按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
he discovered me to be on board。 Besides； upon thinking the matter
over； Augustus； so he told me； could not imagine that I was in
immediate want； or that I would hesitate； in such case； to make
myself heard at the trap。 When； therefore； he considered everything
he concluded to let me stay until he could meet with an opportunity
of visiting me unobserved。 This； as I said before； did not occur
until the fourth day after his bringing me the watch； and the seventh
since I had first entered the hold。 He then went down without taking
with him any water or provisions； intending in the first place merely
to call my attention； and get me to come from the box to the trap；…
when he would go up to the stateroom and thence hand me down a sup。
ply。 When he descended for this purpose he found that I was asleep；
for it seems that I was snoring very loudly。 From all the
calculations I can make on the subject； this must have been the
slumber into which I fell just after my return from the trap with the
watch； and which； consequently； must have lasted for more than three
entire days and nights at the very least。 Latterly； I have had reason
both from my own experience and the assurance of others； to be
acquainted with the strong soporific effects of the stench arising
from old fish…oil when closely confined； and when I think of the
condition of the hold in which I was imprisoned； and the long period
during which the brig had been used as a whaling vessel； I am more
inclined to wonder that I awoke at all； after once falling asleep；
than that I should have slept uninterruptedly for the period
specified above。
Augustus called to me at first in a low voice and without
closing the trap… but I made him no reply。 He then shut the trap； and
spoke to me in a louder； and finally in a very loud tone… still I
continued to snore。 He was now at a loss what to do。 It would take
him some time to make his way through the lumber to my box； and in
the meanwhile his absence would be noticed by Captain Barnard； who
had occasion for his services every minute； in arranging and copying
papers connected with the business of the voyage。 He determined；
therefore； upon reflection； to ascend； and await another opportunity
of visiting me。 He was the more easily induced to this resolve； as my
slumber appeared to be of the most tranquil nature； and he could not
suppose that I had undergone any inconvenience from my incarceration。
He had just made up his mind on these points when his attention was
arrested by an unusual bustle； the sound of which proceeded
apparently from the cabin。 He sprang through the trap as quickly as
possible； closed it； and threw open the door of his stateroom。 No
sooner had he put his foot over the threshold than a pistol flashed
in his face； and he was knocked down； at the same moment； by a blow
from a handspike。
A strong hand held him on the cabin floor； with a tight grasp
upon his throat； still he was able to see what was going on around
him。 His father was tied hand and foot； and lying along the steps of
the companion…way； with his head down； and a deep wound in the
forehead； from which the blood was flowing in a continued stream。 He
spoke not a word； and was apparently dying。 Over him stood the first
mate； eyeing him with an expression of fiendish derision； and
deliberately searching his pockets； from which he presently drew
forth a large wallet and a chronometer。 Seven of the crew （among whom
was the cook； a negro） were rummaging the staterooms on the larboard
for arms； where they soon equipped themselves with muskets and
ammunition。 Besides Augustus and Captain Barnard； there were nine men
altogether in the cabin； and these among the most ruffianly of the
brig's company。 The villains now went upon deck； taking my friend
with them after having secured his arms behind his back。 They
proceeded straight to the forecastle； which was fastened down… two of
the mutineers standing by it with axes… two also at the main hatch。
The mate called out in a loud voice： 〃Do you hear there below？ tumble
up with you； one by one… now； mark that… and no grumbling！〃 It was
some minutes before any one appeared：… at last an Englishman； who had
shipped as a raw hand； came up； weeping piteously； and entreating the
mate； in the most humble manner； to spare his life。 The only reply
was a blow on the forehead from an axe。 The poor fellow fell to the
deck without a groan； and the black cook lifted him up in his arms as
he would a child； and tossed him deliberately into the sea。 Hearing
the blow and the plunge of the body； the men below could now be
induced to venture on deck neither by threats nor promises； until a
proposition was made to smoke them out。 A general rush then ensued；
and for a moment it seemed possible that the brig might be retaken。
The mutineers； however； succeeded at last in closing the forecastle
effectually before more than six of their opponents could get up。
These six； finding themselves so greatly outnumbered and without
arms； submitted after a brief struggle。 The mate gave them fair
words… no doubt with a view of inducing those below to yield； for
they had no difficulty in hearing all that was said on deck。 The
result proved his sagacity； no less than his diabolical villainy。 All
in the forecastle presently signified their intention of submitting；
and； ascending one by one； were pinioned and then thrown on their
backs； together with the first six… there being in all； of the crew
who were not concerned in the mutiny； twenty…seven。
A scene of the most horrible butchery ensued。 The bound seamen
were dragged to the gangway。 Here the cook stood with an axe；
striking each victim on the head as he was forced over the side of
the vessel by the other mutineers。 In this manner twenty…two
perished； and Augustus had given himself up for lost； expecting every
moment his own turn to come next。 But it seemed that the villains
were now either weary； or in some measure disgusted with their bloody
labour； for the four remaining prisoners； together with my friend；
who had been thrown on the deck with the rest； were respited while
the mate sent below for rum； and the whole murderous party held a
drunken carouse； which lasted until sunset。 They now fell to
disputing in regard to the fate of the survivors； who lay not more
than four paces off； and could distinguish every word said。 Upon some
of the mutineers the liquor appeared to have a softening effect； for
several voices were heard in favor of releasing the captives
altogether； on condition of joining the mutiny and sharing the
profits。 The black cook； however （who in all respects was a perfect
demon； and who seemed to exert as much influence； if not more； than
the mate himself）； would listen to no proposition of the kind； and
rose repeatedly for the purpose of resuming his work at the gangway。
Fortunately he was so far overcome by intoxication as to be easily
restrained by the less bloodthirsty of the party； among whom was a
line…manager； who went by the name of Dirk Peters。 This man was the
son of an Indian squaw of the tribe of Upsarokas； who live among the
fastnesses of the Black Hills； near the