the works of edgar allan poe-3-第7章

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sentences　before　me…　for　I　saw　there　were　three。　In　my　anxiety；
however；　to　read　all　at　once；　I　succeeded　only　in　reading　the　seven
concluding　words；　which　thus　appeared…　〃blood…　your　life　depends　upon
lying　close。〃

　　　　　Had　I　been　able　to　ascertain　the　entire　contents　of　the　note…the
full　meaning　of　the　admonition　which　my　friend　had　thus　attempted　to
convey；　that　admonition；　even　although　it　should　have　revealed　a
story　of　disaster　the　most　unspeakable；　could　not；　I　am　firmly
convinced；　have　imbued　my　mind　with　one　tithe　of　the　harrowing　and
yet　indefinable　horror　with　which　I　was　inspired　by　the　fragmentary
warning　thus　received。　And　〃blood；〃　too；　that　word　of　all　words…　so
rife　at　all　times　with　mystery；　and　suffering；　and　terror…　how　trebly
full　of　import　did　it　now　appear…　how　chilly　and　heavily　（disjointed；
as　it　thus　was；　from　any　foregoing　words　to　qualify　or　render　it
distinct）　did　its　vague　syllables　fall；　amid　the　deep　gloom　of　my
prison；　into　the　innermost　recesses　of　my　soul！

　　　　　Augustus　had；　undoubtedly；　good　reasons　for　wishing　me　to　remain
concealed；　and　I　formed　a　thousand　surmises　as　to　what　they　could　be…
but　I　could　think　of　nothing　affording　a　satisfactory　solution　of　the
mystery。　just　after　returning　from　my　last　journey　to　the　trap；　and
before　my　attention　had　been　otherwise　directed　by　the　singular
conduct　of　Tiger；　I　had　come　to　the　resolution　of　making　myself　heard
at　all　events　by　those　on　board；　or；　if　I　could　not　succeed　in　this
directly；　of　trying　to　cut　my　way　through　the　orlop　deck。　The　half
certainty　which　I　felt　of　being　able　to　accomplish　one　of　these　two
purposes　in　the　last　emergency；　had　given　me　courage　（which　I　should
not　otherwise　have　had）　to　endure　the　evils　of　my　situation。　The　few
words　I　had　been　able　to　read；　however；　had　cut　me　off　from　these
final　resources；　and　I　now；　for　the　first　time；　felt　all　the　misery
of　my　fate。　In　a　paroxysm　of　despair　I　threw　myself　again　upon　the
mattress；　where；　for　about　the　period　of　a　day　and　night；　I　lay　in　a
kind　of　stupor；　relieved　only　by　momentary　intervals　of　reason　and
recollection。

　　　　　At　length　I　once　more　arose；　and　busied　myself　in　reflection
upon　the　horrors　which　encompassed　me。　For　another　twenty…four　hours
it　was　barely　possible　that　I　might　exist　without　water…　for　a　longer
time　I　could　not　do　so。　During　the　first　portion　of　my　imprisonment　I
had　made　free　use　of　the　cordials　with　which　Augustus　had　supplied
me；　but　they　only　served　to　excite　fever；　without　in　the　least　degree
assuaging　thirst。　I　had　now　only　about　a　gill　left；　and　this　was　of　a
species　of　strong　peach　liqueur　at　which　my　stomach　revolted。　The
sausages　were　entirely　consumed；　of　the　ham　nothing　remained　but　a
small　piece　of　the　skin；　and　all　the　biscuit；　except　a　few　fragments
of　one；　had　been　eaten　by　Tiger。　To　add　to　my　troubles；　I　found　that
my　headache　was　increasing　momentarily；　and　with　it　the　species　of
delirium　which　had　distressed　me　more　or　less　since　my　first　falling
asleep。　For　some　hours　past　it　had　been　with　the　greatest　difficulty
I　could　breathe　at　all；　and　now　each　attempt　at　so　doing　was　attended
with　the　most　depressing　spasmodic　action　of　the　chest。　But　there　was
still　another　and　very　different　source　of　disquietude；　and　one；
indeed；　whose　harassing　terrors　had　been　the　chief　means　of　arousing
me　to　exertion　from　my　stupor　on　the　mattress。　It　arose　from　the
demeanor　of　the　dog。

　　　　　I　first　observed　an　alteration　in　his　conduct　while　rubbing　in
the　phosphorus　on　the　paper　in　my　last　attempt。　As　I　rubbed；　he　ran
his　nose　against　my　hand　with　a　slight　snarl；　but　I　was　too　greatly
excited　at　the　time　to　pay　much　attention　to　the　circumstance。　Soon
afterward；　it　will　be　remembered；　I　threw　myself　on　the　mattress；　and
fell　into　a　species　of　lethargy。　Presently　I　became　aware　of　a
singular　hissing　sound　close　at　my　ears；　and　discovered　it　to　proceed
from　Tiger；　who　was　panting　and　wheezing　in　a　state　of　the　greatest
apparent　excitement；　his　eyeballs　flashing　fiercely　through　the
gloom。　I　spoke　to　him；　when　he　replied　with　a　low　growl；　and　then
remained　quiet。　Presently　I　relapsed　into　my　stupor；　from　which　I　was
again　awakened　in　a　similar　manner。　This　was　repeated　three　or　four
times；　until　finally　his　behaviour　inspired　me　with　so　great　a　degree
of　fear；　that　I　became　fully　aroused。　He　was　now　lying　close　by　the
door　of　the　box；　snarling　fearfully；　although　in　a　kind　of　undertone；
and　grinding　his　teeth　as　if　strongly　convulsed。　I　had　no　doubt
whatever　that　the　want　of　water　or　the　confined　atmosphere　of　the
hold　had　driven　him　mad；　and　I　was　at　a　loss　what　course　to　pursue。　I
could　not　endure　the　thought　of　killing　him；　yet　it　seemed　absolutely
necessary　for　my　own　safety。　I　could　distinctly　perceive　his　eyes
fastened　upon　me　with　an　expression　of　the　most　deadly　animosity；　and
I　expected　every　instant　that　he　would　attack　me。　At　last　I　could
endure　my　terrible　situation　no　longer；　and　determined　to　make　my　way
from　the　box　at　all　hazards；　and　dispatch　him；　if　his　opposition
should　render　it　necessary　for　me　to　do　so。　To　get　out；　I　had　to　pass
directly　over　his　body；　and　he　already　seemed　to　anticipate　my
design…　missing　himself　upon　his　fore。　legs　（as　I　perceived　by　the
altered　position　of　his　eyes）；　and　displayed　the　whole　of　his　white
fangs；　which　were　easily　discernible。　I　took　the　remains　of　the
ham…skin；　and　the　bottle　containing　the　liqueur；　and　secured　them
about　my　person；　together　with　a　large　carving…knife　which　Augustus
had　left　me…　then；　folding　my　cloak　around　me　as　closely　as　possible；
I　made　a　movement　toward　the　mouth　of　the　box。　No　sooner　did　I　do
this；　than　the　dog　sprang　with　a　loud　growl　toward　my　throat。　The
whole　weight　of　his　body　struck　me　on　the　right　shoulder；　and　I　fell
violently　to　the　left；　while　the　enraged　animal　passed　entirely　over
me。　I　had　fallen　upon　my　knees；　with　my　head　buried　among　the
blankets；　and　these　protected　me　from　a　second　furious　assault；
during　which　I　felt　the　sharp　teeth　pressing　vigorously　upon　the
woollen　which　enveloped　my　neck…　yet；　luckily；　without　being　able　to
penetrate　all　the　folds。　I　was　now　beneath　the　dog；　and　a　few　moments
would　place　me　completely　in　his　power。　Despair　gave　me　strength；　and
I　rose　boldly　up；　shaking　him　from　me　by　main　force；　and　dragging
with　me　the　blankets　from　the　mattress。　These　I　now　threw　over　him；
and　before　he　could　extricate　himself；　I　had　got　through　the　door　and
closed　it　effectually　against　his　pursuit。　In　this　struggle；　however；
I　had　been　forced　to　drop　the　morsel　of　ham…skin；　and　I　now　found　my
whole　stock　of　provisions　reduced　to　a　single　gill　of　liqueur；　As
this　reflection　crossed　my　mind；　I　felt　myself　actuated　by　one　of
those　fits　of　perverseness　which　might　be　supposed　to　influence　a
spoiled　child　in　similar　circumstances；　and；　raising　the　bottle　to　my
lips；　I　drained　it　to　the　last　drop；　and　dashed　it　furiously　upon　the
floor。

　　　　　Scarcely　had　the　echo　of　the　crash　died　away；　when　I　heard　my
name　pronounced　in　an　eager　but　subdued　voice；　issuing　from　the
direction　of　the　steerage。　So　unexpected　was　anything　of　the　kind；
and　so　intense　was　the　emotion　excited　within　me　by　the　sound；　that　I
endeavoured　in　vain　to　reply。　My　powers　of　speech　totally　failed；　and
in　an　agony　of　terror　lest　my　friend　should　conclude　me　dead；　and
return　without　attempting　to　reach　me；　I　stood　up　between　the　crates
near　the　door　of　the　box；　trembling　convulsively；　and　gasping　and
struggling　for　utterance。　Had　a　thousand　words　depended　upon　a
syllable；　I　could　not　have　spoken　it。　There　was　a　slight　movement　now
audible　among　the　lumber　somewhere　forward　of　my　station。　The　sound
presently　grew　less　distinct；　then　again　less　so；　and　still　less。
Shall　I　ever　forget　my　feelings　at　this　moment？　He　was　going…　my
friend；　my　companion；　from　whom　I　had　a　right　to　expect　so　much…　he
was　going…　he　would　abandon　me…　he　was　gone！　He　would　leave　me　to
perish　miserably；　to　expire　in　the　most　horrible　and　loathesome　of
dungeons…　and　one　word；　one　little　syllable；　would　save　me…　yet　that
single　syllable　I　could　not　utter！　I　felt；　I　am　sure；　more　than　ten
thousand　times　the　agonies　of　death　itself。　My　brain　reeled；　and　I
fell；　deadly　sick；　against　the　end　of　the　box。

　　　　　As　I　fell　the　carving…knife　was　shaken　out　from　the　waist…band
of　my　pantaloons；　and　dropped　with　a　rattling　sound　to　the　floor。
Never　did　any　strain　of　the　richest　melody　come　so　sweetly　to　my
ears！　With　the　intensest　anxiety　I　listened　to　ascertain　the　effect
of　the　noise　upon　Augustus…　for　I　knew　that　the　person　who　called　my
name　could　be　no　one　but　himself。　All　was　silent　for　some　moments。　At
length　I　again　heard　the　word　〃Arthur！〃　repeated　in　a　low　tone；　and
one　full　of　hesitation。　Reviving　hope　loosened　at　once　my　powers　of
speech；　and　I　now　screamed　at　the　top　of　my　voice；　〃Augustus！　oh；
Augustus！〃　〃Hush！　for　God's　sake　be　silent！〃　he　replied；　in　a　voice
trembling　with　agitation；　〃I　will　be　with　you　immediately…　as　soon　as
I　can　make　my　way　through　the　hold。〃　For　a　long　time　I　heard　him
moving　among　the　lumber；　and　every　moment　seemed　to　me　an　age。　At
length　I　felt　his　hand　upon　my　shoulder；　and　he　placed；　at　the　same
moment；　a　bottle　of　water　to　my　lips。　Those　only　who　have　been
suddenly　redeemed　from　the　jaws　of　the　tomb；　or　who　have　known　the
insufferable　torments　of　thirst　under　circumstances　as　aggravated　as
those　which　encompassed　me　in　my　dreary　prison；　can　form　any　idea　of
the　unutterable　transports　which　that　one　long　draught　of　the　richest
of　all　physical　luxuries　afforded。

　　　　　When　I　had　in　some　degree　satisfied　my　thirst；　Augustus　produced
from　his　pocket　three　or　four　boiled　potatoes；　which　I　devoured　with
the　greatest　avidity。　He　had　brought　with　him　a　light　in　a　dark
lantern；　and　the　grateful　rays　afforded　me　scarcely　less　comfort　than
the　food　and　drink。　But　I　was　impatient　to　learn　the　cause　of　his
protracted　absence；　and　he　proceeded　to　recount　what　had　happened　on
board　during　my　incarceration。

~~~　End　of　Text　of　Chapter　3　~~~

CHAPTER　4



　　　　THE　brig　put　to　sea；　as　I　had　supposed；　in　about　an　hour　after　he
had　left　the　watch。　This　was　on　the　twentieth　of　June。　It　will　be
remembered　that　I　had　then　been　in　the　hold　for　three　days；　and；
during　this　period；　there　was　so　constant　a　bustle　on　board；　and　so
much　running　to　and　fro；　especially　in　the　cabin　and　staterooms；　that
he　had　had　no　chance　of　visiting　me　without　the　risk　of　having　the
secret　of　the　trap　discovered。　When　at　length　he　did　come；　I　had
assured　him　that　I　was　doing　as　well　as　possible；　and；　therefore；　for
the　two　next　days　be　felt　but　little　uneasiness　on　my　account…　still；
however；　watching　an　opportunity　of　going　down。　It　was　not　until　the
fourth　day　that　he　found　one。　Several　times　during　this　interval　he
had　made　up　his　mind　to　let　his　father　know　of　the　adventure；　and
have　me　come　up　at　once；　but　we　were　still　within　reaching　distance
of　Nantucket；　and　it　was　doubtful；　from　some　expressions　which　had
escaped　Captain　Barnard；　whether　he　would　not　immediately　put　back　if
he　discovered　me　to　be　on　board。　Besides；　upon　thinking　the　matter
over；　Augustu