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son of an Indian squaw of the tribe of Upsarokas； who live among the
fastnesses of the Black Hills； near the source of the Missouri。 His
father was a fur…trader； I believe； or at least connected in some
manner with the Indian trading…posts on Lewis river。 Peter himself
was one of the most ferocious…looking men I ever beheld。 He was short
in stature； not more than four feet eight inches high； but his limbs
were of Herculean mould。 His hands； especially； were so enormously
thick and broad as hardly to retain a human shape。 His arms； as well
as legs； were bowed in the most singular manner； and appeared to
possess no flexibility whatever。 His head was equally deformed； being
of immense size； with an indentation on the crown （like that on the
head of most negroes）； and entirely bald。 To conceal this latter
deficiency； which did not proceed from old age； he usually wore a wig
formed of any hair…like material which presented itself… occasionally
the skin of a Spanish dog or American grizzly bear。 At the time
spoken of； he had on a portion of one of these bearskins； and it
added no little to the natural ferocity of his countenance； which
betook of the Upsaroka character。 The mouth extended nearly from ear
to ear； the lips were thin； and seemed； like some other portions of
his frame； to be devoid of natural pliancy； so that the ruling
expression never varied under the influence of any emotion whatever。
This ruling expression may be conceived when it is considered that
the teeth were exceedingly long and protruding； and never even
partially covered； in any instance； by the lips。 To pass this man
with a casual glance； one might imagine him to be convulsed with
laughter； but a second look would induce a shuddering acknowledgment；
that if such an expression were indicative of merriment； the
merriment must be that of a demon。 Of this singular being many
anecdotes were prevalent among the seafaring men of Nantucket。 These
anecdotes went to prove his prodigious strength when under
excitement； and some of them had given rise to a doubt of his sanity。
But on board the Grampus； it seems； he was regarded； at the time of
the mutiny； with feelings more of derision than of anything else。 I
have been thus particular in speaking of Dirk Peters； because；
ferocious as he appeared； he proved the main instrument in preserving
the life of Augustus； and because I shall have frequent occasion to
mention him hereafter in the course of my narrative… a narrative； let
me here say； which； in its latter portions； will be found to include
incidents of a nature so entirely out of the range of human
experience； and for this reason so far beyond the limits of human
credulity； that I proceed in utter hopelessness of obtaining credence
for all that I shall tell； yet confidently trusting in time and
progressing science to verify some of the most important and most
improbable of my statements。
After much indecision and two or three violent quarrels； it was
determined at last that all the prisoners （with the exception of
Augustus； whom Peters insisted in a jocular manner upon keeping as
his clerk） should be set adrift in one of the smallest whaleboats。
The mate went down into the cabin to see if Captain Barnard was still
living… for； it will be remembered； he was left below when the
mutineers came up。 Presently the two made their appearance； the
captain pale as death； but somewhat recovered from the effects of his
wound。 He spoke to the men in a voice hardly articulate； entreated
them not to set him adrift； but to return to their duty； and
promising to land them wherever they chose； and to take no steps for
bringing them to justice。 He might as well have spoken to the winds。
Two of the ruffians seized him by the arms and hurled him over the
brig's side into the boat； which had been lowered while the mate went
below。 The four men who were lying on the deck were then untied and
ordered to follow； which they did without attempting any resistance…
Augustus being still left in his painful position； although he
struggled and prayed only for the poor satisfaction of being
permitted to bid his father farewell。 A handful of sea…biscuit and a
jug of water were now handed down； but neither mast； sail； oar； nor
compass。 The boat was towed astern for a few minutes； during which
the mutineers held another consultation… it was then finally cut
adrift。 By this time night had come on… there were neither moon nor
stars visible… and a short and ugly sea was running； although there
was no great deal of wind。 The boat was instantly out of sight； and
little hope could be entertained for the unfortunate sufferers who
were in it。 This event happened； however； in latitude 35 degrees 30'
north； longitude 61 degrees 20' west； and consequently at no very
great distance from the Bermuda Islands。 Augustus therefore
endeavored to console himself with the idea that the boat might
either succeed in reaching the land； or come sufficiently near to be
fallen in with by vessels off the coast。
All sail was now put upon the brig； and she continued her
original course to the southwest… the mutineers being bent upon some
piratical expedition； in which； from all that could be understood； a
ship was to be intercepted on her way from the Cape Verd Islands to
Porto Rico。 No attention was paid to Augustus； who was untied and
suffered to go about anywhere forward of the cabin companion…way。
Dirk Peters treated him with some degree of kindness； and on one
occasion saved him from the brutality of the cook。 His situation was
still one of the most precarious； as the men were continually
intoxicated； and there was no relying upon their continued good…humor
or carelessness in regard to himself。 His anxiety on my account be
represented； however； as the most distressing result of his
condition； and； indeed； I had never reason to doubt the sincerity of
his friendship。 More than once he had resolved to acquaint the
mutineers with the secret of my being on board； but was restrained
from so doing； partly through recollection of the atrocities he had
already beheld； and partly through a hope of being able soon to bring
me relief。 For the latter purpose he was constantly on the watch；
but； in spite of the most constant vigilance； three days elapsed
after the boat was cut adrift before any chance occurred。 At length；
on the night of the third day； there came on a heavy blow from the
eastward； and all hands were called up to take in sail。 During the
confusion which ensued； he made his way below unobserved； and into
the stateroom。 What was his grief and horror in discovering that the
latter had been rendered a place of deposit for a variety of
sea…stores and ship…furniture； and that several fathoms of old
chain…cable； which had been stowed away beneath the companion…ladder；
had been dragged thence to make room for a chest； and were now lying
immediately upon the trap！ To remove it without discovery was
impossible； and he returned on deck as quickly as he could。 As be
came up； the mate seized him by the throat； and demanding what he had
been doing in the cabin； was about flinging him over the larboard
bulwark； when his l