It was now a dead calm, with the sea as smooth as I have ever known it, — the weather warm and pleasant. The brig was out of sight. We commenced our operations by wrenching5 off, with some trouble, another of the forechains; and having fastened both to Peters’ feet, he again made an endeavour to reach the door of the storeroom, thinking it possible that he might be able to force it open, provided he could get at it in sufficient time; and this he hoped to do, as the hulk lay much more steadily6 than before.
He succeeded very quickly in reaching the door, when, loosening one of the chains from his ankle, be made every exertion7 to force the passage with it, but in vain, the framework of the room being far stronger than was anticipated. He was quite exhausted8 with his long stay under water, and it became absolutely necessary that some other one of us should take his place. For this service Parker immediately volunteered; but, after making three ineffectual efforts, found that he could never even succeed in getting near the door. The condition of Augustus’s wounded arm rendered it useless for him to attempt going down, as he would be unable to force the room open should be reach it, and it accordingly now devolved upon me to exert myself for our common deliverance.
Peters had left one of the chains in the passage, and I found, upon plunging9 in, that I had not sufficient balance to keep me firmly down. I determined10, therefore, to attempt no more, in my first effort, than merely to recover the other chain. In groping along the floor of the passage for this, I felt a hard substance, which I immediately grasped, not having time to ascertain11 what it was, but returning and ascending12 instantly to the surface. The prize proved to be a bottle, and our joy may be conceived when I say that it was found to be full of port wine. Giving thanks to God for this timely and cheering assistance, we immediately drew the cork13 with my penknife, and, each taking a moderate sup, felt the most indescribable comfort from the warmth, strength, and spirits with which it inspired us. We then carefully recorked the bottle, and, by means of a handkerchief, swung it in such a manner that there was no possibility of its getting broken.
Having rested a while after this fortunate discovery, I again descended15, and now recovered the chain, with which I instantly came up. I then fastened it on and went down for the third time, when I became fully14 satisfied that no exertions16 whatever, in that situation, would enable me to force open the door of the storeroom. I therefore returned in despair.
There seemed now to be no longer any room for hope, and I could perceive in the countenances18 of my companions that they had made up their minds to perish. The wine had evidently produced in them a species of delirium19, which, perhaps, I had been prevented from feeling by the immersion20 I had undergone since drinking it. They talked incoherently, and about matters unconnected with our condition, Peters repeatedly asking me questions about Nantucket. Augustus, too, I remember, approached me with a serious air, and requested me to lend him a pocket-comb, as his hair was full of fish-scales, and he wished to get them out before going on shore. Parker appeared somewhat less affected21, and urged me to dive at random22 into the cabin, and bring up any article which might come to hand. To this I consented, and, in the first attempt, after staying under a full minute, brought up a small leather trunk belonging to Captain Barnard. This was immediately opened in the faint hope that it might contain something to eat or drink. We found nothing, however, except a box of razors and two linen23 shirts. I now went down again, and returned without any success. As my head came above water I heard a crash on deck, and, upon getting up, saw that my companions had ungratefully taken advantage of my absence to drink the remainder of the wine, having let the bottle fall in the endeavour to replace it before I saw them. I remonstrated24 with them on the heartlessness of their conduct, when Augustus burst into tears. The other two endeavoured to laugh the matter off as a joke, but I hope never again to behold25 laughter of such a species: the distortion of countenance17 was absolutely frightful26. Indeed, it was apparent that the stimulus27, in the empty state of their stomachs, had taken instant and violent effect, and that they were all exceedingly intoxicated28. With great difficulty I prevailed upon them to lie down, when they fell very soon into a heavy slumber29, accompanied with loud stertorous30 breathing. I now found myself, as it were, alone in the brig, and my reflections, to be sure, were of the most fearful and gloomy nature. No prospect31 offered itself to my view but a lingering death by famine, or, at the best, by being overwhelmed in the first gale32 which should spring up, for in our present exhausted condition we could have no hope of living through another.
The gnawing33 hunger which I now experienced was nearly insupportable, and I felt myself capable of going to any lengths in order to appease34 it. With my knife I cut off a small portion of the leather trunk, and endeavoured to eat it, but found it utterly35 impossible to swallow a single morsel36, although I fancied that some little alleviation37 of my suffering was obtained by chewing small pieces of it and spitting them out. Toward night my companions awoke, one by one, each in an indescribable state of weakness and horror, brought on by the wine, whose fumes38 had now evaporated. They shook as if with a violent ague, and uttered the most lamentable39 cries for water. Their condition affected me in the most lively degree, at the same time causing me to rejoice in the fortunate train of circumstances which had prevented me from indulging in the wine, and consequently from sharing their melancholy40 and most distressing41 sensations. Their conduct, however, gave me great uneasiness and alarm; for it was evident that, unless some favourable43 change took place, they could afford me no assistance in providing for our common safety. I had not yet abandoned all idea being able to get up something from below; but the attempt could not possibly be resumed until some one of them was sufficiently44 master of himself to aid me by holding the end of the rope while I went down. Parker appeared to be somewhat more in possession of his senses than the others, and I endeavoured, by every means in my power, to rouse him. Thinking that a plunge45 in the sea-water might have a beneficial effect, I contrived46 to fasten the end of a rope around his body, and then, leading him to the companion-way (he remaining quite passive all the while), pushed him in, and immediately drew him out. I had good reason to congratulate myself upon having made this experiment; for he appeared much revived and invigorated, and, upon getting out, asked me, in a rational manner, why I had so served him. Having explained my object, he expressed himself indebted to me, and said that he felt greatly better from the immersion, afterward47 conversing48 sensibly upon our situation. We then resolved to treat Augustus and Peters in the same way, which we immediately did, when they both experienced much benefit from the shock. This idea of sudden immersion had been suggested to me by reading in some medical work the good effect of the shower-bath in a case where the patient was suffering from mania49 a potu.
Finding that I could now trust my companions to hold the end of the rope, I again made three or four plunges50 into the cabin, although it was now quite dark, and a gentle but long swell51 from the northward52 rendered the hulk somewhat unsteady. In the course of these attempts I succeeded in bringing up two case-knives, a three-gallon jug53, empty, and a blanket, but nothing which could serve us for food. I continued my efforts, after getting these articles, until I was completely exhausted, but brought up nothing else. During the night Parker and Peters occupied themselves by turns in the same manner; but nothing coming to hand, we now gave up this attempt in despair, concluding that we were exhausting ourselves in vain.
We passed the remainder of this night in a state of the most intense mental and bodily anguish54 that can possibly be imagined. The morning of the sixteenth at length dawned, and we looked eagerly around the horizon for relief, but to no purpose. The sea was still smooth, with only a long swell from the northward, as on yesterday. This was the sixth day since we had tasted either food or drink, with the exception of the bottle of port wine, and it was clear that we could hold out but a very little while longer unless something could be obtained. I never saw before, nor wish to see again, human beings so utterly emaciated55 as Peters and Augustus. Had I met them on shore in their present condition I should not have had the slightest suspicion that I had ever beheld56 them. Their countenances were totally changed in character, so that I could not bring myself to believe them really the same individuals with whom I had been in company but a few days before. Parker, although sadly reduced, and so feeble that he could not raise his head from his bosom57, was not so far gone as the other two. He suffered with great patience, making no complaint, and endeavouring to inspire us with hope in every manner he could devise. For myself, although at the commencement of the voyage I had been in bad health, and was at all times of a delicate constitution, I suffered less than any of us, being much less reduced in frame, and retaining my powers of mind in a surprising degree, while the rest were completely prostrated58 in intellect, and seemed to be brought to a species of second childhood, generally simpering in their expressions, with idiotic59 smiles, and uttering the most absurd platitudes60. At intervals61, however, they would appear to revive suddenly, as if inspired all at once with a consciousness of their condition, when they would spring upon their feet in a momentary62 flash of vigour63, and speak, for a short period, of their prospects64, in a manner altogether rational, although full of the most intense despair. It is possible, however, that my companions may have entertained the same opinion of their own condition as I did of mine, and that I may have unwittingly been guilty of the same extravagances and imbecilities as themselves — this is a matter which cannot be determined.
About noon Parker declared that he saw land off the larboard quarter, and it was with the utmost difficulty I could restrain him from plunging into the sea with the view of swimming toward it. Peters and Augustus took little notice of what he said, being apparently65 wrapped up in moody66 contemplation. Upon looking in the direction pointed67 out, I could not perceive the faintest appearance of the shore — indeed, I was too well aware that we were far from any land to indulge in a hope of that nature. It was a long time, nevertheless, before I could convince Parker of his mistake. He then burst into a flood of tears, weeping like a child, with loud cries and sobs68, for two or three hours, when becoming exhausted, he fell asleep.
Peters and Augustus now made several ineffectual efforts to swallow portions of the leather. I advised them to chew it and spit it out; but they were too excessively debilitated69 to be able to follow my advice. I continued to chew pieces of it at intervals, and found some relief from so doing; my chief distress42 was for water, and I was only prevented from taking a draught70 from the sea by remembering the horrible consequences which thus have resulted to others who were similarly situated71 with ourselves.
The day wore on in this manner, when I suddenly discovered a sail to the eastward72, and on our larboard bow. She appeared to be a large ship, and was coming nearly athwart us, being probably twelve or fifteen miles distant. None of my companions had as yet discovered her, and I forbore to tell them of her for the present, lest we might again be disappointed of relief. At length upon her getting nearer, I saw distinctly that she was heading immediately for us, with her light sails filled. I could now contain myself no longer, and pointed her out to my fellow-sufferers. They immediately sprang to their feet, again indulging in the most extravagant73 demonstrations74 of joy, weeping, laughing in an idiotic manner, jumping, stamping upon the deck, tearing their hair, and praying and cursing by turns. I was so affected by their conduct, as well as by what I considered a sure prospect of deliverance, that I could not refrain from joining in with their madness, and gave way to the impulses of my gratitude75 and ecstasy76 by lying and rolling on the deck, clapping my hands, shouting, and other similar acts, until I was suddenly called to my recollection, and once more to the extreme human misery77 and despair, by perceiving the ship all at once with her stern fully presented toward us, and steering78 in a direction nearly opposite to that in which I had at first perceived her.
It was some time before I could induce my poor companions to believe that this sad reverse in our prospects had actually taken place. They replied to all my assertions with a stare and a gesture implying that they were not to be deceived by such misrepresentations. The conduct of Augustus most sensibly affected me. In spite of all I could say or do to the contrary, he persisted in saying that the ship was rapidly nearing us, and in making preparations to go on board of her. Some seaweed floating by the brig, he maintained that it was the ship’s boat, and endeavoured to throw himself upon it, howling and shrieking79 in the most heartrending manner, when I forcibly restrained him from thus casting himself into the sea.
Having become in some degree pacified80, we continued to watch the ship until we finally lost sight of her, the weather becoming hazy81, with a light breeze springing up. As soon as she was entirely82 gone, Parker turned suddenly toward me with an expression of countenance which made me shudder83. There was about him an air of self-possession which I had not noticed in him until now, and before he opened his lips my heart told me what he would say. He proposed, in a few words, that one of us should die to preserve the existence of the others.
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1
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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pangs
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| 突然的剧痛( pang的名词复数 )； 悲痛 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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wrenching
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| n.修截苗根，苗木铲根（铲根时苗木不起土或部分起土）v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的现在分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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plunging
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| adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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cork
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| n.软木，软木塞 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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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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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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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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delirium
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| n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
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immersion
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| n.沉浸；专心 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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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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linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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remonstrated
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 )；告诫 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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stimulus
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| n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物 | |
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intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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stertorous
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| adj.打鼾的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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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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gnawing
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| a.痛苦的，折磨人的 | |
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appease
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| v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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morsel
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| n.一口，一点点 | |
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alleviation
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| n. 减轻，缓和，解痛物 | |
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fumes
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| n.(强烈而刺激的)气味，气体 | |
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lamentable
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| adj.令人惋惜的，悔恨的 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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distressing
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| a.使人痛苦的 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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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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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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mania
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| n.疯狂；躁狂症，狂热，癖好 | |
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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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51
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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52
northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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53
jug
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| n.(有柄，小口，可盛水等的)大壶，罐，盂 | |
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54
anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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55
emaciated
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| adj.衰弱的，消瘦的 | |
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56
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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57
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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prostrated
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| v.使俯伏，使拜倒( prostrate的过去式和过去分词 )；（指疾病、天气等）使某人无能为力 | |
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59
idiotic
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| adj.白痴的 | |
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platitudes
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| n.平常的话，老生常谈，陈词滥调( platitude的名词复数 )；滥套子 | |
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61
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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moody
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| adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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debilitated
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| adj.疲惫不堪的，操劳过度的v.使（人或人的身体）非常虚弱( debilitate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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70
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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71
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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demonstrations
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| 证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威 | |
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gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
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steering
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| n.操舵装置 | |
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shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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80
pacified
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| 使（某人）安静( pacify的过去式和过去分词 )； 息怒； 抚慰； 在（有战争的地区、国家等）实现和平 | |
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81
hazy
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| adj.有薄雾的，朦胧的；不肯定的，模糊的 | |
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82
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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83
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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