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[page 13, column 1, continued:]
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ARTHUR GORDON PYM.
.
NO I.
My name is Arthur Gordon Pym. My
father was a
respectable
trader in sea-stores at Nantucket, where I was born. My maternal
grandfather
was an attorney in good practice. He was fortunate in every thing, and
had speculated very successfully in stocks of the Edgarton New Bank, as
it was formerly called. By these and other means, he had managed to lay
by a tolerable sum of money. He was more attached to myself, I believe,
than to any other person in the world, and I expected to inherit the
most
of his property at his death. He sent me, at six years of age, to the
school
of old Mr. Ricketts, a gentleman with only one arm, and of eccentric
manners
— he is well known to almost every person who has visited New Bedford.
I staid at his school until I was fourteen, when I left him for Mr. E.
Ronald's Academy on the hill. Here I became intimate with the son of
Mr.
Barnard, a sea-captain, who generally sailed in the employ of Lloyd and
Vredenburgh — Mr. Barnard is also very well known in New Bedford, and
has
many relations, I am certain, in Edgarton. His son was named Augustus,
and he was nearly two years older than myself. He had been on a whaling
voyage with his father in the John Donaldson, and was always talking to
me of his adventures in the South Pacific Ocean. I used frequently to
go
home with him and remain all day, and sometimes all night. We occupied
the same bed, and he would be sure to keep me awake until almost
light,telling
me stories of the natives of the island of Tinian, and other places he
had visited in his travels. At last I could not help being interested
in
what he said, and by degrees I felt the greatest desire to go to sea. I
owned a sail-boat called the Ariel, and worth about seventy-five
dollars.
She had a half-deck or cuddy, and was rigged sloop-fashion — I forget
her
tonnage, but she would hold ten persons without much crowding. In this
boat we were in the habit of going on some of the maddest freaks in the
world: and, when I now think of them, it appears to me a thousand
wonders
that I am alive to-day.
One night there was a party at Mr.
Barnard's, and
both Augustus and myself were not a little intoxicated towards the
close
of it. As usual, in such cases, I took part of his bed in preference to
going home. He [column 2:] went to sleep, as I
thought,
very quietly, (it being near one when the party broke up,) and without
saying a word on his favorite topic. It might have been half an hour
from
the time of our getting in bed, and I was just about falling into a
doze,
when he suddenly started up, and swore with a terrible oath that he
would
not go to sleep for any Arthur Pym in Christendom, when there was so
glorious
a breeze from the south-west. I never was so astonished in my life, not
knowing what he intended, and thinking that the wines and liquors he
had
drunk had set him entirely beside himself. He proceeded to talk very
cooly
[[coolly]], however; saying he knew that I supposed him intoxicated,
but
that he was never more sober in his life. He was only tired, he added,
of lying in bed on such a fine night like a dog, and was determined to
get up and dress, and go out on a frolic with the boat. I can hardly
tell
what possessed me, but the words were no sooner out of his mouth than I
felt a thrill of the greatest excitement and pleasure, and 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
ecstacy
[[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 sides 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
south-west. 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-bye," said he at length — "time
enough
— home by-and-bye." 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 [page 14:]
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 — d—d—don'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 had 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 demeanor 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 day-break. 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, [column 2:] (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 ring-bolt 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 will be
remembered
was dismasted) some mere shell cut adrift as useless, the captain
(Captain
E. T. V. Block of New London) was for proceeding on his course without
troubling himself farther about the matter. Luckily, there were two of
the look out who swore positively to having seen some person at our
helm,
and represented the possibility of yet saving him. A discussion ensued,
when Block grew angry, and after a while said that "it was no business
of his to be eternally watching for egg-shells, that the ship should not
put about for any such nonsense, and if there was a man run down, it
was
nobody's fault but his own — he might drown and be d—d," or some
languge
to that effect. Henderson, the first mate, now took the matter up,
being
justly indignant, as well as the whole ship's crew, at a speech
evincing
so base a degree of heartless atrocity. He spoke plainly, seeing
himself
upheld by the men, told the captain he considered him a fit subject for
the gallows, and that he would disobey his orders if he were hung for
it
the moment he set his foot on shore. He strode aft, jostling Block (who
turned very pale and made no answer) on [page 15:]
one side, and, seizing the helm, gave the word in a firm voice, Hard-a-lee!
The men flew to their posts, and the ship went cleverly about. All this
had occupied nearly five minutes, and it was supposed to be hardly
within
the bounds of possibility that any individual could be saved — allowing
any to have been on board the boat. Yet as the reader has seen, both
Augustus
and myself were rescued; and our deliverance seemed to have been
brought
about by two of those almost inconceivable pieces of good fortune which
are attributed by the wise and pious to the special interference of
Providence.
While the ship was yet in stays the
mate lowered
the jolly-boat and jumped into her with the very two men, I believe,
who
spoke up as having seen me at the helm. They had just left the lee of
the
vessel (the moon still shining brightly) when she made a long and heavy
roll to windward, and Henderson, at the same moment, starting up in his
seat, bawled out to his crew to back water. He would say
nothing
else — repeating his cry impatiently, back water! back water!
The
men put back as speedily as possible; but by this time the ship had
gone
round, and gotten fully under headway, although all hands on board were
making great exertions to take in sail. In despite of the danger of the
attempt, the mate clung to the main-chains as soon as they came within
his reach. Another huge lurch now brought the starboard side of the
vessel
out of water nearly as far as her keel, when the cause of his anxiety
was
rendered obvious enough. The body of a man was seen to be affixed in
the
most singular manner to the smooth and shining bottom, (the Penguin was
coppered and copper-fastened) and beating violently against it with
every
movement of the hull. After several ineffectual efforts, made during
the
lurches of the ship, and at the imminent risk of swamping the boat, I
was
finally
disengaged from my perilous situation and taken on board — for the body
proved to be my own. It appeared that, one of the timber-bolts having
started
and broken a passage through the copper, it had arrested my progress as
I passed under the ship, and fastened me in so extraordinary a manner
to
her bottom. The head of the bolt had made its way through the collar of
the green baize jacket I had on, and through the back part of my neck,
forcing itself out between two sinews and just below the right ear. I
was
immediately put to bed — although life seemed to be totally extinct.
There
was no surgeon on board. The captain, however, treated me with every
attention
— to make amends, I presume, in the eyes of his crew, for his atrocious
behavior in the previous portion of the adventure.
In the meantime, Henderson had again
put off from
the ship, although the wind was now blowing almost a hurricane. He had
not been gone many minutes when he fell in with some fragments of our
boat,
and shortly afterwards one of the men with him asserted that he could
distinguish
a cry for help at intervals amid the roaring of the tempest. This
induced
the hardy seamen to persevere in their search for more than half an
hour,
although repeated signals to return were made them by Captain Block,
and
although every moment on the water in so frail a boat was fraught to
them
with the most imminent and deadly peril. Indeed it is nearly impossible
to conceive how the small jolly they were in could have escaped
destruction
for a single instant. [column 2:] She was built,
however,
for the whaling service, and was fitted, as I have since had reason to
believe, with air-boxes, in the manner of some life-boats used on the
coast
of Wales.
After searching in vain for about the
period of
time
just mentioned, it was determined to get back to the ship. They had
scarcely
made this resolve when a feeble cry arose from a dark object which
floated
rapidly by. They pursued and soon overtook it. It proved to be the
entire
deck of the Ariel's cuddy. Augustus was struggling near it, apparently
in the last agonies. Upon getting hold of him it was found that he was
attached by a rope to the floating timber. This rope, it will be
remembered,
I had myself tied round his waist, and made fast to a ring-bolt, for
the
purpose of keeping him in an upright position, and my so doing, it
appeared,
had been ultimately the means of preserving his life. The Ariel was
slightly
put together, and in going down her frame naturally went to pieces; the
deck of the cuddy, as might have been expected, was lifted, by the
force
of the water rushing in, entirely from the main timbers, and floated
(with
other fragments no doubt) to the surface — Augustus was buoyed up with
it, and thus escaped a terrible death.
It was more than an hour after being
taken on
board
the Penguin before he could give any account of himself, or be made to
comprehend the nature of the accident which had befallen our boat. At
length
he became thoroughly aroused, and spoke much of his sensations while in
the water. Upon his first attaining any degree of consciousness, he
found
himself beneath the surface, whirling round and round with
inconceivable
rapidity, and with a rope wrapped, in three or four folds, tightly
about
his neck. In an instant afterwards he felt himself going rapidly
upwards,
when, his head striking violently against a hard substance, he again
relapsed
into insensibility. Upon once more reviving he was in fuller possession
of his reason — this was still, however, in the greatest degree clouded
and confused. He now knew that some accident had occurred, and that he
was in the water, although his mouth was above the surface and he could
breathe with some freedom. Possibly, at this period, the deck was
drifting
rapidly before the wind and drawing him after it, as he floated upon
his
back. Of course, as long as he could have retained this position, it
would
have been nearly impossible that he should be drowned. Presently a
surge
threw him directly athwart the deck; and this post he endeavored to
maintain,
screaming at intervals for help. Just before he was discovered by Mr.
Henderson,
he had been obliged to relax his hold through exhaustion, and, falling
into the sea, had given himself up for lost. During the whole period of
his struggles he had not the faintest recollection of the Ariel, nor of
the matters in connexion with the source of his disaster. A vague
feeling
of terror and despair had taken entire possession of his faculties.
When
he was finally picked up, every power of his mind had failed him; and,
as before said, it was nearly an hour after getting on board the
Penguin
before he became fully aware of his condition. In regard to myself — I
was resuscitated from a state bordering very nearly upon death, (and
after
every other means had been tried in vain for three hours and a half,)
by
vigorous friction with flannels bathed in hot oil — a proceeding
suggested
by Augustus. The wound in my neck, although of an [column 2:]
ugly appearance, proved of little real consequence, and I soon
recovered
from its effects.
The Penguin got into port about nine
o'clock in
the
morning, after encountering one of the severest gales ever experienced
off Nantucket. Both Augustus and myself managed to appear at Mr.
Barnard's
in time for breakfast — which, luckily, was somewhat late, owing to the
party over night. I suppose all at the table were too much fatigued
themselves
to notice our jaded appearance — of course, it would not have borne a
very
rigid scrutiny. Schoolboys, however, can accomplish wonders in the way
of deception, and I verily believe not one of our friends in Nantucket
had the slightest suspicion that the terrible story told by some
sailors
in town of their having run down a vessel at sea and drowned some
thirty
or forty poor devils, had reference either to the Ariel, my companion,
or myself. We two have since very frequently talked the matter over —
but
never without a shudder. In one of our conversations, Augustus frankly
confessed to me that in his whole life he had at no time experienced so
excruciating a sense of dismay, as when on board our little boat he
first
discovered the extent of his intoxication, and felt himself sinking
beneath
its influence.
In no affairs of mere prejudice, pro
or con, do
we
deduce inferences with entire certainty even from the most simple data.
It might be supposed that a catastrophe such as I have just related,
would
have effectually cooled my incipient passion for the sea. On the
contrary,
I never experienced a more ardent longing for the wild adventures
incident
to the life of a navigator than within a week after our miraculous
deliverance.
This short period proved amply long enough to erase from my memory the
shadows, and bring out in vivid light all the pleasurably exciting
points
of color, all the picturesqueness, of the late perilous accident. My
conversations
with Augustus grew daily more frequent and more intensely full of
interest.
He had a manner of relating his stories of the ocean, (more than one
half
of which I now suspect to have been sheer fabrications) well adapted to
have weight with one of my enthusiastic temperament, and somewhat
gloomy
although glowing imagination. It is strange too, that he most strongly
enlisted my feelings in behalf of the life of a seaman, when he
depicted
his more terrible moments of suffering and despair. For the bright side
of the painting I had a limited sympathy. My visions were of shipwreck
and famine; of death or captivity among barbarian hordes; of a long
life-time
dragged out in sorrow and tears, upon some grey and desolate rock, in
an
ocean unapproachable and unknown. Such visions or desires — for they
amounted
to desires — are common, I have been since assured, to the whole
numerous
race of the melancholy among men — at the time of which I speak I
regarded
them only as prophetic glimpses of a destiny which I felt myself in a
measure
bound to fulfil. Augustus thoroughly entered into my state of mind. It
is probable indeed that our intimate communion had resulted in a
partial
interchange of character.
During the three or four months
immediately
succeeding
the period of the Ariel's disaster, the firm of Lloyd and Vredenburgh
(a
house connected in some manner with the Messieurs Enderby, I believe,
of
Liverpool) were engaged in repairing and fitting out [column
2:]
the brig Grampus for a whaling voyage. She was an old hulk, and
scarcely
sea-worthy when all was done to her that could be done. I hardly know
why
she was chosen in preference to other good vessels belonging to the
same
owners — but so it was. Mr. Barnard was appointed to command her, and
Augustus
was going with him. While the brig was getting ready he frequently
urged
upon me the excellency of the opportunity now offered for indulging my
desire of travel. He found me by no means an unwilling listener — yet
the
matter could not be so easily arranged. My father made no direct
opposition;
but my mother went into hysterics at the bare mention of the design,
and,
more than all, my grandfather, from whom I expected much, vowed to cut
me off with a shilling if I should ever broach the subject to him
again.
These difficulties, however, so far from abating my desire, only added
fuel to the flame. I determined to go at all hazards, and, having made
known my intention to Augustus, we set about arranging a plan by which
it might be accomplished. In the meantime I forbore speaking to any of
my relations in regard to the voyage, and, as I busied myself
ostensibly
with my usual studies, it was supposed that I had abandoned the design.
I have since frequently examined my conduct on this occasion, with
sentiments
of displeasure as well as of surprise. The intense hypocrisy I made use
of for the furtherance of my project — an hypocrisy pervading every
word
and action of my life for so long a period of time — could only have
been
rendered tolerable to myself by the wild and burning expectation with
which
I looked forward to the fulfilment of my long-cherished visions of
travel.
In pursuance of my scheme of
deception, I was
necessarily
obliged to leave much to the management of Augustus, who was employed
for
the greater part of every day on board the Grampus, attending to some
arrangements
for his father in the cabin and cabin hold. At night, however, we were
sure to have a conference and talk over our hopes. After nearly a month
passed in this manner without our hitting upon any plan we thought
likely
to succeed, he told me at last that he had determined upon every thing
necessary. I had a relation living in New Bedford, a Mr. Ross, at whose
house I was in the habit of spending occasionally two or three weeks at
a time. The brig was to sail about the middle of April, (April 1827)
and
it was agreed that a day or two before her putting to sea, my father
was
to receive a note, as usual, from Mr. Ross, asking me to come over and
spend a fortnight with Robert and Emmet (his sons.) [[sic]] Augustus
charged
himself with the inditing of this note and getting it delivered. Having
set out, as supposed, for New Bedford, I was then to report myself to
my
companion, who would contrive a hiding-place for me in the Grampus.
This
hiding place, he assured me, would be rendered sufficiently comfortable
for a residence of many days, during which I was not to make my
appearance.
When the brig had proceeded so far on her course as to make any turning
back a matter out of question, I should then, he said, be formally
installed
in all the comforts of the cabin, and as to his father he would only
laugh
heartily at the joke. Vessels enough would be met with by which a
letter
might be sent home explaining the adventure to my parents. |
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