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 secure, when another squall took the vessel, and immediately afterward16 another — no damage being done. There was every appearance of a gale17 of wind, which, indeed, shortly came on, with great fury, from the northward18 and westward19. All was made as snug20 as possible, and we laid-to, as usual, under a close-reefed foresail. As night drew on, the wind increased in violence, with a remarkably21 heavy sea. Peters now came into the forecastle with Augustus, and we resumed our deliberations.
We agreed that no opportunity could be more favourable than the present for carrying our designs into effect, as an attempt at such a moment would never be anticipated. As the brig was snugly22 laid-to, there would be no necessity of manoeuvring her until good weather, when, if we succeeded in our attempt, we might liberate23 one, or perhaps two of the men, to aid us in 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 concealed24 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 axe25 or a handspike 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 odds26 were too much against us to allow of our proceeding27 without the greatest caution.
Peters proposed that he should go up on deck, and enter into conversation with the watch (Allen), when he would be able to throw him into the sea without trouble, and without making any disturbance28, by seizing a good opportunity, that Augustus and myself should then come up, and endeavour 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 opposition29 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 superstitious30 prejudices) would suffer himself to be so easily entrapped31. The very fact of there being a watch on deck at all was sufficient proof that he was upon the alert, — it not being usual except in vessels32 where discipline is most rigidly33 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 sea, 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 effected in various manners. In moderate weather it is frequently done with a view of merely bringing the vessel to a stand-still, to wait for another vessel or any similar object. If the vessel which lies-to is under full sail, the manoeuvre34 is usually accomplished by throwing round some portion of her sails, so as to let the wind take them aback, when she becomes stationary35. 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 scud36 before the wind in a very heavy sea, much damage is usually done her by the shipping37 of water over her stern, and sometimes by the violent plunges38 she makes forward. This manoeuvre, 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 scudding40. Often, too, it becomes necessary to scud 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 modelling of the frame or other causes, this main object cannot be effected.
Vessels in a gale of wind are laid-to in different manners, according to their peculiar41 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-staysails. 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. Foretopsails 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 bows 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 requisite42 on the part of the crew. The helm is usually lashed43 down, but this is altogether unnecessary (except on account of the noise it makes when loose), for the rudder has no effect upon the vessel when lying-to. 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 feat44 which it requires a perfect hurricane to accomplish under ordinary circumstances), there is then imminent45 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 handspikes, fully46 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 contrive47 to remove, under any pretext48, 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 pre. vailed 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 determined49 to act accordingly.
Rogers had died about eleven in the forenoon, in violent convulsions; and the corpse50 presented in a few minutes after death one of the most horrid51 and loathsome52 spectacles I ever remember to have seen. The stomach was swollen53 immensely, like that of a man who has been drowned and lain under water for many weeks. The hands were in the same condition, while the face was shrunken, shrivelled, and of a chalky whiteness, except where relieved by two or three glaring red blotches54 like those occasioned by the erysipelas: one of these blotches extended diagonally across the face, completely covering up an eye as if with a band of red velvet55. 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 remorse56 for his crime or struck with terror at so horrible a sight, ordered the men to sew the body up in its hammock, and allow it the usual rites57 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 still 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 deck, and, as he had anticipated, was immediately accosted58 by Allen, who appeared to be stationed more as a watch upon the forecastle than for any other purpose. The fate of this villain59, however, was speedily and silently decided60; 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 bulwarks61. 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 plunge39 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 deck, where he took his station just where Allen had been placed, and with his back to the cabin companionway, so that, if any of the mates 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 and character, and easily recognizable — a kind of smock, which the deceased wore over his other clothing. It was a blue stockinett, with large white stripes running across. Having put this on, I proceeded to equip myself with a false stomach, in imitation of the horrible deformity of the swollen corpse. This was soon effected by means of stuffing with some bedclothes. I then gave the same appearance to my hands by drawing on a pair of white woollen mittens62, 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 streak63 across the eye was not forgotten and presented a most shocking appearance.
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1
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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2
hazy
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| adj.有薄雾的，朦胧的；不肯定的，模糊的 | |
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3
eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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4
spasms
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| n.痉挛( spasm的名词复数 )；抽搐；（能量、行为等的）突发；发作 | |
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5
deterred
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| v.阻止，制止( deter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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6
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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7
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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8
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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9
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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10
hybrid
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| n.(动，植）杂种，混合物 | |
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11
frustrated
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| adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧 | |
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12
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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13
acquitted
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| 宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现 | |
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14
insanity
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| n.疯狂，精神错乱；极端的愚蠢，荒唐 | |
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15
avowed
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| adj.公开声明的，承认的v.公开声明，承认( avow的过去式和过去分词) | |
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16
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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18
northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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19
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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20
snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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21
remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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snugly
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| adv.紧贴地；贴身地；暖和舒适地；安适地 | |
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23
liberate
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| v.解放，使获得自由，释出，放出；vt.解放，使获自由 | |
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24
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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25
axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
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26
odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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28
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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31
entrapped
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| v.使陷入圈套，使入陷阱( entrap的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
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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33
rigidly
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| adv.刻板地，僵化地 | |
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34
manoeuvre
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| n.策略，调动；v.用策略，调动 | |
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35
stationary
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| adj.固定的，静止不动的 | |
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36
scud
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| n.疾行；v.疾行 | |
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37
shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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38
plunges
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| n.跳进，投入vt.使投入，使插入，使陷入vi.投入，跳进，陷入v.颠簸( plunge的第三人称单数 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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39
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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40
scudding
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| n.刮面v.（尤指船、舰或云彩）笔直、高速而平稳地移动( scud的现在分词 ) | |
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41
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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42
requisite
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| adj.需要的，必不可少的；n.必需品 | |
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43
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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44
feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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45
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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46
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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47
contrive
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| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
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48
pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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49
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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50
corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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51
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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52
loathsome
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| adj.讨厌的，令人厌恶的 | |
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53
swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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54
blotches
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| n.（皮肤上的）红斑，疹块( blotch的名词复数 )；大滴 [大片]（墨水或颜色的）污渍 | |
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55
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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56
remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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57
rites
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| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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58
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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59
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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60
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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61
bulwarks
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| n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 )；保障；支柱；舷墙 | |
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62
mittens
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| 不分指手套 | |
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63
streak
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| n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动 | |
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