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soon made into a pen; and this by means of feeling altogether, for the between-decks was as dark as pitch.
Paper enough was obtained from the back of a letter- a duplicate of the forged letter from Mr. Ross. This had
been the original draught; but the handwriting not being sufficiently well imitated, Augustus had written
another, thrusting the first, by good fortune, into his coat-pocket, where it was now most opportunely
discovered. Ink alone was thus wanting, and a substitute was immediately found for this by means of a slight
incision with the pen-knife on the back of a finger just above the nail- a copious flow of blood ensuing, as
usual, from wounds in that vicinity. The note was now written, as well as it could be in the dark and under the
circumstances. It briefly explained that a mutiny had taken place; that Captain Barnard was set adrift; and that
I might expect immediate relief as far as provisions were concerned, but must not venture upon making any
disturbance. It concluded with these words: "I have scrawled this with blood- your life depends upon lying
close."
This slip of paper being tied upon the dog, he was now put down the hatchway, and Augustus made the best
of his way back to the forecastle, where be found no reason to believe that any of the crew had been in his
absence. To conceal the hole in the partition, he drove his knife in just above it, and hung up a pea-jacket
which he found in the berth. His handcuffs were then replaced, and also the rope around his ankles.
These arrangements were scarcely completed when Dirk Peters came below, very drunk, but in excellent
humour, and bringing with him my friend's allowance of provision for the day. This consisted of a dozen large
Irish potatoes roasted, and a pitcher of water. He sat for some time on a chest by the berth, and talked freely
about the mate and the general concerns of the brig. His demeanour was exceedingly capricious, and even
grotesque. At one time Augustus was much alarmed by odd conduct. At last, however, he went on deck,
muttering a promise to bring his prisoner a good dinner on the morrow. During the day two of the crew
(harpooners) came down, accompanied by the cook, all three in nearly the last stage of intoxication. Like
Peters, they made no scruple of talking unreservedly about their plans. It appeared that they were much
divided among themselves as to their ultimate course, agreeing in no point, except the attack on the ship from
the Cape Verd Islands, with which they were in hourly expectation of meeting. As far as could be ascertained,
the mutiny had not been brought about altogether for the sake of booty; a private pique of the chief mate's
against Captain Barnard having been the main instigation. There now seemed to be two principal factions
among the crew- one headed by the mate, the other by the cook. The former party were for seizing the first
suitable vessel which should present itself, and equipping it at some of the West India Islands for a piratical
cruise. The latter division, however, which was the stronger, and included Dirk Peters among its partisans,
were bent upon pursuing the course originally laid out for the brig into the South Pacific; there either to take
whale, or act otherwise, as circumstances should suggest. The representations of Peters, who had frequently
visited these regions, had great weight, apparently, with the mutineers, wavering, as they were, between
half-engendered notions of profit and pleasure. He dwelt on the world of novelty and amusement to be found
among the innumerable islands of the Pacific, on the perfect security and freedom from all restraint to be
enjoyed, but, more particularly, on the deliciousness of the climate, on the abundant means of good living, and
on the voluptuous beauty of the women. As yet, nothing had been absolutely determined upon; but the
pictures of the hybrid line-manager were taking strong hold upon the ardent imaginations of the seamen, and
there was every possibility that his intentions would be finally carried into effect.
CHAPTER 5 26
The three men went away in about an hour, and no one else entered the forecastle all day. Augustus lay quiet
until nearly night. He then freed himself from the rope and irons, and prepared for his attempt. A bottle was
found in one of the berths, and this he filled with water from the pitcher left by Peters, storing his pockets at
the same time with cold potatoes. To his great joy he also came across a lantern, with a small piece of tallow
candle in it. This he could light at any moment, as be had in his possession a box of phosphorus matches.
When it was quite dark, he got through the hole in the bulkhead, having taken the precaution to arrange the
bedclothes in the berth so as to convey the idea of a person covered up. When through, he hung up the
pea-jacket on his knife, as before, to conceal the aperture- this manoeuvre being easily effected, as he did not
readjust the piece of plank taken out until afterward. He was now on the main orlop deck, and proceeded to
make his way, as before, between the upper deck and the oil-casks to the main hatchway. Having reached this,
he lit the piece of candle, and descended, groping with extreme difficulty among the compact stowage of the
hold. In a few moments he became alarmed at the insufferable stench and the closeness of the atmosphere. He
could not think it possible that I had survived my confinement for so long a period breathing so oppressive an
air. He called my name repeatedly, but I made him no reply, and his apprehensions seemed thus to be
confirmed. The brig was rolling violently, and there was so much noise in consequence, that it was useless to
listen for any weak sound, such as those of my breathing or snoring. He threw open the lantern, and held it as
high as possible, whenever an opportunity occurred, in order that, by observing the light, I might, if alive, be
aware that succor was approaching. Still nothing was heard from me, and the supposition of my death began
to assume the character of certainty. He determined, nevertheless, to force a passage, if possible, to the box,
and at least ascertain beyond a doubt the truth of his surmises. He pushed on for some time in a most pitiable
state of anxiety, until, at length, he found the pathway utterly blocked up, and that there was no possibility of
making any farther way by the course in which he had set out. Overcome now by his feelings, he threw
himself among the lumber in despair, and wept like a child. It was at this period that he heard the crash
occasioned by the bottle which I had thrown down. Fortunate, indeed, was it that the incident occurred- for,
upon this incident, trivial as it appears, the thread of my destiny depended. Many years elapsed, however,
before I was aware of this fact. A natural shame and regret for his weakness and indecision prevented
Augustus from confiding to me at once what a more intimate and unreserved communion afterward induced
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