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I secured near the companion…way； to be ready for use when required。
I now steadied myself as well as possible so as to have a good
view of all that was passing within； and endeavoured to nerve myself
to the task of descending among the mutineers when Peters should make
a signal to me； as agreed upon。 Presently he contrived to turn the
conversation upon the bloody deeds of the mutiny； and by degrees led
the men to talk of the thousand superstitions which are so
universally current among seamen。 I could not make out all that was
said； but I could plainly see the effects of the conversation in the
countenances of those present。 The mate was evidently much agitated；
and presently； when some one mentioned the terrific appearance of
Rogers' corpse； I thought he was upon the point of swooning。 Peters
now asked him if he did not think it would be better to have the body
thrown overboard at once as it was too horrible a sight to see it
floundering about in the scuppers。 At this the villain absolutely
gasped for breath； and turned his head slowly round upon his
companions； as if imploring some one to go up and perform the task。
No one； however； stirred； and it was quite evident that the whole
party were wound up to the highest pitch of nervous excitement。
Peters now made me the signal。 I immediately threw open the door of
the companion…way； and； descending； without uttering a syllable；
stood erect in the midst of the party。
The intense effect produced by this sudden apparition is not at
all to be wondered at when the various circumstances are taken into
consideration。 Usually； in cases of a similar nature； there is left
in the mind of the spectator some glimmering of doubt as to the
reality of the vision before his eyes； a degree of hope； however
feeble； that he is the victim of chicanery； and that the apparition
is not actually a visitant from the old world of shadows。 It is not
too much to say that such remnants of doubt have been at the bottom
of almost every such visitation； and that the appalling horror which
has sometimes been brought about； is to be attributed； even in the
cases most in point； and where most suffering has been experienced；
more to a kind of anticipative horror； lest the apparition might
possibly be real； than to an unwavering belief in its reality。 But；
in the present instance； it will be seen immediately； that in the
minds of the mutineers there was not even the shadow of a basis upon
which to rest a doubt that the apparition of Rogers was indeed a
revivification of his disgusting corpse； or at least its spiritual
image。 The isolated situation of the brig； with its entire
inaccessibility on account of the gale； confined the apparently
possible means of deception within such narrow and definite limits；
that they must have thought themselves enabled to survey them all at
a glance。 They had now been at sea twenty…four days； without holding
more than a speaking communication with any vessel whatever。 The
whole of the crew； too… at least all whom they had the most remote
reason for suspecting to be on board… were assembled in the cabin；
with the exception of Allen； the watch； and his gigantic stature （be
was six feet six inches high） was too familiar in their eyes to
permit the notion that he was the apparition before them to enter
their minds even for an instant。 Add to these considerations the
awe…inspiring nature of the tempest； and that of the conversation
brought about by Peters； the deep impression which the loathsomeness
of the actual corpse had made in the morning upon the imaginations of
the men； the excellence of the imitation in my person； and the
uncertain and wavering light in which they beheld me； as the glare of
the cabin lantern； swinging violently to and fro； fell dubiously and
fitfully upon my figure； and there will be no reason to wonder that
the deception had even more than the entire effect which we had
anticipated。 The mate sprang up from the mattress on which he was
lying； and； without uttering a syllable； fell back； stone dead； upon
the cabin floor； and was hurled to the leeward like a log by a heavy
roll of the brig。 Of the remaining seven； there were but three who
had at first any degree of presence of mind。 The four others sat for
some time rooted apparently to the floor； the most pitiable objects
of horror and utter despair my eyes ever encountered。 The only
opposition we experienced at all was from the cook； John Hunt； and
Richard Parker； but they made but a feeble and irresolute defence。
The two former were shot instantly by Peters； and I felled Parker
with a blow on the head from the pump…handle which I had brought with
me。 In the meantime； Augustus seized one of the muskets lying on the
floor now but three remaining； but by this time they had become
aroused from their lethargy； and perhaps began to see that a
deception had been practised upon them； for they fought with great
resolution and fury； and； but for the immense muscular strength of
Peters； might have ultimately got the better of us。 These three men
were Jones； Greely； and Absolom Hicks。 Jones had thrown
Augustus to the floor； stabbed him in several places along the right
arm； and would no doubt have soon dispatched him （as neither Peters
nor myself could immediately get rid of our own antagonists）； had it
not been for the timely aid of a friend； upon whose assistance we；
surely； had never depended。 This friend was no other than Tiger。 With
a low growl； he bounded into the cabin； at a most critical moment for
Augustus； and throwing himself upon Jones； pinned him to the floor in
an instant。 My friend； however； was now too much injured to render us
any aid whatever； and I was so encumbered with my disguise that I
could do but little。 The dog would not leave his hold upon the throat
of Jones Peters； nevertheless； was far more than a match for the
two men who remained； and would； no doubt； have dispatched them
sooner； had it not been for the narrow space in which he had to act；
and the tremendous lurches of the vessel。 Presently he was enabled to
get hold of a heavy stool； several of which lay about the floor。 With
this he beat out the brains of Greely as he was in the act of
discharging a musket at me； and immediately afterward a roll of the
brig throwing him in contact with Hicks； he seized him by the throat；
and； by dint of sheer strength； strangled him instantaneously。 Thus；
in far less time than I have taken to tell it； we found ourselves
masters of the brig。
The only person of our opponents who was left alive was Richard
Parker。 This man； it will be remembered； I had knocked down with a
blow from the pump…handle at the commencement of the attack。 He now
lay motionless by the door of the shattered stateroom； but； upon
Peters touching him with his foot； he spoke； and entreated for mercy。
His head was only slightly cut； and otherwise he had received no
injury； having been merely stunned by the blow。 He now got up； and；
for the present； we secured his hands behind his back。 The dog was
still growling over Jones； but； upon examination； we found him
completely dead； the blood issuing in a stream from a deep w