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to be the 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 ringbolt； 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 be 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 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 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 Ariel； nor of the matters
in connexion 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 of 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
Nantucket。 Both Augustus and myself managed to appear at Mr。
Barnard's in time for breakfast… which； luckily； was somewhat late；
owing to the party over night。 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 Ariel； my companion； or myself。 We two
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 Text of Chapter 1 ~~~
CHAPTER 2
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 one half of which I now suspect to have been sheer fabrications）
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； when he depicted his more terrible moments of suffering and
despair。 For the bright side of the painting I had a 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 they
amounted to 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 fulfil。 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 eighteen months after the period of the Ariel's disaster；
the firm of Lloyd and Vredenburgh （a house connected in some manner
with the Messieurs 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 when all was done to her that
could be done。 I hardly know why she was chosen in preference to
other good vessels belonging to the same owners but so it was。 Mr。
Barnard was appointed to command her； 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； vo