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storeroom。 Several articles； of no importance to us in our present
situation； floated up through the opening during the day； and were
immediately washed overboard。 We also now observed that the hulk lay
more along than ever； so that we could not stand an instant without
lashing ourselves。 On this account we passed a gloomy and
uncomfortable day。 At noon the sun appeared to be nearly vertical；
and we had no doubt that we had been driven down by the long
succession of northward and northwesterly winds into the near
vicinity of the equator。 Toward evening saw several sharks； and were
somewhat alarmed by the audacious manner in which an enormously large
one approached us。 At one time； a lurch throwing the deck very far
beneath the water； the monster actually swam in upon us； floundering
for some moments just over the companion…hatch； and striking Peters
violently with his tail。 A heavy sea at length hurled him overboard；
much to our relief。 In moderate weather we might have easily captured
him。
July 26。 This morning； the wind having greatly abated； and the
sea not being very rough； we determined to renew our exertions in the
storeroom。 After a great deal of hard labor during the whole day； we
found that nothing further was to be expected from this quarter； the
partitions of the room having been stove during the night； and its
contents swept into the hold。 This discovery； as may be supposed；
filled us with despair。
July 27。 The sea nearly smooth； with a light wind； and still from
the northward and westward。 The sun coming out hotly in the
afternoon； we occupied ourselves in drying our clothes。 Found great
relief from thirst； and much comfort otherwise； by bathing in the
sea； in this； however； we were forced to use great caution； being
afraid of sharks； several of which were seen swimming around the brig
during the day。
July 28。 Good weather still。 The brig now began to lie along so
alarmingly that we feared she would eventually roll bottom up。
Prepared ourselves as well as we could for this emergency； lashing
our tortoise； waterjug； and two remaining jars of olives as far as
possible over to the windward； placing them outside the hull below
the main…chains。 The sea very smooth all day； with little or no wind。
July 29。 A continuance of the same weather。 Augustus's wounded
arm began to evince symptoms of mortification。 He complained of
drowsiness and excessive thirst； but no acute pain。 Nothing could be
done for his relief beyond rubbing his wounds with a little of the
vinegar from the olives； and from this no benefit seemed to be
experienced。 We did every thing in our power for his comfort； and
trebled his allowance of water。
July 30。 An excessively hot day； with no wind。 An enormous shark
kept close by the hulk during the whole of the forenoon。 We made
several unsuccessful attempts to capture him by means of a noose。
Augustus much worse； and evidently sinking as much from want of
proper nourishment as from the effect of his wounds。 He constantly
prayed to be relieved from his sufferings； wishing for nothing but
death。 This evening we ate the last of our olives； and found the
water in our jug so putrid that we could not swallow it at all
without the addition of wine。 Determined to kill our tortoise in the
morning。
July 31。 After a night of excessive anxiety and fatigue； owing to
the position of the hulk； we set about killing and cutting up our
tortoise。 He proved to be much smaller than we had supposed； although
in good condition；… the whole meat about him not amounting to more
than ten pounds。 With a view of preserving a portion of this as long
as possible； we cut it into fine pieces； and filled with them our
three remaining olive jars and the wine…bottle （all of which had been
kept）； pouring in afterward the vinegar from the olives。 In this
manner we put away about three pounds of the tortoise； intending not
to touch it until we had consumed the rest。 We concluded to restrict
ourselves to about four ounces of the meat per day； the whole would
thus last us thirteen days。 A brisk shower； with severe thunder and
lightning； came on about dusk； but lasted so short a time that we
only succeeded in catching about half a pint of water。 The whole of
this； by common consent； was given to Augustus； who now appeared to
be in the last extremity。 He drank the water from the sheet as we
caught it （we holding it above him as he lay so as to let it run into
his mouth）； for we had now nothing left capable of holding water；
unless we had chosen to empty out our wine from the carboy； or the
stale water from the jug。 Either of these expedients would have been
resorted to had the shower lasted。
The sufferer seemed to derive but little benefit from the
draught。 His arm was completely black from the wrist to the shoulder；
and his feet were like ice。 We expected every moment to see him
breathe his last。 He was frightfully emaciated； so much so that；
although he weighed a hundred and twenty…seven pounds upon his
leaving Nantucket； he now did not weigh more than forty or fifty at
the farthest。 His eyes were sunk far in his head； being scarcely
perceptible； and the skin of his cheeks hung so loosely as to prevent
his masticating any food； or even swallowing any liquid； without
great difficulty。
August 1。 A continuance of the same calm weather； with an
oppressively hot sun。 Suffered exceedingly from thirst； the water in
the jug being absolutely putrid and swarming with vermin。 We
contrived； nevertheless； to swallow a portion of it by mixing it with
wine； our thirst； however； was but little abated。 We found more
relief by bathing in the sea； but could not avail ourselves of this
expedient except at long intervals； on account of the continual
presence of sharks。 We now saw clearly that Augustus could not be
saved； that he was evidently dying。 We could do nothing to relieve
his sufferings； which appeared to be great。 About twelve o'clock he
expired in strong convulsions； and without having spoken for several
days。 His death filled us with the most gloomy forebodings； and had
so great an effect upon our spirits that we sat motionless by the
corpse during the whole day； and never addressed each other except in
a whisper。 It was not until some time after dark that we took courage
to get up and throw the body overboard。 It was then loathsome beyond
expression； and so far decayed that； as Peters attempted to lift it；
an entire leg came off in his grasp。 As the mass of putrefaction
slipped over the vessel's side into the water； the glare of
phosphoric light with which it was surrounded plainly discovered to
us seven or eight large sharks； the clashing of whose horrible teeth；
as their prey was torn to pieces among them； might have been heard at
the distance of a mile。 We shrunk within ourselves in the extremity
of horror at the sound。
August 2。 The same fearfully calm and hot weather。 The dawn found
us in a state of pitiable dejection as well as bodily exhaustion。 The
water in the jug was now absolutely useless； being a thick gelatinous
mass； nothing but frightful…looking worms mingled with slime。 We
threw it