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！
thought； very quietly （it being near 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 a terrible oath that he would not go to sleep for any Arthur Pym
in Christendom； when there was so glorious a breeze from the
southwest。 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 Barnard in
Nantucket。
We lost no time in getting on our clothes and hurrying down to
the boat。 She was lying at the old decayed wharf by the lumber…yard
of Pankey & Co。； 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 sea _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；〃
said he 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… dddon'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 demeanour 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 paralyzed 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 to… Augustus having let go 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 bows； 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 greater 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 being 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 ringbolt in the deck of the cuddy。 Having thus arranged every
thing as well a