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stay under water； and it became absolutely necessary that some other
one of us should take his place。 For this service Parker immediately
volunteered； but； after making three ineffectual efforts； found that
he could never even succeed in getting near the door。 The condition
of Augustus's wounded arm rendered it useless for him to attempt
going down； as he would be unable to force the room open should be
reach it； and it accordingly now devolved upon me to exert myself for
our common deliverance。
Peters had left one of the chains in the passage； and I found；
upon plunging in； that I had not sufficient balance to keep me firmly
down。 I determined； therefore； to attempt no more； in my first
effort； than merely to recover the other chain。 In groping along the
floor of the passage for this； I felt a hard substance； which I
immediately grasped； not having time to ascertain what it was； but
returning and ascending instantly to the surface。 The prize proved to
be a bottle； and our joy may be conceived when I say that it was
found to be full of port wine。 Giving thanks to God for this timely
and cheering assistance； we immediately drew the cork with my
penknife； and； each taking a moderate sup； felt the most
indescribable comfort from the warmth； strength； and spirits with
which it inspired us。 We then carefully recorked the bottle； and； by
means of a handkerchief； swung it in such a manner that there was no
possibility of its getting broken。
Having rested a while after this fortunate discovery； I again
descended； and now recovered the chain； with which I instantly came
up。 I then fastened it on and went down for the third time； when I
became fully satisfied that no exertions whatever； in that situation；
would enable me to force open the door of the storeroom。 I therefore
returned in despair。
There seemed now to be no longer any room for hope； and I could
perceive in the countenances of my companions that they had made up
their minds to perish。 The wine had evidently produced in them a
species of delirium； which； perhaps； I had been prevented from
feeling by the immersion I had undergone since drinking it。 They
talked incoherently； and about matters unconnected with our
condition； Peters repeatedly asking me questions about Nantucket。
Augustus； too； I remember； approached me with a serious air； and
requested me to lend him a pocket…comb； as his hair was full of
fish…scales； and he wished to get them out before going on shore。
Parker appeared somewhat less affected； and urged me to dive at
random into the cabin； and bring up any article which might come to
hand。 To this I consented； and； in the first attempt； after staying
under a full minute； brought up a small leather trunk belonging to
Captain Barnard。 This was immediately opened in the faint hope that
it might contain something to eat or drink。 We found nothing；
however； except a box of razors and two linen shirts。 I now went down
again； and returned without any success。 As my head came above water
I heard a crash on deck； and； upon getting up； saw that my companions
had ungratefully taken advantage of my absence to drink the remainder
of the wine； having let the bottle fall in the endeavour to replace
it before I saw them。 I remonstrated with them on the heartlessness
of their conduct； when Augustus burst into tears。 The other two
endeavoured to laugh the matter off as a joke； but I hope never again
to behold laughter of such a species： the distortion of countenance
was absolutely frightful。 Indeed； it was apparent that the stimulus；
in the empty state of their stomachs； had taken instant and violent
effect； and that they were all exceedingly intoxicated。 With great
difficulty I prevailed upon them to lie down； when they fell very
soon into a heavy slumber； accompanied with loud stertorous
breathing。
I now found myself； as it were； alone in the brig； and my
reflections； to be sure； were of the most fearful and gloomy nature。
No prospect offered itself to my view but a lingering death by
famine； or； at the best； by being overwhelmed in the first gale which
should spring up； for in our present exhausted condition we could
have no hope of living through another。
The gnawing hunger which I now experienced was nearly
insupportable； and I felt myself capable of going to any lengths in
order to appease it。 With my knife I cut off a small portion of the
leather trunk； and endeavoured to eat it； but found it utterly
impossible to swallow a single morsel； although I fancied that some
little alleviation of my suffering was obtained by chewing small
pieces of it and spitting them out。 Toward night my companions awoke；
one by one； each in an indescribable state of weakness and horror；
brought on by the wine； whose fumes had now evaporated。 They shook as
if with a violent ague； and uttered the most lamentable cries for
water。 Their condition affected me in the most lively degree； at the
same time causing me to rejoice in the fortunate train of
circumstances which had prevented me from indulging in the wine； and
consequently from sharing their melancholy and most distressing
sensations。 Their conduct； however； gave me great uneasiness and
alarm； for it was evident that； unless some favourable change took
place； they could afford me no assistance in providing for our common
safety。 I had not yet abandoned all idea being able to get up
something from below； but the attempt could not possibly be resumed
until some one of them was sufficiently master of himself to aid me
by holding the end of the rope while I went down。 Parker appeared to
be somewhat more in possession of his senses than the others； and I
endeavoured； by every means in my power； to rouse him。 Thinking that
a plunge in the sea…water might have a beneficial effect； I contrived
to fasten the end of a rope around his body； and then； leading him to
the companion…way （he remaining quite passive all the while）； pushed
him in； and immediately drew him out。 I had good reason to
congratulate myself upon having made this experiment； for he appeared
much revived and invigorated； and； upon getting out； asked me； in a
rational manner； why I had so served him。 Having explained my object；
he expressed himself indebted to me； and said that he felt greatly
better from the immersion； afterward conversing sensibly upon our
situation。 We then resolved to treat Augustus and Peters in the same
way； which we immediately did； when they both experienced much
benefit from the shock。 This idea of sudden immersion had been
suggested to me by reading in some medical work the good effect of
the shower…bath in a case where the patient was suffering from _mania
a potu_。
Finding that I could now trust my companions to hold the end of
the rope； I again made three or four plunges into the cabin； although
it was now quite dark； and a gentle but long swell from the northward
rendered the hulk somewhat unsteady。 In the course of these attempts
I succeeded in bringing up two case…knives； a three…gallon jug；
empty； and a blanket； but nothing which could serve us for food。 I
continued my efforts； after getting these articles； until I w