the works of edgar allan poe-3-第25章

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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　remonstrated　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　behold　laughter　of　such　a　species：　the　distortion　of　countenance
was　absolutely　frightful。　Indeed；　it　was　apparent　that　the　stimulus；
in　the　empty　state　of　their　stomachs；　had　taken　instant　and　violent
effect；　and　that　they　were　all　exceedingly　intoxicated。　With　great
difficulty　I　prevailed　upon　them　to　lie　down；　when　they　fell　very
soon　into　a　heavy　slumber；　accompanied　with　loud　stertorous
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　prospect　offered　itself　to　my　view　but　a　lingering　death　by
famine；　or；　at　the　best；　by　being　overwhelmed　in　the　first　gale　which
should　spring　up；　for　in　our　present　exhausted　condition　we　could
have　no　hope　of　living　through　another。

　　　　The　gnawing　hunger　which　I　now　experienced　was　nearly
insupportable；　and　I　felt　myself　capable　of　going　to　any　lengths　in
order　to　appease　it。　With　my　knife　I　cut　off　a　small　portion　of　the
leather　trunk；　and　endeavoured　to　eat　it；　but　found　it　utterly
impossible　to　swallow　a　single　morsel；　although　I　fancied　that　some
little　alleviation　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　fumes　had　now　evaporated。　They　shook　as
if　with　a　violent　ague；　and　uttered　the　most　lamentable　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　melancholy　and　most　distressing
sensations。　Their　conduct；　however；　gave　me　great　uneasiness　and
alarm；　for　it　was　evident　that；　unless　some　favourable　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　sufficiently　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　plunge　in　the　sea…water　might　have　a　beneficial　effect；　I　contrived
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；　afterward　conversing　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　_mania
a　potu_。

　　　　Finding　that　I　could　now　trust　my　companions　to　hold　the　end　of
the　rope；　I　again　made　three　or　four　plunges　into　the　cabin；　although
it　was　now　quite　dark；　and　a　gentle　but　long　swell　from　the　northward
rendered　the　hulk　somewhat　unsteady。　In　the　course　of　these　attempts
I　succeeded　in　bringing　up　two　case…knives；　a　three…gallon　jug；
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　anguish　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　emaciated　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　beheld　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　bosom；　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　prostrated　in　intellect；　and　seemed　to
be　brought　to　a　species　of　second　childhood；　generally　simpering　in
their　expressions；　with　idiotic　smiles；　and　uttering　the　most　absurd
platitudes。　At　intervals；　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　momentary
flash　of　vigour；　and　speak；　for　a　short　period；　of　their　prospects；
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
apparently　wrapped　up　in　moody　contemplation。　Upon　looking　in　the
direction　pointed　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　sobs；　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　debilitated　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　distress　was　for　water；　and
I　was　only　prevented　from　taking　a　draught　from　the　sea　by
remembering　the　horrible　consequences　which　thus　have　resulted　to
others　who　were　similarly　situated　with　ourselves。

　　　　The　day　wore　on　in　this　manner；　when　I　suddenly　discovered　a　sail
to　the　eastward；　and　on　our　larboard　bow。　She　appeared　to　be　a　large
ship；　and　was　coming　nearly　athwart　us；　being　probably　twelve　or
fifteen　m