the works of edgar allan poe-3-第5章

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way　to　the　trap；　and　endeavour　either　to　hold　a　parley　with　my
friend；　or　get　at　least　a　little　fresh　air　through　the　opening；　and　a
further　supply　of　water　from　the　stateroom。　While　occupied　with　this
thought；　however；　I　fell　in　spite　of　every　exertion　to　the　contrary；
into　a　state　of　profound　sleep；　or　rather　stupor。　My　dreams　were　of
the　most　terrific　description。　Every　species　of　calamity　and　horror
befell　me。　Among　other　miseries　I　was　smothered　to　death　between　huge
pillows；　by　demons　of　the　most　ghastly　and　ferocious　aspect。　Immense
serpents　held　me　in　their　embrace；　and　looked　earnestly　in　my　face
with　their　fearfully　shining　eyes。　Then　deserts；　limitless；　and　of
the　most　forlorn　and　awe…inspiring　character；　spread　themselves　out
before　me。　Immensely　tall　trunks　of　trees；　gray　and　leafless；　rose　up
in　endless　succession　as　far　as　the　eye　could　reach。　Their　roots　were
concealed　in　wide…spreading　morasses；　whose　dreary　water　lay
intensely　black；　still；　and　altogether　terrible；　beneath。　And　the
strange　trees　seemed　endowed　with　a　human　vitality；　and　waving　to　and
fro　their　skeleton　arms；　were　crying　to　the　silent　waters　for　mercy；
in　the　shrill　and　piercing　accents　of　the　most　acute　agony　and
despair。　The　scene　changed；　and　I　stood；　naked　and　alone；　amidst　the
burning　sand…plains　of　Sahara。　At　my　feet　lay　crouched　a　fierce　lion
of　the　tropics。　Suddenly　his　wild　eyes　opened　and　fell　upon　me。　With
a　conculsive　bound　he　sprang　to　his　feet；　and　laid　bare　his　horrible
teeth。　In　another　instant　there　burst　from　his　red　throat　a　roar　like
the　thunder　of　the　firmament；　and　I　fell　impetuously　to　the　earth。
Stifling　in　a　paroxysm　of　terror；　I　at　last　found　myself　partially
awake。　My　dream；　then；　was　not　all　a　dream。　Now；　at　least；　I　was　in
possession　of　my　senses。　The　paws　of　some　huge　and　real　monster　were
pressing　heavily　upon　my　bosom　　his　hot　breath　was　in　my　ear…　and
his　white　and　ghastly　fangs　were　gleaming　upon　me　through　the　gloom。

　　　　Had　a　thousand　lives　hung　upon　the　movement　of　a　limb　or　the
utterance　of　a　syllable；　I　could　have　neither　stirred　nor　spoken。　The
beast；　whatever　it　was；　retained　his　position　without　attempting　any
immediate　violence；　while　I　lay　in　an　utterly　helpless；　and；　I
fancied；　a　dying　condition　beneath　him。　I　felt　that　my　powers　of　body
and　mind　were　fast　leaving　me…　in　a　word；　that　I　was　perishing；　and
perishing　of　sheer　fright。　My　brain　swam　　I　grew　deadly　sick　　my
vision　failed　　even　the　glaring　eyeballs　above　me　grew　dim。　Making
a　last　strong　effort；　I　at　length　breathed　a　faint　ejaculation　to
God；　and　resigned　myself　to　die。　The　sound　of　my　voice　seemed　to
arouse　all　the　latent　fury　of　the　animal。　He　precipitated　himself　at
full　length　upon　my　body；　but　what　was　my　astonishment；　when；　with　a
long　and　low　whine；　he　commenced　licking　my　face　and　hands　with　the
greatest　eagerness；　and　with　the　most　extravagant　demonstration　of
affection　and　joy！　I　was　bewildered；　utterly　lost　in　amazement…　but　I
could　not　forget　the　peculiar　whine　of　my　Newfoundland　dog　Tiger；　and
the　odd　manner　of　his　caresses　I　well　knew。　It　was　he。　I　experienced
a　sudden　rush　of　blood　to　my　temples…　a　giddy　and　overpowering　sense
of　deliverance　and　reanimation。　I　rose　hurriedly　from　the　mattress
upon　which　I　had　been　lying；　and；　throwing　myself　upon　the　neck　of　my
faithful　follower　and　friend；　relieved　the　long　oppression　of　my
bosom　in　a　flood　of　the　most　passionate　tears。

　　　　As　upon　a　former　occasion　my　conceptions　were　in　a　state　of　the
greatest　indistinctness　and　confusion　after　leaving　the　mattress。　For
a　long　time　I　found　it　nearly　impossible　to　connect　any　ideas；　but；
by　very　slow　degrees；　my　thinking　faculties　returned；　and　I　again
called　to　memory　the　several　incidents　of　my　condition。　For　the
presence　of　Tiger　I　tried　in　vain　to　account；　and　after　busying
myself　with　a　thousand　different　conjectures　respecting　him；　was
forced　to　content　myself　with　rejoicing　that　he　was　with　me　to　share
my　dreary　solitude；　and　render　me　comfort　by　his　caresses。　Most
people　love　their　dogs　　but　for　Tiger　I　had　an　affection　far　more
ardent　than　common；　and　never；　certainly；　did　any　creature　more　truly
deserve　it。　For　seven　years　he　had　been　my　inseparable　companion；　and
in　a　multitude　of　instances　had　given　evidence　of　all　the　noble
qualities　for　which　we　value　the　animal。　I　had　rescued　him；　when　a
puppy；　from　the　clutches　of　a　malignant　little　villain　in　Nantucket
who　was　leading　him；　with　a　rope　around　his　neck；　to　the　water；　and
the　grown　dog　repaid　the　obligation；　about　three　years　afterward；　by
saving　me　from　the　bludgeon　of　a　street　robber。

　　　　Getting　now　hold　of　the　watch；　I　found；　upon　applying　it　to　my
ear；　that　it　had　again　run　down；　but　at　this　I　was　not　at　all
surprised；　being　convinced；　from　the　peculiar　state　of　my　feelings；
that　I　had　slept；　as　before；　for　a　very　long　period　of　time；　how
long；　it　was　of　course　impossible　to　say。　I　was　burning　up　with
fever；　and　my　thirst　was　almost　intolerable。　I　felt　about　the　box　for
my　little　remaining　supply　of　water；　for　I　had　no　light；　the　taper
having　burnt　to　the　socket　of　the　lantern；　and　the　phosphorus…box　not
coming　readily　to　hand。　Upon　finding　the　jug；　however；　I　discovered
it　to　be　empty　　Tiger；　no　doubt；　having　been　tempted　to　drink　it；
as　well　as　to　devour　the　remnant　of　mutton；　the　bone　of　which　lay；
well　picked；　by　the　opening　of　the　box。　The　spoiled　meat　I　could　well
spare；　but　my　heart　sank　as　I　thought　of　the　water。　I　was　feeble　in
the　extreme　　so　much　so　that　I　shook　all　over；　as　with　an　ague；　at
the　slightest　movement　or　exertion。　To　add　to　my　troubles；　the　brig
was　pitching　and　rolling　with　great　violence；　and　the　oil…casks　which
lay　upon　my　box　were　in　momentary　danger　of　falling　down；　so　as　to
block　up　the　only　way　of　ingress　or　egress。　I　felt；　also；　terrible
sufferings　from　sea…sickness。　These　considerations　determined　me　to
make　my　way；　at　all　hazards；　to　the　trap；　and　obtain　immediate
relief；　before　I　should　be　incapacitated　from　doing　so　altogether。
Having　come　to　this　resolve；　I　again　felt　about　for　the
phosphorus…box　and　tapers。　The　former　I　found　after　some　little
trouble；　but；　not　discovering　the　tapers　as　soon　as　I　had　expected
（for　I　remembered　very　nearly　the　spot　in　which　I　had　placed　them）；　I
gave　up　the　search　for　the　present；　and　bidding　Tiger　lie　quiet；
began　at　once　my　journey　toward　the　trap。

　　　　In　this　attempt　my　great　feebleness　became　more　than　ever
apparent。　It　was　with　the　utmost　difficulty　I　could　crawl　along　at
all；　and　very　frequently　my　limbs　sank　suddenly　from　beneath　me；
when；　falling　prostrate　on　my　face；　I　would　remain　for　some　minutes
in　a　state　bordering　on　insensibility。　Still　I　struggled　forward　by
slow　degrees；　dreading　every　moment　that　I　should　swoon　amid　the
narrow　and　intricate　windings　of　the　lumber；　in　which　event　I　had
nothing　but　death　to　expect　as　the　result。　At　length；　upon　making　a
push　forward　with　all　the　energy　I　could　command；　I　struck　my
forehead　violently　against　the　sharp　corner　of　an　iron…bound　crate。
The　accident　only　stunned　me　for　a　few　moments；　but　I　found；　to　my
inexpressible　grief；　that　the　quick　and　violent　roll　of　the　vessel
had　thrown　the　crate　entirely　across　my　path；　so　as　effectually　to
block　up　the　passage。　With　my　utmost　exertions　I　could　not　move　it　a
single　inch　from　its　position；　it　being　closely　wedged　in　among　the
surrounding　boxes　and　ship…furniture。　It　became　necessary；　therefore；
enfeebled　as　I　was；　either　to　leave　the　guidance　of　the　whipcord　and
seek　out　a　new　passage；　or　to　climb　over　the　obstacle；　and　resume　the
path　on　the　other　side。　The　former　alternative　presented　too　many
difficulties　and　dangers　to　be　thought　of　without　a　shudder。　In　my
present　weak　state　of　both　mind　and　body；　I　should　infallibly　lose　my
way　if　I　attempted　it；　and　perish　miserably　amid　the　dismal　and
disgusting　labyrinths　of　the　hold。　I　proceeded；　therefore；　without
hesitation；　to　summon　up　all　my　remaining　strength　and　fortitude；　and
endeavour；　as　I　best　might；　to　clamber　over　the　crate。

　　　　Upon　standing　erect；　with　this　end　in　view；　I　found　the
undertaking　even　a　more　serious　task　than　my　fears　had　led　me　to
imagine。　On　each　side　of　the　narrow　passage　arose　a　complete　wall　of
various　heavy　lumber；　which　the　least　blunder　on　my　part　might　be　the
means　of　bringing　down　upon　my　head；　or；　if　this　accident　did　not
occur；　the　path　might　be　effectually　blocked　up　against　my　return　by
the　descending　mass；　as　it　was　in　front　by　the　obstacle　there。　The
crate　itself　was　a　long　and　unwieldy　box；　upon　which　no　foothold
could　be　obtained。　In　vain　I　attempted；　by　every　means　in　my　power；
to　reach　the　top；　with　the　hope　of　being　thus　enabled　to　draw　myself
up。　Had　I　succeeded　in　reaching　it；　it　is　certain　that　my　strength
would　have　proved　utterly　inadequate　to　the　task　of　getting　over；　and
it　was　better　in　every　respect　that　I　failed。　At　length；　in　a
desperate　effort　to　force　the　crate　from　its　ground；　I　felt　a　strong
vibration　in　the　side　next　me。　I　thrust　my　hand　eagerly　to　the　edge
of　the　planks；　and　found　that　a　very　large　one　was　loose。　With　my
pocket…knife；　which；　luckily；　I　had　with　me；　I　succeeded；　after　great
labour；　in　prying　it　entirely　off；　and　getting　it　through　the
aperture；　discovered；　to　my　exceeding　joy；　that　there　were　no　boards
on　the　opposite　side　　in　other　words；　that　the　top　was　wanting；　it
being　the　bottom　through　which　I　had　forced　my　way。　I　now　met　with　no
important　difficulty　in　proceeding　along　the　line　until　I　finally
reached　the　nail。　With　a　beating　heart　I　stood　erect；　and　with　a
gentle　touch　pressed　against　the　cover　of　the　trap。　It　did　not　rise
as　soon　as　I　had　expected；　and　I　pressed　it　with　somewhat　more
determination；　still　dreading　lest　some　other　person　than　Augustus
might　be　in　his　state…room。　The　door；　however；　to　my　astonishment；
remained　steady；　and　I　became　somewhat　uneasy；　for　I　knew　that　it　had
formerly　required　but　little　or　no　effort　to　remove　it。　I　pushed　it
strongly　　it　was　nevertheless　firm：　with　all　my　strength　　it
still　did　not　give　way：　with　rage；　with　fury；　with　despair　　it　set
at　defiance　my　utmost　efforts；　and　it　was　evident；　from　the
unyielding　nature　of　the　resistance；　that　the　hole　had　either　been
discovered　and　effectually　nailed　up；　or　that　some　immense　weight　had
been　placed　upon　it；　which　it　was　useless　to　think　of　removing。

　　　　My　sensations　were　those　of　extreme　horror　and　dismay。　In　vain　I
attempted　to　reason　on　the　probable　cause　of　my　being　thus　entombed。
I　could　summon　up　no　connected　chain　of　reflection；　and；　sinking　on
the　floor；　gave　way；　unresistingly；　to　the　most　gloomy　imaginings；　in
which　the　dreadful　deaths　of　thirst；　famine；　suffocation；　and
premature　interment　crowded　upon　me　as　the　prominent　disasters　to　be
encountered。　At　length　there　returned　to　me　some　portion　of　presence
of　mind。　I　arose；　and　felt　with　my　fingers　for　the　seams　or　cracks　of
the　aperture。　Having　found　them；　I　examined　them　closely　to　ascertain
if　they　emitted　any　light　from　the　state…room；　but　none　was　visible。
I　then　forced　the　blade　of　my　pen…knife　through　them；　until　I　met
with　some　hard　obstacle。　Scraping　agains