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to a ringbolt in the deck of the cuddy。 Having thus arranged every
thing as well as I could in my chilled and agitated condition； I
recommended myself to God； and made up my mind to bear whatever might
happen with all the fortitude in my power。
Hardly had I come to this resolution； when； suddenly； a loud and
long scream or yell； as if from the throats of a thousand demons；
seemed to pervade the whole atmosphere around and above the boat。
Never while I live shall I forget the intense agony of terror I
experienced at that moment。 My hair stood erect on my head I felt
the blood congealing in my veins my heart ceased utterly to beat；
and without having once raised my eyes to learn the source of my
alarm； I tumbled headlong and insensible upon the body of my fallen
companion。
I found myself； upon reviving； in the cabin of a large
whaling…ship （the Penguin） bound to Nantucket。 Several persons were
standing over me； and Augustus； paler than death； was busily occupied
in chafing my hands。 Upon seeing me open my eyes； his exclamations of
gratitude and joy excited alternate laughter and tears from the
rough…looking personages who were present。 The mystery of our being
in existence was now soon explained。 We had been run down by the
whaling…ship； which was close…hauled； beating up to Nantucket with
every sail she could venture to set； and consequently running almost
at right angles to our own course。 Several men were on the look…out
forward； but did not perceive our boat until it was an impossibility
to avoid coming in contact… their shouts of warning upon seeing us
were what so terribly alarmed me。 The huge ship； I was told； rode
immediately over us with as much ease as our own little vessel would
have passed over a feather； and without the least perceptible
impediment to her progress。 Not a scream arose from the deck of the
victim… there was a slight grating sound to be heard mingling with
the roar of wind and water； as the frail bark which was swallowed up
rubbed for a moment along the keel of her destroyer… but this was
all。 Thinking our boat （which it will be remembered was dismasted）
some mere shell cut adrift as useless； the captain （Captain E。 T。 V。
Block； of New London） was for proceeding on his course without
troubling himself further about the matter。 Luckily； there were two
of the look…out who swore positively to having seen some person at
our helm； and represented the possibility of yet saving him。 A
discussion ensued； when Block grew angry； and； after a while； said
that 〃it was no business of his to be eternally watching for
egg…shells； that the ship should not put about for any such nonsense；
and if there was a man run down； it was nobody's fault but Henderson；
the first mate； now took the matter up； being justly indignant； as
well as the whole ship's crew； at a speech evincing so base a degree
of heartless atrocity。 He spoke plainly； seeing himself upheld by the
men； told the captain he considered him a fit subject for the
gallows； and that he would disobey his orders if he were hanged for
it the moment he set his foot on shore。 He strode aft； jostling Block
（who turned pale and made no answer） on one side； and seizing the
helm； gave the word； in a firm voice； Hard…a…lee！ The men flew to
their posts； and the ship went cleverly about。 All this had occupied
nearly five minutes； and it was supposed to be hardly within the
bounds of possibility that any individual could be saved… allowing
any to have been on board the boat。 Yet； as the reader has seen； both
Augustus and myself were rescued； and our deliverance seemed to have
been brought about by two of those almost inconceivable pieces of
good fortune which are attributed by the wise and pious to the
special interference of Providence。
While the ship was yet in stays； the mate lowered the jolly…boat
and jumped into her with the very two men； I believe； who spoke up as
having seen me at the helm。 They had just left the lee of the vessel
（the moon still shining brightly） when she made a long and heavy roll
to windward； and Henderson； at the same moment； starting up in his
seat bawled out to his crew to back water。 He would say nothing else…
repeating his cry impatiently； back water！ black water！ The men put
back as speedily as possible； but by this time the ship had gone
round； and gotten fully under headway； although all hands on board
were making great exertions to take in sail。 In despite of the danger
of the attempt； the mate clung to the main…chains as soon as they
came within his reach。 Another huge lurch now brought the starboard
side of the vessel out of water nearly as far as her keel； when the
cause of his anxiety was rendered obvious enough。 The body of a man
was seen to be affixed in the most singular manner to the smooth and
shining bottom （the Penguin was coppered and copper…fastened）； and
beating violently against it with every movement of the hull。 After
several ineffectual efforts； made during the lurches of the ship； and
at the imminent risk of swamping the boat I was finally disengaged
from my perilous situation and taken on board… for the body proved to
be my own。 It appeared that one of the timber…bolts having started
and broken a passage through the copper； it had arrested my progress
as I passed under the ship； and fastened me in so extraordinary a
manner to her bottom。 The head of the bolt had made its way through
the collar of the green baize jacket I had on； and through the back
part of my neck； forcing itself out between two sinews and just below
the right ear。 I was immediately put to bed… although life seemed to
be totally extinct。 There was no surgeon on board。 The captain；
however； treated me with every attention… to make amends； I presume；
in the eyes of his crew； for his atrocious behaviour in the previous
portion of the adventure。
In the meantime； Henderson had again put off from the ship；
although the wind was now blowing almost a hurricane。 He had not been
gone many minutes when he fell in with some fragments of our boat；
and shortly afterward one of the men with him asserted that he could
distinguish a cry for help at intervals amid the roaring of the
tempest。 This induced the hardy seamen to persevere in their search
for more than half an hour； although repeated signals to return were
made them by Captain Block； and although every moment on the water in
so frail a boat was fraught to them with the most imminent and deadly
peril。 Indeed； it is nearly impossible to conceive how the small
jolly they were in could have escaped destruction for a single
instant。 She was built； however； for the whaling service； and was
fitted； as I have since had reason to believe； with air…boxes； in the
manner of some life…boats used on the coast of Wales。
After searching in vain for about the period of time just
mentioned； it was determined to get back to the ship。 They had
scarcely made this resolve when a feeble cry arose from a dark object
that floated rapidly by。 They pursued and soon overtook it。 It proved
to be the entire deck of the Ariel's cuddy。 Augustus was struggling
near it； apparently in the last agonies。 Upon gett