As soon as we sufficiently10 recovered from our fright and surprise to be capable of conversing11 rationally, we both came to the conclusion that the walls of the fissure12 in which we had ventured had, by some convulsion of nature, or probably from their own weight, caved in overhead, and that we were consequently lost for ever, being thus entombed alive. For a long time we gave up supinely to the most intense agony and despair, such as cannot be adequately imagined by those who have never been in a similar position. I firmly believed that no incident ever occurring in the course of human events is more adapted to inspire the supremeness of mental and bodily distress13 than a case like our own, of living inhumation. The blackness of darkness which envelops14 the victim, the terrific oppression of lungs, the stifling15 fumes16 from the damp earth, unite with the ghastly considerations that we are beyond the remotest confines of hope, and that such is the allotted17 portion of the dead, to carry into the human heart a degree of appalling18 awe19 and horror not to be tolerated — never to be conceived.
At length Peters proposed that we should endeavour to ascertain20 precisely21 the extent of our calamity22, and grope about our prison; it being barely possible, he observed, that some opening might yet be left us for escape. I caught eagerly at this hope, and, arousing myself to exertion23, attempted to force my way through the loose earth. Hardly had I advanced a single step before a glimmer24 of light became perceptible, enough to convince me that, at all events, we should not immediately perish for want of air. We now took some degree of heart, and encouraged each other to hope for the best. Having scrambled over a bank of rubbish which impeded25 our farther progress in the direction of the light, we found less difficulty in advancing and also experienced some relief from the excessive oppression of lungs which had tormented26 us. Presently we were enabled to obtain a glimpse of the objects around, and discovered that we were near the extremity27 of the straight portion of the fissure, where it made a turn to the left. A few struggles more, and we reached the bend, when to our inexpressible joy, there appeared a long seam or crack extending upward a vast distance, generally at an angle of about forty-five degrees, although sometimes much more precipitous. We could not see through the whole extent of this opening; but, as a good deal of light came down it, we had little doubt of finding at the top of it (if we could by any means reach the top) a clear passage into the open air.
I now called to mind that three of us had entered the fissure from the main gorge28, and that our companion, Allen, was still missing; we determined29 at once to retrace30 our steps and look for him. After a long search, and much danger from the farther caving in of the earth above us, Peters at length cried out to me that he had hold of our companion’s foot, and that his whole body was deeply buried beneath the rubbish beyond the possibility of extricating31 him. I soon found that what he said was too true, and that, of course, life had been long extinct. With sorrowful hearts, therefore, we left the corpse32 to its fate, and again made our way to the bend.
The breadth of the seam was barely sufficient to admit us, and, after one or two ineffectual efforts at getting up, we began once more to despair. I have before said that the chain of hills through which ran the main gorge was composed of a species of soft rock resembling soap. stone. The sides of the cleft33 we were now attempting to ascend34 were of the same material, and so excessively slippery, being wet, that we could get but little foothold upon them even in their least precipitous parts; in some places, where the ascent35 was nearly perpendicular36, the difficulty was, of course, much aggravated37; and, indeed, for some time we thought insurmountable. We took courage, however, from despair, and what, by dint38 of cutting steps in the soft stone with our bowie knives, and swinging at the risk of our lives, to small projecting points of a harder species of slaty39 rock which now and then protruded40 from the general mass, we at length reached a natural platform, from which was perceptible a patch of blue sky, at the extremity of a thickly-wooded ravine. Looking back now, with somewhat more leisure, at the passage through which we had thus far proceeded, we clearly saw from the appearance of its sides, that it was of late formation, and we concluded that the concussion41, whatever it was, which had so unexpectedly overwhelmed us, had also, at the same moment, laid open this path for escape. Being quite exhausted42 with exertion, and indeed, so weak that we were scarcely able to stand or articulate, Peters now proposed that we should endeavour to bring our companions to the rescue by firing the pistols which still remained in our girdles — the muskets43 as well as cutlasses had been lost among the loose earth at the bottom of the chasm44. Subsequent events proved that, had we fired, we should have sorely repented45 it, but luckily a half suspicion of foul46 play had by this time arisen in my mind, and we forbore to let the savages47 know of our whereabouts.
After having reposed49 for about an hour, we pushed on slowly up the ravine, and had gone no great way before we heard a succession of tremendous yells. At length we reached what might be called the surface of the ground; for our path hitherto, since leaving the platform, had lain beneath an archway of high rock and foliage50, at a vast distance overhead. With great caution we stole to a narrow opening, through which we had a clear sight of the surrounding country, when the whole dreadful secret of the concussion broke upon us in one moment and at one view.
The spot from which we looked was not far from the summit of the highest peak in the range of the soapstone hills. The gorge in which our party of thirty-two had entered ran within fifty feet to the left of us. But, for at least one hundred yards, the channel or bed of this gorge was entirely filled up with the chaotic51 ruins of more than a million tons of earth and stone that had been artificially tumbled within it. The means by which the vast mass had been precipitated52 were not more simple than evident, for sure traces of the murderous work were yet remaining. In several spots along the top of the eastern side of the gorge (we were now on the western) might be seen stakes of wood driven into the earth. In these spots the earth had not given way, but throughout the whole extent of the face of the precipice53 from which the mass had fallen, it was clear, from marks left in the soil resembling those made by the drill of the rock blaster, that stakes similar to those we saw standing54 had been inserted, at not more than a yard apart, for the length of perhaps three hundred feet, and ranging at about ten feet back from the edge of the gulf55. Strong cords of grape vine were attached to the stakes still remaining on the hill, and it was evident that such cords had also been attached to each of the other stakes. I have already spoken of the singular stratification of these soapstone hills; and the description just given of the narrow and deep fissure through which we effected our escape from inhumation will afford a further conception of its nature. This was such that almost every natural convulsion would be sure to split the soil into perpendicular layers or ridges56 running parallel with one another, and a very moderate exertion of art would be sufficient for effecting the same purpose. Of this stratification the savages had availed themselves to accomplish their treacherous57 ends. There can be no doubt that, by the continuous line of stakes, a partial rupture58 of the soil had been brought about probably to the depth of one or two feet, when by means of a savage48 pulling at the end of each of the cords (these cords being attached to the tops of the stakes, and extending back from the edge of the cliff), a vast leverage59 power was obtained, capable of hurling60 the whole face of the hill, upon a given signal, into the bosom61 of the abyss below. The fate of our poor companions was no longer a matter of uncertainty62. We alone had escaped from the tempest of that overwhelming destruction. We were the only living white men upon the island.
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1
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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2
suffocated
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| （使某人）窒息而死( suffocate的过去式和过去分词 )； （将某人）闷死； 让人感觉闷热； 憋气 | |
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3
grovelling
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| adj.卑下的，奴颜婢膝的v.卑躬屈节，奴颜婢膝( grovel的现在分词 )；趴 | |
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4
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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6
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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7
smothered
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| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
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8
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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9
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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10
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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conversing
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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12
fissure
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| n.裂缝；裂伤 | |
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13
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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14
envelops
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的第三人称单数 ) | |
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15
stifling
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| a.令人窒息的 | |
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fumes
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| n.(强烈而刺激的)气味，气体 | |
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17
allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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19
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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20
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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21
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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22
calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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23
exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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24
glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
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25
impeded
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| 阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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26
tormented
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| 饱受折磨的 | |
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27
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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28
gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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29
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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30
retrace
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| v.折回；追溯，探源 | |
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31
extricating
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| v.使摆脱困难，脱身( extricate的现在分词 ) | |
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32
corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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33
cleft
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| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
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34
ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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35
ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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36
perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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37
aggravated
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| 使恶化( aggravate的过去式和过去分词 )； 使更严重； 激怒； 使恼火 | |
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38
dint
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| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
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39
slaty
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| 石板一样的，石板色的 | |
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40
protruded
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41
concussion
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| n.脑震荡；震动 | |
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42
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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43
muskets
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| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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44
chasm
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| n.深坑，断层，裂口，大分岐，利害冲突 | |
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45
repented
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| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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47
savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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48
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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49
reposed
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| v.将（手臂等）靠在某人（某物）上( repose的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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51
chaotic
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| adj.混沌的，一片混乱的，一团糟的 | |
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52
precipitated
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| v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的过去式和过去分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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53
precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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54
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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55
gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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56
ridges
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| n.脊( ridge的名词复数 )；山脊；脊状突起；大气层的)高压脊 | |
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57
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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58
rupture
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| n.破裂；(关系的)决裂；v.(使)破裂 | |
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59
leverage
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| n.力量，影响；杠杆作用，杠杆的力量 | |
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60
hurling
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| n.爱尔兰式曲棍球v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的现在分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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61
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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62
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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