the works of edgar allan poe-3-第2章

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thought　his　mad　idea　one　of　the　most　delightful　and　most　reasonable
things　in　the　world。　It　was　blowing　almost　a　gale；　and　the　weather
was　very　cold　　it　being　late　in　October。　I　sprang　out　of　bed；
nevertheless；　in　a　kind　of　ecstasy；　and　told　him　I　was　quite　as　brave
as　himself；　and　quite　as　tired　as　he　was　of　lying　in　bed　like　a　dog；
and　quite　as　ready　for　any　fun　or　frolic　as　any　Augustus　Barnard　in
Nantucket。

　　　　We　lost　no　time　in　getting　on　our　clothes　and　hurrying　down　to
the　boat。　She　was　lying　at　the　old　decayed　wharf　by　the　lumber…yard
of　Pankey　&　Co。；　and　almost　thumping　her　side　out　against　the　rough
logs。　Augustus　got　into　her　and　bailed　her；　for　she　was　nearly　half
full　of　water。　This　being　done；　we　hoisted　jib　and　mainsail；　kept
full；　and　started　boldly　out　to　sea。

　　　　The　wind；　as　I　before　said；　blew　freshly　from　the　southwest。　The
night　was　very　clear　and　cold。　Augustus　had　taken　the　helm；　and　I
stationed　myself　by　the　mast；　on　the　deck　of　the　cuddy。　We　flew　along
at　a　great　rate　　neither　of　us　having　said　a　word　since　casting
loose　from　the　wharf。　I　now　asked　my　companion　what　course　he
intended　to　steer；　and　what　time　he　thought　it　probable　we　should　get
back。　He　whistled　for　a　few　minutes；　and　then　said　crustily：　〃_I_　am
going　to　sea　　_you_　may　go　home　if　you　think　proper。〃　Turning　my
eyes　upon　him；　I　perceived　at　once　that；　in　spite　of　his　assumed
_nonchalance_；　he　was　greatly　agitated。　I　could　see　him　distinctly　by
the　light　of　the　moon　　his　face　was　paler　than　any　marble；　and　his
hand　shook　so　excessively　that　he　could　scarcely　retain　hold　of　the
tiller。　I　found　that　something　had　gone　wrong；　and　became　seriously
alarmed。　At　this　period　I　knew　little　about　the　management　of　a　boat；
and　was　now　depending　entirely　upon　the　nautical　skill　of　my　friend。
The　wind；　too；　had　suddenly　increased；　as　we　were　fast　getting　out　of
the　lee　of　the　land　　still　I　was　ashamed　to　betray　any　trepidation；
and　for　almost　half　an　hour　maintained　a　resolute　silence。　I　could
stand　it　no　longer；　however；　and　spoke　to　Augustus　about　the
propriety　of　turning　back。　As　before；　it　was　nearly　a　minute　before
he　made　answer；　or　took　any　notice　of　my　suggestion。　〃By…and…by；〃
said　he　at　length　　〃time　enough　　home　by…and…by。〃　I　had　expected
a　similar　reply；　but　there　was　something　in　the　tone　of　these　words
which　filled　me　with　an　indescribable　feeling　of　dread。　I　again
looked　at　the　speaker　attentively。　His　lips　were　perfectly　livid；　and
his　knees　shook　so　violently　together　that　he　seemed　scarcely　able　to
stand。　〃For　God's　sake；　Augustus；〃　I　screamed；　now　heartily
frightened；　〃what　ails　you？…　what　is　the　matter？…　what　_are_　you
going　to　do？〃　〃Matter！〃　he　stammered；　in　the　greatest　apparent
surprise；　letting　go　the　tiller　at　the　same　moment；　and　falling
forward　into　the　bottom　of　the　boat…　〃matter…　why；　nothing　is　the　
matter　　going　home…　dddon't　you　see？〃　The　whole　truth　now
flashed　upon　me。　I　flew　to　him　and　raised　him　up。　He　was　drunk　
beastly　drunk　　he　could　no　longer　either　stand；　speak；　or　see。　His
eyes　were　perfectly　glazed；　and　as　I　let　him　go　in　the　extremity　of
my　despair；　he　rolled　like　a　mere　log　into　the　bilge…water；　from
which　I　had　lifted　him。　It　was　evident　that；　during　the　evening；　he
had　drunk　far　more　than　I　suspected；　and　that　his　conduct　in　bed　had
been　the　result　of　a　highly…concentrated　state　of　intoxication…　a
state　which；　like　madness；　frequently　enables　the　victim　to　imitate
the　outward　demeanour　of　one　in　perfect　possession　of　his　senses。　The
coolness　of　the　night　air；　however；　had　had　its　usual　effect…　the
mental　energy　began　to　yield　before　its　influence…　and　the　confused
perception　which　he　no　doubt　then　had　of　his　perilous　situation　had
assisted　in　hastening　the　catastrophe。　He　was　now　thoroughly
insensible；　and　there　was　no　probability　that　he　would　be　otherwise
for　many　hours。

　　　　It　is　hardly　possible　to　conceive　the　extremity　of　my　terror。　The
fumes　of　the　wine　lately　taken　had　evaporated；　leaving　me　doubly
timid　and　irresolute。　I　knew　that　I　was　altogether　incapable　of
managing　the　boat；　and　that　a　fierce　wind　and　strong　ebb　tide　were
hurrying　us　to　destruction。　A　storm　was　evidently　gathering　behind
us；　we　had　neither　compass　nor　provisions；　and　it　was　clear　that；　if
we　held　our　present　course；　we　should　be　out　of　sight　of　land　before
daybreak。　These　thoughts；　with　a　crowd　of　others　equally　fearful；
flashed　through　my　mind　with　a　bewildering　rapidity；　and　for　some
moments　paralyzed　me　beyond　the　possibility　of　making　any　exertion。
The　boat　was　going　through　the　water　at　a　terrible　rate…　full　before
the　wind…　no　reef　in　either　jib　or　mainsail…　running　her　bows
completely　under　the　foam。　It　was　a　thousand　wonders　she　did　not
broach　to…　Augustus　having　let　go　the　tiller；　as　I　said　before；　and　I
being　too　much　agitated　to　think　of　taking　it　myself。　By　good　luck；
however；　she　kept　steady；　and　gradually　I　recovered　some　degree　of
presence　of　mind。　Still　the　wind　was　increasing　fearfully；　and
whenever　we　rose　from　a　plunge　forward；　the　sea　behind　fell　combing
over　our　counter；　and　deluged　us　with　water。　I　was　so　utterly
benumbed；　too；　in　every　limb；　as　to　be　nearly　unconscious　of
sensation。　At　length　I　summoned　up　the　resolution　of　despair；　and
rushing　to　the　mainsail　let　it　go　by　the　run。　As　might　have　been
expected；　it　flew　over　the　bows；　and；　getting　drenched　with　water；
carried　away　the　mast　short　off　by　the　board。　This　latter　accident
alone　saved　me　from　instant　destruction。　Under　the　jib　only；　I　now
boomed　along　before　the　wind；　shipping　heavy　seas　occasionally　over
the　counter；　but　relieved　from　the　terror　of　immediate　death。　I　took
the　helm；　and　breathed　with　greater　freedom　as　I　found　that　there　yet
remained　to　us　a　chance　of　ultimate　escape。　Augustus　still　lay
senseless　in　the　bottom　of　the　boat；　and　as　there　was　imminent　danger
of　his　drowning　（the　water　being　nearly　a　foot　deep　just　where　he
fell）；　I　contrived　to　raise　him　partially　up；　and　keep　him　in　a
sitting　position；　by　passing　a　rope　round　his　waist；　and　lashing　it
to　a　ringbolt　in　the　deck　of　the　cuddy。　Having　thus　arranged　every
thing　as　well　as　I　could　in　my　chilled　and　agitated　condition；　I
recommended　myself　to　God；　and　made　up　my　mind　to　bear　whatever　might
happen　with　all　the　fortitude　in　my　power。

　　　　Hardly　had　I　come　to　this　resolution；　when；　suddenly；　a　loud　and
long　scream　or　yell；　as　if　from　the　throats　of　a　thousand　demons；
seemed　to　pervade　the　whole　atmosphere　around　and　above　the　boat。
Never　while　I　live　shall　I　forget　the　intense　agony　of　terror　I
experienced　at　that　moment。　My　hair　stood　erect　on　my　head　　I　felt
the　blood　congealing　in　my　veins　　my　heart　ceased　utterly　to　beat；
and　without　having　once　raised　my　eyes　to　learn　the　source　of　my
alarm；　I　tumbled　headlong　and　insensible　upon　the　body　of　my　fallen
companion。

　　　　I　found　myself；　upon　reviving；　in　the　cabin　of　a　large
whaling…ship　（the　Penguin）　bound　to　Nantucket。　Several　persons　were
standing　over　me；　and　Augustus；　paler　than　death；　was　busily　occupied
in　chafing　my　hands。　Upon　seeing　me　open　my　eyes；　his　exclamations　of
gratitude　and　joy　excited　alternate　laughter　and　tears　from　the
rough…looking　personages　who　were　present。　The　mystery　of　our　being
in　existence　was　now　soon　explained。　We　had　been　run　down　by　the
whaling…ship；　which　was　close…hauled；　beating　up　to　Nantucket　with
every　sail　she　could　venture　to　set；　and　consequently　running　almost
at　right　angles　to　our　own　course。　Several　men　were　on　the　look…out
forward；　but　did　not　perceive　our　boat　until　it　was　an　impossibility
to　avoid　coming　in　contact…　their　shouts　of　warning　upon　seeing　us
were　what　so　terribly　alarmed　me。　The　huge　ship；　I　was　told；　rode
immediately　over　us　with　as　much　ease　as　our　own　little　vessel　would
have　passed　over　a　feather；　and　without　the　least　perceptible
impediment　to　her　progress。　Not　a　scream　arose　from　the　deck　of　the
victim…　there　was　a　slight　grating　sound　to　be　heard　mingling　with
the　roar　of　wind　and　water；　as　the　frail　bark　which　was　swallowed　up
rubbed　for　a　moment　along　the　keel　of　her　destroyer…　but　this　was
all。　Thinking　our　boat　（which　it　wi