THE

PIRATE

FROZEN

BY

W.
AUTHOR

OF

"THK

Russell,

Clark
WRECK

"a

OP

THE

sailor's

OROSVBNOE," "THK

LADY

MAUD,"

KTO.
aWKiSl'HKART,"

Entered

sand
accordingto Act of the Parliament of Canada in the year one thoueighthundred and eighty-seven,
iiyWilliam
Bsxoss,in the Office of
the Minister of Agriculture.

TORONTO

WILLIAM

BRYCE,
1887.

CONTENTS.

PIRATE.

FROZEN

THE

CHAPTER
STORM.

THE

sailors

term

which

from

Cape
Our

to

run

within

had

been

sweetness

of

of

the

bank

of clouds
and

the

gusts

that

had

heard

never

The

gale
claps

several

but

was

was

ropes
down

so

and
upon

and

blasts
on

of thunder

that

when
us

the

the
the

gentle

but

the

scarce

forty-nine degrees
and
dark, a heavy
in the

east,
north-

in small

guns,

rose

went

in

dreary

moans,

confessed

hands

they

more

portentous.

with

lightning and
heavy rain.
Though
some

and

o'clock

in

in the

swell

themselves
oldest

came

dusky

to

orders.

was

and

of

height

our

two

wind

came

venting

insomuch

Ocean

sullen
grew
of a livid hue

wind

the

Pacific
the

the

weather

when

call for

to

silver-laced

the

passed

we

in ballast

proceeding

parallelsof the latitude of

extremely pleasant; the proverbial

of the

undulations

Callao,

at

cargo

few

mildness

mellow

her

Africa, there

South

had

Horn

the

stands

were

we

light ship, as
the
high upon

discharged

port

Town,

was

that

vessel

having

water,

it

Mary

Laughing

The

I.

in

the

men

first of

the

afternoon,
had

the

to

feel for

tempest

appearance

terrible, being swept

uncommonly
into boiling froth in the
north-east

of

the
and

air
the

stormed
sea

was

mangled

quarter,

whilst

The

all about
of

darkness

glimpse
In

had

Pirate.

I-

lay in a sort
of shadows, glooming into the
huddle
of the sky without
offeringthe smallest
and

us

swollen

Frozen

in the

it

south-west

of the horizon.

few

hurricane

the

minutes

brig down
topsail; yet, though we
outfly,its first blow rent
bared

the

if it were

We

us.

main-

the close-reefed

to

dead

were

the

of smoke,

formed

struck

the

before

fragment

of sail

in

instant

and

an

as

it

like
bows
the
a
disappeared, flashing over
scattering of torn paper, leavingnothing but the
The
burstingof the topsailwas
bolt-ropesbehind.
like the explosion of a large cannon.
In a breath
smothered
with froth torn
the brig was
up in huge

clouds, and

hurled

and

over

ahead

quivering bodies
twilightof their

that filled the

this tremendous

utterance

wind

of her
with

in
a

vast-

dismal

ble
visinothing was
but
their
terrific speeding. Through
these
of spume
drove
slinging,soft,and singing masses
in
horizontal
steel-like
the
rain
lines, which
gleamed in the lightningstroke as though indeed
barbed
of bright metal, darted
they were
weapons
by armies of invisible spiritsravingout their war
cries as they chased
us.
The
in the sky, and
made
loud thunder
storm
a
own,

in which

dominated

without

duing
sub-

the many
hooting noises

screaming,hissing,shrieking,and
raised in the rigging and about
the
decks, and the wild, seething,weltering sound of
the sea,
maddened
by the gale and struggling in
its enormous
passion under the first choking and
iron grip of the hurricane's
hand.
I had

used

the

ocean

for

above

ten

years,

but

ly

The

form

fiercer in the

in bitterness

as

it for

the

brig to
she

fair abeam,

with

She

us.

under

were

riggingabove
Rosy,,

lich
eed
ted
war

and

of it.

and

But

Id of
in
and

and

water,

Though

canvas

she

when

her

on

the

brought
all

was

it until her

the

helm

The

thought it
to

bring the

rose.

rag

face

your
to

of

snow

like

pass

showed

sea

cruel

as

over

bulwarks

sheer-pok^s

in

the

rail hidden.

the

hung

master,
stand

long

so

bawled

to

Captain

that

tell

to

me

the

by to cut away the

carpenter to
opmast
the
the
as
Laughing
Mary^
rigging. But
and
a
called, was
brig was
buoyant ship
lightly
the
on
presently bringing the sea
sparred, and
in
small
the
bow, through our
a
seizing
tarpaulin
weather
main
her
masts
shrouds, she erected
sentient
afresh, like some
creature
pricking
for
its ears
showed
the affray,and
with
that
herself game
and made
indifferently
good weather

ub-

the

.the

lay down

this posture she

In

the

but

hurricane

to

necessary

without

and

round

came

was

before

wind

put down,

was

It

or

neither

was

seemed
if you

head

second.

there

Yet

that

the

through

knife

this.

than

tropics it was

tht^

frost.

hail, only rain

nor

to

of weather

"from

blew

wind

the

suddener

anything

I encountered

had

never

Storm.

terrible

though the
enough, its

height till about

Long
and

before

sickening and
peaks

Andean

one

then

the dance

first rage
fierceness

of

the
our

o'clock
sea

of the
did

in the

grown
eggshell of a

black

water

storm

was

to

come

middle

had

affrighting. The
of

not

its

watch.

mountainous,

brigupon
heads

looked

tall

it was
of

the

enough

^\\

Frozen

The

Pirate.

with
of the
heavens
lowering soot
and
the
blue
yellow phosphoric fires which
froth.
Bodies
sparkled ghastly amid the burstin'g
foam
of
flew like the flashings of pale sheeta
lightningthrough our rigging and over
us, and
dreadful
roaringof mighty surges in mad
career,
and
to
battling as they ran, rose out of the sea
deepen yet the thunderous
bellowing of the
hurricane on high.
brush

to

No

the

could

man

preserve

his

life.

himself

show

the rails it

Between

and

deck

on

waist

was

of
high, and this water, converted by the motions
the
brig into a wild torrent, had its volume
perpetuallymaintained
by ton-loads of sea falling
dull and pounding crashes
the bows
to
m
on
over
the forecastle.
There
was
nothing to be done
but

if we
easy

helm

the

secure

to

were

be

foundering

cabin, than

await

and

to

go

down

perish
nearly strangled by the

tempest
There

on

it would

drowned,

to

below, for,

the issue

dry

make

and

half -frozen

bitter cold

more

in

warm

the

and

already

and

flooded
"^i

deck.

Captain Rosy ; there was

myself,by
Paul
of the brig; and there
Rodney, mate
the remaining seven
of a crew, including the

name
were

was

carpenter.
time

We

sat

in the cabin,

of

one

Irom

clawing his way up the ladder to peer

looked
at
one
through the companion, and we
another
with
the
melancholy of malefactors
waiting to be called from their cells for the last
jaunt to Tyburn.
!
have
cries the
us
May God
mercy
upon
be an
There
must
earthquake inside
carpenter.
to

time

us

'*

"

"

Storm.

The

than wind is going

Something more
Hear
I
the making of these sear.
that, now
to
could
ha'
than
a
forty-footchuck-up
naught less
this storm.

in that

ended
"

"^

"

man

he'll

and

not

perish the

into

hand

his

die but

Captain Rosy,
quicker for looking at

once," says

can

with

his end

mates."

souse,

"

heart

stout

locker

the

on

and

with

which

that

he

he

had

put
been

after

pulled out a jar of whisky, which,

putting his lips to it and keeping them

glu^d

there

sittingand

handed

he

back
I

to

him

often

mind's

eye

it would

whilst you could have

and
it went
to
so
me,

counted

twenty,

round, coming

empty.
have

the

and
;

it

visit me

sight
not

was

such

of

that

long

cabin

afterwards

in

my
that

vision of

comfort, I would
with a gratefulheart have accepted itwith tenfold
darker
conditions
of danger, had
it been
possible
situation
for it. A lantern hung
to exchange
my
from
and
and
a
beam,
to the rolling
violently
swung
pitching of the brig. The alternations of its light
after another,
put twenty different meanings, one
into the settled dismal and rueful expressions in the
faces of my
clad in warm
companions. We were
from
the damp in our
clothes,and the steam
rose
coats

The

and

as

like vapour
from
wet
straw.
of our
some
faces, but the

trousers

drink

mottled

spirituoustincture only imparted a qualityof irony

the
to
melancholy of our
visages, as if our
mournfulness
not
were
wholly sincere,when, God
hearts
taken
knows, our
with
were
counting
up
the

minutes

burstingfor

when
want

we

of breath

should
under

find
water.

ourselves

The

it continued

Thus
we

strove

could,

to

of

the

above

noses

another

one

with

It

and

caution, for

full of water, it was

of the vessel before

companion,

with

our

that you
decks
being

the

await

stood

you

for

at

even

the siidu

moving

we

than

more

to

necessary

else

best

as

impossible

was

show

to

companion

utmost

time

which

words, sometimes

moment

any

the

jieeded the

the

daybreak, all

bottle about.

at

us

Pirate.

till

encourage

sometimes

putting
any

Frozen

to

lurch

the

or

to

cover

the

drown

cabin.

Being exceedingly anxious, for the brig lay

unwatched, I looked forth on one occasion longer
than

the

most

chose

extravagant

could
was

others

as

black

as

the bottom

swellingand
faintnes?

man

it
raging commotion
to imagine. The
night

of

well

flingingof white

the air that

apon

the

beheld

and

venture,

of

scene

the brain of

enter

to

but

the

waters

in its way

was

digious
pro-

hove
a

dim

light,by which it was

just possible to distinguish
the reelingmasts
to
to the height of the tops, and
observe
the figureof the brig springing black and
that had
trembling out of the head of a surge
broken
and

and

over

to

note

acclivities

the

smothered

shapes

her
of

as

the

in

nearer

cauldron,

liquid

weather
our
they bore down
upon
bow, catching the brig fair under the
luff,and so
end on, and
to stand
sloping her that she seemed
wash
the
to
heeling her that the sea would
so
Indeed, had she been
height of the main hatch.
loaded, and therefore deep, she could not have lived
in that hollow
but
hour
and
an
frightful
ocean;
like a
having nothing in her but ballast she was
as

The

Storm.

blew uway
and
swung
up the surges
cask.
like an empty
3awn
broke
the
something of its

bladder, and
leeward

to

When

midnight

fury

much

as

had

we

But

in above.

cabin

the

to

did what

and

the

yet, but

weakened

well,and

to

our

little water,

but

punch
spiritshearty. By

some

the

The

gale.

only as
take
she would
rightto suppose
stand
the
it was
to
at
impossible

cold

our

the

returned

we

so

pumps,

sound

to

found

satisfaction

great

of

out

shift

made

carpenter

went

still ran

sea

thick

had

heavily,
pilesof
and
though
position,the

very
with

the sky was

uncommonly
dusky, yellowish,hurrying clouds ;
could
our
we
fairlyreckon
upon
atmosphere \ as so nipping it was
persuade ourselves that Cape Horn was
and

keep

to

wind

the

noon

brewed

and

could

we

difficult

to

not

close

short

aboard.
could

We

spell freed
topsailand

now

the

chased

by

the
We

brig.

got

up

main-

new

it,and, settingthe reefed foresail,

before the wind, and away
she ran,

the

swollen

Thus

seas.

dead

by

and

pumps,

bent

put the vessel

till

work

we

continued

calculated

that we
reckoning we
thirtyleagues south of the parallelof
Horn, and in longitude eighty-seven degrees
about

were

the
west.

We

brought

the

then

boarded

brig as

close

our

to

larboard
the

wind

tacks
as

it

to
that should
lay her for a progress
proper
be wholly leeway
but
hours
four
after we
;

handled
two

up

and
was

not

had

the braces
the gale,that
had not veered
to blow, stormed
points since it first came
on
again into its first fury; and the morning of

The

"

Pirate.

Frozen

1801, found the Laughing

July,anno
Mary passionatelylabouringin the midst of an
jibtoomand fore
enraged Cape Horn
sea, her
mast
top-gallant
gone, her ballast shifted,so that
the

of

ist

her posture even

in a calm would
her with her starboard
channels
decks

[|

her

swept by
larboard

enormous

bilge

mighty green

blows, thundered

THE

weather
For

as

and

crueller

but

sinister

knows

that

here

in her

most

violent

unreckonable

more

who

woman,

by such
Cape Horn.

expected off
enteringthis icyand tempestuous

find Nature

to

great

no

intimidated

be

to

was

be

to

was

of waters

expect

named

I have

we

sailor

what

tract

were

nor

II.

ICEBERG.

loss of the spars

matter,

in

her.

over

CHAPTER

The

under, and her

which, fetching

surges,

dreadful

masses

exhibited

have

moment

one

suUenness

upon

he

than
with

and

the

shriekingwith devilish laughteras

if to springupon you ?
in
But there was
an
inveteracy

she

moods,
mad

looks
you,

must

silent

next

makes

is
as

the

galewhich
had driven us down
to this part that bore heavily
our
impossibleto trim the
spirits.It was
upon
dared not veer
ballast. We
to bring the
so
as
And
the slope of the
ship on the other tack.
decks, added

fabric,made
of

one

who

our

fierce wild

situation

should

downhill.
rolling

the

to

be
It was

as

confined

motions

unendurable
in

cask

of
as

and

the
that
sent

to lighta fire,
impossible

The

and

could

we

obtain

9
dress

therefore

not

The

drink.

warm

Iceberg.

food

our

cold

or

beyond

was

The
glazed with
rigging was
language severe.
of
the
and
silverybrilliance
ice,
great pendants

crystalhung

of

catheads, whilst

of
as

in

up

sails

yards, bowsprit, and

were

like

lay

steel.

gaskets of

found

us

tall olive- coloured

the

foam

as

they

to

the

of

iron

able

same

seas

roared

no

means

to

so

ourselves

give

to

glorious beam.

the

amid

shine

sun

of his

encouragement
hour

the

did

once

frozen
sheets
had

We

we
drying our clothes, nor were
might keep
ve
by exercise

Never

in

the

the

granite,and

of

hardness
rolled

from

move
warm.

us

Hour

the

after

distracting scene
hurlingout their rage

towards

us

dissolvingcliffs; the wind

in

ranges

of

and

screaming
whistling
through our grey and frozen rigging; the water
washing in floods about our decks, with the ends
of the running gear snaking about
in the torrent,
the live stock
and
and
stiff in their
lying drowned
and pen
coops
With
helm

near

lashed

the

caboose.
and

that

yards pointed to the

drifted, steadily
we
lay,
with
send
the
of
each
trending
giant surge further
and deeper into the icy regions of the south-west,
helpless,foreboding,disconsolate.
It was
the night of the fourth day of the month.
The
forward
in the forecastle,and
I
crew
were
knew
if
not
deck
was
on
saving myself.
any man
In truth, there was
in
which
watch
no
place
a
could
be
if
it
in
the
not
kept,
were
companion

sent

hatch.

wind

nich

Lvily
the
the
the
the

fire,

seas

thus

broke

thus

we

Such
over

was

the

the

violence

brig that

it

with
.vas

which

the

at the risk of

^:.*l

The

lO

his life

crawled

man

Pirate.

Frozen

betwixt

distance

the

the

quarter-deck. It had been as

this flying
thick
all day, and now
mud
as
upon
descended
had
gloom of haze, sleet,and
spray
of the night.
the blackness
in a sentry-box,
I stood
in the companion as
with my
the cover.
Nothing was
eyes just above
forecastle

be

to

and

the

but

seen

sweeping
breaking

the

up
and

white
ghfcstly

of

sheets
blackness

vessel's lee, or

the

on

water

sheer

It was
boiling to windward.
blind
chaos
the
to
sight, and you might
in the midst
of
supposed that the brig was
enormous

indefinable

night

another, with
of

radiance
been

sometimes

of

an

afar, which

the reflection

of

conflict

particularbright and
a
belly on high,
sooty

upon

thunder

shriek
cannon

After

of
of

the

the

balls
a

of vapour
surges

slung
between

long

and

for the

but

the

upon

masses

the
eager
with

have

must

I
hanging lower than the other clouds.
might have thought yourselfin the midst
hellish

storm-

melting
extraordinary
dark sky like
flinging its

doubt

no

some

of foam

bed

the

lanthorn

the

and

of blackness

block

reflection

from

extensive

of

lightspeeding along

dim

the

some

illusive

so

shadows

one

"

faintness
to

the

were

tormented
into

turmoil,

vaporous

have

of

you
some

substantial

vessel

of water

i"ay,

and

the

flying like

masts.

look

round

into

the

below
for
froth, I went
obscurity,semi-lucent
of spiritsand
the
mouthful
bite of supper,
a
a
hour
being eight bells in the segond dog watch
in the evening.
we
as
say, that is,eight o'clock
The
in the cabin.
captain and carpenter were

"M

Iceberg.

The

Upon

the

beef,

corned

of

table

the

swing-trayover

II

were

biscuit, and

some

piece

of

bottle

hollands.
**

says
"

all that

that's

and
**

hove

I've been
in

once

Nothing to be seen,
the captain.
Nothing," I answered.

long

so

vessels

many

the

stretch.
look

to

Mary

Laughing

looks

She

well

"

up^

said."

under

time," said

my

through

to

"

be

can

Rodney

suppose,

up

bare

poles more
**

carpenter,

never

if you'll find

I doubt
to

but

than

it

this

as

here

does."

her the
hamper forward will make
But we're
more
weatherly,"says Captain Rosy.
bad
sailors
in an ugly part of the globe. When
The
die
worst
here, I reckon.
they're sent
nautical sinner can't be hove
to
long off thi Horn
without
He
coming out of it with a purged soul.
further punishment."
must
start afresh to deserve
Well, here's a breeze that can't go on blowing
much
The
longer,"cries the carpenter.
place
from
it comes
unless
must
give out soon,
a
new
trade wind's
gale for this
got fixed into a whole
"

loss

The

of

if

**

''

"

here
"

ocean."
What

giving

us,

southing do you allow our drift will be

captain?" I asked, munching a piece

of beef.
"

All

four

mile

an

hour," he

this goes on
I shall look to make
The
Antarctic
circle won't
be
and

since

answered.
some

far

**

If

discoveries.
off

presently,

you're a scholar, Rodney, I'll leave you

describe what's
inside of it,though boil me
if I
to
don't have the naming of the tallest land ; for,d ye

11

Frozen

The

12

I've

see,

there's

like your

nothing

dead, and

after I'm

known

be

to

remembered

be

to

mind

Pirate.

signatureon

mountain

by."

grinned and put his hand out for the bottle,

I
and
after a pull passed it to the carpenter.
guessed by his jocositythat he had alreadybeen
free ; for although I love a
making somewhat
bold face put upon
a difficulty,
ours
was
a situation
in which
find food for
could
only a tipsy man
He

merriment.
At

this instant

fearful

shout

we

startled

were

deck.

on

by

It sounded

wild

high

and

above

the
ii

sweeping and seething of the wind and the

hissingof the lashed waters, and it penetrated the
planks with a note that gave it an inexpressible
character
of anguish.
"

!"

overboard

washed

man

bawled

the

carpenter, springingto his feet.

"No!"

cried

ear

had

caught

me

it

not

was

I, for my

as

instant

the three

gamed

the deck.

The

the

carpenter

of

"What

do

in

was

down

rang

upon

are

jumped

us

it I

you

up

and
that
said

shrewder

persuaded
;

the

and

gale

the

along

the

wind

God's

sake

in

ladder

the

For

'*

forward

man

beforewe

note

moment

affrightedcry
some

younger
in the
cry

an

and

same

from

tumble

up

"

see?"

roared, sending

my

hands ; for
voice, trumpet-fashion,through my
and the sight of Captain Rosy and
to my
as
own
the
to

carpenter,
come

the black

on

why,

sudden

night.

it was
out

like
of

being struck blind

the lightedcabin into

The

Iceberg.

13

Any replythat might have been attempted was

out
choked
by the dive of the brig'shead into
flooded her forecastle and came
which furiously
sea,
washing aft
to

up
*'

there ! "

See

suddenly

night, and

the

could

carpenter

saw

looked

"

"

Ice !
I

settled
We

as

them

the

it !

snow

it

to

he

like

does

or

and

came

fumes

was

no

that

had

come

the

in that

small

hill of

the foam

of the

with

went

our

consternation
of the

had

to

been
out

he

at

voice

under

was

of his

spiritsout

clear

need

in

that
had

head.

all risks."

call

the

raised

To

men.

by

one

of the forecastle

the

among
and
seen

berg,they had tumbled

up as sailors will when
they jump for their lives ; and now
they came
staggering,splashing,crawling aft to us, for the
sheen in the companion
lamp in the cabin made
a
hatch, and they could see us as we stood there.
Men," cried
Captain Rosy, "yonder's a
for
if we
our
!
carcases
gravestone
not
are
lively
**

captain.

answered,

drive her

cry
who

"

the

me

must

second

was

It
.

I shouted

the

There

told

sinking.

see

satisfied

"

"

have

"

in darkness, and

soaringand

could

against the darkness

complexion of light,or rather
be
not
to
was
light not

hung out a dim

that
of pallidness,
described
by the pen.

sea

used
sight had grown
the
the
object before
It lay on
lee beam,
our

It stood

thickness.

and

my

man

no

and

snow,

was

the carpenter.
the captain.

bawled

answer.

far off

how

black

till it

darkness

roared

where?"

man,

in this brief time

But

but

in the

knees.

our

''Where,
to

milk

like

I'l

The

i4

Cast
"

the

Two

and

helm

hands

Pirate.

Frozen

adrift!"

(we

steered

by

it.

stand

Forward, some
by
loose the stay-foresail,
and
the
show

tiller).

of ye,
head
of

it."
fellows

The
wonder.

hung in the
bowsprithad

The

wind.
been

I could

not

the

when

sprung

from the cap by the fall ot

wrenched
jibboom was
the
top-gallant-mast; it still had to bear the
weight of the heavy spritsail
yard, and the drag
of the
staysailmight carry the spar overboard
with the

men

the

sail

one

the

Yet

it was

best

our

chance

speedilyreleased and hoisted,

off
would
the
brig's head
pay
the only fragment that promised to

most

that

one

it.

upon

quickest,and
stand.
!"

*'

Jump
hurry.

"Great

leave

You'll

out

lee

hauled

will ! "

who

me

than

moment

laying

I-

aboard!
if you

veering

cried

out

"

supreme

the

on

the

of

myself
to

life on

sea

close

by ready to hoist away."

to
speaking for there seemed
promise of death in hesitation

surer

came

no

for

room

passion of

"

and

stand

Thus

the

'tis

thunder!

me

Follow

others

captain,in

the

instant."

delay an
*'

roared

the

passage

my
ocean
as

in

twenty

bowsprit
weather

and
this.

It

have
was

and

pins and

not

to

blindly
as

gear

deal with
the

as

for

might sjDend

man

never

risks

signified I made

such

by
A

this

at

"

bulwarks,

forward

hands.

such

mind

my

bitter

his

such
cold

only, though perhaps of its full fierceness the

of my
feelingsdid not suffer me to be
sensible ; it was
of water
the pouring of volumes

wildness

The

i6

forked

Piuate.

Frozen

high into the flyingnight with shrieking

riggingand boiUng decks.
to
now
Commending
myself to. God, for I was
let go with my
hands, I pulled the knife from my
teeth,and feelingfor the gaskets or lines which
us

bound
fast

as

the sail

to

I could

ply my

whipping

into

the whole

sail

under

the

the

I
;

me

In

fold of

hacked

and

cut

arms.

liberated
out

spar,

flash the

the

bowsprit

off it with

danced

as

gale,
blew

canvas,

and

reeled

'"!

vered
qui-

incredible

to hoist
despatch, shouting to the men
away.
The
of the staysail mounted
head
in thunder,
and
the slattingof its folds and
the thrashing
of its sheet was
like the rattling
of heavy fieldfull gallop over
at
a
pieces whisked
stony

road.
*'

"

High enough ! I bawled, guessing enough

Get a drag
shown, for I could not see.
the
sheet, lads, and then aft with you for
"

was

upon

"
your lives !
Scarce
had

when

that
came

I heard

the

sail

the

let forth

blast

was

gone

mountainous

fair betwixt

bulwarks

of

as

under

and
that

the

rail,which

holding
for

horrible

on

about

too,

hands
the

twenty

main

men,

mischief
seconds

weather

rigging;

shrouds,
the

to

the

after wash
the

over

fore

the

broke
no

instant

fore and

the
near

gun,

sheer

sea

standing
happily,
with
both
holding on
halliards whilst callingto
but

an

in this cry
knew
and
by

breath

my

so

blow

that
of

was

topsail
being

the

befell me,
I
stood

sea,

only
in

smother
fury and
frothing water,
hearing nothing, seeing nothing, with
every
of

""

The

eking

in

faculty
wet,

numbed
of

in that

whether

not

so

horror

me

cold, and

Iceberg.

and

dulled

our

of time

of what

had

the

by

I knew

situation,that

space

sensible

least

17

in the

was

happened

or
degree
what
might befall.
The water
leaving the deck, I rallied, though
half-drowned, and
staggered aft, and found the
I see
could
helm
deserted, nor
signs of my
any
the
and
1
tiller,
rushed
to
putting
companions.
force
it
and
drove
whoie
to
to
it,
weight
up
my
of its own
it by a turn
and
windward
secured

rope

berg

that which

to

in

bottom

for

that

I could

me

in less

such

over

her

than

moment
not

the

see

the

get

brig
by

trough, advised

that

time

the

to

was

of the

out

rolled

had

and

now

and

sea

"

the wet

by

instinct

every

ice

no

madness

my
the

"

before

the

or

blinded

so

was

ice

for

another

it would

as

surge

send

must

her

take

to

man

God!"

"O

cry
A figurecame

of the blackness

out

lee

the

on

side of the deck.

"

Who

"

is that ?

said

he.

It

Captain

was

Rosy.
I answered.

''What,
I have

been

Two
two

alive?"

Rodney!

more

more.

cried

he.

I think

*"

insensible."

struck

figures came
crkwling
the carpenter
They were

aft.

Then

and

three

seamen.

I cried
sea

was

A
*'

man

out,

*'

Who

shipped ?

answered,

Where's

your

at

was

the

helm

when

that

"

"

Me,

mate

Thomas

"

Jobllng.'*
asked

and

it

The

i8

seemed
his

to

full

senses

"

He

that

me

the

was

had

who

only man

just then.
forward

washed

was

Pirate.

Frozen

with

along

me," he

replied.
Now

fifth

question him
i

with

over

li

an

us

I looked

closer

it !
upon
perceived the icebergto

to

of
In

p:

others, the
"

We

and

blackness

;".

the

are

-shot, whence

musket

been

captain,with a
epileptic's
cry, shrieked, It's all

to

"

like

scream

as

I could

before

but

joine(^
us,

man

the
a

when

us

night

time

it

clear

was

first

be within

than

sighted
suffer

would

like this at
in

us

events

sea

it had

that

to

the

tinguish.
dis-

throng

if the
a
even
heap,
they come
confounded
not
intelligencewere
by the uproar
and
as
placid as in any time
peril,if indeed it were
it could not possiblytake note
of perfectsecurity,
that happens.
of one-tenth
I confess
that, for my part, I was
nearly
very
of the iceberg, and
paralyzed by the nearness
by the cry of the captain, and
by the perception
that
there
be
done.
to
was
nothing
so

fast

That
the
upon
about
surge
back

I best

which

of

mass

the

it.

is the

recollect

of

appearance

like a little island,

lying solidly,
in creaming waters
roared
which
seas
Every blow of the black and arching

ice

reverberated

was

to

and

the

through
frozen body

ear

gale. The
mastheads, yet

it showed

in
the

dull

hollow

tremble

hissing flightof

was

like

not
a

taller than

mountain

the
our

hanging

brig was
flung swirlinginto the
deep Pacific hollow, leaving us staring upwards
out of the instant's stagnationof the trough with
over

us

as

the

Iceberg.

The

n
""

could
ivith a
t's all

within

It put
lipsset breathlesslyand with dying eyes.
lines
the
of its
outside
of
faint
film
of
kind
light
a
own
shape, and this served to magnify it,and it
darkness
in the
showed
as
though it
spectrally
neither
that
reflected some
came
visionarylight
the sky. These
the sea
from
collect
nor
points I reand
maddened
likewise
the
maddening
;
of our
motion
one
vessel,sliding towards it down
another.
to
midnight declivity

had

t
n

the

dis-

All

if the
uproar
y time
note

nearly
r,
i

and

perdone.
of

ice

sland,

of

like

brig

to
gave,
delirious struggle;

and

in fire.

crackHng
overhead

yards torn
the grating
the

sea

along

the

to

monster

our

mging
to

the

hear

I could
and

the masts

blows

the

ice

breaking

spars
hull ; above
head
now

and

murderous

all

my

my

The
and

no

one

if any man
voice sound.
fearful

the

bows, floated

me

bow^
to

wards

and

was

living,but
noise

grating

starboard

tried

me,

to

could

holloa, to
make

not

of
We

the
had

leeward

I tried to

in^ the

ceased

of

berg
been

hurled

but what
;
shout
again, but

act

on

loomed

quittingthe

the

clear of
our

was

to

sudden,

upon

111

'

faintness

and

were

near

were

"

on,

Two

me
legs, and dashed
against the tiller,
1 clung. I heard
which
I regained
cries.
no
feet,clinging with a death-grip to the tiller,

to

on

projections.
the

over

and

vessel, that was

swept by the billows, broadside
the

li
U',

tree

of

strikingthe

the
last

great

the

off my

"

h with

of

noise

the

tumbled

seas

creature's

bowsprit caught

the

and

sharp

know

in

of

and

rching
the

some

in

up

swing

monstrous

doomed

crash

down

and, seemg

of

the

"

One

with

snapped

swallow^ed

wer^.

time.

the

waters

emble

features

other

agony

hrong

19

it

tion
condi-

no

purpose
tiller {q^

go

The

iO

forward

when

Pirate.

Frozen

something

III.

for

LAV

MY

LOSE

COMPANIONS.

insensible

while

long

should

have

recovered

in that

swoon

I must

mind

my

to

came

of stone

been

suit

of

Yet

I could

stand

been

would

an

have

so

or

become

greatest

wanting

sat

in

the

all that

than

up

stiff with

was

hands

my

I got upon
and
walk, and

hour

the

dying

ice ;

than

there

had

they

like
me
weighed upon
they
inflexiblyhard were
that
found
and
legs,
my

veins, for all that

for

as

of

clothes

my

armour,

frozen.

in my

instead

that

present situation instantly

my

My hair
feeling in

me.
more

no

was

and

happened

and

account

ever

of a. life that has not

wonder
I had no
marvellous.
sooner
had

by
and

"

the deck.

upon

CHAPTER

I believe

"

fell senseless

brows

the

struc/k over
froiii aloft
block, as
a
was

that life flowed

more,

ice had

less
lyingmotionthat
by water

been

I had

warm

laved

still.

it been

intenselydark ; the binnacle lamp was

extinguished,and the light in the cabin burned
the
too
dimly to throw the faintest colour upon
hatchway. One thing I quicklynoticed, that the
than a fresh
blew
and
more
no
gale had broken
breeze.
still ran
The
though
sea
very high, but
It

every
ii-

was

surge

continued

and

the heavens

the

passage,

these

as

to

to resemble

it seemed,

pallid bodies,

there

hurl

its head

ink from
close
was

snow,

contrast

under
less

of

them

with
of

spite in its

LOSE

Companions.

Mv

21

multitudinous
The
wash, less fury in its blow.
sobered
had
roaring of the heaving blackness
of
sullen growling, a sound
into a hard and
as
mountains
heard in a valley.
thunder
among
of
The
brig pitched and rolled heavily. Much
the buoyancy of her earlier dance
out
was
gone
I
could
of
her.
not
Nevertheless,
persuade
altogether due
myself that this sluggishnesswas
It was
she had taken in.
to the water
wonderful,
No
man
however, that she should still be afloat.
and
could
her
have
of
heard
the rending
grating
side against the ice without
supposing that every
plank in it was being torn out.
of my
voice, I
Finding that I had the use
I could, but no
holloaed as loudly as
human
note
responded. Three or four times I shouted, giving
of the people their names,
but
in vain.
some
Father
! I thought, what
of mercy
has come
to
?
it
Is
that
all
possible
companions
pass
my
have

been
least

at

men

washed

And

overboard

livingbefore

were

I cried out,

again
lookingwildlyalong
so

much

force
that

laised

in

me,

"

the

black

had

we

fouled

decks,

like

and

putting
the

being

my

have

to

sternation
con-

alone

burst

blood-vessel.

My
other
to

be

loneliness
condition

was

of

terrible to

more

my

situation.

standing,nearly dead

darkness, upon

the flooded

miserablyamid
foaming peaks

of

the

the

It

with
decks

black

me
was

of

sea,

any

dreadful

cold, in

hollows

labouring

than

utter

hull wallowing
and

eager

convinced

"

alive ?

with

of

the ice.

one

any

voice

my

thought

that

Certainly,five

Is there

the

into

Frozen

The

22

that

she

Pirate.

and
that
slowiy filling,
she
with
moment
me
might go down
I
be
thus
dreadful, say, to
placed,and to
I was
in the heart of the rudest, most
of sea
space
of the earth

round.
so

feature

no

mind,

as

my

was

feel that
desolate

pos

all

commerce

ships all the year

situation
lamentable

of my

worked

so

the

any

it
;

few

but

dispatched

But

the

upon

loneliness.

Oh,

for

passions of
panion,
com-

one

for
me
an
only,
mine own
speech ! Nay, God Himself, the merciful
Father
of all,even
He
ness
black!
The
seemed
not
lay like a pall upon the deep, and upon my
soul.
within that shadow,
Misery and horror were
and
beyond it nothing that my spiritcould look

"!

|i''

up

to

make

moments

as

one

even

!
P'

in the world, into which

affrightedme,

my

at

was

to !

I stood

then

for

some

manhood

my

trained

"

"

li-i!

the

usage
I also

of the

got

some

that, dull and

brig, there
of

manner

her

"cho

sea

"

one

and

stunned,

by
purpose
itself ; and
be
mayfrom
ing
observcomfort
to

some

reasserted

slender

heavy

as

was

the

motion

of

the

in her
yet the buoyancy of vitality
the
and
after
that,
all,
mounting
seas,

was

be
so
might not
desperate as was
in
which
the
she had been
torn
by
way
and
precipitatedpast the iceberg. At moments
when
she
of the
water
plunged the whiteness
the
either
hand
threw
on
creaming upon
surges
out
to enable
a
phantom lightof sufficient power
that
the
forward
of
the
to
me
see
brig was
part
littered with wreckage, which
served
certain
to a
the
bre^l'water
extent
a
as
by preventing
seas,
which washed
the forecastle, from cascading
to
on
case

threatened

i'li'lH

!l I

4
^"i

blooc

dispa
not

The

24

cold

the
a

cruel

so

hood

the

small

of

it ; and

heaving

the

sand

log,

runs

in

lantern

made

fur

warm

used

that

with

cap,

equipped

was

the

captain'scabin
enveloping my

the
me,

thus

that

the

over

in

cased

hand-lantern

for

from

it

threw

I had

head, which

riRATE.

I took

"

and

cloak

stout

Frozen

lighted a
dark
nights
showing how

on

is, for

carried

glass,and

it

on

deck.
The
black

the

its

outside

scene

little circle

its rays suffered me

pictureof ruin the decks offered.
nevertheless

snapped

was

the

and
as

the

from

beast's

four

teeth.

feet
as

But

illumination

of
to

above

concluded
formed

that

ahead
her

in

certainlyhave

her

bows

sort

of her
that

by

fair at

and

barbed

board
lar-

vessel

took

floated

on

sea,

whence

sea-anchor

the

wreckage, and
otherwise

that

the

on

of

posture,

deck,

noticed

now

the

mast

the

jagged

the

at

guess
main
The

weight of the hamper being

the
list the
side, balanced
her shifted ballast,and that she

level keel with

held

or

of it showed

stump

wild

three

dead, grave-like

had

she

been
that

it

must

fallen into the

trough.
with
I moved
extreme
caution, casting the
lantern
light before me, sometimes
startingat a
that resembled
then
sound
a
stopping to
groan,
particularwild leap
steady myself during some
of the
of the hull ; until,coming abreast
main
struck
a
hatch, the rays of the lantern
upon
man's
body, which, on my bringing the flame to
his face, proved to be Captain Rosy.
There
was
brow
and
his right
if that had
wound
over
as
a
;
hac'
not sufftced to slayhim, the fall of the masts

"i.fy

with

rhted

nights
ig how
1 it on

ive-hke
nation
at

the

tin mast
le

deck,

barbed
;ed that
the
el

:ed

lar-

with

it

must

ng

the

He

main

the

the water

others

returned

in the

think.
could
me

found

as

all of

were

to

put
I

I loosed

been

supposed
by the falling
spars
the qiiarter-deck,
and

before

you

for the
that
the

meditating

sat

shelter
I

of

have

horror

upon
my
of the dead.

the

I could

washed

sat

command

by

overboard.

vnT

down

of it and

that

ft]

drowned

people that

our

deck

body

and

after

had

companion way
No
language

'""('J

the fore-hatch.

near

stunned

deck

the

the

knocked

or

ping to
ild leap

side,where

been

filled the

away.

Wise

probably

by the sea that

staysail. These

I
at

turned
starboard

Abraham

had

man

find
ng

the

named

seaman

This

,d been
I that

of lead
to

comparatively clear,and

was

on

manner

his

round

heart

I crossed

took

hence

some

times

ingmy
p,

wonderful

25

a
whipped
rope
his
several
arms
body, binding
and
tightly,that no
encirclinghis throat so
could have
executioner
to
more
artistically
gone
work to pinionand choke
a
man.
larboard
the
of rigging in
Under
a
mass
I
could
two
bodies,
as
just faintly
lay
scuppers
discern ; it was
impossible to put the lantern
of them
to distinguish
close enough to either one
if I had
had
1 the strength even
his face, nor
sessed
posthe weapons
to extricate them, for they lay
under a whole
body of shrouds, complicated by a
leaned a portion
of
other gear, against which
mass
I viewed
them
of the caboose.
long enough to
that
mind
then
dead, and
they were
satisfymy

in

cabin

Companions.

MY

LOSE

to

of

Mi

possessed

situation

and

The
wind
recallingthe faces
was
and
with
it
the
but
the
motion
rapidlyfalling,
sea,
of the
brig continued
very heavy, a large swell
having been set running by the long, fierce gale
.

I*;'I

Frc

The

26

that

was

gone
in the

tempest

and

Pirate.

:en

there

sky

being

no

confound

to

hundred

harsh

of

uproar

the

senses,

melancholy
rising from the
groaning
and
hull, with now
again a mighty blow as from
or
some
lump of ice alongside,weighty
spar
the
enough, you would have supposed, to stave
not
ship. But though the Laughing Mary was
her
she
of
of
the
stoutest
a
new
one
was
vessel,
kind ever
launched, built mainly of oak and put
her
togetherby an honest artificer. Nevertheless
and
continuing to float in her miserably torn
condition
was
so
mangled
great a miracle, that,
of
shipmates
having perished and
spite
my poor
state
being as hopeless as the sky was
my own
I
but
could
consider
that God's
not
starless,
could

hear

':f,

and

straining sounds

and

was
very visible in this business.
I will not
how
pretend to remember

hand
the

till the

hours

dawn

came.

frequentlystepping below

to

liftthe

lazarette,to judge by the sound

of

in the

water

knew
had

crew

our

kept

masts

and

desolate
to

her
haul

was

quantity
I
filling

not

us

as

best

parallels.There
tillthe

be done

she

the

of

of the

hatch

of

That

passed

recollect

leaking so rapidly but that,

been
preserved,we
might easily
made
and
shift
to
free,
rig up jury

well, yet

have

vessel.

day

could

we

out

of

these

however, nothing

was,

broke.

I had

noticed

the

bottom
jolly-boat
and
dull

far

so

I could
what

as

lantern

not
was

the starboard
up near
gangway,
I could
make
out
by throwing the

lightupon
have

her

launched

doing, and

even

she

was

her
had

sound

without

managed

but

seeing
this,

The
"*,-""

^irolle

I QUIT
of

oar

ises,

of

the

water

veighty
Lve

the

/as

not

be

to

of

amid

at

come

that

"

drowned.

be

the

was

prospect

her without

sooner
wreckage
perfectlysatisfied to take my
sinkingwith me in her before

of her
nd

of

most

"

not

were

to

preparing for the

sail,mast, provisions,and
oars,
which, by the lamplight only,

with

adventure

from

27

horrible

truth, so

ddrift in

going

and

swamped

be

to

in sober

And,

.ncholy
im

stood

she

Wreck.

THE

the

hideous

than

face

muddle
it

chance

of

the

rose,

sun

was

the

hulk
1,W
ir

"

put
". ;

less her

IV.

CHAPTER

"S'l

and

rn

le,

that,

led

and

sky

was

llect

of

of the

quantity
finingI
easily
up jury

these

of

nothing
the

iced

rang way,

^^ingthe
ind
t

but

seeing

red

grew

this,

as

pale and grey

the night from
swell

air, still from

small

There

the
;

were

few

the

|west;
isun

I knew

rose

Ihead

atmosphere

The

hull

lay

and

the sable

turn

|floatsome
|when

two

the

hours,

the

dark

when

the

pallover-

the ashen

brilliance

and

with

sudden

deep

ulwark
Yet

of

every
rail.

for

few

of dawn
of

terror

swell

moments

to

upon
ran

out

time,

one

mournful

the

after

flashed
hue

covering-boardsat

he head

hours

at

into

that

glorious beam

transformed

tarted

three

had

struck

reckoned

or

deep.

very

black

and
|Calculation,

he

only

into blueness.

the
Ifiuring

in

out

ciear,

he would

rounded

spent

was

sea

north-east, stirred.

dying

was

T-?c

it,with

wind

stars

last.

at

the

that,

ut

east

^?smooth-backed
a

passed

WRECK.

THE

QUIT

".'I

.The

black
^|rolled

God's

brig would
sunrise

but

last,and

at

into

cerulean

rolling sapphire,
observe

how

the water,

past
I stood

as

and

high

close

as

how
the

contemplating

The

28

the

of ruin.

scene

off

deck

the

at

It

The

triflingdetail.

and

the topmast

the

gear.

Pirate.

Frozen

visible

was

foremast

it

floated

most

smooth

gone
starboard

bow

hull,held by

of the

ahead

bulwarks

were

crushed

vanished;

he

caboose

feet of

Many

was

the

lay over

its

to

now

masi
,

level; the
was

gone

pumps
A

had

nautical

completer

One

it

was

extraordinary stroke
jolly-boathad lain stowed
thus

carried

we

lyingsnugly enough
had
out

the
'ii^

flooded
of the

those

had

long-boat,and

gangway

where

it

detected.

quickly
in the lor^'-boat;

boats,
other.

in the

decks

our

the

floated

swept

little

The
the

oar

swell

fold

jolly-boat

it bottom

lay,as though
preserved for

one

her

with
'

that

sea

God's

up

to

with

viewed.

never

The

had

ruin

the

M]
the

and

mercy

I tU
use
designed it should be
; for,
my
whol(
not
long after" it had been floated out, the brig
struck the berg, the masts
fell and
there lay the
ham,
!
box,
long-boat crushed into staves
This signaland surprising
intervention filled my
and
heart
sank
with
rolled
thankfulness, though my spirits
of
the
drowned
again at
shipmates.' foat,
sight my poor
I had
mind
to
But, unless
a
join them, it was
|ars
I should
jnight
speedilybestir myself. So
necessary
Iv^ith
I whipped
after a
minute's
reflection
out
my
from
and
of
blocks
knife,
cuttinga couple
away
the raffle on
line through them, and
a
deck, I rove
made
I turned
so
a
tackle,by the help of which
the
I
then
with
handspike
a
jolly-boatover :
secured
bunch
to the
a
prised her nose
gangway,
"

of

on
rope
buffers when

alongside,ran

either

side

she

should

her

her

midway

to

act

as

be launched
out

by

fenders
and

or

lying

the tackle, and,

I QUIT

line to

attachinga

most

smooth

her

1 bow;

shipping scarce

held

I found

by

crushed

stected.
;
^'-boat

:tle

one

fold

that

iea

"lly-boat
up

the

to

ise

for,

brig
lay the

:he
i

illed my
sank
its

pmates.
it

was

So

elf.
out

my
from

vay

and

lem,

turned

andspike
bunch
nders
nd

sail furled

the

"

lie in

her

the

to

as

of the

to

mainmast

"

but

past.

swung

My next
cabin,

to

was

the

victual

lazarette

her.

i"":-;""

m
*

to

ran

full of

was

'"I

business
but

Ik}.

water,
"f.'r

and

mercy

sail

and
used

it was

splash,

hatful of water.

her mast

the

had

bow, shoved

her

fell with

she

and

close against
I sought
though
stump
;
with all the diligencethat hurry would
permit for
her rudder, I nowhere
it,but I met with an
saw
that had belonged to the other boat, and
this
oar
with
the mast
and
sail I dropped into her, the
swell liftingher
when
the
hand
blue
to
up
my
mast,

:aboose
I

over

29

ring-boltin

side,

the

Wreck.

THE

or

lying

kle, and,

of the

none

provisionsin

it to

be

at.

come

"I

the
cabin, and found
thereupon ransacked
a
Dutch
of
half
cheesfe,a piece
raw
^whole
pork,
a
|iam, eight or ten biscuits,some
candles, a tinderlittle bag of flower,
,|)ox, several
lemons, a
thirteen
bottles
of
beer.
These
|ind
things I
in a
tolled
cloth
and
in the
placed them
up
then
took
from
the
locker
four
l^oat,
captain's
of
of
I emptied that
which
two
|ars
I
spirits,
with fresh water.
I also
took
;|nightfill them
from
the
f^ith me
captain'scabin a small boat

fompass.
i The

heavy,sluggish,sodden

liull advised

me

make

to

haste.

to the swell
that
)arelylifting
)road liquidblue brows
to her
ts
though another ton of water

Bnd

if the

leeks,down

swell

she

fell

over

would

her
go.

of

movement

She

in

It seemed

stem.

would

I had

now

brimming

came

bows

was

the

and
a

sink

her ;

filled the

small

parcel

m
m

The

30

of

in

guineas

money,
the upward

in

and, watching
and

sun

of

sort

about

was

fetch

to

son

was

held her

fright,

into the boat

The

it w

was

felt the

',11

"

its

shrewdness

brightness

reflect

to

me

endurable.

was

to

fill
how

with

me

Yet

it

was

anguish by obliging

it would

have

been

with

had

us

I'll,

it

dawned

yesterday
would

companions
sinkmg ruined
us
stoutlyinto
I threw

keep

her

the
near

fabric

warm

seas

oar

to

instead

have

over

the

of

to-day. M)'
alive, and
yonder
shipcapable of bearing

been

trim

and

the

brig,not

to

homes

our

stern
so

of

much

at

the

last.

boat

because

to

^m

desired

r.-i

see

last

of

her,

as

because

of

from
the
me
shrinking of my soul within
of
loneliness
into
those
in
thought
heading
my
which
lay stretched
prodigiousleagues of ocean
under
the sky. Whilst
the hull floated she was
something to hold on to, so to say, something
the

to

the

the

horizon.

the

of

adrift.

above

hour

an

me

deep blue, heaving very slowly,though

in every
weight of the mio;htyocean
you
and
the
of
the
sioulders
eastwards,
fold;
swell,
catching the gloriousreflection of the sun, hurled
the splendour along, tillall that quarter of the sea
of leaping dazzle.
looked
to be a mass
Upon the
sea-line
of white
eastern
clouds,
lay a range
the
chalk
cliffs
of
as
Dover; threads,
compact
of the daintiest
crescents, feather-shapesot vapour
with
shot
overhead
floated
sort,
pearly lustre,
very
in truth a fair and
high. It was
pleasantmorning
of an
icy coldness indeed, but the air being dry,
sea

for

sensation

staggering

slide of the hull gave

chance, I jumped
my

line that

the

cast

The

chest, and

my
when

this

Pirate.

Frozen

The

32
and

his

for

the

for

fb

seat

my
worked

instrument

an

which

to

on

of

state

I had

sunk

and

sail,and

hauling the sheet aft, put the

and
the
over
oar
brought the little craft's
siern,
The
head
to an
easterlycourse.
draught of air
furnished
extremely weak, and scarce
was
impulse
the
sail
raise
bubble
to
to
a
alongside.
enough
about
fifteen feet long ; she would
The
boat was
be
for summer
but a small boat
pleasuringin English
I in her in the heart
July lake- waters, yet here was
of a vast
leagues south and west
ocean,
many
of the stormiest, most
inhospitablepoint of land
before
almost
in the world, with distances
me
the

such

infinite for
\im

the

of

horror

the

was

him

see

quickly have

from

rose

to

the

imaginationmight
apparition,had it lingered,into
the unsettlingof my
reason.

loosed

n.

such

all

that

if!

had

posture

spectral appeal, and

mind

Pirate.

unspeakingly tbankful

was

vanish,

Frozen

could

heave

into view
At

and

boat

civiHzed

the

blow,

I had

start

or

ere

habitable

Southseaman

from

the

American

and

me

seaboard.

island

suffer,into the South

might

meet

Holland

islands

Indeed

whaler

but

leagues of

of the
the

north-west

steer

and

heart

my

which

water

the

or

western

understood

that

deliverance

lay in being picked

I should
be
up ; and that, though by heading east
more
clingingto the stormy parts, I was
likelyto
with a ship hereabouts
than
meet
by sailinginto
my

the

only hope

great

of

New

prospect

rolled between

to

would

the wmd

as

mind

perchance

at

coast

measure

Sea, where
sank

this to

as

desolation

of

the

north-west.

The

1 QUIT

of

of

burden

him
^f my

/orked

suffering,for
accustomed

the

)ut

craft's
t

and

air

of

down

be

ix\d west
of land
almost

)\e

ere

island
^

orth-west
:he South
laler

iter

likelyto
tilinginto

The
rest.^

of the

with

surveying

ras

intelligenceempty

[toodthat
ig picked
^e

azure

of

continent

white
the

on

I'i'

one

noblest

dominions, and, poised

lestruction

be

of

of all the

fowls

"

f.

i'-l

\i

of
"M

:s

western

should

lagoons
masses

of

coast

But

substance

the

which

of

died

have

livingthing there was

besides
a
myself:
grey-breasted albatross, of a
f
width
it
of
pinion. I had not observed
Jprincely
tillthe hull went
down, and
then, liftingmy eyes
with involuntarysympathy in the direction pointed
of the sailor,I observed
^o by the upraised arms
|the great royal bird hanging like a shape of
the frothing eddies.
Jt was
larble directly
over
of the deep had taken
the spirit
form
Ls though

heart

Imy
le

or

in

mountainous

soft

horizon.

larboard

:he heart

heart

my

blew, it speedilywafted me
floatingrelics of the wreck,
and
bare, bald, swelling sea

lyinglike the

vapour

English

Lire

the

was

the

to

old

wind

empearled sky, darkening

impulse
DHgside.
vould

all

then

I should

by

their

to

persuaded

that

my

dulled

active

been

me

upon
consider

somewhat

they
height, I am

grief.
Faintlyas the
of sight of
out

and

down

but

cannot

been

and

33

weighed

had

broken

have

must

nk

have

must

senses

"umeat

loneliness

my

crushingly that

so

Wreck.

THE

wings,
curiosityof an

cold

the

of

on

tremorless

human

emotion

of those

of

the

fabrics
one
unequal
repeated triumphs had provoked its
bird
laughty surprise. The
quitted the spot of
and

:ontests

le

wreck

after

while

and

[ad the sparkling blood-red

7SLS

[nd

as

whose

silent

as

motionless

phantom,

plumes

followed

me.

gleam

of

and

seemed

with
to

Its eyes

rubies.

arched

watch

me

It

neck

with

"-V,^

-I'll

The

34
an

earnestness

So

far from
in

presentlygrew insufferable.
ship
findingany comfort of companionif
it did not
creature, methoUght

the

my

It uttered
t.

wings,and

end

turn

I felt

and

thing.

note

of

flapped its
rope
sailed away into the

two

or

the very

"

splitting
upon

after

its

air,and remove
in crazingme.

strange salt cry

in

posture

of

seat

it would

gust of wind
"-

its

on

motionless

rage, and, jumping up, shouted

fist at it. This frightenedthe

sudden

shook

the

from

it rested

piercing
gaze,
a

Pirate.

that

speedilybreak
which

Frozen

"

north.
it tillits figuremelted

I watched

atmosphere, and

tremblinginto

sank

then

CHAPTER
I

The

SIGHT

keep the

the

t:

**

V.

WHITE

days did I pass in

fine
first day was

fresh from

blue

of the boat.

sternsheets

Four

into the

COAST.

that littleopen boat.

tillsunset ; it then blew

north-west,and

boat before the wind.

was

The

obliged to
next
day was

dark and

mi

with heavy falls of snow

and a
turbulent,
high swell from the north,and the wind a small
gale. On the third day the sun shone, and it was
fair day, but horriblycold, and
I saw
two
a

icebergslike
line.

There

clouds
followed

and
skies,sleet,
and
as

how

then
an

broke

snow,

the

English May
cold 1

far western
seacruel night of clouded
a
and a very troubled sea ;

upon

fourth

the

softlybrilliant

day, as

day, but

cold

"

great

God,

inion-

so

uneventful

not

ire

in

ve

its

though

and
of

:e

mainly

I do

before

ran

not, I am
pretend it was

I know

east.

might

of

the

to

God

how

sure,

due

I had

say

"

the

and

relation

leagues south,
many
offered I hauled
my

drove
chance

I do not
clever management
in my
own
preservation,but

the

nto

the
lived.

the boat

its

Ded

days

whenever

for

sheet

thing.

four

in this
way

and

passage
of a

weariness

the

35

suffering.

those

wind,

Coast.

White

epitomize this

you

spare

In

1 felt

to

might

Thus

rable.

SIGHT

to

m
my

share

no

belongs

all

praise.
^ti

the

In

boiled

blue

le

hollows

the

ito

all

look

oncoming
durst

should
with

blew

iged
day

to

was

and

Dw

small

id it

was

aw

two

ern

sea-

clouded
-led

sea;

brilliant
;at

me

surge
turn

deprive me
which

of

the

I steered.

first

to

nerve

hold

the

I sat

oar

the

as
squarelyas
Jask of steeringwould suffer,trustingthat if a sea
^|houldtumbla over the stern my back would serve

"oat.
en

about

in v^hich

behind

never

night the sea

The
boat
me.
leapt into
the sail slapped the mast.
One
curl of the
the high dark
at
that
I
had
so
affrighted me
head
lest
the
sight
again
my
of the

blackness

God.

is

breakwater, and

save

the

The whole
sail was
amped.
ot
for
it
would
help myself ;
eath
to
quit the steeringoar
this

that

saved

boat

on

her, and

have
for

from

been
an

being
I could

certain

instant.
for

It
the

perhaps ;
prodigious speed,
of a
nning to
sea
as
though she
dart from
into the air,
eant
to
that eminence
at the slopeof each
like
followingsurge swung
pendulum under her, and though her sail was
ecalmed
in the trough, her momentum
so
was
that she was
reat
and
speeding up the acclivity
as

oat

blew

along with
the height

me,

such

36
catching

the whole

before there
m

Frozen

The

Pirate.
of

weight

time for her

was

to

afresh

wind

the

was
nearlydead with cold
morning came, but the sparklingsun and
blue sky cheered
and
wind and
sea
as
me,
with the soaring of the orb, I was
enabled

the
1!m

flatten aft the sheet

whilst I beat my
fast.
When
my
should

let the boat

and

I look

fell
to

broke

and

that

I wonder

back

the

herself

steer

for warmth

about

arms

it is

have

taken any painsto live. That

for
the
mind at any periodof its
human
possible
existence

absolutelyhopeless I
very honestlysay that

be

to

believe

t"'M!":

; but I can
round
gazed
upon the enormous
considered the size of my

and
provisions,

my

and

viewed

No
! 'i

of

sensibleof

not

was

The

came

near

great black

when

in,and

was

boat, the quantityof

dead

man.

Once

me.

fish about

spiedthe

quartCF of

back

mile off.

sunshine

and
flected
recaught
and the
it like a mirror of polishedsteel,
flash was
brilliantit might have
so
passed for a
the blue heavings.
bed of white fire floatingon
did I meet, and
But nothingmore
that was
living
wetness

such

might
When

blasts
that

it

the

the vastness

w^as

little keel
abandoned

of

of the

glided,in

the

sea

midst

over

which

of which

my
I sat

for utter loneliness

have been the very last of the human
race.
down
the third night came
with sullen

by

the

angels,that

steady storming of wind,

strong melancholyhowl through

sweepingmto
swung

capsi

not

(even if I was
the nearest
pointof land,
of hope,
the faintest stirring

myselfas

bird

sea

do

distance

my
from

heading that way)

I

the

lose way.
and
misery when

man)
doub

the

to

rid

limbs

my

the

ea

fell

)led to
herself
i broke

with

weak

so

the

durst

"

of

want

Z7

ing,
cold, watchwherein

space

"f

it is

course

had

an

The

eyes.
my
the dark and
be

to

capsizeand
Maybe

1 of its

the

close

not

through

of

with

them

nd

at

gloom, it found me
and anxiety,and

Coast.

White

which
painful cramp
leaden
sation,
seninsupportable
weighted
control
the
boat
that I had barelypower
to
hour
of
I pined for sleep; one
the oar.
with
I
I
but
slumber
me
life,
new
would,
felt,give

when

that

SIGHT

be

that of

boat

was

ing
sweepand
her

seething seas,
an

smothered

arrow,

in

or

she

would

breath.

of land,

something delirious,for I had

I
Indeed
frightfulfancies.
strange and
many
it was
oubt
the spiritof madness
that is
not
small
which
furnished
ertainly tonical when
with.
It was
to steer
strengthenough to my arm
like the action of a powerful cordial in my
blood,

of

(and the very

do

not

when

in,and

"

was

hope,

animation

J^ecame

the back

mile off.
and

re-

and

the
for

ed

leavings.
eet, and
^hich my

|ch I sat
oneliness
lan

fell

"

.ntityof
f

race,

ith sullen
of wind,

horrors

to
a

my

voice

it fed my

physical
it cried out

of it past
my ear had
i"Despair ! ' I witnessed
shout

brain with

were

qualities.The

my
the sound

name,

and
of the

an

gale
every
word

of
the
forms
huge
the boat ; I watched
the
flyingover
of
their
of
and
shadow
heard
eating
giant wings
he thunder
of their laughter as
they fled ahead,
of like monstrous
eaving scores
shapes to follow,
^.'here ^vas a faint lightningof phosphor in the
reaming heads of the ebon surges, and my sick
pagination twisted that pallidcomplexion into
dim
rejection
of the lamps of illuminated
e
avilions at the bottom
of the sea
; mystic palaces

{hantoms

f green

marble, radiant cities in the measureless

of the
gods. I had a fancy of roofs
through I Lin^dom.s ocean

i\

'"''!',i4'l

The

of

pearl below,

Frozen

":

dartingsof the
the

to

lustre like to the

with
iiismf^

of shells inclined

hues

in

swarm

human

dreams,

cold

gold, the

round

the

nigj
whe

forms

crowned

brows

emerald

ments
move-

the

eyes

of

1 blin

iish,

""""

large outlines
ness
deeper blackof
the
the
blackness
like the dye
upon
of midnight.
electric storm
the velvet bosom
upon
from
I shrink
Often
would
side to side, starting
fancied
from
a
apparition leaping into terrible
scurity.
of
some
being out
hurling block of liquid obthe

of

breasts

creamy

Once
r

trembled

and

thought I could behold

as
shapes as indeterminable

women,

slowly floatingupwards, making

tir-ill

coral,pavements
shootings and

sun.

of

which

of milk-white

turrets

of rainbow
l

Pirate.

light shone

'I'

any

other

St.

Elmo's

time

fire,a

the

upon

should

have

masthead.
this to

known

corposant, the

At
be

ignis fatuus

of

faith in
deep, and hailed it with a seaman's
But to my
tempered
disits promise of gentle weather.
lanthorn
a
fancy it was
hung up by a
hand
of an
I
traced
the
arm
spirit
dusky curve
;
observed
the
and
busy twitching of visionary
line
fingersby the rays of the ghostly light; the outof a
and
of ajarge
face
bland
sorrowful
foam-flake
expression,pallidas any
whirlingpast,
J
into the sphere of those graveyard rays.
came

the
..

"

'=.1.

shrieked

and

shut

my

again the lightwas gone.

Long before daybreak
the

wind

gloriously
;
southern

on

world.

was

and

eyes,

scant

was

when

I looked

exhausted.

the stars
the

cifully,
Mer-

shone

Cross

high sparkled
A benign influence

very

of

seemed

the
to

ir

The

46
t

"

Pirate.

Frozen

west
Extending the whole lengthof the southI
took
what
line
of
be
to
a
lay
white coast
meltingat either extremityinto the
blue airydistance.
Even at the low elevation of
the boat my eye seemed
to mezfeure
thirtymiles
me.

be

seaboard

/',,

It

of it.

not

was

white

as

chalk

is ; there

was

somethingof a crystalline
complexion upon the
It was
far off to enable
face of its solidity.
too
its outline ; yet on
to remark
me
strainingmy
the
atmosphere being very exquisitely
sight
I thought I could distinguish
the projecclear
tions
of peaks, of rounded
and
aerial
slopes,
in places which, in the refractive lens
angularities
of the air,looked, with their hue of glassy azure,
of high land behind
like the loom
the coastal

wo

COl

I hei

wrc

"

"

line.

1 .11:1
=11.

ice came
into my
head
The notion that it was
after the first prospect of it ; and then I returned
earlier belief that it was
iand.
to my
Methought
be the borderland
of the
ice,it must
the limits of the unfrozen
Antarctic circle,
ocean,
incredible that so mighty a body could
for it was
tinent
signifyless than the capes and terraces of a conof the pole
of ice glazingthe circumference
for leagues and leagues; but then I also knew
that,though firstthe brigand then my boat had
blown south,I was
still to
been for days steadily
Shetland
and
the north of the South
parallels,
from the polar
degrees therefore removed
many

if it were

I concluded
that what I saw
barrier. Hence
was
of
it
was
land,and that the peculiar
crystal
shining
caused
But

by
what

the

snow

land ?

that covered

Some

it.

large island

that

had

ract(

of

ine

the

to

ing my
uisitely

projec-

head

returned

^thought
of the

that

iy could
)f

the

con-

pole
knew

so

luponit

still to
ilels,and

not

was

polar

saw

was

of it was

illusion

had

I in

five times

the

be entertained.

to

if

of

i.'^"Vl

clouds

even

"

it

silent
racter
cha-

hung

gaze

with

new

be strange,

something
dreadful

whaler

and

thing
some-

it took

this

some

"anchor, signsof habitation

as

cold

the

It would

from

itself"

offer

and
frightful

"

nor

approaching

on

deliverance

"tion did not

the

sky

breast.

life in my

thought,
promise me

in

in my
eyes ; my
heart swelled
my

joyously,and

trader

or

of the

to

situaat

of

presence

as
a
single hut to serve
refuge
the pitilesscold, the
arom
waters, the
stormy
delirious
watches
of
the
")lack,
lonely,
night,till

fielpshould
of

into view

heave

with

the

white

jteered

the

with

canvas

ship.
put

It

even

nay,

boat's
one

head

hand

before

whilst

I got

the

wind,

and

breakfast

some

"

nth

the

other.

bf the

day and
fine of land,

jaintnessto
pouthern

that

wildly

brig,and

or

sea-line

no^*

the

land

no

been

things not

"

the

sea

blessedness

had

boat

the

four

break

mere

mocking

men,

ocean,

calculated

as

of
{impulse

ny

we

driven

been

I had

of

coastal

had

the

earnest

an

of

recollect

of

part

fell to

reckoning aboard

even

azure,

indeed

unless

of
enduring continuity

and

:ive lens

left uncharted

I'm!I

^'et

aerial

eye,

41

this

and

it,but could

of

had

distance

enable

mind's

my

our

wrong
the boat

the

on

before

in

was

re

I put

world

hereabouts,

miles

Coast.

by the explorersand
of
picture of the map

consideration

:ion of

White

missed

been

soutli-

SIGHT

md

end

I thanked

God

for the

:-n

brightness

for the
that

the

sightof that strange white

in glimmering blobs
of
horizon
where
the
trembling
went

of it died

out.

The

swell

brimming ahead, rollingin sapphire

rose

full
Ui

hills out

'f*!"^

The

42

Frozen

Pirate.

inferred
of ihe land did not extend very
that that extremity
otherwise there
much further than I could see it,
could not have been so much weightof water as I

as
of the north-east,

found in the

I have

said,whence!

heaving.

and was
the weaker for
breeze blew lightly
before it ; but the littleline of froth
my running
to
that slipped
past either side the boat gave me
The

that the speedwould not be less than four

miles in the hour ; and as I reckoned the land to
be but a few leaguesdistant,1 calculated upon
littlewhile before sundown.
beingashore some

know

'P

\.

passed. By this time

distinct.
the features of the coast were
tolerably
sheen
Yet I was
puzzled. There was a peculiar
all about the irregular
sky-line
; a kind of pearly
of the heavens beyond,like
as it were,
whitening,
of a very
to the effect produced by the rising
delicate soft mist meltingfrom a mountain's brow
StillI cried to
into the air. This dismayedme.
myself, It must be land ! All that whiteness is
and the luminous tingeabove
it is the reflection
snow,
of the glaringsunshine thrown upwards
be ice ! 'tistoo mighty
from the dazzle. It cannot
a barrier.
Surelyno single
icebergever reached
of that coast.
And
to the prodigious
proportions
be an assemblageof bergs,
it cannot
for there is
it is leaguesof solid conformation.
break
no
Oh yes, it is land,sure enough ! some
island whose
In

X.:-

ll

this way

two

hours

"

tops and seaboard

what of that?
Are

the northern

because
fM-.

of the

are

It may

covered

with

be

snow.

But

populatedall the same.

kingdoms of Europebare of life
winter rigours
?
And
then
'

An

thought

ferred
d very
there

ker for
f froth

fair

ocean

not

the

seats

of the

in the world

who

radiant

anatomies

of

tion
vegeta-

gloriously

most

man-eaters

are

he

Patagonian,giant though

blubber-fed

of

savages

inhabitants

the

denizens

natives, I

have

as

as

43

the

spices and

and

for it is the

island

them

country than

sunshine

of

land

Ice.

of

that

encounter

icebound

an

as

er

myself, if

to

rather

would

Island

be,

the

nor

ice-climes.

of the

to

me

Thus

sought

four

Meanwhile

and

and

up

my
down

to

upon

water

iwn.

the

the

very

sky

sailed

and

darted
which

the

into the

slided

sun

reddening

hills of

foamless

and

smooth

towards

coast

myself.
quietlyalong, running
comfort

and

reassure

buoyantly,and

north-west

lis time

to

boat

beam

upon

two

miles

pi
%"' il

I steered.

iistinct.
sheen

ind,like
a
very
I's brow

cried
the

to

It

re-

;:m

it.

is

there

)rmation.
id whose
But

)W.

he
re

same,

of

life

then

ice !

was

;the

left
a

measure

ICE.

within

coast

mind

of

Hi

of it as
mighty crescent
gatherable,floatingupon
"

moon

new

the

upon

was

now

the

dark

field of

"

struggled with my
will
so
'^misgivings,
tyrannically hope lord it even
conviction
until it was
o\^r
itself,
impossible for
to
I
mistake.
And
then, when
longer
|me
any
it
to
be
I
asked
ice,
myself what other fhing
[knew
it
should
expected
jl
prove, seeing that this ocean
Ihad been
plentifully
navigated since Cook's' time
a

great

while

had

"

land

no

its nature, and

me.

like the

sky.
For

And

|blue waters

mighty
reached

approach the
could
satisfymy

all doubt

then

OF

to*

HAD

before
.|i

upwards
)

ISLAND

AN

is

eness

VI.

CHAPTER

pearly

land discovered

where

was

and

I called

The

44

myselfa

passion,and

rage

my

sightof

m.

I'^!:-

V'

the

was

hope that
to

way
indeed

so

have

violent outburst

but

very little

jumped overboard, so

loathingof life then, and

the ice filled

me

the

great

horror

the appearance
of that
of white
desolation.
On

shone

out

with

cos

the

with.
conceive

cannot

But

how

shocking to
great gleaming

the

visible in

blandness

its main

in those

beauty lay
gloriousstar.
I mean
features by which I knew it to be ice
in a
of
such
vast
as
surprising
variety forms,
steeples,
towers, columns, pyramids,ruins as it might be of
temples,grotesque shapes as of mighty statues,
left unfinished by the hands of Titans,domes
as
of cathedrals, castellated heights,fragments of
features lay in
ramparts, and the like. These
if
line
of coast
t
he
as
were
veritably
groups,
dotted with gatherings of royal mansions
and
of imperialmagnificence,all of white
remains
marble* yet with a glassytincture as though the
material owned
something of a Parian quality.
"

'

griefand

the deck
of a
length
stout
ship sailingsafelypast it I ^.lould have
I doubt not ; for the
found the scene
magnificent,.
shone redly,
and the
sun, beinglow with westering,
ice
kind
of
of
stood
in
a
gold atmosphere
range
which
richness
the
to
an
extraordinary
gave
rocks
and
of
its
and
a
shadowings
peaks,
of
mellow
whiteness
its
to
particularfullness
dazzle
the
lustrous
into
an
parts, softening
the
that
of
whole
so
brightness,
airy tenderness
mass

'%'

had cheated

wild with

ecstasy been

my

must

Indeed, you
me

was

that,had

greater, I
was

cursed

and, in short,gave

me,

of

fool and

Pirate.

Frozen

;M

Island

An

I had

to

within

come

Ice.

of

two

45
I have

miles, as

said,

so
elegancies broke
me,
upon
of outlines
their
did
mingle
delicacy
deceptively
!n placesthe
with the dark blue softness beyond.
three
of two
hundred
or
coast
ran
up to a height
feet.
down
For
to
it
sloped
twenty
feet,in others

these

before

miles

some

abrupt, with

to

ng

with

iming
of

sphere
the

,nd

to

its

to

an

in

those
in

an

eeples,
of

be

tatues,

of

lay
t
ms

in

it projected

massive
in

rock, upon which

thunder, and flew to

sunshine, that
of marble
'^oast
a
defining
folds of sapphire
the liquidjunctionof the swt^lling
^below and the moist violet of the eastern
sky
at pointswith delicate
Ibeyond and over it,crowned
have
limitationsof princely habitations, would
offered a noble
and
magnificent spectacle to a
beheld

say igain,
line of ice,resembling

mind
;nts

at

ease

were

killed

by

but

to

in the

my

the horror

red

I felt.

hideous

the more
waste, rendered
that
the
whole
[Consideration

and

igh the
ity.

formed
would
rock

i'^"'"'

"'1
Y-

"

"

I'.

I'il

of

blocks

dissolve
and

[shunnedby

as

of

frozen

that it was

unsubstantial

the mariner

as

'J

It was
a lonely,
shocking by the
vast

was
range
Wctrmth

which

water
a

if

its enchantments

eyes

were

f white

blue

froth.

as

mes

there

and

of the

upon
the frostybeautiful

burst

ucean

cliff in a very great and

height
In
other parts, w^here I suspected
gloriousfury of foam.
the silver tremble
of beach, there was
a sort
of surf ; but in the main, the heave
coming out of
the
base of the ice
the north-east,the folds swept
without

whole

sheer
cliff,
a
its front,staring

Here

hite and

the

almost

nd the

over

sea.
^'

swell of th

the

the

afternoon

scar

scarce

forefoot,some

fac'e of

like the

was

wild bald look

of that

have
or

it

country
as

though

as

solid

cloud,
it was

to

as

be

Death^s

if

Mi

The

46

Frozen

Pirate.

the estate
and mansion of the grisly
pavilion,
round about it as supreme
a
spectre,and creating
own

desolation and loneliness of ocean

that which
as
its
white stillness.
own
reignedin
I
held
the
boat's head for it I was
at a
Though
loss in so much
confusion of mind that I knew
I 'did not doubt by the character
not what to do.
of the swell that its limits in the norj:h-east
extended onlyto the sensible horizon ; in other
there would not be above
words,that its extremity
five miles distant,
though to what latitude its
southern arm
did curve
not to be conjectured.
was
Should I steer north and seek to go clear of it?
Somehow, the presence of this similitude of land
made the sea appear as enormous
as space itself.
all clear horizon the immensityof
Whilst it was
the deepwas
in a measure
limited to the vision by
the eye
its cincture.
But this ice-line gave
I
looked
at
and
when
with,
somethingto m.easure
sank into
those leagues
of frozen shore my spirits
of
the
the
vastness
at
deepestdejection
thought
of the waters
in whose heart I floated in my little

saf
Ian

"

"

..

ij!
t
'

'

boat.
I resolved at last to land if landing
possible.I could stretch my limbs,recruit

However,
jjti
.^

was

make shift to
and might even
myselfby exercise,
need
obtain a night's
I stood in desperate
rest.
of sleep,
but there was no repose to be had in the
in her; if nature
boat.
I durst not
lie down
and I fellasleepin a sitting
overcame
me
posture,
and myself
I mightwake to find the boat capsized
drowning. This consideration resolved me, and
by this time beingwithin half a mile of the coast,

'%

my
pen-

I con\

.^ness
crag

kmg
from
with
nortl

V(

[perhi
on; t

48

The

Frozen

standing aslant, so
without breaking.
towards

the

which
there

water

Pirate.

that

swell

the

The

rock

made

in full

sailed
would

be

past It

rolled
sort

confidence

of cove,
that

Nor

smooth.

was

acted
that the
rock
deceived, for I saw
as
a
whose
influence
felt
breakwater,
a
stilling
was
it.
I
steered
for
the
good way beyond
thereupon
starboard
it
of this rock, and when
I was
within

found

the

heave

of the

dwindled

sea

to

scarce

perceptibleundulation, whereupon
my
sail,and, standing to the oar, sculled the boat to
a low
lump of ice, on to which I stepped.
the
boat ; this
to secure
My first business was
I did by insertingthe mast
into a deep, thin
in the ice and
crevice
making the painter fast to
it as to a pole. The
sun
was
low, and
now
very
I

would

soon

I did

not

qualityin
of

speak
after
it

gone.
suffer from

warmth

as

to

as

cold
in the

it would
;

yet,

fall ashore

have

power
cold, and the

of the'

edge
ice being

it

which

snow

heavy

seems

The

be

lowered

boat.

extreme,
There

be

ridiculous

was

as

you
top of

on

of
snow

may
black

this

on

abundant, though frozen

ice itself,
appeared to mitigatethe

the

very

to

frost,

sharp

shore

as

observe

the

blunting

yet
is

hard

of
as

intolerable

the water, in
also be owing

languished under

had
rigour
upon
This might
the brigand afterwards.
to the dryness of the cold.
Having secured the boat I beat my hands heartily
breast, and fell to pacing a little level of
my
upon
I

ice whilst I considered

"

land

cannot
"

went

speak

but
in

what
of

I should

do.

this frozen

gentle slope

behind

The

coast

as
territory
me

to

the

Jvas

An

cove,

that

was

as

hollow

nor

felt

improved
spiritsenough
to

So
my

of, and

bedroom

I went

to

resolve

to

boat

as

blood

my

quickly,I

and

crevice

moored

giving

made

up

the

oar

the

as

and

mast

is

aven

"".

water

diilst the

breeze

my

jammed
in,

line.
by another
was
as
safely. There
I
quiet night as
might

this

I reckoned

le

sharp
of

the

hung northerly and the swell

1 spread the sail over

beams
for the support
served as
seats, which
and
f this little ceilingof canvas,
enough of it
with
to
a pillowand
cover
^bemained to supply me

as

tolerable
in

owing

legs. I fell
I
ght, and when
|ook a bottle of

^lishore and
jivhilstI ate

made
and

to

had
ale

my
drank.

this

work

prepared
and

my
handful

supper,

sometimes

whilst

there

caught myself
the

to

the

brow

of

the

it--.:

Pi
!'l5
j

"..

"

i .1?

was

I
habitation,
of

walking

victuals

briskly

looking yearningly
^owards
slope, as though from
s heartily
hat eminence
I should
gain an extensive prospect
level of
5
f the
and
I
sea
a ship ; but
perhaps behold
The coast
the courage
anted
I
to
climb, chiefly because
as
jrritory
afraid of tumbling into a hole and miserably
as

^^

ti

hold

would

the north-east.

Miy

1.

hr

the

he

frost,

water,

from

me

boat

very
fair

and
still,

to

ck

hard

of

observe

shore

her

ilmost

oiled

ulous

le

.1

stood

treacherous
latitudes ;
in these
upon
sheltered and
the boat lay was
in which

Mcount
to

low, and
yet
erne,

the

it I secured

j|good promise

thin

-p,
fast

to

This

this

here

^'

bed.

I took

work.

another

it into such

of

to

boat

be

make

circulation

my

use

scarce

I could

that

the

'

mind

It;

49

for the
ithin it

red

Ice.

or

thirty feet ; the ground was

height of about
greatlybroken with rocks and boulders and sharp
fissures in which
I suspectedmany
points,whence
hard
I might sink
but
that
be
so
the snow
might not
I saw
no
cave
deep enough to be smothered.

it

"ast

Island

t:?.*'

V".

The

50

Pirate.

perishing,and likewise because I shrank

idea of being overtaken
up there by the
kind of companionship in
There
was
a

'

"t
.

glory that
the
"""

pressure

the

his

whole

of my

until his

sun

lightwas
mirroring in

attended

was

weight

of

The

gone.

of

the

darkness.
the

boat,

come

swell

molten

by

so

much

situation

my

solitude did not

lines

from

lose if I left her.

I should

the support of which

The going of the

0:

I*

Frozen

"

upon
ran

gold ;

and
me

athwart
the

sky
he was, paling
sheet
of scarlet fire where
was
a
The
zenithwards
into an ardent
dour
splenorange.
with
frozen
of
the
coast
tipped
points
ruby
and
like
sentinel
throbbed
flame which
sparkled
The
beacons
along the white and silent range.
of far-off hills of water
thunder
low
bursting
against the projectionsrolled sulkilydown
upon
the weak
wind.
Just beyond the edge of the
slope,about a third of a mile to the north of my
little haven, stood
an
assemblage of exquisitely
I
have
as
airy outlines
configurations such
described ; their crystalline
stole out
to
nature
the lustrous
of
the glowing west, and
colouring
had
the
of
tinted glass of several
they
appearance
dyes of red, the delicate fibres being deep of hue,
the stoutei
did the highest
ones
pale ; and never
of human
invention reach to anything more
moon
glorious and dainty,more
sweetly simulative of
of
the arts
a
fairy-like
imagination than yonder
cluster of icy fabrics,fashioned,as it entered my
head to conceive, as pavilionsby the hands
of the
of the frozen world, and giltand painted by
spirits
of the settingsun.
the beams
But all this wild and unreal beauty melted away
"

1.1

if.

Island

An

the

om

gone
of bleakness
was

boat,

twilighthad

SI

and

when

put

the

sun

quality

new

air,when the sea rolled in a

fold shouldering
sombre
welter of dark shadows, one
of restless giant
another
a
very swarming
low
the
^when
of
the stars
shining
phantoms

her.

much

the

and

dusk

of the

oncoming

the

to

rkness.

Ice.

of

into

the

"

and

on

"

pon me
athwart

in the unfathomable

down
and

sky
paUng
;
splenof ruby
the

south

obscurityof
to

quarters gave

the

north

the

in those

ocean

of

surface,making
frightful
immensity
the
viewed
the
from
scene
though
you
you
of the firmament, and were
down
centre
gazing
the
spangled slopes of infinity oh, then it was
of the solitude of this pale and
that the full spirit
I found
silent seat of ice took possession of me.
a
plaining
meaning I had not before caught in the comof the night breeze
murmur
blowing in
the
and
small gusts along
in the deep
rocky shore,
hum
of the swell thundering
organ-liketremulous
miles
the
distant
on
northward-pointing cliffs.
directions
feel

as

"

sentinel
The

5.

bursting
upon
of the

^n

of my

pisitely
have

out

This

to

of

of

yonder

ered my
is of the
inted

by

senses

water

with

this side

on

missed

were

Mi

did

not

extend

view

of it in the

that

the

beat

far

so

as

boat.

whilst the

range,

and

the
the

gave
of the

extremity
supposed

I had

Yet

I could

shone.

sun

sharpened by
the booming of

the

^know that the northward

more

ative

I had

note

my
It mmgled

Iness.

of hue,

ig

Perhaps

5St, and
several

highest

was

also

darkbursts
to

me

island

from

my

suppose

of

the
swell
formed
a
mighty
cannonading capable of making itself heard afar,
and the ice,being resonant, with
if
smooth
many
tracts
the
transmitted
polished
it,
readily
jnot
upon
sound, yes, though the cause
of it lay as far off as

Ithe horizon.
;ed away

I will not

say

'1

that my

loneliness

frig^htened
me"

li

M-**-

V'l
"'f'"''

The

52
but it subdued

rode
-

that

filled me

where
her

until she

was

path

which

had

with
The

awe.

sort

moon

The

coast

in cold motionless

further

ran

blocks

of

fell (by deceptionof the

on

of the

stars)into a
glimmer, and you

kind

of

twistingand

followed it into

elusive faintness that

colour

two-thirds

marched

the meridian.

to

either hand

on

full of

was

if it

weight as

she
up, but the rocks hid the side of the sea
not
to be viewed from
over, and her face was

was

"\M-

with

heart

my

of consternation

"!il;"
""".,..

Pirate.

somethingsensible,and

were

J,:!'.,/.
,t.

Frozen

an

away

pallor,
sheen

snaking

arily
extraordin-

neither

was

in the

of

lightnor
sight

after the

liquidgloom, long
At
of
the
visibility
range.
intervals I was
startled by sounds, sometimes
sullen,like a muffled subterranean
explosion,
of an
like
sometimes
a
sharp,
quick splintering
iron-hard substance.
These
noises, I presently
and
made
gathered,were
by the ice stretching
The
in
mass
cracking fiftydifferent directions.

had

the

outrun

was

think of it as
the bed
i;!

substantial you could not but

country with its foot restingupon

and

vast

so

of the

'Twas

sea.

doubt,yet it added

no

to

follyof

my

my

nerves

consternation

to

the
.reflectthat this solid territory,
reverberating

repelledblows
afloat

as

further

ocean

swell,was

as

much

less actual than

boat, and so much
that, could it be towed a few degrees

my

boat

my

of the

north, it

would

melt

into

pouringwaters

utterlywith its little cities

wreath
and
minarets as
a
columns, steeples,

and

steam

vanish

upon

as

of
of

the air.

This gavfc

character
spirit-like

to

it in my

dis-

An

Island

Ice*

of

53

was
greatlyincreased
mayed inquiring
eyes which
from
dusk.
the
It was
took
it
by the vagueness
such a scene,
methought, as the souls of seamen
in these seas
drowned
might flock to and haunt.
and
white
The
icyspellupon it wrought in familiar
things. The stars looking down upon me over the
Hke
of shapes
the
edge of the chffs were
eyes
the
fashion
of
darkness) kneeling up
out
(easy to
intruder who
there and peeringat the human
was
floor of ice for warmth.
The
pacing his narrow
the
blanched
deceit of the shadows
proportioned
the
of
cliff'sface
the north side into
on
ruggedness
I beheld
heads
of monsters.
and bodies
a
giant,
from his waist up, leaning his cheek
his
arm
;
upon
with a burlesquefigure,
of a friar,
a great cross
as
it ; a mighty helmet
with a white
kneeling near
curled
the
conformation
of a
plume
shadowy
;
other
such
huge couchant beast, with a hundred
unsubstantial
in
shone
prodigies. Had the moon

the

west

score

I dare

more

white

paper,

the ice-rocks

say

such
on

things,for

which

could

should

not

have
the

the clear
but

have

snow

black
cast

witnessed
was

shadows

like
of

the likeness

of many
startling
phantasies.
I sought to calm
mind
by consideringmy
my
position,and to divert my thoughts from the starwrought apparitionsof the broken slopes I asked

myself what should be

for delivering
myself
tell

the
but

plans,what my chance
this unparalleledsituation.
At this distance of time I*cannot precisely
how
long the provisions I had brought from
foundered
calculated
last me,
to
brig were
I am
I had not
sure
a week's
supply. This,
my

from

HP**
IKl-l.l'

i^:

The

54

W'P

Frozen

Pirate.

not
to
then,made it plainthat my business was
afresh as
Unger here,but to push into the ocean
for to my mind
speedilyas possible,
nothing in
life was
clearer than that my only chance
layin
in with a ship. Yet how did my heart
my falling
sink when
I reflected upon
the mighty b.east of
in which I was
!
sea
to seek for succour
forlornly
My eyes went to the squab black outline of the

ii!

boat, and

the

littleness of her

sent

shudder

It is true she had nobly carried me

through me.
fierce weather, yet at the expense
through some
of many
leaguesof southing,of a deeper penetration
into the solitary
wilds of the polarwaters.
sensible that I was
However, I was
depressed,
and under a continued consternation,
melancholy,
sipate,
something of which the morning sun might disthat I should

so

able

be

take

to

heartier

view of my woful plight.So after a good look

seawards and at the heavens to satisfy
myself on
the

subjectof

of the

;:,

'=tv

moorings

her, feehngvery
west

or

'
"

.*"l

back

against the

with

the

myselfto God,

of

and

stem,

which

I had

the

canvas,

folded my

arms,

'Hi

AM

STARTLED

In this uneasy

posture,

and

roof

the
and

my

bolstered

commended
went

to

sleep.

VII.

CHAPTER
I

boat, I entered

of the

gettingunder
legs along the bottom
;

my

slack

spectio
careful in-

that,if a sea set in from the

tumbled
her, the motion would

me

of sail,with

after

sure

south and

quicklyarouse
IT

weather, and

the

BY

DISCOVERY.

despitethe

intense

cold,I

W'.

The

56
r

Frozen

Pirate.

I got upon the

pipe betwixt my teeth.
ice and steppedabout it quickly,
dartingsearching
the
and
into
left
to
gloom
rightof the
glances
but all lay bare,bleak, and black.
settingmoon;
I pulled off my
stout
gloves with the hope of
gettingmy fingersto tingleby handlingthe snow
;
a

m^'
?^^

IIM

tobacco

frozen

it was

but
with

nails

my

would
it would

be

got

scrape
up
of flakes
in

dissolved

my

itbrackish

found

and

not

half-dozen

as

What

make.

mouth

much

as

I could

hard

so

I suspected
; however,
perhaps not so stonily

and

sweeter

higher up, where there was less chance of

the salt spray
minglingwith it,and I resolved
the lightcame
when
to fill my
empty beer-bottles
with salt or pounded sugar for use
hereafter
as
that is,if it should prove sweet
to meltingit,
; as
frozen

""""
liiUn
"'',;

"^'H

it'
If

"

had

indeed

tinder-box

obtainingfire,hut
It seemed
so

'kite;!.;;'

and
as

of

means

fuel.

no

nighthad onlyjustdescended,
Outside the slanting
dawn.
wall

the

the swell swept past

gurgling,bubbling,drowning sound, dismal

of ice that
in

the

ifthe

as

tardywas

and

made

ghastly,as
the

there.

though
I had

monster

I welcomed

if it had

haven

my

been

in truth

dreamt

the cold

such

some

ogre

of

lay suffocating
colouringof the east

the stars
ship,and watched
dying and the frozen shore darkeningto the dim
and
behind
the
it,againstwhich
siftingdawn

as

outline of the cliffsran

The

risingof

flashed
the
as

ocean

out

the

sun

in

of its slatish hue

changed

violet under

the

into

of ink.

fresh life. The

me'

gave

streak

broken

into

rich blue

paler azure

ice

radjant white,
that

of the

seemed

heavens

I
the

ion

irching
black.

snow

me

the

jpected
stonily

taking the
might view

jafter

"

of

of

up

form

and

king it,

break

ing wall

the

pt past

obtain

the

towards

me

of

current

from

wind

the

air

north-^

east

"^'.m

and

sat

far north

white,

breeches,

the

boat

from

me
;

that the

to

over

how

so

compacted

and
leisurely

seemed

hot

to

IB

about

the

aspect
part was

first

must

bitterlylamenting
fire, that I might
drink and dry my
which
the
damp
m

burn.
in

wondered

in such

ice

make

and

occupied pondered

the

of ink.

But

strand.

meal

by

western

salt

that would

stars

dim

the

only

to

and

round

ocean

remember

means

warm

serve

of the weather

low
I

high as I could,
a
as
pole,that I

as

the

and

my
fast.

to

m.e

ice

climb

to

this ice been

clung tenaciously. Had
land, though the most
desolate, gloomy, repulsive
in
the
I
had
world,
spot
surely found something

ogre

leavens

was

small

with

the

my
lack of

of the

ocating

it

of

foi" the

see,

blow

to

mind

my

gloves, coat,

dismal

The

to

quarter

judgment
sky, of which

the

cended,

steadilyout

ran

%%

of its remote

echo

miserable

trickle of

oar

visible from

ich

heavier

was

west.

-bottles

the

that

mere

I made

le

It

was

There

sun.

esolved

the

north.

in

a
stirring,

of

;h

the

up

sprang

my

ians

suspected fron.

swell

57

if
and
running was
directlymy course,
in
that
it
little
the
to
boat,
myself
the long and
swinging folds could not
steadilysouthwards, unless a breeze

its

set

DiSCOVERY.

the

see

This

committed

but

BY

that

now

the

impulse of

flakes

ince

I had

up

in

than

line of

ape

I could

north-east.

of

lope

but

roarinofin

of the

STARTLED

AM

mighty

bulk

the

seat

so

field of

great

berg should

north

its

"

part of

it,from

much

ice,

travel

that

creation.

curiouslyobserving it,it
north

thus
.

far

of

whilst

and

eat,
this

is,so
Now

seemed

to

about

the

If

Frozen

The

58

formed of a chain of
to another in a consoUdated
low steeps. The
beautiful
oi irregular
range
^.owers,and the like seemed
appearances of spires,
been formed by an upheaval,
of
as
as if theyhad
and
of splinters
bodies of the
an
earthquake,
for me
frozen stuff; for,so far as it was
possible
from the low shore,wherever these radiant
to see
assembled I noticed great
and lovely
were
figures

spot where my

boat
icebergsknitted one

i,l

rents,

i ^'''.

In'"""

mm

"

lis

'.

narrow

and

tortuous

Certain appearances,
however, caused
to
me
steadily
suspect that this island was
decaying,and that,largeas it stillwas, it had
been many times vaster when it broke away from
it
the continent about the Pole.
as
Naturally,
northwards itwould dissolve,
and the
progressed
crackingand thunderous noises I had heard in
sounds very audible now
when
I gave
the night,
hollow distant
them my attention sometimes
a
and
rumblingas of some
great body dislodged
sometimes
far off,
inwards roaring
set rolling
an
crack or blast of noise like the reportof a cannon
that the work of
advised me
"red deep down
dissolution was
and that
perpetually
progressing,
island which appearedto barricade
this prodigious
be dwindled
the horizon might in a few months
of rapidly
into half a score
bergs.
dissolving
My slender repast ended, I pulledthe oar out
of the crevice,and found it would, make
me
a
good pole to probe my way with and support
myselfby up the slope. The boat was now held
by the mast, which I shook and found very firm.
I put an empty beer- bottle in my pocket,meaning
"

ii^if

lay,was

spacious chasms,

ravines.

Pirate.

to

enough

sweet

final look

the

glare of
distance

to

the

pyramids
caused

snow

flat

appear

that

"

are

the

and

blocks

part of the

at

come

at

soft

had

sixty

little

is,by merging

with

of

the white

stones

blending
of the
background ;
warily walk fifty or
to

like the

others,
built

these

them

and

into

with

Blocks

craggy.

of the

top

on

some

of which

was

then

I started.

extremely

was

lay about,

stones

boat

the

at

59

above

snow

well-tasted,and

be

to

slope

The
ice

fill it,if the

if I could

see

DISCOVERY.

BY

STARTLED

AM

them

brilliance

sometimes
round

paces

to

these

that

slope

was

smooth.

speedilyfound, however, that there was

being buried by stepping into
my

no

Idanger of

full of

hollow

snow;

the
[everywhere,

solid

rarm

as

I had

the

ever

I had

come

lo

moving

^as

lalf

dozen

in

was

rock

that

)owed,

:hin,and

(egs.
I
leart.

Had

the

easy
as

was

as

breath, and

and

if 1 had

it been

his

up

back
His

to

not
man,

against a
head

level with

clasped upon

were

that of

was

figureot

him.

drawn
hands

attitude

stopped

fetch

to

concealed

his knees

[bought,
very

began to
as
good

life.

spied
sitting posture,

his naked

His

I
was

ice.

afresh, when, having taken

on

had

and

stand

steps, I

as

feet

bare

half-way up
in my

been
a

the

was

twenty

or

exercise

some
spirit
;
fire,arid before I was

one

step out, and

to

me

hardness

same

surface

with

love

le

the

whether

snow,

deep, offeringas
[This
encouraged
LS

for

person

lost

was

his
his
in

calm.
been

bear, or

shot
a

through

sea-lion,or

the
any

-.;li,

The

6o

which

creature

with

associated
I

Pirate.

have
mind
could instantly
my
this white and stirlessdesolation,
startled indeed

been

might have

could

amazement

Frozen

have

but

such

no

possessedme

as

now

entered into my head to doubt that

never
of one
as
alive,so natural v^as his attitude,

felt. It
he
I ^'

^ili

r:'l

was

of tender melancholy.
lost in a mood
I stood staringat him, myself motionless,
for
and
some
minutes, too
greatly astonished
than that he was
thunderstruck to note
a
more
if
Then
I
looked
he
about
had
to
man.
see
me
but
companionsor for some
signsof a habitation,
I fixed my eyes
the ice was
everywherenaked.
him again. His hair was
above a foot long,
on
black as
ink, and the blacker maybe for the

of the

cor.i'ast

which
He

His beard and mustachios,

also of this raven
hue, fellto his girdle.

were

wore

snow.

hat,such
great yellowflapping

as

was

the Spaniardsand buccaneers

in fashion among
Sea ; but over
of the South
his.ears, for the
warmth
secured

"J,

by

were
protection,

very

fine red

squares

of

flannel,

silk handkerchief
this,with his hair

his beard, and

and
pale cheeks and black shaggy eyebrows,
From
gave him a terribleand ghastly
appearance.
his shoulders hung a rich thick cloak lined with
red, and the legs to the height of the knees
encased in largeboots.
were
I continued surveying
him with my heart beatmg
fast.
Every instant I expectedto see him turn
his head and start to behold me.
My emotions
tumultuous
to
too
were
analyze,
yet I believe I
knotted

1:1-

of the

was

more

under

than gladdened
frightened
by

the

sight

of

STARTLED

AM

BY

fellow-creature, though

bitterlyfor

sighed

DtSCOVKRV.

long before
to
speak

not

some

6[

one

..'.*

I had

!""..'

to.

again,prepared to find another one

from
behind
rock,
a
taking stock of me
to approach him
and then ventured
by a few steps
He
had
him.
to
better
the
certainly a
see
of his
the
It
face.
not
was
only
length
frightful
it
the
hair
and
hue
of his
coal-black
was
beard;
colour, an
unspeakably
skin, a greenish ashen
the
hand
hideous
one
complexion, sharpened on
his ears
and
over
on
by the red handkerchief
the
other
Then,
by the dazzle of the snow.
the extreme
again, there was
strangeness of his
around

looked

like hhn

'S

'

''

"

' ;

"

'".
?

'I

costume.

coughed loudly,holding my pole in readiness

for whatever
might befall,but he did not stir ; I
then holloaed, and was
answered
by the echoes of
I

voice

own

my

persuaded

he

me

^was his posture.

This will not do,
and

His

peered
eyes

painted
broad

and

seemed

I took

him

by

jmy feelingsI
[sensible of.

those

of

he

thought
;

bers
deep slumplaces,for I
dead, so living

was

I ;

I went

so

close

faded.

his waist, and

from

under

see

the

I
movement

shoulder

exerted

pushed

more

him

resembled

they

colours

unarmed.
to

iji

"'H

the

peeped
was

stillness

in frozen

man

fixed

were

as

of cutlass

His

to

into his face.

eyes,
belt round

he

rocks.

one

persuade myself

not

'him

in

was

fall upon

which
could

the

among

hilt of

the

his

He

cloak.

thought

glass
had
a

kind

wise
Other-

he

breathed,
breast, and
but in the hurry of
;
strength than I was
in his

with

the

violence

of

Frozen

The

62

sudden

trepidation
; my

shoulder, and

fell

he

statue, he had

on

chiselled

been

I started back

frightenedby

fears found

my

clear

to

of

sort

his

me

that of

rigidity
was

beard

before,as though they were

.

dead, I

ebony.
steppedround

and

him

set

the rock

to

been, that of
had

Who

some

it
a

was

soon

frozen

man

stood

as
stiff,
terfeit
exquisitecoun-

been

man

These

as

He

was

How

had

he

dead

long had he been

him

saw

as

it had

was

in life?

was

I put his

exactlyas
deeplymeditating.

fallen into this pass ? How

there,seated

him.

alive,and when

been

he

side of him,

other

found

his posture

one

this

the

to

I had

up as
if he had

heavy as
back

in which
fall,

satisfied that
Perfectly

in

",

his

life; but

His very hair and

death.

to

of marble

out

stone.

or

slipped off his

side,exactlyas a
posture as though,

hand
his

would, preservinghis

statue

like

Pirate.

not
to be resolved by
speculations
the
rock againstwhich
lookingat
observingits curvature, it seemed

were

conjecture.On
he leaned
to

and

it had

that

me

some

large,deep

must

have

had
have

this

been

body

remained

hidden

been

I concluded
been

cast

bleaker
had

formed

by

then

away

upon
heightsthan

crawled

melancholic

had his fate

into

part of

sure

that,
must

snow.

that

the

unhappy

this ice whilst

these

it

him ?

had

man

under

was

and
parallels,

hollow,and

upon

of

or

cave,

long unsheltered,it

the

sittingposture.
come

hole of ice ; and this I was

the case, for it is certain

that

perishedin
But

in

what

I had made

he

that

year
several
m

W^.

Ilvi.:'

The

64

,^

Frozen

Pirate.

The
hands
kinds, forming a small letter M.
A
minutes
after
three.
pointedto twenty
key of
number
of seals,trinkets,
a strange shape and
a
and the like,were
attached to the watch.
These
things,together with a knife,a key, a
thick plainsilver ring,and some
Spanish pieces
in gold and silver were
what
I found on
this man.
^ithe
There
tell
he
who
how
me
was
was
nor
nothing to
long he had been on the island.
The
the most
disagreeable
searchinghim was
I
Hfe.
undertook
in
His
iron-like
ever
job
my
him
and
the
to resist me,
seem
rigiditymade
of
his
back
rock
the
the
to
swaying
against
motions

of my

hand

was

full of life that

so

twice

quittedhim, frightenedby it. On touchinghis

naked
hand
by accident I discovered that the
the bones
flesh of it moved
as
pulla
upon
you
I had had enough of him, and
glove off and on.
walked
If he had companions,
sick.
away feeling
and
like him, I did not
want
to see
they were
I
unless
it
osity
that
them,
was
might satisfymy curiI deterhere.
mined,
to the time they had been
as
take
his
back
to
however, on my way
I

'

,'i
'i''.'

cloak, which

comfortable

came

bring me

watch,

if I left them

off with
must

clothes and
I

also the

them,

then

somewhat

flask,and

rug in
tobacco-

for if I was
drowned
they could but go to
;
bottom
of the sea, which
their certain
was

"^f

me

box

destination

Mr"

make

boat, and

the

i"i-

would

the

in his

pockets;

and

if

the money
they would
lightenthe loss of my

property in the brig.

pushed onwards, steppingwarilyand probing

cautiouslyat every step, and earnestly
peering

The

about
I

to

never

About

upon.
that is,on

"

slope

the

"

was

new

quarter
I

the

continuing gentle
acclivity

but

much

broken,

of

mile

kept

as

might
on

my

face

my

of

to

ravine

When

lay.

of the

the

to

said,

I have

man

feet of the summit

within twenty

was

that dead

the appearance
where
the boat

discernible from

not

65

wonder

left whilst

my

there

sightas

what

know

stumble
left

Schooner.

for after such

me,

was

Frozen

very
I noticed

cUff,
brow,
this

collection of
a small
particularly
hollow, and more
ice-forms, not nearly so large as the other groups
less.
of this kind, but most
dainty and lovelynevertheshowed

They
to

ascent,

my

as

and

when

of

heads

the

I had

got

might
little higher I
trees

formed

the
they were
upon
Iside of the hollow^,as though the convulsion
had
tossed
had
wrought that chasm
up
ice.
I was
of
However,
caprices
[exquisite

[observedthat

to

eager

view

the

prospect

my
I had

admiration

suffer
to
[clifi
Few minutes
on

to

from
to

gained
rock, I

of

sent

CHAPTER

vast

lundreds

rr".e

the
in

and,

ing
clamber-

gaze

around.

summit

of

kind of tableland

of

of a mile
it ; yet for the space
scattered over
io the character
that of flatness.
Southwards
was

[herange
lundred

went

block
ice, every
weighing
thousands
of
tons
perhaps
lay

bodies
and

too

SCHOONER.

the

on

those

Vni.

FROZEN

myself

FOUND

my

which

of

top

detain

the brow,

mass

THE

the

hither

upwards

feet,with

to

huddle

coastal front of
of

peaks

and

or

some

strange

i!^- ;,

Tiij: Frozen

66

Pirate.

JK.' ii

behind soaring
to
configurations
the sea-line of two

elevation from

an

three hundred

or

feet.

wards
North-

with such a
the range sloped gradually,
that
I
of
hinder
could
catch a
shelving its
part
glimpseof a littlespace ol the blue sea that way.
From
thickness
this I perceivedthat whatever
and

surface of ice lay southwards,in the

was

attenuated

the

to

shape of a wedge, so
where it projected
its cape

"""^"5

its extreme

breadth
would not
extremity

exceed

musket

it
that

north

or

shot.

in my
mind
companion might have qualified
loneliness and
somethingof the sense of prodigious
of dazzling
desolation inspired
that
by
huge picture
uneven
whiteness, blottingout the whole of
in hills of blinding
the south-east ocean, rolling
brillianceinto the blue heavens,and curvingand
ance
radidyingout into an airyfilm of silvery-azure
But
leaguesaway down in the south-west.
to my
an
was
amazing
solitary
eye the spectacle
and confoundingone.
A

"

Pi-.

-'I
.-^^

ihi

If I had

not

the tract

seen

of dark

blue water

in the north-east,I might have imaginedthat this

island stretched as far into the east and north as
it did in the south and west.
And
one
thing I

enough understood
quickly
'it

that

if I wanted

to

behold the ocean

the east side of the ice I
on
should have to journey
the breadth of the range,
which here, where I was, mightmean
five
or
one
miles, for the blocks and lumps hid the view,and
how far off the edge of the cliffson the other side

mightbe

w:

not

my
-pi

I.
1^

to

I could

be dreamt

not

therefore

of,and

climb had been

gather.

therefore to
useless.

This

was

this extent

The

Frozen

the

Schooner.

top of the

Being on
plainlyhear

the

convulsions

of this vast

noises

not

describable.

like

the

explosions of

now,

range

of the

are

67

and
splitting

formation.

The

Sometimes

they

sometimes

guns,

could

internal
sounds

seemed
like the

growlingsand

mutterings of huge fierce beasts,

like
blasts
of
sometimes
smart
single echoless
thunder ; and sometimes
sort
you heard a singular
when
of hissing or
snarling,such as iron makes
when
noise
this
happened
speeding over ice, only
of it was
that
the volume
the
so
atmosphere
great
the ear with it. It was
trembled upon
impossible
to

fix the direction

fullof them
breeze

and

the

was

booming
always sullenly
voice

talk of

may

surelythe

spiritof

rival the unutterable

filled my
of frozen

of the

mind

as

the

my

sward, of

of hills ; the

trees

grassy
air was

upon

of
in

of
gaze
He

him

over

the

it.

Selkirk,but
could

solitariness

had

was

bursting

that confronted

solitude

emotion

I sent

swell

ocean

loneliness

stirless whiteness.

fairpastures, of
the

sounds, the island

against the ice-coast

in foam
You

of these

those

not

that
miles

the

sight of
on
making a twinklingtwilight
savannahs
and pleasantslopes
illuminated
by the glorious

flyingbirds ; the bleat of goats broke

the stillness in the valleys; there was
a
golden
his
other
his
and
for
senses
were
regale
eye,
gratifiedwith the perfumes of rich flowers and
the trembling leaves.
engaging concerts
among
Above
of a
the soothing warmth
all,there was
those
delicious climate.
But
out
heaped
upon
and spreading plainsof snow
nothing stirred,if it
startled by a loud report,
that I was
not
were
once

plumage

of

i""
The

68

Frozen

Pirate.

spied a rock about half a mile away slide

into the
the edge of the flat cliffand tumble
down
an
sea.
Nothing stirred, I say ; there was
affrightingsolemnity of motionlessness
where.
everyof this plainglaredlike
The countenance
face at the sky; neither sympathy,
a great dead
forces of the imaginor
nation,
fancy,no, not the utmost
could witness
expression in it. Its unmeaningness was
ghastly,"and the ghastlierfor
and

the greatness of its bald and lifeless -stare.

I turned
it was
seawards
my
eyes
; haply
whiteness
rich

the extraordinarily
that gave the ocean
in
I found
in it. The
went
expanse

dye
flowingfolds of violet into the
what
and though God
knows
surveyed, the line of it,as
without

the

the faintest flaw to

nethermost
extent

clear

amuse

heavens,
I

of horizon
as

my

glass, ran
heart

with

instant's

hope.
more
was
weight, however, in the wind
I had
than
supposed. It blew from the west
of north, and
was
an
exquisitely
frosty wind,
it came.
It swept in
despitethe quarter whence
in
the rocks, and there were
tones
moans
among
it that recalled the stormy mutterings we
had
heard
in the blasts which
the brig
came
upon

even

an

There

before

w.

the storm

boiled down

upon

her.

But

my

was
now
so
tight-strungas to be
imaginatiori
and
un wholesomely
unnaturallyresponsive to
impulsesand influences which at another time I
had. not noticed.
few heavy clouds
There
were
a
in the north-east,so
steam-like that methought
their complexion from
the snow
they borrowed
on

the

island's

cape

there.

was

pretty

sure,

The

that

however,

there

the roll of the

Schouner.

wind

was

what

69

them, for if
signifyheavy weather

did not

ocean

to, then

near

Frozen

behind

else it betokened

I could

not

imagine.
I

cannot

within

shrank

me

excitement

rendered

was

stood

me
obligationupon
as
as
frightful
space

could

shocking to me
crumblingbody of
and that, if I had
this hideous

whilst I thus
eyes

on

too

shone

launch

into

sentence

of

upon

ice

my

too

north-east

equally

this

slowly

shocking,

more

the boat

me

and

the

perils

I remained

somewhat,
standing with

little group

of fanciful

fanes

the

the

hollow.

to

amazed
to

be

abrupt

close

take

by

an

and
my
and
I

notice

appearance

credible.

The

sun

frosty brilliance in the

these
spikes and figuresof

fine .white

some

of

the radiance

in several

colours.

wind-swept of
and
showed
the naked
ice,the hues
drouslysplendid, and, mingling upon

places where

be

again

over

^omforted

I started

ice reflected

in

Yet

tiny ark.

exquisitely
perfect
with

the

and

starvation,I would

sure

fiftytimes

edge of
preoccupied

on

sudden

and

imparted

death.

up

nay, tenfold
between
to choose

yonder mighty

that it would
locked

of

solid

as

terror,

"

museu

the

been

had

ice

reflection

spiresof

to

solitude

cheerfullyaccept
of a navigationin
This

object

be

to

securityit

of

of

consider

but

not

soul
very
in the
sea

island

an

upon

sense

very
boat
an

the

the

putting to
no
longer the support
of escaping from
terror

and

sinking vessel.
land, and the
as

how

you

from

There

little boat.
the

to

express

they were

In

their

snow

were

won-

the

sight,

""'"."i'

The

70

rainbow-like veil that complicated

airy,
the whole
congregationof white shaft
and
mani-tinctured
spire,the marble column, the
but most
alabaster
prisingly
sursteepleinto a confused
daintyand shiningscene.
whilst looking at this, that
It was
my
eye
of
the
form
little
distance
traced, a
a
beyond,
the
and
ship'sspars
rigging. Through
labyrinth
made
of the ice outlines I clearly
out
two
masts,
with
the foremast, the
two
yards on
square
riggingperfectso far as it went, for the figuration
showed
than half the height of the masts,
no
more
behind
the
lower parts being apparentlyhidden
this
I have
the edge of the hollow.
said that
formed

If

to

coast

kind

the

beautiful

of

north

could

symmetrical,more
the work

been
"

-;

1.S

and

view,

The

'I'i,

forms

here

of

an

I halted

fabric

great

of clouds

do,

but

something
been
have
not
completer,more
proportionedhad
faultlessly
now

artist.

little way around

so
and
then
getting

appearance

]'m^'

the

of

groups

shapes, suggesting

objects,as
nothing perfect; but

ice that

in many

abounded

fantastic

varietyof

Pirate.

Frozen

was

I walked
as
a

to

close

obtain

fair

sight

again,transfixed

with

if formed

of

appeared

it
it

clearer
of

the

ment.
amaze-

frosted

good rake, and with a

seaman's
I took
notice
of the
furniture,
eye
observingthe shrouds, stays, backstays,braces to
be perfect. Nay, as
though the spiritartist of
this fragileglittering
resolved
had
to
pageant
omit no detail to complete the illusion,
there stood
the masthead, shining like a tongue of
at
a
vane

glass.

The

masts

had

as

to

in

'I

"

.f',-,:

I,'''
..

The

?2

but
standing,

were

find

could

"-

I traced

the outlines of six small

oiC'^es

manifestly
lyingfor

were

;jooTi

showed

several

was

level

fathom

Gaffs

and

sails furled

The

the

main

places,and
of
figuration

of

trace

deck

from

there

and

square,
hatch-cover

no

or

swivel-

or

rails.

after-bulwark

small

petararoes
the

or

or

cannons

years.
covered

in their

them.

There

coats

years and

forms
clean-sculptured
considerable piece of

with
resting

the

upon

upon

abaft

She
in

the well

the

panion
com-

was

mainmast.

the

boat.

hatch

had

bows

so

flush
to

past the main-shrouds

; it was
short poop- deck, which
went

broken

then

in a
by a
after
great spring or rise to the stem, that was
the pinkstyle,
and
tall.
very narrow
I
write this description
Though
coldly,let it
not
not be supposed that I was
violently
agitated

"

4:

|gi

and

astonished

beheld

".ii!."'
'

quarters, in which

winter

been

"unance

of her

she had

aft, and

riggedin. I
peoplehaving

jibboomwas

for these

with snow, but

in their white

mi

her

Pirate.

other evidence

no

her

snugged
I

Frozen

into the

almost

belief that what

vision,a

phenomenon. The
did not
sight of the body I examined
nearlyso
the spectacleof this iceastound
me
as
greatly
locked

was

mere

schooner.

presence

of

It

dead

was

easy

man.

to account

My

own

for the

situation,

solved the riddle of that corpse.

indeed,sufficiently
But the ship,
Hke a
perfectin all respects, was
stroke of magic. She lay with a slight
fist or
inclination to larboard,but on
the whole tolerably
upright,owing to the corpulence of her bilge.
The
iH^^r

hollow

or

ravine

that

formed

her

bed

went

?f:

I
with

sharp incline

which

Boat.

MY

73

her stern
to the sea,
the top of the cliffs here

under

visible from

was

through the
the

LOSE

she]

The

splitin the rocks.

ice put the wash

of the ocean
at ? castance
few hundred
feet from the school, r ; but

of

calculated

that

the

actual

vessel's

twenty feet,if
rested
It

was

evident

very

gone

far to

by

hollow

measure

that

got eml

in which

the southw

yt

rd,

had

in
it

schooner

nd

had

in

course

built up in ^ ; y floating
masses;
how old the ice about ti j poles may be who
tell ?
In those sun^ 's worlds
the frozen

of
For
can

of Britain when

the main

and

1.1

tinents
con-

the antiquity
of the land.
may well possess
who
filled the
the monarch
shall name
who

throne
from

she

in this ice when

the
"

time been

And

'"l:tJ

exceed

twenty feet deep.

beingabove

years
was

much, the

so

."-IP

elevation

the water-line, supposingyou to

it with a plummet up and down, did not
above

'ingof

this vast field broke away

started on its stealthy
naviga*

tion sunwards?

CHAPTER

IX.

"! W

I LINGERED,

LOSE

MY

i^![

BOAT.

daresay,above twenty minutes

fossil of a ship,
singular
crystal
and
I should go down
whether
to her
considering
and ransack
her for whatever
might answer
my
But she looked so darklysecret
turn.
under
her
white garb,and there was
somethingso terrible in

'

?;.

contemplatingthis

the aspect of the motionless snow-clad

sentinel
who leaned upon the rail,
that my heart failed me,

tm

The

74

easilypersualed myself to believe that,

take
first,it would
me
longer to penetrate and

!"''

search

the

boat

her

supposed

or

that, if

would

of

had

crew

there

stores

that

I should

proper

that, second, it was

be rash

matter

was

were,

boat

essential

not

was

away
be

to

scarce

provisionsin her,
be fit to
they would
it

small

so

,was

put into her any

to

be

left any

that, finally,
my

and
;

eat

it

than

her

from
"*

Pirate.

I very

and

i^"''''

"

Frozen

the most

trifling
preservation

the

to

life.

mv

So, concluding to

have

with

do

nothing to

the

ghostly sparklingfabric, I started for the body

under
the rock,and with some
pain and staggering,
the ice being very jagged, lumpish,and
deceitful
to the tread, arrived at it.
Nothing but the desire to possess the fine warm
could

cloak
to

cast

myself

first.

His

the

him

so

by

could

even

again.

man

him

or

than

now

at

lifelike that, though

had

he risen

hardly have

astonishment
he

skeleton

corpse,

it could

the

than

more

As

be

to

was

handle

dead

scared

more

to

me

the

upon

attitude

surpriseof

\:*i^
!'"(-."

not

his
have

on

sudden

shocked

posture
so

me

raised.

chilled

and

well

his flesh by
preserved was
hard
the cold, that it was
to persuade myself he
not
was
breathing,and that, though he feigned to
he
be
not
was
gazing downwards,
secretly
observing me.
it
His beard
frozen as hard as a bush, and
was
of my
crackled
unpleasantlyto the movement
hands, which I was
obliged to force under it to
awed

i;ii:"

unhook
h:;-*"li

eye

my

found

knew

tempteS

have

"

me

but

the

so

silver chain

that

confined

the

cloak

his

about

LOSE

neck.

shoulder

glance over
some
strangelyclad
me
creeping upon
since

have

felt like

either

the

Boat.

MY

75

of his should

Then,

wares.

cloak

though, forsooth,

as

companion
unp

stole

thief,and

thought I,

well

as

may

be

take

Hi,-;

the

tobacco-box, as I had before

into his
hand
resolved ; and
I dipped my
so
pockets, and without another glance at his fierce
watch, flask, and

stillface
I

made

for the

noticed

now

first

the

time, so overwhelmingly
occupied my

discoveries

my

had
freshened
attention,that the wind
blowing brisklyand
piercingly. When

first started
wind

had

bodies

which

and

the

but

whole

it,and

that

saw

the

the

clouds

brow
were

was

had

of

the

"

choose
clean
in.

how

but

before

run

from

long

':d-

rocks

congregating

of them

some

away
if I
Yet

I"

view

to

the
blowing up to where
sun
hung, these resembling in shape and colour
the compact
puff of the first discharge of a cannon
before
smoke
the
air.
What
the
spreads on
I do ?
should
I sank into a miserable
perplexity.
If it was
could
what
attend
blow
going to
good
this
island ?
It was
an
departure from
my
adverse
it
and
when
I
freshened
could
not
wind,

there, and

race,

was

halt

little

short

slope, the
the large

ocean

to

came

as

and

become

after

of
I

before

sky

had

foam

surface

tremble.

north-east

hid

swell

the

wrinkles

into

flashed

brilliant blue
the

those

of the

ascent

me^-elywrinkled

ran

seas,

the

upon

|.

boat.

for

had

'

was

should

the
to

it,and

that

direction

wait

be

upon

kept

would

drive

;:

I
1 1

.1

me

required to steer
the weather, for
prisonerin this

a^.^'-'Hy'^"

iv

""

The

76

-t
,

horrid

""'

'j-'^ll

Frozen

Pirate.

southerly wind might

springup to-morrow, but it might be otherwise, or
1 might
in a hard gale ; and if I faltered now
come
and then my provisions
would
on
hesitating,
go
give out, and God alone knows how it would end
with me.
Besides,the presence of the two bodies
the island
made
fearful to my
imagination,and
True,

place?

clamoured

nature

judgment

in

could

be gone,
resist,for

to

me

not

misleads, but instincts

summons

my

often

reason

never.

1 fell again to my dov.award

march
and looked
towards my boat
towards
that is to say, I looked
"

thepartof the ice where

layhad been, and Hound
I rubbed

my

eyes

the littlehaven

and

stared

"*

gone!

again. Tush,
I glanced
ice.
to
bearings,
my
; but

the

rock

gone, the blue swell rolled

brimming past the line of shore there,and my eye
the swing of a fold,I saw
the boat about
following

formed

that had

,"

haven

both boat and

deceived
thought I I am
by the
at the
slope behind to keep me
and
once
more
sought the haven

inwhic'i she

it

was

length distant out upon the water,

into
the
south, and
swinging steadily away
with the heave.
showing and disappearing
cables

three

dead

The

uttered

man's

cry of

lifted them

to

kicking off
water, but,mad
mad

could
stoutest

not

anguish;

my
as

I should

boots

my

claspedmy

and

up

arm

plunging irito

I was, I was
mad
not
so
have been
to attempt

as

swimmer

that

ever

speedily
put

breasted
an

end

the
to

my

and
I

Him.

to

hands

was

the

that

it,for

twenty strokes,and had I been

swim

the cold must

God, and looked

for

and

fell from

cloak

the

salt spray,

misery.

.'^v*i
I
What

be

to

was

11

Nothing! I could
recedingboat with reeling

done ?

the

onlylook idlyat

Boat.

MY

LOSE

l^:'!'

brain. The full blast of the wind was

upon her,
billows.
action
the
of
the
I
and helping
driving
that she was
and yet I
irrecoverable,
perceived
head
watching, watching,watching! my
burningwith the surgingsof twenty impracticable

stood

I cast
schemes.
afresh and looked

myselfdown

and

wept, stood up

boat,then
bringingmy

the

at

cried

to

God

hands
to
help and mercy,
my
in
that
and
throbbingtemples,
posture straining
the
fast
She was
at
structure.
vanishing
my eyes
the onlyhope I had
My little
my sole chance.
in her
stock of provisions
was
oh,wl.at was I to do ?
distaifce from the place
Though I was at some
for

i
"

"

"

"

where
there

I have

what
was

need

no

understand

how

called
for

me

haven

my
to

had

approach

misfortune had

been,
it to

about.
It was
enough that the very crevice in which
likely
I had jammed the mast
the boat by was
to secure
a
deep crack that the increased swell had wholly
had tumbled when the rock
that the mast
so
split,
floated away and liberated the boat.
The horror that this white and frightful
oi
scene
my

VI

come

.1".
t

'.

desolation had at the beginning

filledme
with was
I saw
with such violence when
renewed
that my
boat was
the
to be a prisoner
lost,and I was
on
death-haunted waste, that I fell down in a sort of

partly stunned, and had any

along and seen me he would have
person come
thoughtme as dead as the body on the hill or the
corpse that kept its dismal look-out from the deck
swoon,

like

-Its

one

""^r"

of the schooner.
n'''.f:i

IS'

"

"i,

The

78

My

upon

Ji

it with

pacing
head

sunk,

hollow

in

note

of the breakers

on

past my

clouds

and

sea

"

,1

"

,,

**

say,
a

man

what

grown

up

of the

though

few

in the northeast

sailing

were

remained

azure

frostilywhite

very

with

the

1^'

declare

that

in the

and

utmost

and
pitiful
?

corpse

"

of the two

afraid ; but this

I answer,

mass

them, and they took

from it ; they communicated
the

presence

desolation
made

of the

frozen

a
an

than

True/' and

bodies,as dead
of

hurt

to

harmless
'*

will

You

of the dead

power

about

to

of food.

stock

slender

more

unburied

poor
not

and

It is not
;

1 c:

was

candour, and trust that the reader will not judge

me
severelyfor my confession of weakness, or
consider
me
as
wanting in the stuff out of which
is made
for owning to having
the hardy seaman
and
stunned
shed
been
tears
by the loss of my
little boat

"?%'.

had

but

heaven, the

sparkling.
I am
writinga strange story

"h
m^^

spun

liftingand

blue dulness

there

sun

noise

the thunder

was

mistiness

that made

the

my
was

side of the island

The

the south-west

pure

and

of the collection of vapour

floated to the
zenith and

out

had
down

ear

the other

the elements

junctionof

me,

wind

thought.
with a howling
split
unequal surfaces,and

deepening
whitening; something of
the horizon

behind
The

its tone.

over

locked

hands

my
lost

steadily
freshening; it
and
the ice-crags
upon
with

Pirate.

I got up, and the

returning,
presently
I stood
which
being level,I fell to

senses

rock
II,::

Frozen

men,

solitude

was
was

character
frightful
element

snow-clad

of it for
principality

of death

island

"

their

the souls of

The

80

Frozen

Pirate.

broke

staggered
ruinously into philosophy and
trust.
religious
the schooner, yet I felt an
to
My mind went
when
I thought of
recoil within me
extraordinary
seekingan asylum in her. I had the figureof her
the form of the man
before my fancy,viewed
on
her
deck, and the idea of penetratingher dark
interior and
seeking shelter in a fabric that time
had
and
frost and
death
wrought into a black
mystery

dreadful

was

to

Nor

me.

this

was

all.

the very last expressionof despair

board
that stirless frame
make
to
a
dwelling; to
of
without
deliverance,in that
place,
prospect

hke

It seemed

of ice

hollow
:

!)'.:"

her

in

become

; to

one

sense

lonelymariner, yet preserve

livingto a condition he was

1*

ft'':'

of

the ice that enclosed

as

be

hoist them

out

him.

let

wind

into

for

done

and

tow

them

reflections somewhat

also

indeed

""(."

unconscious

nevertheless,thought I ; I
shall certainly
if I linger
perish from exposure
do
I
I may
know
but that
here; besides, how
of escapingfrom
discover in that ship some
means
the island ? Assuredlythere was
plentyof material
in her for the buildingof a boat, if I could meet
with tools. Or possiblyI might find a boat under
for vessels of her class
common
hatches, for it was
their pinnacesin the hold,
and in her time to stow
the necessityfor using them arose, to
and, when
It must

These

as

as

sensibility

all the

of the

dead

as

add

me
a

small

the

heartened

me,

steadymounting of

gale served

to

reconcile

loss of my boat,but to my
there might be a miserable

to the

though

that

astern.

me,

and
the
not

detention

languishing

LOSE

Boat.

MY

8i

KS

here, I could not but believe that there

certain death, too, out there in that high swell
was
oft whose
and in those
sharpening peaks of water
the wind
was
foaming heads
blowing the spray.
I mean
the boat could not
have
plyed
By which
illsuch a wind ; she must
have run, and by running
into the stormier
carried me
have
regions of the
if she
had
lived, I must
south, where, even
speedilyhave starved for victuals and perishedof
for

end

me

'".%\
111-

'"m

"'

};i
:^t

'"

cold.
lives like

Hope

spark amid the very

despondency. Twenty minutes

of

embers

awakened

had

from

with

overwhelmed

taking
the

of

whole

it

was

hindered

been

of

sort

view

arrive at

we

have

travelled

turned

started

and
I

reached

that

the

back

my
to

ascend

the

clouds

brow

had

to

in

of God

be

on

have

little
at

lost

and

know

the
"

cliffs I

their

the

yet from

rightone
Lord, what

the clamorous
upon
the slope once
more.
the

to

the

my

back

mutinously.

of

was

I should

rebel

we

look

we

that

was

situation,even

being willing
perhaps as well that
from
putting to sea

afresh
start
though we
patiencehast Thou !
i

here

believe

to

eggshell. So at every step

shadowy conducting of the hand
every stage
the road
we

and

now

of my

before

swoon

misery ; and

collected

extent

blackest

i\

ocean

When
observed

fleeciness

and

moving fast and

tinge, were
that the sun
was
crowding up the sky, insomuch
and
another
from
to
one
darting a
edge
leaping
The
the
wind
keen and frostylightupon
scene.
in my
ears
was
cold,and screamed shrilly
bitterly
taken

slatish

"

i''

.(til

82

The

sudden, but it did

and that our
seas,

capriciousthan
T^

here

the

I knew

surpriseme.
English April is
weather

only that
sparkling,is
the
are

cloak

and
my arm
helped myself along with the oar, and presently
hollow
arrived at the brink of the slope in whose

iron hard

so

man's

that not

at the masthead

a
as

was

on

wind

Th^
the

motionless

dreadful

more

size

which

to

trunk, and

limbs

in thr

very

leaningposture
doubt

and

no

with

rail

and

thus

sudden

was

other

;;":::

to

vane

any
heart

My
the

was

He

man.

of the

because

his
upon
i him ; and
the

head,
half-

if he
as
particolarly
startling,
of running his gaze
act
softly

strange

have
;

rightly,that
faintness,and

died

in that
I

however,
he

had

had

supposed,

been

leaned

easy

seized

upon

the

cold
would
expired. The
quickly
and
him
likewise
him, and
rigid
preserve
he might have been
leaning,contemplating
so

ice of the cliffs,

for years and
A wild and dreadful thingfor one

the

the

snow

'-well

(hat he should

unward:

make

had
was

the

frozen

the

rise of his face

were

than

frozen

of the

as

ice.

noisy

tacklingwas

o;
steeplesor pillars
the
ligure of
dismayed again by

was

made

stirred,and

rope

adiacent

"'"
"di;i:f'

more

lasting.

dead

lay the ship as in a cup.

but
howling in her rigging,

,:

not

in them,

smile, though

and

the

was

these

kiss of death, and brief as

whilst
the frowns
miisket-ball,

I bore

the

change

The

the

black, savage,
f:4^i

not

sunny

frostier than

flightof

Pirate.

the full tide of it.

I met

when

Frozen

years !
in my condition

lighton and be forced to think of.

My heart,as I have said,sank in me

again

at

LOSE

sight of him,

the

and

worked

so

and
irresolute,

Boat.

MY

fear

upon

would

83

and

and

awe

my

have

stood

had

back

gone
I
to.

stition
superI

spiritsthat

there

place to return
plucked up after
and, rollingup the cloak into a compact
little,
a
bundle, flung it with all my strength to the vessel,
it fell cleverlyjust within
the rail. Then
and
grippingthe oar I started on the descent.
The depth was
not
sharp ;
great nor the declivity
been

any

but

the

surface

was

the

collections

of

I had

and
to

as

tillI

again

gain

and

the

to

piledand frozen
The
ship lay with

list

down

come

to

drop,

the

snow

face.

inclination
her

;
so

to

here

smooth
or

base

compass

which

vessel, and
into

had

I had

down

block

counter
en-

the

near

fetch

to

ice, like

sometimes

stones

again

smaller

close

was

big

of

blocks

of

you
sides of mountains

the

on

formed

hei

on

to

board.
lar-

starboard
,\'}i

She

side.

her

but

had

my
I must

She

see

had

was

guess

absurd

most

buttocks, viewed

presented the
She

was

sunk

condition

the

at

in

on

exact
snow

with

some

hull.

bilge, and

her

appearance
to

therefore

was

rudder,
of

planks

board
larat

Iv

her

I could

snow

of the

swelling
lin

her, under

ch hard

timbers, u.nd

arrive

to

'"ound

coated

the

en

hard

not

walk

to

so

her

entrance

an

was

but

nothing of
to

seek

This

indeed, I had
bows.

long plates,

my

high,beyond
hand.

with

them
s')mewhat
side, hove
I perceived tlinL to
reach, and

list,on

get aboard

channels

small

able
un-

She
her

less
doubt-

an

above

apple.
the

fine,
were
garboard-streak,but her lines forward
her
almost
the
flai.r
wedge-shaped,though
making

"

f- ^

1
^

The

84
of her

r.

a
.1/ V'

!l

i'

balloon

that

"

would

man

..

but

her

taken

have

century

the

from

century ago
that which,

date

in sober
be

to

of

sparred

snow,

larboard

the

On

was

of

truth,a
vessel

hand

and

the

ice

pressed close
pieces risingto

against the vessel's side, some

face of
The
the height of her wash-streak.
full
of
cracks
hollow
was
precipitous here,
flaws
and
sharp projections. Indeed, had
of

breadth

into

as

counted

have
of the

sea

it

the

snapping

and

the
the

at

was

upon

the

first

this part

part of the

separate berg.

into
difficulty

without

I climbed

being

snow

been

converting the northern

ice,and

of the

the

might

commotion

violent

body

island

the

extremity

i:\. """

like

rigged with glasslike

frosted ice,the artistic caprice of the genius
or
spiritof this white and melancholy scene, who,
to complete the
mocking illusion,had fashioned
stand
deck
with a
the figure of a man
to
on
idle eternal conface toughened into an
human
templation.
formed

\'i

is,half

up

something

half

barca-longas of

of the

adventure

my

had

She

catheads.

the

to

swelled

that she

great, so

was

of the look
ago

bows

Pirate.

Frozen

the

hard

so

that

my

the

forechains,

feet and

hands

it,and

what
someimpression on
of
the
a peculiar
warily feeling
government
of
stood
into
indeed
terror
sort
a
mounting
awe,
the rail of the bulwarks
then
awhile peering over
;
and |
entered the ship. I ran
eyes swiftlyhere
my
I
know
steal
for
indeed
did
what
not
there,
might
|

made

not

least

"

"

ir!'

Wc

'

or

-.

'"

was

leap
a

into view.

sailor,with

Let
the

it be

remembered

that

superstitious
feelingsof

my

.y*'

^i

Another

Startling

Discovery.

in me, and
though I do
calling
believed in ghosts and
actually

not

85

know

that

and
apparitions
I
felt
if
I
did ; particularly
as
spectrums, yet
upon
silent
of
this
deck
rendered
the
ship,
spirit-like
by
the
the grave of ice in which she lay and
long
by
I
could
had
she
not
which
doubt) during
years (as
wark
thus rested.
Hence, when I slippedoff the bulthe
and
deck
viewed
the ghastly,
to
on
if
white,lonelyscene, I felt for the moment
as
be
this strange discoveryof mine was
to
not
and
exhausted of its wonders
terrors
by the mere
existence of the ship in other words, that I must
expect something of the supernaturalto enter
and be preparedfor sights
into this icysepulchre,
marvellous and terrifying
than frozen corpses.
more
So I stood lookingforward and aft,very swiftly,

.'rl

:f.'M

"

and

in

way

I dare

say

that

spectator would

was
thought laughable enough ; nor
my
the
soothed
clear,
ing
imagination
by
harping,ringof the wind
sounds
seething through the
the masts
frozen riggingwhere
above
the
rose

have

('

shelter of the sides of the hollow.

gettingthe better of my perturbation,

Presently,
aft,and, stepping on to the poop- deck,
of the companion or coverfellto an examination
ing
of the after-hatch,
I
elsewhere
have
which, as
said,was covered with snow.
I walked

;"vi

CHAPTER
ANOTHER

This
there

hatch
was

no

X.

STARTLING

formed

DISCOVERY.

the entrance

other road

to

to

the

cabin,and

it that I could

see.

If

*'.

't,

"

."

The

86

I wanted
snow
11 I',-'

to

was

to

me

serve

the beer-bottle

with

that

this it occurred

to

him.

He

in

to

me

though
of

he leaned

features

his coat, and

with snow
covered

fragment

I say

an

objectas

I did not
I feared

was

like
he

why I
apprehensionof
know

not

time it held
But

me

I could

scrapingthe

I put my

was

his

on

these

into

the

low and
his cap came
the
Httle
too, he, with
the
flesh
that remained,

toughnessof
sight

touch

should

the skin

him, and

tumble
have

rested

ever

one

and

dreaded

worked

in

me

as

^on.

reason

though

this,yet the
that for

some

at him,
idlystaring
not

snow

hand

the

enter

from

the cold,after I had

bitter as to
so
was
So

him,

well beaten, submitted

would

it so

six

1,who

as

compacted

mortal
to

giant

his hair ; but

on

the colour and

that has been

drum

terrible

countenance

had

whereof
a

of

as

high
snow

to

been

have

as

The

and

on

was

I'

he stood

merged

were

not

had. bloated

snow

and

like

figureof

the

The

alive

were

I did

own

tolerable stature.
and
and mustaches

beard

of

In lifehe must

half tall.

was

if he

as

resembled

snow.

and

snow

ing
pocket and scratchglass; but before doing
the
search the body on

the

approached him
murderouslyfierce,and

feet and

had

in my

moulded

away the
knife in the

side.

starboard

touch

first scrape

must

was

piece of

Pirate.

left my
without any instrument
that would
I thought of breaking
scrape with.

)""

boat, and

it 1

use

unhappilyI

but

Frozen

the

stood
set

upon

me

the

cabin

without

companion

door

and

inactive,

few moments

craving for
body, and

first

shelter.

discovered

The

88

Pirate.

Frozen

:;;"

by a belt with
apparel gave me
to

it

no

clue

loops

for

the

age

to

better, indeed, than

no

was

leathern

pistols. His
he belonged
of

sort

querading
mas-

though the fashions of more

than one
than one
country, and perhaps of more
He
looked
to the habiting of him.
age, had
gone
the deck
a burly,immense
creature, as he lay upon
attire,as

in the

bent

same

attitude

in which

he

had

stood

face, with a
singular diabolical expressionof leering malice,
caused
by the lids of his eyes being half closed,
I had
mind
that having taken
to
no
one
peep
I
above
minutes
ten
wrestwas
repeat it,though
I
before
and
his
had
the
with
cloak
hanger
iing
at

the

rail,and

so

in my
fairly
weapon
I walked
to the
the

snow

away

from

dreadful

hand.

companion

and

'Twas

it.

bricks.

between

his

was

But

fell

like

scraping
scratchingat
to

I worked

hard, and
presently,with the point of the hanger, felt the
'twixt the door
crevice
and
its jamb, after which
it was
not
long before I had carved the door out
of its plate of ice and snow.
The
wind was
now
blowing a fresh gale, and
the howling aloft was
extremely melancholy and
mortar

dismal.

I could

Siv

it

the

thundering with
sharp reports

noises, with

nearer

not

see

the

hollow

and

ocean,

roaring

distant

convulsions

but

sullen
within

I heard

iiote

and

crashing
the

ice,

very frequent.
but it also increased
My labour warmed
me,
my
I hacked
and
the
at
hunger. While
scraped
I was
I should
snow
consideringwhether
come
across
anything fit to eat in the ship,and if not

were

"M-

Startling

Another

Discovery.

89
^

what

less

not

than

supposingshe
with the

Here

fiftyor

almost

was

date

of

back

half

there was
certainly
body on the rocks
would
for

have

been

fiftyyears

was

vessel

her

to

fell in

disaster would, still

century

much

even

she

when

new

i'

assuredly

old, and

sixty years

ice, the

her

carry

do.

to

was

in the

that

so

and

"

of the

appearance

conjecture she
sepulchred and fossilized
the

warrant

thus

"

of provisionsproper
then, in the form
famine-driven
for human
food, such as even
a
I
deal
could
stomach
with, was
likelyto find in
her crew
have
Would
her bare,
her ?
eaten
not
of her, before
the very
devoured
heart out
they

What,

'

perished?
thoughts weighed heavilyin me, but I
toiled on
nevertheless, and
having cleared the
that bound
door of the snow
it,I prizedit apart with
then
the hanger and
dragged at it ; but the snow
These

on

deck

the

would

not

let it open

far,and

there

as

was

for

room

to

me

squeeze

did

through, I

the obstruction
scrape
away.
A flightof steps sank
into the darkness
and
interior,
a cold
strange smell floated

stop

to

something
mingling of

of

pace
before

been

11

not

to

let

dry

leather

earthiness

something

ventured

into

an

hermeticallybottled

since the

hour

when

of

up, with

of flavour

timber.

and

of the

this

and

fell back

smell

atmosphere
by the ice in

this little door

was

exhale
that

had

"";; I
J

'Ml

that cabin

last closed.

active in me
1
was
Superstition
again,and when
bottom
of the
at the
peered into the blackness
hatch I felt as might a schoolboy on the threshold

.: V :

*".
t"

7/

IMAGE
EVALUATION
TEST TARGET
(MT-3)

1.0

Ui"2B
1^

I.I I

|2.5

1^

12.2

--

IIIIIM
1.8

1.25

1.4

1.6

N?
\

N"

6^

Photographic
23 WEST

Sciences

MAIN

^
STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. MSBO

(716) S72-4S03

Corporation

^. "^

^'^

The

90
of
as

haunted

punishment.

1 put

room

foot

my

Frozen

Pirate.

in which

he is to be locked
ladder

the

on

and

up

descended

inclination

being strong
looking downwards
of ridiculous frightas
though at any
should be seized by the leg; being in too

slowly indeed, my
very
I kept
the
other way, and
in

state

moment

much

confusion

of mind

on

consider

to

impossibleanything livingcould
a
as

could

ghostly shadow
to

cause

could

to

me

feel its grasp.

it would

reason,

catch

not

cease

below,
hold

But
be

to

that it

be

of

then

was

whilst

me

so

if fear

fear.

I remained
standing
reaching the bottom
into
close againstthe ladder, strivingto see
what
of
The
the
I
of
arrived.
was
manner
glare
place
whiteness
of the decks
and rocks
hung upon
my
blindness
like
kind
of
a
charged with fires
eyes
of several
colours, and I could not obtain the
faintest glimpse of any part of this interior outside
of hazy lightwhich
the sphere of the Httle square
lay upon the deck at the foot of the steps. The
darkness, indeed, was
so
deep that I concluded

On

h:-

this

no

was

bulkheads,
to

by

than

more

and

door

that

narrow

the cabin

was

formed

of

beyond, and

led

well

in the bulkhead.

in a
conjectureI extended my arms
and
stepped a pace forward,
groping posture
and
to
left,
till,
right
having gone five or
feeling
from
six paces
the
ladder, my
fingers touched
I
and
something cold,
feelingit, passed my hand
I instantlyknew
what
down
by the projectionof
hair on the upper
and
of
the nose
the roughness
face !
lipto be a human
To

test

this

Startling

Another

little reflection

an

that black

thrill of

through my
perspiration.

I backed

have

might

agony

violent

with

away

chill contact

Never
as

in all my
this ; but then

of

my

suffering;my
wilder

the

and

this

and

the
in

went

into

was

lean

against
give way.
received
such a fright
and
to it in a fright,

gone

of mind

soul

deck

had

to

should

state

within

weak

and

had

I had

My

senses.

the

knees

lest my
time had

exactlyin the

was

in

hair astir,and then

all my
behind
if the devil had been

violentlythat

trembling so
companion

for

me

I burst

and

nerves,

shot up the ladder as

I
reached
and
when
me;
the

91

prepared
not
reflected,at least
therefore not prepared ;

this, but I had

and was
direction,
horrible

Discovery.

to

be terrified out
sick

rendered

been

by mental
loneliness,too, was
more
scaring too
me

corporeal
dreadful, and

and

for

this

my

unhappy association with the dead ; the shrieking

in the rigging
like the tongue given by endless
was
the
packs of hunting phantom wolves, and
growling and cracking noises of the ice in all
directions would
have
made
to
one
coming new
this desolate

scene

that

suppose

the island

of ice

full of fierce beasts.

was

But

either
search

needs
find

to

her,
to

means

must

prolong

deliverance,or

my
deck.

The
scarce

companion
more

to

courage
and
so

than

Nick

Old

when

stand
my

to

life,and

perish of
door

ajar

the

enter

was

was

come

drives

schooner

and

had
and
the

across

perhaps

famine

procure

frost

on

small, and
being
not
surprised that

i"

"5'
...

i??

Startling

Another
of

posture

the

upon

raised

had

he

sudden

darted

look

him

breathless
with which
not

agony

So

sensible of

was

affrightedstart
the table
to be risingfrom
in
that,
short, he did not

seemed
"

seemed

you

other

face buried

figurelay

in his

the

over

He

arms.

:^!"'^f:
with

table

":i

his

covering to

no

wore

"'."

to

in his.posture.

The

that the

me

his feet with the cry that

springto
hear

he

continued

Noah, I

or

in

wonder

to

frozen

and

God.

his

died with Adam

he had

was

be

to

of

death,
inimitably
that though I
attitude,
body as perishedas if

terror

expressiveof life was

knew

93

hands
about
to start up, both
a person
rim of the table,and
his countenance

in
if,

as

Discovery,

head, which was bald, yet his hair on either

and
side was
plentiful
lay upon his arms, and his
face gave
beard
him
fluffing
up about his buried

his

shaggy

uncommon

an

round

had

on

His

body

coat

his

hair

and

black

down

fur cap
muffled

was

and

ends

the

twisted

occupants
rendered
There

to

up

of

of

his

thick

ash-coloured

i'l

small

rather

than

black

mustache

These

eyes.

were

{-"

smooth

were

the

razor,
were

the

only

the

their
cabin, which
presence
terribly
ghastly and strange.
was
perhaps something in keepingwith

icy spell of
figureof the man

death

for he looked

though

the

mocked

his cheeks

nature

\i\

f.

ears

abundant, curlinglong

his back

manifestlythrough

other

lappetsfor the

in

also

was

The

appearance.

with

the

passion of

as

view

who
with

life. Ypu

was

this vessel in the

upon
bowed
the table,
over
he

slept;

but the

have

sworn

he

I'-"Ml

other

spectrum of the fever and

would

"tilf

had

",v""

The

Frozen

skeleton

hand

94

beheld

the

of

out

the

started

in

expired

of the Shadow
for

dimness
with

back

him
and

curse

the

Pirate.

very

agony

reaching
he

that

had

horror, and

cry

of

of

his

affrighted

recoil.
interior

The

of

nothing

colour, the

mahogany

in the

of

form

bare, and
saving a silver

nail to

hanging by a
with
a
mainmast, and
cage
plumage suspended
gorgeous
the

near

decks

ornament

an

crucifix

pattern dangled
it contained

two

small

hatch.

the

over
or

the

to

door
a
hatchway was
I
which
opened, and found
I could
not
pierce it with
feet ; but perceivingwithin

old

an

I noticed

that

my

Abaft

starboard
dark

narrow

of

of candle.

the

side

passage.

beyond

eye

this range

There

nothing

was

lamented
bitterly
and

be

to

had

that

the

slept.
I
dark, and

in the

done

few

outline

the

little door, I concluded

that here were
a
in which
and
his mates
the
berths
master

of
,*Miv

of

bulkhead

lanthorn.

on

the

bird

the

table, and

the

of

trunk

frozen

inches

three

heads
bulk-

the

extremely plain

was

left my
tinder-box
I could have lighted

flint in the boat, for then

in the lanthorn.

the candle
**

Perhaps,'*thought I,

may

have

Custom
I

moreover

discover
with

what

was

spurred

neither
I

I had
on

was

by
kind

wanted, though I

on

was

figures

hardening me ;
anxiety to

mortal

of food

stepped

touched, and
nor

those

him."

on

any
So

him

of

one

somewhat

now

if there

face

upon

was

in the vessel.

whose
but

tinder-box

"

up

be

met

the

felt in his

the other
not

to

to

figure
pockets ;

did

find

littleastonished

Another
discover

Startling

Discovery.

95

in the

pockets of the occupants of so

humble
small and
this schooner
a ship as
a fine
gold watch as rich as the one I had brought away
the rocks, and more
from the man
on
elegant in
shape, a gold snuffbox set with diamonds, several
value
lying loose in the
rings of beauty and
of
breeches
the
face
whose
was
man
pocket
handful
of
in
hidden, a
Spanish pieces
gold,
to

handkerchiefs
if indeed
a

of

fine

fellows

these

parcelof

silk,and

booty,and

had

then

articles,
as

other

overhauling

been

returned
carelessly

i'.r.":
i4 ,..""

the
:{

'"""'".

contents

what

But
a

had

the

1 returned

the cabin

to

as

There

many

I
;

small

opened

from

$\

the
M

lightedthe candle,

into the black

four

were

berths

and

in

into,though

of it away

mouth

carried the lanthorn

corridor.
to

dipped my

I wanted

what

hand

rip open
with the hanger.

and

'f

of

means

discovered

the

to

snow

the

passage

doors,

or

-'"."\.^''

belonging

and
first,

Ml

entered

I had

fustythat
and

fetch

odour.
this

that smelt

As

few

to

come

breaths

in the

to

stale and
intolerably
into the passage
again
so

humour

my

cabin,however,

noxiousness

of

air

was

so

not

nose

here

to

.-"

...

'.,

.,

"

"

'

""

the

I found

caused

by

of a vegetaintingqualities
table
of the
kind, but by the deadness
or
the foulness of bilgeis
water
as
pent-up air itself,
owing to its being imprisoned from air in the

putrefactionor

"

compartment

i!

'.a
",/":",
f'.iif

*f

"

obtaining
after casting about, I thought I would
body on deck, and went to it,and to

first pocket I

the

the

was

great satisfaction

my

"

pockets.

I needed

light,so,

search

their

to

any

animal

bottom

*,

"

'
....

""":";

..V

^.'\n

ij

of the hold.

I' 'fe.

The

96
I held
A

the

up

glance

been

mates.

in

found

that

me

to

dark

be hams,

sack

large

coarse

me.
room

his

and

hard

tasteless,but

in
was

bit and
not

a
a

on

snugly

ceiling or

of which

as

stowed

were

in which
I

in

was

objects,which

of biscuit,a

piece
flint and

about

the steward

the

under

half full of flour stood

cask

; a

of

looked

and

appropriatedto

battens

itlay a

near

lanthom

number

inspectionI

Pirate.

satisfied

two

or

that had

away
deck

Frozen

uppercorner

quantity

found

it

in the

as

least

four shelves running

degree mouldy. There were
full
knives
of
and forks, dishes,
athwartships
glass,
of the glass very choice
and
and
so
forth,some
elegant,and many of the dishes and plates also
table.
very fine, ftt for the greatest nobleman's
the lower shelf,on the deck, lay a sack
Under
of
what

I believed

turningone or
that they were,
Not
m
t'.'-

to

this

under

to

or

you
head, let

steward's

or

things

several

mm

casks

and

black

stones
until,after
about, it came
upgn me
been, I should say, potatoes.

with

too

many

brieflysay

me

particulars
that

in this

I found

room

cheeses,

great earthenware
of tobacco, about
small

had

tease

larder

be

of them

two

other
among
of
quantity
candles, a

pot full of pease,

several

pounds
thirty lemons, along with two
three or four jars,manifestlyof

tell. I took
but of what kind I could
not
spirits,
of the shelves,and
stout
sharp knife from one
a
of
hams
tried to cut
the
down
one
it,but
pulling
striven to slice a piece of
I might as well have
I attempted next
marble.
to
cut
a
cheese, but
frozen as hard as the ham.
this was
The lemons,
candles, and tobacco had the same
astonishing

Further

MAKE

qualityof stoniness,
touch
and

but

frozen

hole

of

of the

one

the

jars,

stopper out, but it was

it fitted,and
I was
five

it loose.

hammering

9?

nothing yielded to

I laid hold

pull the

to

in the

hard

minutes

and

the flour.

thought

Discoveries.

When

it

out

was

I
:

inserted

found

and

"

steel

for the

used

"

the contents

the faintest smell

to

tell

sharpeningof

solid ice, nor

me

whac

the

Iv

";. i

knives

was

there

or
spirit

wine

was.

did

ing
plentyoffer itself in so mockthe
of
abundance
a
was
shape.
very irony
substantial ghostlinessand a Barmecide's
feast
stomach.
to my
aching
biscuit not
But
there
was
unconquerable l"y
teeth used to the fare of the sea
life,and picking
1 sat me
down
the edge of a
on
one,
up a whole
One
cask
and
fell a-munching.
however,
reflection,
comforted
that
this
namely,
petrifactio**
me,
I was
by freezinghad kept the victuals sweet.
littlehere
that
thawed
there
be
not
was
sure
might
into relishable and nourishingfood and
drink by a
The
fire.
of
these
took
such
stores
a
sight
good
mind
felon
that no
weight off my
reprievedfrom
than
bodings
elated
death
could feel more
1.
My forehad come
to nought in this regard, and
here for the moment
grateful spiritswere
my
before

Never

It

"

es,

unds
two

of

took

i
''Alii*

; .X:
"A'

content

to

5
!'""

"1

stop.

and

but

XL

CHAPTER

*i

.1
.

V
,t

of

*-"

but

MAKE

FURTHER

DISCOVERIES.

tt
"."7..

""

'-lit

"'

'"}":"-. .,N.;.:
,

ions,

So

ihing

feel the

long as
cold

I moved
;

about

but if I stood

and
or

I did

worked
sat

for

not

couple of

The

98

I felt the

minutes

Yet, fierce
it could

this

parts in which
locked

up

in the ice.
would

body

my

was

comparable

be

be

it in my
very marrow.
here, it was
impossible

of

nip

the cold

as

Pirate.

Frozen

with

had

schooner

doubt

No

frozen

rigours of the
originally
got

if I died

stiff as

as

rocks; but, though it

the

the

was

the

very

deck

on

figure on

conceivable

in the cabin

by sitting
might
below
had
the
not
I was
sure
still,
temperature
of
the
the
to
the severityto stonifyme
granite
that

men

at

perishof cold

the table.

Still,
though
if

the

greater degree of cold

world

killing
unquestionably exist
as

this ice with

it was

the

in

those
in its

schooner

bitterlybleak in
imaginable it could

so

scarce

sunless

latitudes

hug

cold

had

"

whence

floated,

this interior that

be

colder

'twas

elsewhere

as

rose

the

cask

"

nM

as

did

shuddering to the
heart with the frostymotionless
atmosphere, my
mind
naturallywent to the consideration of a fire
by which I might sit and toast myself.
I put a bunch
of candles
in my pocket
they
hard as a parcel of marline-spikes ^and
were
as
took the lanthom
into the passage
and
inspected
the next
Here
cot
room.
was
a
hung up by
hooks, and a large black chest stood in cleats
the deck ; some
clothes
dangled from pins
upon
in the bulkhead, and
kind
of tray fixed
a
upon
short
and
shelf were
legs
as
a
serving
a
upon
miscellaneous
bundle
of boots, laced
waistcoats,
three-corner
hats, a couple of swords, three or
four pistols,and
other objects not
very readily
the
There
distinguishable
by
was
a
candlelight.

and

from

fallen

had

"

"

There

vvrere

cabin,
biggestof

is

lot.

the

had

the

its

own

found

but

besides

99

it

handspike

cabins

three

that

also

open,
need
a

should

fC-rJ

Discoveries.

I tried to

port whicL
frozen

Further

MAKE

start

to

this

hard

so

the

in the

it.
last
the

stern, being
its cot, and
each
and
litter of
specialmuddle
one

Each

I'

m.

had

,1],.
k.

boxes, clothes,firearms,swords, and the like.

Indeed, by this time I was
beginning to see
it was.

how

The

I
jewellery
had

men

excited

now

was

satisfied that this schooner

buccaneer,
divine

of what

bodies

of

confirmed, and

the

on

had

been

'

"'-Y
"
?

and

suspicionthat the watches

discovered

had

* ". ""

"r

the
was

pirate or

I could
nationality

not

yet

of
methought Spanish from the costume
I was
the first figureI had encountered
also
; and
convinced
by the biief glance I directed at the
the
wearing
things in the cabin, particularly
of
the firearms,
apparel,and the make and appearance
have
in this position
that she must
been
for upwards of fifty
years.
The
awed
me
thought
greatly: twenty years
dead
were
sitting
beforeI was born those two men
in the cabin ! he on deck was
keeping his blind

(""

"

^}
ui

^''""A

"'J

"

and

silent

hands
and

look-out

locked

frozen

his

upon

he

the

on

knees

rocks
sunk

sat

with

'I

his

in blank

contemplationI

E^erycabin

its port, and there were

ports
in the vessel's side opposite; but on
reflection I
had

MM
i

that the cabin

considered
their

remainingclosed,and

entered

the great cabin

the forward
I must

would
so

be the
I

came

afresh,bent

warmer

away
on

for
and

exploring

'

1*

.'.

""

"."* 'V

part.

tell you

that the

mainmast, piercingthe
"-,?;'
S

I
with

Further

MAKE

lOI

drawers, dishes of tin and earthenware, a

clock
in short, such
an
equipment of

Du

"

kitche.i furniture
in the

galleyof

three hundred
of

Discoveries.

small

which

an

would

you

Indiaman

to

not

expect

to

find

built to carry two

of
chaldron
half a

About

passengers.

coal

fitted

fence

as

lay heaped in a wooden

angular
the ship'sside,for the sightof

I thanked

I held the lanthom

God.
to
the furnace, and
observed a crooked
chimney
deck
it.
the
and
The
t
o
rising
passingthrough
mouth

or

for I had

snow,

survey
I

head

I had

of it was
not

taken

thought,that

covered

by the
noticed any such objectin the
of the vessel above.
Strange,

these

no

men

doubt

should

have

frozen

to

with the material in the

death

ship for Keeping a

whole
fire going. But then my
garded
discoveryI rewhich
those
of
of
the
secrets
as
one
deep
the
and
utmost
experienceof
imagination
defy
to explainthem.
man
Enough that here was a
schooner which had been interred in a sepulchre
I might rationally
of ice,as
conclude,for near
half

who

looked

century, that there

to

have

were

dead

men

i.

in her

frozen to death,that she

with miscellaneous
booty,

been

apparentlystored
armed
that she was
for a craft of her
powerfully
with men.
size,and had manifestly
gone crowded
All this was
plain,and I say it was enough for me.
with preIf she had papers they were
to be met
sently
would
be
mere
otherwise,
conjecture
;
in
of those white and frostthe
face
imbecility
and iron silent lips.
bound countenances
I thrust back another sliding
door and entered
I choose
forecastle, The ceiling,
as
the ship's
was

.'.^'i;!"-

"?""

-r.,'. :i

v. ""'.""
'"

"""".;;,"-".-.

,t:^A
1, ^^:M

The

I02

Frozen

Pirate.

lined with

hammocks,
with
covered
chests, bedding,
I
and
know
what
else.
The
not
clothes,
ringing
of the wind on high did not
disturb the stillness,
the impression produced on
and I cannot
convey
of confusion
by this extraordinaryscene
my mind

call the upper

and the floor was

deck,

to

amid

beheld
I stood

'venture

the

in the

was

silence

of that

doorway,

further.

For

not

be

bed

its curvature

of

whether

seaman,

interior.

the courage
to
of those
many

having

all I knew

hammocks

might
by
expresses

tomblike

tenanted

for

this kind

rounded

the

it be empty

as

or

not,

of

shape
it is

so

it
whether
impossibleby;merely looking to know
of the
is occupied or
dismalness
The
vacant.
of course
vastlyexaggerated by the
prospect was
feeble lightof the candle, which, swaying in my
the
hand, flung a swarming of shadows
upon
the hammocks
through which
glimmered
scene,
and melancholy.
wan
in a fright,
I came
slidingthe door to in
away
a
bang that fetched a groaning
my hurry with
If this ship were
echo out of the hold.
haunted,
forecastle
the
!
the
would
be the abode
of
spirits
I could
Before
make
fire the chimney must
a
cleared.
be
Among the furniture in the armsof spade-headed spears ; the
room
were
a number
spade as wide as the length of a man's thumb, and
about a foot long, mounted
on
light thin wood.
with

Armed

is

w^ich
American
on
were

to

of

one

be

met

these

weapons,

with

among

tribes,I passed into the

deck

there,the

but

I kneW

though
coming upon

them

the
certain
cabin
the two
afresh

like

of

South
to

ceed
pro-

figures
struck

',"!h

with

me

I had

Further

MAKE

much

as

astonishment

before

not

Discoveries.

seen

The

them.

from the table confronted

me

on

103

alarm

and
man

if

as

starting

this entrance, and

it

stopped dead

that

astounding livingposture
of terror, even
alive
as
though he were
recoiling,
indeed, and was
jumping up from the table in his
amazement
at my
apparition.
The brilliance of the snow
after
was
very striking
the dusk of the interiors I had been
penetrating.
The glareseemed
like a blaze of white sunshine ;
yet it was the dazzle of the ice and nothing more
the

for

sun

to

hidden

was

; the

fairness

of

Im

the

lead-coloured
passed ; the sky was
with
down to the ocean
a
line,
quantityof smokebrown
scud flyingalong it. The
change had
The wind
been rapid,
it always is hereabouts.
as
screamed
with a piercingwhistling
sound through
in wails and bounding
the frozen rigging,
splitting
in a roar
the adamantine
peakf and rocks ;
upon
of
ice
the
was
cohtinuous,and
loud,'
thecracking
and
these
sounds, combined
mighty startling;
and the fierce
with the thundering of the sea
hissingof its rushingyeast, gave the weather the
character
of a storm, though as
no
yet it was
than a fresh gale.
more
be alone
to
However, though it was
frightful
with
frozen
other
this
in
no
vault,
societythan

-1'

-^I'

morning was

that of the

dead,

into the scene,

prospects what
safe

"

than

when

not

I could

even

not

seafowl to put life

but feel that, be my

I was
they might,for the moment
immeasurably securer
say, I was

that is to
I could have been
in the boat, which,
ever
I had
emerged into this stormy sound and

r'

-";J;f

"1

'";f.J

The

104

realized

the

that

sea

instantlythought
rock,

mused,

not

should

where

Pirate*

Frozen

of

running outside, I

was

with

shudder.

fallen

liberated

and

the

Had
the

boat,

a
Perhaps floating,
deep under water, or, if alive,then
corpse, fathoms
ilyingbefore this gale into the south, ever widening

distance

the

be

now?

betwixt

deliverance,and

all chance

and

me

of

my

gauging more
deeply
I began
cold of the pole. Indeed
the horrible
that I had been
to understand
mercifullydiverted
from courting a hideous
rose
fate,and
my spirits
with the emotion of gratitudeand hope that attends
preservation
upon
showed
I speedilyspied the chimney, which
a
head of two
feet above
the deck, and made
short
frozen in it,as nothing
that was
work of the snow
could

have

returned

to

that

axe

away

the

of

splitit into

small

to

be

into
The

the

comfort

with

and

that

I knocked

One

the

does

an

had

need

not

upon
away
of a fire.

coal,

time

short

butcher's

confined
in

the

done,

bulk-head

the

pieces,and

good fire.
experienceof being cast

than

This

carried.

boards

the

ice with

cut

cook-room,

understand

to

weapon

hung against

one

kindled

fitter

been

spade-shaped

hour

every

the

iceberg to

I had

mind

good deal of coals

the furnace, and
presentlyhad a noble blaze.
heat was
exquisite. I pulleda little bench,

prodigal,and

after the
in the

pattern of those

cabin,

legs and

threw

arms,

had

lain taut

the

Laughing

to

on

which

the

fire,and, with

the
thawed

in my

out

fl(ish ever

Mary.

When

of

since
I

sat

outstretched
the

me

men

was

frost that

the wreck

of

thoroughly

I
and

warm

comforted

the

aft to

cheese, a ham,

allwhich
spirits,
whole
the
placed
extremelyhungry
and

cheerfulness

hot

meal.

fresh water

of them
and

cook-room, and

in the

oven.

the

and
thirsty,

of the

I went

went

and

I carried to the

how

and

fire set

deck

on

was

warmth

yearningfor

me

I to make

was

and

bowl

without

scratched

up

'. ..
."""
;" .'V

but the salt in it gave it a sicklytaste,

not
only certain it would spoil and

snow,

and

the lanthom

105

brought thence a
and one
of the jars
biscuit,

room,

some

of

some

I took

steward's

But

Discoveries.

Further

MAKE

was

I mixed
it with or
disgustingwhatever
cooked
in it,but it stood as a drink to disorder
and bringon an illness. So, thought
my stomach
I to myself,there must
be fresh water
about
I
dare
in
the
casks enough
hold,
say ; but the
hold was
to be entered ^nd exploredwithout
not
and 1 was
labour and difficulty,
weary and famished,
make

"

and

in

In
more

no

all

temper

for hard

it
Siiips

is the

casks

to

custom

for the

on

carry

one

or

into which
deck,,

I
of the crew.
use
pumped
several
at the
stepped along looking earnestly
shapes of guns, coils of rigging,hatchways,and
the like,
'uponwhich the snow
lay thick and solid,
sometimes
of the objectit
preservingthe mould
and exaggerating
it
covered, sometimes
distorting
into an
unrecognizable outline,but perceived
that
answered
cask.
to the shape of a
nothing
At last I came
to the w^ellin the head, passed the
forecastle deck, and on lookingdown
spiedamong
other shapes three bulged and
I
bulky forms.
seemed
the
by instinct to know that these were

fresh

water

*\

work.

called scuttlebutts
is

WSi'^''.
r
"

If-

t^'

"i r

":t.i' -f-;

m
"i\

The

io6

scuttlebutts

and

five feet

or

iron

labour

to

thing

within.

full.

It

was

piece and

make

hollow

like

to

to

be

not

the time

by

beaten

out

the frozen

at

get

bulky

three-quartersof a cask
sparklingclear ice, and chipping off
sucking it,I found it to be very sweet
Thus

were

was

labour

my

much

as

rewarded.

when

as,

head-timbers

open

the stem, and

cuddy front.

removed

enough

by
I

of the

of

this well

formed

of the

schooner

the forecastle deck

scraped

exhibit

to

snow

at

curving
ending

this front
a

or

and

portion of a
supposed that

I
by this window
forecastle was
lighted. Out of this well forked
bowsprit,with the spritsail
yard braced fore

It

window.
the

the

aft.

and

was

The

whole

fabric

close

to

looked

glass than at a distance,owing to

crystallinesparkles of the ice-like

like

the structure

coated
to

severe

it was

and

take a view
my breath and
before
going 'aft. It was

regain

to

proved

of

dissolved, would
couple of gallons,but stayed a minute to

great

it

bands
me

four

of the

its contents

be

enable

to

There

off

I cut

then

of

hour

an

character

off the iron

fresh water.

up

of the

which

the hardness

had

snow

pretty nigh spent

was

enough

chopper,with
hollow,that was

quarter of

sure

knocked

staves

me

make

empty, but

body

The

wrought at, and

Whatever
might

cask.

had

got into this

deep.

it took

Pirate.

for the

went

and

I returned

Frozen

from

the

vane

at

more

the

million

snow

that

the masthead

the keel.

Well,
returned

struck

as

I clambered
to

the

I went

on

to

cook-room

along by

the forecastle
with
the

my
sudden

deck

and

piece of ice,
comfortable

Discoveries.

Further

MAKE

107

qualityof life the gushing of the black smoke out

of the chimney put into the ship,and how, indeed,
soften
if by magic the savage
it seemed
to
as
wildness
and
haggard austerityand gale-swept
loneliness of the white rocks and
peaks. It was
extremely disagreeable and disconcerting to me
of the cabin
to pass the ghastly occupants
to have
time

every

mind
the

to

in and

I went

them

get

work, and

out

deck

on

them

cover

and

I made
I felt

when

The

there.

up

up

""

''

"

ttH-.fi

wm0

my

"m

equal to

slanting
%.'

posture of the

one

was

sleeping attitude

the

of fierce

sort

of the

other

was

rebuke
dark

,"

and
U^

never
passed them
enjoinmentof silence.
of
without
beat
the
heart
shortened
and
a
quick
I looked
them
the
at
breathing; and the more
the superstitious
keener became
alarm they excited.
The
fire burned
brightly,and its ruddy glow
human
sweet
was
as
companionship. I put the

sullen

into

ice

then

them

the mouth

and

saucepan

pullingthe

found

t-.

cheese
and

warm

of the

jar I

it upon

set

and

ham

thawed.

of the

out

On

discovered

it

:l'i

fire,and

the

't i

oven

smelling

its contents

to
to

an
was
brandy.^ Only
deep
T poured this into a pannikin and took a
finer drop of spirits
I never
swallowed
a
sup, and
in all my
life; its elegant perfume proved it
amazingly choice and old. I fetched a lemon and
and speedilyprepared a small smoking
some
sugar

about

be

inch

of it

melted.

It.
*

give

can

in

latitudes

the

which

reader

no

brandy as being frozen.

through its having lost twenty
strength. P. R.

of the

"

idea

better

this schooner

had
This

of

the

cold

lain, than
may

of

the

by speaking

have

happened
"

or

thirtyper

cent,

of

its

n-

j":^v

VI'
"*"."

Night.

Lonely

109

of the fire very

soothing,the heartymeal
had also marvellously
I had eaten
invigoratedme,
in
I
mind
found
that
a
so
posture to justlyand
my
rationallyconsider my condition, and to reason
seemed
be attached
such probabilities
to
out
as
the heat

it.

to

First of all I reflected that

of natural

thick ribbed

laws this vast

ice

"

in which

due

it would

course

usual

tion
opera-

"

and
thrilling
schooner
lay bound

the northward,

where

in

"".:?"

dissolve, though that would

But

happen yet.

not

the
of

seat

the

to
travelling
steadily

was

by

it advanced

as

it

would

so

""t^.-

the

pathways of ships using

these seas, and any day might disclose a sail near
or
enough to observe such signalsof smoke
flag
I might best
contrive.
But
as
supposing no
opportunityof this kind to offer,then I ought to
carry

to

nearer

me

*d

i-U

able

be

to

find in the vessel

construction
a

of

pinnaceof

for there
my

stowed

ov/n

winter

of

season

presentlythe sun
the
whilst the ice,on
him ; if by the wreck
schooner

the

brief

my

shroud

the
under

me

to,

even

of

the

main-hatch,
deck.

on

further

me

be

snow

in which

"

Nay,

this

was

hemisphere,
coming my way,

hand, floated

"i

towards

dissolution of the island

crushed, she

must

providingshe was
inspectionof her bottom
her

"Ul

with

not

that

I should
I would

was

showed

visible
have

be able

be

tight"

case,

with

nothing wrong

other
and

met

southern

would

not

was

released,in which
and

boat

carried

even

but

the

under

certainlyno

was

meditations

the

boat, if,indeed, I

her

materials fit for the

through
ship

stout
to

lie hove
;v;*j;-

or

make

shift to sail her

if the

breeze
'"X

-i

The

no

from

came

the

Frozen

south, and

being sighted and

I had

Much,

Pirate.
thus

take

my

of

chance

discovered.

almost

said

everything,depended
provisionsI should find in her

quantityof
and particularly
the stock
of coal, for I feared
on
I must
perish if I had not a fire. But there was
the hold to be explored yet; the navigation of
these waters
have been
must
anticipatedby the
the

on

of

men

the

schooner, who

to

sure

were

make

the surer
and
provisionfor the cold
if,as I fancied, they were
Spaniards. Certainly
exhausted
of coal,
their stock
they might have
but
I could
not
persuade myself of this, since
of the cook-room
somehow
the heap in the corner
other was
or
suggestive of a store behind.
I knew
of the crew
not
more
lay in
yet whether

handsome

the
men

to

"

forecastle,but

so

far I had

only. If these were

believe,grounding my

boats, that

all,then

fancy

life for three

or

four

all gone, it would

servingme as a shipand

was

I had

the

on

four
a

right
of

absence

of the company
had quitted the
have
done
they would
early a

most

ship, and this

suppositionthat promised me
Herein
stores.
lay my hope
my

encountered

not

"

fair

if I

discovery of
could
prolong

then, if the ice

far north,
advanced

months,
have

puttingme in the way of

deliveringmyself,either by the sight of a sail,or
tion
by the schooner floatingfree,or by my construcof
Thus

boat..
I sat

clearheaded

musing, as

way.

Yet

I venture
all the

same

to

think, in
I could

not

if I was
bewitched.
as
glance around without feeling
The red shiningof the furnace ruddilygilded the

A
cook-house
the

through

storming of the

wind

Ill

the after-slidingdoor

cabin

the

to

passage

Night.

Lonely

was

blackness

in

subdued

into

went

the

strange

moaning and complaining j often through the

sudden
the thrill of a
body of the ship came
of the
the sense
explosion; and haunting all was
of
dead
men
just without, the frozen desolation
in which
the island,the
mighty world of waters
of
it lay.
think
isolation
No I you
no
can
I review
as
comparable to this ; and I tremble
the thought of the enormous
ness
loneliit,for under
time
sink
and
of that
ever
spiritmust
my
break

'.,"

i'l'

down.

It

melancholy
the
gold

was

pulled
the

out

man

the

on

guessing

to

watch

rocks

the hour, set

at

be

without

time,
it up,

wound

and

hands

the

and

half-past,

at

fit

V'

from

taken

had

so

.,1

indeed
bravely. It was
noble
a
piece of mechanism, very costly and
than a hint as
glorious with its jewels,and more
four.

to

The

the

character

of this schooner

and

had

"

there

nothing else to judge by I should still have

to her by this watch.
sworn
more
My pipe being emptied, I threw some
coals into the furnace,and putting a candle in the
been

lanthom

aft

went

cabins,in

though

the

those
on

open

burned,

habitation
small

deck

take

cook-room

whilst the fire

colder

to

of which

one

.,

ticked

watch

when

another

would

have

I reckoned

the furnace

compartments

in the

to

(f:i

upon
was

stern.

me

1-^ ".':";-IT:

I
':"

best

it making

"s

than

The

cold

so
gushed down
bitinglythrough
I
that
fain to close
was
companion-hatch

"",{:""

black

i|

"";'"
"^1

sleep,for

served

'iM

view of the little

I resolved

;. "*

:a

the

it.
St''

It.'; -i

The

112

I mounted

the

the

the great
two

men

cold

in

cabin, as
were,

was

was

Pirate.
with

the door,
I call the

plunged

and
tolerable,

not

larder

the

steps, and
shut

and

cover

Frozen

rendered

by
room

which

shipped

of

course

in which

in darkness

the
me

ado

much

but

parcelsof

the
the

candles

indiPerent

to

the

gloom.
On
doors

entering the
of the

passage
I
berths, noticed

an

were

objectthat

the
had

I mean
small
a
escaped my observation
no
bigger than a manhole, with a ring
trap-hatch,
for lifting
I suspected
it,midway down the lane.
this to
be the
the
to
entrance
lazarette, and
putting both hands to the ring pulled the hatch
I sniffed cautiously,
fearingfoul air,and then
up.
I
sinking the lanthorn by the length of my arm
peered down, and observed the outlines oi casks,
of white wood, chests, and
forth.
bales,cases
so
I dropped through the hole on to a cask, which left
head
and
the deck, and
shoulders above
me
my
caution stooped and
threw
then with the utmost
lanthorn
But
the
the
casks
me.
light around
which
not
were
powder-barrels,
perhaps a little
it
reflection might have led me
to suspect, since
be supposed that any man
would
not
to
stow
was
his powder in the lazarette.
of settlingmy
in the way
As I was
misgivings
stock
of
food
the
in
the
schooner, I
touching
resolved
to
push through with this business at
and fetchingthe chopper went
to work
once,
upon
barrels and
chests ; and very briefly
I will
these
tell you what I found.
First,I dealt with a tierce
There
whole
that proved full of salt beef.
was
a

before

in which

"

Night.

Lonely

"3
..'.
"

row

of these

the

nature

sufficed to express
there were
upwards of

and
tierces,
of the

rest

barrels of pork ; one

canvas
thirty
full of hams, and
of
was
open

counted half a
biscuit. There
of

number

several

barriels of

bale

these

white

The

score.
were

111

"'

one

sacks

ripped

bales

held

cases

if ^

of pease, a
of candles,

flour,cases

of tobacco, not to
cheeses,a quantity
of jarsof several shapes,some
variety

mention

of which
"

I afterwards

succadoes
head

off

found

of different kinds.
cask

one

body,that by
ink

black

as

found

it wine.

I was
of

so

contain

to

On

found

marmalade

and

knocking the

it neld

"fi

frozen

i"M

lightof the lanthorn looked as

chipped off a bit,sucked it,and

the
I

transported
by the sightof

plentythat I
and
gratitude

fell upon

gave
His mercy.
There was
wonder whether
dismally

knees

in

this wonderful

"1

outburst
heartythanks to God for
further need for me
no
to
my

'

was

to

an

starve

or

no

food
supposing the provisions
sweet, here was
enough to last me three or four years. I was so
overjoyedand withal curious that I forgotall
the chopper made
about the time, and flourishing
the round of the lazarette,
samplingits freight
by
individual instances,so that by the time I was
tired I had enlarged the list I have given,by
discoveries of brandy,beer,oatmeal,oil,
lemons,
and
eight or ten other
rum,
tongues, vinegar,
and
in so
matters, all stowed
very bunglingly,
different kinds of casks, cases, jars,and
many
believe that
other vessels as
to
disposed me
several piratical
rummagings must have gone to

I
..^^Tf

Ih

"Mi;
'H:.
""/^f

f,

"

"

*i

i-.'i.

'":"".?";
::\:i'

f.'-'^

tW

The

114

the creation

Pirate.

Frozen

of this handsome

good things.
Well, thought I, even
in the ship than what
enough fuel is here in

and

stock
plentiful

of

the like

and

besides

along

with

me

I may

what

forth

so

thaw

to

if there

be

lies

the

in

no

cook-house,
the shape of casks, boxes,
provisionsfor six months,
come

in

across

the

hold,

the

hammocks,
bedding, boxes, and
the
would
be
forecastle, all which

in

This
fire with.
was
good to feed my
I recollect
comforting reflection,and
hatch
out
through the lazarette
spiriteda caper as ever I had cut at any

most

ing
springwith
time

as

in

life.

my
I

replacedthe hatch-cover, and having

the aftmost

upon

it would
looked

of

it to

entered

an

what
I

yieldme.

in*^othe cot, that

couple of rugs

like

was

the four cabins

see

spied a
out, having no fancy to
old

was
or

kind

shop, or

them.

had

been

and
more

rush

at

flingingabout

value

hidden

the

The

the

From
travelling
troop of actors.
in this and
the adjoiningcabins, I
there

as

hung up the lanthorn and

slung athwartships,and
blankets, which I pulled

lie under

clothes'

resolved

room,
bedmy
of accommodation

of

coal

more

wardrobe

the

last, a wild
for

them.

of

confusion

concluded

of clothes

amongst

deck

that
hauling
over-

articles
But

just

likelyas not the disorder merely indicated the

slovenlyindifference of plunderers to the fruits of
them.
a
pillagethat had overstocked
I picked up was
first garment
The
cloak
of
a
lined ; all
sort of silk material, richlyfurred and
a
as

the

buttons

but

one

had

been

cut

off,and

that

A
which

remained

cot,

it

as

was

Lonely

Night.

was

silver.

soft

thing

of

the

picked up a coat
Hogarth's engravings;
fold, and

good

as

cuffs

the

other.

deck,

and

fashion

the

rug,

Then

collar

coat

elbow.
of the

them

it in the

will

you

in

broad
was

as

with

cot

articles

recollect

see

This

it into the

and

I put
inspected others

spread

lie upon.

to

the

to

"5

the
the

on

gold-laced
waistcoat
three pairs of
velvet,two
or
high-heeled shoes, a woman's
yellow sacque,
frizzled
several
in
wigs, silk stockings,pumps
of the trunks
of some
fine, the contents
dandy
long since gathered to their forefathers
passengers,
if the gentlemen of this schooner
doubt, even
no
among
of green

"

had

not

then

and

splittheir windpipes.
remember

third

walked

there

But,

of what

overboard

honest, I

be

lay tumbled

hung against the

knowledge of costume
my
pointed to the date which
deck

to

them

bulkhead.

or

cannot

the

upon

So

or

far

as

article
went,
every
I had
fixed upon
for

this vessel.
I swept
a

the

of

my foot into
the boxes
saw

liftingthe lids of
clothes, some
books, a collection of smalla
couple of quadrants, and sundry rolls of
which
proved to be charts of the islands of

more

arms,

paper
the Antilles and

the western

ill-digested. There

kind

determine

to

the

journalto acquaint me
I

things with

and

comer,

very

huddle

was

went

to

and

get

were

me

no

vessel's
with

her

tired in my limbs rather

the cook-room
to warm
some

American

South

supper,

papers

t.l

coast,

of

character,

any
nor

story.
than

sleepy,and
myself at the fire
meaning ta sit there till

';-^

"

'.

"

""-"'.'"

t'v

"

""'if'

not

hard

so

then

Lonely

because

Night.
I did

somehow

feel the cold

particularly

certainlysufferinghere
which

I had

"

from

felt in the open

117

myself

not

I was
I mean,
that pain of

not

frost

boat.

a
pint of
Having heartilysupped, I brewed
punch, and, charging my pipe, sat smoking with
feet against the furnace.
after eight
It was
my
I
o'clock
Was
wearing. I knew
by the watch
blowing a gale
by the humming noise that it was

of wind

from

outside, and

time

to

time

heavy discharge of hail.

subdued
to
were
naturallymuch
my
ship lying in a hollow, and I being in
rattled to

hatches

closed

of itself

formed

the

of

notes

All

'";".

sounds

by

ear

her with

the
the

this very faintness of uproar

qualityof mystery very pat to

but
a

ghastlinessof

the

decks

the

V^ ^^,

an

my

surroundings.

elfin

like

was

nec.omantic

of

storm

It

i ,t
i

f
1

"

'
.

imagination ;
it and

and

the

with
togeti.er

it was

hollow, weak, and

thunder

of the

movement

blasts

of shadows

separated from the great

were
by the little arms-room
it

to

ran

")"

""'^

and

about

cabin

',

commingling,

seas

of
shocks
rumbling
ice,disjointed
as
splitting
by an earthquake,loaded
the
inward
silence with unearthly tones, which
lonely and quickened imagination readily
my
furnished
diffused
with syllables. The
lanthorn
but a small light,and
the flickeringof the fire
made

the

terrifying
;

'"'

where

only,and

me.

the

i f

'""i

J",)

'^1

was

figures

"4-

the passage

there in blackness.

strangelyand importunatelyentered my head

frozen
were
conceive, that though those men
stirless they were
dead
not
as
are^
corpses
checked
whose
stream
current,
a
as
by ice,

It
to

and

but

...

I,

ii8

The

them

There

is

thing in

ice is melted.

the

the hand.

Those

said

but

eye;

Pirate.

Might not life

be
suspended by the cold, not ended ?
in the seed though it lies a dead
vitality

will flow when

in

Frozen

men

are

myself, they

to

to my
corpses
the
have
may

principlesof life in them, which heat might call

into being. Putrefaction
is a natural la v, but it
is balked
by frost, and just as decay is hindered
affected
by cold, might not the property of life be left unin a
in a body, though it should be numbed
form for fifty
marble
years ?
This
terrible fancy to possess
man
a
was
a
situated as Twas, and it so worked
that again
in me
and again I caught myself looking first forward,
then aft,as
help me ! my secret
though, Heaven
instincts
behold
of

foreboded

that at

form

from

I should

moment

any

the

forecastle,or one
figuresin the cabin, stalkingin, and
I
seating himself.
my side and silently

some

those

comipg to
pshaw'd and
such

pish'd,and querulouslyasked of myself

I to suffer
what
of English sailor was
manner
womanly terrors to visit me ; but it would

not

do

heart

fell upon
and
me,
of shivers which
sort

any

could

chased

through
sounding out of

me

seized

with

with
a

the frost of

which

on

panic

feet, and, lanthorn

trembling

me

presentlya
hold, caused
by

of ice
a

set

and

terror

in hand, made
a

prayer

at

the

in

of

coldness

and

the

of the bed
was

smoke

not

me

the

above

air had

the
hollow
some

creak
ment
move-

the vessel

lay,I

to my
sprang
for the companion-ladder,

for the

sightof

star!
I durst

not

look

figures,but, settingthe

Lonely

Night,

119

the foot of the ladder, squeezed

at
light down
through the companion-door on to the deck.
My
fear

was

fever in its way,

cold.

There

ice

the

the

made
and

could

man

it gave

It

solitude

in

the

the
wild

sky, and

the

most

the

invention

to, yet I blessed

reach

but

out

of

was

feel the

not

seen,

flung

was

blackness

glare by
a lightof its own.
terrible pictureof

strange

be

to

star

no

was

of

whiteness

I did

and

savage

.it for the

of

relief

ghost-enkindled imagination. No
then passing ; the rocks
on
rose
squallwas
up
either hand
in a ghastlyglimmer to the ebony of
the heavens
overhead
in a wild,
; the gale swept
mad
roarings,and cryings
blending of whistlings,
sudden
in many
into a doleful
on
a
keys, falling
wailing,then risingin a breath to the full fury of
to

an

the

that

,'

my

its concert
of

'-'"m

the

like the

thundered

sea

electric

storm,

rending

and

and

you

ing
cannonad-

would

cracklingnoises

have

said

of the

ice

of the balls
to the crashing blows
responses
ordnance.
shadow-hidden
But
the scene,
the

were

of

the voices

uproar,

cordial to my

vintagebelow
beginning to
the

better

black
heart

and

of the wind

than a gallonof
spirits
presently,when
; and
pierce me, my courage

for this excursipn

at

through the

its usual

hatch

into

and

the

cold

was

was

much

so

hoarse

and

night,that

measure

to

my

passed

the

cook-

as

again

went

better

"

the mellowest

the

realities of the

gleaming

beat

real

were

room.

I was,

however,

sure

that

would

and thinking,
fear
listening

fire still burned

put

if I sat

here
A

return.

saucepan

on

long,
small

it, and

~. I

".'!"

The

I20

popped in
handling
me

piece of
the brandy
a

of the

heat

dram

I took

the

oven

to

I found

save

and

chopper

ice, but

fresh-water

the

it hard

thaw

to

in this way
splitopen the

further

trouble

at

blow

one

on

The

set.

sufficiently
great

not

was

so

Pirate.

Frozen

jar,and then there lay before me the solid body of

much
I chipped off as
the brandy, from which
as
I needed, and thus procured a hot and animating
draught.
Raking out the fire,I picked up the lanthorn
and
then
abo it to go,
halted, considering
was
I should
the frozen
whether
not
stow
provisions
It
natural
was
a
thought, seeing how
away.
to me.
But, alas ! it mattered
precious food was
here
where
not
as
secure
as
they lay ; they were
if they were
hidden
bottom
of
the
in the
snugly
hold.

the white

was

in

crawled

had

rat

'$.

It

realm

this

of death

if

in its

ship,it was,

ever

hiding-

So
I
place,as stiff and idle as the frozen vessel.
let the lump of brandy, the ice,ham, and so forth,
where
rest
they were, and went to the cabin I had
chosen, involuntarily
peeping at the figures as I
of the
passed, and
hurrying the faster because
who
liveliness put into the man
grim and terrifying
sat
startingfrom the table by the swing of the

in my
hand.
the door and

lanthorn
I shut

having

cot,
There

was

vessel

^ver

I
to

indeed

hung

flint and
an

was

be

with

the

the
box

abundance

nevertheless, it

them

long

the

"

was

utmost

my

lanthorn
in

my

pocket.

of candles
business

in the

be

band
hus-

to

How

niggardliness.

imprisoned here, if indeed

delivered,Providence alone knew
to

the

near

was

^nd

Night.

Lonely

to riih short of candles

would

add

hatches
with

the

deadly air outside,or

There

were

would

not

from

and
ports for light,

and

the

cloak

suffice.
man

on

and

coat

the rocks

was

vaulted
the

had

into the

clothes

were

cot, and
above

so

the

to

of
the

open

the ship
filling
livingin darkness.
in the cot, but they
so

on

forgotten it ; there
to
plentyof apparel in the corner
and
having chosen
enough to
I

now

the terrors

cloak

fine

The

to

either

existence,by forcingme

my

121

had

""

i'

taken

deck, and till

however,
was,
serve

as

smother

covered

wraps,
I

me

myself

that

level of the sides

of

the cot.
sure
burning whilst I made
all right, and
bed was
lay musing, feeling
my
the
extremely melancholy ; the hardest part was
thought of those two men
watching in the cabin.
The
fantastic alarms
most
possessed me.
pose
Suptheir ghosts came
the ship at midnight,
to
their
into
and, entering
bodies, quickened them
in the condition
of
walking ? Suppose they were
sensible of what passed around
them,
catc^'eptics,
but paralyzed to the motionlessness
and
seeming
Then
of death?
the very garments
insensibility
I lay were
under which
of a proper kind to keep a
situation quaking. My
in my
man
imagination
longed,
tell me
whom
to work
went
to
to
they had behad met
the bloody ends their owners
at
miscreants
hands
of
the
who
the
despoiledthem,
I caught myself listening and there was
enough
with the subdued
to hear, too, what
roaringof the
of ice, the occasional
ing
creakwind, the splintering
unlike a
of the
tread
not
heavy booted

I left the lanthorn

Hr

1i-

*;

'J

"II
"[""";"

K'

"

"

"

-I'li

The

122

fabric

of the

Frozen

schooner

resolved

to

blowing
that

have

out

my

after

EXPLORE

It

was

it

must

gale

in the bed

on

I
at last.
my rescue
of these
night fears, so,

to

more

head

pitch dark
the

the

on

pillow,resolutelykept
awhile fell asleep.

coat

eyei

my

XIII.

HOLD

THE

be

of the

blasts

movement

CHAPTER
I

the

the candle, I put my

formed

shut, and

no

to

"

against her masts, or to

which
she reposed.
But plain sense
came

Pirate.

AND

I awoke,

when

middle

of

the

FORECASTLE.

and

I conceived

night,but

to

my

astonishment, on lightingthe lanthorn and looking

I had taken the precautionto
at the watch, which
but
wind
it wanted
overnight,I saw
twenty
up
minutes
of nine o'clock, so
that I had
passed
through twelve hours of solid sleep. However, it
was
only needful to recollect where I was, and to
cast
a
glance at the closed door and port, to
I had
understand
dark.
slept fairly
why it was
and

warm,

keen

the

but

awoke

with

air had

no

of

sensation

caused

the

steam

freeze upon
mouth
in such a
my
that, when
feelingthe stickyinconvenience
finger to it,it fell like a little mask
my
breath

to

cramp
of my
manner

I put
I
and
;

face to such
cold in my
blistered
there
had
I been
that
extent
an
my
smarted
and
could
have
brow
not
cheeks, nose,
likewise

more.

up

felt the

This

pain of

resolved

me

henceforward

to

wrap

my head and face before going to rest.

I opened the door and passed out, and observed

:\l

EXPLORE

difference

amazing

an

of the
of

HoLD

THE

in which

air

between

I had

atmosphere
discovery,for it served

nor,

air

the outer

keep
would

lie under

to

the

to

the

that, if I

me

was

and

coverings

to

body

my

of the

to

thaw,

and

and
some
water;
the weather
view

time

routine

the

snow

and

the

full three

minutes

I could
It

glare.

was

blue, with

from

On
I

with

accustom

my
fine weather
of the

the

as

The
the

deck

to

the

sunshine

upon

heavens

blowing
wtre,

like
a

eyes

dazzling
sky over

was

had

the

stand

my

the

schooner

blinded

was

to

the

door

on

it

I had

sightto
again ;

wind

mind

my

nearly

lightclouds

southward.

but, pure

few

on

in

hand

set

of

of the cabin

my

own

kettle

opening

of the

i""rf*-

.;,.i

me

was

be

to

fire and

I went

himself,and

sun

masts
glass-like

dark

to

of the

looking at
before

boil

revolve

after the blackness

light the

after

day.
companion-hatch
gloriousbrilliance

the

anything
air by my

there

was

vitiation

business

breakfast

last

that

happy

"

excluded, the heat of

to

the

passage

assure

was

by

sleepingand

plenty of

day,

the

breathing.
My first

of

temperature

the

from

feared

the

I23

of the little cabin

temperature
ventilated
was
providing the compartment
raise

throughout

my

the

been

in

the

careful

FoRECASTLE.

AND

clear

shifted
the

it

over

at

breeze

piping brisklywith the weight and song of a

small
in the
gale, and its fangs of frost, even
comparative quiet of the sheltere(3 deck, bit

was

with

fierceness

that

had

not

been

observable

yesterday.
The

moment

I had

the

body of the vessel

in

"*

'-T'iJ

'

EXPLORE

forecastle

the

cabin

HoLD

THE

FoRECASTLE.

AND

if I stowed

as

them

25

in the

away

adjoiningmine.

Whilst

siderations
busy with conof the change in the ship's posture
during the night that it ended in determining me
of her from the outside,and then
to take a survey

climb
the

cliffs and

the

other

any

mind

I ate,
my

look

the rocks

on

the cloak

of and

I fell to

before
1 had

stripped
warmed

and

thawed

covering it was,
thick, soft,and clinging. Then, arming myself
with a boardingas
a pole,1 dropped
pike t serve
into the fore-chams
and thence
stepped on to the
round
ice,and very slowly and carefullywalked
and
the schooner, examining her closely,
boring
into the snow
her side with my pike wherever
upon
I could find nothing
I suspected a hole or indent.
with her in this way, though what
thavv
a
wrong
I
Her
reveal
could
know.
rudder
not
might
hung
frozen
its
a
nd
looked
it
should.
as
pintles,
upon
it, and

it on,

so

around

I fetched

work.

body

was

put

and

noble

Some

little distance

hollow

or

chasm

splitthree

sloped
four

or

happened

in the

sound

the

Such

as

rent

her

further

hollow
on

was

which

conceived

slopea

for the sea, and

to

coming

to

noise

the

great

of

it.

for the

account

and

schooner

and

Indeed, the
you

the

"

"

ways

would

have

of it that if it should

yet, off would

in the

the

the

certainly
sleptas

have

resemble
;

had

larboard.

to

ships are launched

by the appearance

littlemore

hear

to

after-partof

inclination
now

this

was

sea,

I must

this sufficed

of the

subsidence

the

to

feet wide

not

rudder, where

her

night,and

dead
as

abaft

slide the schooner

rightposture

too

"

that

is,

i^

The

126

stem

for

very

well

to

the

short

prayed with all my might and

have been
anything but this. It would
had the hollow gone in a gentledeclivity
of

wash

But

on.

main

the

high indeed, but

foundering
prompt

itself,in
not
cliff,

water

the

edge of a
high enough to warrant

very

herself

the

to

sea,

but it terminated

launch

Pirate.

Frozen

at

of

off it.

vessel

any

should

that

keel

Happily the

the

too

was

solidlyfrozen into the ice to render a passage of

this descriptionpossible
the
I
conclusion
; and
arrived
after careful inspectionwas
that the
at
offer for the delivery of
sole chance
that
could
the

vessel

her

to

cracking up and
she lay.
Having ended
addressed

disruptionof
survey

my

myself

to

the

slope,and scaled it much

yesterday managed to
I climbed

rocks.
nearest

largeview

of the

the first
four

were

of

counted

low, and
ice

that

moreover,

my

here

Much

objectswhich

to

it

and

was

the

were.

them

of

was

not

familiar

to

on

my

island.

the

They

they
easilyseen
there, though, as the

very

my
eye
but
close

miles

four.

very

coast

way

made

trend

was

ment,
astonish-

my

three

the

that

I had

encountered

of about

I had

over

way

starboard

highestblock

scene.

distance

them

deceptive, I
ruptures

schooner,

easilythan

make

the

which

on

of the

more

the

bed

of the

summit, and

north-east

the

part of the

the

ascent

in

was

icebergs,floatingd'^tached

togetherat
side

to

the

on

me

element

proper

had

swam

formed

form

me,

of the

and

as,

the prospect
glare rendered
very
could
the
not
distinguishwhere
But
one
change in the face of

EXPLORE

this white
entire

THE

HOLD

AND

FORECASTLE.

127

country I did

disappearanceof

that was
the
note, and
of the most
beautiful
two

of the little crystalcities that adorned

the northward

gale of the night had wrought

of this dazzling
havoc, and the unsubstantiality
made
kingdom of ice was
startlingly
apparent by
of the delicate glassyarchitecture,
the evanishment
those
four
white hills floatmg like ships
and
by
their courses
under
and
the
topsailsout upon
flashinghurryand leapingblue and yeast of the
range.

The

water.

blowing harder than I had imagined.

The wind was
extraordinarily
sharp, and the full
of it not
current
long to be endured on my
The sea, swelling
unsheltered eminence.
up from
the south, ran
high,and was full of seethingand
tumblingnoises,and of the roaringof the breakers,
dashing themselves against the ice in prodigious
bodies of foam, which
boiled along the foot of
so
the Miffs that their fronts,risingort of it,might
itself freezingas it
have
passed for the spume
solid
of
mass
gloriousbrilliance. The
leaptinto a
full of the
never
more
explored a scene
eye
Here and
splendourof lightand of vivid colour.
the
there
rocks shone
as
prismatically
though
some
flyingrainbow had shivered itself upon them
and
and
The
blue of the sea
lay broken.
sky
into
was
an
deepened
exquisiteperfection of
of the ice,
liquidtint by the blindingwhiteness
which in exchange was
sharpenedinto a wonderful
around
it.
and
eifulgenceby the hues above
Again and again,along the whole range, far as
the sightcould
explore,the spray rose in stately
It

was

'":'l.
r":i;

lis]

''"""""^1

The

128
of

clouds
in

Frozen

silver,which

Pirate.

by the wind
surpassing beauty,

scattered

were

scintillations of

meteoric

flashingthrough the fires of the sun like mfllions

There
of littleblazing stars.
were
twenty different
fanes, and
dyes of lightin the collection of spires,
the schooner, whose
near
masts, yards, and
pillars
mingled their own
particularradiance with
gear
I bent
that of these
dainty figures; and wherever
found

gaze

my

lovehness, and
the dazzle

and

the wild
of

of

much

so

white

sun-tinctured
of ice-forms

graces

snow-surfaces

softeninginto

an

gleaming in the far blue distances,that but

for the
piercing wind I could have spent the
mind
whole
the
morning in taking into my
of this ocean
marvellous
picture,forgetful
spirit
in the intoxication
of my
of
melancholy condition
this draught of free and spaciousbeauty.

azure

Satisfied

posture

as

of

the

the

state

of

the

schooner, viewed

in the
the

and

ice

from

and

the

without, I

along the ocean

to the ship. The
line, and then returned
strong
the
of
of the sea,
the
wind, the dance
grandeur
great tract of whiteness, ^'talized by the flyingof
violet cloud-shadows
along it, had fortified my
and
spirits,
being free (fora while)of all superstitious
to begin by exploring
dread, I determined
if more
bodies were
the forecastle and ascertaining
sent

slow

to

schooner

giant

form

piercinggaze

than
on

those
deck.

two

in the

I threw

some

cabin
coal

and
on

placed an ox-tongue along with the

cheese and a lump of the frozen wine in a pannikin
the
in the
oven
(for 1 had a mind to taste
vessel's stores, and
thought the tongue would
the

fire,and

EXPLORE

make

FoRECASTLE.

AND

ageeable change), and

an

candle

HoLD

THE

into

the forecastle

walked

lanthorn

the

very

29

putting a
bravely to

it.

entered

and

then

prepared for the

say it staggered me

was

I must

of

the

force

chests

la^

contents

clearest
had

the

of

first

in

open

covered

the

evidence

here

quitted the

confusion,but
afresh with something
impression. Sailors*
of

scene

directions, and

all

their

decks.

There

that

the

of
majority

vessel

in

the

was

the

violent

hurry,
their money
and
turningout their boxes to cram
into their pockets,and heedlessly
jewellery
flinging
crew

own

and

to their share.

This

down
from

their

the

character

the

clothes

I had

a
no

great

varietyof

attire of

which

had

fallen

suppose
every right
muddle
the floor
on
to

of the

for,passingthe lightover

'

part of it,I witnessed

a
a

kind

sailor in any age

went
ever
fine perhaps as
that which

which
to

sea

certainly
with

; not

in the

cabins,
by
the
good nevertheless,particularly linen.
I saw
several wigs,beavers
of the kind that was
women's
the arm,
silk
formerly carried under
and
of
so
shoes, petticoats,pieces
lace, silk,
forth ; a'/ directly
I
what
that
viewed
assuring me
the contents
of passengers'
was
luggage, together
with consignments and such freightas the pirates
seize
and
would
divide, every man
fillinghis
there
chest.
less on the whole than
was
Perhaps
I supposed,the litter looking great by reason
of
everythinghaving been torn open and flung down
so

but very

loose.
I trod

upon

they appealed

these
to

me

heaps
only as

with
a

little

concern

provisionfor

"';.-!4,
(
1

r.
X

i,i::

my
"."i"iJ-\|

4#

The

130
fire should

Pirate.

Frozen

I be

disappointedin my
The
coal.
hammocks
obliged me to
stooped head ; it was
only necessary
with

hand

my

Some

all of

but
have

been

this

by

there

them
had

looked

dead

no

though

here

men

others,

they

mind

my

and
that

if I had

fullyas

as

would

bodies

human

satisfied

weight by
if they were
the

than

lighterthan

method

into each

This

with

much

they contained

rapid

were

heavier

were

feel them

to

know

to

"

with

move

their

test

in the middle

pushing them
tenanted.

is, to

that

"

for

search

separate hammock.

discoverywas

exceedingly comforting,for,

I do

that

frozen

any

know

not

in the

his

I found

had

man

I should

forecastle

meddled

have

him

in this

place,

rendered

being
have
to
come
me
constantlyuneasy, and it must
either closing this
part of the ship and
my
shrinking from it as from a spectre-ridden
gloom,
of
the
bodies
to
or
disposing
by dragging
my
deck
dismal
and
hateful job. There
them
on
a
overhead.'
were
no
Wanting
ports, but a hatch
but little
light the candle making the darkness
would

have

"

F"i

"

more
a

than

visible

"

I fetched

handspike that lay in

chest, struck

at

cracked

around

all

the hatch

from

corier,
so

it and

the

arms-room

and, mounting

that
heartily

the

cover

the
rose.

ice
I

in
rolled the sunshine
pushed it off, and down
splendour.
In many
plain now.
Everything was
places,
the
silver
and
clothes,were
glittering
gold
among
such
coins,a few silver ornaments
as
buckles, and
watches
things not missed by the piratesin the
transport of their flight. In kicking a coat aside
"

EXPLORE

I discovered

and
together,
the

hilt of

metal

of the

interioris

FoRECASTLE.

AND

broken

it was

of.

it for

messed

the

There
veiled

"

"

pipe-stem.
Close againstthe

been

it.

the

off at the rump,

that

cook-room

to

like

a
''

separated

was

little

quantityof wearing-apparel

it,and I should
catching sightof some

have

missed

three

inches

in the

made

cover

rat.

to flingit on

after bulkhead

from
was

dead

1::^^'

upon

it but

for

^\.^m
":./V.

of the dark
I +1

deck.

On

clearing

perceiveda ringsimilar to that

first drag
in the lazarette hatch, and it rose
to my
and
left me
the hold yawning black below.
I
and
observed
stanchion
stout
a
peered down
traversed by iron pins for the hands
and
feet.
and
The atmospherewas
it
time
to give
to
nacty,
and warmed
clear I went
to the cook-house
myself
the clothes

away

'V,

before the fire.

The

fresh air

of

some

and
rum

the forecastle hatch

blowingdown
the

speedilysweetened
lanthorn

,^'

"".'""

Maybe the
only used this
Right under the hatch,where
snow

the deck, but its tail broke

line the

-.'"
," ^

.."
"

"

window

was

";.
"

t\

"

this

than

have

must

men

room.

lightwas
strongest, was
stooped to pick it up, meaning

There

ruder

Nothing

the

hatch.

""""'!^."'

together aft,and

forecastle to lie in.

forecastle

'^",'^
"::
":.;""""

short off for the sake

The

imaginable.

mighty put
in the head, but

the

13I

couple of silver crucifixes bound

close by were
silver goblet and
a

sword

to

rogues

HoLD

THE

hold.

followed,and
or

found

lowered

the

mjselfon

top

spiritcasks, which

returned

them
hitting
forwnrd
was
a forepeak

to

me

in the

solid note.

on

m0

my

There

bows, and the casks

"*

.**";

An

Extraordinary

having

my

of

formed

found

had

I returned

slidingto

bear

133

light amid a freightmainly

I
matter.
explosivesand combustible
So
plenty of coal, and that sufficed.
road I had
entered, and
by the same
the bulkhead
door
of
to keep the cold
to

the forecastle
fire into

Occurrence.

of the

out

blaze

and

m.'
-.1.

it to rest

before

down

?'".'"'-"

I stirred the

cook-room,

sat

;",".'

and

think.

CHAPTER

XIV.

EXTRAORDINARY

AN

the

After

mercies

great

many

vouchsafed

OCCURRENCE.

such

which

had

been

being the only one

saved of all the crew
Laughing Mary^ my
from the dangers of an open boat, my
deliverance
meeting with this schooner and discoveringwithin
for
the
of
her
everything needful
support
I
been
should
have
of
the
basest
life,
guilty
I
had
because
there
was
no
ingratitude
repined
boat in the ship. Yet for all that I could not but
see

it

me,

was

to

that

matter

the vessel

closely. Should
of

become

as
my
of the

It

me

was

myselfthe making of a raft

fabric ; but everythingwas
being single-handed,it was
I should

able

be

would

as

concerned
be

to

put

be

fit to

me

crushed,
to

easy

hard

so

next

to

together
live

in

to

such

frozen

that,

impossible
such
the

trivance
con-

smallest

sea-way.
I

However,

melancholy
fortune

with

that

resolved

was

these

had

not

make

to

considerations.

attended

me

so

""u';

was

propose

like of

the

or

very

what

ft

The
far

myself
good
might

^"!J

The

'34

me

fitter

then

condition
in

o'clock

dinner.

my

of the

noble

the

twelve

At

went

the wine

of

my
awakened

cheerfulness

the watch

mind

to

the

in

the

was

of coal in the

show

by

I had

brandy, and
of

end, and maybe I

take
a
hopeful view

to

because

by

me

Pirate.

the

to

accompany

just

Frozen

for

forepeak.
in my pocket I got
lighterdrink than

lazarette

the

and

cut

out

opened ; I
the
head
of a tierce of beef,
also knocked
out
You
smile,
designing a hearty regale for supper.
I
should
of
talk
much
that
so
eating;
perhaps,
my
amid
the
of
existence
but if on
shore,
security
block

there, it is the
to

the

say,

what
\

Yet

how

What

of life,that

of life after love,

like

shipwreckedwretch

poor

is

nothing else to think of but his food ?

I could not help smiling when
I considered
was
carryingmy drink about in my fingers.
I do not
the wine was
know; it looked like
had

claret but

somewhat

was

wine

generous
drink
to
m

business

great

it be to

must

who

me,

great business

one

one

I had

cask

the

was

if

for

let the

most

having

tasted, spite of, my

ever

it warm,

and

sweet,

out

cup

of

ice !
cool, lo ! when I looked it was
Whilst
smoking my pipe it entered my
silent gentlemen
head
those two
to presentlyturn
my

hand

to

I sat

in the

cabin

out

I shrank, but
dreaded
on

my
met

it must

It

be

was

spirits. I had

done.

To

I had

with,

escape
my
overtaken

from
me

had

been

heartened

sound
the

by

night'srest,

the

that

away

candid,

schooner
the

fate

I gone

be

which
I

companionship

in the

been

from

task

the effects of their dismal

days only ;
had

of it.

had

two

plentyI
and
fire,
certainly

in the boat.

Bui

An

Extraordinary

Occurrence.

135

and
lover
being of a superstitiousnature
a
never
of solitude,I easilyguessed that in a few days
the weight of my loneliness would
to
come
press
I
if
and
suffered
those
that
me,
very heavily ypon
find myself
figures to keep the cabin I should
lying under a kind of horror which might end in
and
manhood
breaking down
perhaps in
my
unsettlingmy reason.
I to dispose of them ?
I meditated
But how was
whilst I smoked.
First I thought I
this matter
would
fissure
in the ice
rent
or
drag them to the
justbeyond the stern of the schooner and tumble
into it. But even
them
then
they would still be
with me,
be
to
so
speak I mean,
they would
of
neighboursthough out
sight; and my eagerness
from
this island altogether,
'them
to get
was
away
which
was
only to be done by casting them into
the
the sea.
Why, though I did not mention
in
its
I
much
last
haunted
matter
as
place, was
the
deck
the
and
man
on
meditating
night by
the
fellows
in
rocks
the
the cabin ;
on
as
by
figure
at
and, laugh as you
weakness, I do
may
my
candidly own
feelihgwas, if I did not contrive
my

""-.-""."

"

that

the

should
no

before

come

in what

matter

them

should

sea

to, and

carry

long

to

those

bodies

think

of them

part of the island

night-time start
in the wind, see
darkness, and
even
by day
at

hear their voices

the

!'A

away,
as

"iU'

alive,

might bear
at
sound,
every
their shapes in
dread

to

step

the cliffs.

upon
That
shows
to

"

such
how

fancies

necessary

should
it was

possess
I should

provide against their growth

so

me

lose

already
no

i settled

time
my

"1

"

f't '1

The

136
scheme
best

thus

first I

I could

on

to

Yet

ocean.

abhor

and

foresaw

the

it would

the

figures as
deck; then, there being
the side,and
afterwards

the

so

haul

to

was

over
three,to get them
to
by degrees
transport
whence
they would
steep

the

Pirate.

Frozen

the

of them

four

to

some

slide of themselves

much

did I dread

thought

taking,
the under-

of the tedious

that

me,

occupy

into

time

cannot

distressing
any other isort of painfuland
that would
seemed
have
not
actuallyagree-

imagine
work
able

compared with this.

out, I stepped into the
My pipe being smoked
threw
off the
cabin, and ascending the ladder
companion-cover and opened the doors, and then

went

but
there

as

the

to

man

courage

my
was

is

his back

had

failed

wild and

so

me

fierce

an

he

the

to
'

was

so

steps,

lifelike,
in the

earnestness

face, so inimitable a picture of

fell
horror in his startingposture, that my hands
I could
I
side and
not
to
lay hold of him.
my
will not
stop to analyse my fear or ask why, since
that this man
have
I knew
dead, he should
was
could ; I can
terrified me
as
surelyno livingman
only repeat that the prospect of touching him, and
layinghim upon the deck and then dragging him
indescribablyfearful to me, and
up the ladder,was
I turned away,
shaking as if I had the ague.
and after a
But it had to be done, nevertheless
;

expression of

ih"

thai

his

I seized
great deal of reasoningand self-reproach
the bench, let
him on a sudden, and, kicking away

him

fall

stone

break,

and
as

the deck.

to

He

fell like stone,

a

statue

was

and

might

frozen
I looked

that

falls

as

to

hard
see

as

him

lumpishly.

Extraordinary

AN

Occurrence.

137

His arms
remaining raised put him into an
in peace ;
attitude of entreaty to me
to leave him
I
had somewhat
mastered
but
myself,and the
kind of hot
a
were
hurryand tumult of my spirits
I dragged
temper ; so catchinghim by the collar,
and then
him to the foot of the companion-steps,
of sickening
with infinite labour and a number
pauses hauled him up the ladder to the deck.
I let him
lie and returned,weary
and out of
in life,
of
breath.
He had been a very fine man

shape of his
the
and
features
particular
eleganceof his chin,
may
despitethe distortion of his last unspeakabledishis weight
; and with his clothes I guessed
hard upon
hundred
two
came
pounds,no mean
beauty too,

burden

to

I went

as

in the

seen

haul up a ladder.
for
to the cook-house

myself,and

then

came

looked at the other

alreadydescribed.
in his coat, and

other's it was
his head

be

to

was

was

back

to

and

to rest

cabin

the

His posture has

man.

He

dram

made

and
been

burly figure

very

if his

weight did not exceed the

not
to be less.
likely
Nothing of
visible but the baldness on
the top

growth of hair that ringed it,and the

in which
fluffing
up of his beard about his arms

and

the

his face

was

sunk.

I touched

shudderingfinger,and
made
not

noted

his
that

beard

with

the frost had

It would
every hair of it as stiff as wire.
do to stand idlycontemplatinghim, for already
there

was

slowlycreepinginto

me

dread

seeing his face ; so I took hold of him and

swayed him, from the table,and he fell upon the
deck
sideways,preservinghis posture, so that

of

f-^'y

:"f:-y\

"

The

J38

Frozen

his face remained

but

way,
him

as

was

sure

he

should

tackle
and

I found

to

deck

with

which

but

end

the little capstan

to

inspectingthe capstan
it immovable,
rendered
to be
nothing whatever

on

had

there

it tolerable

was

thought of contriving
making one end fast to

other

was

iron-hard

the

little

whip,and

him

dragged

neither

there.

that the frost

added
done

Yet

taking the

the main

on

be

called

heavy and his attitude rendered

that I
so
surprisinglycumbrous
of my
never
own
strengthhaul

ladder.

the

up
that he

him

so

was

I could

him

hidden.

burthen

Pirate.

I had

therefore

and

gear,

give that plan up.

before the
to put him
Then, thought I, if I was
of
sort
fire,he might presentlythaw into some
suppleness,and so prove not harder than the other

to

to

get

liked

deck.

on

more

ado

dragged

him

room

and

laid him

close

in

I then

deck

went

the

to

fellow

when

I first looked

that

was

viewed

the

though
ascend,

unburdened,

able

to

I must
astern

down

into

slopes, broken

was

either
of

the

ship, or

the hollow

the

where
the

but

the

vessel
when

rocks, which
hard

found

perfectlycertain
let them

cook-

roar.

to

man

her

upon

had

fire

sentinelled

I should

I,

enough

to

be

never

the top of the cliffs,

fall into the great split

transport the bodies

leave

and

my
had

the

easily enough,

first

being slippery,
got

without

furnace, throwing

the

deck, and

on

huge

be

laboriouslyinto

little pileof coal to make

idea, and

the

lower

in which

to

them
the

over

schooner

the

side

lay to

their tomb.

paced about,

not

greatlynoticingthe

cold

in

An

little valley,and

the

scheming to convey
was
passionatelyin
them

away

arms,

and

Occurrence.

Extraordinary

but
;

relishingthe
the
earnest

to

scheme

bodies

no

brisk

"

1.V

"

I had
I could

for

sea,

wishing the

would,

exercise,

the

to

purpose.

as

in

139

not

four

but

T
or

my

make

still blowIt was

ing
they were.
a fresh
bright gale from the south ; the sea,
as
might be known
by the noise of it,beat very
the
cliffs
of ice ; and the extremity
heavilyagainst
it opened to the ocean
of the hollow, where
but
without
showing it,was again and again veiled by
them

stronger

vast

cloud

of

the

spray,

ringinglike volleysof

hear

it and
rocks
to

than

drove

it with

past the brow

myself

there

of which

shot

be

smote

force

against the
slope. I thought

of the north

should

the wind

as

incredible

I could

in this wind

power

"''Mir

'

'

'

"

to

".
,

'"

quicken the slidingof

this island

northwards.

it

by something, however
warmer
regions,and no
even,

but

help

must

pieces. "Oh,"

mighty a berg as
Every day should steal
to
inconsiderable,nearer
gale, nay, no gentle swell

even

to

so

crack

and

cried I, ''for the

loos'^n

power

to

'
"

''"",

it into

rupture
.

schooner

might

slipinto

the

running north before such a

towards
a
more
gale as this,steadilybearing me
I
temperate cUme, and into the road of ships !
clenched
with a wild yearning in my
hands
my
I ever
Should
heart.
behold
country again ?
my
should
I ever
The white and
?
meet
a living
man
frozen
reply; and I heard
steeps glared a bald
of the
in the
shrill noises
nothing but menace
wind and the deep and thunderous
roaring of the
sea

Think

the

.""

"

this bed, that

i "'.

"

"

of her

"

ocean.

"""

"!!)*""

1m

An

rn-

himself.

Fiend
and

my

Occurrence.

Extraordinary
1 could

consternation

conceive of any

scarce

was

so

141

credit my
senses,
great that I cannot

having laboured under

faintlyejaculated Good
greater
several times,and could hardly prevent
God 1
You see, it
my legsfrom runningaway with me.
man

ever

fright. I

'

certain he must
of his own
have moved
accord
his back^. I was
preparedfor the fire
to thaw him into limberness,and had I found him
I should not
been
somewhat
have
straightened

was

to

get upon

surprised.But
stretch him

all?
than

was

no

to his full lengthand

power

in

turn

him

fire to
over

on

What

his back.
this

there

hand had done

or
living
ghostljr
walk this schooner
after
thing? Did spirits
of something more
Had I missed
terrible
of de?d
in searchingth
men
any number

vessel ?
I had made

itslight
a great fire and
was
strong,
also the lightof the lanthorn ; but
there was
the furnace flames played very lively,
completely
overmasteringthe steady illumination of the

and

candle, and the man's

moving shadows,
seemed

to

steal

and
out

figurewas

all

a-

twitch with

hundred
fantastic shades
of the side and
bulkheads

Then,
disappear upon my terrified gaze.
thought I,suppose after allthat the man should be
in him set flowingby the heat ?
alive,the vitality
simile of the current
I minded myselfof my own
checked
by frost,yet retainingunimpaired the
of motion ; and
getting my agitation
principle
small control,I approached the body
under some
on
tiptoeand held the lanthorn to its face.
of sixtyyears of age ; his
looked a man
He

and

,)".-"

beard

was

closed

his
lay upon
very long, and
of smoke.
cloud
His
a
eyes were
brows
shaggy, and the dark scar of

the

sword-wound

corner

His

nose

Pirate.

and

grey

like

breast

Frozen

The

142

ran

his forehead

across

of the left eye to the top of the

was
long and hooked, but the

from

the

rightbrow.
in

repose

his

backed
by the vague character
countenance,
I inspected him, left his face
of the lightin which
almost
to

expressionless.

put my

if indeed
have

ear

noise

permitted me

I drew

to

from

back

was

too

to

mark

his mouth

to

the

watched

of

alarmed

much

if he breathed,

the

burning fire would

distinguishhis respiration.

him,

and

put

dovv^n the

Ian-

him.

Thought I,it will not do

I
to believe there is anything supernatural here.
there is naught livingin this ship,and
can
swear
I to suppose,
am
assuming she is haunted, that a
ghost, which I have always read and heard of as
has in its shadowy being such quality
an
essence,
would
enable
it to turn
of muscle
that heavy
as
his back ?
from his side on
to
No, no,
man
over
it, either he is alive
thought I ! depend upon
and
to
himself, or else in
presentlycome
may
wonderful
the fire in thawing him
has
some
way
him to
so
wrought in his frozen fibres as to cause
thorn

and

turn.

Presentlyhis

left

leg,that

the furnace, stretched

length,and
weak

and

was

bent
slightly

itself out

to

wards
to-

its full

caught a faint sound, as of a

heaven,
melancholy sigh. Gracious
my

ear

thought I, he is alive ! and with less of terror

that I saw
there was
than of profound awe,
now
nothing of a ghostly or preternaturalcharacter in

^M

An

Occurrence.

Kxtraordinary

this

business,I approached and bent

stillshut, and I could not
His eyes were
he breathed

there was
not
;
in
his
breast
nor
respiration
was

now

soft,about

143

him.

over

hear that

the faintest motion

stir in the

his mouth.

of

hair,that

Yet, so far

as

the

to
a
judge, there was
light would suffer me
complexion in his face such as could only come
with flowingblood,however
languidits circulation,
and puttingthis and the sigh and the movement
I felt convinced
of the leg together,
that the man
alive,and forthwith fell to work, very full of
was
be sure, to help nature
and
to
amazement
awe
that was
strugglingin him.
first
to heat
some
My
brandy, and
step was
I
his
whilst this was
and
coat
doing pulled open
freed his neck, fetchmg a coat from the cabin to
I next
removed
a
as
serve
pillowfor his head.
laid bare his feet (which were
and
his boots
in no less than four pairsof thick woollen
encased
to the
stockings,so that I thought when I came
third pairI should find his legsmade of stockings),
and after bathing his feet in hot water, of which
them
with hot
there was
kettleful,I rubbed
a
I then dealt
brandy as hard as I could chafe.
in the like manner,
with his hands
having once
with
who told me
been shipmate
he had
a seaman
sailor
seen
a
brought to by severe
rubbing of

his extremities

supposed

to

this exercise

after he had
be

frozen

tillI could

to

been

carried

death, and

rub

no

below

continued

longer.

Next

his

of
lipsand, findinghe wanted some
his front teeth, I very easilypoured a dram
of
1
mouth.
Though
brandy into his
preserved my

opened

",

"-^

;"i*-.
:'{*"":

all

astonishment

Pirate.

Frozen

The

144

discovered
while, I soon
enthusiasm, with a most

this

myself working with

passionatelongingindeed
only because it pleased me
an

instrument

under

to

think

to

of

God

speak, out of his grave,

yearned for a companion, some
solitude
to
lighten the hideous
in planningour
and to assist me
I built

for he
manner

up

but

likewise

being
being,
I

address,

of my
condition
deliverance.
much

trouble,

in such
a
very heavy, disposed him
befoiis it that the heat was
reflected all

was

the front of him

over

not

because
to

one

with

great fire,and

human

callinga

to

so

the man,
of my

recover

from

continued

his head
chafe

to

his feet.

his

extren.'ties,
only
findingthat
his throat, I poured
the brandy had stolen down
dram
in and
then another, tillI think he
another
had swallowed
a
pint. This went on for an hour,
time he never
exhibited
the least
during which
signs of life ; but en a sudden he sighed deep, a
tremor
ran
through him, he sighed again and
raised
his right hand, which
fell to the deck
partly
with a blow ; his lipstwitched, and
small cona
vulsion
of his face compeUed the features into the
similitude of a grin that instantly
faded ; then he
fetched
succession
of sighs and opened his eyes
a
to

remittingthis work

full upon
I was
observed

me.
"(

enough with
lookingat me

warm

him

cold, and
emotion
was

no

lay as

rest, and

to

wet

in

felt the
the

speculationin
coldlyupon me

my

I turned

dew

palms

of

of my

his stare
as

work, but when

those

an

of

of

like
death-

intolerable

hands.

at

There

first ; his
a

fish

eyes
but as

An

Extraordinary

life quickenedin him

slightlyknitted

he

rolled
over

as

so

Occurrence.
his

his

awoke ;
understanding
brows, and very slowly

his gaze
off me
the
to
much
of the cook-room

him.

He

then

back

with

145

started

if

as

slight groan

furnace
as

and

so

before

was

sit up, but

looked
at

to

and

"J..

Vi

ip\

u.'t

fell
\"-'-G^

me

again.
"

is this ?

What

hollow

"

said

he in

French, in

very

r t--:)tl^
"""'"'"
'.;"'

feeble voice.

enough of his language to enable me

he spoke in French, but that was
all. I
to know
of that tongue.
could not speak a syllable
You'll be feelingbetter presently
must
; you
in a minute,
not expect your
strength to come
said I, taking my
chance
of his understanding
that
he
and
a
might not think me
speaking
me,
I
I
for
doubt
white
not
was
as
as
one
ghost,
;
the
be
to
to
mere
a
since,
talking
plain,
figure
consider
that I had
dead
to
as
as
sheerly
got
anybody in a graveyard was alarmingenough, and
the sound
of my
then again there was
own
voice,
I had
exerted
in
which
for
not
speech
ages, as it
I knew

"

'*

seemed

to

he understood

his head,
and

me,

which

by

said very
**

This is

"

this I

it, he
clothes
him

I
i,

-k.

I ceived
perin
faintly

English,but with a true French accent,

hard bed, sir."
I'llspeedilymend
that," said I,and
fetched

^''^'^:}-Wk
m

me.

nodded
faintly

He

1: ',
fij- 1:\.

from

mattress

beside

cabin

the

rugs

to

him

cover

high pillow,and

as

he

then

on

;
to

brought

with, and

lay^close

KrV

once

mine

next

dragged him

and

him,
placed
weakly assisting. I
very
and

at

made
to

the
y\M
""'-."4

Frozen

The

146

could

he

furnace

Pirate.

have

not

been

had

snugger

he

bed.
up in his own
excited ; my
former
I was
terrors
very much
continued
had vanished, but
awe
great, for I
my
felt as if I had wrought a miracle, and I trembled
had

as

wife

tuck

to

would

man

creation.

own

he had

been
had

he

sure

him

who

yet to be learnt
in this condition ; but I was
It

formed

I had

as

there

followed
to

no

was

speak

about

me

more

perhaps

horror

with

pint of

his

he could

ice into the kettle,and

long
perfectly
people,

of the schooner's

one

when

in

have

been

notion

of

here
that

astonishment
me

eyes
not.

nor

but

man
me

but

fright.
did not

I put

the water

for

held

century

of his

how

was

guessed her to
upwards of fiftyyears, the
having lain torpid for half
under
a
perpetual spell of
and

prodigy

some

surveys

He

oifer

lunip of

boiled made
which

I held
steaming brandy punch,
to his lipsin a pannikin whilst I supported his back
with my
knee ; he supped it slowlyand
painfully
but with unmistakable
relish,and fetched
a
sigh
he lay back.
of contentment
But
he would
as
need something more
sustainingthan brandy and
I guessed his stomach, after so
and
as
water;
prodigious a fast,would be too weak to support
sugh solids as beef or pork or bacon, I mused
a
of the
little,
turning over in my mind the contents
larder (as I call it),all which
time
he eyed me
with
bewilderment
growing in his face; and I
I
then
could
do
better
not
than
thought
him a broth of oatmeal, wine, bruised
manufacture
biscuit,and a piece of tongue minced very small.
This did not take me
long in doing,the tongue

him

nn;
a

it

si

Pirate's

The

being

knife,and
When

there

the

was

he

I,

'*

sleep
and

his head

turned

glad

been

have

if you
;'*with
can
in a few minutes

asleep, breathing regularly

sound

was

before

the broth
"r

.".,""","".

"'""""

""

"-..'i'.'n

and

deeply.
me

CHAPTER

XV.

but
pirate's

THE

He
offer

It

time

now

was

think

to

story.

of

myself.

The

watch
*

^1 "'^
"

to

be

after

preparingI went

was

hatches
found

hour

the

showed
supper

cold

the

keep

to

six.

Whilst

deck

on

to

close

my
the

of

out

the

ship,

and

weather
changed, the wind
having
it was
directly into the west, whence
blowing with a good deal of violence upon the ice,
the peaks and among
the rocks with
ringing over
noise
in
its
a
crying,as though
singularclanking
of bells
it brought with it the echo of thousands
It also
pealingin some
great citybehind the sea
the

the

up

edge

the gorge that

of the cliff in a

this blast
of

the

The
true

I
came

was

the

the

our

noisy fierce

with

hollow

to

hooting,and

freelycharged with
which
boiled
along

overcast
sky was
colour
Cape Horn

to

from

very

breakers

closed

went

the
the

flyingclouds

spray
island.
of the

and- appearance.
fore-scuttle, but on
stepping aft

two

bodies,

'

p."J'}
yh-

shifted

swept

"

Now, sir,'*says

which

as

when

more.
"

"",!".;'"""" .'.'""

but the wine.

kneeled

if he would

as

for the

enough

and
greedily,

ate

looked

gone

for

was

He

147

melt

nothing to
ready I

was

broth

fed him.

and

soft

and

tJie furnace

near

Story.

the

sight QJ[ which

I,
",

The

Pirate*s

heap indeed, with

the lace and

1,

him

"

of

him.

Story.

the colours

buttons

and

of the coats

149

fineryof
piledupon

the

I had

considerations
startling
I
asked
possible,
myself,that
lain in his frozen stupor for fifty
he could have
been
he had
But why not ? for suppose
years ?
this ice but a year only,nay, six months
on
an
absurdityin the face of the manifest age of the
of
ship and her furniture ^would not six months
lifelessness followed
be
resurrection
as
by a
marvellous
Had
he the same
as
fiftyyears ?
fell into

and

Was

some

it

""

"":
"

fi

,'" ""^ V.

""

"

"

aspect

when

he has

now

life

the

having

remain

of the

swoon

ice seized

him

as

of
yes, for the current
his
would
frozen,
appearance

I answered

been

it was.

as

"'

lighted my pipe and sat smoking, thinking

presentlyawake ; but his slumber was
him
the stillness I had
thawed
out
as
as
deep
of had been, and he lay so motionless
that,but
have
I
his
and
should
for
harsh breathing,
snoring
believed him lapsed into his former state.
Nature
At eighto'clock the fire was
very low.
with
this
her
out
was
own
working
Frenchman,
way
he was,
let him sleepwhere
and I determined
to
of
and take my chance
the night. At all events
he could not alarm me
for if I heard
by stirring,

1.

he

r'.W

would

I should

movement
to

the

see

I took

my

last

lanthorn

know

glearhof
and

went

ing
So, loiter-

it was.

what

":^'-H-l'f

"

""

"v'T"

'"-

the fire extinguished,

bed, but

to

to

not

sleep.
The

full

life out

of

meaning of
a

condition

the

awakening

man

into which

he

had

into
been

';*;

""1.

plunged,for

all I

knew, before

was

t .('- :I

born, came

f:

"
"

"

*,"

'"".'"'i-^ -I

"

""..*

me

upon

Pirate.

Frozen

The

I50

in
violently

very

the

There

darkness.

being nothing to divert my thoughts,1 gave my

mind
wholly to it, and I tell you I found it an
Indeed, I
amazing terrifyingthing to happen.
do

"

thinking to myself,
of other

know

this recovery
of nature," that I
that

stronglydid
operatingin

the

within the bounds

strictly
not
alone, so
might feel I was
thoughts of a satanic influence

this business

if I was
say, as
plan of the devil.

gale made

lay open
I might
indeed

have

an

crowd

rock

that is

"

out

some

n"r

great

roaring.The

and

gorge,

supposed myself at

incessant

thunder

the deck.
upon
I cannot
tell the
;

ship'sstern

for her

but

steadiness
There

sea.

about

accompanied by the shock

flung thirtyfeet high, and
stones

me

upon

involuntarily
working
a

the

to

assured

be

to

"

was

to

The

kind

of the

cases

adventure

an

of, and I well recollect

would
give my left hand to

heard

before

ever

was

the like of such

that

know

not

of

of

mass

spray
sacks
of

fallinglike

Once

often

ears

my

was

I felt

the

hour, but it was

vessel

long past
I guessed

midnight,and by the noise of the wind

it was
was
blowing a whole gale. The movement
extraordinary whether
sideways or downwards
I could
not
as
distinguish
; but, seasoned
my
motion
the
of ships,this movestomach
to
was
ment
"

set

acting

filled
for it

me

was

nausea

me

upon

convulsion
It took

up

of

off my
with
very

as

an

lasted

have

since

earthquake
mind

that

from

different
evident

the

sort

the

does

learned
upon

was

the

people.

Frenchman,

of alarm

gale

while,

some

and

altogether,
making the

".''?.

Pirate's

The
ice break
mind

our

But what

and, thought I
be

done

151

myself,if we

to

shall be

we

eye

*3Tory.

crushed

and

do

not

buried.

To

quitt'le ship for

that piercingflyinggale,charged with sleet and
hail and
foam, Wc.s
merely to languish for a
little and
then miserablyexpire of frost.
No,
let it find
thought I, if the end is to come
down
me
here; and with that I snugged me
to

was

J,

k".'

amid

the

coats

obstinately
holdingmy
asleep.
It

was

late

lanthorn, but

cloaks

and

eyes
I

when

in

cot, and,

my

fell
closed,ultimately
I

awoke.

lighted the

""")""

enteringthe passage that

led to the cabin I observed
by my own
posture
schooner
had not
that
the
only heeled more
but
further
down
to larboard,
was
by the stern
of
several
feet.
the
to
extent
Indeed, the angle
inclination was
of
considerable
now
enough
shoulder
the
to
(in
bring my
passage) close
I stood
when
the
starboard
side
erect.
against
stillin the air,and
The
noise of the gale was
the
of the sea v/as
booming and boiling
uncommonly
1 walked
loud.
the
to
cook-room, and,
straight
the
lanthorn
the
to
Frenchman, perceived
putting
stillin a heavy sleep,
and that he had
that he was
in the attitude in
lain through the nightprecisely
"

**

which

I had

left him.

His

face

was

so

than

"I,

muffled

long hawk's- bill nose was

discernible.
It was
cold,and I made
freezingly
stillcoal enough
the fire. There was
haste to light
in the corner
to last for the day, and before long
I went
the furnace was
to work
blazingcheerfully.
make
broth and fry some
some
to
ham, and melt
that littlemore

.i.^;:

upon

his

"1^1

v..

:;^,,;,""";,*:.:
"/

"^

"

'"'

"'""'"":'"

""'.,f4:.,l!;

The

'52

little block

ruby-coloured
occupied, turning my head

whilst thus
look

to

at

started

Tirate.

Frozen
the

of

Frenchman,

the

found

at me.
up, staringintently
threw
sudden
confrontment

This

me

wine
a

and

moment

him

into

half

such

his
speak. He moved
head from 'sideto side, taking a view of the scene,
with an expressionof the most
inimitable astonishment
He
then
painted upon his countenance.
blow
brought the flat of his hand with a dramatic
which
showed
black
to his forehead, the scar
on
ink to the fire-glow,
and sat erect.
as

confusion

I could

that

"Where

not

have

been?"

he

in

exclaimed

French.

Sir,"said I,speaking with the

**

"I

do

You

English.
address
"

understand

not

English!

his head

on

incredible
here?

"

You

tongue.

my

one

are

Will

you

"

he exclaimed

air of

in

English, droppinj;^
peering at me with an

side, and

**

amazement.

of

not

Here

..."

see

speak

in it ?

me

your

difficulty,
language. I am
utmost

he

continuing to
shaggy eyebrows

company?
struggled with
our

stare
as

How

at

if I

me

from

was

some

came

you
Let

me

tion,
recollecunder

his

frightful

vision.
"lam
"

and

found

have

been

your

schooner."

**Ha!"

vehemence,
remember.
so

!"

shipwrecked

He

cast

away

British
upon

mariner," said I,
I
this ice,where

prodigious
interrupted with
frozer.
I
are
certainly
; we
up
That
sleep should serve
memory
my
but
if
made
to
sat
rise,
as
again.
he

**

"

The
"

If

is

cold

The

Give

me

numbing

Story.

it would

153

weaken

lion.

drink,sir."

hot

I filled a

Pirate*s

the

pannikinwith
thirstily.

wine, which

melted

he swallowed
"

!"

More

Again

"

cried he.

I filled the
!"

to

seem

life."

want

pannikin.

he
he, fetching ^ sigh as
sir.
returned the vessel ; "you are very obliging,
If you have food there, we
will eat together."
''

Good

'W

said

give the substance of his speech,but not his

that I should
is it necessary
deliveryof it,nor
words he
French
with
the
interpolate
my rendering
I

^'y'-l''.;!'

used.

being boiled, I gave him a good

and tongue,
bowl of it along with a plateof bacon
biscuit and
of
hot
some
a
brandy and
pannikin
he
I
all
his
which
knees
as
things put upon
water,
it
the
and
he
to
sat up on
fell,making amattress,
meal.

rare
a

all the while

Yet

bewitched,

man

and

of blow

well

he

"What

is

it,sir?

had

not

in order

deck

with

could
"

yy
.

"

-1,

I ""',
'

'

""

'

-.'.1
't;.

round

is the

for his

said he

presently.

cook-room.

lyinghere

am

How

"

adding that if it
to
posture, which obligedme

exactlyhov;

been

thaw

he acted

ate

wrong,"

This

it happen that I

I told him

he

like

,.rv

he

and

there.
memory
"
There is something
does

'

might, staringat me
then
him, and
strike his brow, as if by that
would
quicken the activityof
as

looking round
droppinghis knife to

kind

it-

broth

The

it was,

be on
now
carry him, he would
others,awaiting the best funeral I

to

the

give him.

Who

are

the others ?

"

asked

he.

""^iifiiJI

The

154

Frozen

Pirate.

four in all,
There
were
not," said I.
frozen
death
the
to
on
counting yourself; one sits
from
rocks.
I met
him first,
and
took this watch
his pocket that I might tell the time."
((

"

I know

He

took

in his hands, and

watch

the

bring thelanthorn

to

*'

!"

Ha

cried

this

this

"

he,

he

was

Mendoza's

took

it for the sake

lies dead
letter upon
it. He
missed
him, but did not know

We

me

close.

I remember

captain's.

asked

of

rocks

the

on

the

"

where

had

he

gone."
Then, raisinghis hand and impulsivelystarting
he cried,whilst he tapped his
upo'^ the mattress,
I have
It has
back !
it !
forenead,
come
"

Guiseppe
had

fallen blind with

it.

was

he

and

Trentanove

We

felt myself

and

arms,

I looked

up, and
his
with

table

saw

rise.

languidto

the drowsiness

feeble

I watched
over

me

no

horror

and

in

speak
him awhile, and
again,and my
to

he

sudden

put

too

"

my

the
his
too

then
head

more."

extended

and
had

been

more

thimbleful

the

of wine.

By the holy cross," cried he,

wonderful, though. How long have

*'

'*

sir ?
**

"

Three

days."

((

me.

pannikin for
liquor. I filled it with two-thirds of brandy
he supped it down
the rest water, and
if it
as

He

shuddered, and

On

if that

"

face into
my
dying. His cry aroused
him
leaning back from
had

was

stole

of the ice

other.

fixed

I remember

and

each

eyes

countenance.

sank,

out.

in the cabin

were

glare

le

confronted

screamed

but this is very

you been here,

("

Pirate's

The
**

Story.

^55

Three

days ! and I have been in a stupor all

?
that time
never
moving, never
breathing
will have been
in a stupor longer than
You
that,I expect,"said I.
"

"

''

"

What

"

is this month

he cried.

"Julv," I

replied.
July!" he muttered.
he began to count

"July
"

"

Let

me

see

fell in

"

we

with

and

"Impossible!
his fingers
"

locked

got

in

of it ; I recollect

six months

the
it,sir ; and suppose
which
the
at
then,
m^onth

Six months

more.

ice

the

had

We

November.
no

on

"

of

stupor
upon
stops would be April. Yet you call
my memory
this July; that is to say, /our months
of oblivion;
came

me

'iM

1"
impossible
"

What

"

The

year ?

"

this

Good

shocked
"

as

me

Do
"

It is

him

to

am

at

without

me

leap

up

horror

and

roused

me

feet with

my

"

one," I cried,and

hundred

consternation

the year ?
and

step,fullyexpecting

have

from

hundred

answering.
and

exhibit

and

"

anticipated,
though it
r
frightfulevelation.

this is ?

year

persuadedwould
man

and

new

this I recoiled
of

any

deep with

voice

!,jumping to

I had

eighteenhundred

I said

as

cried

what

know

you
He looked

year but seventeen

statement

in

questionraised in him

!"

God

at

S'lM-

he exclaimed

Why, man, what

f'
fifty-three
terror

fell in with

you

said I.

the wonder

"

in which

the year

was
"

the ice ?

been
slumber

strations
demon;

for

this

my posture had
and told me
I

had been in that condition for eight-and-forty

years.

WM

Y\

The

striking. The
dark
and

scar

sullen look
were

to

half lost

Pirate's

Story.

157

upon his forehead gave

his brows;
his eyes were
in the

very

k',

small

in which

hollows

dusky

'

"

k\

I observed
an
indescribably
set, and
they were
in
them, something of
cunning expression
leering,
the large quantityof liquor
I attributed
which
to
swallowed.
This
contrasted
he had
oddly with
the respectableaspect he took from his baldness
of his poll,for,as I
that is,from the nakedness
have before said, his hair fell long and
plentifully,
the ears, so
in a ring a little above
that you would
late period of his life he
have supposed at some
had been scalped.
I know
how it was, bu* I felt no joy in this
not
For some
man's
companion, for some
company.
to speak with, I had
one
yearned again and again
with heart-breakingpassion ; and
a
now
living
!
sensible
of
sat before me,
no
man
was
ness.
gladyet
him
In truth, I was
overawed
he
by
;
Here
frigntenedme as one risen from the dead.
"

was

those

me,

black
and

had

that

creature

entered,

which

portalsfrom
had

as

it seemed
no

man

'",;"

to
ever

back,

through my
fiftyyears of the
upon
I might that it was
Reason
all perfectly
as
grave.
that
there was
in nature,
nothing necromantic
diabolic in it,that it could
have
not
or
happened
had it not
been
much
natural, my spirits
were
as
oppressed and confounded
by his sittingthere
alive,talking,and watching me, as if,being truly
returns,

come

after hard
instrumentality,

dead, life had

had

risen and

I have

PO

entered

him

on

sudden, and

he

mind

in

walked.

doubt

the disorder

my

was

Ai

Frozen

The

'58

Pirate.

helped to persuade him that I had not the full

his eye over
He ran
possessionof my senses.
my
round
the
and
said, I
cook-room,
figureand then
sir.'*
learn
am
impatientto
your story,
said
I, my story is summed
Why, sir,"
up in
I
that
he might
what
have already told you." But
loss
be
for to
he had
be at a
not
sure
only very
1
intellects
related
his
newly collected
my
drew
adventures
the
at
to
nearer
large. He
furnace whilst I talked, bringing his covering of
clothes
along with him, and held out his great
hands
to toast
at the
fire,all the time observing
"

"

"

"

"

with

me

scarce

wink

of the

of my

had

tale,I told him

dragged his companion

was

to

end

*'

Ha

how
on

the

at

only last night I

deck, and

how

he

for his posture.

cried he,
might have caused
you
close
to
mortify by laying me

have
"

followed

Arrived

eye.

but

"

flesh

to

fire.

It would

have

been

better

to

rub

me

my

the
with

snow."
He

poked up one foot after the other to count

his toes, fearing some
had
with his
come
away
stockings,and then said, Well, and how
long
should I have slept had you not
Another
?
come
week
died.
! By St. Paul, I might have
Have
stockings,sir ?
you my
I gave
them
to
him, and he pulled them
over
his legs and then drew
his
and
boots
stood
on
up,
off
and
him
the
he
coats
as
tumbling
wraps
"

"

rose.
*'

But
would

stand," says

can

in

he.

attempting to take

have

fallen had

I not

*'

That

is

good.*'

a
step he reeled
grasped his arm.

and

mm

Pirate's

The

if to himself.

?s

that

with

"

lie a littlelonger,"
and

I must

,"-l.'", x*.

'

'

then

and

lay along the

heavilyand pointedto

breathed

He

mattress.

**

kneeled

he

159

! he muttered
friend,patience

Patience,my

"

Story.

pannikin. I asked him whether he would

have w'me or brandy ; he answered, Wine," so I
melted a draught,which
dose, I thought,on top
of what he had already
taken,would send him to
and
sleep; but instead it quickened his spirits,
the

"

lack of lifein his voice he said," What

is
"
the condition of the vessel ?
stillhigh and dry,addI told him that she was
ing
with

no

sort of change had

duringthe nightsome
happened which I should presently
go on deck to

that

^-1

?(

"i"!;?

"

remark.

Think

Vi.

"

you,"says he, that there is any chance

of her ever
beingliberated ?
I answ^ered, Yes, but not yet ; that is,if the
ice in breakingdoesn't destroyher. The
summer
and we
has yet to come,
season
are
progressing
"

"

"

north

but

that you

now

questionfor

to

us

for the ice to

are

with

whether
settle,

release the

it will be

me

are

we

schooner

or

to

wait

endeavour
.'";-

to

effect
A

our

escape

curious

in his eyes
silence for

gleam
he

as

by
of

cunning satisfaction

looked

moments,

some

at

me

lost in

Pray," said 1, breakingin

shipis this ?

he

then

'i'';5-'
'I

*'' '":-:,

upon

":?'..i:P'if':H

him, **what

started, deliberated an
instant,and
The
Boca del Dragon^ ^
"

So in Mr.

Rodney's MS.

'"If*

kept

'"':.'"'!
.v...-;'.
-'^fll
I fit
"'"":]'
'"

'Ml.

""""

"

"

shone

thought.

"

He

*-"

'

other means."

'""J/

swered,
an-

"

;i,|4il

The

i6o

"

"

Pirais.

"

Spaniard ?

He
"

Frozen

nodded.

She
How

pirate?"

was

do

know

you

I.

that

"

cried with

he

fierceness.

sudden

"Sir," said
the

used

said

I,

*'

for

sea

difference

between

lanthorrt.

But

am

British

some

and

years,

know

and

She

matters

has
the
(i

handspike

what

sailor who

is

poop-

pirateno

"

longer.

let his

He

round

him

persuade
he

scene
"

Tut
"

the

I met

said I.

"

do

who

one

cried

he

presently,addressing
the

matters

truth, as

you

gold

in their
"

"

Unless

"

Unless,"
our

think

Yes,

of

this

kind,"

fobs

and

hand-

pockets."

said he.

answered,
them

that

resentment
**

The

was

vessel

repliedthat
impossibleto be
I

say

"

their

flag is

as

black

prospects."

You

of it.

self,
him-

Dragon is a pirate. You have

her, and
rummaged
guessed her
by what you found ?"
with enough to excite my
suspicion,"
of such
The
craft as
a
ship'scompany
in
clothed
lace and
not
usually go
**

**

yet

in.

watches
cloaks, and
carry
breast, in their
tapping my

as

gazed

cannot

of the realities of the

rich

fuls of

and

face

del

character

this

"

my

of

understanding

what

course

"

the air

moves

Boca

of

with

his

fall from

eyes

she
sure

black

"

he, the look of

cried

darkening his
is

sound,

appeared

is not
so,

face

dying out

she ?

but

"

it would

until she floated.

b6

The
^'

The

Story.

Pirate's

i6i

?"'

stores

"

They are plentiful."

have
the
They should be ! he cried ;
we
and
of
in
stores
carracks
two
a galleon and
liquor
from
what
laid
in
for
hold, apart
our
we
originally
the cruise.
will
been
have
Everything
kept sweet
by the cold.
All the stores
shall
sound," said I ;
seem
we
if we
starve
not
be imprisoned
to
were
no, not
"

**

""""-".t /"

"^..

"

'*

"

**

"

for

here

three

prospects
fixed
have
"

are

the

But
years.
for
here
black,

ice in

crush

parting may

same

our

ship high
her, and

and
we
\:'\'^

boat."

no

May,

!"
**

in

not

"4'
"":".:;

may

vehemence.
may

all the
is the

he

You

cried
have

with
and

may

also have

you

Let

language.

your

Frenchman's

feel

me

my

of
strength improving ; we shall then find means
these
black
throwing a light upon
prospects of
yours."
He smiled, or rather grinned, his fangs making
fitter for the
mirthless
the latter term
grimace
*'

*'

"

fl

made.

he

May I ask your

Jules Tassard,
in command

third

good as
Mendoza,
Prado
know

;
no

Mate

at

of

we

social

the

good as
pirates are
distinctions

for the convenience

of

said I.

service," said
your
Boca
del Dragon^
the

Trentanove,

and

for

name?"

he,
but

and

good as Captain
boy Fernando
republicans,sir, we

cabin

save

those

working ship.

order

we

let

Now

had
disaster.
We
the story of our
South
of the Spanish Main
into the

me

tell you

come

out

Seas,

partlyto

escape

some

British and

French

cruisers

I.-

Frozen

The

l62
which

after

were

iU-luck

partly because
could

find

not

others

and

us

Pirate.

in

kind, and

our

against

was

account

our

of

those

and

us,

we

We

waters.
"

sailed in December

two

years
"

'*

ago
i Interrupted.

?
Making the year
He
started,and then grinned aga.in.
'*

Ah,

be

to

and

hundred

let

way,

What

Sea

Is

no

hundred

not

or

one

Fill

eternity?
months

ships.

One

the

entered

and

We

her
helm

her

maxim

South

Sea

and

Sea

what

had

an

sea,

number

and

Holland.

and

of

plundered

Ocean,

New

by

had

had
This
silver

some

wanted, and let her go

hatches, her yards square,
we

her

witnesses

the

took

privateerthat

people under
amidships, and

is, No

and

pannikin, my friend.
cruised
some
proceed: we

in the Southern

took

fifty-one.
the
wrecked
shipboat, with
no
hope

fiftyyears to
day of an open

full of fine clothes

was

in her.
with

Indiaman

British

fellow

was

sailed for

that

me

To
you.
in the South

thank

in

apologetic

we

the devils of memory

silence at the bottom
of

the

eighteen
tale

satirical

in which

year

is
my

societybut

but

in

on

forty

keep

to

seventeen

matters

went

call the

me

South

the

he

this

*'

he,

cried

; but

one

countenance,'*
"

!"

sure

'

cabin
That

on

fire.

is the

Our

pirate's

gives us quarter unless it be to

philosophy. Who
But to continue:
did handsomely,
we
hang us?
but were
about it,and after careening
a long time
and
'twixt San
Carlos
and
filling
up with water
Chiloe we
Like your brig,
set sail for the Antilles.
we

were

Gale

blown

after

south.

gale

The

thundered

weather
down

was

upon

ferocious.
us,

forcing

Pirate*s

The

Story.

163

flybefore it. We lost all reckoning of our

and
sky were
position
; for days, for weeks, sea
to

us

enveloped in clouds of
drove
of

we

frozen

our

fit to
nationality
carried most
of

sun,

the

and

the

white

aboard

whirl
the

that

againstthe
to

the

of

the

would

Hood

of these

not

we

were

as

your
He

close

decks.

At all

and

prepared
nightwe were
her
bows
crushing
stupendoushills. The cabin

make

and

of the

men

litanies.

The

hands

to

xm^

Spaniards,who

seamen

Englishflag."
grinned, emptied
his

'b^r

Aves, with invocations

and

in temperate climes,and
red
as
chieflySpanishwith consciences

stretched

"'/r^h:
:';^''^',

striking

surge

our

of

out

of the vessel

but indifferent

are

past many
sudden
a
leap
thickness, often so
on

saints,promises,curses,

cold does

vast

swept

with Salves

resounded

us

these

regions;
curly hair of the
of the burning zone,
crouching like
crew,

recoil

day

feel the shock

againstone
to

mass

of the

moments

of

none

the

us

the

of

"vere

encounter

chained

We
Lascars, below.
icebergs,which would

the

We

cheek

chocolate
ice

in the heart of which

snow,

schooner.

r.n"i

'"'
."

the

pannikin,

the

fire

and
;i.:y

to

warm

them.
**

One

morning,
somewhat, we found
A

the

weather

ourselves

great chain floated ahead

into the
coast

south.
we

durst

The
not

gale
haul

having
surr

"unded

by ice.
extendingfar

of us,
blew
dead
the

cleared

on

schooner

to

this

to

the

*'"!""

m:.

lay in discovering
only chance
some
might find shelter. Such a
bay where we
in
bay it was
my good luck to spy, lyingdirectly
wind, and

our

'IJ'"r

,'

The

Story.

Pirate's

165

listen.
had
to
cowardly dogs refused
They
broached
a
aft,and
spirit-cask
passed the liquor
whilst
they hoisted the pinnace
along the decks
out

of

The

drink

the

hold

and

the

got

yet left them

wait to come

maddened,

too.

They

would

in the

run

the fools believed

to

"

she

pieces as
the

and

not

stood

officers'

whatever

the

cabins, and

money

down

the

to

ship would

for

might

stuff

"

ceased.

You

had

anxious

was

six

been

and

called

to

which

they
into

to

months

hear

join
the

ran

Lhem, and
We

lost

doubt

that

more.

the

on

then

to

us

round
the
pulled away
point of ice.
I have
of
little
them
and
then,
sight
they all perished shortlyafterwards."
He

tumble

about

time

tumbled

water,

fear

forecastle

the

they

loss of

pockets
the boats, they
provisioning
said. No, on
them, but we

over.

with

the treasure

at

routed

trinkets

without

boats

wild

entered

but

"

and

into their

boats

other

ice

when
"""

"

"

you ?
months.

the stupor fell upon

"
six
Ay, about
about

and

us

built

us

ice

The
I recollect

in.

it

gathered
three

was

""..
,

after

stranded

saw
we
that, going on deck,
days
with
ice.
drew
the bay (as I term
filled
We
it)
several
but none
satisfied us.
to
plans
up
escape,
which
had
board
treasure
on
Besides, sir,we
a
we

risked

had

to

Twas

go

our

on

natural.

forwards

and

were
get, and we
lives to save
imperillingour

We

to

had

amidships,

coming
returning. We

and

and
provisions

drink

Horn

in

necks

knew
were

for

what
also

of all

great
we
we

had

to

There

it.

of

coal
the

expect in

richly stocked

sorts.

,"',I

pared
pre-

faced

store

had

'S';*T-';',

were

with
but

'"'

"

The

66

Pirate.

Frozen

four of us, and we

had
dealt with what we
designed it should last us fiftyyears.
cold

frightful
; it
it. One
day

was

stand

to

about

five

the rocks

upon

did

months

not

hi n,

seek

and

the i"':
,

look

for

death

drink

before

deck

and

called

saw

to

We

his

the

the

blood

locked

up

would

get

sea.

He

weak

too

to

blind

time

hands

stupor

came

happened

in the

by

went

I had

leaning
made

at

no

him, and

at

what

cabin, the

live.

have

on

the rail.

reply.

found

him

told

you.

seated

mate

I went

me

upon

Tren-

put food

to

might

he

that

looked

and

Then

were

The

Joam Barros
he
him, but

approached
frozen.

half

were

there.

into

week

the

of

were

stone-blind,and

went

he

we

besides; I
and
full of caves
ice was
hollows,
could I
uid I could not find him, nor
of
cold being the hand
k ^j, the

they

itself up

tanove

and

him

view

others

The

"nd

went, brrl the

take

and

been

said

Mendoza

"

return.

had

we

"

But

in flesh and

not

was

if

as

at

the

to lead and
table, waiting for me
support him to
the
weak
he
could
cook-room, for he was
so
scarce

his

carry

seized

me,

and

weight.
I

sank

the
bench
upon
fall upon
head
my

down

opposite him, letting my

His

arms.

him

as

black, my

cry

startled

I have

said

head

sank

faintness

sudden

me

"

the

but

looked

cabin

again, and

up

then
remember

"

saw

turned
no

more."
He
all !
devil
back

paused and then cried in French, That is

They are dead
Jules Tassard lives ! The
is loyalto his own
! and
with
that he lay
and burst into laughter.
"

"

"

I
"

and
"

And

OF

HEAR

Great

this," said I, *'

Treasure.

167

in seventeen

was

hundred

"

?
fifty-three

Yes,"

he

hundred

"

answered

and

and

this

is

eighteen

wards,
eight-and-fortyyears afterhey ?" and he laughed out again. "I've
talked so
much/' said he, that, d'ye know, I
think another
will do me
coals
good. What
nap
have you found
in the ship ?
one

"

*'

"

I told him.

"Good,"
for

warm

And
and

he

cried;
time

some

to

saying,he

so

shut

**we
come,

pulled a

I HEAR

I LIGHTED

littlewhile.
the

t..." ^3

up

nose

pipe
There

it

ice for

hard

formed

was

and

far

so

was

upon

that

as

then

called)had
fiftyyears,
she

had

jUE.

pondering his story a

doubt
he had
given

no

certain

was

TREAL

sat

was

truth

Dragon (as she

XVI.
GREAT

OF

exact

As

went.

rug

ourselves

his eyes.

CHAPTER

me

keep
anyhow."

can

been

his

relation of it

that

the Boca

del

fixed in the

been
the

conclusion

blown

by

some

leagues further south than the point

the Laughing
to which
Mary had been driven ;
in
that this.
ice
which
she was
not
entangled was
in
then driftingnorthwards, but was
the grasp
of
it
that
trended
some
south-easterly;
polar current
of

hundreds

that in due
main

of

course

ice,where

it

was

carried

to

it lay compacted

or
by the
through stress of weather
particulartemperature, d great mass

the Antarctic
;

after which,
of a
agency
of it broke

The

68

started

and

away

bergs of
from

all

the

Pirate.

Frozen

that northward

on

take

magnitude

when

which

course

they are

ruptured

continent.

frozen

be
disputed, but it matters
theory may
befell me
is to relate what
not.
My business
; if
reader will not,
I do my share honestlythe candid
for not
I believe,quarrelwith
me
being able to
explaineverything as I go along.
The
Frenchman
snored, and I sat considering
him.
The
was
me
impression he had made
upon
he
suffered
had
be
not
sure
agreeable. To
heavily,and there was
something not displeasing
in the spirit
he
discovered
in tellingthe story
a
unable
to
communicate, as it owed
spiritI am
everything to French vivacitylargelyspiced with
and
sudden
turns
to
devilment, and
ejaculations
But a
beyond the capacity of my pen to imitate.
fierceness ran
through it too; it was
professional
if he had
licked his chops when
he talked of
as
dismissing the captured ship with her people

This

"

confined
been

below

good

as

brought with
qualitieshe
Hence

dead

as

cabin

her

and

for
into

him

fire.

He

had

nearly fifty
years, yet he
life exactly the
same

carried

had

on

him

with

hear

in

his

exit.

that

expression taken
from the Latin, Of the dead speak nothing unless
without
cession
despising it as an unworthy congood,^^
now

never

"

to

doubt

sentiment
my

mind

and
the
"

hundred

I have

persons

not

for

have

that, spite of

all the

imaginationof

I say

bad

the
who

horrors
man

least

which

not

least

deathbed
crowd

in his last
doubt

the

that

pentances
re-

upon

moments

of every
die, ninety-nine of them,

could
how

they

or

which

courses

feared

dead,

centuries

even

169
matter

no

they might
exhibit

would

graves,

their

the

and

originalnatures,

the

from

their

in

Treasure.

Great

raised

be

years

many
lain

have

OF

HEAR

same
exactly
pursue
loved
them
scorned
or

made

neglectedbefore, which

or

them

to
brought
die in
which
the gallows or
to
qualifiedthem
faces
with
brightening to the opening
peace
he
If Nero
did not
heavens.
again fire Rome
desire
be equal to
would
crimes
as
great, and
nothing better than the opportunity for them.
Caesar would
again be the tyrant, and the sword

of

or

Brutus

would

Richard

III. would

fulfil its mission.

more

once

in his

emerge

winding-sheet

humpbacked character in which he

had
warm
expired, the Queen of Scots return
and
Stuarts
the
to her
gallantries,
repeat those

with the

same

blunders

crimes

and

headsman

which

in

termmated

the

in banishment.

or

of
thoughts of to-day ; I was
I
another
sat smoking and
listening
temper whilst
of
Monsieur
Tassard.
the
Now
to
snoring
Jules
that I had a companion should
I be able to escape
from
He
had
this horrid situation ?
spoken of
these

But

of

chests

silver

There

run

to

make

to

such

be

me

my

which
were

be

oi" with

the

for

money

for life,and

ever

destiny of

the fancies

much

as

independent
back

;.";":.:;

? in the

the treasure

was

booty enough in the hold

fine gentleman of me
a
man,
noble
a
ending to an amazing

come

render

to
calling

Of

great

to

turn

where

"

It would

adventure

nie

my

might

ashore.

would

are

the

upon
man

which

can

hurried

as

enable
hardest

wed

him.

through

"": ^..

The

Frozen

coupled

with

I70

mind,

my

wonder

when

I cast

Frenchman.
should
crazy

After

feel
in

upon

because

he

of

matter

he should

terrible adventure

he

had

had

abroad

and

met

sleeping
that

supposed
it

was

who

man

slept three

and

of

the

him

that

he

not

until he
as

he
of the time
during which
passage
slept that he allowed himself to become

to

had
vinced.
con-

the schooner

lay and what

change had befallen the ice in the night, and
deck.
It was
went
on
blowing a whole gale of
'Inside the ship,with
wind
from
the north-west.
and
the hatches
protected moreover
by the
on,
sides of the hollow in which
she lay,it would
have
been
impossible to guess at the weight of the
gale, though all along I had
supposed it to
be
storming pretty fiercelyby the thunderous
in the cabin.
noise which
resounded
humming
B'i
I had
that so great a wind
notion
no
raged
till I gained the deck
the prodigious
and
heard
The
sky was
bellowing of it above the rocks.
no
one
flying
great cloud of slate,and there was
darkness
ment
or
yellow scud to give the least moveof life to it.
The
sea
was
swellingvery
divine
its tempestuous
and
I could
furiously,
to

see

how

ceivable
con-

days

the

I wished

me

after

evidences

hundred

lain lifeless for

nights without
stining; the assurances
people about him failed to persuade
had
slumbered
so
long, and it was
walked

and

awe

the

How

I knew

of

ridiculous

dates.

believe

eight-and-forty
years
a

visitations

my eyes
all it was

mortified

the

Pirate.

character

by

clouds

of

spray

which

sped

like

i^,:l

HEAR

OF

Great

Treasure.

[71

volumes

of steam
under the sullen dusky heavens
The schooner laywith
high over the mastheads.
fifteen degreesand her bows high
a listof about
cocked.
I looked over
that
the stern and saw
the ice had sunk there,and that there were
twenty

great rents and

yawningseams

noticed but one.

the starboard
on

;3i
'"'. ^'

I hac before

where

block of ice had fallen

side,and lay so close on the
quarter that I could have sprung on to it. No
other marked
observable,but there
changeswere
that neither
a hundred
me
were
so. nds to assure
the

the

nor

sea

vast

gale was whollywasting its

end tha*:if I
crystalterritory,
climb the slope and expose

strengthupon this
thought proper to
myselfto the wind, I

should behold a face of ice

different from what I had before gazed

somewhat
upon.

But the bitter cold held

in

me

dread,and there

All
need besides for me
to take a survey.
that concerned
me
layin the hollow in which the
frozen
schooner was
were
; but so far as the slopes

was

no

concerned

could see
nothing to render me
declivities were
gradual,and there

The
littlefear of even
a violent convulsion throwing
was
the ice upon
The
us.
danger laybelow, under
the keel ; if the ice split,
then down would
drop
the shipand stave herself,
if she escaped that
or
uneasy.

perilshe

be

must

so

leastfurther pressure

the
of the ice againsther sides

wedged

as

to

render

i'.1tth^
!W

destructive.
I
was

was

about

taken

deck.

No

by

to

go

the

dead

again,when rny
figureslying upon

below

two

bodies

ever

looked

more

eye

tht*

dead.
y-^m

Treasure.

Great

rich

ch.

OP

HEAR

hunting-fieldbefore they had

their pockets. What, then, was

lined
in the

if indeed

run,

stories

dozen
not

to

taken

speak

of

Anson

by
Boca

the
waters

del

sparklingdreams
of

stones,

New

the

Spain,

in

that

of

of

I recalled

Dragon

the

fishing
fancy with all

gold and silver

costly ecclesiastical
which
methought I

silver

in

crucifix

the

ra

ship

in

of

'""!:";'
"i'
"*..'""
t

in which

year

was

my

r"rv .""All

buccaneers,

Acapulco

little before

":""'

handsomely

the

famous

the treasure

there ?

doings

the

I feasted

and

it were

the

of

173

and

those
of

sorts

"

""*.'"

:"" s

precious

furniture
found
of

cabin,

of
hint

rings,

and the
sword-hilts,watches, buckles, snuff-boxes,
this
of
like.
Lord I thought I, that
island were
instead
earth
of ice, that
mother
good honest

might bury the pirate'sbooty if we could

the ship,and
make
a
princelymine of
mattock
for
the
should we
survive
grave, ready
we

save

it !

fetch

not

"""."."','
"

its
to

"

full
ro^echanically
stirringthe saucepan
I had
golden
prepared, lost m these
suddenly sat up on
thoughts,when the Frenchman
I

was

broth

of

his mattress.
"

!"

Ha

cried

something
is

There

stretched

one

furnace.

am
good
something
physic like sleep,"and
"

no

out

his

''What

Something

wixtch,"said
**

arms

with

kicking the
agilely,
and
side
bringing

very

"

"

he, cniffing
vigorously. I smell

But

time
after

is

and

bench

with

great yawn,

clothes

for.

ready
that

then

mattress

close

to

he

rose
on

"

it,sir?"

twelve

I, pullingit

'tis guesswork time."

out

by
and

"iv.f'.^

the

the

captain's
looking at it.

:"

"

Frozen

The

"74

Pirate.
^^

cried he, with a short

captairHswatch?
You
modest, Mr.
are
laugh.
Paul
Rodney," said I, seeing he stopped for

"The

"

"

loud
"

name.

my
"

is yours,

watch

Mr.

modest,

Yes,

sir

Paul

and

That

Rodney.

it shall

mean

you

be

yours.''
Tassard,'* said I, colouringin spite

Mr.

Well,

"

witness
the
not
myself, though he could
I felt this,
that,
a
light as
change in such
in the captain'spocket
that if I left the watch
the bottom
bound
it was
to
to
ultimately,
go
of

**

"

and

of

I"

Bah

**

with
interrupted,

he

"Let

hand.

the

possible; there will be

than
poclret,more
your
Meanwhile,

purse.

converted

into

me

me

have

broken

With

blow

of the

lump
perhaps
had

not

as

had

There

'*

meal
two

are

for

for
your

he

chopper

wine, and

then

struck

off

fell to,

be

man
a

watch

one

My stupor has
hogshead, and it will
eating to feel that I

empty

of the

frozen
a

if

fast."

my

flourish

schooner,

doubloon

one

dinner

to
an

than

more

fortnightof hard

take

the

save

us

violent

eating

who
might
expected
for eight-and-fortyyears.
of your companions on
deck,"
eat

to

said I.
He

started.
I continued

Frozen,"

"'

and

of Trentanove
He
*'

than

Joam

**

be
they'll

Barros

the bodies

"

nodded.

There
you

is

no

were.

reason

why they should

It is true

that

Barros

be

deader

has

been

((

What

*'

do

of

and

below

but

after

cold

fiercer

said

he, looking

carry them
bring them to if we

''Why?"
was
staggered by

believed

have

would

he

his

"

should

we

them, and

rub

propose

you

oddly.
Why, that

"

degree

been

175

rigours

signify."

cannot

me

have

you

Treasure.

Great

certain

pass

you

OF

whilst

deck

on

HEAR

his

the

to

fire

can.'*

for
indifference,
himself

shown

at

very

I had

eager

companions and shipmates to

life. I was
to his strange
searching for an answer
inquiry, Why ? when he proceeded,
friend Trentanove
First of all,my
stonewas
Barros
Unless
blind, and
nearly blind.
you
their sight with
could
them
their
life
return
them.
Better
they would curse
you for disturbing
restore

to

old

"

**

"

"

of death

blackness

the

"There
He

is the

than

the blackness

of the

body

of life."

captain,"said

ft'

I.

tr.njT.i'

grinned.

Do
know
sleep," said he.
you
would
reward
that they are
cutthroats,who
your
with the
kindness
poniard that you
might not
of the
claim
tell tales against them
share
or
a
in this vessel ?
Of all desperate villains
treasure
"

Let

before

the like of

met

never

even

''

them

than

better
an

brandy.

once

saw

He

loved

He'd

money.

engagement
I

Barros.

with
him

his thirst

quench
gunpowder

choke

man

blood

mixed
"

tut

in
! he

leave him to his repose."

is very well
In the glow of the fire he looked
uncommonly
"

sardonic

and

wild, with his long beard, bald head,

flowinghair,shaggy brows, and

littlecunning eyes,

yet did

grin,and
our

into

chafe

But,

to

were

hands

my

the

as

**

I.

If the

Portuguese,

lie frozen."

ami,
Do

"

No

nothing

pieces of

this

"

I answered,
with

fall
that

mon
friend,"said he, callingme
translate, that's not it, either.
value
the
of
the
booty ui

schooner

money,

how

I to

was

know

wearing apparel, a

and

few

in

watches

with

fierce

I had

it ?

but

knit his brows

He

ui

some

castle.
fore-

the

suspicious

in his eyes.

gleam
''

with

my

know

met

be

he

sure

plans

if he

not

pattern

same

let them

which

make

to

being.
in life,"
said
men

those

means

be

to

into

of the

are

all

you

talk to and

him

knew

You

"

though

stupor again it would

others

by

and

in his

share

to

yet I felt that

escape,

should
**

not

to

one

some

was

Pirate.

in their smallness

seemed

which

for

Frozen

The

176

But

have

you

searched

the

ves

call

it

el ?

"

he

cried.
"I

have

have

searched,

ps

you.

hold

crawled

throiigijihe
powder-room.''
'"

And

"

No,

His
"

further

scared
**

me

"

us.

said

he, fetching a

that

some

But

look

for it

Find

what, Mr.

Tassard

lie held

up the

we

shall

!"

afraid

was

with

beforehand

the

cleared.

countenance

breath.

as

further aft."

not

You

"No !

aft ?

far

as

is, I

that

"

had

one

it is

not

deep
been

conceivable.

presently,and

shall

we

find it."
"

fingersof

?"
his

said

I.

righthand

'*

One,

OF

HEAR

Great

three, four, five

five

Treasure.
chests

^77

of

plate and
three
of virgin
cases
two, three
one,
money;
silver in ingots;one
chest of gold ingots; one
he paused to enter
of jewellery. In all
case
into a calculation, moving his lipsbrisklyas
he
"between
whispered to himself
ninety and one
thousand
hundred
pounds of your
English
money."
his words
I stifled the amazement
excited,and
have
with some
rich
said coldly, You
met
must
ships."
did well," he answered.
We
is
My memory
his
afresh
he counted
on
lingers ten
good
two,

"

"

"

"

'*

"

"

"

"

"

"

in

cases

all.

Fortune

is

Who

would

think

strange wench,
of

Mr.

findingher

Rodney.
lodged
Now
?
those
others
on
an
bring
iceberg
pp
five.
and you make
What
would
there to life,
us
but
?
what
this ?
think
follow,
you
"

He

his

raised

beard

and

stroked

his

throat

Then, swallowing a
sharp of his hand.
and stopped to
great draught of brandy, he rose
with

the

listen.
**

the

is

It

want

to

bergs. Every
there

Hark!
to

better.

into

said

blowing hard,"

are

hear before

those

I fell into

"

the

this islar^

see

is

sea

he ;

harde.

knocked

good a a pickaxe.
I used
crackling n^ises

as

stupor.

Where

do you

sleep?"
I told him.
'*

My
smoke,
He
he had

berth
and

took

is the

third,"said he.
will fetch my pipe."

the lanthorn

left that berth

and
an

went

hour

"

I wish

aft, actingas

ago, and

to

if

1 underm

The

178

P'rozen

Pirate.

of his
it would
be ever
how impossible
to make
memory
lifelesssince
him
believe he had been practically
When
he returned he had on
the year 1753.
a
Stood in the face

of this

readyrecurrence

for the ears, and a

hairy cap, with large covers
his collar,and
that
fell
below
behind
to
big flap
but a
almost as long as his hair. He wanted
was
couple of muskets and an umbrella to closely

1: r2

Robinson

resemble

Crusoe,

as

he

is made

to

figurein most
a

He
of the cuts I have
seen.
^ith
Dutch
of
the
a
pipe
pattern,

carved

into

hold

cake

death's

head, and

of tobacco.

The

child's for

duced
probowl

enough to
might have
though it was dyed
great

skull

size,and
juiceand the top blackened, with
live
coals
which had been held to it,it was
th^
been

with

tobacco

carved that it looked very ghastlyand

finely
real
in his hana as he sat puffing
at it.
terribly
W^-'
whilst
he
He
if
me
as
smoked,
eyed
steadfastly
(''*'"'*iili'"and
stock
of
taking
presentlysaid,
critically
^.,rmm
me,
The devil hath an odd way of orderingmatters.
merit have / that I should have
What
particular
"*:' '"'-.
the one
hit upon
been
by you to thaw ? Had
m
of
the others to, he would
one
brought any
you
have advised
againstrevivingus, and so 1
you
should
have passed out
of my frostysleep into
death as quietly,
thai
as
ay, and as painlessly,
puffof smoke melts into clear air."
Then
perhaps you do not think you are
obligedby my awakening you to life? said I.
much
said he
Yes, my friend,I am
obliged,"
with vivacit)\"Any fool can
die.
To live is the
so

llfi'-

"

"

"

"

"

true

./

business of life. Mark

what

you

do

you

th
k

I.

I
make

HEAR

know

me

and

eat

OF

were

recall

me

denied
to

the

You

of my
make
me,

the

world

"

Treasure.

179

enable me
to
again, you
these things are
pleasures

tobacco

drink, and

which

more

Great

own

as

in

me

that cabin

there.

You

enjoyment of my gains,nay,
and the gains of our
company.
make
rich
man
a
yourself,
you

before
and
me
anew,
opens
to be sure, I am
brilliantly
obliged."
"
world
The
b
is certainlyefore
as
you,

of

very

"

before

me," said I,

'*

but

that's all j

have

we

it is

got

to get there."
He flourished his

'twas like the

of Death

fire-tinclun*d air.

pipe,and
through the gloomy

That

"

must

were

you
But

and

one,

these

arms

understand

can

stupor has

"

"

We

line of

two.

are

Yesterday
your despair.

wasted

not

so

of muscle.
finger-nail
too
no
are
girl. Courage ! between us we
How
long is it since you sailed
manage.
England?"
the

as

dark

We

come.

sailed last month

year

flight

much
You

shall
from

the Thames

from

for Callao."
"

And

what

pannikinof

is the

wine

news

from

Last year ! 'Tis twelve

and three years since we
"

News

"

said

he, taking a

and

oven

sipping it.

years since I was

had news
from

in Paris

Europe."

the news, as
thought I ; to tell this man
he calls it,would
obligeme to travel over
fifty
years of history.
Why, Mr. Tassard," said I, there's plentyof
things happening,you know, for Europe'sfull of
of them
are
kings and queens, and two or more
r^mernearlyalways at loggerheads; but sailor^^"
"

'

the

"

The
with

Treasure.

i8i

his

hairycap, grey beard, long nose, little

cunning shiningeyes, and broken fangs ; and a
chill of disgustcame
But I had already
upon me.
of
him to understand
that he was
seen
enough
a

of

man

he

had

awakened

that

after

real
as
insensibility
had

character, and

formidable

very

been, and

fortyyears
eight-andheart
ever
as
pirateat

behoved

that it therefore

of
he
to

me

deal very warilywith him, and above

all not to let
him
a
thoughts. Yet he seemed
suspe-^ my

superiorto the callinghe had adopted.

dicated
Englishwas
good, and his articulation inof breeding. V/hilst he smoked
a
quality
tween
pipe out he told me a story of an action be-

person

His
his

this schooner
will

not

and

repeat it ; it

features of diabolic
his

was

cool and

of his

deeds

easy

horrors

You

he

puffedat,

and

than

that his

idea

greatness

to

be

the

met

with

the

and

own

death's
there

was

out

of

me

narrative

that he

saw

in him

conscience

more

of

recital of his

companions.

no

true

the

affected

but what

cruelty;

than
violently

more

butchery, with

mere

was

Indiaman.

French

was

the
had

head
no

enormity.

for
Well, thought I, as
corner
stepped to
he
when
afraid of this creature
some
coal, if I was
shall I be
was
dead, to what condition of mind
the

reduced

by

his

being alive ?
CHAPTER

XVII.
"r\-i-

TREASURE.

THE

When
several

his

pipe

strides

was

about

out

the

he

rose

cook-room,

and
then

made
took

The

l82

Frozen

Pirate.

lanthorn,and entering the

surveyingthe place.
the

So

"

this would

prayed and
weather, and

coffin

all

when

in

was

good

shoulder
the

Lord, how

"

in

cursed

for

but

his

thumb.

his

*'

awhile

stood

my

said he.
Rodney ?
though," pointing over

company,
crucifix with
at the
rogues
In fine

been

"

Mr.

you,

have

cabin

this

cabin

same

well, the sharks

was

religionthan they ; but the

instant they were
in danger, down
they tumbled
their quivering knees, and
if heaven
was
upon
twice as big as it is,it could not
held*saints
have
enough for those varlets to petition."
You
were
nearly all Spaniards?
enter
a ship could
Ay ; the worst class of men
these seas
with.
But for our
callingthey are the
:n

wake

our

had

more

'*

"

*'

fittest of all the nations

than

the

than

Portuguese, and
trained

the

roguery

in the world

than

ever

with

mulatto
a

but they
superstition,
They carry it as a man

are

better

nimbler

"

the

even

trade instincts

truer

of them.

one

better

in

artists

despisetheir
piratesfor it.

might a feather bed ; it

He
enables
fall soft.
them
to
D'ye take me ?
of his short loud
one
laughs, and said, I
gave
The
angle's stiff
hope this slope won't increase.
enough as it is. 'Twill be like livingon the roof
"

"

of

I have

house.

What

d'ye say,
the open?
not
Why
briskly. You

Mr.

mind

Rodney

to

see

she

how

? shall I venture

lies.
into

"

**

'*

have

said

I.

as

much

**

You
life

can
as

move

ever

you

had."
"

Let's

go,

then,*^ he

exclaimed, and

climbing

fi;
The
lie

the ladder
and

Treasure.
the

pushed

on
stepped

open
the deck.

to

littlesolicitude,
as

of it,and

stmg
of

think

deck, and
**

'

Ha

chec

for

The

what

to

blast of the

gale
eddying

downwards
him

bawl

with

out

he

moments

some

but

with

as

suppose,

might attend his exposure.

broken
into
though it was
dartingsby the rocks, made
the

companion-door

I followed

may

you

J83

could

nothing but the cold, stamping the

beatinghis hands.
cried he, grinning to the smart
of his
'this is not
the cook-room, eh .'* Great

"

^,

thunder,

will

you

have

not

driftingnorth ?
twenty degrees than

been

it that

Why,
when

this

has

'tis icier

man,

we

ice

by

first locked

were

up.
"

fresh

are

doesn't

blood

Your

said

hope not,"
from

The

of the

snow

as

over

the

sky.
echo

The
of

screeched

wind

was

ice, and

flashes of whiteness

sea

draperyof the
like the prolonged

to

ordnance, and

hideouslywhere
of

Frenchman

consternation,and

and

terribly
uproarious.
blowing in clouds of
fled in very
startling

the

looked
my

The
were

it

it struck

cliffs and

masts.

noises of the ice in all directions

The

sky

"

monster

whistled

peaks and edges

through the schooner's
fearful.

that

at

itself sounded

the

you

the livid

under

discharge of
and

not.

indeed

was

before

spume

think

ing
Besides, it is blow-

Look

gale.

commotion

and

strong yet, and

furnace.

listen to the thunder

The

"

course

the

bitter cold

I ;

swept

rending

distinct and

about

him

surprisecrossed

with
self.
him-

V,

IMAGE
EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-S)

1.0

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"^

|2.5
1^

1.1

12.2

-iii
1.8
III

"

"% IIU^

HiotDgraphic
Sciences

MAIN STRKT
WEBSTU.N.Y. 14SM
(716) "72-4503

23 WIST

Corporation

The

184
'*

the

May

said.

Do

"

Virgin

blessed
you

say

!"

us

preserve

he

north

drifted

have

we

the very

this is not

Pirate.

Frozen

If

pole you
shall persuade me
the equator."
on
we
are
It cannot
storm
too
terriblyfor us, as you
this island to
said," I replied. I want
justnow
go to pieces."
As I said this a solid pillar
of ice justbeyond
heart

of the

south

**

**

the

brow

of the

dislodged
crash, and
Tassard

hill

blown

or

down

filled the

started

with

w^as

mighty
crystalsplinters.

it fell with

air with

back

side

starboard

the

on

faint

"

of

cry

Bon

Dieu!"
"

**

Judge for yourselfhow

this is freezingwork

ship lies,"said

the

"

He

aft and

went

"Walked

the

to

looked

rail and

larboard

the

over

stern, then

peered

the

over

side.
**

Is there

ice

beyond

''No," I answered
is

white

cliff

low

it is the

he asked,

the taffrail.

pointingover
There

opening .^"

that

"

that

beyond.

goes
Mark

hurled

spray

to

the

sea.

of

that cloud

athwart

the

mouth

of this hollow."
"

"

ice for

The

"

change

cold

There

the

mumbled

quarter of

'Tis too

to

he

Good,"

two

are

to

with

his

teeth

ing.
chatter-

is marvellous.

There

mile

slope ends.

where

that

was

here."

converse

companions," said I, pointing

lying a little distance before the

your

bodies

mainmast.
He

marched

up

this is Trentanove

to

them,

and

and

exclaimed,

that is Barros.

Both

**

Yes,
were

The

i86

Frozen

Pirate.

island,two miserable castaways whose

dismal end can
of a week
or
only be a matter
two,
jurious
ineach
other
each
other
morosely, give
eye
and
words, break
sullerly live,
away
each
man
by himself, on opposite sides of their
desert prison. Beasts
do not act thus, nor
birds,
in the
What
nor
reptiles only man.
was
I
Tassard*s
mind
Frenchman
do
not
know;
in mine
was
fear, dislike,profound distrust, a
alone, we
were
were
great uneasiness, albeit we
in affliction and
brothers
distress,as completely
which
from the world
sundered
to
belonged
we
stranded
if
in
the
we
as
lay
speaking
icy moon,
men

on

an

"

in the
God

wine

of

lump
*'

him

also.

in the fact.

and

needs

wind, the

tell

thus

beyond
**

At

Day

me,*' said

I would

"

"
"

there

after

day

"

Perhaps
imagination

naked

was

scene,

roaring of
and
the crashing falls
it frightful.'*
the

when

I, "that

sometimes
a

the schooner's
least

hideous

colouringas

of seas,
of ice to render

"

state

it is

But

he.

in the

more

rushing

masses

asleep

lies

such

;io

said

now,"

danger

than

"You

him

converse

can

after all the

"

same

presently,and he put
into the oven
to
melt, and this

comforted

heat

comforted

of

the

The
a

believingin

and

tongue

same

express
quarter of a

you

his

fell

frozen

mile of ice

stern."

quarter

of

it would

be

mile," he

built up

answered.

tillit

came

to

face of that extent."

I

thought

years

of the

to
wear

myself
and

if it has

tear

of

taken

storm

forty-eight
and

surge

to

The

187

Treasure.

extinguish a quarter of a mile, how long a time

But
must
elapse before this island splitsup ?
then I reflected
that during the greater part of
those
low

this seat
years
south
where
the
it

make

come
away
that what

from

the

might

degrees in
Tassard
in his

the

pictureof the
vision

mmd's

There

plish
accom-

"

'
'""

...

"

latitude,might

the

parallelof sixty

^-

,"4

"'"""""

seas.

with

the

as

if to

quarter of

":.

"

pannikin
get the

positionfair before

was

"'

"

south

shut

schooner's
"

to

in these

eyes

to

as

then, it was
stealingnorth, so

speaking

his

very

extreme

thirty
years

season

";.'.-"" ':^i

since

and

degrees of
a
day on

continued

stuck

been
so

that

taken

summer

hand, and

was

main

have

in seventy
performed in

be

cold

dissolution

defy

had

ice

of

"^"^")^^"^-

"

his

mile

of

ice

beyond the ship : I have it very plain in my

for the
muddle
of hillocks,
a gre^t
sight: it was
ice pressed thick and
hard, and raised us and
vomited
peaks and rocks to the squeeze.
up
Here
he
Suppose I have been asleep a week ?"
his
and
opened
gazed at me.
eyes
"Well?

"said

I.

say," he continued in the tone of one easily

excited
into passion, a week.
have
It will not
It is impossible. Never
mind about
been more.
and
one," showing his
eighteen hundred
your
fangs in a sarcastic grin; a week is long enough,
"

**

"

friend.

Then

this is what

to

mean

say

that

-"

?,'-"" ("I

breaking away of a quarter of a mile of ice in

is fine work, full of grand promise: the
a week
wrench
which
I speak,
next
now
as
might come
the

'j^l
'"-.:""-

"

or

to-morrow,

bring away

or

in

the rock

week
on

"

which

the
we

next
are

wrench

may

lodged,and
""

.;".,")

'',."
'/nl

Frozen

The

88

the rest

is

afford,hey ? for
of

of

matter

Pirate.

"

but

are

we

liquorand the
princelyindependence, Mr.
1

struck

was

which

on
*'

and

meat

Are

the

block

the

wind

two

we

there is

"

can

plenty

afterwards

reward
Paul

is

of the bed

notion

lie could

we

Rodney/'
of ice

lay going afloat,and

be helped, think you

to

which

on

beat

the

schooner

and

sea

with

which

patience

said,
?

If

detached,

be

it

against its parent stock, but

would
unite again. The
schooner's
not
canvas
might be made to help it along though suppose
it capsized !
We
there is no
must
consider," said he ;
need to hurry. When
the wind falls we will survey
might

bit

"

"

"

"

the ice."

silent with
in

over

I have

**

mind, he

mind

to

you ?
little eyes

view

"

say

His

directed

he

suspected

seemed

them

I had

with

those

attached

to

man

of liars
them.
like to

me.

chests.

this

see

One

himself

is

if I had

see

keep

penalties
the

pany
com-

believed

never

by

instantly, Certainly; I should

wonderful
booty. It is rightthat

it vanished
sit

shall live if ever

nothing of

of the

to

he

"

find out

to

knew
to

being forced

is,he

confident

was

saying I

I answered

should

madmen

at

sparklewith suspicion

that he wanted

meddled

to

lied in

and

this treasure

we

afresh^and after remaining

one
tutning many thoughts
suddenly cried, D'ye know
the plate and money
below.

air of

the

his
a

What

as

himself

warmed

He

at

once
we

if it is there
should

talking here
we

get home."

be
of

no

the

for

better

supposing
than

fine lives

we

"'

Treasure.

The
He

picked up

the

lanthorn

the
your cabin : it was
of the chests should be in one
He

was

off,and

marched

almost

However, I had made

wary part ;
I distrusted

and

so

act

to

"";"*"

'"
"

"^."ii

I-

I would

not

what

I did

go

fit.

him

to let

particularly

in

down

mind

my

never

him, and

";."''^"li

""

that I

long gone

so

tumbled

up

*"'

of his boxes."

was

of belief he had

**

and

said, I must
captain's.The keys

to

go

""

189

very

"(.

to

see
"

he

what

But

about.

was

door

I
'v """'"""'".

"

think
this :

was

"%

"-."

"

s. "*
""'.""

^""

""

"

lighteda candle,
myselfwith a sort of
knife,a very murderous
dagger,a kind of boardinglittle two-edged sword, the blade about
seven
inches long,and the haft of brass.
There were
and I took the first
of these weapons,
some
fifty
and droppeditinto the deep
that came
to my hand
side pocket of my coat and returned to the cookafraid of going
that I was
It was
not
room.
the

arms-room

entered

with this

danger to

more

ever
same

armed
swiftly

it,and

unarmed
no

next

was

into the

hold

there than

here

man
me

design to despatch

above

another,for the dead

as

witnesses

: there were
no
testify
desolate kingdom. What

armed

was

and

missing
"

had

been

never

years ?
"

the

stupor had
doubtless

who

was

to

visited

should
swear

Frenchman, who

not

lasted above

satisfied the

was
a

chests

the

could not
to

go

the treasure

be

me

that the schooner

in

once

he

in this white and

resolved

fear that

the

was

should

place was

one

me,

there

eight-and-forty
persuaded his

week, and who

were

in

the

was
""

hold

'
"

"'",",

down

period when he- lost recollection,

would suspect me of foul play,and in the barbarous
fall upon and endeavour to kill met
rage of a pirate
to

the

'"

'

"',

""(""'
f"
I

mm
"

""

'^J^l

vim
rV ,'1-,'

The

I90

Thus

you will
the morals and

Pirate.

Frozen

that I had

high opinionof
I had given life
character of the man
to ; and
indeed, after I had armed
myself and was
seated
again before the furnace, I felt extremely
the severest
melancholy, and underwent
dejection
of spirits
that had yet visited me, fearing that my
than
to
humanity had achieve"J nothing more
into the societyof a devil,who
would
bring me
of anxiety and misery to me.
prove a fixed source
it conceivable

Was

than, or

worse

hair showed
a

see

even

him

handsome

man,

no

very

should

be

?
bad as, this creature
Italian
hoary in vice. The

His

that

others

the

as

let him

and

have

been

as

was

fligate
pro-

would, as cruel and fierce a pirateas

Tassard
had painted him, he would
all events
at
have
proved a sightlycompanion, and harmless
as
being blind,though to be sure for that reason
of no use
Yet though his blindness
would
to me.
him a burden, I had rather have thawed
have made
as

him

he

into life than

the

Frenchman.

thought of feelingunder

obligation
toarm
my self filled me with such vindictive passions
that I protest as I sat alone waiting for him I felt
if it were
him to
as
a duty I owed
myself to return
The

mere

the condition

in which

I found

an

him, which

was

to

by my
binding him in his
easily contrived
sleepand dragging him to the deck and leaving
him to stupefy alongside the body of the giant
!
cried I to myself with
Peace
Joam Barros.
be

"

"

shiver;

*'

villain that

thoughts !

Thou

the

against

wretch

plotting to think

'art

thou
a

whom

thus

art

to

harbour

such

worse

than

hundred-fold
Satan

is

vilely." I

settingthee
gulped down

:" .-,""'

The

this bolus

of

Treasure!?

conscience

191

with

the

help

it did

of

wine,
me
draught
good. Lord,
is
loneliness
!
to
a
man
dangerous
Depend upon
it,your seeker after solitude is only hunting for
of

the road
It

and

that leads

might

seek

to

that he

be

how

Bedlam.

long

was

because

of

having

for the

conviction
was
keys ; but my own
that he found
the keys easilyand stayed to rummage
for such jewels and
articles of
the boxes
value as' he might there find.
I think
he was
to

half

near

gone

an

hour

he then

returned

"

sayingbriefly,I have

cook-house,
jinglingthem, and
Let us go."

after

warming

the

to

the

keys,"and

himself, said,

"."

"

was

moving

"

Not

that

"

Is there

'*

Certainly;

"

I wish

casks

and

way
a

the forecastle.

for the
aft ?

hatch

I had

been

have

towards

run," cried he.

"

I asked.

in the lazarette."

that," said

known

spared

I ;

*'

stiflingscramble

I should
over

the

raffle forwards."

led the way, and coming to the trap hatch

that conducted
to the lazarette,he pulled it open
descended
He held the lanthorn and threw
and we
He

the

lightaround
here.

of stores
twelve

months,

said,"Ay, there are plenty

reckoned
provisionsfor
upon

him

and

We
and

we

were

seventy of

crew."

figurehe looked, just touched by the

yellow candle-light,and standing out upon the
of
blackness
like some
vision
a
distempered
fancy,in his hair-capand flaps,and with his long
and beard and little eyes shining as he rolled
nose
A

them

-""U

strange

here

and

there.

We

made

our

way

over

the

"":""m

i-

Frozen

Thi

192

Pirate.

casks,bales,and the like,till we

and

there

here

was

small

clear space of deck

he lifted by its ring,

laya hatch. This

through the aperture did
following.The lazarette deck came

in which
and down
had

we

knees.

still or

squat when

to

the

far

to

darkness

ship,so
piercethe

as

it
"

was

he

drop, I
low that

so

our

upon

move

of this division of

end

the foremost

At

rightaft,

were

possiblefor

eyes
my
that this run
bulkhead, that is to

for it

seems

clear to the forehold

say, under the powder-room,to where the forehold
the spare
stowed
sails,ropes for
began were
the
gear, and a great varietyof furniture for
mediate
But imequipment of a ship'syards and masts.
went

"

under
chests

and

the

cases,

hatch

stood

several

painted black,stowed

small
side

by

side so that they could not shift.

his eye
Tassard
over
them, counting.
ran
"Right!" cried he; "hold the lanthorn,Mr.

Rodney."
I took
from

the keys
lightfrom him, and, pulling
pocket,he fell to* tryingthem at the lock

the

his

of the first chest.

a

hard

One

fitted ; the bolt shot with

and he raised
click,like cocking a trigger,

the lid.

picked

The
up

full of silver money.

I
couple of the coins,and, bringing
chest

was

candle,perceivedthem

be

Spanish
tarnished,
piecesof eight. The money was
yet
dull
metallic
it reflected a sort of
light. The
Frenchman
grasped a handful and dropped them,
as
though,like a child,he loved to hear the chink
the piecesmade as they fell.
There's a brave pocketful there,"said I.
them

**

to

the

to

The

194

of as
passengers
many
if the contents
was
as
who

at

was

had

once

been

scarce

as

of the

this

into

of

It

jeweller

silversmith

chest

that

ornament

an

vessels.

dozen

shop
goldsmith and

emptied

name

Pirate.

Frozen

here

not

was

could

you

"

watches, snufF-boxes, buckles, bracelets, pounceboxes, vinaigrettes,

earrings,crucifixes,stars for
the hair, necklaces
in

silver and

list grows
tiresome ;
chieflyin gold ; all shot
the

but

"

gold, but
lying scramble
.

together and
been

fashion,

if they had

as

potatoes.
is

"This

fine

sight,"said Tassard, poring

with falcon
the sparkling mass
and
nose
upon
is a dainty little watch.
Here
ravenous
eyes.
or
Fiftyguineas would not purchase it in London
a

"

Paris.

there

cross

is the

Where

white

which

breast upon
?
Ha ! the
glittered

once

that

perfume has

bill ;
faded," bringing a vinaigretteto his hawk's
immortal
the soul is gone
part
; the body is the
in this case.
of the
Now, my friend, talk to me
lecting
patientdrudgery of honourable life after this,"colthe chests, so
view
with
to
a
say, to my
**

of the

sweep

hundred

for

the

price of

London
one

hand

I
had

saw

"

will break

men

livres ashore
a

dial.

pinchbeck
five

forged,

men
one

and

carted
was

their

hearts

be

hanged

When

for
in

was

the

gallows;
I
highwayman

to

"

forget the others' businesses ; out I recollect

on
inquiringthe value of their baggings that
for which
it did not amount
to
they were
hanged
Look
four guineas a man.
He
at this !
swept
his great hand
the chests.
"Is
not
again over
here something worth
going to the scaffold for ?
"

"

"

"

'

Treasure.

The

^1

195
V

His

bosom

de

if to

as

cuuid

swelled, his eyes sparkled,an/, ^e

strike a heroic posture, but this be

contrive

not

his hams.

on

thunder-struck,as

will suppose,
by
the sightof all this treasure, and looked and stared
in a dream.
I had
like a fool,as if I was
never
I

was

so

seen

the

most

things before,and
fancies

extravagant

and

Here

fine

many

there

in the

lightedon an
two
hundred, years
wrought, that may
several generations;

was

old:
have
a

of

watch

worth.

their

my

eye

hundred, perhaps
choicely
cup
very

been

There

the like.

of

indulged in

huddle
glittering

object that

and

you

have

in

family for
curious figure,
a
been the pickings
a

might
of a
trunks, and portmanteaux
hundred
in this chest,
and
women
opulent men
and, so far as I ^ould judge from what lay atop,
alities.
the people plundered represented several nationcabins,

of the

"

But

there

ten

in all :

money,

were

two

other

of these

third with

French, Spanish,and
which
the one
over

and

cases

to

explore

filled with

were

silver

plate,a fourth with English,

Portugal coins in gold ; JMit
Tassard
hung longest in a

transport that held him

dumb,

was

the smallest

with

of

gold in bars. The

mouldy yellow soap,
and having no sparkle nor
varietydid not affect
the jewellery
had, though in value this chest
me
as
all the
to
near
as
came
being worth as much
others put together. The fixed transported posture
intent
of the pirate,his little shining eyes
looking
upon the bars, his form in the candle-light
and
all,

stuff had

this

chests

was

packed

the appearance

of

V,.

Pirate.

Frozen

The

ig6

felledman
wildly-appaf
done in phosphorus,coupled Ivith the loom* of the
desolation, the folly
of our
black chests, the sense
in
of our
enjoyment of the sight of the treasure
the face of our
pitiableand dismal plight,the
melancholy storming of the wind, moaning like
heard in a vault,and above
the rumble of thunder
all the fuelingof unrealityinspiredby the thought
of my companion having lain for eight-and-forty
render
the
to
dead, combined
years as good as
impressivethat it remains at
startlingly
so
scene
of
the
this hour
eye
painted as vividly upon
like

of

sketch

strange,

if I had

as

memory

it five minutes

from

come

ago.
"

So

!" cried the Frenchman

the lid ct the chest.

of
to the business
with

**

'Tis

all here !

considering how

to

Now
come

then
off

it."

He

thrust

returned

to

the

keys

in

WE

his

pocket,

and

we

the cook-room.

XVIII.

CHAPTER

That

suddenly,slamming

TALK

OVER

OUR

SITUATION.

night,as afterwards, Tassard occupied the

used to sleep in before he was
berth that he was
frozen.
Although I had not then the least fear
that he would
attempt any malignant tricks with
remained
in this posture, the feeling
whilst we
me
that he lay in the berth next but ohe to mine made
in spite of my reasoning; and
I was
me
uneasy
shoot a g^reat iron bolt,
to silently
nervous
as
so

We

talk

over

Situation.

our

that it would
have
been
without beatingthe door in.

impossibleto

so

In sober
a

truth,the sightof the

sort of fever

into

and effects of which

alone in
until I was
darkness.

That

197

treasure

enter

had

put

of the heat
imagination,
I was
not completelysensible
my cabin and swinging in the
my

the

value

of

hundred

what

I had

seen

pounds of
our
deny
;
money
that my fancy was
excited
greatly
by thinking of
it. But there was
something else. Suppose we
should have
the happiness to escape
with this
I
certain the Frenchman
was
perfectly
treasure, then
ninetyor

to

came

I could not

would

thousand

doubt

between

come

me

'i- ;";
-5..

and

and

"""
....

^^^'

I will not

my

share

of it.

This

apprehensionthreading my heated thoughts

of the gold and silver kept me
restless during the
greater part of the night,and I also held my
brains on the stretch with devices for saving ourselves
I
and the treasure
could
not
satisfy
; yet
be
mind
unless
that
done
to
was
anything
my
Nature
herself assisted us in freeingthe schooner.
However, as it happened, the gale roared for a
and the
whole week, and the cold was
so
frightful
hail that we
air so charged with spray and
were
forced to lie close below

with

the

hatches

on

"*')k.' IT'

fm

't;-.\

for

Cape Horn weather, with

and a westeringtendency in
as
seas
high as cliffs,
the wind that flung sheets of water
through the
have quicklyfilled the hollow
ravine,which must
and built us up in ice to the heightof the railsbut
rushed
which the water
for the strong slopedown
lives.

our

as

fast
I

as

never

It

true

was

it was

hurled.

needed

to

i".

peep

an

inch

t':

beyond the
4"*

companion-way
leave

to

that

of

matter

the cabin

was

part of the vessel

there

At

her

the

for

the

occasion

to

weather, for

the

sky;

ever

below, and

constantlyshivering to
on

the

view

nor

any

the
at
guess
of it echoed

to

perpetual thunder

water

Pirate.

Frozen

The

198

strong

the whole
blows

in every
fabric was

of the falls of

decks.

first the

Frenchman

and

would

sit in the

fear

imaginable, constantly expecting

some
mighty disaster,such as the rending of the
ice under our
keel and our
being swallowed
up, or
the
coming together of the slopes in such a
the fall upon
the ship,or
her
to crush
as
manner
of ice weighty enough to beat
her flat ; though
perhaps this we least feared, for unless the storm
there was
no
changed the whole face of the cliffs,
in that way.
ice in our
us
neighbourhood to serve
But
the time
as
slipped by and nothing worse
happened than one
only in the
sharp movement
vessel, followingthe heels of a great noise like a
cannon
discharged just outside ; though this
scared
movement
us
nearly out of our
senses,

greatest

and
rest

held
of

in

us

the

for the

dumbfounded

manner

day ; I say, the time passing and

related
than what
I have
terrifying

nothing more
happening,we
and

took

heart

patiencefor

and
the

waited

with

some

break, never
doubting that we should find a wonderful
change
when
from the heights.
we
surveyed the scene
We
lived well,sparing ourse.ves
in nothing that
the vessel
contained, the abundance
rendering
stint idle ; the Frenchman
a
cooked, for he was
I at that
better hand
than
woj^k, and provided
courage

gale

to

.^i*^
We

talk

over

Situation.

our

199

several relishable

cakes,and broths. As
sea-pies,
was
enough on board to drown

there
liquor,
the pairof us twenty times over
wines of France,
:
in
Spain,Portugal,
very choice fine brandy,rum
such variety
indeed as enabled us to brew
plenty,
different
kind
of
a
punch every day in the seven.
for

But

we

much

were

careful with the coal,and

by burningthe hammocks,

more

sparedit to the utmost

bedding,and chests

lay in the forecastle ;

burnt these thingsby degrees,
to say, we
the stock being excessive, and
by judiciously
with
them
coal
and
wood, they made
mixing
good warming fires,and as tinder lasted long

'."-:",

'

r.' y*:''-'

that

that is

"\.;.K
i

..."

'

too.

We

hauling
morning in thoroughlyover-

occupiedone

the forecastle for such articles of value

the sailors had
flight
; but found

in the cabins

used, and

the

overlooked

when

had

though it was
these
plundered
also

clean
he

Mr.

quitelikely
cabins before

of what

pretended to
;

been- the

if
/;,::"

that the Frenchman

sure

sweep

the treasure-chests

mm

which

search

not

But

had

made

did

course

theyleft the ship,I was

keys of

expected
thingson

cabin
captain's
it that

next

one

berth.

seamen

in the

mean

mate's, for of
Tassard's

had

I had

as

their

the money
and other
littlein this way to be found
There was

the deck.

that the

less than

much

sightof

frop^ the

dropped

forgottenin

or

and

they had

search for the

this suspicionI

of
seemed
to find confirmed
by the appearance
the captain
One of these boxes contained
s boxes.

books,papers,
and

nautical

some
telescope,

the like.

I looked

at

the

ments,
instru-

books

and

'

"Mii1

"

V---

"""'

""'-^vl|

The

^06

the papers,
read; but

Pirat^^

Frozen

in the

of

finding sotnething to
written and
printed in the
for
might have been Hebrew

hope

they were
Spanish tbngUe" and
all the good they were
to me*
dismal
and
Our life was
melanextraordinarily
It
tholy,how much so I am unable to express.
the same
was
jiist
as
livingin a dungeon. There
crevice for the daylightto shine through,
Was
no
and had there been we
have closed it to keep
must
the cold out.
Nothing could be imagined more
than the perpetual night of
gloomy to the spirits
the schooner's
interior.
The furnace, it is true,
throw
would, when it flamed heartily,
a
brightness
about

it ; but, often

it sank

into

redness

that

did

but

burned
but one
empurple the gloom. We
candle at a time, and its light was
very small, so
that our
time was
in a sullen twilight.
spent chiefly
Added
to all this was
my dislike of my companion.
He would
half fuddle
himself
with liquor,
in
and
that condition hiccup out twenty kinds of villainous
bloodshed, boasting
yarns of piracy,murder, and
of the number
he had
of persons
despatched, of
his system of torturingprisoners to make
them
confess what they had concealed
and where.
He
would
drivel about
his amours,
of the style in
which
he lived when
ashore, and the like ; but
whether

strong
once

reticence
for

even

gave

me

had
drink

so

much

into

grown
to

break
as

habit

too

down, he never
hint touching his

was
early life. He
completely a
Frenchman
in his vanity,and
would
have
you
detestable
for
thought him entirelyodious and
this excessive
Methinks
I
qualityin him alone.

youth

and

.The

202

and

qualifyme

we

concerning
to

manage

him

bluntly
anything we

were

which

of the fears

association, should

our

with

escape

I said to

the treasure.
his

apropos (to use

not

"

lingo)of

own

talkingabout,
Tassard, you should doubt
my
this is the year
eighteen hundred
"

'Tis odd, Mr.

*'

that

assurance

and

one."
He
?

so

stared, grinned, and

^

Well," said

all ; but you

idea

of

the
tell

cannot
"

Two

me

I,

"

perhaps

should

suffer

passage
how

of

How

days
Why

Do

you

think

when

How

do

I know

year
He

that

the

found

added,

"

by
is,"said

You
for

is the

He

looked

to

said,

into

do you

he

snapped

the

dition
con-

an

hour

know, hey ?
his
and

name

you

day

fingers.
by the

that

I have

been

so

wild and

man

coup,

softened
?
**

fierce

if he
his

that

I drew

setth
self
my-

should
head

out, he said,

fall upon
me.
whilst the anger

**

Who

reigns in

"

There

is

no

"(

sensible
in-

fact," said I.

ready for him

Then, slowly wagging
now

sunk

How

prove

erect

France

good an
yourself. You
as

years."
forty-eight

"It

in his face

after

defiantly.
French
expression and

coarse

want

have

odd

longerthan

me

date

that this
uttered

so

longerthan

I had

.'*"and

know

you

not

as

Why

landed

you

to

me

time

more

know
you
in which
you

it is

stupor lasted."
your
"
like !
he interruptedvehemently.

if you

do

two

"

long

**

**

said,

"

**

or

mind

rid my

to

I entertained

Pirate.

Frozen

king;

tie

was

headed,"
be-

went

mad(

hours
him

pock
hom(

We

talk

Situation.

our

over

203

? " said he.

Louis the Sixteenth/*
I answered.
'*
Ha! "cried
he, with an arch sneer; "Louis
the Sixteenth,hey? Are you sure it wasn't Louis
**

What

his

was

name

**

the Seventeenth
''

"

is dead

He

too."
is news, Mr.

"This

Rodney/' said

he

fully.
scorn-

have been here,"said I," many

mighty changes have happened. France has
produced as great a generaland as dangerousa
Whilst

"

villain as

you

world

the

beheld

ever

his

Buonaparte."
He shruggedhis shoulders with an
pity.
is your king.'* he asked.
Who
"George the Third," said I;

T'

is

name

air of mocking

"

"

**God

bless

him!"
So
I see how
**

"

This
into
"

man

and

it is.

friend,never

my

and

George

Louis

Stick
set up

sallyseemed
loud laugh.

once

What

do

coup.

settled in him

and
lost ten

went

about

made

of money,

/' he

braggingto
and

!" he
thousand

one

think

you

here

was

George.

your
schoolmaster."

delighthim, and

to

Eighteenhundred
I knew

and

dates, sir. But,

to
as

Louis

"

he burst

cried.

"A
livres at a
happened ? They

pattedhis belly "he

everybody that he was
nicknamed
the walking
:

.,,i..

friend to dine with

him ; when
the bill was
presentedhe felt in his
exclaimed, 'I left my
pockets,and
purse at
bourse.

home.

One

No

day

he

matter

asked

there is

plentyhere /

with
t,;.-

"

'"'"""

The

204

which

he

seized

But

world

hundred

let it be

will not

older

than

It

love

secret,

for

you

to

with

it

that

no

was

particular. In fact,it

was

all

what

the business
talked
be

to

fear

with
away
native home.
For

hour

him,

very

and

planning and

save

the schooner.

much

of

this
no

one

quence
conse-

closer

boastful, and

when

home

I to

like
dis-

spoke of getting
returning to our

we

and

would

hour

and

in

patter

treasure,

after

such

this
deliverance,and over
earnestly,for he forgot
very

fierce

our

combat

our

and

and

mean

to

cracked

came

of

long

and

fiftyyears

subject produced
I dropped
irritation,
leaving him to
more,

and

we

it

making

The

the

as

excitement

conviction

was

friend.

my

attempt

this, and

meddled

at

one,

ripped hi*^.a".ii
d'ye call it ?

it is."

obstinacyas
nothing but
it and

and

your

ridiculous

was

Pirate.

table-knife and

Eighteen

open.
Sott,

his

Frozen

we

go

on

plotting

scheming, stepping about the

cook-house
and
in our
grossed
earnestness,
entirelyencontention
with the topic. His
that
was
and
if we were
the money
to save
plate,we must
build"a

**lLJnlesswe

vessel," said I.

what?"

^'Outof
"

Out

of this schooner.**

**

Are

you

carpenter ?

"

said he.

"

No," I replied.
Neither
I," said he.
am
might contrive such a structure
**

to

save

our

lives

vessel

but

we

bigenough

have
to

"

as

not

It's

possible we

would

enable

us

the skill to produce

contain those chests

as

We

talk

over

well as ourselves,and the stores

take.
Besides, do you know
more

this to

fatiguingthan
pieces?

Situation.

our

chould

we

to
require

labour

is no

there

knocking

2p5

such

craft

as

"

This

of such

very well
vessel as

believed, and

it

truer

was

del Dragon that

the Boca
a
was
perfect bed of timber, and, like the
Laughing Mary, built as if she was to keep the
a

for three hundred

seas
**

years.
after infinitetoil we

"

And

said he,
supposing,"
succeeaed
in breaking up as
wanted, what applianceshave

much

of her
for

we

reshaping
laythe

the curved timbers ? and where are we to

keel ? Labour
we
as
might, the cold would
much

too

for

us.

No,

treasure, ay, and to save

the ship. Let us put our
this way

In

talked

we

would

Mr.

Rodney,
we
ourselves,
minds

reason,

to

we

as

to

save

must

prove
the
save

that."

and

I confess

he

views,
sensibly,
taking very practical
difficultieswhich my more
ardent
and indicating
and
imaginativenature
might have been blind
till
confronted
and rento
dered
they immovably
me,
labour
of
useless.
But
how
was
days
it possible
force
Was
the ship to be saved ?
to
Nature's hand ; in other words, to anticipate
our
release by the dissolution of the ice ? We
were
in
the winter season
both agreed that this was
these seas, though he instantly
sulkyif I
grew
very

certain I
month, for he was
as
m.ad in this,as in the year, and he would

mentioned*
was

as

eye

me

very

the

if
malignantly

it July. But, as
that the summer

I have
was

in calling
persisted

said,we
to

"";.H-

come,

were

and

both

agreed
m

though we

""

The

2o6
could

swear

we

had

of all
the

ask each
minds

do

"

If,"

"

for us, or
said he,

essay

break
said

the

above

nothing is
and

**

I shall expect

before

was

As
us

you

all

into

to

and

summer

the schooner.

are

ice

break

to

see

to

we

she

comes

bergs.
and

The

south

when

twenty

the
to

is odious

conviction

own

in the

cut

is seated

Waiting

but

is,

this way,
island is
;

this

bergs

but

it is

gale
where

is
it

compact."

guess, our
plans, bitter

may

without

how

my
tillthe sun

crumbles

the

for the

in which

leagues long, and vanishes

wasting fast in the north,
done

launch

streak
;

done

hands

our

what

see

to

but

ice

work

be

to

ice

the

I ;

to

would

we

too.'*

up

garboard

intolerable

and

us

of the

out

we

and

let

jhould

wait

"

wards,
floatingnorthin spite or
so,
being the trick
they fetch to

lay ;

we

we

wait

Yes,"

vessel

which

under

idle and

it may

when

estates

other whether

rest

would

up

frozen

heights

cold, this

of the

these

was

believe

right to

fierceness

the

ice

the

that

not

Pirate.

Frozen

long
as

conversations

was

our

left

need, and

efforts to strike upon

our
some
vigorous as were
no
However, if they achieved
likely scheme.
they served to beguile the time, and what
more,
better yet, they took
was
companion's rnind
my
and
off his nauseous
revolting recollections,so
he
and
had
that it was
again when
only now
drained

in
bowl, and his little eye^ danced
their thick-shagged caves,
that he regaled me
of murder, rapine,plank-walkwith his memories
ing,
hanging, treacheries of all kinds, and cruelties
too

full

barbarous

for belief.

We

take

View

of

CHAPTER
WE

TAKE

207

C.i

XIX.

VIEW

Ice.

the

OF

THE

ICE.

gale raged with uncommon

this brought us into
violence : it then broke, and
of August. The
wind fell in the
the first week
awakened
night,and I was
by the silence,which
For

the

days

seven

think strange it you

consider how
you will not
the fierce seethingand
used
to
ears
were
my
strong bellowingof the blast. I lay listening,

believingthat it had only veered, and that it would

ness
on
come
again in gusts and guns ; but the stillever,
whatsound
no
continued,and there was
sj;vlngthe noises of the ice, which broke
the

upon

from

answers

distant,half whose

and

near

air like slow

batteries
have

cannons

been

silenced.
I

slept again,and

past nine
was

I awoke

when

it

in the

o'clock

morning.
on
snoring lustily.I went

half-

was

The

man
French-

deck

before

entering the cook-house, and had like to

brilliance
been blinded
by the astonishing
sunshine
was

the

of

air

The

there

But

sharp.
from

the

upon

gone.

ice and

sea

which

strong swell.

there

no

was

brows

the

The

schooner

was

drooping icicles.

sightyou

could

wind

exquisitely
frostyand
sound
was
a
heavy
coming
the
to
me
sight
expect
gave
The
clear
and
blue,
a
sky was
on

betwixt

of the

v^as

cloud

showed

All the

snow.

have

A
not

much

as

of the

most

more

of its face

as

slopes.
pictureof

wonderful
beautiful

figure.

From

and

I
?""""(

radiant

every

rope,

",5''l'-.4""'',C^'

The

208

from

the

Frozen

Pirate.

whatever

water

colours.

The

could

rails,from

the

from

yards forward,

in

hung
glorious ice-pendants of prismatic splendour.
No
fallen to frost the
had
surfaces, and
snow
and
as
polished as
pendant was
every
pure
brilliant
reflected
hundred
a
cut-glass and
schooner
and

run

hurled

water

had

frozen

decks, and

and

over

on

the

rigging,
masts,
ice,like the pendants, was
the

upon

this

as

stream,

back all the hues

sparklinglybright,it gave
of the sunbeam,
ness
so
that, steppingfrom the darkof the cabin
into this effulgent scene,
you
before
have
that
might easily
persuaded yourself
of a
stood the fabric of a ship fashioned
out
you
very

rainbow.

My attention,however, was
quickly withdrawn
^rom this shining spectacleby the appearance
of
clififover
the starboard
against our quarter. The
whole

shoulder

just catch
the deck
the

of it had

view

of the

and I could
away
from
horizon
of the sea

broken

by stretchingmy

ocean

showed

prodigious,for

to

before, I should
of the main

that

me

have

have

lower

sightof

figure. The
the breakage

come

had

masthead.

to

that

to

climb
No

had

to

been

prospect
the

other

height
marked

the
change did I detect from
side to
deck ; but on
stepping to the larboard
I spied a splitin the ice that reached
peer over
to
from
the very
margin of the ravine, I mean
it terminated
of it where
that end
in a cliff,
to
of the schooner
by at least four
past the bows
times her own
length.
or

noteworthy

I returned

to

the cook-room

and

went

about

the

Pirate.

Frozen

The

2IO

sight so easilyafter having sat in blindness for

that
wonderful
not
forty-eightyears, and it was
the amazing brilliance on
deck, smiting his. sight
on

out

should

sudden,

if he

as

had

lost

him

caused

have

the

his

of

use

to

cry

for

eyes

ever.

I waited

able

was

minute
in

and

look

to

before

long

without

see

his face.

of

his

of

His

countenance

it

then

cap

wrinkled

not

was

stood

He

pain.
the

rigging,

the

some
unwhole-

hid

the

to

was

and
he
nose;
eyes,
than I had supposed, and

cheeks,

the

more

and

he

minutes

ten

gazing at the glories upon

that piercing lightI noticed

nothing

but

him,

about

could

he

colour
and

in about

and
patiently,

scar,

be

seen

much

was

meth

ought

in every
I
line.
full of cunning and

spiritof crueltylay visible

the

had

never

seen

so

eyes

treachery so expressive,I should say, of these

no
qualities
biggerthan mere
; yet they were
tures.
punc"

^
man
"

"

but

sensible

was

not, let
a

sort

of

emotion
say, an
of alarm
of mixture
and
me

"

ghost might inspire.

searching light in which

fear of the

momentary

This

I put

of
awe,

down

I watched

irradiation

cowardice

subtle

him

such
to

as

the

for

enough to
give the sharpest form to expression,to exquisitely
define every
meaning that was
distinguishablein
I left him
his graveyard physiognomy.
to
stare
and judge for himself of the posture in which
the
long hard gale had put the schooner and stepped
bodies.
in ice
shrouded
to the two
over
They were
from
head
to
foot, as though they had each man
been packed in a glasscase
cunninglywrought to
moment

or

two,

an

"",!""
.r

We

their

take

masks.

Tassard

Small

"

Their

shapes.

View

of

faces

were

Ice.

the

hid

by

211

crystal

the

'i!-

joinedme.

chance

friends

for your

I,

said

now/'

"

if you
were
agreeable to my proposal to
attempt to revive them."
**
So ! " cried he, touching the body of the mate
even

with

his

foot

"

! for what

Trentanove
him

robed

him

like

this is the end

and

bravely? See,
fiftydifferent kinds
could

not

has

conquests

so

fellow ! he

tible
of the irresis-

curl

the colours

shine

of ribbands.

loveliest eyes in Europe were

though
him.
He'll
on
passionate admiration

throat,nor

with

remonstrate

nor

toss

we

the bodies

"

They
please."
"

But

are

we

hiccup

your

must

me

over

on

Petrarch

the side ?

friends,"said

in
slit

never

over

i:-

now,

fixed

goblet

humanity.

my

in

Poor

his moustachios

the

another

Death

Shall

"

I ;

'*

do

as

you

ness
Busi-

empty their pockets first.

before

sentiment,Mr. Rodney."
He stirred the figureagain with his foot.
will
this armour
Well, presently,"said he,
the hatchet.
want
Now, my friend,to view the
work of the gale."
board
The increased heel of the -shipbrought the larfore-channel low, and we
stepped without
from it on to the ice.
The rent or fissure
difficulty
that I have before spoken of went
very deep ; it was
nearlytwo feet wide in places,but, though the light
it,I could see no bottom.
poured brilliantly
upon
this would happen
If only such anothv'^r split
as
t'other side,"said the PVenchman.
1 believe this
'*

"

**

"

block would

go

adrift."
-"
.

",

""^if"

"^s,-.

k'

""'

'"i'\,\

'":'"'"'"I-Afi

Frozen

The

212

P:rat.,.

Well," said I, after musing a little whilst T ran

in
the hollows, I'lltell you what was
eye over
my
is a great quantityof
mind
There
just now.
my
gunpowder in the hold ; ten or a dozen barrels.
By dropping largeparcelsof it into the crevices on
the rightthere, and firingit with slow-matches
with a cry :
He
By St. Paul,
interruptedme
"

"

"

"

''

have it I
you
walked
We

What

looked

from

crevices

have

?"

you

vessel, and all

starboard
her beam
and
about
quarter I found, in
I had before
addition to the seams
noticed, many
doubt by the
no
great cracks and fissures,caused
of the slope. I pushed on
fall of the shoulder
I have
the ravine, as
further
yet, going down
called it, until I came
to the
edge ; and here I

brisklyround

down,
feet

fourteen

changed

height of
greatlyhad the

so

"

the

by

the

weather

"

twelve

some

ice sunk
the

upon

or

been

or

ocean.

approached warily. I
he
I
feared
believe
might be tempted to give
him a friendlyshove over
the edge.
this hollow," said I ;
the split
Observe
there

called

Tassard.

to

He

'*

*'

down
goes
the block

is

look

at

Now

to

crack

the

to

wholly
the

other

rents.

this

body

of ice

this
the

of the
cradle

parent*

Mr,

the

as

on

side.

vessel's

quarter,

to

the

past

Tassard, if

the schooner

body/'

it that

that

on

we

by an explosionfrom
bowsprit,where it is all

with

take

may

ice," said I, pointing

right-hand side; "that

or

is carried

the

you

of the

face

far

as

goes

and

disconnected

starboard

the

the weakness

ahead

water,

bows

could
its
too

and

by

burst

moorings
compact,

in it will go

free of

We

take

View

Ice.

the

of

213
v..'"'

He

answered

crack

and

only plan. That

what
to do.
us
telling
We

should

have

not

valleyruns

steep.

the surface

to

will go
"

seen

Yes

one

is like

starboard

to

It is well you
came
it from
the top.

You

must

expect

liberated,for

be

it is the

no

here.
This
than

more

foot of the

the

cliff

deep."

I desire

*'

**

promptly,

Will

the

more.'*

no

such

ship stand

launch, supposing

"

bring it about ? said he.

of his
I responded with one
We
said, Nothing is certain.
we

''

to

courses

tillthe

choose

icQ breaks

to

have

this

venture

take

up, and

shrugs, and

own

our

of

one

launch, or
chance

two

stay

of floating

of

being smashed."
You
is an
Here
are
right,"he exclaimed.
opportunity. If we wait, bergs may gather about
As
build us
in.
this island
this point and
to
which way 'tisheading.
we
are
dissolving,
yet to know
south, hey !
Suppose it should be travelling
or

"

"

"

struck

He

the

up

vessel's

past the

bows

Here

length.

fathoms
over,

of us,

and

The

left

Frenchman
'*

himself.

Let
eyes.
be swallowed

black

us

up

to the
difficulty
ship.

the

distance

many

here."

'

'\

^''^\

it.

started, muttered,
to

of the

were

gulf behind

return

toiled

we

an
viewing them
happened within twenty
in weight rolled
tons

we

Holy Virgin !

**

and

deep holes and

many
these
to be taught how

of noise

rock

spear,

to

were

cracks, and as if we were

whilst
came
about, even
crash
ear-splitting

his

with

slipperyrocks

walked

We

the ice with

"

he

and

crossed

cried, rollinghis

the schooner.

We

shall
^

"
"

The

tii4
I

own

sudden

rock, and

the

how

best

the

black

huge
from

scene

to

dispose

**

enough
Mr.

An

of the

stand

they

as

to

sider
con-

the

the

deliver

or

us

on

serve
pre-

big

fissures

several
of

gunpowder.
the
they cover

but

powder in
nothing to be done

of

are

barrels

receive

to

Tassard,

width

Here

rent

the top, and

cracks, and said, There is

board ; skulking below
will not
the treasure.

myself by the
of the uprooted

the thunder

sight of

view

Pirate.

little terrified

blast and

the

to

meant

not

was

loud

Frozen

See,
whole

hollow.'*

J I

proceeded to give him my ideas as to

He
the like.
lowering, fixing the barrels, and
nodded
his head, and
said,
Yes, very
good ;
in
too 'scared
yes, it will do,'*and so on j but was
his heart, I believe,to see
He
full meaning.
my
was
perpetually moving, as if he feared the ice
would
splitunder his feet, and his eyes travelled
"

the face of the rocks

over

of

alarm

so

poor

in

had

to

serve

been

it is also

should
as

enfeebled
true

under

upon
He

their temper
would
have

him, but
the
me.

scarce

brow

which

their lust for

or

returned
on

I had

expected
changes : but
It

was

to

+he

seeing me

he followed.

altered.

make

The
to

spirit
then

but

most

demand

no

plunder.
ship,had

start

to

couraged
en-

climb

to

prospect disappointed

witness
southward
a

his

despicable

themselves

prove

stomach

and

bullies

greatest

conditions

curs

had

have

ever

how

I wondered

pirate; no doubt
by his long sleep;

that the

bloodthirsty
rogues

manifestation

every

expression.

creature

enough

their

with

varietyof
the

scene

wonderfully fair

prising
surwas

morn-

We

ing,
of

the

', I'

stood

had

to

an

been

flat
but

north

twenty

the

However,
when

the

at

hand.

schooner's
and

parts
the

ice

was

so

to

came

feet

loose

stand

that

with
he

was

some

had
half

gap

was

very

all directions

about
with

the

on

heavy,
;

and

of cliff hard

swell.

his

When
him

ice

broad

mile

quarter

looked

the

been

fall

point

10

they showed
vital changes

The

the

south, shading his eyes

as

deep.

it

close, and

look

haven

less

no

beyond, though

shore

split in

was

rocked

sea

of the

starboard

the

the

to

came

left

and

havoc

far.

so

my

question
the

with

main, and

crowded

Where

no

was

I counted

landed, I found

way
hundred

features

given

and

there

played

travel

not

it had

before

feet,where

island

that

surfaces

lay piled in places

ice

had

was

architecture

and

slopes

was

when

I first

near

sea

intolerable

so

However,

gale

north-east, and

delicate

bergs floatingoff

sight could

had

the

of many

quite likelythe

recollect

in the

of the

extremity of the

than

my

Half

hollow.

or

that

at

down, and

elevation

weeping,

me

enriched

was^swept

way

tion
majestic undulaI surveyed it.
which

was

ice

the

over

kept
effulgence.

that

hue, with

like

215

sea-line,and

to

of

ocean

running, that
from
the height

dazzle

the

sea-line

swell

sun

the

frcm

Ice.

the

of

soft blue, the

even

The

View

clear

sky

very

high

take

in

upon

Tassard
and

north

then

hand, and

swearing very savagely in French, he cried out in

English,freelyemploying oaths as he spoke,
before
ice as there was
Why, here's as much
I fell asleep !
See
yonder ! pointing to the
"

**

"

soyth.

*'

It dies

out

in the

distance.

If it does

The

2l6

Pirate.

Frozen

join the pole there, may the devil rise before

I speak.
I had hoped
and fury !
Tbunder
as
it shrivelled to an ordinary berg !
see

not
me

"

to

"

What

! in

his stupor
He

week

had

lasted

not

returned

no

answer

full of consternation
And

"

are

continent

to

we

breaks

?'' cried

and
wait
?"

up

longer.
Ind
gaped
passion.

for

"

bawled.

him

about

deliverance

our

he

believed

if I

I, as

tillthis

The

day

of

judgment will be a thing of the past by that time.

Travellingnorth ! 'sdeath ! he roared, his m'^uth
full of the
and
expletives of his day, French
could
Who
but
madman
a
English.
suppose
"

"

that

this ice is not

it is moored

which

to
was

no

furious

terrified
in

"

the

And

circle
it

ago
he

white
in

faintness

azure

antarctic

six months

now

into

gaze

the

as

Why,

it is

bigger than

vanishing
It

fixed

as

sent

solitudes
west.
south-

the

I was
as
thing to reason
upon.
much
he
the
as
disappointed
trifling
changes
by
the gale had
made, and my heart felt very heavy at
the
sight of the great field disappearing in the
south.
The
bergs in the north signifiedlittle.
It is true
they indicated demolition, but demolition
not

was

so

slow

be

questioned that the

but

at

frozen
what

as

to

be

to

island

us.

It

not

was

to

proceeding north,
perhaps, might be a
of fortyor
crescent
fiftyleagues and at
speed, appreciable enough to be of the
what

rate

body travel
J looked

was

Here,

least consequence
a

worthless

at

to

our

calculations, should

the

such
c

Frenchman.

2lS

The

that nature
that

would

conscience

my

Assuredly in

such

have

wasted

so

still a

with

away

be

befall him,

lying

so

it was

case

him

like

in

impossible

should

again, and

comatose

would

Pirate.

make

it would

something

lay to

Frozen

mean

ing
becom-

as

dead.

one

this hand

not

to

me

that

drop of brandy in returning

evil,white-livered,hectoring old rascal to a life
an
that
him
smelled
and
the
like of
foully with
a

him.
It

was

day that the

if
was
vitality

did

.Ad

not

try

in the
lot warmth
sorely: there
of
the
and
I
heated
with
was
light
clambering.
sun,
So I stayed a full half-hour
after my companion had
vanished
examining the ice about the schooner ;
which
careful inspectionrepaid me
extent
to the
if
that
blasts
of gunpowder
of giving me
to see
by
in rupturing the ice ahead
I could succeed
of the
bows
of
there was
schooner's
a
very good chance
she
which
the mass
on
lay going adrift. Yet I
ness
will fnot deny that though I recognized this busifor
chance
I
could
of dislocation as our
only
be
done
in the way
little
of
to
or
nothing
see
boded
buildinga boat proper to swim and ply I foreme

"

"

dismal

succeed

In

fine,what

I feared

would

schooner

to

adventure,

our

in separatingthis block

we

and

issue

that

was

the

overset

the

should

even

the main.

from

of

weight

ice and

drown

the
her

us.

**

the
*'

its
((

I entered

himself

his

the

ship and

found

Tassard

roasting

in the cook-house.

melancholy is this gloom,"

gloriouswhite sunshine !
How

said

I, after
"

"

Yes,"

said

he,

'*

but

it is

warm.

That

is

Merry

Evening.

219
V-i

for

enough

of all

man

should

spirit.To

be

when

brave

for any three men

have made
flea would

now

but

I feel

the

on

^?h

rigourone
I defy a

is half-frozen.

he

match

It robs

blubber.

life on

fed all one's

have

to

man

the cold, say I.

grapple with this

Curse

me.

heights

run."

me

bricks and
filled his
pulleda pot
pannikin.
I have been surveyingthe ice,"said I,drawing
from

He

the

"

the

to

furnace,

we

wiselybestow

we

shall succeed

we

are

and

have

that

little doubt

very

if

powder in great quantities

the bed
which
on
dislocating

the

in

lying.'*

"Good!''

he

cried.

after ?"

"

But

''

What

"

As

much

not

be

will

*'

of

deep

in

capsize
heavy by

this bed

as

icebergs,as

be
may
of course

of their

consequence
the wasting of the

This
should

said I.

"

block

know,

you

becoming top-

bulk

will make

dislodged

but

is submerged.

that
a

small

berg

liberate it,and I very much

fear that
it the
will overset
weight of the schooner

the

instant
"

his
its

we

we

are

of

launched."
"

Moses

he cried angrily,
!
Body
knitting
he
stretched
the
half
to
brows, whereby
scar
usual width, what's to be done, then ?
She is a full ship,*'
said I, and weighty. If
"

"

'*

"

the

liberated

and

have
We
keep it under.
direction,perhaps. Yet

that

ioe

consideration.
"

Why

"

be

She
he

thin

may

she
a

rightto
there

leak like

exclaimed.

sit up

may

"

She

is

hope

'rf""

it

on

in

another

sieve ! "
took

the

ice

"

4"-i'.-i|

Frozen

The

220

smoothly
tight as a

has

she

been

not

bottle before

of ice will have

like this does

Pirate!.

she

from

suffer

the

and

she

stranded
her

cherished

not

strained

was

as

coating
ship
of lying

stout

six months

I.

up!"
months, thought I !
Well, it may be as you

Six
"

four

say

but

leaks

if she

keep her free."

He exclaimed
hotly, ''Mr. Rodney, if we are to
venture
must
we
something. To stay
escape,
I am
death
in the end.
here means
persuaded
main
that this ice is joinedwith some
vast
body
it will

not

be

in

that

and

far south

there, then,

our

to

wait

to

arms

it does

not

for?

flourish of the

If she

sullen

His

determination

fall

I had

promise in
capsizes then

with

it to his

savage

lipsand

it.

drained

or

And

pannikin he put

is

is

There

gunpowder proposal.
your
the devil will get his own."

What

move.

by my scheme
for some
looked
he

swagger

not

was

could
and

do

ply his

of his anecdotes

and

useful

more

in which

recollections

I pulledout
of his courage.
my
observed
that it was
call it,and

stand
to

in him,

weighing ideas

little
can,

should

we

very

shrewdness

and
originating

capacityof
found

that

than

some

not

watch,
hard

as

but

and

curse

he found
and

me.

most
a

little

I must

upon

one

o'clock.

lucky,"said he, eying the watch greedily

from
and coming to it away
the great subject of
deliverance
our
as
though the sight of the fine
gold thing with its jewelled letter extinguished
that you removed
that
every other thought in him,
**

'Tis

*'

mi

";-l

Merry

A
from

Evening.

221

But he will have carried

other good thingsto the bottom with him, I fear."
"
I took away," said
His flask and tobacco-box
"
I.
besides. "
He had nothingof consequence
"They must go into the common-chest," cried

watch

Mendoza.

'"""i;

**

'tisshare and share,you know."

"Ay," said I, "but what I found on Mendoza
If I
is mine by the highestrightunder heaven.
had not taken the things,
theywould now be at the
bottom of the sea."
he

of that?"

"What

savagely. "If we
she mighthave been
galleon,

cried he

had not plundered

the
wrecked and taken all she had down
Yet should such a consideration hinder
between
with
the
to do
"
in it?
as

us

between

"

and
pillage

me

with her.
sion
a fair divi-

you who had nothing

who
risked my life

be it as you say,'*
ing
appearthere
for
to consent,
was
something truly
absurd in an
altercation about
few guineas'
a
worth of booty in the fice of our
melancholyand
situation ; thoughitnot onlyenabled
most
perilous
I

said, Very well

"

to

me

send
than

man

deeperglance into
had

yet been

understand
which
furious quarrels
made

me

reason

the mind

of this

able to manage,
but
for the bloodyand

againand againarisen
the brink of eternity,
on
persons standing
among
of drink or the sightof a shiphad
to whom
a cup
been more
than the contents
of the Bank
precious
of England.
I set about gettingthe dinner.
Whilst you are at that work," cried he, starting
have

"

"

up,

I'lloverhaul the pockets of the bodies or^

^'^'fV:m
"4;

"

'"

Pirate.

Frozen

The

222

deck;" and, picking up a chopper, away he went,

and I heard him cursing in his native tongue
as
he stumbled
to the companion-ladderthrough the
darkness
His

leave
deck

pockets
I did

alone.

besides

and

one

work

for

with

diamonds,

of

have

from

my
peace.
Should
not

with

snuff-box
**

**

to

the

gold snufF-box set

Spanish pieces in gold.

ice

came

hard

and

after

But

to

poor

with

away

the

longer lovely to
guffaw, then stuffed
the

been

imbeciles

intervals

I had

whilst
but

sacrifice

to

and

rapturous grin.

were

re

cried, viewing the watch

he

to

searched

at, I expect ?
and
No," he answered, pocketing them
"
I knocked
piece of beef in the oven.

They

pockets.
nose

*'

beauties

these

have

we

Ah,

and

that
seeingthese things I remembered
found
some
rings and money in his pockets
fire ;
to obtain
overhauling him for means
'*

The

he arrived.

I had

when

on

left him

the time
taken

not

cold.

On

held

was

hammering

in the

by

also

few

deal

I had

and

his task.

I should

pocket

tinder-box

him

to

dinner

my

the mate's

to

the watch

produced

turned

bear

groan,
!

finished

I had
He

of them

him

envy

had

he

I with

thought
make

not

figureswould

frozen

There

in the hold, yet he could

of the two
wretches
poor

treasure

the

credence.

beyond

rapacitywas

immense

an

cabin.

in the

of

"

come

turning

wrenching got at
! d'ye know,
Trentanove
the mask

of ice !

sight!"

He

his mouth

chewing.

full and
**

There

He

broke

was

fou

away

little

the

the

his

bar

is
into

talked

fro

no
a

in

nothing

worth

not

The

I stood

to

They

both

are

board."
over-

'*

he.

They are no good on

against the rail,then tipped

them

over."

This
much

was

illustration of his

an

did not

strength I

relish.

"

I doubt

"

Not

if I could
!"

you

"

me.

of

223

I cried.

Why, yes," said

Ah,
m

I"

Overboard

"

them

on

Barros.

on

"

deck.

was

taking

Evening.

Merry

have lifted Barros," said I.

exclaimed, running his eye over

he

Dutchman

dead

would

have

the

weight

fairyalongside Barros."

said I, " since you are

so
will be very
useful
scheme.
to
our
strong, you
There
is much
to be done."
"

Well, Mr.

"

Give

me

Tassard,"

sketch

you,"
heartily.

very

First of

"

the
them

should

You

out

There

whole

are

shall

have

to

magazine

and

to

find

stores

what

in the

you

He
**

"

'*

want

run," he

plied.
re-

splitswide enough to receive

powder," said I. "I counted
all happilylying in a line athwart

of

yawns

sink
ice past the bows.
I propose
to
barrels twenty feet deep, where
they must
a

hoist

tackles, I suppose

the

from

break

some

barrel

four such

we

of the

able

be

**

are

the boatswain's

among

I,

There

deck.

on

*'

"

all,"said

powder- barrels

of your

plans,that I may
exclaimed, continuing to eat

he

understand

piece of

spar

across

the

these

hang

aperture."

nodded.
Have

you

any

Plenty among

slow-matches
the

aboard

"

gunner'sstores,"he replied.

'^1

Pirate.

Frozen

The

224

and
me,'* said I
you
mind
We
must
operationswill take time.
"

There

be blown

by

up

"

"

shall have

their matches

burn

to

barrel whilst

one

We

another.
with

'*

we

would

hours

Well, that

the several

least

be timed

hour," he exclaimed.

an

depend

blasts which
least

distribute

splitsin

barrels

be better."

must

of at

must

the

theymust

the

upon

with.
meet
we
parcelsof matches
a
good many mines to spring,and
'Tis the
explode before another.

we

to

not

hour.

an

contents

these

ing
suspend-

are

lower

to

fire and

on

at
Ay, certainly,

Two

"

but

are

such

four

united

not

force of
The

on.

of

powder

chinks

the other

amonjcst

parcels as

must

one

barrels

more

of

will be

There

reckon

must

we

number

they will be able

to

and
re-

ceive.

""And
"And

then," said I, "we

and

He

from

trust

made

talk to
that

then?"

we
a

to

the mercy

sort

of

"

remain

should
distance

Why, remain
Suppose the

on

"

board

en

mines

board

or

watch

propose

the effects

"

of

course,"

liberated

the

it floated away,
distance, do ? "

lies and

watching at

we,

to

face, as if this was

him, and said, Do you

nauseate

the schooner

of Heaven

explosion
help us."

hideous

"

"

aw^ait the

must

I answered.

ice

on

what

which
should

but it is cursed
True," cried he,
perilous.
The
explosionmight blow the ship up.'*
shall be
We
bad
No, it will not do that.
The
bring such a thing about.
engineers if we
danger will be
providingthe schooner is released
"

"

"

226
about

set

the business

weather
blow

being

Frenchman

sensualist

could

terror

have

I had

But

his

I believe

that

him

forced

pleasure by a
with
puffingso deliberately,
a

to

him

see

he

but

with

rose

lanthorn.

the

black

cried he,

Now,"

And

"

plete
com-

short

the
He

of

period

went

on

leisurelyenjoyment
I expected

that

smoke,

work."

first business
in the

stores

seized

and

prodigiousyawn

Our

ashes.
to

the boatswain's

among

so

was

shorten

as

the

asleep ; and my patience becoming

I jumped up ; but by this time his bowl

nothing

'*

of the

to

for

nothing

such

on

forced

to wait

time.

of

the

fall

exhausted

held

flavour

to

of

came

be

He

pipe.

second

of the

should

again we

empty

to

account

on

once,

for if it
still,

hatches.

under

Pirate.

at

fair and

wind

stormy

before

of

Frozen

The

hunt

to

was

for tackles

run

a
powder-barrelsup with. There was
have
in
been
expected
good collection, as might
in
whose
a
commerce
slinginggoods
pirate
lay
from other ships'holds into her own
but the ropes
;
frozen
hard
iron, to remedy which we
as
were
as

to

hoist the

carried

an

armful

tackles

to

lie and

the cook-house
rope

used

for

to

the

cook-house, and

soften.

We

conveyed

quantityof ratline stuff

making

of the

steps

"

to

thin

in the shroud

; this being a line that would

suspend the smaller parcels of

ladders
to

also

left the

touching
splits. Before
put a lightedcandle into the

the

the

door

and

removed

Tassard

with

the

contents

was

of

the

exactlyserve
powder in the
powder-barrels we
bull's-eyelamp over

lanthorn

to

perfectly well
this

storeroom,

""

safe distance.

acquainted
and

on

my

'

"(

Merry

Evening.

227

of
one
asking for the m"itches
on
put his hand
several
bags of ihein. They varied in length,
some
making a big
being six inches and some
coil.
it
There
for
but
to sample and
was
nothing
and

this I told

test

them,

that

evening.

The

of the gun-room

main

oyster with

an

open

broke

in his

oaths

frozen

be

labour

; but

as

man
French-

old-fashioned

imagining

I don't doubt

though

open.

trying

as

The

strange

many

done

cover

bad

soft blade.

tongue,

own

seized

we

be

justforward
a
handspike

was

prizethe

to

into

out

could

hatch

bulkhead

apiece and went to work

It was
desperatetough
to

Tassard

hatch

the

("""

A,.

...'t

to

frost had

the

mainly
something to do with it,its obstinacywas
that
had
soldered
to
to
time,
it,
so
owing
speak,
stubbornness
with the
that eight-and-forty
years
will

communicate

cherished
We

and

to

kept

know
lower
over

on

the

there

which

ice

be

pleased

of

"

the

main

deck

"

done

much,

but

what

we

done

the

immediately
returning

the

had

to

and

barrels
powder-room
hoisting away
ready for slinging and
should
have rigged a tackle aloft.
We

rolled

the

to

has

in

hatch

another

was

or

upper

last

at

open

speaking

am

for

deck,
it

fixture

sound.

got the hatch

that

had

forward
when

we

had

not

far

eaten

into the afternoon.

"

am

Frenchman.

good

"

"

progress.

*'

Let

No
the

hungry
knock

us
use

and

said
thirsty,"

ofF.

opening

vessel
is cold
to-night:
hermeticallycorked."
Very well," said I, bringingmy

hatch
when

and

tired

We
the

the

made

have

main-deck

enough
watch

to

even

the
*

"'";i:^

The

"2"

i
observing the time to be sundown
extinguishingthe candle in the bull'scarefully
of us a bag of matches
took
each
lamp, we

lanthorn
so,

eye
and

Pirate.

Frozen

and

to

went

There

the

cook-room.

neither

was

tea

nor

coffee in the

ship.

pined for these soothing drinks that I would

for a few
in the
vessel
have given all the wine
A
senseless, ungracious
pounds of either one of them.
yearning,indeed, in the face of the plenty
aboard
the
that was
! but it was
plenty,perhaps,
that provoked it. There was
chocolate,which the
frothed and drank
Frenchman
with
ment
hearty enjoyso

which

also

he

he

handfuls

devoured

would

down

wash

me
sick,and for
things made
the spirits
and wine, the
upon
that it promised
so
generous

enforced
me

fat ;

of my

laziness
so

that

I mention

to

of

am

prove
this here

drink

I should

that you

These

forced

was

which

combine

to

had

have
to

may

was

with

hatches

opinion

burden

succades,

wine.

latter of

life under

for the ice to release us,

corpulent as

with

of

make

to

we

the

waited

become

so

myself.
find

an

excuse

of drinking
in the way
only act of folly
that I can
in
whilst I was
lay to my account
this pirate; for I must
tell you that, on
returning
refresh us after our
to the furnace, we,
to
labour,
I drank so plentibowl of punch, of which
made
a
fully
that I began to feel myself very
I
merry.
and my resolution to
forgot all about the matches
that night. The
them
test
Frenchman, enjoying
tillhis little
to pledge me
condition,continued
my
in his head.
danced
Luckily for me, being
eyes
of a very jollydisposition,
drink never
at bottom
in it for

the

served

Evening

Merry

than

229

qualityin
No
could
me.
man
ever
some
quarrelsay that I was
in my cups.
marked
My progress was
by
stupid smiles, terminatingin unmeaning laughter.
The

worse

me

Frenchman

sang

Picardy, and
of

the

the

Oak,"

shrugging

develop

to

ballad

like,and

sentiments

his

about

I gave

him

which

song

of

shoulders

that

love
"

and

Hearts

kept him
di^unkenlylooking

and

contempt.
continued

We

time, until
I

at

was

He

me.

the

singing alternately for some

he fell to setting up his throat when
this confused
and
work, and
stopped

then

Pirate's
with

ment,

favoured

what

called

he

movevery wild, grotesque

be hurt
to
elegance whatever

Dance,
no

with

me

'

by

I think
I see
him
being in liquor; and
whipping off his coat, and sprawling and
now,
red waistin high boots
and
coat,
a
flapping about
flourishinghis arms, snapping his fingers,
and again burstinginto a stave
and now
to
keep
his

step
the

done, I took the floor with

doublehornpipe, whistling the air, and

to.

When

he

was

and
toe-and-heeling.
shuffling,
leg to another very briskly.
the bulkhead
graspinga can
roaring loudly at my antics

down,

breathless, would

quiveriAgfrom one
He
lay back against
half full of punch,
;

have

and
had

when
me

I
go

sank
on,

of
scores
hiccuping that though he had known
that dance
seen
English sailors,he had never
better performed.
and
extremely excited
By this time I was
judg*
extraordinarily
merry, and losinghold of my
to
indulge in sundry pleasantries
nient, began

Pirate.

Frozen

The

230

asking
concerning his nation and countrymen,
it
with many
that
was
explosionsof laughter,how
of
at the' trouble
they continued
buildingships for
to
us
use
against them, and if he did not think
the
de
"flower
louse"
neater
a
symbol for
and
into their soup
stricted
repeople vho
put snuff
c

their

ablutions

to

their

faces

to

consider

tricolour,being .too muddled

the

than
that

ignorantof that flag; and in short I was

offensive,in spiteof my ridiculous merriment,

he

was

his

with

English
condition

callingme

by

between

laughed
enraged him

from,

and

starting
clapped

he
wildly rolling,
if feelingfor a sword,
word, bade
ugly French

very
he would

him

at

show

and

Frenchman

feet and

and

on,

advanced

recollect

to

the

drunken

his

his little eyes

to his side, as

his hand

come

him

that

assailed

He

out.

injuriousterm

every

suffered

with

up

broke

nature

savage

so

with

all my

that, swaying

if to fall upon
as
the
tuftibled over

and

of

beast

to

man.
English-

an

might, which so
right and left,he
I started

me.

bench

lay sprawling;
close to him, he kicked

and

me

difference

the

me

and

to

had

jumped

bench

the

my

setting
over-

against it and

fell
m

fetching the
groaned heavilyand
too,

I tried

the

rise,but

to

of

fumes

recollect
When

no

the

deck

hard
very
that he
muttered

blow.

killed.

was

legs gave way,

punch overpowered

and

my

He

me,

then

for

more.

I awoke

legs, and feet

burning brass.

it

was

seemed
I

pitch
formed

thought

was

dark.
of

My

ice, my
in

my

hands,
head

oi

cot, and

wil

A
ff*(twith
bald

head, which

loud

cry

and

and

never

be
was

reason

recollection

such

when

senses

my

of

need

all

his

I !

as

The

in

wretch

any

drown

to

as

myself for my folly

! thought I, that 1

God

Good

cold

I uttered

Then

erect.

mad

so

Tassard's
that

me

heartilycursed

wickedness.

should

terrified

so

sprang

returned,and

231

till I touched

hands

my

Evening.

Merry

boatswain's

tinder-box

in

was

pocket ;

my

lighted it. It was

after three in the morning. Tastwenty minutes
his legs
his back, snoring hideously,
sard lay on
I pulled and
overhanging the capsized bench.
I

groped, found

hauled

he

pile of

him

my

clothes

had

freeze

to

his

cabin

When

of

insulted

on

death

awake,

I fetched

and

'

covered

coat.

horribly,but
I

not

considered

in bloodshed

ended

to

'"""","

out

ached

heart.
have

not

drunk

too

was

put his head

head

might

he

might

up, and

My

candle, and

him, but

at

that

and

how
and

than

worse
our

orgy

murder, how

God's

providence by drinking and

laughing and roaring out songs and dancing at a
I most
His
needed
time when
protection,with
Death
standing close beside me, as I may
say,
I could
head
the
deck
beaten
have
against
my
contrition
and
shame.
in the
anguish of my
was
so
My passionof sorrow
extravagant, indeed,
that I remember
as
looking at the Frenchman
if he

the

was

himself

in my

might tempt

to

way
me

these

with

devil

thirst,but

incarnate, who
and

thaw

recover,

had

that

put
he

tunately
Forloss of my soul.
I was
fancies did not last.
parched
on

the

to

the

v/ater

was

ice, and

there

was

':rA-^~^

232

fire to

no

chips

Frozen

melt

it with

forehead.

I went

held

cabin

to

my
head

hammock, but my
and
I
so
furiously,
sides,that I could
deathly still; there

was

so

was

off

bivke

so

them, and

sucked

and

t^iRATfi

The

lump to
got intp

and

myself

with

vexed

my
my

arhed

hoi, and

so

some

he-

was
sleep. The schooner
not
apparentlythe faintest
was
in her ; nothing
echo
of air to awaken
an
murmur
and
distant cracking of the
spoke but the near
It was
ice.
miserable
work
lying in the cabin
sleepless and
reproaching myself, and as
my
of its f "fmidablethe cold
burning head robbed

I resolved

ness,
turn

to

The

night

deck

so

wonderfully

was

with

crowded

of

great spaces
turned

on

go

and

take

brisk

two.

or

dusk

not

my
and

eyes

stars

cloth

northwards

that

fine

in parts it

of silver
to

the

velvet

the

bled
resem-

hovering.

stars

down

low

thought of England and the home where

I was
brought up until the tears gathered, and
with
them
ing
went
something of the dreadful burnThose
distant,silent,
aching out of my head.
of
shining bodies amazingly intensified the sense
and
loneliness and remoteness,
ern
yonder Southmy
and
the luminous
dust
Cross
of the Magellanic
there

clouds

country.
savage

white

seemed

It is
naked

still scene

not

not

in

beauty,
of ice,

farther

off than

language
the

wild

to

native

my

express

mystery

of

the
the

shining back to the stars

with alight that owed
nothing to their glory; nor
how
the whole
was
heightened to every
convey
of fear,put into the picture
sense
by the element
of
the
the
by the sounds
splittingice, and

The

234
schooner's
several

so

Pirate.

thither side

bow, the

higher than
which

on

this.

on

vessel

the

It

being
plainthat
dropped

was

rested

upright,and

bring her

to

as

starboard

feet

the bed

Frozen

had

convinced

was

alone, that if I used good

by this circumstance
judgment in disposingof the powder the weight
tion.
dislocaof the
would
mass
complete its own
I

stepped a little way forward

clearer sight of the splits about
and
on
puttingmy head over, I was
dismayed and confounded
by the

to

obtain

the

schooner,
inexpressibly
apparitionof
before
with his arms
stretched
out
him,
a man
his face upturned, and his posture that of starting
I
back
as
though terrified at beholding me.
several
with
had
met
frightswhilst I had been
than
this island, but none
this, none
worse
on
that

completely paralyzed
of the power
nearly depriveme
so

stared

him, and

at

I know

and

which

not

motionless.

he

The

seemed
of the

whiteness

of
to

two

made

to

as

me

very

breathing.
stare

the

was
a

at

me,
more

lightof

its

perfectlyplain. I blinked and

illusion of
puffed, conceiving it might be some
the wine I had drunk, and findinghim still there,
off in terror,
and actingas though he warded
me
if
had led him to
showing myself unawares
as
my
I say finding him
the devil
think me
perfectly
he

and

own,

was

"

real,I
have
to

was

seized

rushed

the

task

to

of

with

my

an

cabin

agony

had

of fear,and
my

transporting me

legs been
there.

thought I, idiot that you are, what think

fool, is it but the body of Trentanove

should

equal
Then^

you, you
}
Sure

enough

and

it was,

the rail,I

over

saw

lyingclose

Barros

the

was

should

Eveming.

235

puttingmy head a littlefarther

the figure of the Portuguese
under
of

movement

Italian into the

he

Merky

the
the

ice that had

shot

it
the

life-like posture, it being incredible

fallen

have

on

so

tumbled

being

But there
by the Frenchman.
against a lump of ice, looking as

frozen

doubt

No

bends.

posture

as

he

ever

had

he was,

hving

showed

board
over-

resting
in his
in

the

cabin.
The
and

got into

hour

did

shock

or

so

my

my

good ; I went
after tossingfor

head

cot, and

fell asleep. I awoke

and

went

below
half
to

an

the

1 found
Tassard
cook-house, where
preparing
the
a
breakfast, and
great fire burning. I
what
hardly knew
give me,
reception he would
and was
therefore not a little agreeably surprised
by his thanking me for covering him up.
have
You
than mine/* said
a
stronger head
he.
The
made
me
punch used you well. You
laugh,though. You was
very diverting."
too
**Ay, much
divertingto please myself,"
*'

**

said I

and

sounded

him

to
cautiously

his memory
carried of my
that he recollected nothingmore
what

with

remark

insults,but found
than

that I danced

vigour,and sang well.

I said nothing about
contrition,
my going on
my
deck, and the like,contentingmyself with asking
if he had heard the explosion in the night.
No," cried he, staringand lookingeagerly.
Well, then," said I, there has happened a
mighty crack in the ice,and I do soberlybelieve
that with the blessingof God
shall be able by
we
**

**

"

Frozen

The

236
blasts of

powder

schooner

rests.'*
!"

Good

"

this meal.

free the

to

cried

he

block

let

weather

?"

*'

I have
Quiet, I believe.
since the explosion aroused

which

on

come,

"

is the

How

Pirate.

hurry with

us

been

not

deck

on

early this

me

the

morn-

mg.
Whilst

he

ate

we

said,

"

Suppose

the

get

we

afloat,what do you propose ?

if she
Why," I answered,
tight and
prove
"

schooner

"

"

what

seaworthy,
"

**

but

shift

to

I alone

and

What, you
No," said

her home

carry

the

to

"

?"

I, "certainly not;

sail her

nearest

must

make

port, and

ship

we

crew."
He

do

looked

at

and
attentively,

me

home

by
England," said
He
shrugged his
mean

you

French,

Tis

"

What

((

I.

'"

"

said,

"

shoulders

and

exclaimed

in

natural."

Then

proceeding in
English, Pray," said he, showing his fangs, do
know
that
the Boca
del Dragon
is a
not
you
be
to
pirate? Do you want
hanged that you
her to a port to ship men
to carry
?
propose
"

*^

"

''

I have

she'll

years

Look

ye
*'

passion,
nonsense

Rodney,"

here, Mr.

let's have
about

you please on
It needs
more

forgeta

fear of that," said I ; " after all these

clean forgotten as
be as
if she had

existence."

had

never
**

no

no

You

years.

that
than

more

point,but
a

craft that has

few

of
may

this
be

it shan't

months

carried

cried

on

to

such

he

in

snivelling

as

mad

hang
make

as
me.
men

traffic

as

You'll

hold represents.

our

No,

for

am

sleptthe

I've

What,

see.

friend.

my

and
;

know

you

no,

betray our
generosity?

find

not

into any

the schooner

myself nor
men.

Eventng.

Merry

venturing

me

of your ports for

in no
stupor now,
off

punch
and

treasure

also, d'ye

be

hanged

"

our

He

made

me

bow, grinning with

ironical

an

wrath.

said I.
Let's get the schooner
afloat first,"
Ay, that's all very well," he cried ; " but
better stop here than dangle in chains.
No, my
"

*'

plan must be a very different one from

share
want
proposal. I suppose
your
you
your
of the booty ?
said he, snapping his fingers.
I deserve
it,"said I, smiling,that I might
soften his passion.
friend

; our

"

"

"And

would

yet you

the age,
thousands
of

pirateof
of

should

with

convey

the

plunder in

her

doubloons,

to

most
to

noted

the value

port in which

we

find

ships of war, a garrison,

magistrates,
prisons,and the whole of
governors,
the machinery it is our
business to give our
stern
in
Ma
out
to !
are
foi, Mr. Rodney ! sure
you
than your reckoning of time ?
something more
doubtless

*'

*'

What

do
"

you

propose

"

said I.

exclaimed, whilst his little eyes

twinkled with cunning, now
you speak sensibly.
do I propose
?
We
What
must
This, my friend.
the
schooner
island
and
to
an
bury the
navigate
head
for
then
the
treasure
shipping highways,
;
and obtain help from
any friendlymerchantmen
"

Ha

he

"

we

may

fall in

Tortugas.

with.

There

we

Home

with

shall find the

us

means

company

the
we

''fife

The

238
need

to

We

for

recover

shall

by

come

this treasure
the

vessel

sighted us

our

would

! the

clean

make

much

imagine
been

but

to

this

reflect,and

then

sense

certainlysee

of

the wisdom

leave

we

that

then,

anything

will
you
would
have
brows

"

Well,

bury

the

board

on

is

say.

you

advice

your

and

there

in what

should

we

and

my

said,

great deal of plain,good

must

him

knitted

Nor

scheme

with

reason

that

first cruiser
"

madness.

mere

seemed

to

defend

to

sweep,
Rodney !

relished

sail with

to

crew

hand

ho, for the hangman, Mr.

How

But

without

"

hidden.

shall have

we

then.

own

this

by

"

what

us

board

on

Pirate.

Frozen

in

commending
re-

treasure.

to

convict

ship of her true character."

His greedy eyes sparkledwith self-complacency.
and
He tapped his forehead
cried, Trust to this.
There
is mind
behind
this surface.
Your
plan
for
is great ; mine
for releasing the
schooner
is great too.
You
the
are
preservingthe treasure
sailor. I the strategist
genius,
; by combining our
the

"

shall oppose

we

and

invulnerable

an

end

must

our

days

front

as

to

Princes.

sity,
adverYour

'*

hand, Paul !
him
I laughed -^nd gave
he
hand, which
my
squeezed with many contortions of face and figure;
but though I laughed I don't know
that I ever
so
disliked

much

leeringrogue
**

our

Come

!"

work."

matches, and
well.

The

and
as

at

distrusted
that

and

feared

the

old

moment.

cried 1, jumping up, " let's get about

And
with that I pulled open
a
bag of
fell to

fire ate

testing

into

them

them.
as

They burnt
smoothly as if

\K

We

they

had

thickness.

one

fired them

and
lengths,

burnt

one

was

and

each

MiNES.

THE

prepared the day

been

all of

were

EXPLODE

out

and waited

two

before.
them

cut

minutes

239

to

in hand

watch

the

before

They
equal

lengthtook about ten minutes

This was
good enough to base

other,

to

sume.
con-

lations
calcu-

my

upon.

CHAPTER
WE

XXI.

EXPLODE

THE

MINES.

designto weary you with a close account

we
proceedings. How
opened the mainhatch, riggedup tackles,
clappingpurchases

I don't
of

our

deck

the

to

on

the capstan
falls,
as

immovable
and

deck
them

we

we

to

serve

and

bags

which
The

found

measured

coupleof

side

the

over

frozen and

hoisted the

we

then, by tackles

bags which
how

how

hard

was

powder-barrels on
the foreyard,
lowered

on

how

filled

we

number

in the forecastle with

the cracks

of

powder ;

in the ice and

sawed

as

into lengths
booms
spare studding-sail
beams
whereby to poise the barrels

would

would

be

Frenchman

make

but

sailor's

talk,half of

and the
unintelligible

worked

hard, and

rest

some.
weari-

snatched

we

only half an hour for our dinner. The splitthat

had happened in the ice duringthe night showed
by daylightas a gulf betwixt eightand ten feet
wide at the seawards end, thinningto a width of
three feet,never
the ship, in a
howed

as

less,to where
hundred

if a thunderbolt

it

cracks
had

ended, ahead
in the

fallen

of

ice that

just there.

'f:i

The

240

Pirate.

Frozen

black as a
into this rent, but it was
as
well past a certain depth,and there was
no
gleam
of water.
When
the side to roll our
went
over
we
I looked

first barrel of

powder

to

the

spot where

marched
it,the Frenchman
figureof Trentanove, and with no more
lower

to

meant

we

the

to

up

reverence

boy would show in throwing a stone at a

He
then
jackass,tumbled him into the chasm.
swain,
stepped up to the body of the Portuguese boatand rolled
fissure,
dragged him to the same
than

him
''

into it.
There

"

cried

he ;

"

they

now

properly

are

buried."
with

And

this

he

with

coolly on

went

his

work.

disgusted
nothing,but was secretly
heartily
of his miserable shipmates'
with this brutal disposal
mine ;
remains.
his doing,not
However, it was
I said

and

I confess

was

both

the removal

very great relief to

how Tassard
had

brought to by
the

manner,

treatment,
Frenchman

by buryingthem
It blew
the

labour,and

I felt

all

weather
the

as

might have been

though, after a

committed

murder

so.

small breeze

o'clock in the

sidered
con-

awakened, and how

been

had

albeit when

me,

the boatswain

and

the mate

silent witnesses

of those

keeping
morning when
sun

had

been

day

the

from
It

fine.
we

sunk

few

ten

was

started
a

west,
south-

on

our

minutes

by the time we had riggedthe last whip for the

loweringand poisingof the powder. This left us
nothing to do in the morning but light the
and then
matches, lower the powder into position,

The

243

and

the

carry

subject fired
the

that

mere

schooner

the

to

had

this ice, and

such

nonsense

to

nauseous

the

tenfold

me.

his

since

passed

not

The

Tortugas.

his blood, and it was

naming of it was

Eight-and-forty
years
fell in with

Pirate.

Froze:!

ship

treasure

purchased for him the sight

of the younp"est of
of so much
as
singlebone
a
of seeking
he idly dreamt
associates
whom
those
of.
and shipping and
Yet,
sailingin command
his scheme, having regard to the
imbecile as was
half-centurythat had elapsed,I clearlywitnessed
that it implied. His views were
the menace
to me
to be read
as
plainlyas if he had delivered them.
he meant
th^t I should
foremost
First and
help
island and bury the
him
to an
to sail the schooner
which
take the
he would
done
plate and money
;
His
chance
of
first opportunity to murder
me.
meeting with a ship that would lend him assistance
would
be as good if he
to
navigate the schooner
hold

in the

alone

were

would

be

hinder

him

buried

the

in her

with

serve

as

that

he

have

as

if I

were

on

board

There

too.

nothing, then, in this consideration

from
cutting my throat after we
and

treasure

would

motives
away

might

me

him

imperatively urge
that
first,

witness

alone

to

his

should

I should

being

make

to

be

not

Two

able

pirate,and

the

possess

had

north.

got

were

to

next

of

secret

to

the

treasure.

He

little knew

what

passing

was

surveyed me
through the
spoutingup from his death's-head
but I saw
easilyand confidentially,

as

"yes

he

of my

murderer,

and

was

so

in my

curls

of

pipe.

mind
smoke

I talked

in his gaze
the
of his intensure

We

tions that

there, I

sat

am

certain

my
of his blood.

acquitted me
I passed two
before closing my
how

but

to

You

several
not

so.

headed
thawed
the
truth

and

of

the

business

would

have

but

in

an

evil hour

I had

at

discharge

to

by taking

mine.

The

all day,

work

too

planning,cutting,testing,

of

leisure

to

dwell

I went
my
to

to

at

the

cook-room

and

what

upon
that

"

sat

**

on

break

my
clear

breast

and

told

of the ice and

come

me

fire ;

lightedthe

companion presentlyarrived,and
our
morning meal.
I dreamt
last night,'*
said he,

down

we

sat

that

the

that

"i: ';S""5

was

bald-

to

like

was

that
the

wholly

hard

too

find

morrow

I lay
now
breakfast, and
in darkness
the only subject I could
alone
it was
settle my
thoughts to.
However,
next
myself less
morning I found
hours
of solid sleep.
several
to
gloomy, thanks
I thought, what
is the
good of anticipating?
is crushed
Suppose the schooner
by the ice or
under
are
jammed by the explosion? Until we
until the
is buried, I have
treasure
way,
nay,
out
withdo
cannot
nothing to fear, for the rogue
tae.
And, reassuringmyself in this fashion,
he

said

life

own

been

contriving,to
had

he

as

that my mind
must
suppose
with
considerations
of the

would

his

is, I had

full of

conscience

engrossed
of the
possibilities
My reflections ran
evil-eyedpiratewhom
into being, and who

debt

self-defence,

hours
in my
cot
uneasy
I could think
of nothing
eyes.
myself againstthe Frenchman's

been

have

in

243

most

secure

treachery.

him

I shot

had

Mines.

the

explode

we

devil

should

off safe with

the

-.Hi

The

244

treasure

Frozem

there

"

is

betrays his
have

"You
said

"

will

you
"

**

when

Pooh,

mere

I have

do

habit,"

off and

throw

cried

and

And

have

you

the Madonna

little wooden

knock

because

he fell to

here

that

he, sarcastically.

then

it overboard

increased."

I,"

arises."

praying to

of wind

gale

than

that

call upon

occasion

Barros

dom
sel-

loyaltyeither,seeing

his

the

seen

saint in

He

him

of

know

not

yourself and

saints

and

upon

cross

Fiend.

the

opinion

better

claim

much

loyaltyin

friends.*'

and

Pirate.

its head
the

storm

piously
im-

talkingvery

professingsuch an outrageous contempt

form
of religion,
and
for every
affirmingso ardent
belief in the goodwill of Satan
and
the like,that
a
bench
I quittedmy
at last in a
passion,and told
that he

him

for

that

and

nothing

but

be

must

devil

the

himself

awoke

part his sentiments

mv

the utmost

talk so,

to

in

loathing,and

scorn,

me

horror

of him.

of

His

face

fell,and

one

who

takes

feel
"

**

!"

Tut
are

may

your

with

me

of another

measure

But
savage

cried he, with

my
be a

sentiments

let

us

and

the

eye

does

not

feigned peevishness ;

to

for

Quaker

pannikin and

souls !

you,
all I

drink

or

yours

to

our

me

fill

Come,

care.

health

to

own

"

though

he

look

malice

pannikin
sulky.
We

at

sure.

what

you

looked

he

of

down

finished

his

our

said
at

face

meal

this
me,
was

in

grinning,he
and

when

very

he

clouded

silence,and

shot

put his
and

then

We

explode

Mines.

the

245

the gunwhat
see
saying, Let us now
powder
is going to do for us."
My risingarid sayingf hi worked a change in
him.
He
exclaimed
for the
briskly,
"Ay, now
made
a
nd
for
the
companiongreat experiment,"

i.M

'*

,-41
-

rose,

ViVM

"

steps with

air of bustle.

an

wind

The

before

as

blowing without

much

in

was

the

weight;

south-west,

but the

sky was

with great masses

of white clouds with a
overcast
tint of rainbows
in their shoulders and skirts,
amid

sky

which

the

Those

clouds
snow

seemed

anon

to

but there

operations.We

our

work

in

showed

clear

promisewind and perhaps

was
nothingto hinder
the

got

upon
the
to

fix matches

liquidblue.

ice,and

barrels

went

and

bags,
slingthem by the beams we had contrived
fired,
ready for lowering when the matches were
and this occupiedus the best part,of two
hours.
When
all was
readyI fired the first match, and we
lowered the barrel smartly to the scope of line
to

and

we

to

to

had

may

settled upon ;
worked
we

reckon

so

with

with

for the stufF we

handled

and if a barrel should

fall and

all
was

the others.

You

ness,
imaginablewari-

mighty deadly,

burst with the match

we
might be blown in an instant into rags,
alight,
it beingimpossible
to tell how deep the rents went.
less to fear,
there was
The bags being lighter
and
presentlyall the barrels and bags with the
matches
burningwere
poised in the places and
hanging at the depth we had fixed upon, and we

then

returned

breakinginto
his alarm

to
a

run

with the

the
and

schooner, the

Frenchman

the
tumbling over
of a monkey.
dexterity

rail in

"M^'

The

246
Each

Frozen

Pirate.

supposed to burn an hour, so

that
when
the several
explosionshappened they
as
might all occur
nearlyas possibleat once, and
had therefore a long time to wait.
The
we
gin
marmatch

was

look

may

despatch, but
consider

you

was

interminable

periodas

before

never

entered

The

man.

cold

about

move

coming
cast

our

under

in the

was

to

eyes

also

halt

to

over

the

the

the

control

ice.
noose

to

move

cart

and

standing
the neck

around
off.

My

own

I commanded

but

of his

my

hand, could

the other

on

torments

repeatedly
like

was

to

watches

our

It

of

had

we
we

at

the

became
torture
suspense
face.
The
Frenchman,
not

and

were

look

So

believe

I do

experiences

intense,

was

gallows with

waiting for

the

all that

exploding.

followed

now

into

but

of

way

if
have

not

that meanwhile

and

smooth,

very
lowered

our

it unnecessary

machinery might

our

of

face

the

think

will not

you

that

worked

in

unreasonable

expectation and

fear.
"

Holy Virgin !
blown

"

he

too

? suppose

the ice ? suppose

blocks which
in

it should

fallingupon

pulp ai^dsmash

the

are

At
for

one

up

moment

he

"

would

decks
would

cry,
are

we

be

vomited
us

must

we

suppose

engulphed

in

in vast

up

crush

us

to

"
in .-^

call himself

an

idiot

remaining on the rocks at a distance and

if to
make
as
watching the explosion,and even
jump off the vessel, then immediately recoil from
the idea 01
floor that
a
setting his foot upon
before
he could
take ten strides might splitinto
under
At
him.
chasms, with hideous
uproar
not

We
another
minute

if

that

companion

sight,but reappear
wildlyshaking his head and

waiting

it was

the

to

run

247

of my

out

two

or

Mines.

thb

he would

moment

descend

and

explode

insupportablein

was

times

thousand

ten

after
the

daylight,
gloom

in the

worse

ing
swear-

solitude of the interior.

and
I

too

was

and

nervous

myself

expectant

be

to
.

affected

by his behaviour ; but his dread of the

sensible
explosion upheaving lumps of ice was
enough to determine me to post myself under the
of the hatch and
there await the blast,for
cover
it

was

from

me

It
I

stout

the

would

certainlv

screen

lighterflyingpieces.

three

was

and

cover

four minutes

or

past the hour

and

watch
when
at
lookingbreathlessly
my
first of the explosionstook place. Before the
was

could

well

whole

of the

receive

or

beside

me,

the

suppose
make

more

twilightwas
white
with

smoke
such

had

been

fell

as

the

exploded along
parcels. Tassard,

with

out

if from

of noise.

the

but

smoke,
through
blocks
uphove they
the

did

and

was

not

kind

of

of

shook

of

persuaded
splintersof

rained

like

she

ice

arrows
','"),).:,

if there
not

were

touch

any
the

great

ship.
exploding in

Meanwhile, the
parcelswere
sometimes
and three at
their places,
two
and
sending a sort of sickening spasms
other

that 1

schooner

The

showers

sky,

had

he

rise of the volumes

that

split. Vast

stood

first-rate could

of the ice.

convulsion

the
some

who

his face, and I believed

hellish a thunder
It was
so

blowing up of
roar
frightful
caused by the

ear

blast

fell on

killed.

been

of

shock

barrels

fourteen

twelve

the

the

time,
throes

The

248

heard

the

of

fabric

the

through

and

vessel,

the

you

noises

extraordinary grinding
ice all about, as
though the
the powder crackled
through

most

of

Pirate.

Frozfn

the

rising
mighty rupture of
I durst
look forth till
not
leagues of the island.
be struck
all the pov/der had
burst, lest I should
by some
flyingpiece of ice,hut unless the schooner
sound
she
as
before,
was
as
was
injured below
out

in the

and

exact

only that
slope of her

the

I called to
"

Are

"

No,

trick

to

beside

cried, as

in the

thunder

so

be

the

that

beyond

the

other

and

us

but

"

I believe

the
"

powerful shock !
bags blew up together
a

was

of

known

that

weak

weaknesses, and

they

ruptures

its first effects

one

'*

and

the

rending

ice

heavy explosions of the gunpowder

difficult
hearing that it was
mines
had
accomplished our

volcanic

another,

tumult

to be

doubt

tremendous
but

the

That

least

the

of

and

yet

B(

for

it done

Spaniard's
dy of St.
so
saying
squatted

down.

the

not

was

'Tis

explosion!"
companion

has

dulled

speak.

his head.

broadside.

the

deep

accompanied by

end

to

half-dozen

crevices

The

to

**

yet," said
is uninjured.TAa^

schooner

Hfted

he

know

I don't

''

with

said I.

What

me.

lay low

stern

answered.

into
"

and
"

furious

crawled

he

no," he
flingdown

.,

her

course

in harbour,

if afloat

as

bed.

Tassard

what

Josej

of

hurt

you

posture,

same

but

had

low

influence

there
not

down

could

only
in

not

sioned
occa-

the ice,

extending far
split proby making one
duce
part give way and create

so

on,

was

all round

about

us

of

Wi
"(

ing:

The

250
walked

that

Frozen

Pirate.

glorious crystal pendant that

had
before
adorned
the yards, rigging,and
spars
had
been
I had
shaken
off.
expected to see a
wonderful
in the ice where
the
spectacle of havoc
barrels
of gunpowder
had
been
poised, but saving
of cracks
where
scores
none
was
before,
many
and
of the
vast
ragged gashes in the mouths
crevices
down
which
the barrels had been
lowered,
the

scene

The
has

every

much

was

Frenchman
the

heretofore.

as

and

stared

done?

powder

exclaimed,

only

see

''What
a

few

cracks."
'*

What

it may
"
but
;

answered
of

powder

The

have

done,

depend

on't

have

burst

will be

below

must

dislocation

better, for 'tis there

this block

He

the

ice

don't

such

some

and

must

heavy charges

to
;

know,"

so

come

purpose.
much
the

asunder

if

go free.'*
about
him, and

is to

then
gazed
rapping out a
French, for
string of oaths, English, Italian, and
he swore
in all the languages he spoke, which, he
told me,
that
for his
once
five, he declared
were
the powder wasted, that we'd
part he considered
done
have
well to fling a hand-grenade into a
as
barrels of powder would
fissure,that a thousand
for rending the schooners
bed
be but as a popgun
from the main, and in short, with several
insulting
and
looks and a face black with rage
ment,
disappointthat I had not
me
very plainlyto know
gave
fool of
a
only played the fool myself, but had made
him, and that he was heartily
given
sorry he had ever

himself

any

trouble

to

contrive

the

cursed

mines

or

We

explode

Mines.

the

251
"v ^v

to

assist

in

me

in

resulted

blowing

glanced

the

with

him

at

notice

further

projectthat might
schooner
to pieces and

selves
our-

it.

with
I

have

ridiculous

his

of

It

insolence.

took

out

sneer,

no

only

not

was

contemptible in all respects, a liar,

thief,a poltroon, hoary in twenty walks
a
a
rogue,
of vice, there was
something so unearthly about a
that had
been
creature
as
good as dead for eightand-forty years, that it was
impdssible anything
that

he

he

said

was

so

could

affect

of another
tongue
I knew
him because

assassin;

my

mcredible

but

that

in intent

the

mere

could

creature

rancorous

I feared

would.

man

the

as

me

he

hated

and

already

was

of

insolences
but

not

find

so

turbable.
imper-

me

perhaps in the present instance my own

small posture of
disappointment put me into some
I been
asked
sympathy with his passion. Had
what
I expected,
before the explosions happened
And

know

I don't
to

make

and

the

was

and

bows

I should

found

have

1 could

yet, though

expectations,which after
I
when
bitterlyvexed

my

hopes,

that

found

in

the

show
have
mines
the

the

to

of

Frenchman

uphove rocks

satisfied the
was

wanted

mighty

eye

was

below

pressed
ex-

ciilwere

but

'looked

over

that

forces
sure

sound.

we

that
A

my

great

fragments of ice might

and
;

have

nothing

scene

to the
uncommon
appeared answerable
had
employed. Nevertheless, I felt

remark

answer

any
not

but
;

explosion must

the

and

real

work

of

since

the

force

needs

expend

the
of

itself

"

fKi

The

25i

somewhere,
in

it was

absurd

little or

no

Pirate.
wish

to

its volcanic

part where

Frozen

to

its effects

see

would

agency

be of

use.

is

be

by staring!"
the
exclaimed
Frenchman
presently,speaking
hungry and freezing,and
very sullenly. 1 am
"There

nothing

to

seen

**

below ! "
go
his back
and made
shall

And

with

he

that

turned

off,growling in his throat

he

as

went.

I got
the ice and
upon
side and
starboard
to the

splitthere.
did not
the

water

valley in

which

from

main

the

larboard

down

plain. It
we
lay was
ice

wholly

this side.

on

quarter, and

here

the

vast

slope

the wash

certain

was

carefully

of the

sea

so

very

looked

very

in consequence
far,but I could hear

The

come

stepped

that

of

the

disconnected

passed

to

the

were

cracks

wide

that

its hold

was

too

and

deep enough
It

weak.

barrels had
and

had

satisfyme

forward

was

been

the

to

of the

exploded that

firmest

grasp

the ice
but

where

bows
was

the

thickest

its surface

was

violentlyand heavily cracked

by the explosions,
and I thought to myself if the fissures below
are
then certainly
the swell of the sea
as
numerous,
I was
But
ought to fetch the whole mass
away.
half frozen
now
myself and pining for warmth.
after one
It was
o'clock.
The
wind
was
piping
freshly,and the great heavy clouds in swarms
drove statelyacross
the sky.
"It may
blow
to-night,"thought I; **and if
it is,just such
the wind hangs as
a
sea
as
may
do our
thus
business
will be set running."
And
musing I entered the ship and went below.

Change

comes

over

CHAPTER

Tassard

OVER

dogged

was

that had

his temper

25

XXIL

COMES

CHANGE

Frenchman.

the

THE

and

FRENCHMAN.

Such

scowling.

I been

small

was

weak

or

man,

submissive, he would
and
have given a loose to his foul tongue
maybe
handled
me
roughly. But my demeanour
very
prove
cold and
resolved,and not of a kind to imwas
or

likelyto

person

prove

I levelled

his courage.

contemptuous
puzzled him,
cool

whilst

muttered

He

semi-

fierystare, and
good deal by my

own

I believe, a

too,

reserve.

his

at

gaze

deliberate

ing
ate, drink-

we

of wine, and garnishing

his draughts
plentifully
with oaths
and
to
then, after falling
spare ; and
silent and
remaining so for the space of twenty
I lighted my
minutes, during which
pipe and sat
feet close to the furnace, listeningwith
with my

crying of

is

What's

to

said I.

know

the

as

scheme

will have

*'

that

\e\\ you

damned

the
in

schooner

us

dull

**

schooner

is

is

fixed.

the

schooner

island ?

nor

fire.
everlasting

ice

is

so

as

Be it

it, my
proposed."

passionately.

the
"

it into

detach

to

save

is fixed

on

If the

swell

failure,"

that the blast

suppose?

accomplished all
cried
scornfullyand

"//'.^" he
//m\\ not deliver

the

sulkily,Your

scheme

my

the

enable

shaken

to

The

and

?"

now

clear of the

ocean

ice

exclaimed

he

did you
ice with

What

blow

would
the

"

done

be

of the

failure.

I don't

sounds

wind,

the

scheme

"

the

to

ears

eager

so

treasure.

fixed
!

"

he

as

the

cried,

The

254

clenching his
!

more

fist.
Boca

The

her and
His

voice

with

then
made

you

**

grin of

awake

me

for

it is

mind

more

made

at

peace
demon

What

bring

to

"

in silence,and

"

failure yet.

no

I found

back

me

to

ask

your
and to

for

disturbing
forgiveness,

your

will

return

to

I will not

that

you,

forced

well,

But

What

neither

"

don't

coldly, I
experiment ; I meant

'*

the

repeat

offence."

the

He

eyed
lightedhis
turned

from

me

surlyand

scandalous

dead
Nor

mind.

rage

silence,filled and
with his back

have

retired

it,and

to

to
savage
His temper

were

before

I should

did

I conceive

His

such

panic

the

left this

enjoyment

rendered

time

have
him

to

and

terrors

extremes

in the

place

warm

me

of

of

tremely
ex-

full of

The
arms-room
was
uneasy.
might draw a pistol upon
; he

hand.

right

in

smoked

another

company.

weapons
shoot me

toe

pipe,and

been

I should

own

to

me.

schooner

his

top

hideous

upon
there

Had

of

this

to

me

in which

no

exclaimed,

sincerelybeg
solemnly promise you, if you

state

her

me

I do

repose

your
and

my

at

hopeless!

nor

my

is to

she

failure has

your

ai^.ger he
I was
?

Tassard,"said

Mr.

launch

he looked

wild

bring

pardon
my

risks

if ever

and

"

sank

cold, hungry,
to
you
this ? "

the
!

"
"

devil

the

or

run

me

no

"

bosom

"

explosions with

meddle

must

you

is mine
Dragon
miney
they're all dead and gone but

"

nature

But

*'

del

that
d'ye see, now
me
smiting his

float,let

Pirate.

Frozen

and

me

to

clench

have

his

outbursts

behaviour

as

Change

comes

suggested
had

He

in all that

organic decay within.

eight-and-fortyyears insensible ;

for

time

255

of

sort

some

been

Frenchman.

the

over

the

of life had

current

frozen

been

him, not dried up and extinguished; therefore,

the
frost
when
taking hiz age to be fifty-five
be
seized
hundred
and
him, he would
one
now
into this great
three years
old, having subsisted
of time
with
in fact, though confronting me
span
the aspect of an
merely. Death ends
elderlyman
had been
time, but this man
dead, or surely
never
in the power
of brandy and
have
been
it would
not
him ; and
chafing and fire to arouse
though all

in

the
for

been
he

century, yet

much

throughout as
consequently
weight of a
brain, which

had

of nature

processes
half
near

alive
he

when
hundred

and

suffice

may

three

to

been

have

must

he

awoke

in him

sleeping man,

as

checked

and

arose

with

the

years

upon

his

for the

account

ternatural
pre-

of his character.
peculiarities

After

sittinga long

while

sullenlysmoking

in

and
silence, he fetched his mattress
some
covers,
1
down
and
fell
fast
admired
it,
asleep.
lay
upon
this
envied
and
display of confidence, and

heartilywished
was

deck

in
a

myself as

mine.

The

half-dozen

There

afternoon

times, but
in the ice.

least alteration
low.

but believe with

was

the

the

expenditure
no

sea

more
was

in his

of the

was

defiance

that all
in
in

beat with

our

vain.
the
some

on

very
in the

I could

ice, and

he

the

spiritssank

My

powder was
noticeable
weight

beginningto

as

witnessed

never

Frenchman

of

hands

passed.

bitter remorseless

was

white,fierce rigidstare
and

safe

not

labour
There

wind, but

strength

s.lP

The

256
the

upon

also

vibrations

the

to

with

the

on

like

roar

had

hundred

of

shoulder

the

whilst

There

the

broken

quarter, and

thunderclap into the

before

sat

blows.

fell from

tons,
starboard

in the

opened

of the

crackling noise coming up

deck
on
on
justas I came
my
of ice,weighing I dare
s^y a

ice, .T"d
third visit,a block

couple

sometimes

schooner

continuous

of the

out

Pirate.

the

and

coast,

trembled
was

Frozen

plunged

chasm

that

night.

the

furnace

extremely dejected,

snored

Frenchman

his mattress.

on

longer flatter myself that the explosions

the impression I had
had made
expected on the
ice, and my mind was
to
utterlyat a loss. How
deliver myself from this horrible situation I could
not
imagine. As to the treasure, why, if the
had
filled with gold, they might
chests
all been
could

have

no

the

to

gone

bottom

there

and

then

utterly insignificantdid their value

of liberty
and
againstthe pricelessness

for

so

deliverance.
a

able

do

to

with
in the

I been

heart, I dare

stouter

been

Had

alone

say,

pleased ; but
bloody-minded rogue

treasure,

as

and

who

for

plan might propose

any
boat or raft out of the material
a
schooner.
upon
was

the

me

mass

would

had

have
ciated
asso-

soul

whose
to

oppose

construction
that

was

formed

of

the

ray of hope that gleamed

of the belief that this island

out

going north, and

height of the summer
of the coast

was

of

sole

The
broke

joy

have

now

the

is

I should

certain

was

the

I should

for then

me,

seem

or

release

that when

we

in these

had
seas,

the dislocation of the

us.

come

the

to
ing
wast-

northern

you

an\

The

258
do

you
to

nol

I
civility

the

had

you."
given way

my

air

and

formidable.

stride

started

he

in

but

me,

Pirate.

have

right

I will kill

My temper
I spoke, and
apeech very
seize

with

me

use

expect,

another

Frozen

I meant

word

every

sincerityrendered
my
I approached
him
by
I thought, to
up, as

realityto recoil,and

this

he

tumble
his bench,
to
over
as
effectually
down
hard
he fell,
strikinghis bald head
so
he lay for several minutes
motionless.
so

stood

which

he

at

me

him

over

till he

chose

presentlydid, rubbing
air of mingled
with an

did
and

that

sit erect,
his poll and looking
to

bewilderment

and

fear.

give

is scurvy
to
usage
**
*Od's
distress," said he.
**

This

thought
Your
I

there

hand,

helped

some

was

Mr.
him

of

had

in

you.

humour

in

I feel dazed."
he

rise,and

to

life, man

sense

Rodney

shipmate

then

down

sat

in

It
rickety manner,
rubbing his eyes.
might have been fancy, it might have been the
illusion of the furnace
with the
light combined
his long hair and naked
venerable appearance
pate
few
in those
minutes
him, but methought
gave

somewhat

had

he
**

Mr.

to
grown
Never
concern

to

stand

If you

between
will treat

state

tolerable

uriously,and

us

older.

him

to

act

me

but

if you

the

insult

pirateover

"

is it

How

choice

the

civilly
you'llnot
dispositionto render
;

determined

again.

I leave

humour,

my

I,.preserving my

close

coming

in every

twenty

years
yourself about

said

Tassard,"

air and

look

find

to

you.
ing
want-

me

miserable

our

me,

use

me

in-

me,

who

am

an

Change

honest

comes

by God,

man,

Frenchman.

the

over

kill

will

Tassard,

Mr.

259

you."
He
in

stooped
posture

if to

as

hath

you, Mr.
to

been

our

coldlythat

him

bade

enough,

desperationand

soul with
have

not

my

as
in

It

^s.
tn

the

th

the

:d pate

I should

meet

rmined
)W

to
e

when

he

me.

No.

by

in

had

that
from

me

in

proper
I reckoned
upon

was

me,

inan

act

though
was

he would

remained

we

have

he
failed,

sure

very

whilst

would
and

was

not

for

shrewd

that

his

pistol

away

with

attempt

him

machinery of mines

bearing

cowing him
checking his
his murdering

imprisoned.

horrors

more

my

ment
comport-

or

make

to

my
Not

bold

my

you.

into

lies,

for me,

terrors

no

knife

his

think

All

his swagger,
voice and

loud

impression
produced on him.

save

should

made

marked

moment

schooner

civiller posture of mind, and

As to
aggressionsand insolence.

iserable

am

for

would

far
gone
filled my
that I would

had

misery,and
was

wine

more

dispatch him with as little fear

doom, whatever
shape it took.
my
by
deck, not a little astounded
of the old
rascal, and very well

pleasedwith the
and language had
supposed

can

had

he

that

is it

want-

me

on

cowardice

no

condition

that death

manner

I would

linutes

umour,

it

than

that

the

on

I added

I marched

I wanted

this frozen

abominable

menacing
and

life

insults,and

more

and

hideous

our

will drink

We

of me,

beware

that

"

!"

amity

I answered

and

Come

Rodney.

future

this gunpowder
disappointment, look

head

hellish

in

cried

off^and

me

his hand

raised

and

me,

fend

I lost my

"

whiningmanner,
business

from

away

than
had

such

an

Loneliness
for

me

apparently

enough, despite his

rage

of
"

'""^"!'1

Frozen

The

46o

?iRATfi.

that
more
to
was
disappointment,to understand
than
be done
by one, and that between
by two men
us
something might be attempted which would be
impracticable by a simple pair of hands, and
old hands, such as his.
particularly
deck.
I stayed but a minute
Such
two
or
on
cold

the

was

I do

that

biting and

..lore

bitter.

filled the

waters

I had

know

not

The

of

sound

and

wind,

foaming

itself

wind

the

felt it

ever

was

in
oio'vingfairlystrong, in gusts that screamed
the i/ozen
rigging or in blasts that had the deep
of the
echo
thunder-claps of the splittingice.

clouds

The

were

shadow

of

the

motion

as

night ;
they sailed

quarter

was

illustrated

from

bright stars
I returned

the
and

no

me

like

and

bald

head.

to

I could
countenance

bore

which

in

trace
;

of

old

he

malice

in

his

great

of the

smoke

candle

Time

talked

in

can

hand,

colour
fire

and

of

light

with

his

long nose

or

two

civil

one

the

or

few

man
Frenchhis

in

wishful

marks
re-

subdued

whatever

resentment

being
I

their

south-west

had

answered

his eyes

and

the

of

The

He

head

in the

discovering no

manner,

the

down.

sat

I addressed

him,

of

questions.

figureof

swiftness

out

up

and

indeed

his beard, and

the

with

dark

by the leaping of the

dusky edge to another.

clouds

puffed out

looked

and

his death's

and

oven

one

below

asked

and

numerous

that

expressionof
to

show

that

his
I

their
pirates and
asked
him
and
if the Boca
del Dragon
usages,
fought under the red or black flag.
said he ;
but
Why, the black flag,certainly,"
no

of

''

if we

"

met

with

resistance, it

was

our

custom

to

Jf

Change

haul

it down
Where

over

and

know

opponents
"

comes

hoist the

is your

261

flag,to let our

give no quarter.'*

should

we

Frenchman.

the

red

?" said I.

flaglocker

"In

my berth," he answered.
I should like to see
the black

"

"'tis the
I have
"

viewed."

never

I'llfetch

it,"said he, and takingthe lanthorn

aft very

went

in his

with

but
quietly,

walk, which

if itwas

wine

pieceof

one

not

I should

certain

stagger

put down to the

that his behaviour was
free from
have

all symptoms

of ebriation.

surprisedme,

but

not

sc

change in him
^atlyas you might
rather
y suspicions

The
^.

suppose ; indeed, it excited

than my
Fea-^ wicked
wonder.
I seeinv
but what
to
i

malignantdesignwhic'
air of conciliation

an

'

claimed:
flag,'* exI
bunting, l'\ieve,

h**

and

in

him

best

see

tionably,
unqueswas

some

hoped to conceal by
qualityof respectful

donhomte.
He

with

back

came

spreadit between
skull
and
"

beneath

it was

hand,

this

an

and

we

yellow
hourglass,
a

cross-bones.

still cause

fancies

hundred

his

black, with

middle, over

signalcaused and
I, surveyingit,whilst a

has this

consternation

What

does

us

grinningin the

flagin

"

said

of the

barbarous

scenes

it had

that had
cries for mercy
into
swept up past it to the ear of God, crowded
"
"
I think,Mr. Tassard," said I, that
my mind.

flown

our

over,

the miserable

firststep, should

in this

ship,must

flagsof

like kind

we

find ourselves afloat

ever

be to commit
on

board

evidence in this pieceof

to

this and
the

draperyto

r-

all other

deep. There is
hang an angel."
*"":"*

'.i^i^^

The

262

He

Pirate.

Frozen

of

let fall his ends

the

flag and

down

sat

suddenly.
Yes," he answered, sending a curious rolling
the same
and
the
cook-room
at
glance around
the back
time bringing his hand
of his head,
to
this is evidence
honester
to dangle even
an
man
"

'*

All flagsbut the ensign we

resolve
you, sir.
sail under
all flags,and
all the wearmust
ing
go
"
but
here he muttered
and
apparel,and
a

than
to

"

"

"

fixed

curse-

^eare

He

and

be

to

covered
the

and

strange,

was

manner

is

there

"

his head

shook

"

sailing."

no

his eyes.
stranger for

His
his

quietude.
him,

I said to

looked

He
"

No,

no

to

the

all the

can

brought
he

that

if he

as

grope

thought

to

If

but

he

looked

catched

shaking his
it, methought,

at

it and
much

so

drank,

sat

and

after

beard

and

in

very

way.

myself,
he

appeared

trembled

he

as

off

of his ?

stratagem
hide

back

he

from

can

he

it,and

Then

much

lunatic

the

take

blind, though

time.

wet

vehemently,
lips in a very

his

missed

were

spiltas

mechanical

cried

to

his mouth,

it to

putting the can

stroking the
I

turned

and

'*

and

stretched

his hand

but

oven,

ill?

you

sharply

up
then

"

ghastly grin
the

Are

*'

What
is

"

Is

this

device

acting,

he

behaviour
can

such

plays

some
a

his

ing
bear-

part

well."
and
flag into a bundle
flung
and
it into a
and, resuming my seat
corner
my
for
sake
than
civility's
pipe, continued, more
of any
because
particularinterest I took in the
I rolled

the

black

Change

comes

ask

subject,to
habits

and

of

him

questions about
pirates.
'

"

said

believe,
in

resolute
neither

clear

seats

nor

The

"

the

"

I,

having

beds

Frenchman.

the

over

the

263
customs

buccaneers
that

ships

are

so

have

they

board."

on

he

answered, speaking slowly

English,"
lettinghis pipe droop whilst he spoke with
the
his eyes fixed
not
deck,
on
Spanish. 'Tis
of most
the custom
English pirates to eat and
the
decks
for
the sake of a clear
sleep upon
ship,
The
loves
comfort
as
Spaniard
you
say.
you
this
his
in
observe
fancy
ship."
may
is the plunder partitioned
?'* I asked.
How
chest, as
Everything is put into the common
call it,and
and
sold by
we
brought to the mast
he
!
off
and
auction
cried, breaking
Strange
his
his
find
hand
brow.
I
to
speech
putting
my
and

"

"

"

"

"

"

"

Do

difficult.

thickly?"
I replied.No
same

this

dark

He

trembling
had

and

seemed

Mother

upon

me

if the

as

of
0

to

utter

the

be

God,

what

Jesus,how

with

wine
would

dram

bench,

palsy had

dotted

much

so

that

his

from

rose

his head

drunk

day

halt

is

faint

"

half

noticed

voice

Holy

I feel ill.

feelingcoming

and

the

his

hitherto.

as

Yet

"

notice

you

but

seized

beads

and

sat

again,

him, and

of sweat.

He

spiritsthroughout

have

been

of

the

blow

no

use

to

him.
I
back
has

said,
of

*'

I expect

your

produced

head,
this

it will be
when

you
feeling of

on

the

fell

just now, that

giddiness. Let me

'"^'^-."ilrit

"^m

The

^64

help you

deck);
If he

"

lie down

to
"

pRoiJEN

sensation

the
heard

he

did

Pirate.

(for his

mattress

was

will pass,
heed
not

I don't

doubt."

muttering and crying to himself.

a
qualityin his
certainlyremark
to

new

labour

ear

my

it

thickness

or

of
of

and

parchedness
high to low
dribbling threading

from

and

muttered,

he
;

did

not

pressing

**

whose

one

and

of

stoop,

of

all

him

angels !

he

claimed,
ex-

crossing himself several times, but with

feeble, most
agitated hand, and
a
speaking in
French
and
English,and sometimes
interjecting
invocation in Italian or Spanish, though I give
an
he said in my
own
surelyI
tongue ;
you what
Lord, how
am
frightfulto die! 0
dying. O
I shall go to hell
be
merciful to me.
holy Virgin,
O Jesu, I am
past forgiveness for the love of
that
heaven, Mr.
Rodney, some
brandy ! Oh
saint would
some
interpose for me ! Only a few
few
a
longer grant me
longer I
years
years
"

"

"

"

for

beseech
extended

which

one

the

other, whilst
cracked
a

that

he

pipes the
vast

repent !

may
hand
quivering

deal

upon

continued
wildest
that

for

melted

draught stood
sign of the cross

made

"

time

to

in

durst

the
the

"

whine

not

and

he

brandy ( f
oven) and

his breast

appeals

ness

at

with

the

in

his

out

for mercy,
venture

ing
sayto

the

terrifie
spect

set

accoun

age
"

apf(

might

sheer

about

gazing

an

contin

sweated

with

breaks

from

was

sat

into

talked

all abroad.

are

Mother

Gracious

but

brows

senses

this

time

dryness
noise

He

down

was

said,a

many
lean

word.
but

swoon,

his

but

age, with
and
notes,
a
every

that

had

he

as

a-

I did

now

voice

old

and

often

And

utterance,

talked

terror

like

not,

was

fell

but

me,

on

th

Then
t

Frozen

The

266

witness

Pirate.

harlequin change in his face and

of his polished brow into
mark
the transformation
the
lean austerityof wrinkles.
His voice
sank
into a mere
and
at
last,
then,
whisper
ceasing to
he
his
chin
to his
on
speak altogether, dropped
bosom
and
began to sway from side to side,
catching himself from fallingwith several paralytic
his head or opening
lifting
starts, but without
his eyes
that I could see, and
manifesting every
some

drowsiness.
of extreme
symptom
hand
I got up and laid my
on
which

his face and

he turned

closed, the other

eye
**

How

"

are

viewed

scarce

Sleepy, very sleepy,"he

"

I'll put
said I, *' and
and

in

turn

and

the best

hearty as
He

mumbled

which

bench, his chin

before

as

recoveries,and
back.

again
He

to

then

was

make

made

so

his

on

with
forced
him
as

I shouldered

signify"Very
and
slung a lanthorn in
returned
to bed.
to help him

him

is to

go

answer

some

well!"

up

do

can

"

ever."

to

the

hammock,"

your

long night's rest,

you'll feel yourself as

get

morning

to-morrow

one

answered.

thing you

properlyand

with

me

said I.

into

mattress

your

shoulder,on

open.

feelingnow?"

you

his

his

his cabin, and

He

tress
mat-

then

reeling on
self
breast, catching himlittle sharp terrified
to

sat

put

understand
ii

interpreted

to

hand

my
I had

rise,but

wa.c

on
come

trembled
.

that he sank down

again with a groan,
violently
and I was
obligedto put my whole strengthto the
liftingof him to get him on to his legs. He
leaned heavilyupon
breathinghard, stooping
me,
so

ri

The

Ice

breaks

and trembling. When

very much
I
cabin
perceived that he would
clirxib into
hoist

his

hammock,

of

man

his

bulk

267

away.

nor
so

we

be

never

to

his

able

to

got

had

I the power
high. To end

to

the

down
and laid it on
perplexityI cut the hammock
the deck, and covering him with a heap of clothes,
him
unslung the lanthorn, wished
good-night,
closed the door, and returned
to the furnace.

XXIII.

CHAPTER
BREAKS

ICE

THE

AWAY.

I was
restless in
yet eight o'clock.
and
not
a
mind, under
was
great surprise,

It

was

my

not

sleepy. I filled a pipe,made me a little pannikin

down
before
the fire to think.
of punch, and
sat
1 had suspected the accuracy
of my
If ever
jecture
consudden
that the Frenchman's
astonishing
the effect of his extreme
was
indispoisition
age
coming upon him and breaking down the artificial
he hc.d bristled into Hfe under
with which
vitality
have found
hands, I must
fiftysignsto set my
my
misgivings at rest in his drowsiness, nodding,
and trembling,
bowed
form, weakness, his tottering
and

other

of

features

his latest

behaviour.

If

be thankful
to
to
right,then I had reason
this
for
unparalleled and most
Almighty God
I should have nothing
for now
happy dispensation,
waf^

to

fear

horrid
a

V """""

from

greed.

hundred,

stand

the

rogue's vindictiveness

old

Supposing

him

to

the infirmities of five

between

as
effectually

him

and

his death.

me,

I had

be

score

and

no

and

than

more

years

protect

nothing

to

would
me

as

dread

'}^\

268

The

from

hand

could

could
the

admiration

dead

and

his

of

terrors

soul

or

upon

have

picked

the

which

death

natural

walk

by

arose

cross,

had

if his life had

been

or

his Hfe

years

been
of

one

Lord
must

the link

continued

and

black

this

without

at

me

his

rupted
decay (though interof the sepulchre)as

and

age

thousand

Lazarus,

of

broken,

into

he

Had

during the time our

he
then, questionless,

chain

the

up

great it filled

so

life again,as

to

which

hung

was

astonishment.

and

come

bodies

it all

of

with

he

the

of his recollection.

wonder

those

scarce

articulate

horrors

The

could

scarce

scarce

Pirate.

stand, whose
palsied
clasp a* knife, whose evil tongue

who

man

Frozen

hiatus, and

proceeding steadilyand humanly from the

cradle.
But collectingthat the vital spark couid
have been extinguishedin him, I understood
never
was

time, which

that

still knew

eight

him

years

seized

had

its prey

as

in which

he

him

and

now

give me

Well, 'twas
for

He

me.

his

sheared
my

life,

over

all those

lain frozen

had

forty;

suddenly, and

but

control

during

full burden

his back
the
upon
I say, J believed

would

absolute

has

that

pinned

of his lustres.

the

of

morrow,

it

This
course,

further

proof.
happy and gracious

could

do

the

the

all without

talons, and

conscience

hurt

no

me

least

deliverance

scythe had
occasioning

uneasiness

whatever

I did trulyand
whereas, but for this interposition,

solemnly believe that

having had to slay him
own

it must

that

have
I

might

come

to

preserve

my
my

life.

Thus

I sat

for

an

hour

smoking and wettingmy

The

Ice

breaks

lipswith the punch, whilst the

exulting in the thought of my
villain I had

treacherous
and

in the

move

here

being

haunted

rest, to

to

without

feelingthat

of his foul
a

the

and

might

the

be

able

now

act

terrified

barren

situation of the
of

consequences

from
the

there,to

and

low,

escape
from

as

the

by

intent, that I hardly gave

to

gioment

fire burned

recovered
I

269

away.

my

so

the

grave,
to

go

pleased
shadow

mind

schooner

for
to

nor

fine scheme

my

of

mines.
wind

The

on

blew

strong.

I could

hear

ming
hum-

the

of it in every
fibre of the vessel.
bed
The
which
of the
she rested trembled
blows
to the

From
the rocks.
time
to time, in the
upon
of my
midst
musing, I started to the sharp claps
Still feelingsleepless,
I threw
of parted ice.
a
s^as

few

coals

the

on

fire,and

catching sight of

pirateflag opened it on the deck

would
permit,and sat down
space
the hideous
insigniaembroidered
filled with
from

skull

the

pipe

head
Tassard
lost
was

in

fancies

hundred

on

that

the
had

and

on

as

field

fallen

from

lay on the
deep dreamlike

startled

to

black

and

shocked

deck,

wide

as

the

contemplate
it.- My mind
went
gaze
the death's-

my
to

and

as

the

the
I

was

grasp

sitting

contemplation,when
into

of

instantaneous

activityby a blast of noise, louder than

any
I heard, ringingand
ing
boomthunder-clap that ever
This
followed
was
by
through the schooner.
then
and
second
third, at intervals during
a
a
counted
which
ten, and I became
you might have
of a
sensible
strange sickening motion, which
such
lasted about
as
twenty or thirty moments,

The

^70

might
in

in

coach.

littlewhile

violentlythat
the

and

schooner

the

benches

the

and

She
freightin the hold.
again, and simultaneouslywith
of water

tumbled

head, and
my
all in such
a

but

then

where

ocean,

free of the

not

I seized

the

to

on

way
broken
and

ice had

as

great clatter and

the

heeled
all

far

slidecjas

cook-room

I heard

the

swiftlydescending
height whilst pent

be

For

in

Pirate.

experienced by one
from
balloon, or in falling

up

Frozen

then

vast

then

slippedthe schooner
she
lay exposed to

lanthorn

did

mass

washed

not

over

another,

know

me

ice, for she

uprigJit

and
and

make

to

as

among

came

this

fell another

so

things movable
they could go,

commotion

deck

the

over

that

the

close

to

its surges,
roll.
toss
or

and

the

to
prang
mounted
the

cabin,

it up, and
companionBut
the
I put
door
to
to
as
steps.
rny hand
the side and filled
broke
thrust it open
over
sea
a
the decks, bubbling ar d th; /idering
panion-hatch
past the comwhere

hung

in such
bac

I need

waited,

into

my

the

sea.

yet lived
blow

of
;

but

happened,

deck

on

wa)
door
to

the
open
^^cart beating

had

what

lest I should
'Twas

through
the

the

billows

be

the
in

the

crackling

cabin.

hard, mad

terrible

to

I
see

time

I had

To

every
fully
fear-

experience.

schooner

noises

that

me

daring to trust myself

immediately swept

most

this

the

drown

v(2ry
not

advise

to

as

of

trembled
the

ice

was

as

The
in the thick of a heavy action.
though I was
the
full weight of the wind
seemed
be
to
upon
the
screeching of it in the iron-like
ship, and
shrouds
pierced to my ear through the hissingand

The

tearing

sounds

and

decks,
to

be

able

crumbled

and

be

the

or

into

this time

made

collision

staves,

be

ignorant of
know

be

between

the

second

crushed

hurled

up
bed

ofif her

ice-rocks

the

of

cannonading

turned

bottom

up,
than

terrible

more

away

tion
situa-

the
one

be

upon
the

and

a.nd

from
not

or

water

out

ing
breaksurges
all this and
hear

to

fragments
dashed
by

to

the

of the

would

she

into

seas,

to

the

along

washing

I say,
be
to
not

271

away.

notes

see,

pounded

surge

the

to

whether

and

the

water

schooner,

another

by

the

vessel.

the

of the
to

breaks

the volcanic

over

not

of

Ice

Laughing

the

and

Mary

iceberg.
I

drew

and
difficulty,
companion-ladder hearkening

the

upon

with

breath

my

straining ears,
now

sensible

and

this

of

hand

my

the

upon

stood
with

door.

was

solemn
kind
long-drawn, stately,
in the schooner, which
of heaving motion
I put
of the ice on which
she rested ;
down
to the rolling

hollow

she

the

ran

to

convinced

afloat

was

feel

had
and

of

fixed

been

But
those

the

had

swel)

far too

was

transports

indulged had this issue to my

in smooth
in daylight an
terrified by the apprehensions which
me

mean,

would

even

whilst

that

if the

bed

make
;

and

expectancy,
the

dead.

at

was

work

broke

and
it top-neavy
in
stood
thus
I

caged

like

alarmed
1

must

was

had

cccurred

the

mines

the

schooner

it would
very
as

pened
hapI

water.

away
that

rat, and

rucb

scheme

on

whose

and
away
tliat under-

which

\v

have

to

in

mass

broken

the

riding upon

billows.
any

that

me

agony

capsize
of

helpless as

The

^72
Half

hour

an

time

the

seas,

insomuch

door

Frozen

passed, during which

incessantly swept by the

were

that

look

to

even

have

must

decks

never

of

durst

once

But

out.

happened to increase
half-hour, though the
that

Pirate.

nothing having

consternation

my

the

open

in

movement

in

this

schooner

the

ponderous and
majestical
rollingand heaving, showing her bed to be afloat,
I began to find
spiritsand to listen and wait
my
with some
At
buddings of hope and confidence.
the expirationof this time the seas
began to fall
less heavily and regularly en to the deck, and presently
I could
only hear them
breaking forward,
but
without
a
weight, and
quarter their former
aft than
nothing worse
came
large brisk showers,
was

very

of spray.
I armed

myself

with

encounter

o^

the

wet,

the

door

pushed
sky was

open

its

light into

as

own

dark

if the

I had

supposed

had

cold,
and

dawn

the

eye

been

of
died

out

schooner

surface
to

beheld.

the

in

a
upon
of about
half

sea,

and

from

cable's

about

island
the
to

bed
an

plain

as

see

It

put

was

as

valleyin which
sepulchred for eight-and-

The

sat

The

the

acre

the

shore

ran

darkness

right
of

ice
;

her

showed

stern

the

human

left.

that

six feet above

of

part
ram-

it

where

to

and

and

main,

length
picture

wonderfuller

along
liquid dusk

then

ice

the

broken.

of

faintness

and

the

forth.

stepped

away

stranger,

never

wind,

and

had

mass

had
come
forty years
lay floating within
coast.

clothing for

rolling clouds, but

the air,and
I could

first of the

schooner

the

with

additional

close

was

it.

The

On

her

Pirate.

Frozen

The

174

with a
all,tincturing the darkness
spectral sheen, giving to everything a qualityof
unearthliness
that
was
sharpened yet by the
wind
of
the
in the gloom
sounds
on
high and
of
the hissingand
waters
foaming
sending their
leagues-distantvoices to the ear upon t! e wings
of the icy blast.
the southThe
west,
wind, as I have said, blew from
were

over

but

trend

the

and

the

as

the

main

of

island-coast

the

of ice I

east,
north-

was

in

parting
a
length from
there was
much
the
not
cliffs,
danger, whilst the
and
wind
term
sea
held, of the berg (ifI may
so
the
island.
That
the
ice
it)being throvvn upon
if so, at
under
the
schooner
was*
moving, and
from

rate, it

what

to

was

floated

the

to

dark

too

was

by observing
be

mass

had

to

marks

sleep
stepped

knowing this, I
then
good fire,and

upon
cable's

enable
the

on

for

no

was

below, and
with

went

know
There

coast.

that

me

to

me

night,
built

and

up

lanthorn

the

to

give him the news

;
but he was
in so
deep a sleep,that after pulling
him
little without
a
awakening him I let him
of his breathing
lie,nothing but the sound
suading
perinto
that he had
his
old
not
me
lapsed
frozen
state
again.
the longest I ever
Of all long nights this was
the
that
passed through. I did truly believe
break
the
to
never
ocean.
again over
day was
see

Tassard

how

must

have

thirty or
upright.
sat

very

did

and

gone
forty times.
I

had

low,

and

no

to

from

fear
the

fire

the

The
of
ice

to

schooner
her
also

the

wi

st
w;

deck

continued

oversetting;
showed

fol

but

she
a

aj

bi

The
small

head

Ice

above

breaks

the

away.

water,

and

it

of

2/5
the

body
supposing its
as

lay pretty flat, then, even

bulk
little
small, there
was
was
submerged
of its capsizing. I also
chance
that
noticed
that
is to
we
were
setting seawards
say, to
the westward
shrinking of the
by a noticeable
could
But
I
pallid coast.
never
stay long
with
kind
of
observe
to
enough above
any
the wind
that
being full of the wet
narrowness,
and
ice-wall
the
the cold
was
endurable.
unflung over
"

"

All

night

occasions

kept

visited

motionless

fire

the

the

going, and

Frenchman,

several

on

found

but

him

out
sleep. I kept too
good a lookto
calamity short of
apprehend any sudden
I no
capsizal, which
longer feared, and during
the
of
that
watches
a
long night I dreamt
hundred
of my
deliverance, of
waking dreams
of
share
the
of
arriving in
treasure,
my
my
for ever,
and
England, quitting the sea
setting
as
a
squire,marrying a nobleman's
great
up
daughter, driving in a fine coach, and
ending
with

in

handle

sounding
At
found
wind

in

seat

last

the

the

dawn

had

Parliament
to

my

and

name.

day broke ; I
brightening

fallen

and

with

went

into

it the

take

of

astonished

and

be

at

least

our

situation, and

delighted to

mile

distant

observe

from

us,

The

morning.
sea

the

have

could

the

and,

breeze

would

not

was

there

but

measure

and

deck

on

middling strong surge, and

such
was
as, in sailors' language, you
shown
I
top-gallant sails to.
your
still ran

well-

stout

now
a

little

island

to

the north-

lying very plain,the ocean

it,though in the south-west

showing

end

east

sea-Hne.

the

upon
from

main

the

There

broke

moving

from

north

fiftyof these
for the
wall

The

noise

past

ice

broken
curls

of

hurled

the

on

on

the

the
least

able
answer-

the

to

had

north.

stood
the

over
seas

and
and

bows,

On

much
washed

either side in froth

noticed

sinking and
billows,

to

for
at

were

gone,
of froth

the

ones

little.

and

"^as

ice, past

bends

with

seas

heaviness

channels.

the

and

bow

some

the

o/er

the

large,

had
made
we
progress
of ice (as I call it)that

with

tumbled

wind

bergs

small

and

great

away

certain.

all the

dotted

was

out

set

very

the

than

masses,

the

was

island, the

west

larboard

the

against

and

white

hand,

other

the

been

in

yond
be-

ice died

the

had

we

the

quickly

more

in the

sea

That

current
by some
westerly tendency

was

which

as

Pirate.

Frozen

The

276

rising
big

and

schooner's

bed

risingas high
great quantity of

in the

dark

blocks
and

would

then

green
be

be swept

off, sometimes
fetching the bilge such a thump as
seemed
bellow
It
to swing a
through her frame.
that
fell
water
was
only at intervals,
however,
upon
the
the
beat
of the
decks, for the ice broke
forced
and
moderating surge
in
which
there was
weight
spume,
wind enough to raise and heave.
continued
was

that

would

.which

lie head

to

these

in time
casp

it

expend its
strength of

to
not

Since

the vessel

passionate hope
repeated washings of the waves

loosen

it would

to

sea,

the
not

ice
need

my

about

her

much

of

keel, in
a

smiting her full bows fair,to slide her clean

her.
There
launch
ancj off her ;bed ancj 50

billow,
down
were

sh(

The

Ice

277

away.

breaks

in the

clouds

heavens, but the blue was

very
The
morning brighteningwith the
pure between.
risingof the sun, I directed an earnest
gaze along
the horizon, but there was
nothing to see but ice.
Some
of the bergs, however, and more
particularly
many

the

distant

stole

on^s,

sunshine

the

of

out

with

blue

the

sphere
atmo-

blance
complete a resemof ships that I would
to the lifting
canvas
heart
beating
myself staring fixedly,my
appointme
But
there
no
was
dejection in these dis-

to

catch
fast.

the

so

filled

that

ecstasy

on

me

frozen
beholding the terrible island, the hideous
prison whose
crystalbars I had again and again
believed
to be
broken, now
were
never
lying at a
distance
with
its northern
imperceptibly
cape
violent
was
so
opening to our subtle movement,
I could

that
in my

no

life to

suffer

myself

she

would

leak

or

large a
spellbound aloft
ever

she

discovered
I went

men

in
been

her

sound

was

frozen

I would

not

whether

mean

floated

she

when

to

craft, that

liberty.

anxiety touching

"

were

his

manage
still

gate
navi-

to

much

as

and

canvas

in the

sepulchre in

put the

provisionswe

tackle
which

her.

below,

for breakfast
cabin.

had

schooner

was

owed

his

me

it

he

as

great that

so

prove

scheme

owe

instant's

an

the

two

we

he

were

feel

to

so

as

did

now

of

how

result of my
had
said ;

Tassard

transports

my

condition

and

the

was

so

me,

the

"

for the tears

voice

my

heart.

This, then,
failure,as

Nay,

found

have

not

On

and

into the

oven,

bringing the

and

lanthorn

entered
to

needed

Tassard's

his face

as

he

".

/.

i/..
IMAGE

EVALUATION

TEST TARGET

1.0

|5o
Ui

I.I

(MT-S)

*^"

1^

N^H

12.2

lb
lb

2.0

ill
1.25

Sciences

I L6

33 WIST MAIN

STRKT

WnSTIR.N.Y. MSM
(716) "72-4303

Corporation

4^

^^

The
his

on

to

he

must

him

when

Ice

feet,and had
fallen.

have

he had

gone

breaks

to

continue

Time
to

279

away.

was

holdinghim or
beginning with

"
"

*""
.

rv;!,]

bed, and the remorseless

old soldier had

whilst

his victim

whilst

completelyfinished his work

slept. I viewed the Frenchman

,"".:':,
iT;

grasped his hands, and there stood before me a

shrunk, tottering,
deaf, bowed, feeble old man.
What
was
now
a
yesterdaya polishedhead was
shrivelled pate, as
though the very skull had
left the skin to rippleinto wrinkles
shrunk and
and sit loose and puckered. His hands trembled
held in its
excessively. But his lower jaw was
place by his teeth, and this perpetuated in the
ness
something of the likeaged dwindled countenace
sinister visage that had
fierce and
ol the
confronted
thunderstruck
me
yesterday. I was
with
by the alteration,and stood overwhelmed
confusion, and alarm.
Then, re-collecting
awe,
I
the
miserable
relic to the
spirits,supported
my
fire,
puttinghis bench to the dresser that he might
have a back to lean against.
feed himself
He could scarce
indeed,he could
hardlyhold his chin off his breast. He had gone
I might take it,of fifty-six,
and
as
to bed a man,
duringthe nightthe angel of Time had visited
I

:i^;";;^A

"."""",.i"

"

there
"him, and
age!
years '^f
He

looked

it.

he

sat,

hundred

Ha, thought I, I

and

three

dreading
there is nothing more
;
your treacheryyesterday
that he was
Besides
to fear.
deaf,
nearlystone
he could hardly see ; and I was
sure, if he should
he could not stir a legwithout
at ;^ll,
be able to move
I was
the help of sticks.
goingto roar out to
was

-"".J'

him

that

that

adrift,but he looked

were

we

thought,

cud

thereof.

soon

stop

what

to

in

of memory

aught

Pirate.

Frozen

The

28o

He

his

purpose
let him

him,

last

cannot

And

heart.

If

sit and

long

with

imbecile

so

there

be

the

chew

the cold must

I went

that

on

eating my breakfast in silence,but greatlyaffected

of Providence,
by this astonishing mark of the hand
and under
a very
sense
heavy and constant
of awe,

had

sure

it

and

like of such

for the

before

never

to
terrifying

was

DIES.

expected

Frenchman

my

undeceived
long silent,he soon
in
his
tremulous
to
complain
and aching limbs.
his weakness
terrible

'Tis the

cold

said he. whilst his head

rheumatism

the

like

nodded

in every

the

It may
'tis rheumatism

Virgin,
was
interrupted by
it

but

looked

vision
!

over

"

ay,

at

could
"

fix

not

he
;

sun
mon

on
'*

cried, setting
no,

is

no

coming

"

Vive
the

brave, there

to

up

Tamour
sun
are

I feel
ness
weak-

no

and

by

Here

the
he

coughing, and
me
again,
right,as if his

not
are
my
capers
his rickety shrill

vive

la

is the fountain
some

'tis

address
my

But

"

me,"

"

yes,

"

else ?

fit of

turned

me.

heard,

along

long

he

is

There

have

what

"

affected

nervously.

lay me

the bulkhead

**

throat
The

ended

was

sit

by beginning
aged voice of

has

bone.

rheumatic,

true, 'tis true.

when

that

to

me

very

"

eyes,

XXIV.

FRENCHMAN

if

However,

am

with it.

alone

CHAPTER
THE

mortal

encountered
be

transformation

shakes

in

or

joie!

hai

of life

he

thes^

The

legs yet

stout

of

Frenchman

!"

shook

He

281

dies.

with

his head

fine

and

knowingness, grinning very

and
with a startling
then, fallinggrave
oddly ;
suddenness, he began to dribble out a piratical
before
favoured
with,
me
love-storyhe had once
of
with
the
the
charms
a
woman
describing
with
his
head
horrid
the
nervous
leer,
nodding

air

cunning

affection

of

direction

blindlyiii my
object !
I could

not

with

talked

all the

age

time, whilst

breaks

for

coherently,as though the

performed by habit rather
often

he

far

went

had

that

before, though
what

he

the

not

poor

babble, which

more

than

this

and

present,

was

of

matter

not

dim

'\

"
"

He

made

power

he

so,

particularly
persistedin his
in him

his

that,

speech,

suaded
per-

reference

two

has

to

in

situation,and

our

few

I believe his memory

retained no more
and
ends
of the evil story of his
odds

life,like bits of tarnished

or

lying in
long been

the

lace

bottom

emptied

and

of

of

the

rusty button

dark

chest

clothes

it

that
once

held.
But

"*

imbecility.

truth

solemn
than

no

"'-:

reddish

M-

me

of his

""

:"-^'"^"^"'
'"'"'"k
'.1:'

gone
collect

being

behaviour

tences
sen-

more

yet he

me,
was

the

even

in the

me

:4"V.i

into

to

had

he

was

that

had

managed

sure

observe

hear

not

was

cook-room,

know

could

he

as

meant.

light of
could

the whole

on

J-''T

very

.so

what

to

not

memory,
babbled

and

'.

'"'"^\\

he

but

gone,

of his tongue

than

t,' '":
'

pitiful

yet

breath, and

reference

no

and

^'- ''K'

looked

he

was

office

astray

of vision to

enough

hideous

"

that his mind

say

many

r.vi.

my

condition

made

such

heavv

demands

.-ii'

t
_

Frozen

The

282

upon

tion
thoughts that I had yery much les^ attenthis
to
surprising
give
phenomenon of

my
to

its

senihtythan
has

mentioned

given

the

waste,
with the
no

the

person
and
powers

same

he entered

when

of

member

deserved.

the

It

faculty that

it to, the supposition being that,

of suspended animation, there is

case

and

merits

uncommon

puzzled every

have

Pirate.

would

quit

aspect

as

it,though

But

his

he

it lasted

possessed

Time

is

no
granting
waste.
when
always present waitmg tp settle accounts
the sleeperlifts his head.
ficial
There
be an artimay
which
the
victim
interval,during
might
*show
but
of
the
load
as
did,
pirate
poised
my
is severed
sudden
on
a
by the scythe and
years
and
the
with
becomes
superincumbent;
weight
the transformation
this
and
comes
theory, as
;
the only eye-witnessof the marvellous
thing,I will

years.

the

kin(
the
deci
stre

the
free
flas

thousand

is

there

stupor

and

lon[
I

hold

maintain

and

whilst

body
support it.
I left him gabbling

I have

in

breath

the

my

to

himself,sometimes
ning
grinas
greatly diverted, sometimes
liftinga
his
recital
hand
to
trembling
help
by an
ghostly
deck,
on
equally ghostly dumb-show, and went
to

if

satisfied that he
and

by

with

meddle
his

weak

too

was

it, but

long night'srest

to

to

the fire

to

get

sufficiently
invigorated
sit up without
tumbling

off the bench.

This
tive
"

time

glass I

the

chest

I carried
had

noticed

in which

charts, and
the coast

of

the

with
in

papers

the chest
the

were
"

island,but

old

an

me

and
it

was

perspec-

in my

nautical

cabin
ments,
instru-

levelled it
.a

poor

along
glass,

us

The
and

Frenchman

I could

I found

There
eye.
kind, only that there was
of the

blowing

the

in

decrease

stretched

the

in

was

and

wind
of

in

corresponding

the

considerable

any

sensible diminution

height

with

nearly as well
no
change of

manage

naked

the

2S3

dies.

bed

ice

The

seas.

either hand

on

frothed
ship and ahead of her; the water
and
over
it,and there was a great jangling
freely
no
flashingof broken pieces,but the hull was
hit
longerheavily by them,
I got into the main chains to view the body of
the

f^ ':'i}-i{

the vessel,and

with

noticed

satisfaction that the

the

pouringof the sea had thinned down

frozen snow
to the depth of at least a foot.
restless
to hope that the
encouraged me
constant

would

surge

keel

keep

bows

her

"

But

on.

must

go

pieces.

to

she floated,fouled some

all our spars.
Then
us

ice

she

would

For

float ?

was

time,
grown

position.

our

side
broadthat

to me,

ice

on

which

berg it might

againoccurred

tinued
con-

this

bringher

Or if the

other

Suppose
question,
she

perilof

inevitable,it seemed

it,it was

to

of

the blow

by

transports having moderated,

fullysensible of the extreme

Should the sea rise and the
she

by

is if fortune

that

head

tides

put her into

least,and

at

easilylaunched

her

upon
to

my

be

to

posture

her

to

sap

This

cost

the dismal

launch

herself,
eight-and-forty
years she
should

had

been

had

rung

spoken
did

not

she had

high and dry ;

upon
of her

doubt
been

never

caulker's hammer

her in all that time.

a

as

ship,and

stout

but

stranded

the

old rogue
six months

Tassard
so

had

she was,
talked as

only !

I
if

I had
il.-

1 ?t

.o-

The

284
other

no

treated
her

timbers

her

people,an

that

than

hope

the

it had

as

the

of her
substantiality
regained the deck

There

the bodies

treated

of her

state

had

cold

intense

unreasonable

expectationnot

I considered

Pirate.

Frozen

inward
and

when

the manifest

and

stores

of

fabric.

stepped

the

to

over

of them, but

in
built up
life if I
to
snow.
was
save
My business
my
could, and the schooner
too, for the sake of the
in her.
disconcert
Nothing must
great treasure
pumps.

me

I said

act

"

from

chopper, I
continued
^^

took

rawing

my

an

hour

liie

beaten

that

"

"

"

is to

handles.

and

pike

hawk,
toma-

as

in an hour
and
but it
spirits,
I had
chopped, hacked, and

The

pretty clear of its thick

pumps

They

crystal coat.
pumps

The

he

^r

one

selectingsome

such

spear,

tenance.
coun-

and fell upon

pumps
ice flew about
but I
me,
exercise
making me hot

smite, the

to

for God's

the

to

will.

labour, but

no

spare

arms-room,

returned

with

them

the

spade-headed

by

I must

myself

to

hearty sailor's part and ask

So I trotted below, and

weapons

and

two

were

is called

what

were

which
say, pumps
ice, of course, held

brakeworked

are

them

movable
im-

they looked to be perfectlysound,

be
good working order, though there would
but

in

neither

chance

schooner

went

need

nor

to

them

test

until

the

afloat.
.

the other

I cleared
with
lament

the

Frenchman
served

one

work.

morning's

my

my

lack
as

of

he

turn, for

and

was

well

was

But

little

crew.

yesterday

between

us

we

satisfied

did

bitterly

Even
would

might

the
have
ha^'e

The
made

shift

break

the

Frenchman

285

dies.

mm

clamber

aloft,and with hatchets

sails free of their ice bonds, and so
canvas
enough to hold the wind, which
to

expose
could not have failed to imparta swifter motion
with my single
to the berg. But
pairof hands I
could

only look
standinghard as

idly at the yards and gaffs

such surface
even
granite.Still,
the
offered
the
and
to
as
rigging
spars
but a very
breeze helpedour progress.
We were
littleberg,nay, not a berg,but rather a sheet of
ice lyingindifferently
flat upon the sea, and, as I
believe, without much
depth. Our spars and
if the ice itselfwere
as
riggedas a ship,
gear were
and then there was
the heightof the hull besides
up

offer to the breeze a tolerable resistance for its

I explainour
offices of propulsion.In this way

to

the cause, certain it was

whatever
that our
bed of ice was
under weigh,and at
fairly
the island of ice bore at least half a league
noon

progress

but

from

distant

us,

and

we

had

broadlypast its northern 'cape.

I have often diverted myself with
what

sort

schooner
sailors

of

impressionthe

would

sightingus
out
to be floating
regardthe devil as

have
from

made

the

opened

wondering

posture

on

of

minds

the

their deck.

sea

We

of water, and

mariners

conjurormust

have

our

of

looked
who

accepted

of his pet inventions.

one
us
as
The many icebergs which eijcumbered the sea
with anxiety. We
faster
filledme
were
travelling
that we could
they,and it seemed impossible
of them.
another
miss
Yet
or
strikingone
as
they were, I could not but admire
perilous

"

than

"'

'=ha

m
""

t.^

iiSl

Frenchman

The

387

dies.

-'."*'

clothes

him
set
; and
upon
I put my
with his back to the dresser.
his ear and
roared, " Are you hurt ? "
lav in his

nodded

if he

understood

but

his bench
'''A"

mouth
His

to

head

question if
the completest picture of old
he did.
He
was
could
imagine. I fetched a couple
age that you
of spears
from
the arms-room,
and, cutting them
in each hand
that he might
to his height,put one
dinner
keep himself propped ; and whilst my own
him
of broth
with
a
mess
was
broilingI made
as

which
he

I fed

would

him, for

not

doubt

if his

spoon

to

his

that

now

of

let go

them.

With

of

supped down out of

avidity. The draught
his
he began to move

my

him

very

he

and
way.
I have lost the

"

notes,
walk.

Mother

of

St. Antonio, what

guessed
small

from

spur

fallen*

and

gazing

with

understand
my

sticks

contents

God,

of

his

worked

in

cried

in his

he

went

of

and

me

on

had

cannot

holy

*'-

risen to

vision

his

or
on

go

vapouring pitifully,

steadfastness
received

would

cackle

broken

of my
legsand
what
shall I do !

let

to

me

something

fix his

outline,though he
rightof me, as though he
if he looked
see
straight; and

mournful

utmost

use

reason,

He

the

that, impelled by habit

sufficient
that

then

is to become
this

with

him, and
about, seeking me

head

to left or
to

in any case
I
have
lifted the

hand

soon

blind

his

deck

But

the

the old villain,

rallying
stiff bumper of brandy, which

small

some

I mixed

some

had

trembling hand could

lips without capsizingthe
idea

he

his beard.

down

in

me,

eyes

was

this

of

either
If

able

not

and

nodding head,

his

bowed

The

288

Frozen

Pirate.

diminished

form, propped hands, and

him
as

distressful and

as

mortal

ever

melancholy
viewed.

man

rambling to ask for

granted that I was
never
spoke, and I
piece

it

held

before

of

to

still in
filled

the

his mouth, which

which

was

seized

other, soon
he

began

stave

and

hold

laugh

to

into

broke
which

dose,

strong

he

went

and

as

opened wide,
show

to

that

him.

upon

This

with

his head, and

presently

two

or

for I

co-operating

himself

to

in

he delivered

on

him

for

can

his

it for

cook-room,

of his wits still hung loose

some

off in

broke

brandy, taking

more

behaviour

made

picture of Time

He

face

and

talk, and

voice

even

French

some

"

like the

the

song

squeaking

alternatingwith the growling of a terrier.

I guess
his stumbling upon
this old French
it to be
from
catch
(which I took
seeing him
of his sticks as if inviting
feebly flourish one
a
chorus) put him upon
speaking his own
tongue
chatter
to
altogether,for though he continued
would
with all the volubilityhis breath
permit
I
time
sat
eating,not one
during the whole
word
of English did he speak, and not
word
one
did I understand.
therefore
Seeing how it must
with him
be
presently, I brought his mattress
his cabin, and
had
from
laid
and
scarce
rugs
of

them

rat

when

down

he let fall

of his

one

I grasped him,
drooped over]
partlyhauling,got him on his

him

up.

I trust
that
If he went

In

few

I shall not
I

minutes
be

he

deemed

and

and

covered

asleep.

inhuman

wished
his end
heartily
on
livinghe promised to

and

partlylifting,

back

was

sticks

if I

would
be

an

fess
con-

come.

intoler-

I.

The
able burden
he

who

289

dies.

beingquitehelpless. Besides,

me,

much

was

man

to

Frenchman

old for this world, in which

a
of ninetyis pointedto
the

too

reaches

ii.,

'

as

sort

of wonder.

..J-

nothing to be done on deck, I

filled my pipe and made myselfcomfortable before
the furnace,and was
speedilysunk in meditation.
there

As

was

I reviewed

all the circumstances

considered

my

chances, and

to

England,how was
myselfarrived in
river ;

heels of

it ?

secure

the Thames.

in

safety to
Let me imagine

The

whole

world

the strange antiquecraft

she would
be boarded
and

of the

of

people,who

customs

upon the
to

treasure

at

stares

the

I to

and

with this schooner,

I should have the good

the

convey

case

home

imaginationcarryingme
1 asked myself,suppose
fortune

of my
the nimble

What

treasure.

then

sailingup the
rummaged by
would light
course
I knew iiothing
?

but I reckoned, since I should have

tellthe truth,that the money,
ore, and jewellery

would

law

be

claimed

with

as

stolen

small reward

property, and

I dismissed

for

it home.
bringing
contemplationat such a

follyin such
the
time, when
perhaps at this hour to-morrow
chests
might be at the bottom of the sea, and
sailor floatingthree
hundred
myselfa drowned
is a freward child,
fathoms deep. But man
who
of dreams, and, jockeyed
builHs mansions
out
by Lope, sets out at a gallopalong the visionary

There

road
taken

his desires ; and

much
so
my mind was
I should manage
up with consideringhow

to

brought the
couple of hours

when
a

was

treasure

in

't'"|'

home, that I spent

conflict of schemes,
JJ

;,,,^V--,,..

290

The

Frozen

during v/hich

time

it

reflect

to

and

much

that

myself

that

was

occurred

once

never

to

me

still,
good way from home
happen before I need give
to the securing of the
as

must

the leist

Pirate.

concern

treasure.

Nothing worth recording happened that day.

The wind slackened, and the ice travelled so slow
that

than

north

since

half

much

as

Whilst

again

comfort

some

change
side

noon,

that

about
;

of consequence

though

I could

below

was

discover

not

quarter of

brisklyround

pretty
me

I could

more

made
the

sundown

at

but

that

mile of progress
had
settled
we

distance
the

hear

I could

to

by

westwards.
ice

crackling

ship,which

the

when

had

we

see

never

I looked

over

gave

any
the

four o'clock,
bows, only that at about
I was
whilst
taking a view from the forecastle,
from
board
a
large block broke away
beyond the staror

bow

the report of a swivel gun.

I had
closed
the previous
not
on
my
eyes
tired out
when
the
was
night, and
evening
with

arrived,and, as no good could come

a watch, for the
simple reason
in my
to avert
anything that
power
I tumbled
further covering over
some
man,

who

sometimes

had

lain

on

the deck

of

my

that it

was

ing
keepnot

might happen,
the

PVench-

all the

afternoon,
waking and talking

dozing, sometimes
to himself, and
appearing on the whole very easy
and comfortable, and went
to
my cabin.
I sleptsound
thu whole night through, and
on
before going to the cookdeck
house
on
waking went
and lightingthe furnace
tom),
cus(as was
my
I to observe
and
state
so
impatient was
our

to

hear

such

very

was

The

Frenchman

news

as

the

curious

dies.

291

had

ocean

for

somewhat

day,

It

me.

darksome,
"

and

dead

of the

with

calm,

south-east.

with

The

stooping

they

sea-line,and

in
the

of

you
of a

sallow

of them

round

were

; some

large long
full
sky was

appearance

that reminded

them

valleysin the

there.

ocean

at

gone,

the schooner

stilllay as

had

the deck

to

come

afloat from

least

of

hang

belly of

mock
ham-

very

common
un-

though there

good

strongly fixed
half

were

of

part

our

of it ; but

fourth

expecting

before.

as

find

to

her

of her heaving,and
regularmanner
bitterlydisappointed to discover her rooted
stronglyas ever in the ice, though the irritation

was
as

the

softened
diminished.
and

sank

when
The

with

noticed

too

the
go deep, bflt at
I could
solid for me,
not

not

been

sheet

thm

as

the

given under

had

the

It was
water-logged vessel.
legs after their long rest
my
The
heaving satisfied me that
did

bed

the

ship upon it rose

sluggish squattingmotion of
with

mass

the

how

as

from
the

doubt,

of

the

to

of the

time

same

exercise.

such
base

it

for

schooner

bed
all

was

had

the
have

hoped it,it must

I had

weight

sensation

odd

an

and

leased
re-

her.
island

The

looked

beam, and

going
upon

into

the

lay a league

the

dark

distant

wondrous

south, and
green

sea

out

on

vast

it stared

of

the

the

larboard

field of
very
clouds

clouds,

sipped the
shadows, obliteratingthose
which
they overhung, broke

their

was

out

about

as

of ice

the

brown,

parts of the cincture

the continuityof the horizon
bed

of

'" -I
.

swell

ice

ghastly
whose

:1.i^'".''

had

we

set

behind

sank

gloom

drifted
the

to

it.

I could

anything

The

in

sea

that

observe

not

the north, whilst

to

had

westwards

snail-like.

Pirate.

F'rozen

The

29^

been

our

steady though

the north

north-west

and

the
bergs, like great snowdrops on
and
undulating fields of the deep. Now
green
again the swell,m which fragments of ice floated
be
with the gleam of crystalin liquidglass,would
the bed,
too
quick for our dull rise and overflow
much
noise of
with
brimming to the channels
of
foam
ant*
pouring waters, but the interposition
the
ice took half its weight out of it,and it never
tremble
than
send
did
a
more
through the
;vith

swarmed

vessel.
What

make

to

Certainly,of
its calms

helped
In the

the

weather

the

to

other.

no

north-east

clouds

the

knew

not.

caprices of this huge cold sea,

shortest lived,but this knowledge
of sunshine

beam

clouds

The

golden waterspout, its foot in a

It stayed all the whiles I was
that

all the

are
me

of

had

scarce

any

did

of

glory.
deck, showing
on
motion, and made
to
beyond nature

pictureof the sea that way

of the defined
my sight,by the contrast
gold, burning purely,with the d^sk of the
of the pool of dazzle
all about, and
at
of
the water
with the ugly green
that
the

like

stood

littleflood

stir.

not

shaft of
clouds
its foot
melted

into it.
below

I went
Thr

Frenchman

clothes
was

I had

as

would

and

about

got

lay
fill

very
a

half-dozen

bitterlycold, sharper
ever

remembered

lightingthe fire.
quiet,under as many

in the

it,and

of sacks.

cook-house
I could

not

It
than
con

"r

The

Frenchman

dies.

293

"i,.'

ceive

why this should be, until i recollected that

forgotten to close the companion-hatch
before going to bed.
I prepared some
broth
for
and
dressed soine
ham
for myself,
companion,
my
and ate my
breakfast,supposing he would
while
meanawake.
But
after sittingsome
time and
observing that he did not stir,a suspicionflashed
into my
mind ; I kneeled
down, and clearing his
He
did not
breathe.
I brought
face, listened.
I

had

\-vl^

I
0.

the

lanthorn

been

so

from

to

changed by

his

middle

of

state

his

him, but

had

countenance

unparalleledemergence

life into

old

extreme

age,

puckered, hollowed, gaunt, his features

distorted by the great weight of his years that I
him dead
not
to know
by merely viewing him.

he

was

so
was

so

I threw

the clothes

off him, listened

his mouth

at

ice-cold.
felt his hands, which
were
breathlessly,
indeed ! thought I.
Great Father, 'tis Thy
Dead
I rose
will ! And
very slowlyand stood surveying
its
otion that owed
the silent figure with
an
er
inspiration
partlyto the several miracles of vitality
in him during our
I had beheld
association,and
bitter feelingof loneliness that swelled
to a
up
in

"

me.
,

Yes

his

! I had

quick

affected

feared

detested

and

and

transformation

me,

and

down

I looked

be perfectlycandid

Yet, to
that, though

it occurred

to

man,

silent
upon

with
me

this

you,
to

test

dark
him
I

but
exit

sadly.

recollect

if life was

by bringing him close to the fire and

chafing him and giving him brandy, I would not
moved
have
stir.
a
not
finger to
No, I would
been
him, even
though I should have
recover

out

of him

"

*
-

J""",:"':i

-The

from

the

Schooner

bed

with

Herself.

frees

smart

clap

of

^95

noise, and

completely roll over.

Only a minute before had I
been
standing on it,and thus had sixtyseconds
stood between
and
me
death, for most
certainly
I have
been
drowned
must
killed
or
by being
beaten
the
ice
I
the
swell
!
fiellupon
against
by
hands
knees and
lifted up my
in gratitude to
my
God,
feeling extraordinarilycomforted
by this
further mark
of His care
of me,
and very strongly
off
persuaded that He designed I should
come
with my
Hfe after all,since
His providence would
work
miracles
for my
not
so
preservationif
many
I was
to perishby this adventure.
These
for my
than
I
thoughts did more
spirits
can

well

loneliness

express
was

and

the

mitigated by

intolerable
the

watched, and therefore not alone.

The
how.
The
not
day passed I know
of tempest
as
hung in the air,but never
the
did I see
to blurr
rollingmirror
paw

""

!"

of

sense

knowledge

that

was

ocean.

The

hidden

sun

sank

out

shadow
a

of

cats-

the

of the breathless

sky, tingeingthe atmosphere with a faint hectic,

of
which
quickly yielded to the deepest shade
The
blackness.
mysterious desperate silence,
deck
however, that on
on
weighed oppressively
as
something false,menacing, and
sense,
every
in
below by the
these seas, was
qualified
malignant
hold
peculiar strainingjioises in the schooner's
of
the
the
ice upon
caused
by the swinging
I was
swell.
a
gale. It
; I dreaded
very uneasy
quickly
impossible but that the vessel must
was
in
the ice if she
a
heavy sea
upon
go to pieces
But though this excited
did not liberate herself.

rzy::

The

296
a

Pirat^.

Frozen

depression melancholy enough, nothing else

that

recollect

can

reviewed

must

to

be

it.

to

When

apprehension the Frenchman

reflected how
unsupportable a

the

raised,and
he

contributed

have

become,

alone.

Time

was

well

very

fortified

had

had
burden
satisfied

me

had

passed through

to

of
now

countered
experiences so surprising,enwonders
so
preternatural,that superstition
lay asleep in my soul, and I found nothing
in thinking
occasion in me' the least uneasiness
the lifeless shrivelled
was
figure of what
just
a fierce,
villain,
cowardly, untamed
lying in the

forecastle.

good supper, built up a large fire,and

mixed
myself a hearty bowl of punch, not with
God
the view of drowning my
forbid !
anxieties
I was
too
grateful for the past, too expectant of
the future, to be capable of so
brutish
a
folly
but that I might keep myself in a cheerful
ture
posof mind
sick
of
and
own
being
;
my
company
cabin
took the lanthorn
the
used
to
lately
by the
I made

"

"

sundry
It

in

articles of attire,a

in Dutch

some

found

and

Frenchman,

was

chest

little

there,

parcel

and

Portuguese, and
little old volume, the

one

of

in

among

books,

English.

author's

name

given, and proved to be a relation of the

writer's
being taken
by pirates,and the many
There
was
nothing in it,
dangers h^ underwent.
not

to

be

that

sure,

interested

answered

to

mightily as an
of sea
narrative
perils; and
fancy reading it,the lanthorn
me

close beside

my

head, the book

own
my
honest

unvarnished

myself
hanging by a
see

in

one

yet it

case,

hand,

now

in

laniard

my

pipe

The

in

Schooner

Herself.

ffees

297

1;
[.fBi^^

the

other, the furnace

roaring pleasantly,my
feet close to it,and
the
atmosphere of the oven

fragrantwith the punch

it from
freezing. I had
was
reading this passage
board

that

to

come
*'

I put there
a

Soon

all went

we

into the great

but destruction.

found nothing
had

there

and

necessaries

broke

were

to

in them

pieces^and

after we

and

were

cabin, where
Two

scrutores

all the

""

prevent

certain page

all gone.
books in them

were

to

I!.;

on
we

I'i".-V,':"""

""

,;

'.

finegoods
Moreover
^

large chests that had

were
empty
and I was
all
been
afterwards informed they had
overboard
thrown
of the pirates on opening
; for one
them
there
jaw-work
swore
was
enough {as he
called it)to serve
nation, and proposed that they
a
might be cast into the sea^forhe feared there might
be some
books
amongst them that might breed mis^
chief enough, and prevent some
of their comrades
in
their
to hell,whither
they
from going on
voyage
bound^^-^\
I
alt
was
were
reading this
say,
the
little
affected
not
a
impiety of the
by
passage,
dead
Frenchman
rascal, for whose
portrait my
when
well
I
terrified
have
might very
was
sat,
by
loud
that
burst
an
so
near
extraordinary
explosion,
with
such
clear
of
and
note
a
prodigious
rang
thunder
that I vow
to God
through the schooner
the gunpowder
blown
below
had
I believed
up.
in this suspicion I honestly supposed myself
And
for on
running into the cabin
right for a moment,
flame
that clothed the
dazzled
I was
by a crimson
whole
interior with a wondrous
gush of fire ; but
this being instantlyfollowed
by such another
clap
two

'""

1,

as

the

broken

former, I understood
over

the

schooner.

thunderstorm

bad

If;

i'i^r'!^'

"'^:
,

It

exactly overhead,

was

for the violence

that

extreme

so

of

Pirate.

Frozen

The

298

rather

they sounded
bodies

electric

flightof

crashes, which

of the

enormous

that

and

bolts.

of

The

indeed

were

like the

close

ice

accounted

ting
split-

to, than

the

hatch

lay open; I
head
passed my

had
deck, but scarce
down
storm
a
came
through the companion when
of hail,every
stone
as
big as a pigeon'segg, and
on

ran

all my

in

time

clamour.

There

hail fell in

I
was

heard

never

not

of air.

breath

straight lines, which

hellish

more

the

fierce

The
near

of giant
lightningflashed up into the appearance
harp strings,on which the black hand of the night
I sat
of thunder.
was
playing those heavy notes
in the shelter of the companion, very anxious
and
alarmed, for there was
powder enough in the hold
the lightning
the ship into atoms
to blow
; and
played so continuouslyand piercinglythat it was
like a hundred
darts of fire,violet^crimson, and
thrust
who
at
sun-coloured, in the grasp of spirits

the

sea,

the

arms,

to

all
as

over

its face, with

swift

though searching

spear her.
The
hailstorm

ceased

as

for

of

movement

schooner

the

suddenly

as

it had

stepped on to the deck, and 'twas like

the least
not
was
shingle. There
treading on
motion
in the air, and
the
stagnation gave an
almost
and
to the thunder
supernatural character
lightning. The
ocean
was
lighted up to its
furthest visible confines by the flames
in the sky,
and the repeated explosionsof thunder
exceeded
the roaringof the ordnance
of a dozen
squadrons
burst.

in hot

fight. The

ice-coa^t in the

east, and

the

""v

The
two

score

one

hue

world
to

Schooner

bergs in

the north

into another
exceed

to

last

my

Herself.

frees

and

and

west

were

299

leaptout of
days in this

my
of old Abraham,
I should
and
remember
the solemn

"

those

breath

i,.

terrible

magnificenceof that pictureof lightningcoloured

ice, the sulphur-tinctured
shapes of the
swollen
bodies
of clouds
bringing their dark
electric mines togetherin a huddle, the answering
flash of the face of the deep to the lancingof each
spiraldazzlingbolt,with the air as still as the
atmosphere of a cathedral for the thunder to roll
its echoes through.
There
furious shower
of hail,and
was
a second
when

that

that the

was

storm

I concluded

be

there

mistaken

sat

in the

for half

forth,and

observed

settlinginto the north-east,

that what draught there might

was

whence
up

I looked

over

an

south-west.
after

hour

Nor

was

first of the

the

outburst,by which time the lightning

played weak
the thunder
and at long intervals low down, and
had ceased, I felt a crawlingof air coming out of
the south-west, which
presentlybriskened into a
small
for
steady blowing. But not
long. It
freshened

the wrinkles

crispedinto
the black heavings ; they grew
whiteness
into
on
small su^-ges with sharp cubbish
snarlingspreludious of the lion's voice ; and by ten o'clock it
was
blowing in strong squalls,the seas
rising,
in smoke-coloured
and the clouds sailingswiftly

rags

The

yet

under

and

yet

time she

mi'

the stars.

posture of the

starboard

bow
was

to

ice

inclined the

the billows

and

tremblingin every

in

bone

schooner's
a

very

short

to the blows

I'M

there

air,which

the

My

Pirate.
the

which
rolled boiling over
surges
dim clouds
and struck her, flinging

of the

in

Frozen

The

300

case

of spume

the scuppers
gushing.
stranded
ship,with this

set

soon

that of

was

ice

only, that a vessel ashore lies solid to

the beating of the waves,
the ice was
whereas
and fell,
buoyant, it rose
sluggishlyit is true, and
somewhat
so
mitigated the severityof the shocks
of water.
But, spite of this,I was
perfectlysure
she
that unless the bed broke
under
her or
slipt
off it,she would
be in pieces before the morning.
in any
It was
hull put together by human
not
hands
The
to resist the pounding of those
seas.
breast
weight oT the mighty ocean
along whose
in them, and though the wind
was
they raced was
brisk gale, each
billow by its
than
a
no
more
itself the child of a giantess. The
showed
stature
ice-bed
the
like a whirlpool with
was
leap and
it. The
flash and
black
play of the froth upon
air of the night was
whitened
of
by the storms
difference

foam-flakes

which

roaring of

the broken

of the

God

come.

As

now.

alive

some
a

shift
any
should
be

entered
boat.

no

the wind

I crouched

the

uproar

and
in

the horrors

sea

the

and
?

tp freeze

time

was

to

was

broken

up,

What

might

The

die

keep myself

to

head.

my

of booms
arrangement
raft, but to what purpose

it take

to

increased

my
but
I
merciful,

been

was

vessel.

firmly believed

making
the ship

never

There

do ?

had

the

over

waters

to

after

thought

as

scene.

flew

have

could

contrived

casks
How

the

to

long

serve

would

me?

companion-way hearkening
around, feelingthe convulsions of

The

the

Schooner

Herself.

frees

schooner, fullyprepared for death, dogged

afraid.
not
hopeless. No, I was
Suffering
that
had
expectation
brought me to
pass that

and
and

I did

and

not

*'

care.

thousands

thinking;
knows

my

I held

'Tis

such

end

an

of sailors have

in

time, but

my
heart."

tightlyfolded
with
and
set
lips waited for the
crashing and rending sounds which
the ruin and

destruction

So

half

passed
perished with
when

the

the vessel

little in what
and

cold,

dram

to

as

his way to the scaffold.

of
describe
the character

ship I

raised

should

most

felon sw.illows
Were

vessel's

to

self
my-

draught

attempt

thunderous

the

be

not

believed.
as

their volumes

rolled

betoken

warmed

aid

deafening roaring

the ice and

over

would

those

I was,

on

the

first of

then, being half

went
to the
furnace, for
matter
pieces it would

hour

part of her

took

of the schooner.

an

went

mariner.

Almighty God
ran
thoughts.
my
upon
my breast,

.arms

my

:\

the

this tune

To

nundreds

as

met," I remember

it is the fittest exit for

"

sinned

have

in

301

to

noises
The

seas

they boiled
against the

Every curl swung a load of broken

and bends, a^^d the
frozen pieces against the bows
shocks
resounded
through her like blows from
It was
if I had
been
as
Cyclopean hammers.
sides.

in the

seated

central

stagnant

revolving hurricane, feelingno

cheek, whilst close
my
upon
hellish tormenting conflict of
yellingblasts.
On
rise.

She

sudden
was

"

in

swung

breath
up

with

heart
faintest

around
white

of

small

sigh of
whirled
waters

air
the
and
'V

"

the

felt the vessel

giddy velocity

\-

The
and

rose
a

Schooner

indicated

that she

channel.

to

the

over

she had

result of the

the ice

came

the

from

away

either

the

rudder

was

in

she

water

ice

lease
re-

through

the

in its

there

was

list to starboard,
in her when
was
with
sea

of the

deluge,

and
horribly,

the main

washing

over

try it,but

immovable

gudgeons

it

her, and

tiller to

frozen

was

jammed

Had
with

hold

helm

other fashion

what

brought

I took

bow.

decided

ice

no

rolled

of
shifting

this heel that

was

quarter

vessel

The

me.

perceivedthat
the

forced

been

aft,barelyescapinga second

looked

visible

had

on

'

I returned

and

303

the ice up, for she had floated

the noises which
attended
her

threw

sudden, and

Herself.

frees

or

or

in

the
some

fixed.

been

damaged

I knew

her

to

below
be

so

it had

that, unless

was

she

taking

thicklysheathed

been

scaled

off in

placesby the breakingof her bed, I had littlefear

this coveringmelted
or
(until
dropped off by the
working of the frame) of the hull not proving
tight. I should have been coated with ice myself
had I stayed but a littlelonger in my wet
clothes
in that piercing
below, and bringwind, so I ran
ing
of

armful

an

clothes

from

my

cabin

to

the

in

and making
dry attire,
I don't
an
extraordinaryfigure,
question,in the
of the old-fashioned
buttons, lace,and fripperies

cook-room,

was

very

soon

garments.
The

incident

ice had
too

when

scarce

come

my

of the schooner's

the

suddenly,and at a time
was
terriblydisordered, that
the full meaning of it until I had

upon
mind

realized

release from

me

so

",:!

The

io4
shifted

and

Frozen

fortified my

myself and

got

in the

warm

this time

she

Pirate.

had

of

glow

fallen

with

heart

furnace.

the

into the

dram

By

and

trough

was

labouring like a cask; that she would

a
prove
a
singleglance at her fat
heavy roller in a seaway
buttocks
and swellingbilgemight have persuaded
I

but

me,

wallow

She

would

oscillation

was

list,and

there

keep
freelyover

my

feef:.

her

star-

concern

me,

for

of the

break

the

she

not

very
much
not

this did

rail,but

her

by

I could

shipping water

was

boatd

poop-deck kept the after part of

vessel, indifferently
dry,and the forecastle and

the
main

hatches

well

were

great perilI knew

one
"

when

dreamt

The

formidable

more

moments

were

have

monstrously.

so

rendeied

could

never

They lay in

west.

though
channel
have

there

be

to

to

there

provide against

icebergs in the north

long chain upon the sea,

there

was

was

doubt

no

and
and

wide

each, through which, it might

control, yet
carry a ship under

to

easy

fenceles
probabilityof a vessel in the deevery
condition
of the
a
schooner, without

was

stitch of sail
of

sure

between

been

how

But

flotillaof

the

mean

not

secured.

helm

her

on

and

under

fixed

no

other

ment
govern-

being swept
of those
frozen
floatinghills when
against one
it would
be good-night to her
and
indeed
to
me
would
a
catastrophe the sun
too, for after such
rise for me
her again.
or
never
Meanwhile

than

was

crazy

rudder,

taking in water.
sounding-rod in the ship I did
lay my hands upon it. But he
schooner

ascertain

to

if the

If there

was

not

know

is a poor

was

where

to

sailor who

The

is slow

in

at

the

with

Schooner

frees

substitutes.

There

spikes
Caffres

the

took

by
of a
formed
they were
a
length of ratline line

hard

carried

it

of these

and

spears,

doubt)
weapons

tribes in that

other

and

spears

no

like those

heads,

for

305

several

were

plunder,
(piratical

arms-room

mere

used

Herself.

heavy

and

secured

impossible to draw the

sounding-rod down

one

with

I
lamp ; but when
powder-room bull's-eye
the sounding-pipe I found
it full of ice, and
was

it to

deck

on

try
coun-

wood.

the

Yet
had

genious
in-

flung my
passion of grief

pumps,
in a

mind

my

in

into the

dropped

amid

was

him

me,

had

for
I

out.

It needed

",fV:

made
the

the
an

should

entered

hand, prized open

hold.

temper

my

hatch

enced
experi-

sobbing of infernal waters

yearning gushes, the long gurgling

the

the

detect

to

ear

his worst,

weather

to

Such

confronted

do

to

forecastle,lanthorn
and

beaten.

himself

him

defied

it

as

to be

devil

the

have
up

I not

was

probed

mortification.

and

":^"

like
rainblows, and shrewd
washings, the thunderous
I listened with
hissingsof the seas outside.
strained
guished
minutes, but distinhearing for some
sounds

no

to

alarm

with

me

of

assurance

ri

in

water

hearkened

outside.
out

the

hold.

with

all

of the

thanked

hold

and

no

need

by

the head, and

run

to

that

Being
of the

go

would

aft

not

reassured

could

mistake.

not

might, but the noise

my
God
heartily,and
very

There
put the hatch on.
The
and
listen.
schooner

there
be
in

hull, I returned

could

be

no

forward

too.

respect

of the

to

the

water

fire and

in

I
was

got
was
was

the

staunchness

proceeded

;:i*

The

3o6

Frozen

Pirate.

equip myself for a prolonged watch on deck.

I was
Whilst
drawing on a great pair of boots I
heard
a
knocking in the after part of the vessel.
drifted into a little field of
I supposed she
had
broken
ice, and that she would
go clear presently,
and
I finished arming myself for the weather
; but
I
into
the
the
cabin
knocking continuing, went
it very plain,and walked
I heard
where
far
as
as
I stood listening. The
the lazarette
hatch, where
kind
of irregularthumping accomnoises were
a
panied
sound.
In
moment
a
a
by peculiargrinding
I guessed the truth, rushed
deck, and by the
on
the long tiller mowing to
dim lightin the air saw

to

The

fro !

and

the

starboard

like

fold

riil to

tiller and

the

had

not

my

was
sea

level

it broke

ere

black

it

the

ship was

she

as

her

hard

bring

to

rolled
to

over

sea

her

made
on

black

seized

a-starboard, and
minute

the

abaft

beam.

the

bulwarks

larboard, and

height

before it,the helm

In

of
few

look

the

her.

posture half

the

her

her main
;
of it combined

froth

swung
about

snow

over

the

inexpressibledehght I observed
paying off. Her head fell slowly
she
lurched
drunkenly, and some
water

locked
un-

there

rudder, and

the

glazed

it in that

ponderously to
dead

with

and

into

ran

held

consumedly
now

had

seas

though like a dog

joy !
lay along, rollingso as

fabric of marble

beam

of the

bonds

full of water,
was
with the ice that

deck

the

tail for

vessel

The

of

tiller,
as

her

wagging

to

frozen

the

swung

beat

rose

the

when

that

she

from

the

tons

she

of

reeled

squarely and
surge

moments

the
amidships,

ful

rui
on

that

was

ah

she

was

tre

wind

blow-

CO

m
The

Schooner

Herself.

frees

307

with half its weight

the stern
ing sheer over
seemingly gone through the vessel running, the
tall seas
chasing her high stern and floatingit upwards,
Hke gazing down
till looking forward was
the slopeof a hill.
I was
fuller than then.
never
My heart was
half crazy with the passion of joy that possessed
Consider
the alternations of hope and bitter
me.
into that night!
despairwhich had been crowded
We
in times
of securitythat Hfe
v'onder
may
the justiceof the
should
admit
be sweet, and

arguments

poets

even

of death.
nature

which

-several
than

more

when

But
breaks

of

sorts

writers,and

the

in defence
use
parsons,
it comes
to the pinch human
the

When

through.

the

old

in

man

him, and the

skeleton suddenly rises,the old man
changes his
self
mind, and thinks he will go on
trying for himlittle longer. I liked to live,and
had
a
no
for a
mind
this getting the
wet
shroud, and
before
schooner
the wind, along with
the
old
familiar feelingof the decks
reelingand soaring
and
cordial an
so
sinking under my feet, was
of life that, I tell you,
heart
was
assurance
my
with
full to breaking
transport.

^sop

calls upon

However,

Death

still in

was

prodigiousdemands
wind

The

upon

running north-east
on

the

bow, but

situation that made

coolness

my

south-west,

was

the larboard

relieve

to

the
of

bulk
there

could

to

escape

the

rest,

It

was

schooner

wits.
was

the

icebergslay
were
right
the
also lay
tremity
ex-

starboard, where
of the island,though I did

ahead, and

and

others

not
a

fear ^ka^ if I

dark

night;

""

"
"

^'

"

""""^'a

Frozen

The

3o8
methinks
curled

somewhere
be

to

not

been

the

among

moon

young

stars, but

clouds

The

seen.

and
hurriedly,

have

should

there

Pirate.

flew

she

was

dark

and

too
were
frostyorbs between
ahead
and around
few to throw a light. The ocean
the duskier
for the spectralillumination of the
was
and
the
foam
near
glimmer of the ice-coated
ship. I tested the vessel with the tillerand found
she responded but dully; she would
be nimbler
under
no
doubt, but it was
canvas
enough that

should

she

the

her helm

answer

mighty thankful, most

was

heart

never

was

honest

more

all.

Oh, 1 say, I
humbly grateful. My
at

its Maker

to

than

then.
She

crushed

the
dark
along, pitchingpitifully,
either hand
seas
on
foaming to her quarters, and
her
Had
the
rigging querulous with the wind.
Frenchman
been alive to steer
the
ship,I might
have
found
strength enough for my hands in the
vigour of my
spiritto get the spritsailyard
and
loose
chop its canvas
square
nay, I might
"

have
not

achieved

quitthe

about

tiller now.

four miles

could

walk.

helped us

The
;

than

more

it

was

an

that

even

I reckoned

mizzen

but

I could

speed
hearty man

our

hour, as fast as
high stern, narrow
like

at

it was,
in its way ; and
as

all aloft

being stout to start with and greatly

thickened yet by ice, the surface up there gave
plentyfor the gale to catch hold on ; and so we
drove along.
v
I could just make
the dim
out
pallidloom of
the
blob

coast
or

of ice upon
two

the

of faintness

"

starboard
most

beam,

elusive

and

and
not

to

The

Schooner

be fixed by the eye

larboard

the

Herself.

frees

staringstraightat

bow.

them

on

long before
these
blobs, as I term
them, grew
plainer,and
half a score
into the dusk over
the bowsprit
swam
dull small visionaryopenings
end, and resembled
in the dark sky there,or like stars
magnified and
I
dimmed
into the merest
spectrallightby mist.
passed the first at a distance of a quarter of a mile ;
it slided by phantasmally,and
another
stole ou):
This I could have gone
rightahead.
widely clear
of by a little shift of the helm, but whilst I was
in
the act of starboardingthree
four bergs suddenly
or
showed
that unless

But

the

on

I had

it

309

was

larboard

and

bow,

saw

bring the ship into

the trough again I must
So I
keep straighton.
steered
to bring the berg that was
right ahead a
little on
there
the

the

might

mind

not

bow, with
be

schooner

no

to

to

prayer

in

soul

my

low-lyingblock in the
It went
splitupon.
by

pistol-shot.I was
sight of ice by
glancing at this

accustomed
very much
this time, yet I found
with pretty near
mass

wonder

as

and

awe

if I

had

never

seen

that

road

for

within
to

the

myself
as

much
such

It was
above
not
thing before.
thirtyfeet high,
but its shape was
exactlythat of a horse's head,
the lipssippingthe sea, the ears
cocked, the neck
You
would
have said it was
arching to the water.
vast
some
courser
rising out of the deep. The
off it like a
of ice trembled
peculiar radiance
luminous

mist

into

its nose,

and

the

dusk.

The

water

boiled

suggested a frothing caused

Let a fire
steed's expelledbreath.
by the monster
have been kindled to glow red where you looked for

about

: u

1'
Troubled

Thoughts

by

this ice

Half

it was

formed

from

came

of

of

Treasure.

the

island,the

the

tall to

bergs too

have

311

of

rest

longed
be-

ever

'

of that great stretch.

It
took three hours to pass clear of them, and
then
I had to go on clingingto the tiller and
steering
to

in

the north

another

that the

sea

now

stood

had

before

long half-hour

But

which

famished

melancholy

most

en

nearlydead

for five hours

time

my

fiercest tension

I could

mind
of

for

satisfy
myself

free.

was

was

condition

been

and
anxiety,

cold.

the

helm, during all

the

at

had

with

wound
my

eyes

the

to

up

felt

as

if

strained out
of their sockets
by their
they were
having
searchingof the gloom ahead, and nature
done her best gave out
suddenly,and not to have
life could

saved

my
for another
The

could

ten

gear
not

stood

the

at

tiller

minutes.
rail was

along the

secure

have

helm

the

iron-hard

so

with

it,so

that

I softened

lashingsby holdingthem before the fire,and

be coming
to
on
findingthe schooner
my return
round
to
starboard, I helped her by puttingthe
tiller hard a port and
securingit. I then went
below, built up the fire,lighted my pipe,and sat
some

down

foi*warmth

and

rest.

CHAPTER
I

AM

XXVI.
BY

TROUBLED

THOUGHTS

OF

THE

TREASURE.

The
the

w^eightof
schooner

rollingtoo

the

wind

in the

riggingsteadied
prevented her from

somewhat, and
heavilyto starboard, whilst her list

Frozen

The

312

seemed

she

and

it, and

asleep

but

on

smoked

wearied

lanthorn, and
tinder-box

deck

on

the

cold

sea,

was

between

and

believe

This

found

the wind

the

the
same

at

sinner !

three

me.

in the

looked

and

bered,
slum-

awoke

coflfin darkness.
I

half

I had

candle

the

was

upon

dropped

before

The

so

in

lasted

have

not

situation

o'clock, as

sleephad
I went

I do

speedily remedied.

seven

"

and

was

"

indeed, before

I.

fall

back

my

must

and

intervals.

with

tired

was

out

was

aboard

the clatter of

dresser

"

below

sat

came

comfortably long

sudden

as

water

hear

pipe out,
thought to my

fire

upon

I would

at

so

my

much

my

watch

Not

against the
being dead

I sat

The

it.

So

making tolerablygood

be

to

me

again

forwards,

gave

to

of

weather
now

rolls.

her larboard

corrected

Pirate.

so

the
my

that

four hours.

night still black

brisk ^ale that

when

no
quittedthe helm, the sea
heavier, and the schooner
tumbling in true Dutch
fashion
it. I looked
upon
very earnestlyaround
but could
see
no
signs of ice. There would be
below, lighted the
daylight presently,so I went

blowing

was

fire,and
the

sun

got
was

my
up

breakfast, and
and

the

sea

when

visible

to

returned

its furthest

reaches.
It

was

fine

wintry piece ; the sea green

ridges with frothingheads, the

running in
very pale among
sun
darting a
swung

until
West

the
ray

into the north

dark
now

snow-laden

and

again,

and

sky

clouds, the
which

was

of the clouds
by the shadows
in the norththey extinguishedit. Remote
hung the gleam of an iceberg
; there w^"

Troubled

Thoughts

by

of

Yes

Treasure.

the

forted
something that comnot
me
exceedingly,though it was
very
like
had
that
a
object
heavily
days
ago
many
scared
an
me
albatross,a noble bird,sailingon
the windward
The
close enough to be shot.
sight
of this livingthing was
inexpressiblycheering ; it
put into my head a fancy of ships being at hand,
companions. In
thoughts of help and of human
truth, my imagination was
willingto accept it as
the same
bird that I had frightenedaway when
in
the boat, now
returned
to silently
reproach me for
of it. Nay, m.y lonely eye,
treatment
my
my
subdued
and
have
suffering heait might even
witnessed
the good angel of my lifein that solitary
shape of ocean
that,
beauty, and have deemed
been
it had
with
me
though unseen,
throughout,
and was
made
visible to my gaze by the light
now
of hope that had broken
into the darkness
of my

else in

nothing

sight.

'

313

"

"

""".:-V

adventure.

Well, supposing it
the

only

away
I

and

who

man

found

unlashed

before

carried

her

amidships
for the
vessel

the

wind

and

and

stern

round
ran

to

sun

held

been

good

angel

the
;

have

but

fairlywith

before

little before

the

which

sea,

securing the
quadrant, and whilst

show

great

until

schooner

the

Then

herself

might

bottom
as

dead

for the

ran

got

steered

north-east.

wind, which

she

tiller and

lettingher drive

noon,

his

scared

ever

have

not

it faithful afterwards.
the

the

I should

so,

himself

be

been

her

the

observed

ing
waitthat

steadily before the

owing to her high

very

swell

helm

of

her sides

cause

helm

what

and
it

amidships

her

might,
as

if I

"""

"

"*""',

The

3H
had

been

Frozen

the tiller

at

Pirate.
check

to

her, a

nate
fortu-

most

condition

of my
navigation,for it privileged
other
to get about
me
work, whilst, at the same
the
to
time, every hour was
conveying me nearer
track

of

of the

ships and

further

I got an
observation
vessel had driven about
She

night.
and

from

bitter

the

regions

south.

do

must

when

had

made

the

that

out

fifteen

leagues during the

than that, thought I ;

better

eaten

chopper, and, going

the

and

dinner

some

the

to

on

bowsprit,and

took

forecastle,lay out

after

beating the spritsailyard block clear of the ice,cut away the gaskets that
the
sail to the yard, heartilybeating the
confined
upon

that

canvas,

then

like

was

in and

came

iron, tilla clew

braced

the

hard
a

of wind

blast

mighty
the

without

that

been

help of
powder

hindrance

one

sail took

an

the

upon

upon

sensibly
tendency

me

over

and
hour

tackles
the

schooner

side

enabled

her

to

the

sudden

to

manage
in
used

the

setting

of

to

the

into
mod

would
as

like
was

man

self

that, what

so

was

heels
ride

I had

half.

It

man.

nimbler

of

had

we

another,
and

fainting

showed

the

with
open
indeed
it was

though

the

and

sail flew

occupied me all day it

doing. Triflingas it was

worth

cordial

to

it

had

its effect

whole

it useful
but to render
;
sheets
I could
aft, which
not

the

But

the

more,

then

until there

ice

slinging the
with

showing

crackling, as

of

formed

haul

surface

good

it fell.

yard square,
exposed part

wind, presentlycatching the

of it out, and yet
sail,blew more
was

of

not

fear

have
a

cloth,

that
that

it ; its

of

she

lifting
under-running

his

ai

able

befoi
fane

'twa

^^".H

Troubled

seas

half

knot

possibleadvantage

it

if it increased
worth

her

315

speed

million

the

take

to

was

"

Treasure.

the

it was

hour

an

business

whose

me,

of

buoyantly,and

more

by

Thoughts

by

to

utmost

of the

southerlygale.
I returned to the helm, warm
with the exercise,
and gazed forward not a little proud of my
work.
Though the sail was eight-and-forty
years old and
perhaps older, it offered as tough and stout a
surface

the wind

to

sailmaker's

hands,

if it

as

fresh

was

would

resolved

the

are

the

regret its loss

but

matter,

might

carry away
meddle
not

Finding

so

far

into the

would

as

ship
the

and

fear that I should

greatly

not

be

it adrift it

cut

I say, I

; so, as

continued

to

for

the

body

obtain

of

the

when

itwas

find him

self
her-

steer

I
spritsail,
old Frenchman

clear hold

I carried

went.

I confess

the

away

topsailwould
me

better

the
so

corpses

for

brig to

it.

with

get

cut

not

blow

abroad,

canvas

did

mast

forecastle, but

off him

his

the

the

that

overboard

if I

though

the

and

lose the

to

well,and

thought I

that

to

on

heave

necessity arose

serious

veiy

come

let it lie,for I could

to

if
spritsail

would

with

hull

never

the

preserving
the topsail,
at
wistfully

great

so

of ice.
I looked
qualities
that if it should
but on
reflecting
hard enough to compel me
to
she

from

not

alive.

for self
mythe lanthorn

pulled the
without

mock
ham-

stupid

Recollection

of

found something imperishable

astoundingvitality
and though he lay
in that ugly anatomy,

before

me

as

dead

and

fancy that the seeds

'twas onlythe current

cold

as

stone,

I yet

had

stillin him, that

of his being that had frozen,

of

life

were

3^6
that

if I

in that

him

dropped

over

had

he

as

shipmates,but
for

there

spark
with

ever

stupor
in

or

in

whom

the

carried

and

him

in

idea

the

him

I could

and

little ceremony

as

that

vital

the

handle

but

not

his

emotions

different

only
;

deck

disposalof

the

very

whatever

on

side, using

by

did

mysterious corpse the eye

lived through a
who
had
viewed, one
death-sleep,for eight-and-fortyyears,

awe

had

not

the

possessed, they

employed

still in

was

he

his watch

way,
the

affected

was

him

fancies

I took

me.

had

else he

cover,
might reshould
actually

afresh

him.
these

though

control

not

him

if I buried

that

despatching
But

Pirate.

Frozen

thaw

to

were

and
be

The

most

few

wizardry

he

hours

Time
in

stretches

compressed

others

half

over

from

shrunk
the
night
into
the
lean, puckered,
prime
aspect
and
bleared-eyed,deaf,
totteringexpression of a
who

century;

of

hundred
But

years.
he

the

was

plunge

they risen
symbolized his

life.

where

had

like the

scream

the

he

wind,

made

one

The

body
they

his

were

would

albatross

The

vanished
of

heaven

from

have

better
to

the

the

salt

hoarse

delirious

the

epitaph ;

stoopeu

with

from

which

bubbles

and

woman,

freshening momentarily in
think of the spirit
of Nature

purify the air of

dead
pirate'spassage
All

of his

laugh

to

water's

gone

blood-red

had

spot

had

his

now

to

rose

in

had

squall,

a
as

eager
taint of the

bulwarks

to

the

surface.
and

that

day

the

^'chooner

lowed
through the night that foland
drove, rolling
plunging

mai

col"
in

the

"/
Troubled

Thoughts

by

Treasure.

the

of

before the seas, into the north-east,to the

I made
several excursions
the spritsail.

forehold, but
in the

could

never

vessel.

hear

sides

Her

the

317

of
pulling

into the

sound

of water

in

places were
in ice,but this crystal armour
sheathed
was
dropping off her to the working of
frame

in the

herself
owed

seas,

tight,it

the

beat

to

How

helm.

this old

appearance

submitted

was

gradually
her

ing
prov-

her staunchness

glassy plating. I had seen

in my
day ; but nothing to

strange craft

some

certain

was

the

nothing to

that, since she

so

still

my gaze
uncouth
so

I viewed

as
a

of

tub

hooker

from

her

structure, with

the

her tall

bows, fat buttocks, sloping masts,

stern, flairing
massive
forecastle- well, and
head-timbers
ever

managed
be

to

pursue

and

overhaul

chase

only

was

all that

unriddled

she

by supposing
be
to
more
unwieldyand clumsy than herself.
What
would
a
pirateof these days, in his cleanlined polaccaor arrowy
schooner, have thought of
such an instrument as this for the practiceof his
to

pretty trade
spars

and

ice aloft still held

The

riggingthe

of

resemblance

that flashed upon

she would
the sweeping clouds
every

for

her

glass,and

her from

sunbeam

took

to

between

sparkle out into

delicate in
many-colouredtwinklings,
marvellously
colour,and changing their tints twenty times over
in a breath through the swiftness of the reelingof
the spars.
I should

but

fatigueyou

littlestories of these hours

my

food, snatched

gazed

aroi^nd the

at

to
one

follow the

by one

sleep,stood

sea-line

and

;
at

the

several

how

I got

the

helm,

like.

Just

',-/X

-T/

Troubled

Thoughts

by

of events.
fever the coldest

course

ahead without
I should

Yet

of

the

Treasure.

319

riches

beingthingswhich
I could not look
imaginations,
excitement and irritability
of fancy,
it

reckon

hard fate indeed

after my
vessel from the

the
experiences,
freeing
my
her throughsome
thousand
of miles
ice,my sailing
in safety,
of perilous
to
arriving
finally
seas, and
of
what
be dispossessed
mine
was
as
strictly
cruel

"

mine

much

of

bottom

if I had

as

the

sea,

lain tillthe crack

I remember

where

fished

it

must

it up

from

otherwise

the
have

of doom.

that,among

other

ideas,it entered

of the first shipI met,

my head to tell the master
the whole story of my advenif she were
ture,
British,

acquainthim with the treasure, to offer to

it and myselfto his vessel and abandon
tranship
to

reward
a handsome
propose
for his offices. But I could not bringmy mind to
The
trust
any stranger with so great a secret.

the

schooner, and

circumstance

mere

to

of the treasure

not

beingmine,

of my
sense
having earned it,of its being
and as much
one's as another's,
plunder,
piratical
in the

conscience
mightdull the edgeevenofa fair-dealing
of a heavily
and expose
to the machinations
me

tempted

mind.

Therefore, though I had

at all hazards

view

to

to

no

stick to the

plan,I

was

resolved

schooner,and, with

or rummagproviding
againstthe curiosity
ing

of any

persons who

should

come

aboard

I fellto

work after gettingmy breakfast.

I
following
hung lanthoms in the run and hatchwaysand cabin
to and fro;I then emptied
to enable me
to pass easily
the

one

^y^p^

of the chests in my

cabin and carried it to where

'.'""';:,

The

320

the

treasure

contents

I filled

"c.,
jewellery,

money,
of the

I then

Pirate.

chest

The

was.

parts full with

the

Frozen

chests

other

to

nearlythreewhich
the

sank

depth

quantity of small arms,

such
pistolsand hangers and cutlasses, and
as
filled up the chests with them, firstplacingf
ness
thicka
the money
of canvas
and jewellery,
that
over
no
glittermight show through. To improve the
deception I brought another chest to the run, and
wholly filled it with cutlasses,powder-horns,pistols,
wanted.

and

like,and

the

first to
this

fetched

of the

contents

but,

out,

the other

on

run

first chest

it must

be

cunning amounted
be rummaged,
to

My
the

that, suppose

fixed it that

so

hand.

to

come

were

be

to

sure

to

the

turned

being opened,

chests

the

and

they appeared to contain observed, it was as

fied
be satiswould
likelyas not that the rummagers
arms-chests, and quit meddling
they were
what

with

them.

Here
on

the

might

now

troubles

indulge in
anxieties

and

Juvenal and

quote from
up

to

reflections

stringof

which

money

brings,

other

poets, and hold

by a contemptuous

merriment

your

self
myhibition
ex-

of

myself, a lonely sailor, labouring to

conceal
his gold from imaginary knaves, toiling
in
the dark depth of the
vessel, and
never
heeding
whilst he so worked, his ship might split
that, even
half-tide rock
of ice,and founder
with
some
upon
him
But

treasure

the fact is I

enough
and

his

and

to

I meant
man

on

set

was

me

to

save

up

too, and
not a fool.
as

fine

it and

his deathbed,

so

on,

Here

and
was

so

on.

money
for life,

gentleman
keep it too, if I could.
in such perilthat
man

iU-

Troubled
his

end

He

is

is in

greed
him.

by

is

Thoughts

certain,can

Treasure.

the

of

afford

to

be

321

sentimental.

is dross indeed, and he

money
when
human
moralize
to
a
posture
upon
the
wishes
and
and riches becomes
vanity of

going

where

But would

not

whose

man

health is

hearty,

' ;
"

'"'

and

who

hopes

to

his

save

of
sheep in the matter
grip of Fortune's hand
I

well

be
life,

brains
when

worse

not

she

off than

to

keep

extended

work

was

when

different
The

very
I had

turn

wind

the west.

to

my
at dawn

There

was

brings,
)ld myous

ex-

ring to
in
)iling
heeding
yht split
der with
so

on.

money
for life,

I could.

)erilthat

"""

""

""
,

pleasedwith

":"";

l;'' U.

humours.
weakened

had
a

and

come

indeed
strong swell
but the seas
ran
"

always is in this ocean

The
sky looked like marble, with
ings of high white clouds and the
"

ections

^--'

,"

firm

it ?

my morning's
accomplishedit,and had no mind
satisfaction by melancholy and
to
qualify my
romantic
tainty
musings on my condition and the uncerof the futurcv
This was
possiblyowing to
of the weather
black gale
the fineness
; a heavy
doubtless
have given a very
from the north would
know

.'

'"^-i

1:7:4:
r'--

into
there

small.

its broad

spread*
veins of blue sky
all the northingthat
I wished to make
between.
but there was
was
nothingto be done in
possible,
alone.
Had
the
with the spritsail
not
that way
capstan

been

frozen

I should

have

tried to get the

chinery
ship,but without the aid of mawith
helm
I was
amidships,
helpless. So,
drove languidly
the schooner
along with her head
due east, lifting
as
ponderouslyas a line-of-battle
of the high swell,and
launches
the
floating
shipto
in the wake
of
the albatross hung as steadfastly
it
been
had
some
path as though
my lonelyocean
into safety.
God
to watch
me
sent
by
messenger

mainsail upon

the

:V-

Frozen

The

32^

Pirate.

CHAPTER
ENCOUNTER

six

been

HAD

weather

but

bright

the

about

this

In

six hundred

with

hove

the

other

weather

and

the

With

come.

time

run

and

fiftymiles

to

other

no

had

cloths

spritsail.
confess, as the hours passed away
and
into view, I grew
dispirited

and

sea,

the

upon

her

than

schooner

on

nights at
day had

day of strong south-westerly

me
something to the northwards,
been
cold
fine, bitterly
indeed,

clear.

and

WHALER.

one

and

east,

and

seventh

had

of

distance

days

morning of the
the exception of
winds, which ran
the

XXVII.

hand,

nothing

restless

but,

comforted

was

by the bright
winds, and particularly

favourable

the

and

steering herself,which enaibled me

with the fire,
and
get rest, to keep myself warm
dress my
food, yet ever
ever
(howpushing onwards
slowly) into the navigated regions of this
the vessel's

by
to
to

sea.

,
.

of the

seventh

on
morning
day I came
The
wind
deck, having slept since four o'clock.
west
was
icy keen, pretty brisk, about
by south ;

the

On

the

in

movement

rolled

grandly

very

too, that
to within

hid

sky, and
as

I went

the

sea

there

the south, and

from

was

was

of

in

there

made

the

below

and

the

fog

that

the

ocean-line

horizon, bringing

league

quarters swept
the

the

schooner

dark, clear, blue

was

such

distances

the other

line

against

clarityof

appear

lighted the

but

way,

sphere
atmo-

infinite.

fire and

got

my

ENCOUNTER

WhaLER.

323

breakfast,all
deck

on

all

as

and when
very leisurely,
and smoked
a
pipe. It

down

I sat

time

now

I went

She

to

was

on

and
cross

take

of the

survey

scene

the

The

white

as

another

was

bows.

my

look

leave the fire,

and,

to

larboard
the
bulwark rail,
ship about two miles off.
the larboard
tack, under courses,
sails,
topmain-topgallantsail,heading as if to

looking over
thing I saw

first

no

keen

so

deck.

on

On

mind

done

was

well,I lounged through the best part of

in the cook-house, when, thinking it

was

hours

two
was

I had

that

I
was

sunshint

made

her

against the

snow

as

canvas

skirts

of

the

body of vapour that had trailed a little to leeward

her black hull flashed as
of her, and
though she
broadside

discharged a
northern

the
with

heart

on

wind

south

h, and
t

way,

an-line
*

other

igainst
atmo:e.

^ot my

not

cutwater.

throat ; I
saved

seemed

not

life could

my

and

transported
cry, so
unexpected apparition.I stared
felt as if all the
in a dream, and my head
like one
into
it. But then,
blood in my body had
surged
all'on
a
sudden, there happened a revulsion of
feeling. Suppose she should prove a privateer
uttered

was

into my
have
to

came

breathe;

have

Be

to
wet
every time she rose
of the hollow of the swell

curl of silver at her

My
to

glory

out

by

amazed

this

"

war-vessel

French

own

like

an

weak
eyes ;

Thought
idiot in

so
a

"

of

nation

hostile

to

my

wrought in me that I trembled

too
fright. The telescopewas

do better with
resolve her, I could
my
and
I stood at the bulwarks
gazing and

to

gazing

as

Scandinavian

if she

were

the

spectre

ship of

the

legend.
fw

'The

324
There

hoisted
If

signalof

distress

and

but

in

virtue

bunting

language

exceed

to

watched

the

her

did

with

certainly

was

mute

of

assurance.

passion of anxiety, never

to
speak to me, at all
doubting her intention
draw
close and look at me, wholly conevents
to
cerning
The
swell
myself with her character.
made

her

?
purpose
ciently
suffinot

declarations

and

own

have

could

what

to

of the schooner
appearance
illustrate her condition, there

the

no

below

flags

were

i*iRAt^.

Frozen

dance, and

both

us

rollers would

often

hide

her

blue

and

seven

the

to

four

miles

that she

see

of

the

height of her
middling fast

other

I at

could

presentlyI

brows

in

the

carried

of boats.

number

whaler, thought I

the

closingeach

rails ; but we
were
she travellingat

hour, and

and

after

little I

was

her
by perceiving the rings over
gallant
toprigging for the look-out to stand in.
of this,I ran
below
for a
On
being convinced
in my
shawl
that was
cabin, and, jumping on to
it for some
the bulwarks, stood
minutes
flourishing

of it

sure

them

let

to

She

luffed

swim
I

me,

there
her

and

observed

looking at
intently.
man

that
deaden

to

close,

other

know

as

and

of
men

to

the

on

aboard.

man

that

might
each

approached

several

scrambled

way,

we

crowd

was

forward

heads

aft, all staring

rail,and

with

claspinga backstay hailed me :

Schooner
ahoy ! he bawled, with a
in his cry.
nasal twang
What
ship'sthat

an

arm

*'

"

"

"

The

Boca

del

Dragon^

"

I shouted

back.

strong
?

'*

"

Where

ENCOUNTER

are

from,

you

WlIALER.

where

and

325

are

bound

you

to?"
"

;
I have

**and

been

in

am

locked

up

of

want

in

ice," I

the
What

help.

cried,

ship

are

you
"

The

Susan

twenty-seven
in creation
''

I'm

have
and

boat.

no

let the
He

only
master

down

to

come

his

Where

cried,

"

and

of God,

name

"

**

hand, bawling, Put

you're forging

"

in the

me,

"

"

aboard,"

man

Send

waved

hooker

that

got you

the

Bedford,

Tucker^ whaler, of New

months
out," he returned.

!"

ahead

helm

your

and

':"".

saying,

so

dismounted.
I

immediately
and

over,

bulwarks

again
doubt

beyond
;

but,

chosen

it, then

secured

to

watch

I had

next

to

would

effect

of that

it seemed
and

since

species.
every

years

I had

held

always;but
precious
ship, with

as

breaking

whilst

had

the

my
shook

plain,

the
the

smoke

it

the

of

chimney,

own

in

precious
appeared so
that
homely
ing
mast, swing-

swell,

was

been

gazed at
main-topsail to the

upon

from

with

have

must

before

never

her

stately
seamen

Life

now,

upon
my
since I had
commune

alone

sore

terriblyagitated,and

was

limb.

been

spiritsthat
a
seen
ship,

solitude

twenty

have

Somehow,

meet.

despitethe Frenchman, I felt to have

adventure
so
throughout
my
; and
the

men
country-

own

my
British, I

ship

Yankee

was

met

the

to

on

She

them.

American

an

jumped

rather

to

it hard

tiller adrift,put

the

cast

faces
her

the

of

the

galley-fire
sounds

of

m.

I
his

and

boat

"

and

The

Boca

And

who

the

he

del
are

of

of

Dragon^'

matey

you^

sailor who

"

has

been

follow

the

another

to

showed

as

shortly
before

him.

long enough,
the

on

away

questions

"

Here

cast

ice,'*I answered, talkingvery

sank

the

replied.

ay," says he, that's

cast
bully t^^
away,

It's

d'ye say

what

"

repliesmight

Av

**

out,

sung

} ju
him
I gave
the date.
**
That's
month
not
a
"

out
gone
of sentences

exchange

an

is ?

English

swell
**

was

An

island

the

327

sheer

were

made

name

"

that

crew

Say, master,"

"

an

WnALER.

troublesome.

schooner's

"

and

this

sight,and
slow

ENCOUNTER

well

very

ago^" cried

whatever

the

but

when

he.
said

time,"

I.

fell

crew

stare

big

as

a-talking,turning from one

the negroes* eyes
and
at
me,
in the dismay of their
saucers

regard.
"

See, here, master,"

out

sung

if you han't been

cast
how
clothed
come
you
"
century sin',hey }
"

The
me.

reason

It

was

of
not

The
appearance.
been
wetted, I
such

thick

as

their
so

much

garments

the
was,

my
since

ever
as

met

man,

month,

dressed

went

men

long

than

misgivings

truth
had

more

away

the

flashed

schooner
clothes
been

with

upon
as

my

having
wearing
in

the

with

jackboots,
used
the
and
I had
become
to
so
garb that I
will judge, then, that
You
it on.
forgot I had
have
I must
presented a figurevery nicelycalcu-

cabin, keeping

my

legs

warm

"it%

The

328

Pirate.

Frozen

apprehension of
whose
a
superstitiousinstincts were
body of men
fluttered
by the appearance
already sufficiently
lated

of

the

the

to

costume

of

great

red

that, in

you

fur

and

that

taken

I had

huge

from

cap,

coat
waist-

plush

silver,purple breeches,

yellow braiding

cloak

the

and

tell

and

formed

with

frieze with

when

jackboots

was

laced
of

and

wonder

schooner,

addition
my

the

excite

to

the

coat

cuffs,

body

of Mendoza.

Captain,'*cried
captain,in the name
"

aboard, sir.'* Here

I,

**

if

of God
I had

is

"

be

so

and
to

you

are

humanity

wait

till he

the
come

peared.
reap-

extraordinary one.
I am
fear.
You
a
plain English
the Laughing
was
Maty,
in ballast
from
the
Callao
bound
to
Cape."
I
Here
had
wait again.
to
Pray, sir, come
I am
alone
There
is nothing to fear.
aboard.
of help. Pray
in grievous distress,and in want
My
story
have
nothing to
sailor; my ship

an

'*

"

sir !

come,

There

that

It

but

he

him

goblin in this appeal

The crew
resolve J him.
hung in the wind,
them
addressed
peremptorily. I heard
was

damn
if

"

so

them

(hey put
ready to

little of the

for
him

set

of curs,

and

tell them

they might lie off till

he was
return, where
they would be safe,
the devil could
swim
and
not
as
presentlythey
;
buckled
their oars
to
again and the boat came
ak)ngside. The long man, watching his chance,
with
great agilityinto the chains, and
sprang
I ran
seized his
and
stepped on deck.
up to him

that

hand

with

both

mine.

aboard

age.
i(

((

WhALER.

ENCOUNTER

329

"

Sir,"cried I, speaking with difficulty,

so
great
of my
the tumult
was
spiritsand the joy and
gratitudethat swelled my heart, I thank you a
**

thousand

times

astonished

not

am

visit.

that

helpless condition

most

this

for

over

that

in the

am

imagined.

be

can

you

should

have

been

startled

of this vessel and

by the appearance
by
I
make
in
these
clothes,
but,
sir,you
figure

the

will be much

story."
eyed me
earnestlyfrom
a
glance around

when

amazed

more

heard

have

you

my

steadfastly,examining

He

address.

my

boots

my

before

him
He

to

had

the

my

cap,

he

made

me

and

cast

reply to

any

gauntness,

very

then

sallowness

deliberateness
of
manner
complexion, and
And
En'yland.
peculiarto the people of New
I
though he was a very ugly, lank, uncouth
man,
fair in my
as
sight as if he had
protest he was
the ambrosial
been
angel described by Milton.
Well, cook
gizzard," he exclaimed
my
sently,
prehis
and
after
another
good
through
nose,
and
and along the decks
look at me
up aloft, if
if we
didn't
this ain't mi-raculous, tew.
Durned
take this hooker
for some
ghost ship riz from the
merman
rigged out to fit her
sea, in charge of a
Y' are
all alone, air you ?
age.
"All alone," said I.
of

"f;v.

"

"

"

"

Broach

sich

with

the

*'

She

every

barrel aboard

searchingglances
How
was

old be
cast

three,"said
fifty-

if

ever

cried, his astonishment

vessel,"he
*'

alow.

me

away

I.

she

he

directed

see:

rising
aloft and

?"

in seventeen

hundred

and

is-1

The

330
I'm

Well,

**

hot

mister, if she

me,

She's

durned.

she'll want

I reckon

Pirate.

Frozen

Split

sailinghome

worth

ain't

her.

thaw

to

sun

hard, sirree'

froze

as

show-box."

interruptedhis ejaculationsby asking

step below, where'

related
boat's

with
had

say

this

he

all

but

with

but
cast

I'm

explain

all

My
of

tumbled

had

man,

but
Paul

come

brought
the side,
They fell
the ship

strange

;
am

you

the

was

them.

though I have
not
a ghost, it

owing to
Rodney,

I presume,

one,

clothes

sir,"says

You,

"are,
P

as

you
if
I
that,

is

name

to

charm

over

I'll show

and

ocean,

the

and

mercy
I'm

I, addressing
of

master

the

"

"

Captain Tucker,
step below," says
'*

drink

painterand

my

much

so

your sarvice
that ship is my

At

like

the

real

as

London.

Tucker

Susan

acted

"

below,

are

fault of old

long

and

in

through

native

they

rig is
shortly. The
I,

spectre, but

God.

his

of astonishment.

marks

ril

gone
is no

**

lads," said

no

and

remaining in her.
body, and sur\'eyed me and

My

away

might regale

sailor
"

drink

"

upon
chains
and

hundred

negroes

together in
"

word

the

to

of the

one

lonesome

hauled
instantly

boat

invite

to

step aboard

to

one

of the
The

they

the

of such

went

across.

of

bowl

that

cabin

whilst

warm

him

to

to
liquoras I ventured
passed their lips in this life. On
the
to
side, and, hailing the men,

health

the

the

never

ordered
the

into

crew

them

asked

story, and

my

sit

could

we

him

Josiah
wife
and

I.

Tucker

is my

name,

Susan/'
you,
**

The

men,

will

weather

please
promises

you

1
f^ir

ENCOUNTER

have

much

which

trie cabin

WHALER.

tell,and

to

331

is that

there

will

1 descended

the

the interior that had

followed, making

me."

hear

give you patienceto

companion-stairs,and

in

they all

been

long

so

ring with their heavy tread, whilst from time

of
hoarse
to time
a gruff,
whisper broke from one
their
them.
But
superstitionlay strong upon
awed
and quiet. The
imagination,and they were
down
the hatch, but for all that the
daylightcame

siient

cabin

darksome,

was

I waited

said,

till the

Before

"

ship. It'll save

explanationif you
"

Lead

if

I, for

I fetched

candles,

and

then,

and

me,

the

arms-room,

booth.

but

the
but

they

them

I showed

there

the

by the

the

They
They
much

hold.
filled the
never

awed,
uncovered,

never

vessel

offered
but
as

to

with
touch

stepped
quietly as

littered

with

and,

after

them

sight

amazed.

more

their

the

and

cook-house

men

saw

captain

enough
weapons
like yokels in a

them
the

men,

half-cleared

I had
were

at

them

for

way,

dark."

still
forecastle,where the deck
was
clothes, and chests, and hammocks
carrying them aft to the cabins, gave
of

shall have

we

among

rounds.

stared

view."

lanthorns, and, lighting

procession,headed

made

we

take

to

ia the

see

distributed

in

this

you

raise ^.re in that

four

or

"

he

and

description and

of

pleased

can

one,

three

the

left, and

will be

then

bowl

show

to

deal

eyelidsand

our

snap
dumed

to

like

mister," said

on,

to

down

should
me

entered, and

had

man

settle

we

captain,

yam,

last

exclamations.

about

anything,being
with

their

they could,

as

too

heads

though

Frozen

The

33^

they had

showed

from

the

submit

crypt, and

them

the

such

an

aspect

was

in

come

away
I

and, that

them

to

might

should

as

of

them.

upon

I had

clothes

Laughing Mary

inflaence

the

memorials
terrifying

strange and
I also

in

been

Pirate.

touch

sympathies, I whipped off the cloak and put

coat.
own
on
pilot-cloth
my
I led them
There
to see,
to
being nothing more
the cook-room, and there
brewed
a
great hearty
of brandy-punch, which
I seasoned
bowl
with
lemon, sugar, and
spices into as relishable a
pass,
draught as my knowledge in that way could comhim
and, giving every man
a pannikin,bade
dip and welcome, myself first drinking to them
brief but
with a brief speech, yet not
that I
so
the
close of it, and
broke
towards
ended
down
with a dry sob or two.
They would have been unworthy their country
been
touched
and their callingnot to have
by my
their

natural

manifestation

of

emotion

incomparably f^ne
brandy was -an
very perfume of the steaming bowl
of
the kindly qualities
to stimulate
been

locked

Vvith

no

diviner

try-works.
his

men

up

to

The
drink

for months

smells

about

in

besides,

and
spirit,
was

the
the

sufficient

sailors who

had

old
ship,
greasy
than the .'-tinkof the
a

captain,standing up,
to me,
promising me

called upon
that

he

,was

glad to have fallen in with my schooner, and

upon
a
then, looking at the others, made
sign,whereand
drank
they all fixed their eyes upon me
verting
one
emptying his pot and inas
one
man,
every
it as a proof,and
fetching a rousing sigh

very

of satisfaction.

'

This

ENCOUNTER

ended, I
ceremony
with the loss of the

proceeding step by
body of Mendoza,
Frenchman

vessel, and

should

make

get

help

with

them

acquainting

after his stupor of

have been
mute
on
have

earned

that I
or

that

in

dealt

and
rogue
shunned.

was

one

two

for

:t;

so

people,

opinions: either
an
impossibility,
in magic, and
to
wonders
recited
of

it

queer

exclamations.

Yankee
There

seven

were

I made

nine, and

room.

'Twas
We

brush.
kinds

to

I should

Yet there were

vehemently
enough in my story without this,and I
of all sorts
to
a
running commentary
be

the

Tassard,

in any case,
such
could, from

of

swain,
boat-

As

of

recovery

believed

and

mad

was

her.

head

that

but

me

work

to

the

of

afraid

eight-and-forty
years,

relation

extraordinarya

them

my

of the dead

nothing about
the Portugal

and

mate,

no

ginning
began my story, beLaughing Mary, and

said

but

the

so

335

I told them

step.

and

lest

WhaLER.

we

scene

were

the

captain

and

pretty nearly filled the cookbe

to

handled

shaggy

attire,and

of rude

and

seamen

by

in several

company,

crimson

the

Dutch

light of

the

darted
shadows
playing flames
steady lightof the lanthorns, caused

furnace, whose

through
us

to

the

appear

very

gleamed redly
place,and, had
believe

you

wild.
their

as

come
you
have
would

glances
suddenly among
thought this band

she

ever

with

me

could

alone

on

vast

have
board.

of

deal

shown

the
us,

ebon

one
a

eyes

round

rove

with the
fire-touched, hairy men,
them, rendered the vessel
among

ghostly than
sailingalong

mariners'

The

pale,
visage
more

when

1
'

**

*"

"

That's

so."

Bound

home

have

335

"

of your

hundred

and

enough

men

I'll repay

and

WhALER.

Right away."
You
three

me

ENCOUNTER

hands

help me

to

there
;

thus

you
of wine

Lend
spare.
to the Thames,

to

should

be

near

of

,and brandy,
exquisite
age beyond language in
Take
what
will of that
the hold.
freight;
you
there'll be ten times the value of your lay in your
as
pickings,modest
Help yourprove.
self
you
may
tons

vintage,and

choice

with

the

clothes

in

to

they

will

spare,
be
my
her

will volunteer

undertaking:
sold

be

For

account.

who

and

to

to

turn

cabin

the

the

divided.

Shall

forecastle

men

help me,
and

call

you

it

the

will

this will

all that

arrival,and

her

on

the

to

ship

and

is in

" ..:

proceeds
thousand

we
a
equally
?
well
found : her
she's
Captain,
pounds apiece
inventorywould make a list as long as you, I'd
but here
she
is,you shall
a
name
bigger sum,
overhaul
her hold and judge for yourself."
him anxiously. No
I watched
man
spoke, but
him.
He
sat
pullingdown
upon
every eye was
the hair on his chin, then, jumping up on a sudden
I it's a
and extending his hand, he cried, Shake
'11jine.*'
bargain,if the men
I'll jine!
exclaimed
a man.
"

There
**

^i-

"

**

was

me,"

And

pause.
said the

negro.

glad of this,and

was

looked

at
earnestly

the

"Hi

others.
"Is
*'As

she
a

tight?

"

said

bottle," said

man.

I.
m^y.

again.
and
Washington Cromwell
Bullies,he
jines/*said the captain.
Don't speak all together."
third.

Wilkinson

them

two

wants

The

"

"

"

named

man

the

Bill

"

this moment

at

and

cook-room,

reported
to
him, but
repeated

offer

was

This

is the

My

Pirate.

fell silent

They
"Joe

to

Frozen

The

336

returned

all well
he

above.
his

shook

head.
"

deal

o' water

sail ?

she

do

Horn, mates/' said

this and

'tween
^no

"

he.

"

There's

the Thames.

How

knows."

man

ricans
Amewillingmen," said I.
the
make
as
English.
good sailors as
of you
face
seaman
can
an
English
any

I want

*'

What

none

There

can.

let

you

but

"

is another

him

in

negro

boat.

captain ?

aboard,

step

the

Will

He

may

jom.
A

sent

was

man

he arrived, and

his

take

to

him

I gave

cup

place. Presently
of punch.

him, sir," said the

*"Splain
his name's
Billy
captain, fillinghis pannikin ;
the

business

to

**

Pitt."
I did

so

and

right,massa,
This
been

home

third

white
"

was

him

I'll be

ob

exactly what

yah."
I

wanted,

and

had

preferred him

I'd have

negro

that

Washington
instantlysaid, *'A11

offered, he

had

Cromwell

I told

when

there
to

the
Dui

man.

But

how

are

with

three

There'll

be

going

you

men?"

navigate this

to

said

the

man

"Bill"

craft
tc

me.
*'

more

("

four

we

shall

dollars,hey, Wilkinson

do.
?

"

The

fewer

the

STRIKE

Bargain

with

Yankee.

the

337
'n

grinned,and Cromwell broke into a

laugh.
They seemed
very well satisfied,and so
He

CHAPTER
I

STRIKE

The

his

that

have

he

no

would
The

anon.

drink

deck

on

go
the

and

weather

these

that

about

for

held,
and

seas

was

ship

own

and

A.

should

we

transhippingwhilst

he

was

old

an

the

trusted

never

meant

cheerful

recommended
set

he

in his

him

made

quarter of an hour.
This here list," says

than

hand

in

sky longer

"

that'll follow

and
'*

for himself

had

He

good-natured.

which

here^ by

brew

bowl

jorum, but he

another

that
adding significantly

no,

more

the

down;

cup
brew

YANKEE.

THE

WITH

empty ; I offered to
thanked
and said
me
he would

was

XXVUI.

BARGAIN

captain put

ventral

of your

some

that

for me,

that will

be

I should

would

men

might

we

wants

remedying

easin* of the hold."

our

Yes," said I,"and

if

"

he,

see

with

start

mighty

ful
thank-

all clear

aloft

running rigging
sails

travel,capstans that'll revolve,and

that'll spread."
*'

Oh, we'll

"Tru-ly,she's
if ever

Durned
So
the

him
the

saying he
man
principal
some

all the

the

men

see

for

that

manage
been

bad
a

froze, very

directions,and

"

to

of the

said

he.

froze.

bad

freeze."

worse

called

you,"

Bill,"who

boat's

crew,

seemed
and

gave

immediatelyafterwards

entered the boat

and

rowed

away

to

fi.vt

ship.
..'.'""JJ

The

338
Whilst

they

Pirate.
I carried

absent

were

and

hold

into the

Frozen

left him

the

overhaul

to

it.

all the

spirits,
provisions,and
hold
and
in the
lazarette,which
were
of
enough, wanting to keep him out
though, thanks to the precaution I had
him

that

in

was

fear

no

if he

even

he

Before

aft.

captain

should

I told

like

the

true

was

the

run,

taken, I

penetrate

so

deep

five-and-twentystout
arrived
in four boats from
the
fellows
ship!and
when
them
went
deck, we found
we
on
going the
of the vessel, scraping the guns
rounds
to
get a
view
of them, peering down
the companion, overhauling
forecastle-well, as
I call the hollow
the
beyond the forecastle, and
staring aloft with
full of grinning wonder.
faces
The
their
tain
capthem
and
all
mustered
to
out
they
sang
out

came

aft.

you
have

lads," said he,

Now,

"

"

to

big job"for Cape Horn, I

if
slip through it as

all

ye

there'll be

done

When

such

into

the

two
to

sup

the

was

you
and

grease.
I'll warrant
romantic

most

another

cast

and

see

schooner;

the

get tackles
to

They

gangs;
the
the

ice, get

work,

care

carouse,

that

mean

big job before

; and you'll

pining thought

o' your mother's

milk."
delivered
this preface,he divided

attend

to

direction

Having
men

ye'llnever

among
in the

there's

"

ready

other,

fell

their

canvas

of

capstans

to

sail

getting

under

the

break

out

ship whilst
to

for

boatswain,

the

the

and

pumps

all

the

rigging, cle^ir

aloft and

trim

under

one,

second
the

doing.
several
jobs

the

on

mate,

cargo,

the
to

taking

so

with

will.

STRIKE

*Tis

the

Bargain

habit

of

Americans

the

win

they

battle

at

British

merits

with

of the

other

"

on

Some

upon
fabric

pounding, making

others

fell to

kettles

and

the

schooner

of

was

the

the

after

men,
whalethan

the

nautical

the

decide

to

me

aloft, clearing,cutting
the

her

ice
till

capstans

working

pumps,

guns

taken.

be

to

course

boilingwater.
busier,no,
never

flag,when

of her

of

standing looking

been

have

away,
others

sweated

help

English

before

ever

tackles
aloft,
open,
of
whilst the mariners

"

the

overran

the

protest

came

ever

below

would

jawing

if

tb'^se Yankee
the

at

sneer

hatches

the

work

countries

and

nations

had

at

men

of

by

lubberliness

two

They

upon.
and

this

charge

sooner

Americans

it is

sea

But

renegades.
witnessingthe smartness
I would

339

sailors, affirmingthat

as

to

countrymen

our

Yankee.

the

with

fly in storms
;
they clanked;
hammers

with

in

not

the

blazing

were

old

wondrous

The

heyday
her

and

people yelling.
I doubt

whether

even

.could have

man-of-war

despatch the whaler furnished.

had
She
eight boats and sixty men, and every
boat
afloat and alongside us
was
ready to carry
what
she could
to the ship. I wished
to help,but
the captain would
let me
do so ; he
not
kept me
of
and
questions
talking,asking me scores
walking
given

this work

the

out
schooner, and all so shrewd
that, withlittle.
appearing reserved, I professed to know

about

the

great show

The
asked

said
to

if the
I

crucifix

believed

accept

of clothes
in

it was,

the

puzzled
cabin

fetched

it, saying if he

him.

He

also
I

silver.

was

it,and

would

"

asked

give

me

him

the

.''

Frozen

The

340

of his boats

smallest

obliged.
Oh, yes,"

says

would

not

for it I should

men

after

and

of veneration

exhibition
his

in his manner,
who
a man

his
**

the

least

put it in

he

would

give
pocket, saying
of
dollars
the
hundred
for
a
couple
thing on
it.
had
him
blessed
that
the
telling
Pope
Ay, but," says I, how do you know the Pope
he

him

;"

boat

crucifix without

the

boat.

without

you

much

very

have

can

you

sail with

weighing

be

"

he,

"

The

Pirate.

knew

"

has

it ?

blessed

"

I a
it," cried he ;
why, am
cold Johnny-cake that
as
blessing ain't,
good
my
as

that

mean,

glad

was

I had

Frenchman

the

but

needed

"

man's

another
I

'*

/'ll bless

Then

"

after
the

to

been

He
:

the

dead

and

I answered
man

on

the

the

go
second

to

the hatch
mate

in

suspicionsof the
del Dragon
flame
I was
exceedingly

might

have

been

more

closelythan

schooner

tempted
would

in
any
money
evasivelythat in searching

with

met

rocks,

and
the

an(

dn

his pocket, but

pieces
much
too
being
melancholy
end
to meddle
approaching
From
time to
commodity.
to

Yankee

The

the

in

me

of

me.

if I had

me

tliC cabin

that

sure

he

rather

agreeable to

asked

her

her

that

suppose
be
not

flag;

his

the Boca

pirate,lest

scrutinize

have

of

in

dead.

was

make

sightto

up ; and you
may
anxious
he. should
been

he

black

the

it away

stowed

originalcharacter

had

hidden

had

discovered

I had
that
and

had

such

time

he

sing

down

hold.

How

few

left them,
of

convinced

with

my
useless

ivould

quit

orders
many

to

casks

! H

1
he

STRIKE

take

to

meant

how

me

Bargain

I did

know

not

I would

much

keep me
high swell demanded
managed wonderfully well.

enough

that will
;

The

than

more

she

cargo

hove-to
casks

would

They

in

wind

remained

freshened

knocked

off

I gave
them
and
brandy

hold

they

swung
with
this

ship

that

lay

hoisted

her

the

of

along with as
require; and

and

"

boatloads

fine meal

of the

began
me

bedding

as

clean

that

ship

to

I durst

not
remonstrate.
though
served
turn
too.
handsomely

and

my

The

not

Yankee

carry
Yet
was
pumps
to work

found

tried,and

did

we

ing
clear-

the forecastle

from

think

to

eased

they had

casks, besides

of

of the clothes

much

cleared

ham, tongue, beef, biscuits,wine,

leave

to

get dinner

by half-pastthree

"

of ten

intended

light till half-pastthree

bit.
had
Though all hands

to

at noon

the whole

out

and

but

aboard.

it then

been

me

me."
satisfy

never

the

asked

Leave

and

boat,

341

he
"

caution,

to
away
the men

row

close, and

The

the

into

casks

three

when

give,I replied:

ballasted

to

Yankee.

the

with

home,
my
had

well,

the well found

to me
glad news
dry. The running rigging had been overhauled
and it travelled handsomely.
sails had been
The
loosed
hoisted
and
and
lowered
again, and the
The
in good condition.
'canvas
found
jibboom
"

which

was

"

had
stock

been

of fresh

and
plentiful,

and

out,

and

the

stays

water

had

been

examined

run

secured

the

the

on

American

boatswain

and

of

care

in

casks
main
had

the

head

,deck.

worked

of
master-rigger,

set

The
found

brought
In

with the
a

up.
and

short,

out

the

judgment

great artist in

',

STRIKE

you'llgive

watch
my
for the chart.

by

with

time

the

me

set

it ; but

Yankee.

the

by

343

chronometer,

your

I'llthank

you

I'll

much

very

The

tracings below are as shapeless

moon
settingin a fog."
shall have
the chait," said he, and
then

the

as

Bargain

"You

called

Wilkinson

to

and

the

two

negroes.

Lads," said he, "you're quitecontent,! hope ? "

"

They
*'

"

answered

You've

all

three

of what's

amount
turn
you
that's
man

on

claim

Bedford

job, if

be

so

as

"

have
dollars

hundred
don't

ye

the

when

and

shall

you

fifteen

see

for

me

upon

owing ye," said he,

I

square.
this

"

at

New

at

up

Yes."

it
a

broach

thirstilyas you
along. Mr.
Rodney,
go
and'll make
Joe here's a steady, 'spectable man,
Cromwell
and
good mate.
Billy Pitt are
a
you
black only in their hides ; all else's as
good as
too

white."

shook

then

He

farewell

into the

to

me

by

Wilkinson

and

chains

and

he had
A boat's

sail.

But

the west
clouds

that

done

the

with

weather

the red

there, and

no

into

his

scrambled

boat, very

doubt, with

the

ness
busi-

day.

left behind

were

crew

and, calling

hand,

the negroes,

dropped

make

highly satisfied,I

the

to

help us

to

make

wild in
looking somewhat
the
lightof the sun
among-

the

dark

heave

of

the

swell

under
the
sun
sickly crimson
and
then
glowing out dusky again, I got them to
hoist it,and
then
the mainsail
and
treble-reef
be off.
to
Then,
thanking them, advised them
with
I went
forward
to the tiller,
putting Cromwell
the others and set the topsailand forestaysail
(the

running

into

The

344

Pirate.

Frozen

would

which
lyingfurled),
spritsail
of

till I

canvas

like.

with

boat

the

weather

enough

had

we

in

chart, and

my

few

returned*

cheered

be

to

was

kept the topsailaback, waiting for

arrive

to

the

what

saw

show

be

boat

minutes

with

what

wanted.
Meanwhile

the
shortening sail on
she was
no
whaler, and
beauty, yet, I tell
her as picturesque
as
any ship I had
you, I found
her
main
she lay with
beheld
as
ever
topgallantthe
sail clewed
up, her topsail yards on
caps,
of men
and
the heads
knotting the reef -points
the white
cloths, her hull
showing black over
and
flinginga wet
floatingup out of the hollow
of creamy
gleam to the west, a tumble
orange
foam
about
her to her rolling,
shadows
like the
of phantom hands
her sails
hurrying over
passage
and
the swelling sea
to the swaying of her masts,
darkling from her into the east.
I hollowed
hands, and, hailingthe captain,
my
him
the quarter-deck,asked
for the
who
was
on
time by his chronometer.
He
flourished his arm
and
disappeared and, presentlyreturning,shouted
if I was
know
to
ready. I put the key in my
watch

the

and

time.

they
though

answered

were

and

yes,

then

let it lie snug

in my
tiller nor
at the
negro

hand.

wonder

fine

to

They
as

would

this should

mate

of

be

that
in the

littlebrig,and

the

little
But

I did
others

me.

gave

My watch, though antique,was

piece of mechanism, and I have

trustworthy as his chronometer.
the

he

noble

doubt,
was

ful
care-

not
to

as

want
see

it.

jewelled piece
possession of the second
so

it

was

my

business

to

STRIKE

Bargain

The

east, and

wind

the

rigging as
it was
rushing
schooner

and

watched

was

on

the

the

west

behaviour

quarter, and
larboard

beam

she

the

weight of her clothes, but

consideringhow lightshe was.
and stood
came
by my
negro
heavilyfrom the weather bow,
white

under

the

broad

wake

of foam.

The

his

yards up till after

hung a pale faint mass
A

quarter

smoke
in the
and

coloured

the

schooner's

by

dull

of

spread

of the

with

wild
prove

but

yaws,

the

strict

in

with

brace

not

darkness

hovered

now
on

like

produces it,
down
quick
water

was

of

sweep

followed

was

rushing

out

swung

to

she

the

roared

astern

did

windy

and

canvas,

to

broke

sea

started, and

blast

the

little

the water

and

windward

to

trifle

and

The

the

masts

foe

stiff
surprisingly

of rusty red
furnace
that

the

roaring

the hollows

to

night had drawn

washing noise of the
wind
piercinglycold ; each

west, but
dark ; the

sharp, the

seas

leaned

side.

had

brought

Wilkinson

in the

tincture

by

sea

whaler

we

in

cry

compass
The
swell

and

was

and

lee bends

by my
anxiously.
wind

the

of the

was

meet.

to

north-north-east
her

to

oause

darkness

eastern

of the

out

345

quick out
with a long

freshened

if the

our

the

have

should
they never
at'anything in that way.
dusk of the evening came

wonder

abaft

Yankee.

the

that

manage

the

with

of
the

cient
regularitysuffi-

government

of

the

helm.
But

it

being

was

wish

at

sea

of

! homeward

bound

too

mine, engendered by my
loneliness
the ice, by my
hideous
abhorred
on
that I could
with the Frenchman,
association
not
There

was

no

refer

to

heart

down

as,

higher
yonder
Erith

dark

and

my

this

had

been

ocean

to

Gravesend
the

three

"

and
of

banks

bold

felbws

if

lads," said I,

God

by thus
guides us

shall

^you
in this business."

account

Six

the

My

yourselves fine
fear
volunteering. Do
not
home
to
home, I mean
my
handsome

been

Thames,

water

*'

men

prove

"

have

not

shore.

**

you

gratified.My

the

hills of

flowing

the

I turned

this moment,
spiritscould

to

bounded;

Pirate.

Frozen

The

346

"

find

have
chaps would
jined had
th'ole man
bin willin',*'said
But
Wilkinson.
it is,master, though she's a trifle shortbest as
more

"

handed."
"

Wh)', yes," said

**

I ;

but

you

know

and

topsailsto reef."
Ay, ay, dat's de troof,"

"

tort

Don't
a

It isn't

o' dat.

Fore

guess

I should

being

if we'd

as

aft

an

hab

got

fore

and

aft,
hand

to

courses

BillyPitt.

cried

de

makes

difference.

had

volunteer

"

she

been

brig."
**

There

four

are

of us," said

I.

"

You

re

my
chief mate, Wilkinson.
Choose
watch."
your
"
I choose
in my
Cromwell," said he ; " he was
watch
aboard
the wh-'.ler."
"

Very well,"

settled;

good

both

and

cooks,
htve

Wilkinson
the negroes
one
sle|.)t,

relieved.

we

the

should
the

exclaimed

and

this

being

declaring themselves
nately
arranged that they should altervictuals, that
dressing of our
have the cabin
next
mine, and

one

taking

negroes

in which

the

the

other's

Frenchman

place

as

had
he

was

STRIKE

Bargain

with

Yankee.

the

347

;""!

ik
.

"

Wilkinson

asked

schooner.

answered

He

he

what

that

1,'

""

thought of the
he was
watching

her.
"ft

There's

**

"

he

nothing

she's

she walks,
of

the

land

buildingof
her

was

"

Fiftyyears

**

Dere's
**

and's

I,

but

got

nuffin'

I knows

I guess

had

she's
the

enough
o'

scent

"

perticklerin dat,"
wessel

dat

am

I stand."

the

whaler's

this schooner's

hundred

as

well.
Crom-

cried

an*

heading," said
if we
aren't dropping

canoe

her!"
Indeed

she

was

visible

scarce

windy flicker hovering upon

astern,

mere

pale flashingsof
the foam.
It might be perhaps that the whaler
than we,
was
making a more
northerly course
under
and
was
though ours
canvas,
snug
very
enough, too ; but be this as it may, I was
snug
mighty pleased with the slippingqualitiesof the
schooner.
odd

and

heels.
the

ugly
But

figureof

I think

handiwork
know

could

never

but

of

this
our

the

have
a
we

ship would
are

sires with

that their

dreamt

too

that
show

prone

contempt.

so

such
to

view
I do

fast as ours.
as
ships were
They nade
good passages.
They mignt
many
fleeter navigatorshad they
have proved themselves
and
had
the sextant
chronometer
to
help them
not

m^

the

something scripturalin

old's she, master?

and more," said I.

four year old, s'elpme

'*
I don't know
how
*'

reckon

There's

her.

How

cut.

yet/' said

old Noah
I guess
wasn't far off
laid.
had the
Mebbe
his sons

nose.

lines

fault with

rolling,sartinly.

like me,

sea,

her

to
at

though.

in her

'when

whale

find

"%;""

The

348

Frozen

iRATtJ.

will
along. Fifty years hence perhaps mankind
be laughing at our
crudities ; at us, by heaven, who
flatter ourselves
that the art of ship-buildingand
be carried
navigation will never
higher than the
pitch to which we have raised them !
Cromwell
I told BillyPitt to
being at the tiller,
and get supper,
instructinghim what to
go below
dress
and
how
much
melt for a bowl, for as
to
there was
nothing but spiritsand wine
you know
I saw
Cromwell
to season
our
grin
repasts with.
when
flame
he
candle
widely into the binnacle
heard
talk of ham, tongue, sweetmeats,
malade
marme
and the like for supper,
together with a
of hot claret,and
can
knowing sailor's nature
middling well, I did not doubt that the fare of the
into love
would
schooner
more
bring the three men
with

the

follow

to

from

fellows
like

end

the

the reward

meagre
of a

minute

handsome

bundles

that the
whaler

the

were

BillyPitt
was

even

that

was

it.

noticed

I had
sent

than

adventure

which

belonging to
enough and showed
I
and
long voyage,
as

whilst
stock

1 told them

of clothes

had

been

the

poor

indeed
detained
that there

in the

cabins,

togetherwith linen,boots, and other articles of that

sort
breeches, and
that, though the coats,
;
of brightcolour and old-fashioned,
waistcoats
were
if they had
as
warm
as
keep them
they would
been cut by a tailor of to-day.
"These
at
things,"said I, "you can wear
sea,
should
clothes ready to slipon
keeping your own
when
arrive
in
be
we
we
spoken or to wear
divided
they shall be
England. To-morrow

II
.

among

Bargain

STRIKE

and

you,

suit you
need.'*
The

Both
of

more

man
seen

the

the

kind

they will

saw

in

me

Yankee.

the

become

your property.
all that I shall
is
to-day
"; !""

diverting
laugh
hearing this. Nothing delightsa black
than
coloured
apparel. They had
and
clothes
in the forecastle
guessed

negroes

joy on

with

of

into

burst

garments

most

meant

to

present tfhem

with.
Whilst

the deck
getting,I walked
with Wilkinson, both of us keeping a brightlookout,
for it was
blowing fresh ; the darkness lay
thick about us, there might be ice near
us, and
the schooner
sail,
was
storming under her reefed mainand staysail
topsail,
through the hollow seas,
thundering with a great roaring seething noise
into the trough,and
the foaming slope
to
lifting
with her masts
I talked
to
wildly aslant.
my
companion very freely,being anxious to find out
what

kind

supper

was

of person

he

and

was,

I must

say

that

pressed
something in his conversation that imthat he
me
very favourably. He told me
had a wife at New
Bedford, that he was
heartily
and
he
that
he
sick of the sea,
hoped the money
would
his /ay^
to
get by this adventure, added

there

would

was

enable

him

"Well,'* said

to

I,

set

up

for himself

will

"

we

see

ashore.

to-morrow

what

But that
Captain Tucker has left us.
you
be under
no
misapprehension,Wilkinson, if
may
fortunate
are
enough to bring the shipsafely
we
into a bond
tc
to England, I will enter
pay you
for
".Viare
five hundred
sterling
pounds
one
your

cargo

week

after the date

of

pur

arrival."

LaDING.

THE

VALUE

351
Ml'

deserted

her at Halifax

in American

and

coast

was

wanted
that

more.
a

beachcomber, and

married

He

tnen

at

Mew

It
It--

^this
Captain Tucker
whaling trip,he said, and he
I told him I was
glad to learn

sailed

was

was

whaler.

second

no

he

became
in

got a berth
Bedford
and
his

He

ships.

several voyages
vian
the Peruwrecked
on

made

and

with

"

of

countryman

mine, but

not

prised.
sur-

His

speech was well-larded with amerithe

is
true
canisms,
but," said I,
twang
should
I. laughing, "I
wanting, and," added
know
and
you for Hampshire for all your reckons
'*

"

if

guesses

had

eat

to

should

you

press-gang'sthe best friend

has," said he a little sheepishly.
'*

The

"

I hadn't

suppose

from

than

Southampton

foksles

American

hearts

hail from

sooner

is made

of oak

the Yankees
Do

my

Bedford

New

up

if it wasn't

of

taken."
mis-

be

man

any

native
?

town

Half

the

who'd

Yankees

for the

press."
His
candour
as
gratifiedme
showing tb i?" he
me
as
a
already looked
shipmate t: be
upon
I have
trusted, and, as
said, this first chat
with
left me
the
to
man
strongly disposec?
consider
myself fortunate in having him as an
prove

associate.
XXIX.

CHAPTER
I

The

day

been

so

until I

had

much
was

been
to

seated

LADING.

THE

VALUE

so

engage
at

"

full of business, the^^e nad

my

supper

mind, that ii
in the

was

not

"i] 'in

old cook-room
,.'#i;

The

352

J*

which

I had

Pirate,

Frozen

passed

matiy

so

melancholy hours,

'hat 1 found

myself able to take a calm

the various
to compare
ana
'?*"ysituation,
i could
of my
fortunes
scarcelyindeed
I

t^at

not

was

in

which

from

dream

survey

of

motions
believe
should

awake

discover
and
presently,
myself still securely
of
imprisoned in the ice,and all those passages
the powder-blasts,the liberation of the schooner,
with
lonelydays in her afloat,my encounter
my
the
whaler, as visionaryand
vanishing as those
which
had
swarmed
in
dusky forms of vapour
little open
boat.
giant-shape over
my
had
if confirmation
been
But
even
wanting in
the sable
the
sat
near
visage of BillyPitt, who
furnace
munching away with prodigiousenjoyment
of hot
of his food and
bringing his can
spiced
his vast
wine from
blubber lipswith a mighty sigh
found
it in each
of deep delight, I must
have
hissingleap and roaringplunge of the old piratical
of the wind-swollen
bucket, so full of the vitality
so
quick with all the life-instincts of a
canvas,
vessel
storming through the deep with buoyant

and

keel

under

full control.

Oh, heaven

! how

ambling of the morning,

tne
sluggish pitching and rolling to the weak
!
pullingof the spritsail
Wilkinson
and
Cromwell
kept the deck whilst
BillyPitt and I got our supper, and I had some
from

different

talk

with

stomach
me

wish

and

to

see

seemed

fellow, heartilyin

very

*-hat he had

who

negro,

my

childish

s'mole

dull

the

eager

heard

it was

one

to

it was
reason

see
a

to

be

love

England.

with

very
his

He

told

fine country, and his

of his volunteering.

I.