We there found everything safe, and, keeping close to the bulwarks2, the three of us crept to the cabin companion-way. It was only partially3 closed, precautions having been taken to prevent its being suddenly pushed to from without, by means of placing billets of wood on the upper step so as to interfere4 with the shutting. We found no difficulty in getting a full view of the interior of the cabin through the cracks where the hinges were placed. It now proved to have been very fortunate for us that we had not attempted to take them by surprise, for they were evidently on the alert. Only one was asleep, and he lying just at the foot of the companion-ladder, with a musket5 by his side. The rest were seated on several mattresses6, which had been taken from the berths9 and thrown on the floor. They were engaged in earnest conversation; and although they had been carousing10, as appeared from two empty jugs11, with some tin tumblers which lay about, they were not as much intoxicated12 as usual. All had knives, one or two of them pistols, and a great many muskets13 were lying in a berth8 close at hand.
We listened to their conversation for some time before we could make up our minds how to act, having as yet resolved on nothing determinate, except that we would attempt to paralyze their exertions14, when we should attack them, by means of the apparition15 of Rogers. They were discussing their piratical plans, in which all we could hear distinctly was, that they would unite with the crew of a schooner16 Hornet, and, if possible, get the schooner herself into their possession preparatory to some attempt on a large scale, the particulars of which could not be made out by either of us.
One of the men spoke17 of Peters, when the mate replied to him in a low voice which could not be distinguished18, and afterward19 added more loudly, that “he could not understand his being so much forward with the captain’s brat20 in the forecastle, and he thought the sooner both of them were overboard the better.” To this no answer was made, but we could easily perceive that the hint was well received by the whole party, and more particularly by Jones. At this period I was excessively agitated21, the more so as I could see that neither Augustus nor Peters could determine how to act. I made up my mind, however, to sell my life as dearly as possible, and not to suffer myself to be overcome by any feelings of trepidation22.
The tremendous noise made by the roaring of the wind in the rigging, and the washing of the sea over the deck, prevented us from hearing what was said, except during momentary23 lulls24. In one of these, we all distinctly heard the mate tell one of the men to “go forward, have an eye upon them, for he wanted no such secret doings on board the brig.” It was well for us that the pitching of the vessel25 at this moment was so violent as to prevent this order from being carried into instant execution. The cook got up from his mattress7 to go for us, when a tremendous lurch26, which I thought would carry away the masts, threw him headlong against one of the larboard stateroom doors, bursting it open, and creating a good deal of other confusion. Luckily, neither of our party was thrown from his position, and we had time to make a precipitate27 retreat to the forecastle, and arrange a hurried plan of action before the messenger made his appearance, or rather before he put his head out of the companion-hatch, for he did not come on deck. From this station he could not notice the absence of Allen, and he accordingly bawled28 out, as if to him, repeating the orders of the mate. Peters cried out, “Ay, ay,” in a disguised voice, and the cook immediately went below, without entertaining a suspicion that all was not right.
My two companions now proceeded boldly aft and down into the cabin, Peters closing the door after him in the same manner he had found it. The mate received them with feigned29 cordiality, and told Augustus that, since he had behaved himself so well of late, he might take up his quarters in the cabin and be one of them for the future. He then poured him out a tumbler half full of rum, and made him drink it. All this I saw and heard, for I followed my friends to the cabin as soon as the door was shut, and took up my old point of observation. I had brought with me the two pump-handles, one of which I secured near the companion-way, to be ready for use when required.
I now steadied myself as well as possible so as to have a good view of all that was passing within, and endeavoured to nerve myself to the task of descending30 among the mutineers when Peters should make a signal to me, as agreed upon. Presently he contrived31 to turn the conversation upon the bloody32 deeds of the mutiny, and by degrees led the men to talk of the thousand superstitions33 which are so universally current among seamen34. I could not make out all that was said, but I could plainly see the effects of the conversation in the countenances35 of those present. The mate was evidently much agitated, and presently, when some one mentioned the terrific appearance of Rogers’ corpse36, I thought he was upon the point of swooning. Peters now asked him if he did not think it would be better to have the body thrown overboard at once as it was too horrible a sight to see it floundering about in the scuppers. At this the villain37 absolutely gasped38 for breath, and turned his head slowly round upon his companions, as if imploring39 some one to go up and perform the task. No one, however, stirred, and it was quite evident that the whole party were wound up to the highest pitch of nervous excitement. Peters now made me the signal. I immediately threw open the door of the companion-way, and, descending, without uttering a syllable40, stood erect41 in the midst of the party.
The intense effect produced by this sudden apparition is not at all to be wondered at when the various circumstances are taken into consideration. Usually, in cases of a similar nature, there is left in the mind of the spectator some glimmering42 of doubt as to the reality of the vision before his eyes; a degree of hope, however feeble, that he is the victim of chicanery43, and that the apparition is not actually a visitant from the old world of shadows. It is not too much to say that such remnants of doubt have been at the bottom of almost every such visitation, and that the appalling44 horror which has sometimes been brought about, is to be attributed, even in the cases most in point, and where most suffering has been experienced, more to a kind of anticipative horror, lest the apparition might possibly be real, than to an unwavering belief in its reality. But, in the present instance, it will be seen immediately, that in the minds of the mutineers there was not even the shadow of a basis upon which to rest a doubt that the apparition of Rogers was indeed a revivification of his disgusting corpse, or at least its spiritual image. The isolated45 situation of the brig, with its entire inaccessibility46 on account of the gale47, confined the apparently48 possible means of deception49 within such narrow and definite limits, that they must have thought themselves enabled to survey them all at a glance. They had now been at sea twenty-four days, without holding more than a speaking communication with any vessel whatever. The whole of the crew, too — at least all whom they had the most remote reason for suspecting to be on board — were assembled in the cabin, with the exception of Allen, the watch; and his gigantic stature50 (be was six feet six inches high) was too familiar in their eyes to permit the notion that he was the apparition before them to enter their minds even for an instant. Add to these considerations the awe-inspiring nature of the tempest, and that of the conversation brought about by Peters; the deep impression which the loathsomeness51 of the actual corpse had made in the morning upon the imaginations of the men; the excellence52 of the imitation in my person, and the uncertain and wavering light in which they beheld53 me, as the glare of the cabin lantern, swinging violently to and fro, fell dubiously54 and fitfully upon my figure, and there will be no reason to wonder that the deception had even more than the entire effect which we had anticipated. The mate sprang up from the mattress on which he was lying, and, without uttering a syllable, fell back, stone dead, upon the cabin floor, and was hurled55 to the leeward56 like a log by a heavy roll of the brig. Of the remaining seven, there were but three who had at first any degree of presence of mind. The four others sat for some time rooted apparently to the floor, the most pitiable objects of horror and utter despair my eyes ever encountered. The only opposition57 we experienced at all was from the cook, John Hunt, and Richard Parker; but they made but a feeble and irresolute58 defence. The two former were shot instantly by Peters, and I felled Parker with a blow on the head from the pump-handle which I had brought with me. In the meantime, Augustus seized one of the muskets lying on the floor now but three remaining; but by this time they had become aroused from their lethargy, and perhaps began to see that a deception had been practised upon them, for they fought with great resolution and fury, and, but for the immense muscular strength of Peters, might have the floor, stabbed him in several places along the right arm, and would no doubt have soon dispatched him (as neither Peters nor myself could immediately get rid of our own antagonists) had it not been for the timely aid of a friend, upon whose assistance we, surely, had never depended. This friend was no other than Tiger. With a low growl59, he bounded into the cabin, at a most critical moment for Augustus, and throwing himself upon Jones, pinned him to the floor in an instant. My friend, however, was now too much injured to render us any aid whatever, and I was so encumbered60 with my disguise that I could do but little. The dog would not leave his hold upon the throat of Jones — Peters, nevertheless, was far more than a match for the two men who remained, and would, no doubt, have dispatched them sooner, had it not been for the narrow space in which he had to act, and the tremendous lurches of the vessel. Presently he was enabled to get hold of a heavy stool, several of which lay about the floor. With this he beat out the brains of Greely as he was in the act of discharging a musket at me, and immediately afterward a roll of the brig throwing him in contact with Hicks, he seized him by the throat, and, by dint61 of sheer strength, strangled him instantaneously. Thus, in far less time than I have taken to tell it, we found ourselves masters of the brig.
The only person of our opponents who was left alive was Richard Parker. This man, it will be remembered, I had knocked down with a blow from the pump-handle at the commencement of the attack. He now lay motionless by the door of the shattered stateroom; but, upon Peters touching62 him with his foot, he spoke, and entreated63 for mercy. His head was only slightly cut, and otherwise he had received no injury, having been merely stunned64 by the blow. He now got up, and, for the present, we secured his hands behind his back. The dog was still growling65 over Jones; but, upon examination, we found him completely dead, the blood issuing in a stream from a deep wound in the throat, inflicted66, no doubt, by the sharp teeth of the animal.
It was now about one o’clock in the morning, and the wind was still blowing tremendously. The brig evidently laboured much more than usual, and it became absolutely necessary that something should be done with a view of easing her in some measure. At almost every roll to leeward she shipped a sea, several of which came partially down into the cabin during our scuffle, the hatchway having been left open by myself when I descended67. The entire range of bulwarks to larboard had been swept away, as well as the caboose, together with the jollyboat from the counter. The creaking and working of the mainmast, too, gave indication that it was nearly sprung. To make room for more stowage in the afterhold, the heel of this mast had been stepped between decks (a very reprehensible68 practice, occasionally resorted to by ignorant ship-builders), so that it was in imminent69 danger of working from its step. But, to crown all our difficulties, we plummed the well, and found no less than seven feet of water.
Leaving the bodies of the crew lying in the cabin, we got to work immediately at the pumps — Parker, of course, being set at liberty to assist us in the labour. Augustus’s arm was bound up as well as we could effect it, and he did what he could, but that was not much. However, we found that we could just manage to keep the leak from gaining upon us by having one pump constantly going. As there were only four of us, this was severe labour; but we endeavoured to keep up our spirits, and looked anxiously for daybreak, when we hoped to lighten the brig by cutting away the mainmast.
In this manner we passed a night of terrible anxiety and fatigue70, and, when the day at length broke, the gale had neither abated71 in the least, nor were there any signs of its abating72. We now dragged the bodies on deck and threw them overboard. Our next care was to get rid of the mainmast. The necessary preparations having been made, Peters cut away at the mast (having found axes in the cabin), while the rest of us stood by the stays and lanyards. As the brig gave a tremendous lee-lurch, the word was given to cut away the weather-lanyards, which being done, the whole mass of wood and rigging plunged73 into the sea, clear of the brig, and without doing any material injury. We now found that the vessel did not labour quite as much as before, but our situation was still exceedingly precarious74, and in spite of the utmost exertions, we could not gain upon the leak without the aid of both pumps. The little assistance which Augustus could render us was not really of any importance. To add to our distress75, a heavy sea, striking the brig to the windward, threw her off several points from the wind, and, before she could regain76 her position, another broke completely over her, and hurled her full upon her beam-ends. The ballast now shifted in a mass to leeward (the stowage had been knocking about perfectly77 at random78 for some time), and for a few moments we thought nothing could save us from capsizing. Presently, however, we partially righted; but the ballast still retaining its place to larboard, we lay so much along that it was useless to think of working the pumps, which indeed we could not have done much longer in any case, as our hands were entirely79 raw with the excessive labour we had undergone, and were bleeding in the most horrible manner.
Contrary to Parker’s advice, we now proceeded to cut away the foremast, and at length accomplished80 it after much difficulty, owing to the position in which we lay. In going overboard the wreck81 took with it the bowsprit, and left us a complete hulk.
So far we had had reason to rejoice in the escape of our longboat, which had received no damage from any of the huge seas which had come on board. But we had not long to congratulate ourselves; for the foremast having gone, and, of course, the foresail with it, by which the brig had been steadied, every sea now made a complete breach82 over us, and in five minutes our deck was swept from stern to stern, the longboat and starboard bulwarks torn off, and even the windlass shattered into fragments. It was, indeed, hardly possible for us to be in a more pitiable condition.
At noon there seemed to be some slight appearance of the gale’s abating, but in this we were sadly disappointed, for it only lulled83 for a few minutes to blow with redoubled fury. About four in the afternoon it was utterly84 impossible to stand up against the violence of the blast; and, as the night closed in upon us, I had not a shadow of hope that the vessel would hold together until morning.
By midnight we had settled very deep in the water, which was now up to the orlop deck. The rudder went soon afterward, the sea which tore it away lifting the after portion of the brig entirely from the water, against which she thumped85 in her descent with such a concussion86 as would be occasioned by going ashore87. We had all calculated that the rudder would hold its own to the last, as it was unusually strong, being rigged as I have never seen one rigged either before or since. Down its main timber there ran a succession of stout88 iron hooks, and others in the same manner down the stern-post. Through these hooks there extended a very thick wrought-iron rod, the rudder being thus held to the stern-post and swinging freely on the rod. The tremendous force of the sea which tore it off may be estimated by the fact, that the hooks in the stern-post, which ran entirely through it, being clinched89 on the inside, were drawn90 every one of them completely out of the solid wood.
We had scarcely time to draw breath after the violence of this shock, when one of the most tremendous waves I had then ever known broke right on board of us, sweeping91 the companion-way clear off, bursting in the hatchways, and firing every inch of the vessel with water.
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1
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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bulwarks
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| n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 )；保障；支柱；舷墙 | |
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partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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musket
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| n.滑膛枪 | |
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mattresses
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| 褥垫，床垫( mattress的名词复数 ) | |
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mattress
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| n.床垫，床褥 | |
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berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 | |
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berths
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| n.（船、列车等的）卧铺( berth的名词复数 )；（船舶的）停泊位或锚位；差事；船台vt.v.停泊( berth的第三人称单数 )；占铺位 | |
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10
carousing
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| v.痛饮，闹饮欢宴( carouse的现在分词 ) | |
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jugs
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| （有柄及小口的）水壶( jug的名词复数 ) | |
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12
intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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14
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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15
apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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schooner
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| n.纵帆船 | |
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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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18
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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brat
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| n.孩子；顽童 | |
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agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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trepidation
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| n.惊恐，惶恐 | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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lulls
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| n.间歇期（lull的复数形式）vt.使镇静，使安静（lull的第三人称单数形式） | |
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25
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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lurch
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| n.突然向前或旁边倒；v.蹒跚而行 | |
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precipitate
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| adj.突如其来的；vt.使突然发生；n.沉淀物 | |
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28
bawled
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的过去式和过去分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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feigned
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| a.假装的，不真诚的 | |
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descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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31
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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32
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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superstitions
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| 迷信，迷信行为( superstition的名词复数 ) | |
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seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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countenances
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| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
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corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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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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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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39
imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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40
syllable
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| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
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41
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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42
glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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43
chicanery
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| n.欺诈，欺骗 | |
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44
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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45
isolated
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| adj.与世隔绝的 | |
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46
inaccessibility
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| n. 难接近, 难达到, 难达成 | |
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47
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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48
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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49
deception
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| n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计 | |
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50
stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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51
loathsomeness
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52
excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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53
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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54
dubiously
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| adv.可疑地，怀疑地 | |
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55
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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56
leeward
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| adj.背风的；下风的 | |
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57
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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58
irresolute
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| adj.无决断的，优柔寡断的，踌躇不定的 | |
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59
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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60
encumbered
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| v.妨碍，阻碍，拖累( encumber的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
dint
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| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
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62
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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63
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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64
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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65
growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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66
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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67
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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68
reprehensible
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| adj.该受责备的 | |
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69
imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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70
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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71
abated
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| 减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼） | |
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72
abating
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| 减少( abate的现在分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼） | |
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73
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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74
precarious
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| adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的 | |
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75
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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76
regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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77
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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79
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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80
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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81
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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82
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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83
lulled
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| vt.使镇静，使安静（lull的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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84
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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85
thumped
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| v.重击， （指心脏）急速跳动( thump的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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86
concussion
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| n.脑震荡；震动 | |
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87
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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89
clinched
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| v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的过去式和过去分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议） | |
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90
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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