conversation in the countenances of those present. The mate was evidently much agitated, and presently when someone mentioned the terrific appearance of Rogers' corpse I thought he was on the point of swooning. Peters now asked him if he did not think it would be better to have the body thrown overboard at once, as it was too horrible a sight to see it floundering about in the scuppers. At this the villain absolutely gasped for breath, and turning his head slowly round upon his companions, as if imploring someone to go up and perform the task. No one, however, stirred, and it was quite evident that the whole party were wound up to the highest pitch of nervous excitement. Peters now made me the signal. I immediately threw open

the door of the companionway, and descending, without uttering a syllable, stood erect in the midst of the party. The intense effect produced by this sudden apparition is not at all to be wondered at when the various circumstances are taken into consideration. Usually, in cases of a similar nature, there is left in the mind of the spectator some glimmering of doubt as to the reality of the vision before his eyes, a degree of hope, however feeble, that he is the victim of chicanery, and that the apparition is not actually a visitant from the old world of shadows. It is not too much to say that such remnants of doubt have been at the bottom of almost every such visitation, and that the appalling horror which has sometimes been brought about,

is to be attributed, even in the case in point, and where most suffering has been experienced, more to a kind of anticipative horror, lest the apparition might possibly be real than to an unwavering belief in its reality. But in the present instance it will be seen immediately that in the minds of the mutineers there was not even the shadow of a basis upon which to rest a doubt that the apparition of Rogers was indeed a revivification of his disgusting corpse, or at least its spiritual image. The isolated situation of the brig, with its entire inaccessibility on account of the Gale, confined the apparently possible means of deception within such narrow and definite limits

that they must have thought themselves enabled to survey them all at a glance. They had now been at sea twenty-four days without holding more than a speaking communication with any vessel whatever. The whole of the crew, too, at least all whom they had the most remote reason for suspecting to be on board, were assembled in the cabin, with the exception of Alan, the watch, and his gigantic stature, he was six feet six inches high, was too familiar in their eyes to permit the notion that he was the apparition before them to enter their minds even for an instant. Add to these considerations the awe-inspiring nature of the tempest, and that of the conversation

brought about by Peters, the deep impression which the loathsomeness of the actual corpse had made in the morning upon the imaginations of the men, the excellence of the imitation in my person, and the uncertain and wavering light in which they beheld me, as the glare of the cabin-lantern, swinging violently to and fro, fell dubiously. and fitfully upon my figure, and there will be no reason to wonder that the deception had even more than the entire effect which we had anticipated. The mate sprang up from the mattress on which he was lying, and without uttering a syllable, fell back, stone dead upon the cabin floor, and was hurled to the leeward like a log by a heavy roll of the brig. Of the remaining

seven there were but three who had at first any degree of presence of mind. The four others sat for some time rooted apparently to the floor, the most pitiable objects of horror and utter despair my eyes ever encountered. The only opposition we experienced at all was from the cook, John Hunt, and Richard Parker. But they made a feeble and irresolute defense. The two former were shot instantly by Peters, and I felled Parker with a blow on the head from the pump handle which I had brought with me. In the meantime, Augustus seized one of the muskets lying on the floor and shot another mutineer Wilson through the breast. There were now but three remaining,

but by this time they had become aroused from their lethargy, and perhaps began to see that a deception had been practiced upon them, for they fought with a great resolution and fury, and but for the immense muscular strength of Peters might ultimately have got the better of us. These three men were Jones, Greeley, and Absalom Hicks. Jones had thrown Augustus to the floor, stabbed him in several places along the right arm,

and would no doubt soon have dispatched him, as neither Peters nor myself could immediately get rid of our own antagonists, had it not been for the timely aid of a friend, upon whose assistance we surely had never depended. This friend was no other than Tiger. With a low growl he bounded into the cabin at a most critical moment for Augustus, and throwing himself upon Jones pinned him to the floor in an instant. My friend, however, was now too much injured to render us any aid whatever, and I was so encumbered with my disguise that I could do but little. The dog would not leave his hold upon the throat of Jones. Peters, nevertheless, was far more than a match for the two men who remained, and would no doubt have dispatched them sooner had it not been for the narrow space in which he had to act,

and the tremendous lurches of the vessel. Presently he was enabled to get hold of a heavy stool, several of which lay about the floor. With this he beat out the brains of Greeley as he was in the act of discharging a musket at me, and immediately afterward a roll of the brig throwing him into contact with Hicks, he seized him by the throat, and by dint of sheer strength strangled him instantaneously. Thus, in far less time than I have taken to tell it, we found ourselves masters of the brig. The only person of our opponents who was left alive was Richard Parker.

This man, it will be remembered, I had knocked down with a blow from the pump handle at the commencement of the attack. He now lay motionless by the door of the shattered stateroom, but upon Peter's touching, him with his foot, he spoke, and entreated for mercy. His head was only slightly cut, and otherwise he had received no injury, having been merely stunned by the blow. He now got up, and for the present we secured his hands behind his back. The dog was still growling over Jones, but upon examination we found him completely dead, the blood issuing in a stream from a deep wound in the throat, inflicted, no doubt, by the sharp teeth of the animal. It was now about one o'clock in the morning, and the wind was still blowing tremendously. The brig evidently labored much more than usual,

and it became absolutely necessary that something should be done with a view of easing her in some measure. At almost every roll to leeward she shipped a sea, several of which came partly down into the cabin during our scuffle, the hatchway having been left open by myself when I descended. The entire range of bulwarks to Lobbered had been swept away, as well as the caboose, together with the jolly boat from the counter. The creaking and working-working. of the main mass, too, gave indication that it was nearly sprung. To make room for more stowage in the afterhold, the heel of this mast had been stepped between decks, a very reprehensible practice, occasionally resorted to by ignorant shipbuilders, so that it was in imminent danger of working

from its step. But to crown all our difficulties we plumbed the wall, and found no less than seven feet of water. Leaving the bodies of the crew lying in the cabin, we got to work immediately at the pumps, Parker, of course, being set at liberty to assist us in the labor. Augustus's arm was bound up as well as we could affect it, and he did what he could, but that was not much. However, we found that we could just manage to keep the leak from gaining upon us by having one pump constantly going. As there were only four of us, this was severe labor, but we endeavored to keep up our spirits, and looked anxiously for daybreak when we hoped to lighten the brig by cutting away the main mast. In this manner we passed a night of terrible anxiety and fatigue,

and when the day at length broke, the gale had neither abated in the least, nor were there any signs of its abating. We now dragged the bodies on deck and threw them overboard. Our next care was to get rid of the main mast. The necessary preparations having been made, Peters cut away at the mast, having found axes in the cabin, while the rest of us stood by the stays and lanyards. As the brig gave a tremendous leilert, the word was given to cut away the weather lanyards, which being done, the whole mast of wood and rigging plunged into the sea, clear of the brig, and without doing any material injury. We now found that the vessel did not labor quite as much as before, but our situation was still exceedingly precarious, and in spite of the utmost exertions,

we could not gain upon the leak without the aid of both pumps. The little assistance which Augustus could render us was not really of any importance. To add to our distress, a heavy sea, striking the brig to the windward, threw her off several points from the wind, and before she could regain her position, another broke completely over her, and hurled her full upon her beam-ends. The ballast now shifted in a mass to leeward, the sewage had been knocking about perfectly at random for some time, and for a few moments we thought nothing could save us from capsizing. Presently, however, we partially righted, but the ballast still retaining its place to Larboard, we lay so much along that it was useless to think of working the pumps, which indeed we could not

have done much longer in any case, as our hands were entirely raw with the excessive labor we had undergone, and bleeding in the most horrible manner. Contrary to Parker's advice, we now proceeded to cut away the foremast, and at length accomplished it after much difficulty, owing to the position in which we lay. In going overboard the wreck took with it the bowsprit, and left us a complete Hulk. So far we had had reason to rejoice in the escape of our longboat, which had received no damage from any of the huge seas which had come on board. But we had not long to congratulate ourselves, for the foremast having gone, and of course the foresail with it, by which the brig had been steadied, every sea now made a complete breach over us, and in five minutes our deck was swept

from stern to stern, the longboat and starboard bulwarks torn off, and even the windlass shattered into fragments. It was indeed hardly possible for us to be in a more pitiable condition. At noon there seemed to be some slight appearance of the gales abating, but in this we were sadly disappointed, for it only lulled for a few minutes to blow with redoubled fury. About four in the afternoon it was utterly impossible to stand up against the violence of the blast, and as the night closed in upon us I had not a shadow of hope that the vessel would hold together until morning. By midnight we had settled very deep in the water, which was now up to the Orlop deck. The rudder went soon afterward, the sea which tore it away, lifting the after portion of the

brig entirely from the water, against which she thumped in her descent with such a concussion as would be occasioned by going ashore. We had all calculated that the rudder would hold its own to the last, as it was unusually strong, being rigged as I have never seen one rigged either before or since. Down its main timber there ran a succession of stout iron hook. and others in the same manner down the stern-post. Through these hooks there extended a very thick wrought-iron rod, the rudder being thus held to the stern-post, and swinging freely on the rod. The tremendous force of the sea which tore it off may be estimated by the fact that the hooks in the stern-post, which ran entirely through it, being clinched on the inside,

were drawn every one of them completely out of the solid wood. We had scarcely time to draw breath after the violence of this shock, when one of the most tremendous waves I had then ever known broke right on board of us, sweeping the companionway clear off, bursting in the hatchways, and filling every inch of the vessel with water. End of Chapter 8. This is a Librevox recording. Old Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by Michael Sirwa. Michael.org. wa-s-I-R-O-I-S dot com The narrative of Arthur Gordon Pim of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe

Chapter 9 Luckily, just before night, all four of us had lashed ourselves firmly to the fragments of the windlass, lying in this manner as flat upon the deck as possible. This precaution alone saved us from destruction. As it was, we were all more or less stunned by the immense weight of water which tumbled upon us, and which did not roll from above us until we were nearly exhausted. As soon as I could recover breath, I called aloud to my companions. Augustus alone replied, saying,

It is all over with us, and may God have mercy upon our souls. By and by, both the others were unable to speak. When they exhorted us to take courage, as there was still hope, it being impossible from the nature of the cargo that the brig could go down, and there being every chance that the gale would blow over, by the morning. These words inspired me with new life, for strange as it may seem, although it was obvious that a vessel with a cargo of empty oil casks would not sink, I had been hitherto so confused

in mind as to have overlooked this consideration altogether, and the danger which I had for some time regarded as the most imminent was that of foundering. As hope revived within me, I made use of every opportunity to strengthen the lashings, which held me to the remains of the windlass, and in this occupation, and in this occupation, I soon discovered that my companions were also busy. The night was as dark as it could possibly be, and the horrible shrieking din and confusion which surrounded us is useless to attempt describing.

Our deck lay leveled with the sea, or rather we were encircled with a towering ridge of foam, a portion of which swept over us even instant. It is not too much to say that our heads were not fairly out of the water more than one second and three. although we lay close together no one of us could see the other, or indeed any portion of the brig itself, upon which we were so tempestuously hurled about. At intervals we called one to the other, thus endeavoring to keep a live hope, and render consolation and encouragement to such of us as stood most in need of it. The feeble condition of Augustus made him an object of solicitude with us all, and as from the lacerated condition of his right arm, it must have been imposterous.

for him to secure his lashings with any degree of firmness, we were in momentary expectation of finding that he had gone overboard. Yet to render him aid was a thing altogether out of the question. Fortunately, his station was more secure than any of the rest of us. For the upper part of his body, lying just beneath a portion of the shattered windlass, the seas as they tumbled in upon him were greatly broken in their violence. In any other situation than this, into which he had been accidentally thrown after having lashed himself in a very exposed spot. He must inevitably have perished before morning. Owing to the Briggs lying so much along, we were all less liable to be washed off than otherwise

would have been the case. The heel, as I have before stated, was to Larboard, about one half of the deck being constantly underwater. 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 backwater 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 Son. 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. He 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, either 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 fantasies. 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 an 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 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 amid ships. 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 so 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 Peter 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 the 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 endeavor 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. Either 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 winter, 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 toward 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 woolen pantaloons and threw 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 hopes that Augustus would recover, as he evinceded no signs of life. But upon getting to him, we discovered that he had merely swooned from the 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 a half an hour he came to himself although it was not until the next morning that he gave signs of recognizing 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 north-west 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 for 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 endeavored, 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 northwest. 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 despondently, 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 labor 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 it slipping. The undertaking was one of great difficulty in 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, Peter's now descended in 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 endeavoring 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 latter. 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 underwater 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 fore-chains, so loose that we had not the least difficulty in wrenching it off. Having fastened this securely to one of his ankles, Peter now made his fourth to sand, 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 underwater, 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 vigor to think what could yet be done by mortal means

toward accomplishing our deliverance. End of Chapter 9. is a Libervox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by Michael Surwa, Michael. dot Sirwa, S-I-R-O-I-S dot com. The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pim of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe.

Chapter 10 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 toward a god-obeyed.

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 rhodomontides, 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 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 foretop mast 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 foremast and main sail, with a flying jib. Of course she came down but slowly, and our impatience amounted nearly to frenzy. The awkward manner in which she steered to was remarked by all of us, even excited as we were. She yawned about so considerably that once or twice we thought it impossible she should 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 toward 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 deck 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, though 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 leapt up wildly within us, and we poured out our whole souls and 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 now had 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 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? 25 or 30 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 fainted 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 cat-head. 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 farther round so as to bring us close in view, the bird, with much apparent difficulty, drew out its crimsoned head, and after eyeing us for a moment as if stupefied,

arose lazily from the body upon which it had been feasting, and flying directly above our deck, hovered there for 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 toward the ensanguant 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 round 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 half of her hull, the proposition was seriously entertained of attempting to overtake her by swimming. I have, since this period, vainly endeavored to obtain some clue 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 traitor, 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 of 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 forever involved, in the most of the most, appalling and unfathomable mystery. End of chapter 10. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain.

For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by Michael Surwa. Michael.org.S.I-R-O-I-S dot com. The narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe. chapter eleven 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 endeavored to snatch a little repose and 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 provisions from the hull it was now a dead calm with the sea as smooth as 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 four chains and having fastened both to peter'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 the 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 balance 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 poured 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 re-corked 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 a moment.

became fully satisfied that no exertions whatever in that situation when it enabled 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'd talked incoherently and about matters unconnected with our condition peter 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 bernard 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 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 and 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 endeavored 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 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 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 unsupportable, 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 endeavored 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. Toward 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 most lively degree, at the same time causing me to rejoice in the fortunate train of circumstances

which had permitted 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 favorable change took place, they could afford me no assistance in providing for our common safety. I had not yet abandoned all idea 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 endeavored by every means in my power to rouse 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 on 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 Apatul. 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 service 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 give 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 16th 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 poured 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 wished 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 endeavoring 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 it 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 in inspired all at once with the consciousness of their condition, when they would spring upon their feet in a momentary flash of vigor, 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 a 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 toward 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 draft 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 considered a pure 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 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 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 endeavored to throw himself upon it, howling and shrieking in the most heart-werecting, in the most heart-wark. rending 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 toward 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. End of Chapter 11. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org.

William Jameson, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pymn of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe. Chapter 12 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 labored. 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 presumed. I would have observed, 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 regarding himself at least. that he was not to be moved by anything I could say in a mild tone, I now assumed a different demeanor, 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 meantime, 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 his 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 immediately being 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 embitter every future moment of my existence. Let me run over this portion of my narrative with as much haste, as much haste, and I amittererer 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 each take 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 toward 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 anyone 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 toward 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

toward him. It was fully five minutes before he could summon resolution to draw, during which period of heart-rending 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 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th of the month. On the 19th, they're coming on a smart shower, which lasted 15 or 20 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 21st, we were again reduced to the last necessity. The weather still remained warm and pleasant, with occasional fogs and light breezes, most usually from north to west.

On the 22nd, 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 object 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 birth, and at the 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' 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 necessary 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 23rd. 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 labors, which had been intolerably severe. By noon, feeling somewhat strengthened and refreshed, we again renewed our attempt at getting up provisions, 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 Grampas was leaving port, from the schooner, Mary Pitts, just returned from a sealing voyage in the Pacific. 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 Gallipigo, meaning a freshwater terrapin. 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 12 to 1,500 pounds, although I do not remember that any navigator speaks of having seen them weighing more than 800. 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 18 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 exploration 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 perslane, 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 65 or 70 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 Peter's grasp, and slipping back into the water, when Augustus, throwing a rope with the 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 23rd, 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 its back, and otherwise carefully fasten. End of Chapter 12. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recorded by Julian Jameson. The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pymn of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe.

Chapter 13. 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 greater distance from land, without more food than when 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. Still, the infinitely more terrible distresses and dangerous 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 turn 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 four-chain plates in the middle of it. The water, thus conducted to the center, 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. 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 weather 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-not 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 up 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. Toward evening we 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 labor 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-jurbaned, 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 event 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 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 relieved 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 manner we put away about three pounds of the tortoise, intending not to touch it until we had consumed the rest. We concluded to restrict ourselves to about four ounces of the meat per day. The whole would thus last us thirteen days. A brisk shower, with severe thunder and lightning, came on about dusk, but lasted so short a time that we only succeeded in catching

about half a pint of water. The whole of this, by common consent, was given to Augustus, who now appeared to be in the last extremity. He drank the water from the sheet as we caught it, we holding it above him as he lay so as to let it run into his mouth, for we had now nothing left capable of holding water unless we had chosen to empty out our wine from the carboy, or the stale water from the jug. Either of these expedients would have been resorted to had the shower lasted. The sufferer seemed to derive but little benefit from the draft. His arm was completely black from the wrist, to the shoulder, and his feet were like ice. We expected every moment to see him breathe his last. He was frightfully emaciated, so much so that, although he weighed 127 pounds upon his leaving

Nantucket, he now did not weigh more than forty or fifty at the farthest. His eyes were sunk far in his head, being scarcely perceptible, and the skin of his cheeks hung so loosely as to prevent his masticating any food or even swallowing any liquid without great difficulty. August 1. A continuance of the same calm weather, with an oppressively hot sun, suffered exceedingly from thirst, the water in the jug being absolutely putrid and swarming with vermin. We contrived nevertheless to swallow a portion of it by mixing it with wine. Our thirst, however, was but little abated. We found more relief for, by bathing in the sea, but could not avail ourselves of this expedient except at long intervals,

on account of the continual presence of sharks. We now saw clearly that Augustus could not be saved, that he was evidently dying. We could do nothing to relieve his sufferings, which appeared to be great. About twelve o'clock he expired in strong convulsions, and without having spoken for several hours. His death filled us with the most gloomy forebodings, and had so great an effect upon our spirits that we sat motionless by the corpse during the whole day, and never addressed each other except in a whisper. It was not until sometime after dark that we took courage to get up and throw the body overboard. It was then loathsome beyond expression, and so far decayed that as Peters attempted to lift it, an entire leg came off in his grasp. As the mass of putrefaction slipped over the vessel's side into the water,

the glare of phosphoric light with which it was surrounded plainly discovered to us, Seven or eight large sharks, the clashing of whose horrible teeth, as their prey was torn to pieces among them, might have been heard at the distance of a mile. We shrunk within ourselves in the extremity of horror at the sound. August 2. The same fearfully calm and hot weather. The dawn found us in a state of pitiable dejection as well as bodily exhaustion. The water in the jug was now absolutely useless, being a thick jule. latinous mass, nothing but frightful-looking worms mingled with slime. We threw it out,

and washed the jug well in the sea, afterward pouring a little vinegar in it from our bottles of pickled tortoise. Our thirst could now scarcely be endured, and we tried in vain to relieve it by wine, which seemed only to add fuel to the flame, and excited us to a high degree of intoxication. We afterward endeavored to relieve our sufferings by mixing the wine with sea water, but this instantly brought about the most violent wretchings, so that we never again attempted it. During the whole day we anxiously sought an opportunity of bathing, but to no purpose, for the Hulk was now entirely besieged on all sides with sharks, no doubt the identical monsters who had devoured our poor companion on the evening before,

and who were in momentary expectation of another similar feast. This circumstance occasioned us the most bitter regret, and filled us with the most depressing and melancholy. collie forebodings. We had experienced indescribable relief in bathing, and to have this resource cut off in so frightful a manner was more than we could bear. Nor, indeed, were we altogether free from the apprehension of immediate danger. For the least slip or false movement would have thrown us at once within reach of those voracious fish, who frequently thrust themselves directly upon us, swimming up to leeward. No shouts or exertions on our part seemed to alarm them. Even when one of the

largest was struck with an axe by Peters, and much wounded, he persisted in his attempts to push in where we were. A cloud came up at dusk, but, to our extreme anguish, passed over without discharging itself. It is quite impossible to conceive our sufferings from thirst at this period. We passed a sleepless night, both on this account and through dread of the sharks. August 3. No prospect of relief, and the brig lying still more and more along, so that now we could not maintain a footing upon deck at all. Busied ourselves in securing our wine and tortoise meat, so that we might not lose them in the event of our rolling over. Got out two stout spikes from the forechains, and by means of the axe drove them into the hull to windward within a

couple of feet of the water, this not being very far from the keel, as we were nearly upon our beam ends. To these spikes we now lashed our provisions, as being more secure than their former position beneath the chains. Suffered great agony from thirst during the whole day. No chance of bathing on account of the sharks, which never left us for a moment. Found it impossible to sleep. August 4. A little before daybreak we perceived that the Hulk was healing over, and aroused ourselves to prevent being thrown off by the movement. At first the roll was slow and gradual, and we contrived to clamber over to windward very well, having taken the precaution to leave ropes hanging from the spike. we had driven in for the provision. But we had not calculated sufficiently upon the acceleration of

the impetus, for, presently the heel became too violent to allow of our keeping pace with it, and before either of us knew what was to happen, we found ourselves hurled furiously into the sea, and struggling several fathoms beneath the surface, with the huge hull immediately above us. In going under the water I had been obliged to let go my hold upon the rope, and finding that I was completely beneath the vessel, and my strength, nearly exhausted, I scarcely made a struggle for life, and resigned myself in a few seconds to die. But here again I was deceived, not having taken into consideration the natural rebound of the hull to windward. The whirl of the water upward, which the vessel occasioned in rolling

partially back, brought me to the surface still more violently than I had been plunged beneath. Upon coming up, I found myself about twenty yards from the Hulk, as near as I could judge. She was lying keel up, rocking furiously from side to side, and the sea in all directions around was much agitated, and full of strong whirlpools. I could see nothing of peter's. An oil cask was floating within a few feet of me, and various other articles from the rig were scattered about. My principal terror was now on account of the sharks, which I knew to be in my vicinity.

In order to deter these, if possible, from approaching me, I splashed the water vigorously with both hands and feet as I swam towards the hulk, creating a body of foam. I have no doubt that to this expedient, simple as it was, I was indebted for my preservation, for the sea all around the brig, just before her rolling over, was so crowded with these monsters, that I must have been, and really was, in actual contact with some of them, during my progress. By great good fortune, however, I reached the side of the vessel in safety, although so utterly weakened by the violent exertion I had used, that I should never have been able to get up upon it, but for the timely assistance of Peters, who, now, to my great joy, made his

appearance, having scrambled up to the keel from the opposite side of the hull, and threw me the end of a rope, one of those which had been attached to the spikes. Having barely escaped this danger, our attention was now directed to the dreadful imminency of another, that of absolute starvation. Our whole stock of provision had been swept overboard, in spite of all our care in securing it, and seeing no longer the remotest possibility of obtaining more, we gave way both of us to despair, weeping aloud like children, and neither of us attempting to offer consolation to the other. Such weakness can scarcely be conceived, and to those who have never been similarly situated, will, no doubt, appear unnatural. But it must be remembered that our intellects were so entirely

disordered by the long course of privation and terror to which we had been subjected, that we could not justly be considered at that period in the light of rational beings. In subsequent perils, nearly as great, if not greater, I bore up with fortitude against all the evils of my situation, and Peters, it will be seen, evinced a stoical philosophy nearly as incredible as his present childlike supineness and invasility. The mental condition made the difference. the overturning of the brig even with the consequent loss of the wine and turtle would not in fact have rendered our situation more deplorable than before except for the disappearance of the bedclothes by which we had been hitherto enabled to catch rain-water and of the jug in which we had kept it when caught for we found the whole bottom from within two or three feet of the bends as far as the keel together with the keel itself thickly covered with large barnacles which proved to be excellent and highly nutritious food Thus, in two important respects, the accident we had so greatly dreaded proved to be a benefit

rather than an injury. It had opened to us a supply of provisions which we could not have exhausted, using it moderately in a month, and it had greatly contributed to our comfort as regards position, we being much more at ease and in infinitely less danger than before. The difficulty, however, of now obtaining water blinded us to all the benefits of the change in our condition, that we might be ready to a very to a moment. avail ourselves as far as possible of any shower which might fall, we took off our shirts, to make use of them as we had of the sheets, not hoping, of course, to get more in this way,

even under the most favorable circumstances than half a gill at a time. No signs of a cloud appeared during the day, and the agonies of our thirst were nearly intolerable. At night, Peters obtained about an hour's disturbed sleep, but my intense sufferings would not permit me to close my eyes for a single moment. August 5. Today, a gentle breeze springing up carried us through a vast quantity of seaweed, among which we were so fortunate as to find eleven small crabs, which afforded us several delicious meals.

Their shells, being quite soft, we ate them entire, and found that they irritated our thirst far less than the barnacles. Seeing no trace of sharks among the seaweed, we also ventured to bathe, and remained in the water for four or five hours, during which we experienced a very sensible diminution of our thirst. We're greatly refreshed and spent the night somewhat more comfortably than before, both of us snatching a little sleep. August 6.

This day we were blessed by a brisk and continual rain, lasting from about noon until after dark. Bitterly did we now regret the loss of our jug and carboy, for in spite of the little means we had of catching the water, we might have filled one, if not both of them. As it was, we can try to be. to satisfy the cravings of thirst by suffering the shirts to become saturated, and then ringing them so as to let the grateful fluid trickle into our mouths. In this occupation we passed

the entire day. August 7. Just at daybreak we both at the same instant describe a sail to the eastward, and evidently coming towards us. We hailed a glorious sight with a long, although feeble shout of rapture, and began instantly to make every signal in our power by flaring the shirt to in the air, leaping as high as our weak condition would permit, and even by hallooing with all the strength of our lungs, although the vessel could not have been less than fifteen miles distant. However, she still continued to near our hulk, and we felt that if she but held her present course, she must eventually come so close as to perceive us. In about an hour after we first discovered her, we could clearly see the people on her decks.

She was a long, low, and rakish-looking, top-sail schooner. with a black ball in her fore-top sail, and had apparently a full crew. We now became alarmed, for we could hardly imagine it possible that she did not observe us, and were apprehensive that she meant to leave us to perish as we were. An act of fiendish barbarity, which, however incredible it may appear, has been repeatedly perpetuated at sea, under circumstances very nearly similar, and by beings who were regarded as belonging to the human species. In this instance, however, by the mercy of God, we were destined to be most happily deceived,

for presently we were aware of a sudden commotion on the deck of the stranger, who immediately afterward ran up a British flag, and hauling her wind bore up directly upon us. In half an hour more we found ourselves in her cabin. She proved to be the Jane Guy of Liverpool, Captain Guy, bound on a sealing and trading voyage to the South Seas and Pacific. End of Chapter 13 This is a Librivox recording. All Librivox recordings are in the public domain.

For more information or to volunteer, please visit Librevox.org. Recording by Silver The narrative of Arthur Gordon Pim of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe. Chapter 14 The Jane Guy was a final word. top-sail schooner of a hundred and eighty tons burden. She was unusually sharp in the boughs, and on a wind in moderate weather, the fastest sailor I have ever seen. Her qualities, however, as a rough sea-boat were not so good, and a draught of water was by far too great for the

trait to which she was destined. For this peculiar service, a larger vessel, and one of a proportionate draft is desirable, say, a vessel of from 300 to 350 tons. She should be bark-rigged, and in other respects of a different construction from the usual South Sea ships. It is absolutely necessary that she should be well armed. She should have, say, ten or twelve-twelf-pound carronades, and two or three long twelves, with brass blunderbusses and water-tied arm-chests for each top. Her anchors and cables should be of far greater strength than is required for any other species of trade, and above all her crew should be numerous and efficient, not less for such a vessel as I have described than fifty or sixty able-bodied men. The Jane Guy had a crew of thirty-five, all able seamen, besides the captain and maid, but she was not altogether as well-armed or otherwise equipped as a navigator acquainted with the difficulties and dangers of the trade could have desired.

Captain Guy was a gentleman of greater benity of manner and of considerable experience in the southern traffic to which she had devoted a great portion of his life. He was deficient, however, in energy, and consequently in that spirit of enterprise which is here so absolutely requisite. He was part owner of the vessel in which she sailed, and was invested with discretionary powers to cruise in the South Seas for any cargo which might come most readily to hand. He had on board, as usual in such voyages, beads, looking-glasses, tinder-works, axes, hatchets, sores, edsies, planes, chisels,

gauges, gouges, gimlets, gilets, files, spokes, haresps, hammers, nails, knives, scissors, razors, needles, thread, crockeryware, calico, trinkets, and other similar articles. The schooner sailed from Liverpool on the 10th of July, crossed the Tropic of Cancer on the 25th, in longitude 20 degrees west,

and reached Sell one of the Cape Vard Islands on the 29th, where she took in salt and other necessaries for the voyage. On the 3rd of August she left the Cape Vards and steered southwest, stretching over toward the coast of Brazil, so as to cross the equator between the meridians of 28 and 30 degrees west longitude. This is the course usually taken by vessels bound from Europe to the Cape of Good Hope, or by their route to the East Indies. By proceeding thus they avoid the calms and strong contrary currents which continually prevail on the coast of Guinea, while in the end it is found to be the shortest trek, as westerly winds are never wanting afterward by which to reach the Cape.

It was Captain Guy's intention to make his first toppage at Cargillan's land, I hardly know for what reason. On the day we were picked up, the schooner was off Cape St. Rock, in longitude thirty-one degrees west, so that when found we had drifted probably from north to south, not less than five-and-twenty degrees. On board the Jane Guy we were treated with all the kindness our distress situation demanded. In about a fortnight, during which time we continued steering to the southeast, with gentle breezes and fine weather, both Peters and myself recovered entirely from the effects of our late privation and dreadful sufferings, and we began to remember what had passed rather as a frightful dream from which we had been happily awakened than as events which had taken place in sober and naked reality.

I have since found that this species of partial oblivion is usually brought about by sudden transition, whether from joy to sorrow or from sorrow to joy, the degree of forgetfulness being proportioned to the degree of difference in the exchange. Thus, in my own case, I now feel it impossible to realize the full extent of the misery which are endured during the day spent upon the hulk. The incidents are remembered, but not the feelings which the incidents elicited at the time of their recurrence. I only know that when they did occur, I then thought human nature could sustain nothing more of agony. We continued our voyage for some weeks without any incidents of greater moment than the occasional meeting with whaling ships, and more frequently with the black or right whale, so-called in contradistinction to the spermacetite. These, however, were chiefly found south of the 25th parallel. On the 16th of September, being in the vicinity of the city of the city of the city,

the cave of Good Hope, the schooner encountered her first gale of any violence since leaving Liverpool. In this neighbourhood, but more frequently to the south and east of the promontory, we were to the westward. Navigators have often too content with storms from the northward, which rage with great fury. They always bring with them a heavy sea, and one of their most dangerous features is the instantaneous chopping round of the wind, an occurrence almost certain to take place during the greatest force of the gale. A perfect hurricane will be blowing at one moment from the northward or northeast, and in the next not a breath of wind will be felled in that direction,

while from the southwest it will come out all at once, with a violence almost inconceivable. A bright spot to the southward is the sure forerunner of the change, and vessels are thus unable to take the proper precautions. It was about six in the morning, when the blow came on with a white squaw. and as usual from the northward. By eight it had increased very much, and brought down upon us one of the most tremendous seas I had then never beheld. Everything had been made as snug as possible, but the schooner laboured excessively, and gave evidence of her bad qualities as a sea-boat, pitching her forecastle under at every plunge, and with the greatest difficulty struggling up from one wave before she was buried in another.

Just before sunset the bright spot for which we had been on the lookout made its appearance in the southwest, and in an hour afterward we perceived the little head-sail we carried, flapping listlessly against the mast. In two minutes more, in spite of every preparation, we were hurled on our beam-ends, as if by magic, and a perfect wilderness of foe made a clear breach over us as we lay. The blow from the southwest, however, luckily proved to be nothing more than that. a squall and we had the good fortune to ride the vessel without the loss of a spa a heavy cross-sea gave us great trouble for a few hours after this but toward morning we found ourselves in nearly as good condition as before the gale captain guy considered that he had made an escape little less than miraculous on the thirteenth of october we came inside of prince edward's island in latitude forty-six degrees fifty-three minutes south longitude thirty-seven degrees forty-six minutes east. Two days afterward we found ourselves near Possession Island and presently past

the islands of Crozet in latitude 42 degrees 59 minutes south, longitude 48 degrees east. On the 18th we made Cargulence or desolation island in the southern Indian Ocean and came to anchor and Christmas Harbour having four fathoms of water. This island, or rather group of islands, bear southeast from the cave of Good Hope, and is distant there from nearly 800 leagues. It was first discovered in 1772 by the Baron de Curgulan, or Curgulan, a Frenchman, who, thinking the land to form a portion of an extensive southern continent, carried home information to that effect, which produced much excitement at the time. The government, taking the metter-ups sent the Baron back in the following year for the purpose

of giving his new discovery a critical examination, when the mistake was. discovered. In 1777, Captain Cook fell in with the same group, and gave to the principal one the name of Desolation Island, a title which it certainly well deserves. Upon approaching the Lent, however, the navigator might be induced to suppose otherwise, as the sides of most of the hills from September to March are clothed with very brilliant verger. This deceitful appearance is caused by a small plan resembling sexy frage, which is a abundant, growing in large patches on a species of crumbling moss. Besides this plant, there is scarcely a sign of vegetation on the island,

if we accept some coarse-wren grass near the harbour, some lichen, and a shrub which bears resemblance to a cabot shooting into seed, and which has a bitter and acrid taste. The face of the country is hilly, although none of the hills can be called lofty. Their tops are perpetually covered with snow. There are several harbours, of which Christmas harbour is the most convenient. It is the first to be met with on the northeast side of the island

after passing Cape Fonseois, which forms the northern shore, and by its peculiar shape serves to distinguish the harbour. Its projecting point terminates in a high rock, through which is a large hole, forming a natural arch. The entrance is in latitude 48 degrees, 40 minutes south, longitude 69 degrees, 6 minutes east. Passing in here, good anchorage may be found under the shelter of several small islands, which form a sufficient protection from all easterly winds.

Proceeding on eastwardly from this anchorage, you come to Wasbay, at the head of the harbour. This is a small basin, completely landlocked, into which you can go with four feathers, and find anchorage in from ten to three hard clay bottom. A ship might lie here with her best bower ahead all the year round without risk, To the westward at the head of Wasp Bay is a small stream of excellent water easily procured. Some seal of the fur and hair species are still to be found on Curgulence Island, and sea elephants abound. The feather tribes are discovered in great numbers. Penguins are very plenty, and of these there are four different kinds.

The royal penguin, so called from its size and beautiful plumage, is the largest. The upper part of the body is usually grey, sometimes of a lilac tint, the under portion of the purest wide imaginable. The head is of the glossy and most brilliant black, the feet also. The chief beauty of plumage, however, consists in two broad stripes of a gold colour, which paths along from the head to the breast. The bill is long, and either pink or bright scarlet. These birds walk erect, with a stately carriage. They carry their heads high with their wings drooping like two arms, and, as their tails project from their body in a line with the legs,

the resemblance to a human figure is very striking, and would be apt to deceive the spectator at a casual glance or in the gloom of the evening. The royal penguins which were met with on Curgulan's land were rather larger than a goose. The other kinds are the macaroni, the jackass, and the rookery penguin. These are much smaller, less beautiful in plumage and different in other respects. Besides the penguin, many other birds are here to be found, amongst which may be mentioned sea-hens, blue petrels, teal, ducks, poured acmeant hens, shags, cape pigeons, the nelly, sea-swallows, turns,

seagulls, mother carries chickens, mother carries geese, or the great petrel, and lastly the albatross. The great petrel is as large as the common albatross and is carnivorous. It is frequently called the break-bones or osprey petrel. They are not at all shy, and when properly cooked, are pelletable food. In flying there sometimes sail very close to the surface of the water, with the wings expended, without appearing to move them in the least degree, or make any exertion with them whatever.

the albatrons is one of the largest and fiercest of the south sea birds it is of the gull species and takes its prey on the wing never coming on land except for the purpose of breeding between this bird and the penguin the most singular friendship exists their nests are constructed with great uniformity upon a plan concerted between the two species that of the albatrons being placed in the centre of a little square formed by the nests of four penguins Navigators have agreed in calling an assemblage of such encampments a rookery. These rookeries have been often described, but as my readers may not all have seen these descriptions, and as I shall have vocation hereafter to speak of the penguin and albatross, it will not be amiss to say something here of their mode of building and living. When the season for incubation arrives,

the bars assemble in vast numbers, and for some days appear to be deliberating upon the proper course to be pursued. At length they proceed to action. A level piece of ground is selected of suitable extent, usually comprising three or four acres, and situated as near the sea as possible, being still beyond its reach. The spot is chosen with reference to its evenness of surface, and that is preferred which is the last encumbered with stones. This matter being arranged, the birds proceed with one accord, and actuated apparently by, one mind, to trace out with mathematical accuracy, either a square or other parallelogram,

as may best suit the nature of the ground, and of just sufficient size to accommodate easily all the birds assembled, and no more, in this particular seeming determined upon preventing the excess of future stragglers who have not participated in the labour of the encampment. One side of the place thus marked out runs parallel with the water's edge, and is left open for ingress, or egress. Having defined the limits of the rookery, the colony now begin to clear it of every species of rubbish, picking up stone by stone, and carrying them outside of the lines, and close by them, so as to form a wall on the three island sides. Just within this wall a perfectly level and smooth walk is formed, from six to eight feet wide, and extending around the encampment,

thus serving the purpose of a general promenade. The next process is to to partition out the whole area into small squares exactly equal in size. This is done by forming narrow paths, very smooth, and crossing each other at right angles throughout the entire extent of the rookery. At each intersection of these paths, the nest of an albatross is constructed, and a penguins nest in the centre of each square. Thus every penguin is surrounded by four albatrosses, and each albatross by a like number of penguins.

The penguin's nest consists of a hole in the earth, very shallow, being only just of sufficient depth to keep her single egg from rolling. The albatross is somewhat less simple in her arrangements, erecting a hillock about a foot high and two in diameter. This is made of earth, seaweed, and shells. On its summit she builds her nest. The birds take a special care never to leave their nests unoccupied for an instant during the period of incubation. or indeed until the young progeny are sufficiently strong to take care of themselves. While the male is absent at sea in surge of food, the female remains on duty, and it is only upon the return of her partner that she ventures abroad.

The eggs are never left uncovered at all, while one bird leaves the nest, the other nestling in by its side. This precaution is rendered necessary by the thieving propensities prevalent in the rookery, the inhabitants making no scruple to parloin each other's eggs at every good opportunity. Although there are some rookeries in which the penguin and albatross are the sole population, yet in most of them a variety of oceanic birds are to be met with, enjoying all the privileges of citizenship

and scattering their nests here and there, wherever they can find room, never interfering, however, with the stations of the larger species. The appearance of such encampments, when seen from a distance is exceedingly singular. The whole atmosphere just above the settlement is darkened with the immense number of the albatrons, mingled with the smaller tribes,

which are continually hovering over it, either going to the ocean or returning home. At the same time a crowd of penguins are to be observed, some passing to and fro in the narrow alleys, and some marching with the military struts so peculiar to them around the general promenade ground which encircles the rookery. in short surveyed as we will nothing can be more astonishing than the spirit of reflection evinced by these feathered beings and nothing surely can be better calculated to elicit reflection in every well-regulated human intellect on the morning after our arrival in christmas harbour the chief mate mr petterson took the boats and although it was somewhat early in the season went in search of seal leaving the captain and the young relation of his on a point of baron

land to the westward, they having some business whose nature I could not ascertain to transact in the interior of the island. Captain Guy took with him a bottle in which was a sealed letter, and made his way from the point on which he was set on shore, toward one of the highest peaks in the place. It is probable that his design was to leave the letter on that height for some vessel which he expected to come after him. As soon as we lost side of him we proceeded, Peter and myself being in the

mate's boat on our cruise around the coast, looking for seal. In this business we were occupied about three weeks, examining with great care every nook and corner, not only of Cargolans land, but of the several small islands in the vicinity. Our labours, however, were not crowned with any important success. We saw a great many farceal, but they were exceedingly shy, and with the greatest exertions we could only procure 350 skins in all. sea elephants were abundant especially on the western coast of the mainland but of these we killed only twenty and this with great difficulty on the smaller islands we discovered a good many of the hair seal but did not molest them

we returned to the schooner on the eleventh where we found captain guy and his nephew who gave a very bad account of the interior representing it as one of the most dreary and utterly barren countries in the world they had remained two knights on the island owing to some misunderstanding on the part of the second maid in regard to the sending a jolly boat from the schooner to take them off end of chapter fourteen this is a librivox recording all librivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit librivox dot org recording by silver the narrative of arthur gordon Pim of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe. Chapter 15. On the 12th we made sail from Christmas Harbour, retracing our way to the westward, and leaving Marion's Island, one of Croswood's group on the larboard. We afterward passed Prince Edward's Island, leaving it also on our left, then steering more to the northward, made in 15 days the islands of Tristan Diacunia, in latitude 37 degrees 8 minutes south,

longitude 12 degrees 8 minutes west. This group now so well known, and which consists of three circular islands, was first discovered by the Portuguese, and was visited afterward by the Dutch in 1643, and by the French in 1767. The three islands together form a triangle, and are distant from each other about 10 miles,

there being fine open passages, between. The land in all of them is very high, especially in Tristan Dacunya, properly so called. This is the largest of the group, being 15 miles in circumference, and so elevated that it can be seen in clear weather at the distance of 80 or 90 miles. A part of the land toward the north rises more than a thousand feet perpendicularly from the sea. A table land at his height extends back nearly to the center of the island, and from this table land, arises a lofty cone like that of Tenerife. The lower half of this cone is clothed with trees of good size,

but the upper region is barren rock, usually hidden among the clouds, and covered with snow during the greater part of the year. There are no shoals or other dangers about the island, the shores being remarkably bold and the water deep. On the northwestern coast is a bay, with a beach of black sand where a landing with boats can be easily affected, provided there be a southerly wind. Plenty of excellent water may here be readily procured,

also cod and other fish may be taken with hugh and line. The next island in point of size, and the most westwardly of the group, is that called the inaccessible. Its precise situation is 37 degrees, 17 minutes south latitude, longitude 12 degrees, 24 minutes west. It is seven or eight miles and circumfellation,

and on all sides presents a forbidding and precipitous aspect. Its top is perfectly flat, and the whole region is sterile, nothing growing upon it except a few stunted trubs. Nightingale Island, the smallest and most southerly, is in latitude 37 degrees 26 minutes south, longer two 12 degrees 12 minutes west. Of its southern extremity is a high lech of rocky islets, a few also of a similar appearance are seen to the northeast. The ground is irregular and sterile, and a deep valley partially separates it. The shores of these islands abound in the proper season, with sea lions, sea elephants, the hare and far seal, together with the great variety of oceanic birds. Whales are also plenty in their vicinity. Owing to the ease with which these various animals were here formally

taken, the group has been much visited since its discovery. The Dutch and French frequented at a very early period. In 1790, Captain Patton of the ship industry of Philadelphia made Tristan Dacuna, where he remained seven months, from August 1790 to April 1791, for the purpose of collecting seal skins. In this time, he gathered no less than 5,600 and says that he would have had no difficulty

loading a large ship with oil in three weeks. Upon his arrival, he found no quadrupeds, with the exception of a few. few wild goads. The island now abounds with all our most valuable domestic animals, which have been introduced by subsequent navigators. I believe it was not long after Captain Patton's visit that Captain Colchuhon of the American Brig Betsy touched at the largest of the islands for the purpose of refreshment. He planted onions, potatoes, cabbages, and a great many other vegetables, an abundance of all which is now to be met with. In 1811, a Captain

Haywood in the Narees, visited Tristan. He found their three Americans who were residing upon the island to prepare sealskins and oil. One of these men was named Jonathan Lambert, and he called himself the sovereign of the country. He had cleared and cultivated about 60 acres of land, and turned his attention to raising the coffee plant and sugar cane, with which he had been furnished by the American minister at Rio Janeiro. The settlement, however, was finally abandoned, and in 1817 the islands were taken possession of by the British government, who sent a detachment for their purpose from the Cape of Good Hope. They did not, however, retain them long, but upon the evacuation of the country as a British possession, two or three English families took up their

residence there independently of the government. On the 25th of March, 1824, the Berwick, Captain Geoffrey, from London to Vendeman's land, arrived at the place, where they found an Englishman of the name of Glass, formerly a corporal in the British artillery. He claimed to be supreme governor of the islands, and had under his control twenty-one men and three women. He gave a very favourable account of the salubrity of the climate and of the productiveness of the soil. The population occupied themselves chiefly in collecting seal-skins and sea elephant oil,

with which they traded to the Cape of Good Hope, glass owning a small schooner. At the period of our arrival, the guise of our arrival, governor was still a resident, but as little community had multiplied, there being 56 persons upon Tristan, besides a smaller settlement of seven on Nightingale Island. We had no difficulty in procuring almost every kind of refreshment which we required. Sheep, hogs, bullocks, rabbits, poultry, goats, fish in great variety, and vegetables were abundant. Having come to anchor close-in with the large island in 18 fathoms, we took all we wanted on board, very conveniently. Captain Guy also purchased of glass 500 sealskins and some ivory. We remained here a

week, during which the prevailing winds were from the northward and westward, and the weather somewhat hazy. On the 5th of November, we made sail to the southward and westward, with the intention of having a thorough search for a group of islands called the auroras, respecting whose existence a great diversity of opinion has existed. These islands are said to have been discovered as early as 70, by the commander of the ship Aurora. In 1790, Captain Manuel de Oiavido in the ship princes, belonging to the Royal Philippine Company, sailed as the Asserts directly among them. In 1794, the Spanish Cuvetta went with a determination of asserting their precise situation, and in a paper published by the Royal Hydrographical Society of Madrid in the year 1809, the following language is used respecting this expedition. The convet Atreveda practiced in their immediate vicinity From the 21st to the 27th of January On the necessary observations

And measured by chronometers the difference of longitude Between these islands and the port of solar debt in the Manillas The islands are three They are very nearly in the same meridian The centre one is rather low And the other two may be seen at nine leagues distance The observations made on board the Atreveda give the following result as the precise situation of each island.

The most northern is in latitude 52 degrees, 37 minutes 24 seconds south, longitude 47 degrees, 43 minutes, 15 seconds west. The middle one in latitude 53 degrees, 2 minutes 40 seconds south, longitude 47 degrees 55 minutes 15 seconds west, and the most southern in latitude 53 degrees 15 minutes 22 seconds south, Longitude 47 degrees, 57 minutes, 15 seconds west. On the 27th of January 1820, Captain James Weddell of the British Navy, sailed from state and land also in surge of the auroras.

He reports that having made the most diligent surge and passed not only immediately over the spots indicated by the commander of the Atreveda, but in every direction throughout the vicinity of these spots, he could discover no indication of land. These conflicting statements have induced other navigators to look out for the islands, and strange to say, while some have sailed through every inch of sea where they are supposed to lie without finding them, there have been not a few who declare positively that they have seen them, and even been close in with their shores. It was Captain Guy's intention to make every exertion within his power to settle the question so oddly in dispute. We kept on our course between the south and west with variable weather until the 20th of the month, when we found ourselves on the debated ground, being in latitude 53 degrees, 15 minutes south,

longitude 47 degrees, 58 minutes west, that is to say, very nearly upon the spot indicated as the situation of the most southern of the group. Not perceiving any sign of land, we continue to the westward of the parallel of 53 degrees south, as far as the meridian of fifty degrees west we then stood to the north as far as the parallel of fifty two degrees south when we turned to the eastward and kept our parallel by double altitudes morning and evening and meridian altitudes of the planets and moon having thus gone eastwardly to the meridian of the western coast of georgia we kept that meridian until we were in the latitude from which we set out we then took diagonal courses throughout the exterior extent of sea circumscribed keeping a look-out constantly at the masthead, and repeating our examination with the greatest care for a period of three weeks, during which the weather was remarkably pleasant and fair, with no haze whatsoever. Of course we were thoroughly satisfied that whatever islands might have existed in this vicinity at any former period, no vestige of them remained at the present day. Since my return home, I find that the same ground was traced over with equal care in 1822 by Captain Johnson of the American Schooner Henry and by Captain Morrell in the American Schooner Wasp, in both cases with the same result as in our own. End of Chapter 15.

This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, visit Libravox.org. Recorded by Kirsten Ferreri, Los Angeles, California, August 2006. The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe. Chapter 16 It had been Captain Guy's original intention, after satisfying himself about the auroras, to proceed through the Strait of Magellan and up along the western coast of Patagonia.

But information received at Tristan Dakuna induced him to steer to the southward, in the hope of falling in with some small islands, said, to lie about the parallel of 60 degrees south, longitude 41 degrees 20 west. In the event of his not discovering these lands, he designed, should the season prove favorable, to push on toward the pole. Accordingly, on the 12th of December, we made sail in that direction. On the 18th, we found ourselves about the station indicated by glass, and cruised for three days in that neighborhood without finding any traces of the islands he had mentioned. On the 21st, the weather being unusually pleasant, we again made sail to the southward, with the resolution of penetrating in that

course as far as possible. Before entering upon this portion of my narrative, it may be as well, for the information of those readers who have paid little attention to the progress of discovery in those regions, to give some brief account of the very few attempts at reaching the southern pool which have hitherto been made. That of Captain Cook was the first of which we have any distinct to count. In 1772, he sailed to the South in the resolution, accompanied by Lieutenant Fernot in the adventure. In December, he found himself as far as the 58th parallel of South latitude, and in longitude 26 degrees 57 east. Here he met with narrow fields of ice, about eight or ten inches thick, and running northwest and southeast. This ice was in large cakes,

and usually it was packed so closely that the vessel had great difficulty in forcing a passage, At this period, Captain Cook's opposed from the vast number of birds to be seen, and from other indications, that he was in the near vicinity of land. He kept on to the southward, the weather being exceedingly cold, until he reached the 64th parallel, in longitude 38 degrees 14 east. Here he had mild weather, with gentle breezes for five days, the thermometer being at 36. In January 1773, the vessels crossed the Antarctic Circle, but did not succeed in penetrating much further,

for upon reaching latitude 67 degrees 15, they found all further progress impeded by an immense body of ice, extending all along the southern horizon as far as the eye could reach. This ice was of every variety, and some large flows of it, miles and extent, formed a compact mass rising 18 or 20 feet above the water. It being late in the season, and no hope entertained of rounding these obstructions,

Captain Cook now reluctantly turned to the northward. In the November following, he renewed his search in the Antarctic. In latitude 59 degrees 40, he met with a strong current setting to the southward. In December, when the vessels were in latitude 67 degrees 31, longitude 142 degrees 54 west, the cold was excessive, with heavy gales and fog. Here also birds were abundant, the albatross, the penguin, and the petrol especially. In latitude 70 degrees 23, some large islands of ice were encountered, and shortly after the clouds to the southward were observed to be of a snowy whiteness, indicating the vicinity

of field ice. In latitude 71 degrees 10, longitude 106 degrees 54 west, the navigators were stopped, as before, by an immense frozen expanse, which filled the whole area of the southern horizon. The northern edge of this expanse was ragged and broken, so firmly wedged together as to be utterly impassable, and extending about a mile to the southward. Behind it the frozen surface was comparatively smooth for some distance, until terminated in the extreme background by gigantic ranges of ice mountains, the one towering above the other. Captain Cook concluded that this vast field reached the southern pole, or was joined to a continent. Mr. J. N. Reynolds, whose great exertions and perseverance have at length succeeded in getting set on foot a national expedition,

partly for the purpose of exploring these regions, thus speaks of the attempt of the resolution. quote, we are not surprised that Captain Cook was unable to go beyond 71 degrees 10, but we are astonished that he did attain that point on the meridian of 106 degrees 54 west longitude. Palmer's land lies south of the Shetland, latitude 64 degrees, and tends to the southward and westward further than any navigator has yet penetrated. Cook was standing for this land when his progress was arrested by the ice, which we apprehend must always be the case in that point, and so early in the same. season as the 6th of January, and we should not be surprised if a portion of the icy mountains

described was attached to the main body of Palmer's land, or to some other portions of land lying further to the southward and westward. In 1803, captains Kreutzenstern and Lazowski were dispatched by Alexander of Russia for the purpose of circumnavigating the globe. In endeavoring to get south, they made no further than 59 degrees 58 in longitude 70 degrees 15 west. They here met with strong currents setting eastwardly. Whales were abundant, but they saw no ice. In regard to this voyage, Mr. Reynolds observes that if Croatzenstern had arrived where he did earlier in the season, he must have encountered ice. It was March when he reached the latitude specified. The winds prevailing as they do from the southward and westward had carried the

flows, aided by currents into that icy region bounded on the north by Georgia, east by Sandwichland and the South Orkneys, and west by the South Shetland Islands. In 1822, Captain James Waddell, of the British Navy, with two very small vessels, penetrated further to the south than any previous navigator, and this too, without encountering extraordinary difficulties. He states that although he was frequently hemmed in by ice before reaching the 72nd parallel, yet upon attaining it, not a particle was to be discovered, and that upon arriving at the latitude of 74 degrees 15, no fields, and only three islands of ice were visible.

It is somewhat remarkable that, although vast flocks of birds were seen, and other usual indications of land, and although south of the Shetlands' unknown coasts were observed from the mast-head tending southwardly, Waddell discourages the idea of land existing in the polar regions of the south. On the 11th of January 1823, Captain Benjamin Morrell, of the American schooner, Wasp, sailed from Kregelansland with a view of penetrating as far south as possible. On the 1st of February he found himself in latitude 64 degrees 52 south, longitude 118 degrees 27 east. The following passage is extracted from his journal of that date, quote,

The wind soon freshened to an 11-knought breeze, and we embraced this opportunity of making to the west, being, however, convinced that the further we went south beyond latitude 64 degrees, the less ice was to be apprehended, we steered a little to the southward until we crossed the Antarctic Circle, and were in latitude 69 degrees 15 east. In this latitude, there was no field ice and very few ice islands in sight. Under the date of March 14th, I also find this entry. The sea was now entirely free of field ice, and there were not more than a dozen ice islands in sight.

At the same time, the temperature of the air and water was at least 13 degrees higher, more mild, than we had ever found it between the parallels of 60 and 62 south. We were now in latitude 70 degrees 14 south, and the temperature of the air was 47, and that of the water 44. In this situation I have found the variation to be 14 degrees 27 easterly, per azimuth. I have several times passed within the Antarctic Circle on different meridians, and have uniformly found the temperature both of the air and the water to become more and more mild the further I advanced to be on the 65th degree of south latitude,

and that the variation decreases in the same proportion. While north of this latitude, say between 60 and 65 south, we frequently had great difficulty in finding a passage for the vessel between the immense and almost innumerable ice islands, some of which were from one to two miles in circumference, and more than 500 feet above the surface of the water. Being nearly destitute of fuel and water, and without proper instruments, it being also late in the season, Captain Morel was now obliged to put back, without attempting any further progress to the westward, although an entirely open sea lay before him. He expresses the opinion that, had not these overruling considerations obliged him to retreat, he could have penetrated, if not to the pole itself, at least to the 85th parallel. I have given his ideas respecting these matters somewhat at length, that the reader may have an opportunity of seeing how far they were borne out by my own subsequent experience. In 1831, Captain Briscoe, in the employ of the Monsieur Enderby, whale ship-owners of London,

sailed in the brig lively for the south seas, accompanied by the Cutter Tula. On the 28th of February, being in latitude 66 degrees 30 south, longitude 47 degrees 31 east, he decried land, and, quote, clearly discovered through the snow the black peaks of a range of mountains running east-southeast. He remained in this neighborhood during the whole of the following month, but was unable to approach the coast nearer than within ten leagues, owing to the boisterous state of the weather. Finding it impossible to make further discovery during this season, he returned northward to winter in Van Diemen's Land.

In the beginning of 1832 he again proceeded southwardly, and on the 4th of February was seen to the southeast in latitude 67 degrees 15 longitude 69 degrees 29 degrees 29 west. This was soon found to be an island near the headland of the country he had first discovered. On the 21st of the month he succeeded in landing on the latter, and took possession of it in the name of William IV, calling it Adelaide's Island, in honor of the English queen. These particulars being made known to the Royal Geographical Society of London, the conclusion was drawn by that body, quote, that there is a continuous tract of land extending from 47 degrees 30 east to 69 degrees 29-29 west, longitude running the parallel of from 66 to 67 degrees south latitude.

In respect of this conclusion, Mr. Reynolds observes, quote, in the correctness of it we by no means concur, nor do the discoveries of Briscoe warrant any such indifference. It was within these limits that Waddell proceeded south on a meridian to the east of Georgia, Sandwichland, and the South Orkney and Shetland Islands. My own experience will be found to testify most directly to the falsity of the conclusion arrived at by the society. These are the principal attempts which have been made at penetrating to a high southern latitude, and it will now be seen that there remained, previous to the voyage of the Jane,

nearly 300 degrees of longitude in which the Antarctic circle had not been crossed at all. Of course, a wide field laid before us for discovery, and it was with feelings of most intense interest that I heard Captain Guy express his resolution of pushing boldly to the southward. End of Chapter 16. This is a Librevox recording. All Librevox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, visit Librevox.org.

Recorded by Kirsten Ferreri, Los Angeles, California, August 2006. The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pim of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe. Chapter 17 We kept our course southwardly for four days after giving up the search for Glasses Islands without meeting with any ice at all. On the 26th at noon, we were in latitude 63 degrees 23-23 south, longitude 41 degrees, 25 west. We now saw several large ice islands and a flow of field ice too, not however of any great extent. The winds generally blew from the southeast or the northeast, but were very light.

Whenever we had a westerly wind, which was seldom, it was invariably attended with a rain squall. Every day we had more or less snow. The thermometer, on the 27th, stood at 35. January 1, 1828. This day we found ourselves completely. hemmed in by the ice, and our prospects looked cheerless indeed. A strong gale blew during the whole forenoon from the northeast, and drove large cakes of the drift against the rudder encounter with such violence that we all trembled for the consequences. Toward evening, the gale

still blowing with fury, a large field in front separated, and we were enabled, by carrying a press of sail to force a passage through the smaller flakes into some open water beyond. As we approached this space, we took in sail by degrees. and having at length got clear, lay to under a single-reefed foresail. January 2nd We had now tolerably pleasant weather. At noon we found ourselves in latitude 69 degrees 10 south, longitude 42 degrees 20 west, having crossed the Antarctic Circle.

Very little ice was to be seen to the southward, although large fields of it lay behind us. This day we rigged some sounding gear, using a large iron pot capable of holding 20 gallons and a line of 200 fathoms. We found the current settings to the north about a quarter of a mile per hour. The temperature of the air was now about 33. Here we found the variation to be 14 degrees 28 easterly per azimuth. January 5th.

We had still held on to the southward without any very great impediments. On this morning, however, being in latitude 73 degrees 15E, longitude 42 degrees 10 west, we were again brought to a stand by an immense expanse of firm ice. We saw nevertheless much open water to the southward, and felt no doubt of being able to reach it eventually. Standing to the eastward along the edge of the flow, we at length came to a passage of about a mile in width, through which we warped our way by sundown. The sea in which we now were was thickly covered with ice islands, but had no field ice, and we pushed on boldly as before. The cold did not seem to increase, although we had snow very frequently, and now and then

hail squalls of great violence. Immense flocks of the albatross flew over the schooner this day, going from southeast to northwest. January 7th. The sea still remained pretty well open, so that we had no difficulty in holding our course. To the westward we saw some icebergs of incredible size, and in the afternoon passed near one whose summit could not have been less than four hundred fathoms from the surface of the ocean. Its girth was probably, at the base, three-quarters of a league, and several streams of water were running from crevices in its sides. We remained in sight of this island two days, and then only lost it in a fog. January 10th. Early this morning we had the misfortune to lose a man overboard. He was an American

named Peter Freddenberg, a native of New York, and was one of the most valuable hands on board the schooner. In going over the boughs his foot slipped, and he fell between two cakes of ice, never rising again. At noon of this day, we were in latitude 78 degrees 30, longitude 40 degrees 15 west. The cold was now excessive, and we had hail squalls continually from the northward and eastward. In this direction also we saw several more immense icebergs, and the whole horizon. into the eastward appeared to be blocked up with field ice, rising in tears, one mass above the other. Some drift would floated by during the evening, and a great quantity of birds flew over, among which were Nellys, petrels, albatrosses, and a large bird of a brilliant blue plumage.

The variation here, per azimuth, was less than it had been previously to our passing the Antarctic Circle. January 12th Our passage to the south again looked doubtful, as nothing was to be seen. in the direction of the pole, but one apparently limitless flow, backed by absolute mountains of ragged ice, one precipice of which arose frowningly above the other. We stood to the westward until the fourteenth, in the hope of finding an entrance. January 14th. This morning we reached the western extremity of the field which had impeded us, and weathering it, came to an open sea without a particle of ice. Upon sounding with two hundred fathoms, we here found a current

setting southwardly at the rate of half a mile per hour. The temperature of the air was 47, that of the water 34. We now sailed to the southward without meeting any interruption of moment until the 16th, when, at noon, we were in latitude 81 degrees 21, longitude 42 degrees west. We here again sounded, and found a current setting still southwardly, and at the rate of three-quarters of a mile per hour. The variation per azimuth had diminished, and the temperature The temperature of the air was mild and pleasant, the thermometer being as high as 51. At this period, not a particle of ice was to be discovered. All hands on board now felt certain of attaining the pole.

January 17th. This day was full of incident. Innumerable flights of birds flew over us from the southward, and several were shot from the deck. One of them, a species of pelican, proved to be excellent eating. About midday, a small flow of ice was seen from the mast head off the larboard bow, and upon it there appeared to be some large animal. As the weather was good and nearly calm, Captain Guy ordered out two of the boats to see what it was. Dirk Peters and myself accompanied the mate in the larger boat.

Upon coming up with the flow, we perceived that it was in the possession of a gigantic creature of the race of the Arctic bear, but far exceeding in size the largest of these animals. Being well armed, we made no scruple of attacking it at once. Several shots were fired in quick succession, the most of which took effect apparently in the head and body. Nothing discouraged, however, the monster threw himself from the ice, and swam with open jaws to the boat in which were Peters and myself. Owing to the confusion which ensued among us at this unexpected turn of the adventure, no person was ready immediately with a second shot, and the bear had actually succeeded in getting half of his vast bulk across our gunwale,

and seizing one of the men by the small of his back, before any efficient means were taken to repel him. In this extremity, nothing but the promptness and agility of Peters saved us from destruction. Leaping upon the back of the huge beast, he plunged the blade of a knife behind the neck, reaching the spinal marrow at a blow.

The brute tumbled into the sea lifeless, and without a struggle, rolling over Peters as he fell. The latter soon recovered himself, and a rope being thrown to him, he secured the carcass before entering the boat. We then returned in triumph to the schooner, towing our trophy behind us. This bear, upon at measurement, proved to be full fifteen feet in his greatest length. His wool was perfectly white, and very coarse, curling tightly. The eyes were of a blood-red, and larger than those of the Arctic bear, the snout also more

around it, rather resembling the snout of the bulldog. The meat was tender, but excessively rank and fishy, although the men devoured it with avidity, and declared it excellent eating. Scarcely had we got our prize alongside when the man at the masthead gave the joyful shout of Land on the Starboard bow! All hands were now up on the alert, and a breeze springing up very opportunely from the northward and eastward, we were soon close in with the coast. It proved to be a low rocky islet of about a league in circumference and altogether destitute in vegetation, if we accept a species of prickly pear. In approaching it from the northward, a singular ledge of rock is seen projecting into the sea, and bearing a strong resemblance to corded bales of cotton.

Around this ledge to the westward is a small bay, at the bottom of which our boats affected a convenient landing. It did not take us long to explore every portion of the island, but with one exception we found nothing worthy of our observation. In the southern extremity we picked up near the shore, half buried in a pile of loose stones, a piece of wood, which seemed to have formed the prow of a canoe. There had evidently been some attempt at carving upon it, and Captain Guy fancied that he made out the figure of a tortoise, but the resemblance did not strike me very forcibly.

Besides this prow, if such it were, we found no other token that any living creature had ever been here before. Around the coast we discovered occasional small flows of ice, but these were very few. The exact situation of the islet, to which Captain Guy gave the name of Bennett's islet, in honor of his partner in the ownership of the schooner, is 82 degrees 50 south latitude, 42 degrees 20 west longitude. We had now advanced to the southward more than eight degrees further than any previous navigators, and the sea still lay perfectly open before us. We found, too, that the variation uniformly decreased as we proceeded, and what was still more surprising, that the temperature of the air, and latterly of the water, became milder.

The weather might even be called pleasant, and we had a steady but very gentle breeze always from some northern point of the compass. The sky was usually clear, with now and then a slight appearance of thin vapor in the southern horizon. This, however, was invariably of brief duration. Two difficulties alone presented themselves to our view. We were getting short of fuel, and symptoms of scurvy had occurred among several of the crew. These considerations began to impress upon Captain Guy the necessity of returning, and he spoke of it frequently. For my own part, confident as I was of soon arriving at land of some description upon the course we were pursuing, and having every reason to believe, from present appearances, that we should not find

it the sterile soil met within higher Arctic latitudes. I warmly pressed upon him the expediency of persevering, at least for a few days longer, in the direction we were now holding. So tempting an opportunity of solving the great problem in regard to an Antarctic continent had never yet been afforded to man, and I confess that I felt myself bursting with indignation at the timid and ill-timed suggestions of our commander. I believe, indeed, that what I could not refrain from saying to him on this head had the effect of inducing him to push on. While, therefore, I cannot but lament the most unfortunate and bloody events

which immediately arose from my advice, I must still be allowed to feel some degree of gratification at having been instrumental, however remotely, in opening to the eye of science one of the most intensely exciting secrets which has ever engrossed its attention. End of Chapter 17. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain.

For more information or to volunteer, visit Librevox.org. Recorded by Kirsten Ferreary, Los Angeles, California, August 2006. The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe. Chapter 18. January 18th This morning we continued to the southward, with the same pleasant weather as before. The sea was entirely smooth, the air tolerably warm, and from the northeast the temperature of the water 53. We now again got our sounding gear in order, and with 150 fathoms of line, found the current setting toward the pole at the rate of a mile an hour.

This constant tendency to the southward, both in the wind and the current, caused some degree of speculation and even of alarm in different quarters of the schooner, and I saw distinctly that no little impression had been made upon the mind of Captain Guy. He was exceedingly sensitive to ridicule, however, and I finally succeeded in laughing him out of his apprehensions. The variation was now very trivial. In the course of the day we saw several large whales of the right species, and innumerable flights of the albatross passed over the vessel. We also picked up a bush full of red berries, like those of the hawthorn, and the carcass of a singular-looking land-animal. It was three feet in length, and but six inches in height, with four very short legs, the feet armed with long claws of a brilliant scarlet, and resembling coral in substance. The body was covered with a straight, silky hair perfectly white,

the tail was peaked like that of a rat, and about a foot and a half long. The head resembled to cats, with the exception of the ears. These were flopped like the ears of a dog. The teeth were of the same brilliant scarlet as the claws. January 19th. Today, being in latitude 83 degrees 20, longitude 43 degrees 5 west, the sea being of an extraordinarily dark color,

we again saw land from the masthead, and upon a closer scrutiny, found it to be one of a group of very large islands. The shore was precipitous, and the interior seemed to be well-wooded, a circumstance which occasioned us great joy. In about four hours from our first discovering the land, we came to anchor in ten fathoms, sandy bottom, a league from the coast, as a high surf with strong ripples here and there rendered a nearer approach of doubtful expediency. The two largest boats were now ordered out, and a party, well-armed, among whom were Peters and myself, proceeded to look for an opening in the reef which

appeared to encircle the island. After searching for some time, we discovered an inlet, which we were entering, when we saw four large canoes put off from the shore, filled up with men who seemed to be well-armed. We waited for them to come up, and as they moved with great rapidity, they were soon within hail. Captain Guy now held up a white handkerchief on the blade of an oar, when the strangers made a full stop, and commenced a loud jabbering all at once, intermingled with occasional shouts in which we could distinguish the words Anamumu and Lama Lama. They continued this for at least half an hour, during which we had a good opportunity

of observing their appearance. In the four canoes, which might have been fifty feet long and five broad, there were 110 savages in all. They were about the ordinary, stature of Europeans, but of a more muscular and brawny frame. Their complexion, a jet black, with thick and long woolly hair. They were clothed in skins of an unknown black animal, shaggy and silky, and made to fit the body with some degree of skill, the hair being inside except were turned out about the neck, wrists, and ankles. Their arms consist principally of

clubs, of a dark and apparently very heavy wood. Some spears, however, were observed among them headed with flint, and a few slings. The bottoms of the canoes were full of black stones about the size of a large egg. When they had concluded their harangue, for it was clear they intended their jabbering for such, one of them, who seemed to be the chief, stood up in the prow of his canoe, and made signs for us to bring our boats alongside of him. This hint we pretended not to understand, thinking it the wiser plan to maintain, if possible, the interval between us, as their number more than quadrupled our own. Finding this to be the case, the chief ordered the three other canoes to hold back,

while he advanced toward us with his own. As soon as he came up with us, he leaped on board the largest of our boats, and seated himself by the side of Captain Guy, pointing at the same time to the schooner, and repeating the word Anamumu and Lama Lama. We now put back to the vessel, the four canoes following at a little distance. Upon getting alongside, the chief evinced symptoms of extreme surprise and delight, clapping his hands, slapping his thighs and breast, and laughing obstreperously. His followers behind joined in his merriment, and for some minutes the din was so excessive

as to be absolutely deafening. Quiet being at length restored, Captain Guy ordered the boats to be hoisted up as a necessary precaution, and gave the chief, whose name we soon found to be toit, to understand that we could admit no more than twenty of his men on deck at one time. With this arrangement he appeared perfectly satisfied, and gave some directions to the canoes, when one of them approached, the rest remaining about fifty yards off. Twenty of the savages now got on board, and proceeded to ramble over every part of the deck, and scramble about among the rigging, making themselves much at home, and examining every article with great inquisitiveness.

It was quite evident that they had never before seen any of the white race, from whose complexion indeed they appeared to recoil. They believed the Jane to be a living creature, and seemed to be afraid of hurting it with the points of their spears, carefully turning them up. Our crew were much amused with the conduct of Toot in one instance. The cook was splitting some wood near the galley, and by accident struck his axe into the deck, making a gash of considerable depth.

The chief immediately ran up, and, pushing the cook on one side rather roughly, commenced a half-wine, half-howl, strongly indicative of sympathy in what he considered the sufferings of the schooner, patting and smoothing the gash with his hand, and washing it from a bucket of seawater which stood by. This was a degree of ignorance for which we were not prepared, and for my part I could not help thinking some of it affected. When the visitors had satisfied as well as they could, their curiosity in regard to our upper works, they were admitted below, where their amazement exceeded all bounds. Their astonishment now appeared to be far too deep for words, for they roamed about in silence,

broken only by low ejaculations. The arms afforded them much room for speculation, and they were suffered to handle and examine them at leisure. believe that they had the least suspicion of their actual use, but rather took them for idols, seeing the care we had of them, and the attention with which we watched their movements while handling them. At the great guns their wonder was redoubled. They approached them with every mark of the profoundest reverence and awe, but forbore to examine them minutely. There were two large mirrors in the cabin, and here was the acme of their amazement. To it was the first to approach them, and he had got in the middle of the cabin,

with his face to one and his back to the other, before he fairly perceived them. Upon raising his eyes and seeing his reflected self in the glass, I thought the savage would go mad. But upon turning short round to make a retreat, and beholding himself a second time in the opposite direction, I was afraid he would expire upon the spot. No persuasion could prevail upon him to take another look. Throwing himself upon the floor, with his face buried in his hands,

he remained thus, until we were obliged to. drag him up on deck. The whole of the savages were admitted on board in this manner, twenty at a time, to it being suffered to remain during the entire period. We saw no disposition to thievery among them, nor did we miss a single article after their departure. Throughout the whole of their visit they evinced the most friendly manner. There were, however, some points in their demeanor which we found it impossible to understand. For example, we could not get them to approach several very harmless objects, such as the schooner's sails, an egg, an open book, or a pan of flour. We endeavored to ascertain if they had among them any articles which

might be turned to account in the way of traffic, but found great difficulty in being comprehended. We made out, nevertheless, what greatly astonished us, that the islands abounded in the large tortoise of the Galapagos, one of which we saw in the canoe of Toot. We also saw some Bich demer in the hands of one of the savages, who was greedily devouring it in its natural state. These anomalies, for they were such when considered in regard to the latitude, induced Captain Guy to wish for a thorough investigation of the country, in the hope of making a profitable speculation in his discovery. For my own part, anxious as I was to know something more of these islands, I was still more earnestly bent on prosecuting the voyage to the southward without

delay. We had now fine weather, but there was no telling how long it would last, and being already in the 84th parallel, with an open sea before us, a current setting strongly to the southward, and the wind fair, I could not listen with any patience to a proposition of stopping, longer than was absolutely necessary for the health of the crew, and the taking on board a proper supply of fuel and fresh provisions. I represented to the captain that we might easily make this group on our return, and winter here in the event of being blocked up by the ice. He at length came into my views, for in some way hardly known to myself I had acquired much influence over him, and it was finally resolved that, even in the event of our finding

Bich de Mere, we should only stay here a week to recruit, and then push on to the southward while we might. Accordingly, we made every necessary preparation, and under the guidance of Toit, got the Jane through the reef and safety, coming to anchor about a mile from the shore, in an excellent bay, completely landlocked, on the south-eastern coast of the main island, and in ten fathoms of water, black sandy bottom. At the head of this bay there were three fine springs we were told of good water, and we saw abundance of wood in the vicinity. The four canoes followed us, keeping, however, at a respectful distance. To it himself remained on board, and upon our dropping anchor, invited us to

accompany him on shore, and visit his village in the interior. To this Captain Guy consented, and ten savages being left on board as hostages, a party of us, twelve in all, got in readiness to attend the chief. We took care to be well armed, yet without evincing any distrust. The schooner had her guns run out, her boarding nettings up, and every other proper precaution was taken to guard against surprise. Directions were left with the chief-mate to admit no person on board during our absence, and in the event of our not appearing in twelve hours, to send the cutter, with a swivel, around the island, in search of us. At every step we took inland, the conviction forced itself upon us that we were in a country

differing essentially from any hitherto visited by civilized men. We saw nothing with which we had been formerly conversant. The trees resembled no growth of either the torrid, the temperate, or the northern frigid zones, and were altogether unlike those of the lower southern latitudes we had already traversed. The very rocks were novel in their mass, their color, and their stratification, and the streams themselves, utterly incredible as it may appear, had so little in common with those of other climates that we were scrupulous of tasting them, and indeed had difficulty in bringing ourselves to believe that their qualities were purely those of nature.

At a small brook which crossed our path, the first we had reached, to it and his attendants halted to drink. On account of the singular character of the water, we refused to taste it, supposing it to be polluted, and it was not until some time afterward that we came to understand that such was the appearance of the streams throughout the whole group. I am at a loss to give a distinct idea of the nature of this liquid, and cannot do so without many words. Although it flowed with rapidity in all declivities where common water would do so, yet never, except when falling in a cascade, had it the customary appearance of limpidity. It was nevertheless, in point of fact, as perfectly limpid as any limestone water in existence,

the difference being only in appearance. At first sight, and especially in cases where little declivity was found, it bore resemblance, as regards consistency, to a thick infusion of gum arabic in common water. But this was only the least remarkable of its extraordinary qualities. It was not colorless, nor was it one uniform color, presenting to the eye as it flowed every possible shade of purple, like the hues of a changeable silk. This variation in shade was produced in a manner which excited as profound astonishment in the minds of our party as the mirror had done in the case of Tuet. Upon collecting a basinful, and allowing it to settle thoroughly,

we perceived that the whole mass of liquid was made up of a number of distinct veins, each of a distinct hue, that these veins did not co-mingle, and that their cohesion was perfect in regard to their own particles among themselves, and imperfect in regard to the neighboring veins. Upon passing the blade of a knife athwart the veins, the water closed over it immediately, as with us, and also, in withdrawing it, all traces of the passage of the knife were instantly obliterated. If, however, the blade was passed down accurately between two veins, a perfect separation was affected, which the power of cohesion did not immediately rectify. The phenomena of this water formed the first definite link in that vast chain of apparent miracles

with which I was destined to be at length encircled. End of Chapter 18. This is a Libravox recording. All Libervox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visitlibrovox.org. recording by Mark of Audio Toshogan The narrative of Arthur Gordon Pymne of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe

Chapter 19 We were nearly three hours in reaching the village It being more than nine miles in the interior And the path lying through a rugged country As we passed along the party of Toowit The Whole 110 Savages of the Canoes was momentarily strengthened by smaller detachments of from two to six or seven, which joined us as if by accident at different turns of the road.

There appeared so much of a system in this that I could not help feeling distrust, and I spoke to Captain Guy of my apprehensions. It was now too late, however, to recede, and we concluded that our best security lay in evincing a perfect confidence in the good faith of Toot. We accordingly went on, keeping a wary eye upon the manoeuvres of the savages, and not permitting them to divide our numbers by pushing in between. In this way, passing through a precipitous ravine, we at length reached what we were told was the only collection of habitations upon the island.

As we came in sight of them the chief set up a shout, and frequently repeated the word clock-clock, which we supposed to be the name of the village, or perhaps the generic name for villages. The dwellings were of the most miserable description imaginable, and unlike those of even the lowest of the savage races with which mankind are acquainted, were of no uniform plan. Some of them, and these we found belonged to the wampoos or yampoos, the great men of the land, consisted of a tree cut down at about four feet from the root, with a large black skin thrown over it, and hanging in loose folds upon the ground. Under this, the savage nestled.

Others were formed by means of rough limbs of trees, with a withered foliage upon them, made to recline, at an angle of 45 degrees, against the bank of clay, heaped up, without regular form, to the height of five or six feet. Others, again, were mere holes dug in the earth perpendicularly, and covered over with similar branches, these being removed when the tenant was about to enter, and pulled on again when he had entered. A few were built among the forked limbs of trees as they stood, the upper limbs being partially cut through so as to bend over upon the lower, thus forming thicker shelter from the weather. The greater number, however, consisted of small, shallow caverns, apparently scratched in the face of a precipitous ledge of dark stone,

resembling Fuller's earth, with which three sides of the village were bounded. At the door of each of these primitive caverns was a small rock, which the tenant carefully placed before the entrance upon leaving his residence for what purpose I could not ascertain, as the stone itself was never a sufficient size to close up more than a third of the opening. This village, if it were worthy of the name, lay in a valley of some depth, and could only be approached from the southward, the precipitous ledge of which I have already spoken, cutting off all axis in other directions. Through the middle of the valley ran a brawling stream of the same magical-looking water which

has been described. We saw several strange animals about the dwellings, all appearing to be thoroughly domesticated. The largest of these creatures resembled a common hog in the structure of body and snout. The tail, however, was bushy, and the legs slender as those of the antelope. Its motion was exceedingly awkward and indecisive, and we never saw it attempt to run. We noticed also several animals in very similar appearance, but of a greater length of body, and covered with a black wool. There were a great variety of tame fowls running about, and these seemed to constitute the chief food of the natives.

To our astonishment, we saw a black albatross among these birds in a state of entire domestication, going to see periodically for food, but always returning to the village as a home, and using the southern shore in the vicinity as a place of incubation. There they were joined by their friends, the Pelicans, as usual, but these latter never followed them to the dwellings of the savages. Among the other kinds of tame fowls were ducks, differing very little from the canvas back of our own country, black gannets, and a large bird, not unlike the buzzard in appearance, but not carnivorous. Of fish there seemed to be a great abundance. We saw during our visit a quantity

of dried salmon, rock cod, blue dolphins, mackerel, blackfish, gongrelts, salons, parrotfish, leather jackets, garnards, hake, flounders, barricudas, and innumerable other varieties. We noticed, too, that most of them were similar to the fish about the group of Lord Auckland Islands, in a latitude as low as 51 degrees south. The Galapco tortoise was also very plentiful. We saw but few wild animals. and none of a large size or of a species with which we were familiar. One or two serpents of a formidable aspect crossed our path, but the natives paid them little attention,

and we concluded that they were not venomous. As we approached the village with Tewit and his party, a vast crowd of people rushed out to meet us with loud shouts, among which we could only distinguish the everlasting Anamu-Mu and Lama Lama. We were much surprised at perceiving that, with one or two exceptions, these newcomers were entirely naked, and skins being used only by the men of the canoes. All the weapons of the country seemed also to be in the possession of the latter, for there was no appearance of any among the villagers.

There were a great many women and children, the former, not altogether wanting, in what might be termed personal beauty. They were straight, tall, and well-formed, with the grace and freedom of carriage, not to be found in civilized society. Their lips, however, like those of the men, were thick and clumsy, so that even when laughing, the teeth were never disclosed. Their hair was of a finer texture than that of the males. Among these naked villagers, there might have been ten or twelve, were clothed, like the party of Tuitt, in dresses of black skin, and armed with lances and heavy clubs. These appeared to have great influence among the rest, and were always addressed by the title Wampu.

These two were tenants of the Black Skin Palaces. That of Two Witt was situated in the center of the village, and was much larger and somewhat better constructed than others of its kind. The tree which formed its support was cut off at a distance of about twelve feet or thereabouts from the root, and there were several branches left just below the cut, these serving to extend the covering, and in this way prevent its flapping about the trunk. The covering, too, which consisted of four very large skins, fastened together with wooden skewers, was secured at the bottom with pegs driven through it and into the ground. The floor was strewed with a quantity of dry leaves

by way of carpet. To this hut we were conducted with great solemnity, and as many of the natives crowded in after us as possible. Two wit seated himself. on the leaves and made signs that we should follow his example. This we did, and presently found ourselves in a situation peculiarly uncomfortable, if not indeed critical. We were on the ground, twelve in number, with the savages, as many as forty, sitting on their hams so closely around us that, if any disturbance had arisen, we should have found it impossible to make use of our arms,

were indeed to have risen to our feet. The pressure was not only inside the tent, but outside, where probably was every individual on the whole island, the crowd being prevented from trampling us to death only by the incessant exertions and vociferations of Too-Huit. Our chief's security lay, however, in the presence of Too-Witt himself among us, and we resolved to stick by him closely as the best chance of extricating ourselves from the dilemma,

sacrificing him immediately upon the first appearance of hostile design. After some trouble, a certain degree of quiet was restored, when the chief addressed us in a speech of great length, and very nearly resembling the one delivered in the canoes, with the exception that the Anamus were now somewhat more strenuously insisted upon than the Lama Lama's. We listened in profound silence until the conclusion of this harangue, when Captain Guy replied by assuring the chief of his eternal friendship and

goodwill, concluding what he had to say be a present of several strings of blue beads and a knife, at the former, the monarch, much to our surprised, turned up his nose with some expression of contempt. But the knife gave him the most unlimited satisfaction, and he immediately ordered dinner. This was handed into the tent over the heads of the attendants and consisted of the palpit. end trails of a species of unknown animal, probably one of the slim-legged hogs which we had observed in our approach to the village. Seeing us at a loss how to proceed, he began, by way of setting us an example, to devour yard after yard of the enticing food, until we could positively stand it no longer, and evinced such manifest symptoms of rebellion of stomach as inspired

his majesty with a degree of astonishment only inferior to that brought about by the looking-glasses. We declined, however, partaking of the delicacies before us, and endeavored to make him understand that we had no appetite whatever, having just finished a hearty de jenay. When the monarch had made an end of his meal, we commenced a series of cross-questioning in every ingenious manner we could devise, with a view of discovering what were the chief productions of the country, and whether any of them might be turned to profit. At length he seemed to have some idea of our meaning, and offered to accompany us to a part of the coast where he assured us that the bisch de mare, pointing to a specimen of that animal, was to be found in great abundance. We were glad of this early opportunity of escaping from the oppression of the crowd, and signified our eagerness to proceed.

We now left the tent and, accompanied by the whole population of the village, followed the chief to the southeastern extremity of the island, not far from the bay where our vessel lay at anchor. We waited here for about an hour until the four canoes were brought around by some of the savages to our station. The whole of our party then getting into one of them, we were paddled out along the edge of the reef before mentioned, and of another still farther out,

where we saw a far greater quantity of Bistamere than the oldest seaman among us had ever seen in those groups of the lower latitudes most celebrated for this article of commerce. We stayed near these reefs only long enough to satisfy ourselves that we could easily load a dozen vessels with the animal if necessary, when we were taken alongside the schooner and parted with two wit, after obtaining from him a promise that he would bring us in the course of 24 hours, as many of the canvas-backed ducks and glapagocortices as his canoes would hold. In the whole of this adventure we saw nothing in the demeanor of the natives calculated to create suspicion, with the single exception of the systematic manner in which their party was strengthened during our route from the schooner to village.

End of Chapter 19. This is a Libervox recording. all Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visitlibrovox.org. Recording by Mark of Audio Toshu Kang The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pim of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe. Chapter 20 The chief was as good as his word, and we were soon plentifully supplied with fresh provisions.

We found the tortoises as fine as we had ever seen, and the ducks surpassed our best species of wild fowl, being exceedingly tender, juicy, and well-flavored. Besides these, the savages brought us, upon our making them comprehend our wishes, a vast quantity of brown celery and scurvy grass, with a canoe load of fresh fish and some dried. The celery was a treat indeed, and the scurvy grass proved of incalculable benefit in restoring those of our men who had shown symptoms of disease. In a very short time we had not a single person on the sick list. We also had plenty of other kinds of fresh provisions, among which may be mentioned a species

of shellfish, resembling the muscle in shape, but with the taste of an oyster. Shrimps, too, and prawns were abundant, and albatross and other birds' eggs with dark shells. We took in, too, a plentiful stock of the flesh of the hog which I have mentioned before. Most of the men found it a palatable food, but I thought it fishy and otherwise disagreeable. In return for these good things, we presented the natives with blue beads, brass trinkets, nails, knives, and pieces of red cloth, they being fully delighted in the exchange. We established a regular market on shore, just under the guns of the schooner, where our barterings were carried on with every appearance of good faith, and a degree of order,

which their conduct at the village of Clock Clock Clock had not led us to expect from the savages. Matters went on thus very amicably for several days, during which parties of the natives were frequently on board the schooner, and parties of our men frequently on shore, making long excursions into the interior and receiving no molestation whatever. Finding the ease with which the vessel might be loaded with Bich de Mare, owing to the friendly disposition of the islanders, and the readiness with which they would,

would render us assistance in collecting it, Captain Guy resolved to enter into negotiations to wit for the erection of suitable houses in which to cure the article, and for the services of himself and the tribe in gathering as much as possible, while he took advantage of the fine weather to prosecute his voyage to southward. Upon mentioning this project to the chief, he seemed very willing to enter into an agreement. A bargain was accordingly struck, perfectly satisfactory to both parties, by which it was arranged that, after making the necessary preparations, such as laying off the proper grounds, erecting a portion of the buildings, and doing some other work in which the whole of our crew would be required, the schooner would proceed on her route,

leaving three of her men on the island to superintend the fulfillment of the project, and instruct the natives in drying the Bich de Mer. In regard to terms, these were made to depend upon the exertions of the savages in our absence, They were to receive a stipulated quantity of blue beads, knives, red cloth, and so forth, for every certain number of piquils of the Bich de Mer, which should be ready on our return. A description of the nature of this important article of commerce, and the method of preparing it may prove of some interest to my readers, and I can find no more suitable place than this for introducing an account of it.

The following comprehensive notice of the substance is taken from a modern history of a voyage to the South Seas. Quote, It is that molusca from the Indian seas, which is known to commerce by the French name, Bouch de Merre, a nice morsel from the sea. If I am not much mistaken, the celebrated cuvier calls it Gastropida pulmonifere.

It is abundantly gathered in the coasts of the Pacific Islands, and gathered especially for the Chinese market, where it commands a great price, perhaps as much as they're much talked of edible bird's nests, which are properly made up of the gelatinous matter picked up by a species of swallow from the body of these molluscai. They have no shell, no legs, nor any prominent part except in absorbing and an excretory opposite organs.

But by their elastic wings, like caterpillars or worms, they creep in shallow waters, in which, when low, they can be seen by a kind of swallow, the sharp bill of which, inserted in the soft animal, draws a gummy and filamentous substance, which, by drying, can be wrought into the solid walls of their nest, hence the name of gastropodopomonifera. This mollusca is oblong and of different sizes,

from three to eighteen inches in length, and I have seen a few that were not less than two feet long, They were nearly round, a little flattish on one side, which lies next to the bottom of the sea, and they are from one to eight inches thick. They crawl up into shallow water at particular seasons of the year, probably for the purpose of gendering, as we often find them in pairs. It is when the sun has the most power on the water, rendering it tepid, that they approach the shore, and they often go up into places so shallow that, on tides receding, they are left to dry, exposed. to the feet of the sun. But they do not bring forth their young in shallow water, as we never

see any of their progeny, and full-grown ones are always observed coming in from deep water. They feed principally on that class of zoophytes, which produce the coral. The Bistamere is generally taken in three or four feet of water, after which they are brought on shore and split at one end with a knife, the incision being one inch or more, according to the size of the mollusca. Through this opening the entrails are forced out by pressure, and they are much like those of any other small tenant of the deep. The article is sent washed, and afterwards boiled to a certain degree, which must not be too much or too little. Then they are buried in the ground for four hours, then boiled again for a short time, after which they are dried, either by the fire or the

sun. Those cured by the sun are worth the most, but where one piquil, 113 and a third pounds, can be cured that way, I can cure 30 pecules by the fire. When once properly cured, they can be kept in a dry place for two or three years without any risk, but they should be examined once in every few months, say four times a year, to see if any dampness is likely to affect them. The Chinese, as stated before, consider Bich de Mer, a very great luxury, believing that it wonderfully strengthens and nourishes the system and renews the exhausted system of the immoderate voluptuary. The first quality commands a high price in Canton,

being worth $90.00, the second quality, $75, the third, $50, the fourth, $20, the $6, $12, the $7th, $8, and the eighth, $4, Small cargoes, however, will often bring more in Manila, Singapore, and Batavia. An agreement having been thus entered into, we proceeded immediately to land everything necessary for preparing the buildings and clearing the ground. A large flat space near the eastern shore of the bay was selected, where there was plenty of both wood and water, within a convenient distance of the principal reefs, on which the Bistamere was to be procured.

We now all sit to work in good earnest, and soon, to the great astonishment of the savages, had felled a sufficient number of trees for our purpose, getting them quickly in order for the framework of the houses, which, in two or three days, were so far underway, that we could safely trust the rest of the work to the three men, whom we intended to leave behind. These were John Carson, Alfred Harris, and Peterson, all natives of London, I believe, who volunteered their services in this respect.

By the last of the month we had everything in readiness for departure. We had agreed, however, to pay a formal visit of leave-taking to the village, and to wit insisted so pertinaciously upon our keeping the promise that we did not think it advisable to run the risk of offending him by a final refusal. I believe that not one of us had at this time the slightest suspicion of the good faith of the savages. They had uniformly behaved with the greatest decorum, aiding us with alacrity in our work, offering us their commodities frequently without price, and never, in any instance, pilfering a single article, although the high value they said upon the goods we had with us

was evident by the extravagant demonstrations of joy always manifested upon our making them a present. The women especially were most obliging in every respect, and, of the women, and, Upon the whole, we should have been the most suspicious human beings had we entertained a single thought of perfidy on the part of a people who treated us so well. A very short while suffice to prove that this apparent kindness of disposition was only the result of a deeply laid plan for our destruction, and that the islanders, for whom we entertained such inordinate feelings of esteem, were among the most barbarous, subtle, and bloodthirsty wretches that ever contaminated the face of the globe.

It was on the first of February that we went on shore for the purpose of visiting the village. Although, as we said before, we entertained not the slightest suspicion. Still, no proper precaution was neglected. Six men were left in the schooner, with instructions to permit none of the savages to approach the vessel during our absence, under any pretense whatever, and to remain constantly on deck. The boarding nettings were up. The guns double-shotted with grape and canister. and the swivels loaded with canisters of musket balls.

She lay, with her anchor a peak, about a mile from the shore, and no canoe could approach her in any direction without being distinctly seen and exposed to the full fire of our swivels immediately. The six men being left on board, our shore party consisted of 32 persons in all. We were armed to the teeth, having with us muskets, pistols, and cutlasses. Besides, each had a long kind of seamen's knife, somewhat resembling the Bowie Knife, now so much used throughout our western and southern country.

A hundred of the black-skinned warriors met us at the landing for the purpose of accompanying us on our way. We noticed, however, with some surprise, that they were now entirely without arms, and, upon questioning too wit in relation to this circumstance, he merely answered that Matty non-wi-papa-si, meaning that there was no need of arms where all were brothers. We took this in good part and proceeded. We passed the spring and rivulet of which I before spoke, and were now entering upon a narrow gorge leading through the chain of soapstone hills,

among which the village was situated. This gorge was very rocky and uneven, so much so that it was with no little difficulty we scrambled through it, on our first visit to clock-clock. The whole length of the ravine might have been a mile and a half, or probably two miles. It wound in every possible direction through the hills, having apparently formed at some remote period, with the bed of a torrent, in no instance, proceeding more than 20 yards without an abrupt turn. The sides of this dell would have averaged, I am sure, 70 or 80 feet in perpendicular altitude

throughout the whole of their extent. And in some portions they arose to an astonishing height, overshadowing the past so completely that but little of the light of day could penetrate. The general width was about 40 feet, and occasionally it diminished, so as not to allow the passage of more than five or six persons abreast. In short, there could be no place in the world

better adapted for the consummation of an ambuscade. And it was no more than natural that we should look carefully to our arms as we entered upon it. When I now think of our egregious folly, the chief subject of astonishment seems to be that we should have ever ventured under any circumstances so completely into the power of unknown savages as to permit them to march both before and behind us in our progress through this ravine. Yet such was the order we blindly took up, trusting foolishly to the force of our party, the unarmed condition of Toot and his men, the certain efficacy of our firearms, whose effect was yet a secret to the natives, and, more than all,

to the long-sustained pretension of friendship kept up by these infamous wretches. Five or six of them went on before, as if to lead the way, ostentatiously busying themselves and removing the larger stones and rubbish from the path. Next came our own party. We walked closely together, taking care only to prevent separation. Behind followed the main body of savages, observing unusual order and decorum. Dirk Peters, a man named Wilson Allen and myself, were on the right of our companions, examining as we went along the singular stratification of the precipice which overhung us.

A fissure and the soft rock attracted our attention. It was about wide enough for one person to enter without squeezing, and extended back into the hill some 18 or 20 feet in a straight course. sloping afterward to the left. The height of the opening, as far as we could see into it from the main gorge, was perhaps sixty or seventy feet. There were one or two stunted shrubs growing from the crevices, bearing a species of filbert, which I felt some curiosity to examine,

and pushed in briskly for that purpose, gathering five or six of the nuts at a grasp, and then hastily retreating. As I turned, I found that Peters and Allen had followed me. I desired them to go back, as there was not room for two persons to pass, saying they should have some of my notes. They accordingly turned and were scrambling back, Alan being close to the mouth of the fissure,

when I was suddenly aware of a concussion, resembling nothing I had ever before experienced, and which impressed me with a vague conception, if indeed I then thought of anything, that the whole foundations of the solid globe were suddenly rent to sunder, and that the day of universal dissolution was at hand. End of chapter 20. a Librivox recording. All Librivox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to

volunteer, please visit Librevox.org. Recording by Torsten Kotke. The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe. Chapter 21 As soon as I could collect my scattered senses, I found myself nearly suffocated and engravelling in utter darkness among a quantity of loose earth, which was also falling upon me heavily in every direction, threatening to bury me entirely. Horribly alarmed at this idea, I struggled to gain my feet, and at last succeeded. I then remained motionless for some moments, endeavouring to conceive what had happened to me, and where I was. Presently I heard a deep groan just at my ear, and afterward the smothered voice of Peters calling to me for aid in the name of God.

I scrambled one or two paces forward, when I fell directly over the head and shoulders of my companion, who I soon discovered, was buried in a loose mass of earth as far as his middle, and struggling desperately to free himself from the pressure. I tore the dirt from around him with all the energy I could command, and at length succeeded in getting him out. As soon as we sufficiently recovered from our fright and surprise to be capable of conversing rationally, we both came to the conclusion that the walls of the fissure in which we had ventured had by some convulsion of nature, or probably from their own weight, caved in overhead, and that we were consequently lost forever, being thus entombed alive. For a long time, we gave up supinely to the most intense agony and despair,

such as cannot be adequately imagined by those who have never been in a similar position. I firmly believed that no incident ever occurring in the course of human events is more adapted to inspire the supremeness of mental and bodily distinctions. stress than the case like our own of living in humation. The blackness of darkness which envelops the victim, the terrific oppression of lungs, the stifling fumes from the damp earth, unite with the ghastly considerations

that we are beyond the remotest confines of hope, and that such is the allotted portion of the dead to carry into the human-hearted degree of appalling awe and horror not to be tolerated, never to be conceived. At length, Peters proposed that we should endeavor to a certain precisely the extent of our calamity and grope about our prison, it being barely possible, he observed, that some opening might yet be left us for escape. I caught eagerly at this hope, and, arousing myself to exertion, attempted to force my way

through the loose earth. Hardly had I advanced a single step before a glimmer of light became perceptible, enough to convince me that, at all events, we should not immediately perish for want of air. We now took some degree of heart, and encouraged each other to hope for the best. Having scrambled over a bank of rubbish which impeded our farther progress in the direction of the light, we found less difficulty in advancing, and also experienced some relief from the excessive oppression of lungs which had tormented us. Presently, we were enabled to obtain a glimpse of the objects around, and discovered that we were near the extremity of the straight portion of the fissure, where it made a turn to the left. A few struggles more, and we reached the bend,

when to our inexpressible joy there appeared along. long seam or crack extending upward a vast distance, generally at an angle of about 45 degrees, although sometimes much more precipitous. We could not see through the whole extent of this opening, but as a good deal of light came down it, we had little doubt of finding at the top of it, if we could by any means reach the top, a clear passage into the open air. I now called into mind that three of us had entered the fissure from the main gorge, and that our companion, Alan, was still missing.

We determined at once to retrace our steps and look for him. After a long search and much danger from the farther caving in of the earth above us, Peters at length cried out to me that he had hold of our companion's foot and that his whole body was deeply buried beneath the rubbish beyond the possibility of extricating him. I soon found that what he said was too true, and that, of course, life had been long extinct. With sorrowful hearts, therefore, we left the corpse to its fate, and again made our way to the bend. Breth of the seam was barely sufficient to admit us, and, after one or two ineffectual efforts at getting us, up, we began once more to despair. I have before said that the chain of hills through which ran the

main gorge was composed of a species of soft rock, resembling soap-stone. The sides of the cleft we were now attempting to ascend where of the same material, and so excessively slippery being wet, that we could get but little foothold upon them, even in their least precipitous parts, In some places where the ascent was nearly perpendicular, the difficulty was, of course, much aggravated, and indeed for some time we thought insurmountable. We took courage, however, from despair, and what by dint of cutting steps in the soft stone with our bowie knives and swinging at the risk of our lives to small projecting points of a harder species of slaty rock, which now and then protruded from the general mass,

we at length reached a natural platform, from which was perceptible a patch of blue sky at the extremity of a thickly wooded ravine. Looking back now, with somewhat more leisure, at the passage through which we had thus far proceeded, we clearly saw from the appearance of its sides that it was of late formation, and we concluded that the concussion, whatever it was, which had so unexpectedly overwhelmed us,

had also, at the same moment, laid open this path for escape. Being quite exhausted with exertion, and indeed so weak that we were scarcely able to stand or articulate, Peters now proposed that we should endeavor to bring our companions to the rescue by firing the pistols, which still remained in our girdles. The muskets, as well as cutlasses, had been lost among the loose earth at the bottom of the chasm. Subsequent events proved that, had we fired, we should have sorely repented it,

but luckily a half-suspicion of foul play had by this time arisen in my mind, and we forbore to let the savages know of our whereabouts. After having reposed for about an hour, we pushed on slowly up the ravine, and had gone no great way before we heard a succession of tremendous yells. At length we reached into what might be called the surface of the ground, for our path hitherto, since leaving the platform, had lain beneath an archway of high rock and foliage at a vast distance overhead. With great caution we stole to a narrow opening, through which we had a clear sight of the surrounding country, when the whole dreadful secret of the concussion broke upon us in one moment and at one view. The spot from which we looked was not far from the summit of the highest peak in the range of

the soapstone hills. The gorge in which our party of thirty-two had entered ran within fifty feet to the left of but for at least 100 yards, the channel or bed of this gorge was entirely filled up with the chaotic ruins of more than a million tons of earth and stone that had been artificially tumbled within it. The means by which the vast mass had been precipitated were not more simple than evident, for short traces of the murderous work were yet remaining. In several spots along the top of the eastern side of the gorge, we were now in the western, might be seen stakes of wood driven into the earth.

In these spots the earth had not given way, but throughout the whole extent of the face of the precipice from which the mass had fallen, it was clear from marks left in the soil, resembling those made by the drill of the rock blaster, that stakes similar to those we saw standing, had been inserted at no more than a yard apart for the length of perhaps three hundred feet and ranging at about ten feet back from the edge of the gulf strong cords of grape-vine were attached to the stakes still remaining on the hill and it was evident that such cords had also been attached to each of the other stakes i have already spoken of the singular stratification of these soapstone hills and the description just given of the of the narrow and deep fissure through which we affected our escape from inhumation will afford

a further conception of its nature. This was such that almost every natural convulsion would be sure to split the soil into perpendicular layers of ridges running parallel with one another, and a very moderate exertion of art would be sufficient for affecting the same purpose. Of this stratification, the savages had availed themselves to accomplish their treacherous ends. There can be no doubt that, by the continuous lines of stakes, a partial rupture of the soil had been brought about, probably to the depth of one or two feet, when by means of a savage pulling at the end of each of the cords, these cords being attached to the tops of the stakes and extending back from the edge of the cliff, A vast leverage power was obtained, capable of harling the whole face of the hill upon a given signal into the bosom of the abyss below.

The fate of our poor companions was no longer a matter of uncertainty. We alone had escaped from the tempest of that overwhelming destruction. We were the only living white men upon the island. End Chapter 21 This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are on the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by F.G. Capitano, Valmouth, Massachusetts.

The narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe. Chapter 22 Our situation, as it now appeared, was scarcely less dreadful than when we had conceived ourselves entombed forever. We saw before us no prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging out a miserable existence in captivity among them. We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and as a final resort in the chasm from which we had just issued. But we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or we ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds of whom we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in the capture and plunder of the Jane. The vessel still lay calmly at anchor in the bay, those on board being apparently quite unconscious of any danger awaiting them. How we longed at that moment to be with them, either to aid in affecting their escape or to perish with them in attempting a defense. We saw no chance even of warning them of their danger without bringing immediate destruction upon our own heads, with but a remote hope of benefit to them. A pistol fired might suffice to apprise them that something wrong had occurred, but the report could not possibly inform them that their only prospect of safety lay in getting out of the harbor forthwith.

It could not tell them that no principles of honor now bound them to remain, that their companions were no longer among the living. Upon hearing the discharge, they could not be more thoroughly prepared to meet the foe, who were now getting ready to attack, than they already were, and always had been. No good, therefore, an infinite harm would result from our firing, and after mature deliberation we forbore. Our next thought was to attempt to rush toward the vessel, to seize one of the four canoes which lay at the head of the bay, an endeavor to force a passage on board.

But the utter impossibility of succeeding in this desperate task soon became evident. The country, as I said before, was literally swarming with the natives, skulking among the bushes and recesses of the hills, so as not to be observed from the schooner. In our immediate vicinity especially, and blockading the sole path by which you could hope to attain the shore at the proper point, or stationed the whole party of the black-skinned warriors, with too wit at their head, and apparently only waiting for some reinforcement to commence his onset upon the jane. The canoes, too, which lay at the head of the bay, were manned with savages, unarmed it is true, but who undoubtedly had arms within reach.

We were forced, therefore, however unwillingly, to remain in our place of concealment, mere spectators of the conflict which presently ensued. In about half an hour we saw some sixty or seventy rafts, or flatboats without rigors, filled with savages and coming round the southern bite of the harbor. They appeared to have no arms except short clubs, and stoned which lay in the bottom of the rafts. Immediately afterward another detachment, still larger, appeared in an opposite direction and with similar weapons. The four canoes, too, were now quickly filled with natives, starting up from the bushes

at the head of the bay, and put off swiftly to join the other parties. Thus in less time than I have taken to tell it, and as if by magic the Jane saw herself surrounded by an immense multitude of desperadoes evidently bent upon capturing her at all hazards. That they would succeed in so doing could not be doubted for an instant. The six men left in the vessel, however resolutely they might engage in her defense, were altogether unequal to the proper management of the guns, or in any manner to sustain a contest at such odds. I could hardly imagine that they would make resistance at all,

but in this was deceived, for presently I saw them get springs of, upon the cable, and bring the vessel's starboard broadside to bear upon the canoes, which by this time were within pistol range, the rafts being nearly a quarter of a mile to windward. Owing to some cause unknown, but most probably to the agitation of our poor friends at seeing themselves in so hopeless a situation, the discharge was an entire failure. Not a canoe was hit or a single savage injured, the shots striking short and ricocheting over their heads. The only effects produced upon them was an astonishment of the unexpected report in smoke, which was so excessive that for some moments I almost thought they would

abandon their design entirely, and were turned to the shore. And this they would most likely have done had our men followed up their broadside by a discharge of small arms, in which, as the canoes were now so near at hand, they could not have failed in doing some execution, sufficient at least to deter this party from a further advance, until they could have given the rafts also a broadside. But, in place of this, they left the canoe party to recover from their panic, and by looking about them to see that no injury had been sustained while they flew to the larboard to get ready for the rafts. The discharge to larboard produced the most terrible effect. The star and double-headed shot of the large guns cut seven or eight of the rafts completely

asunder and killed, perhaps, 30 or 40 of their scy. savages outright, while a hundred of them at least were thrown into the water, the most of them dreadfully wounded. The remainder, frightened out of their senses, commenced at once a precipitate retreat, not even waiting to pick up their maimed companions, who were swimming about in every direction, screaming and yelling for aid. This great success, however, came too late for the salvation of our devoted people. The canoe party was already on board the schooner to the number of more than a hundred and fifty,

The most of them, having succeeded in scrambling up the chains, and over the boarding netting, even before the matches had been applied to the larboard guns. Nothing could now withstand their brutal rage. Our men were born down at once, overwhelmed, trodden underfoot, and absolutely torn to pieces in an instant. Seeing this, the savages and the rafts got the better of their fears, and came up in shoals to the plunder. In five minutes to Jane was a pitiable scene indeed of havoc and tumultuous outrage.

The decks were split open and ripped up, the cordage, sails, and everything movable on deck demolished as if by magic, while by dint of pushing at the stern, towing with the canoes, and hauling at the sides as they swam in thousands around the vessel, the wretches finally forced her on shore, the cable having been slipped, and delivered her over to the good offices of Tuwit, who, during the whole of the engagement, had maintained, like a skillful general, his post of security and reconnaissance among the hills. But, now that the victory was completed to his satisfaction, condescended to scamper down with his warriors of the black skin and become a partaker in the spoils.

Two-wit's descent left us at liberty to quit our hiding-place and reconnoiter to the hill in the vicinity of the chasm. At about fifty yards from the mouth of it we saw a small spring of water, at which we slaked the burning thirst that now consumed us. Not far from the spring we discovered several of the filbert bushes, which I mentioned before. Upon tasting the nuts, we found them palatable, and very nearly resembling in flavor the common English filbert. We collected our hats full immediately, deposited them within the ravine, and returned for more. While we were busily employed in gathering these, a rustling in the bushes alarmed us,

and we were upon the point of stealing back to our covert when a large black bird of the bittern species strugglingly and slowly arose above the shrubs. I was so much startled that I could do nothing, but Peters had sufficient presence of mind to run up to it before it could make its escape and seize it by the neck. Its struggles and screams were tremendous, and we had thoughts of letting it go, lest the noise should alarm some of the savages who might be still lurking in the neighborhood. A stab with a bowie knife, however, at length brought it to the ground, and we dragged it into the ravine, congratulating ourselves that, at all events, we had thus obtained a supply

of food enough to last us for a week. We now went out again to look about us and ventured a considerable distance down the southern declivity of the hill, but met with nothing else which could serve us for food. We therefore collected a quantity of dry wood and returned, seeing one or two large parties of the natives on their way to the village, laden with the plunder of the vessel, and who, we were apprehensive, might discover us in passing beneath the hill. Our next care was to render our place of concealment as secure as possible, and with this object, we arranged some brushwood over the aperture, which I have before spoken of, as the one through which we saw the patch of blue sky, on reaching the platform from the interior of the chasm. We left only a very small opening just wide enough to admit of our seeing the bay, without the risk of being discovered from below. Having done this, we congratulated ourselves upon the security of the position, for we were now completely excluded from observation, as long as we chose to remain within the ravine itself and not venture out upon the hill.

We could perceive no traces of the savages, having ever been within this hollow. But indeed, when we came to reflect upon the probability that the fissure through which we attained it had been only just now created by the fall of the cliff opposite, and that no other way of attaining it could be perceived, we were not so much rejoiced at the thought of being secure for molestation as fearful lester should be absolutely no means left for us for dissent. We resolved to explore the summit of the hill thoroughly, when a good operation was to be opportunity should offer. In the meantime, we watched the motions of the savages through our loophole. They had already made a complete wreck of the vessel and were now preparing to set her on fire.

In a little while, we saw the smoke ascending in huge volumes from her main hatchway, and shortly afterward, a dense mass of flame burst up from the forecastle. The rigging, masts, and what remained of the sails caught immediately, and the fire spread rapidly along the decks. Still, a great many of the savages retained their stations about her, hammering with large stones, axes, and cannonballs at the bolts and other iron and copper work. On the beach and in canoes and rafts, there were not less altogether in the immediate vicinity of the schooner than ten thousand natives besides the shoals of them who, laden with booty, were making their way inland and over to the neighboring islands. We now anticipated a catastrophe, and were not disappointed. First of all, there came a smart shock, which we felt as distinctly where we were as if we had been slightly galvanized, but unattended with any visible signs of an explosion.

The savages were evidently startled and paused for an instant from their labors and yellings. They were upon the point of recommencing, when suddenly a mass of smoke puffed up from the decks, resembling a black and heavy thunder cloud, then as if from its bowels arose a tall stream of vivid fire to the height, apparently, of a quarter of a mile. Then there came a sudden circular expansion of the flame. Then the whole atmosphere was magically crowded, in a single instant with a wild chaos of wood and metal and human limbs. And lastly came the concussion in its fullest fury, which hurled us impetuously from our feet, while the hills echoed and re-echoed the tumult, and a dense shower of the minutest fragments of the ruins tumbled headlong in every direction around us.

The havoc among the savages far exceeded our utmost expectation, and they had now, indeed, reaped the full and perfect fruits of their treachery. Perhaps a thousand perished by the explosion, while at least an equal number were desperately mangled. The whole surface of the bay was literally strewn with the struggling and drowning wretches, and unsure matters were even worse. They seemed utterly appalled by the suddenness and completeness of their discomfiture, and made no efforts assisting one another.

At length we observed a total change in their demeanor. From absolute stupor, they appeared to be all at once aroused to the highest pitch of excitement and rushed wildly about going to and from a certain point on the beach with the strangest expressions of mingled horror, rage, and intense curiosity depicted on their countenances and shouting at the top of their voices, To Kelly Lee! To Kelly Lee! Presently we saw a little bit of their own. large body go off into the woods once they returned in a short time carrying stakes of wood.

These they brought to the station, where the crowd was the thickest, which now separated to us to afford us a view of the object of all this excitement. We perceived something white lying upon the ground, but could not immediately make out what it was. At length we saw that it was the carcass of the strange animal with the scarlet teeth and claws which the schooner had picked up at sea on the 18th of January. Captain Guy had had the body preserved for the purpose of stuffing the skin and taking it to England. I remember he had given some directions about it just before our making the island,

and it had been brought into the cabin and stowed away in one of the lockers. It had now been thrown on shore by the explosion, but why it had occasioned so much concern among the savages was more than we could comprehend. Although they crowded around the carcass at a little distance, one of them seemed willing to approach it closely. By and by the men with the stakes drove them in a circle around it, and no sooner was this arrangement completed, than the whole of the vast assemblage rushed into the interior of the island, with loud screams of Tekhali Lee, Tekalee, Lee.

End of chapter 22. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. by F. G. Capitanio. The narrative of Arthur Gordon Pim of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poe. Chapter 23 During the six or seven days immediately following, we remained in our hiding place upon the hill, going out only occasionally, and then with the greatest precaution for water and filberts.

We had made a kind of penthouse on the platform, furnishing it with a bed of dry leaves, and placing it in three large flat stones, which served us for both fireplace and table. We killed the fire without difficulty by rubbed two pieces of dry wood together, the one soft, the other hard. The bird we had taken in such good season proved excellent eating, although somewhat tough. It was not an oceanic fowl, but a species of bittern, with jet black and grisly plumage, and diminutive wings in proportion to its bulk. We afterwards saw three of the same kind in the vicinity of the ravine, apparently seeking

for the one we had captured. but, as they never alighted, we had no opportunity of catching them. As long as this fowl lasted, we suffered nothing from our situation, but it was now entirely consumed, and it became absolutely necessary that we should look out for provision. The filberts would not satisfy the cravings of hunger, afflicting us too with severe grippings of the bowels, and, if freely indulged in, with violent headache. We had seen several large tortoises near the seashore to the eastward of the hill, and perceived they might be easily taken if we could get at them without the observation of the natives.

It was resolved, therefore, to make an attempt at descending. We commenced by going down the southern declivity, which seemed to offer the fewest difficulties, for had not proceeded a hundred yards before, as we had anticipated from its on the hilltop, our progress was entirely arrested by a branch of the gorge in which our companions had perished. We now passed along the edge of this for about a quarter of a mile, and when we were again stopped by a precipice of immense depth and not being able to make our way along the brink of it, we were forced to retrace our steps by the main ravine. We now pushed over to the eastward, but with precisely similar fortune.

After an hour's scramble, at the risk of breaking our necks, we discovered that we had merely descended into a vast pit of black granite with fine dust at the bottom, and once the only egress was by the rugged path in which we had come down. Toiling again up this path, we now tried the northern edge of the hill. Here we were obliged to use the greatest possible caution in our maneuvers, as the least indiscretion would expose us to the full view of the savages in the village. We crawled along, therefore, on our hands and knees, and occasionally were even forced to throw ourselves at full length, dragging our bodies along by means of the shrubbery.

In this careful manner we had proceeded but a little way, when we arrived at a chasm far deeper than any we had yet seen, and leading directly into the main gorge. Thus our fears were fully confirmed, and we found ourselves cut off entirely from access to the world below. Thoroughly exhausted by our exertions, we made the best of our way back to the platform, and throwing ourselves upon the bed of leaves, slept sweetly and soundly for some hours. For several days after this fruitless search, we were occupied in exploring every part of the summit of the hill, in order to inform ourselves of its actual resources. We found that it would afford us no food, with the exception of the unwholesome filberts and a rank species of scurvy grass which grew in a little of not more than four rods square, and would soon be exhausted.

On the 15th of February, as near as I can remember, there was not a blade of this left, and the nuts were growing scarce. Our situation, therefore, could hardly be more lamentable. On the 16th we again went round the walls of our prison in hope of finding some avenue of escape, but to no problem. purpose. We also descended the chasm in which we had been overwhelmed, with the faint expectation of discovering, through this channel, some opening to the main ravine. Here too we were disappointed, although we found and brought up with us a musket. On the 17th, we set out with a determination of examining more thoroughly the chasm of black granite into which we had made our way in the first search. We remembered that one of the fissures in the sides of this pit had been but partially looked

into, and we were anxious to explore it, although with no expectation of discovering here any opening. We found no great difficulty in reaching the bottom of the hollow as before, and were now sufficiently calm to survey it with some attention. It was, indeed, one of the most singular-looking places imaginable, and we could scarcely bring ourselves to believe it altogether the work of nature. The pit, from its eastern to its western extremity, was about five hundred yards in length when all its windings were threaded. The distance from east to west in a straight line, not being more, I should suppose, having no means of accurate examination, than forty or fifty yards. Upon first ascending into the chasm, that is to say, for a hundred

feet downward from the summit of the hill, the sides of the abyss bore little resemblance to each other, and apparently had at no time been connected, the one surface being of the soapstone and the other of Marl, granulated with some metallic matter. The average breath of interval between the two cliffs was probably here 60 feet, but there seemed to be no regularity of formation. Passing down, however, beyond the limits spoken of, the interval rapidly contracted, and the sides began to run parallel, although for some distance further, they were still dissimilar in their material and form of surface. Upon arriving within 50 feet of the bottom, a perfect regularity commenced. The sides were now entirely uniform in substance, in color, and in lateral

direction, the material being a very black and shining granite, and the distance between the two sides at all points facing each other exactly twenty yards. The precise formation of the chasm will be best understood by means of a delineation taken upon the spot, for I had luckily with me a pocketbook and pencil, which I preserved with great care through a long series of subsequent adventure, and to which I am indebted for memoranda of many subjects which would otherwise have been crowded from my remembrance. This figure, see figure one, image, gives the general outlines of the chasm, without the minor cavities in the sides, of which there were several, each cavity having a corresponding

bertuburns opposite. The bottom of the gulf was covered to the depth of three or four inches with a powder almost impalpable, beneath which we found a continuation of the black granite. To the right at the lower extremity will be noticed the appearance of a small opening. this is the fissure alluded to above, and to examine which more minutely than before was the object of our second visit. We now pushed into it with vigor, cutting away a quantity of brambles which impeded us, and removing a vast heap of sharp flints somewhat resembling arrowheads in shape. We were encouraged to persevere, however, by perceiving some little light proceeding from the farther end.

We at length squeezed our way for about thirty feet, and found that the aperture was. a low and regularly formed arc, having a bottom of the same impalpable powder as that in the main chasm. A strong light now broke upon us, and, turning a short bend, we found ourselves in another lofty chamber, similar to the one we had left in every respect but longitudinal form. Its general figure is here given. See figure two. Image. The total length of this chasm, commencing at the opening A and proceeding round the curve B to the extremity D is 550 yards. At C we discovered a small aperture similar to the one through which we had issued from the other chasm, and this was choked up in the same manner with brambles and a quantity of the white arrowhead flints.

We forced our way through it, finding it about 40 feet long, and emerged into a third chasm. This two was precisely like the first, except in its longitudinal shape, which was thus. see figure three image we found the entire length of the third chasm 320 yards at the point a was an opening about six feet wide and extending fifteen feet into the rock where it terminated in a bend of marl there being no other chasm beyond as we had expected we were about leaving this fissure into which very little light was admitted winters called my attention to a range of singular-looking indentures in the surface of the marl forming the termination of the cul-de-sac with a very slight exertion of the imagination the left or most northern of these indentures might have been taken for the intentional although rude representation of a human figure standing erect with outstretched arms the rest of them bore also some little resemblance to alphabetical characters and peters was willing at all events to adopt the idle opinion that they were really such i convinced him of his error finally by directing his attention to the floor of the fissure where among the powder, we picked up piece by piece, several large flakes of the marl, which had evidently been broken off by some convulsion from the surface where the indentures were found, and which had

projecting points exactly fitting the indentures, thus proving them to be the work of nature. Figure 4, image, presents an accurate copy of the whole. After satisfying ourselves that these singular caverns afforded us no means of escape from our prison, we made our way back, dejected and dispirited to the summit of the hill. nothing worth mentioning occur during the next twenty-four hours except that in examining the ground to the eastward of the third chasm we found two triangular holes of great depth and also with black-granted sides into these holes we do not think it worth while to attempt ascending as they had the appearance of mere natural wells without outlet they were each about twenty yards in circumference and their shape well as relative position in regard to the third chasm is shown in figure five Image. End of Chapter 23. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain.

For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Recording by F.G. Capitano. The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pim of Nantucket. By Edgar Allan Poe. Chapter 24 On the 20th of the month, finding it altogether impossible to subsist any longer upon the Philburne, the use of which occasioned us the most excruciating torment, we resolved to make a desperate attempt at descending the southern declivity of the hill. The face of the precipice was here of the softest species of soapstone, although nearly particular throughout its whole extent, a depth of at least 150 feet, and in many places even overarching. After a long search, we discovered a narrow ledge about 20 feet below the brink of the Gulf. Upon this, Peters contrived to leap, with what assistance I could render him by means of

our pocket handkerchiefs tied together. With somewhat more difficulty I also got down, and we then saw the possibility of descending the whole way by the process in which we had clambered up from the chasm when we had been buried by the fall of the hill, that is, by cutting steps in the face of the soapstone with our knives. The extreme hazard of the attempt can scarcely be conceived, but as there was no other resource we determined to undertake it. Upon the ledge where we stood there grew some filbert bushes, and to one of these we made

fast an end of our rope of handkerchiefs, the other end being tied around Peter's waist. I lowered him down over the edge of the precipice till the handkerchiefs were stretched tight. He now proceeded to dig a hole in the soapstone as far in as eight or ten inches, sloping away the rock above to the height of a foot or thereabout, so as to a little to a hole in a foot, so as to allow of his driving, with the butt of a pistol a tolerably strong peg into the leveled surface. I then drew him up for about four feet when he made a hole similar to the one below, driving in a pegs before and having thus a resting place for both feet and hands. I now unfastened the handkerchiefs from the bush, throwing him the end, which he tied to

the peg in the uppermost hole, letting himself down gently to a situation about three feet lower, And he had yet been, that is, to the full extent of the handkerchiefs. Here he dug another hole and drove another peg. He then drew himself up so as to rest his feet in the hole just cut, taking hold with his hands upon the peg in the one above. It was now unnecessary to untie the handkerchiefs from the topmost peg with the view of fastening them to the second, and here he found that an error had been committed in cutting the holes at so great a distance apart.

However, after one or two unsuccessful and dangerous attempts at reaching the knot, having to hold on with his left hand while he labored to undo the fastening with his right, he at length cut the string, leaving six inches of it affixed to the peg. Tying the handkerchiefs now to the second peg, he descended to a station below the third, taking care not to go too far down. By these means, means which I should never have conceived for myself, and for which we were indebted altogether to Peter's ingenuity and resolution, my companion finally succeeded with the occasional aid of projections in the cliff and reaching the bottom without accident.

It was some time before I could summon sufficient resolution to follow him, but I did at length attempt it. Peters had taken off his shirt before descending, and this with my own, formed the rope necessary for the adventure. After throwing down the musket found in the chasm, I fastened this rope to the bushes, and let myself down rapidly, striving by the vigor of my movements, to banish the trepidation which I could overcome in no other manner. This answered sufficiently well for the first four or five steps, but presently I found my imagination growing terribly excited by thoughts of the vast depths yet to be descended and the precarious nature of the pegs and soapstone holes which were my only support. It was in vain I endeavored to banish these reflections, and to keep my eyes steadily

bent upon the flat surface of the cliff before me. The more earnestly I struggled not to think, the more intensely vivid became my conceptions and the more horribly distinct. At length arrived that crisis of fancy, so fearful in all similar cases, the crisis in which we began to anticipate the feelings with which we shall fall. To picture ourselves the sickness and dizziness and the last struggle and the half-swoon and the final bitterness of the rushing and headlong descent, and now I found these fancies creating their own realities, and all imagined horrors crowding upon me, in fact.

I felt my knees strike violently together, while my fingers were gradually but certainly relaxing their grasp. There was a ringing in my ears, and I said, This is my knell of death! And now I was consumed with the irrepressible desire of looking below. I could not, I would not confine my glances to the cliff, and with a wild, indefinable emotion, half of horror, half of a relieved oppression,

I threw my vision far down into the abyss. For one moment my fingers clutched convulsively upon their hold, while, with the movement, the faintest possible idea of ultimate escape wandered, like a shadow through my mind. In the next my whole soul was pervaded with a longing to fall, a desire, a yearning of passion utterly uncontrollable. I let go at once my grasp up on the peg, and turning half round from the precipice,

remained tottering for an instant against its naked face. But neither came a spinning of the brain. A shrill sounding and phantom voice screamed within my ears. A dusky, fiendish, and filmy figure stood immediately beneath me, and sighing, I sunk down with a bursting heart and plunged within its arms. I had swooned, and Peter's had caught me as I fell. He had observed my proceedings from his station at the bottom of the cliff, and perceiving my eminent danger, an endeavor to inspire me with courage by every suggestion

he could devise, although my confusion of mine had been so great as to prevent my hearing what he said, or being conscious that he had even spoken to me at all. At length, seeing me totter, he hastened to ascend to my rescue, and arrived just in time for my preservation. Had I fallen with my full weight, the rope of linen would inevitably have snapped, and I should have been precipitated into the abyss. As it was, he contrived to let me down gently, so as to remain suspended without danger until animation returned, this was in about fifteen minutes. On recovery, my trepidation had entirely vanished, I felt a new being, and with some little further aid from my companion, reached the bottom also in safety.

We now found ourselves not far from the ravine which had proved the tomb of our friends, into the southward of the spot where the hill had fallen. The place was one of singular wildness, its aspect brought to my mind the descriptions given by travelers of those dreary regions marking the site of degraded Babylon. Not to speak of the ruins of the disrupted cliff, which formed a chaotic barrier in the vista to the northward, the surface of the ground in every other direction was strewn with huge tumuli, apparently the wreck of some gigantic structures of art, although in detail no semblance of art could be detected. Scoria were abundant, and large shapeless blocks of the black granite intermingled with others of Marl, and both granulated with metal. A vegetation, there were

no traces whatsoever throughout the whole of the desolate area within sight. Several immense scorpions were seen, and various reptiles not elsewhere to be found in the high latitudes. As food was our most immediate object, we resolved to make our way to the sea coast, distant, not more than half a mile, with a view of catching turtle, several of which we had observed from our place of concealment on the hill. We had proceeded some hundred yards, threading our route cautiously between the huge rocks and tumuli, when, upon turning a corner, five savages sprung upon us from a small cavern, felling Peters to the ground with a blow from a club. As he fell, the whole party rushed upon him

to secure their victim, leaving me time to recover from my astonishment. I still had the musket, But the barrel had received so much injury in being thrown from the precipice that I had cast it aside as useless, preferring to trust my pistols, which had been carefully preserved in order. With these I advanced upon the assailants, firing one after the other in quick succession. Two savages fell, and one, who was in the act of thrusting spear into Peters, sprung to his feet without accomplishing his purpose. My companion being thus released, we had no further difficulty. He had his pistols also, but presently declined using them. confiding in his great personal strength, which far exceeded that of any person I have ever known. Seizing a club from one of the savages who had fallen, he dashed out the brains of the three who remained,

killing each instantaneously with a single blow of the weapon in leaving us completely masters of the field. So rapidly had these events passed that we could scarcely believe in their reality, and were standing over the bodies of the dead in a species of stupid contemplation. when we were brought to recollection by the sound of shouts in the distance. It was clear that the savages had been alarmed by the firing, and that we had little chance of avoiding discovery. To regain the cliff it would be necessary to proceed in the direction of the shouts, and even should we succeed in arriving at its base,

we should never be able to ascend it without being seen. Our situation was one of the greatest peril, and we were hesitating in which path to commence a flight, when one of the savages whom I had shot and supposed, was dead, sprang briskly to his feet, and attempted to make his escape. We overtook him, however, before he had advanced many pieces, and were about to put him to death, when Peter suggested that we might derive some benefit from forcing him to accompany us in our attempt to escape. We therefore dragged him with us, making him understand that we would shoot him if he offered

resistance. In a few minutes he was perfectly submissive, and ran by our sides as we pushed in among the rocks, making for the seashore. So far, the irregularities of the ground we had been traversing hid the sea, accepted intervals from our sight, and when we first had it fairly in view, it was perhaps 200 yards distant. As we emerged into the open beach we saw to our great dismay an immense crowd of the natives pouring from the village, and from all visible quarters of the island, making toward us with gesticulations of extreme fury and howling like wild beasts. We were upon the point of turning upon our steps and trying to secure a retreat among the fastnesses of the rougher ground when I discovered

the bows of two canoes projecting from behind a large rock which ran out into the water. Toward these we now ran with all speed, and reaching them found them unguarded, and without any other freight than three of the large Galapagodot-goat turtles and the usual supply of paddles for sixty rowers. We instantly took possession of one of them, and, forcing our captive on board, put out to sea with all the strength we could command. We had not made, however, more than 50 yards from the shore before we became sufficiently calm to perceive the great oversight of which we had been guilty, and leaving the other canoe in the power of the savages, who by this time were not more than

twice as far from the beaches ourselves, and were rapidly advancing to the pursuit. No time was now to be lost. Our hope was, at best, a forlorn one, but we had none other. It was very doubtful whether, with the utmost exertion we could get back in time to, to anticipate them in taking possession of the canoe, but yet there was a chance that we could. We might save ourselves if we succeeded, while not to make the attempt was to resign ourselves to inevitable butchery. The canoe was modeled with the bow and stern alike, and in place of turning it around, we merely changed our position in paddling.

As soon as the savages perceived this day, redoubled their yells, as well as their speed and approached with inconceivable repudy. We bowed, however, with all the energy of desperation and arrived at the contested point. before more than one of the natives had attained it. This man paid dearly for his superior agility, Peter's shooting him through the head with a pistol as he approached the shore. The foremost among the rest of his party were probably some dear thirty paces distant as we seized upon the canoe.

We at first endeavored to pull her into the deep water beyond the reach of the savage's butt, finding her too firmly aground and there being no time to spare. Peters, with one or two heavy strokes from the butt of the musket, succeeded in dashing out a large portion of the bow and of one side. We then pushed off. Two of the natives by this time had got hold of our boat, obstinately refusing to let go,

until we were forced to dispatch them with our knives. We were now clean off and making great way out to sea. The main body of the savages, upon reaching the broken canoe, set up the most tremendous yell of rage and disappointment conceivable. In truth, from everything I could see of these wretches, They appeared to be the most wicked, hypocritical, vindictive, bloodthirsty, and altogether fiendish race of men upon the face of the globe. It is clear we should have had no mercy had we fallen into their hands. They made a mad attempt at following us in their fractured canoe, but finding it useless again vented their rage in a series of hideous vociferations and rushed up into the hills.

We were thus relieved from immediate danger, but our situation was still sufficiently gloomy. We knew that four canoes of the kind we had. had, were at one time in the possession of the savages, and were not aware of the fact, afterward ascertained from our captive, that two of these had been blown to pieces in the explosion of the Jane Guy. We calculated, therefore, upon being yet pursued, as soon as our enemies could get round to the bay, distant about three miles, where the boats were usually laid up. Fearing this, we made every exertion to leave the island behind us, and went rapidly through

the water, forcing the prisoner to take a paddle. In about half an hour, when we had gained probably five or six miles to the southward, a large fleet of the flat-bottomed canoes or rafts were seen to emerge from the bay, evidently with the design of pursuit. Presently they put back, despairing to overtake us. End of Chapter 24. This is a Libervox recording. All Libervox recordings are in the public domain.

For more information, and to find out how you can volunteer, please visitlibrovox.org. recording by oscar goff a k a z m f time lorne the narrative of arthur gordon pym of nantucket by edgar allen poe chapter twenty five we now found ourselves in the wide and desolate antarctic ocean in a latitude exceeding eighty four degrees in a frail canoe and with no provision but the three turtles the long polar winter too could not be considered as far distant and it became necessary that we should deliberate well upon the course to be pursued there were six or seven islands in sight belonging to the same group and distant from each other about five or six leagues But upon neither of these had we any intention to venture. In coming from the northward in the Jane Guy, we had been gradually leaving behind us the severest regions of ice. This, however little it may be in accordance with the generally received notions respecting the Antarctic,

was a fact experience would not permit us to deny. To attempt, therefore, getting back would be folly, especially at so late a period of the season. Only one course seemed to be left open for hope. we resolved to steer boldly to the southward, where there was at least a probability of discovering other lands, and more than a probability of finding a still milder climate. So far we had found the Antarctic, like the Arctic Ocean, peculiarly free from violent storms or immoderately rough water. But our canoe was, at best, a frail structure, although large, and we set busily to work with a view of rendering her as safe as the limited means in our possession would admit. The body of the boat was of no better material than bark, the bark of a tree unknown.

The ribs were of a tough ozier, well adapted to the purpose for which it was used. We had 50 feet in room from stern to stern, from four to six in breadth, and in depth throughout four feet and a half. The boats, thus differing vastly in shape from those of any other inhabitants of the southern ocean, with whom civilized nations are acquainted. We never did believe them the workmanship of the ignorant islanders who owned them. and some days after this period discovered by questioning our captive that they were in fact made by the natives of a group to the southwest of the country where we found them having fallen accidentally into the hands of our barbarians what we could do for the security of our boat was very little indeed several wide rents were discovered near both ends and these we contrived to patch up with pieces of woollen jacket with the help of the superfluous paddles of which there were a great many we erected a kind of framework about the bow so as to break the force of any seas which might threaten to fill us in that quarter we also set up two paddle blades for masks placing them opposite each other one by each gunwheres

thus saving the necessity of a yard. To these masks we attached a sail made of our shirts, doing this with some difficulty, as here we could get no assistance from our prisoner whatever, although he had been willing enough to labor in all the other operations. The sight of the linen seemed to affect him in a very singular manner. He could not be prevailed upon to touch it or to go near it, shuddering when we attempted to force him and shrieking out,

Tekeleli. Having completed our arrangements in our arrangements, regard to the security of the canoe, we now set sail to the south-southeast for the present, with the view of weathering the most southerly of the group in sight. This being done, we turned the bow full to the southward. The weather could by no means be considered disagreeable. We had a prevailing, and very gentle wind from the northward, a smooth sea, and continual daylight. No ice whatever was to be seen, nor did I ever see one particle of this after leaving the parallel of Bennett's Islet. Indeed, the temperature of the water was here far too warm for its

existence in any quantity. Having killed the largest of our tortoises, and obtained from him not only food, but a copious supply of water, we continued on our course without any incident a moment for perhaps seven or eight days, during which period we must have proceeded a vast distance to the southward, as the wind blew constantly with us, and a very strong current set continually in the direction we were pursuing. March 1st. Many unusual phenomena now indicated that we were entering upon a region of novelty and wonder. A high range of light-gray vapor appeared constantly in the southern horizon, flaring up occasionally in lofty streaks, now darting from east to west, now from west to east, and again presenting a level in uniform summit, in short, having all the

wild variations of the aurora borealis. The average height of this vapor has apparent, from our station, was about 25 degrees. The temperature of the sea seemed to be increasing momentarily, and there was a very perceptible alteration in its color. March the 2nd. Today, by repeated questioning of our captive, we came to the knowledge of many particulars in regard to the island of the massacre, its inhabitants, and customs. But with these, how can I now detain the reader?

I must say, however, that we learned there were eight islands in the group, that they were governed by a common king named Scyte-Larcturn. Salimon, or Salimau, who resided in one of the smallest of the islands. That the black skins forming the dress of the warriors came from an animal of huge size to be found only in a valley near the court of the king. That the inhabitants of the group fabricated no other boats than the flat-bottomed rafts, the four canoes being all of their kind in their possession, and, these having been obtained by mere accident from some large island in the southwest,

that his own name was Nunu, that he had no knowledge of Bennett's Islet, and that the appellation of the island he had left was Salal. The commencement of the words Salomon and Salal was given with a prolonged hissing sound, which we found it impossible to imitate, even after repeated endeavors, and which was precisely the same with the note of the black bittern we had eaten up on the summit of the hill. March the 3rd. the heat of the water was now truly remarkable and in color was undergoing a rapid change being no longer transparent but of a milky consistency in hue in our immediate vicinity it was usually smooth never so rough as to endanger the canoe but we were frequently surprised at perceiving to our right and left at different distances sudden and extensive agitations of the surface these we at length noticed were always preceded by wild flickerings in the region of the vapor to the surface these we at length noticed were always preceded by wild flickerings in the region of the vapor to the sun

southward. March the fourth. Today, with the view of widening our sail, the breeze from the northward dying away perceptibly, I took from my coat pocket a white handkerchief. Nunu was seated at my elbow, and the linen accidentally flaring in his face. He became violently affected with convulsions. These were succeeded by drowsiness and stupor, and low murmurings of tequillili, Tequille, March the fifth. The wind had in tenements. The wind had in entirely ceased, but it was evident that we were still hurrying on to the southward, under the influence of a powerful current. And now, indeed, it would seem reasonable that we should experience some alarm at the turn of events we were taking, but we felt none. The countenance of Peters indicated nothing of this nature, although at war at times an expression I could not fathom.

The polar winter appeared to be coming on, but coming without its terrors. I felt a numbness of body and mind, a dreaminess of sensation, but this was all. March the 6th The gray vapor had now arisen many more degrees above the horizon, and was gradually losing its grayness of tint. The heat of the water was extreme, even unpleasant to the touch, and its milky hue was more evident than ever. Today a violent agitation of the water occurred very close to the canoe. It was attended, as usual, with a wild flaring up of the vapor at its summit, and a momentary division at its base. A fine white powder, resembling ashes, but certainly not such, fell over the canoe and over a large surface of the water,

as the flickering died away among the vapor, and the commotion subsided in the sea. Nunu now threw himself on his face in the bottom of the boat, and no persuasions could induce him to arise. March the 7th. This day we questioned Nunu concerning the motives of his countrymen and destroying our companions, but he appeared to be too utterly overcome by terror to afford us any rational reply. He still obstinately lay in the bottom of the boat, and, upon reiterating the questions as to the motive, made use only of idiotic gesticulations, such as raising with his forefinger the upper lip, and displaying the teeth which lay beneath it. These were black. We had never before seen the teeth of an inhabitant of Salal.

March the 8th. Today there floated by us one of the white animals, whose appearance upon the beach at Salal, had occasioned so wild a commotion among the savages. I would have picked it up, but there came over me a sudden listlessness, and I forbore. The heat of the water still increased,

and the hand could no longer be endured within it. Peter spoke little, and I knew not what to think of his act. apathy. Nunu breathed, and no more. March the 9th. The whole ashy material fell now continually around us, and in vast quantities. The range of vapor to the southward had arisen prodigiously in the horizon, and began to assume more distinctness of form. I can liken it to nothing but a limitless cataract, rolling silently into the sea from some immense and far-distant rampart in the heaven. The gigantic curtain ranged along the whole extent of the southern horizon. It emitted

no sound. March the 21st. A sullen darkness now hovered above us, but from out of the milky depths of the ocean, a luminous glare arose, and stole up along the bulwarks of the boat. We were nearly overwhelmed by the white ashy shower which settled upon us and upon the canoe, but melted into the water as it fell. The summit of the cataract was utterly lost in the dimness and the distance. Yet we were evidently approaching it with hideous velocity. At intervals there were visible in it wide, yawning, but momentary rents, and from out of these rents, within which was a chaos afflitting and indistinct images, there came rushing a mighty but soundless winds, tearing up the enkindled ocean in their course. March the 22nd. The darkness had materially increased,

relieved only by the glare of the water thrown back from the white curtain before us. Many gigantic and pallidly white birds flew continuously now from beyond the veil, and their scream was the eternal Tequilili, as they retreated from our vision. Hereupon Nunu stirred in the bottom of the boat, but upon touching him we found his spirit departed. And now we rushed into the embraces of the cataract, where a chasm threw itself open to receive us. But there arose in our pathway as shrank,

crowded human figure, very far larger in its proportions than any dweller among men. And the hue of the skin of the figure was of the perfect whiteness of the snow. End of Chapter 25. This is a Libervox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Librevox.org. The narrative of Arthur Gordon Pim of Nantucket by Edgar Allan Poeck. End note.

The circumstances connected with the late, sudden and distressing death of Mr. Pim are already well known to the public through the medium of the daily press. It is feared that the few remaining chapters which were to have completed his narrative and which were retained by him, while the above were in type, for the purpose of revision, have been irrecoverably lost through the accident by which he perished himself. This, however, may prove not to be the case, and the papers, if ultimately found, will be given to the public. No means have been left untried to remedy the deficiency. The gentleman whose name is mentioned in the preface, and who, from the statement there made,

might be supposed, able to fill the vacuum, has declined the task. For satisfactory reasons, connected with the general inaccuracy of the details afforded him, and his disbelief in the entire truth of the latter portions of the narration. Peters, from whom, some information might be expected, is still alive, and a resident of Illinois, but cannot be met with at present. He may hereafter be found, and will no doubt, afford material for a conclusion of Mr. Pim's account. The loss of two or three final chapters, for there were but two or three, is the more deeply to be regretted, as it cannot be doubted, they can take,

matter relative to the pole itself, or at least to regions, in its very near proximity, and as, too, the statements of the author in relation to these regions may shortly be verified or contradicted by means of the governmental expedition now preparing for the southern ocean. On one point in the narrative some remarks may well be offered, and it would afford the writer of this appendix much pleasure if what he may here observe should have a tendency to throw credit in any degree upon the very singular pages now published. We allude to the chasms, found in the island of Salel, and to the whole of the figures upon pages 245 to 47 of the printed edition. Mr. Pim has given the figures of the chasm without comment, and speaks decidedly of the

indentures found at the extremity of the most easterly of these chasms, as having but a fanciful resemblance to alphabetical characters, and, in short, as being positively not such. This assertion is made in a manner so simple, and sustained by a species of demonstrations so conclusive, that is, the fitting of projections of the fragments found among the dust into the indentures upon the wall, that we are forced to believe the writer in earnest, and no reasonable reader should suppose otherwise. But as the facts in relation to all the figures are most singular, especially when taken in connection with statements made in the body of the narrative, it may be as well to say a word or two concerning them. All this, too, the more, especially as the facts in question have, beyond doubt, escaped the attention of Mr. Poe. Figure 1, then figure 2, figure 3 and figure 5, when conjoined with one another in the precise order which the chasm themselves presented,

and when deprived of the small lateral branches or arches, which it will be remembered, served only as a means of communication between the main chambers, and were of totally distinct character, constitute an Ethiopian verbal root, the route, to be shady, whence all the inflections of shadow or darkness. In regard to the left or most northwardly of the indentures in figure four, it is more than probable that the opinion of Peters was correct, and that the hieroglyphical appearance was really the work of art,

and intended as the representation of a human form. The delineation is before the reader, and he may or may not perceive the resemblance suggested, but the rest of the indentures afford strong confirmation of Peter's idea. The upper range is evidently the Arabic verbal root to be white, whence all the inflections of brilliancy and whiteness. The lower range is not so immediately perspicuous, The characters are somewhat broken and disjointed. Nevertheless, it cannot be doubted that, in their perfect state,

they formed the full Egyptian word, the region of the South. It should be observed that these interpretations confirm the opinion of Peters in regard to the most northwardly of the figures. The arm is outstretched towards the South. Conclusions such as these open a wide field for speculation and exciting conjecture. They should be regarded perhaps in connection with some of the most faintly detailed incidents of the narrative, although in no visible manner is this chain of connection complete. Tecali Lee was the cry of the affrightened narratives of Salel upon discovering the carcass of the white animal picked up at sea.

This also was the shuddering exclamatives of Salel upon discovering the carcass of the white materials in possession of Mr. Pim. This also was the shriek of the swift-flying white and gigantic birds which issued from the vapoury white curtain of the south. Nothing white was to be found at Salal, and did nothing otherwise in the subsequent voyage to the region beyond. It is not impossible that Salal, the appellation of the island of the chasms, may be found upon minute philological scrutiny to betray either some alliance with the chasms themselves or some reference to the Ethiopian kingdom. characters so mysteriously written in their windings i have graven it within the hills and my vengeance upon the dust within the rock end of end note an end of the narrative of arthur gordon pym of nantucket by edgar allan poe