Poe, Edgar Allen - The Complete Works of Edgar Allen Poe

by Volume 01-05 (lit)

  face. The white slip of paper could barely be discerned, and not even

  that when I looked at it directly; by turning the exterior portions

  of the retina toward it- that is to say, by surveying it slightly

  askance, I found that it became in some measure perceptible. Thus the

  gloom of my prison may be imagined, and the note of my friend, if

  indeed it were a note from him, seemed only likely to throw me into

  further trouble, by disquieting to no purpose my already enfeebled

  and agitated mind. In vain I revolved in my brain a multitude of

  absurd expedients for procuring light- such expedients precisely as a

  man in the perturbed sleep occasioned by opium would be apt to fall

  upon for a similar purpose- each and all of which appear by turns to

  the dreamer the most reasonable and the most preposterous of

  conceptions, just as the reasoning or imaginative faculties flicker,

  alternately, one above the other. At last an idea occurred to me

  which seemed rational, and which gave me cause to wonder, very

  justly, that I had not entertained it before. I placed the slip of

  paper on the back of a book, and, collecting the fragments of the

  phosphorus matches which I had brought from the barrel, laid them

  together upon the paper. I then, with the palm of my hand, rubbed the

  whole over quickly, yet steadily. A clear light diffused itself

  immediately throughout the whole surface; and had there been any

  writing upon it, I should not have experienced the least difficulty,

  I am sure, in reading it. Not a syllable was there, however- nothing

  but a dreary and unsatisfactory blank; the illumination died away in

  a few seconds, and my heart died away within me as it went.

  I have before stated more than once that my intellect, for some

  period prior to this, had been in a condition nearly bordering on

  idiocy. There were, to be sure, momentary intervals of perfect

  sanity, and, now and then, even of energy; but these were few. It

  must be remembered that I had been, for many days certainly, inhaling

  the almost pestilential atmosphere of a close hold in a whaling

  vessel, and for a long portion of that time but scantily supplied

  with water. For the last fourteen or fifteen hours I had none- nor

  had I slept during that time. Salt provisions of the most exciting

  kind had been my chief, and, indeed, since the loss of the mutton, my

  only supply of food, with the exception of the sea-biscuit; and these

  latter were utterly useless to me, as they were too dry and hard to

  be swallowed in the swollen and parched condition of my throat. I was

  now in a high state of fever, and in every respect exceedingly ill.

  This will account for the fact that many miserable hours of

  despondency elapsed after my last adventure with the phosphorus,

  before the thought suggested itself that I had examined only one side

  of the paper. I shall not attempt to describe my feelings of rage

  (for I believe I was more angry than any thing else) when the

  egregious oversight I had committed flashed suddenly upon my

  perception. The blunder itself would have been unimportant, had not

  my own folly and impetuosity rendered it otherwise- in my

  disappointment at not finding some words upon the slip, I had

  childishly torn it in pieces and thrown it away, it was impossible to

  say where.

  From the worst part of this dilemma I was relieved by the

  sagacity of Tiger. Having got, after a long search, a small piece of

  the note, I put it to the dog's nose, and endeavored to make him

  understand that he must bring me the rest of it. To my astonishment,

  (for I had taught him none of the usual tricks for which his breed

  are famous,) he seemed to enter at once into my meaning, and,

  rummaging about for a few moments, soon found another considerable

  portion. Bringing me this, he paused awhile, and, rubbing his nose

  against my hand, appeared to be waiting for my approval of what he

  had done. I patted him on the head, when he immediately made off

  again. It was now some minutes before he came back- but when he did

  come, he brought with him a large slip, which proved to be all the

  paper missing- it having been torn, it seems, only into three pieces.

  Luckily, I had no trouble in finding what few fragments of the

  phosphorus were left- being guided by the indistinct glow one or two

  of the particles still emitted. My difficulties had taught me the

  necessity of caution, and I now took time to reflect upon what I was

  about to do. It was very probable, I considered, that some words were

  written upon that side of the paper which had not been examined- but

  which side was that? Fitting the pieces together gave me no clew in

  this respect, although it assured me that the words (if there were

  any) would be found all on one side, and connected in a proper

  manner, as written. There was the greater necessity of ascertaining

  the point in question beyond a doubt, as the phosphorus remaining

  would be altogether insufficient for a third attempt, should I fail

  in the one I was now about to make. I placed the paper on a book as

  before, and sat for some minutes thoughtfully revolving the matter

  over in my mind. At last I thought it barely possible that the

  written side might have some unevenness on its surface, which a

  delicate sense of feeling might enable me to detect. I determined to

  make the experiment and passed my finger very carefully over the side

  which first presented itself. Nothing, however, was perceptible, and

  I turned the paper, adjusting it on the book. I now again carried my

  forefinger cautiously along, when I was aware of an exceedingly

  slight, but still discernable glow, which followed as it proceeded.

  This, I knew, must arise from some very minute remaining particles of

  the phosphorus with which I had covered the paper in my previous

  attempt. The other, or under side, then, was that on which lay the

  writing, if writing there should finally prove to be. Again I turned

  the note, and went to work as I had previously done. Having rubbed in

  the phosphorus, a brilliancy ensued as before- but this time several

  lines of MS. in a large hand, and apparently in red ink, became

  distinctly visible. The glimmer, although sufficiently bright, was

  but momentary. Still, had I not been too greatly excited, there would

  have been ample time enough for me to peruse the whole three

  sentences before me- for I saw there were three. In my anxiety,

  however, to read all at once, I succeeded only in reading the seven

  concluding words, which thus appeared- "blood- your life depends upon

  lying close."

  Had I been able to ascertain the entire contents of the note-the

  full meaning of the admonition which my friend had thus attempted to

  convey, that admonition, even although it should have revealed a

  story of disaster the most unspeakable, could not, I am firmly

  convinced, have imbued my mind with one tithe of the harrowing and

  yet indefinable horror with which I was inspired by the fragmentary

  warning thus received. And "blood," too, that word of all words- so

  rife at all t
imes with mystery, and suffering, and terror- how trebly

  full of import did it now appear- how chilly and heavily (disjointed,

  as it thus was, from any foregoing words to qualify or render it

  distinct) did its vague syllables fall, amid the deep gloom of my

  prison, into the innermost recesses of my soul!

  Augustus had, undoubtedly, good reasons for wishing me to remain

  concealed, and I formed a thousand surmises as to what they could be-

  but I could think of nothing affording a satisfactory solution of the

  mystery. just after returning from my last journey to the trap, and

  before my attention had been otherwise directed by the singular

  conduct of Tiger, I had come to the resolution of making myself heard

  at all events by those on board, or, if I could not succeed in this

  directly, of trying to cut my way through the orlop deck. The half

  certainty which I felt of being able to accomplish one of these two

  purposes in the last emergency, had given me courage (which I should

  not otherwise have had) to endure the evils of my situation. The few

  words I had been able to read, however, had cut me off from these

  final resources, and I now, for the first time, felt all the misery

  of my fate. In a paroxysm of despair I threw myself again upon the

  mattress, where, for about the period of a day and night, I lay in a

  kind of stupor, relieved only by momentary intervals of reason and

  recollection.

  At length I once more arose, and busied myself in reflection

  upon the horrors which encompassed me. For another twenty-four hours

  it was barely possible that I might exist without water- for a longer

  time I could not do so. During the first portion of my imprisonment I

  had made free use of the cordials with which Augustus had supplied

  me, but they only served to excite fever, without in the least degree

  assuaging thirst. I had now only about a gill left, and this was of a

  species of strong peach liqueur at which my stomach revolted. The

  sausages were entirely consumed; of the ham nothing remained but a

  small piece of the skin; and all the biscuit, except a few fragments

  of one, had been eaten by Tiger. To add to my troubles, I found that

  my headache was increasing momentarily, and with it the species of

  delirium which had distressed me more or less since my first falling

  asleep. For some hours past it had been with the greatest difficulty

  I could breathe at all, and now each attempt at so doing was attended

  with the most depressing spasmodic action of the chest. But there was

  still another and very different source of disquietude, and one,

  indeed, whose harassing terrors had been the chief means of arousing

  me to exertion from my stupor on the mattress. It arose from the

  demeanor of the dog.

  I first observed an alteration in his conduct while rubbing in

  the phosphorus on the paper in my last attempt. As I rubbed, he ran

  his nose against my hand with a slight snarl; but I was too greatly

  excited at the time to pay much attention to the circumstance. Soon

  afterward, it will be remembered, I threw myself on the mattress, and

  fell into a species of lethargy. Presently I became aware of a

  singular hissing sound close at my ears, and discovered it to proceed

  from Tiger, who was panting and wheezing in a state of the greatest

  apparent excitement, his eyeballs flashing fiercely through the

  gloom. I spoke to him, when he replied with a low growl, and then

  remained quiet. Presently I relapsed into my stupor, from which I was

  again awakened in a similar manner. This was repeated three or four

  times, until finally his behaviour inspired me with so great a degree

  of fear, that I became fully aroused. He was now lying close by the

  door of the box, snarling fearfully, although in a kind of undertone,

  and grinding his teeth as if strongly convulsed. I had no doubt

  whatever that the want of water or the confined atmosphere of the

  hold had driven him mad, and I was at a loss what course to pursue. I

  could not endure the thought of killing him, yet it seemed absolutely

  necessary for my own safety. I could distinctly perceive his eyes

  fastened upon me with an expression of the most deadly animosity, and

  I expected every instant that he would attack me. At last I could

  endure my terrible situation no longer, and determined to make my way

  from the box at all hazards, and dispatch him, if his opposition

  should render it necessary for me to do so. To get out, I had to pass

  directly over his body, and he already seemed to anticipate my

  design- missing himself upon his fore. legs (as I perceived by the

  altered position of his eyes), and displayed the whole of his white

  fangs, which were easily discernible. I took the remains of the

  ham-skin, and the bottle containing the liqueur, and secured them

  about my person, together with a large carving-knife which Augustus

  had left me- then, folding my cloak around me as closely as possible,

  I made a movement toward the mouth of the box. No sooner did I do

  this, than the dog sprang with a loud growl toward my throat. The

  whole weight of his body struck me on the right shoulder, and I fell

  violently to the left, while the enraged animal passed entirely over

  me. I had fallen upon my knees, with my head buried among the

  blankets, and these protected me from a second furious assault,

  during which I felt the sharp teeth pressing vigorously upon the

  woollen which enveloped my neck- yet, luckily, without being able to

  penetrate all the folds. I was now beneath the dog, and a few moments

  would place me completely in his power. Despair gave me strength, and

  I rose boldly up, shaking him from me by main force, and dragging

  with me the blankets from the mattress. These I now threw over him,

  and before he could extricate himself, I had got through the door and

  closed it effectually against his pursuit. In this struggle, however,

  I had been forced to drop the morsel of ham-skin, and I now found my

  whole stock of provisions reduced to a single gill of liqueur, As

  this reflection crossed my mind, I felt myself actuated by one of

  those fits of perverseness which might be supposed to influence a

  spoiled child in similar circumstances, and, raising the bottle to my

  lips, I drained it to the last drop, and dashed it furiously upon the

  floor.

  Scarcely had the echo of the crash died away, when I heard my

  name pronounced in an eager but subdued voice, issuing from the

  direction of the steerage. So unexpected was anything of the kind,

  and so intense was the emotion excited within me by the sound, that I

  endeavoured in vain to reply. My powers of speech totally failed, and

  in an agony of terror lest my friend should conclude me dead, and

  return without attempting to reach me, I stood up between the crates

  near the door of the box, trembling convulsively, and gasping and

  struggling for utterance. Had a thousand words depended upon a

  syllable, I could not have spoken it. There was a slight movement now

  audible among the lumber somewhere forward of my station. The sound

  presently grew les
s distinct, then again less so, and still less.

  Shall I ever forget my feelings at this moment? He was going- my

  friend, my companion, from whom I had a right to expect so much- he

  was going- he would abandon me- he was gone! He would leave me to

  perish miserably, to expire in the most horrible and loathesome of

  dungeons- and one word, one little syllable, would save me- yet that

  single syllable I could not utter! I felt, I am sure, more than ten

  thousand times the agonies of death itself. My brain reeled, and I

  fell, deadly sick, against the end of the box.

  As I fell the carving-knife was shaken out from the waist-band

  of my pantaloons, and dropped with a rattling sound to the floor.

  Never did any strain of the richest melody come so sweetly to my

  ears! With the intensest anxiety I listened to ascertain the effect

  of the noise upon Augustus- for I knew that the person who called my

  name could be no one but himself. All was silent for some moments. At

  length I again heard the word "Arthur!" repeated in a low tone, and

  one full of hesitation. Reviving hope loosened at once my powers of

  speech, and I now screamed at the top of my voice, "Augustus! oh,

  Augustus!" "Hush! for God's sake be silent!" he replied, in a voice

  trembling with agitation; "I will be with you immediately- as soon as

  I can make my way through the hold." For a long time I heard him

  moving among the lumber, and every moment seemed to me an age. At

  length I felt his hand upon my shoulder, and he placed, at the same

  moment, a bottle of water to my lips. Those only who have been

  suddenly redeemed from the jaws of the tomb, or who have known the

  insufferable torments of thirst under circumstances as aggravated as

  those which encompassed me in my dreary prison, can form any idea of

  the unutterable transports which that one long draught of the richest

  of all physical luxuries afforded.

  When I had in some degree satisfied my thirst, Augustus produced

  from his pocket three or four boiled potatoes, which I devoured with

  the greatest avidity. He had brought with him a light in a dark

  lantern, and the grateful rays afforded me scarcely less comfort than

  the food and drink. But I was impatient to learn the cause of his