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 spoke13 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 lumber9 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 determined14, therefore, upon reflection, to ascend15, 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 tranquil16 nature, and he could not suppose that I had undergone any inconvenience from my incarceration17. He had just made up his mind on these points when his attention was arrested by an unusual bustle, the sound of which proceeded apparently18 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 deliberately20 searching his pockets, from which he presently drew forth21 a large wallet and a chronometer22. Seven of the crew (among whom was the cook, a negro) were rummaging23 the staterooms on the larboard for arms, where they soon equipped themselves with muskets24 and ammunition25. 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 villains26 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 standing27 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 grumbling29!” It was some minutes before any one appeared:— at last an Englishman, who had shipped as a raw hand, came up, weeping piteously, and entreating30 the mate, in the most humble31 manner, to spare his life. The only reply was a blow on the forehead from an axe28. The poor fellow fell to the deck without a groan32, 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 plunge33 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 diabolical34 villainy. All in the forecastle presently signified their intention of submitting, and, ascending35 one by one, were pinioned36 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 seamen37 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 bloody38 labour; for the four remaining prisoners, together with my friend, who had been thrown on the deck with the rest, were respited39 while the mate sent below for rum, and the whole murderous party held a drunken carouse40, which lasted until sunset. They now fell to disputing in regard to the fate of the survivors41, 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 softening42 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 demon43, 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 intoxication44 as to be easily restrained by the less bloodthirsty of the party, among whom was a line-manager, who went by the name of Dirk Peters. This man was the son of an Indian squaw of the tribe of Upsarokas, who live among the fastnesses of the Black Hills, near the source of the Missouri. His father was a fur-trader, I believe, or at least connected in some manner with the Indian trading-posts on Lewis river. Peter himself was one of the most ferocious45-looking men I ever beheld46. He was short in stature47, not more than four feet eight inches high, but his limbs were of Herculean mould. His hands, especially, were so enormously thick and broad as hardly to retain a human shape. His arms, as well as legs, were bowed in the most singular manner, and appeared to possess no flexibility48 whatever. His head was equally deformed49, being of immense size, with an indentation on the crown (like that on the head of most negroes), and entirely50 bald. To conceal51 this latter deficiency, which did not proceed from old age, he usually wore a wig52 formed of any hair-like material which presented itself — occasionally the skin of a Spanish dog or American grizzly53 bear. At the time spoken of, he had on a portion of one of these bearskins; and it added no little to the natural ferocity of his countenance54, which betook of the Upsaroka character. The mouth extended nearly from ear to ear, the lips were thin, and seemed, like some other portions of his frame, to be devoid55 of natural pliancy56, so that the ruling expression never varied57 under the influence of any emotion whatever. This ruling expression may be conceived when it is considered that the teeth were exceedingly long and protruding58, and never even partially59 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 shuddering60 acknowledgment, that if such an expression were indicative of merriment, the merriment must be that of a demon. Of this singular being many anecdotes61 were prevalent among the seafaring men of Nantucket. These anecdotes went to prove his prodigious62 strength when under excitement, and some of them had given rise to a doubt of his sanity63. But on board the Grampus, it seems, he was regarded, at the time of the mutiny, with feelings more of derision than of anything else. I have been thus particular in speaking of Dirk Peters, because, ferocious as he appeared, he proved the main instrument in preserving the life of Augustus, and because I shall have frequent occasion to mention him hereafter in the course of my narrative64 — a narrative, let me here say, which, in its latter portions, will be found to include incidents of a nature so entirely out of the range of human experience, and for this reason so far beyond the limits of human credulity, that I proceed in utter hopelessness of obtaining credence65 for all that I shall tell, yet confidently trusting in time and progressing science to verify some of the most important and most improbable of my statements.
After much indecision and two or three violent quarrels, it was determined at last that all the prisoners (with the exception of Augustus, whom Peters insisted in a jocular manner upon keeping as his clerk) should be set adrift in one of the smallest whaleboats. The mate went down into the cabin to see if Captain Barnard was still living — for, it will be remembered, he was left below when the mutineers came up. Presently the two made their appearance, the captain pale as death, but somewhat recovered from the effects of his wound. He spoke to the men in a voice hardly articulate, entreated66 them not to set him adrift, but to return to their duty, and promising67 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 hurled68 him over the brig’s side into the boat, which had been lowered while the mate went below. The four men who were lying on the deck were then untied69 and ordered to follow, which they did without attempting any resistance — Augustus being still left in his painful position, although he struggled and prayed only for the poor satisfaction of being permitted to bid his father farewell. A handful of sea-biscuit and a jug70 of water were now handed down; but neither mast, sail, oar2, nor compass. The boat was towed astern for a few minutes, during which the mutineers held another consultation71 — it was then finally cut adrift. By this time night had come on — there were neither moon nor stars visible — and a short and ugly sea was running, although there was no great deal of wind. The boat was instantly out of sight, and little hope could be entertained for the unfortunate sufferers who were in it. This event happened, however, in latitude72 35 degrees 30’ north, longitude73 61 degrees 20’ west, and consequently at no very great distance from the Bermuda Islands. Augustus therefore endeavored to console himself with the idea that the boat might either succeed in reaching the land, or come sufficiently74 near to be fallen in with by vessels75 off the coast.
All sail was now put upon the brig, and she continued her original course to the southwest — the mutineers being bent76 upon some piratical expedition, in which, from all that could be understood, a ship was to be intercepted77 on her way from the Cape4 Verd Islands to Porto Rico. No attention was paid to Augustus, who was untied and suffered to go about anywhere forward of the cabin companion-way. Dirk Peters treated him with some degree of kindness, and on one occasion saved him from the brutality78 of the cook. His situation was still one of the most precarious79, as the men were continually intoxicated80, 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 distressing81 result of his condition; and, indeed, I had never reason to doubt the sincerity82 of his friendship. More than once he had resolved to acquaint the mutineers with the secret of my being on board, but was restrained from so doing, partly through recollection of the atrocities83 he had already beheld, and partly through a hope of being able soon to bring me relief. For the latter purpose he was constantly on the watch; but, in spite of the most constant vigilance, three days elapsed 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 eastward84, and all hands were called up to take in sail. During the confusion which ensued, he made his way below unobserved, and into the stateroom. What was his grief and horror in discovering that the latter had been rendered a place of deposit for a variety of sea-stores and ship-furniture, and that several fathoms85 of old chain-cable, which had been stowed away beneath the companion-ladder, had been dragged thence to make room for a chest, and were now lying immediately upon the trap! To remove it without discovery was impossible, and he returned on deck as quickly as he could. As be 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 bulwark86, when his life was again preserved through the interference of Dirk Peters. Augustus was now put in handcuffs (of which there were several pairs on board), and his feet lashed19 tightly together. He was then taken into the steerage, and thrown into a lower berth87 next to the forecastle bulkheads, with the assurance that he should never put his foot on deck again “until the brig was no longer a brig.” This was the expression of the cook, who threw him into the berth — it is hardly possible to say what precise meaning intended by the phrase. The whole affair, however, proved the ultimate means of my relief, as will presently appear.
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1
bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 | |
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oar
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| n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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4
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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5
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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ply
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| v.(搬运工等)等候顾客，弯曲 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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8
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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9
lumber
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| n.木材，木料；v.以破旧东西堆满；伐木；笨重移动 | |
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10
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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specified
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| adj.特定的 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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14
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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incarceration
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| n.监禁，禁闭；钳闭 | |
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18
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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chronometer
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| n.精密的计时器 | |
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23
rummaging
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| 翻找，搜寻( rummage的现在分词 )； 海关检查 | |
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24
muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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25
ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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26
villains
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| n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼 | |
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27
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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29
grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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30
entreating
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的现在分词 ) | |
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31
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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32
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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33
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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diabolical
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| adj.恶魔似的，凶暴的 | |
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ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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pinioned
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| v.抓住[捆住]（双臂）( pinion的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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respited
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| v.延期（respite的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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40
carouse
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| v.狂欢；痛饮；n.狂饮的宴会 | |
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41
survivors
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| 幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
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42
softening
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| 变软，软化 | |
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43
demon
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| n.魔鬼，恶魔 | |
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44
intoxication
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| n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning | |
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45
ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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46
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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47
stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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48
flexibility
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| n.柔韧性，弹性，（光的）折射性，灵活性 | |
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49
deformed
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| adj.畸形的；变形的；丑的，破相了的 | |
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50
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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51
conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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52
wig
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| n.假发 | |
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53
grizzly
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| adj.略为灰色的，呈灰色的；n.灰色大熊 | |
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54
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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55
devoid
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| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
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56
pliancy
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| n.柔软，柔顺 | |
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57
varied
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| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
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58
protruding
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
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59
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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60
shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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61
anecdotes
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| n.掌故，趣闻，轶事( anecdote的名词复数 ) | |
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62
prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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63
sanity
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| n.心智健全，神智正常，判断正确 | |
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64
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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credence
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| n.信用，祭器台，供桌，凭证 | |
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66
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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68
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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untied
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| 松开，解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 )； 解除，使自由； 解决 | |
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70
jug
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| n.(有柄，小口，可盛水等的)大壶，罐，盂 | |
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71
consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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72
latitude
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| n.纬度，行动或言论的自由(范围)，(pl.)地区 | |
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longitude
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| n.经线，经度 | |
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74
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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76
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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77
intercepted
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| 拦截( intercept的过去式和过去分词 )； 截住； 截击； 拦阻 | |
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78
brutality
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| n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮 | |
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79
precarious
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| adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的 | |
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80
intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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81
distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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82
sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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83
atrocities
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| n.邪恶，暴行( atrocity的名词复数 )；滔天大罪 | |
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84
eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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85
fathoms
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| 英寻( fathom的名词复数 ) | |
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86
bulwark
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| n.堡垒，保障，防御 | |
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87
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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