Theyoungerseamanwas，inalloutwardappearance，theconverseofhiscompanion。Hisstaturecouldnothaveexceededfourfeet。Apairofstumpybow-legssupportedhissquat，unwieldyfigure，whilehisunusuallyshortandthickarms，withnoordinaryfistsattheirextremities，swungoffdanglingfromhissideslikethefinsofasea-turtle。Smalleyes，ofnoparticularcolor，twinkledfarbackinhishead。Hisnoseremainedburiedinthemassoffleshwhichenvelopedhisround，full，andpurpleface；andhisthickupper-lipresteduponthestillthickeronebeneathwithanairofcomplacentself-satisfaction，muchheightenedbytheowner’shabitoflickingthematintervals。Heevidentlyregardedhistallshipmatewithafeelinghalf-wondrous，half-quizzical；andstaredupoccasionallyinhisfaceastheredsettingsunstaresupatthecragsofBenNevis。
　　Variousandeventful，however，hadbeentheperegrinationsoftheworthycoupleinandaboutthedifferenttap-housesoftheneighbourhoodduringtheearlierhoursofthenight。Fundseventhemostample，arenotalwayseverlasting：anditwaswithemptypocketsourfriendshadventureduponthepresenthostelrie。
　　Atthepreciseperiod，then，whenthishistoryproperlycommences，Legs，andhisfellowHughTarpaulin，sat，eachwithbothelbowsrestinguponthelargeoakentableinthemiddleofthefloor，andwithahanduponeithercheek。Theywereeyeing，frombehindahugeflagonofunpaid-for“humming-stuff。”theportentouswords，“NoChalk。”whichtotheirindignationandastonishmentwerescoredoverthedoorwaybymeansofthatverymineralwhosepresencetheypurportedtodeny。Notthatthegiftofdecypheringwrittencharactersagiftamongthecommonaltyofthatdayconsideredlittlelesscabalisticalthantheartofinditingcould，instrictjustice，havebeenlaidtothechargeofeitherdiscipleofthesea；
　　buttherewas，tosaythetruth，acertaintwistintheformationofthelettersanindescribablelee-lurchaboutthewhole-whichforeboded，intheopinionofbothseamen，alongrunofdirtyweather；anddeterminedthematonce，intheallegoricalwordsofLegshimself，to“pumpship，clewupallsail，andscudbeforethewind。”
　　Havingaccordinglydisposedofwhatremainedoftheale，andloopedupthepointsoftheirshortdoublets，theyfinallymadeaboltforthestreet。AlthoughTarpaulinrolledtwiceintothefire-place，mistakingitforthedoor，yettheirescapewasatlengthhappilyeffectedandhalfaftertwelveo’clockfoundourheroesripeformischief，andrunningforlifedownadarkalleyinthedirectionofSt。Andrew’sStair，hotlypursuedbythelandladyofthe“JollyTar。”
　　Attheepochofthiseventfultale，andperiodically，formanyyearsbeforeandafter，allEngland，butmoreespeciallythemetropolis，resoundedwiththefearfulcryof“Plague！”Thecitywasinagreatmeasuredepopulatedandinthosehorribleregions，inthevicinityoftheThames，whereamidthedark，narrow，andfilthylanesandalleys，theDemonofDiseasewassupposedtohavehadhisnativity，Awe，Terror，andSuperstitionwerealonetobefoundstalkingabroad。
　　Byauthorityofthekingsuchdistrictswereplacedunderban，andallpersonsforbidden，underpainofdeath，tointrudeupontheirdismalsolitude。Yetneitherthemandateofthemonarch，northehugebarrierserectedattheentrancesofthestreets，northeprospectofthatloathsomedeathwhich，withalmostabsolutecertainty，overwhelmedthewretchwhomnoperilcoulddeterfromtheadventure，preventedtheunfurnishedanduntenanteddwellingsfrombeingstripped，bythehandofnightlyrapine，ofeveryarticle，suchasiron，brass，orlead-work，whichcouldinanymannerbeturnedtoaprofitableaccount。
　　Aboveall，itwasusuallyfound，upontheannualwinteropeningofthebarriers，thatlocks，bolts，andsecretcellars，hadprovedbutslenderprotectiontothoserichstoresofwinesandliquorswhich，inconsiderationoftheriskandtroubleofremoval，manyofthenumerousdealershavingshopsintheneighbourhoodhadconsentedtotrust，duringtheperiodofexile，tosoinsufficientasecurity。
　　Buttherewereveryfewoftheterror-strickenpeoplewhoattributedthesedoingstotheagencyofhumanhands。Pest-spirits，plague-goblins，andfever-demons，werethepopularimpsofmischief；
　　andtalessoblood-chillingwerehourlytold，thatthewholemassofforbiddenbuildingswas，atlength，envelopedinterrorasinashroud，andtheplundererhimselfwasoftenscaredawaybythehorrorshisowndepreciationshadcreated；leavingtheentirevastcircuitofprohibiteddistricttogloom，silence，pestilence，anddeath。
　　Itwasbyoneoftheterrificbarriersalreadymentioned，andwhichindicatedtheregionbeyondtobeunderthePest-ban，that，inscramblingdownanalley，LegsandtheworthyHughTarpaulinfoundtheirprogresssuddenlyimpeded。Toreturnwasoutofthequestion，andnotimewastobelost，astheirpursuerswerecloseupontheirheels。Withthorough-bredseamentoclamberuptheroughlyfashionedplank-workwasatrifle；and，maddenedwiththetwofoldexcitementofexerciseandliquor，theyleapedunhesitatinglydownwithintheenclosure，andholdingontheirdrunkencoursewithshoutsandyellings，weresoonbewilderedinitsnoisomeandintricaterecesses。
　　Hadtheynot，indeed，beenintoxicatedbeyondmoralsense，theirreelingfootstepsmusthavebeenpalsiedbythehorrorsoftheirsituation。Theairwascoldandmisty。Thepaving-stones，loosenedfromtheirbeds，layinwilddisorderamidthetall，rankgrass，whichspranguparoundthefeetandankles。Fallenhouseschokedupthestreets。Themostfetidandpoisonoussmellseverywhereprevailed；andbytheaidofthatghastlylightwhich，evenatmidnight，neverfailstoemanatefromavaporyandpestilentialatatmosphere，mightbediscernedlyingintheby-pathsandalleys，orrottinginthewindowlesshabitations，thecarcassofmanyanocturnalplundererarrestedbythehandoftheplagueintheveryperpetrationofhisrobbery。
　　Butitlaynotinthepowerofimages，orsensations，orimpedimentssuchasthese，tostaythecourseofmenwho，naturallybrave，andatthattimeespecially，brimfulofcourageandof“humming-stuff！”wouldhavereeled，asstraightastheirconditionmighthavepermitted，undauntedlyintotheveryjawsofDeath。OnwardstillonwardstalkedthegrimLegs，makingthedesolatesolemnityechoandre-echowithyellsliketheterrificwar-whoopoftheIndian：andonward，stillonwardrolledthedumpyTarpaulin，hangingontothedoubletofhismoreactivecompanion，andfarsurpassingthelatter’smoststrenuousexertionsinthewayofvocalmusic，bybull-roaringsinbasso，fromtheprofundityofhisstentorianlungs。
　　Theyhadnowevidentlyreachedthestrongholdofthepestilence。
　　Theirwayateverysteporplungegrewmorenoisomeandmorehorriblethepathsmorenarrowandmoreintricate。Hugestonesandbeamsfallingmomentlyfromthedecayingroofsabovethem，gaveevidence，bytheirsullenandheavydescent，ofthevastheightofthesurroundinghouses；andwhileactualexertionbecamenecessarytoforceapassagethroughfrequentheapsofrubbish，itwasbynomeansseldomthatthehandfelluponaskeletonorresteduponamorefleshlycorpse。
　　Suddenly，astheseamenstumbledagainsttheentranceofatallandghastly-lookingbuilding，ayellmorethanusuallyshrillfromthethroatoftheexcitedLegs，wasrepliedtofromwithin，inarapidsuccessionofwild，laughter-like，andfiendishshrieks。Nothingdauntedatsoundswhich，ofsuchanature，atsuchatime，andinsuchaplace，mighthavecurdledtheverybloodinheartslessirrevocablyonfire，thedrunkencouplerushedheadlongagainstthedoor，burstitopen，andstaggeredintothemidstofthingswithavolleyofcurses。
　　Theroomwithinwhichtheyfoundthemselvesprovedtobetheshopofanundertaker；butanopentrap-door，inacornerofthefloorneartheentrance，lookeddownuponalongrangeofwine-cellars，whosedepthstheoccasionalsoundofburstingbottlesproclaimedtobewellstoredwiththeirappropriatecontents。Inthemiddleoftheroomstoodatableinthecentreofwhichagainaroseahugetubofwhatappearedtobepunch。Bottlesofvariouswinesandcordials，togetherwithjugs，pitchers，andflagonsofeveryshapeandquality，werescatteredprofuselyupontheboard。Aroundit，uponcoffin-tressels，wasseatedacompanyofsix。ThiscompanyIwillendeavortodelineateonebyone。
　　Frontingtheentrance，andelevatedalittleabovehiscompanions，satapersonagewhoappearedtobethepresidentofthetable。Hisstaturewasgauntandtall，andLegswasconfoundedtobeholdinhimafiguremoreemaciatedthanhimself。Hisfacewasasyellowassaffronbutnofeatureexceptingonealone，wassufficientlymarkedtomeritaparticulardescription。Thisoneconsistedinaforeheadsounusuallyandhideouslylofty，astohavetheappearanceofabonnetorcrownoffleshsuperaddeduponthenaturalhead。Hismouthwaspuckeredanddimpledintoanexpressionofghastlyaffability，andhiseyes，asindeedtheeyesofallattable，wereglazedoverwiththefumesofintoxication。Thisgentlemanwasclothedfromheadtofootinarichly-embroideredblacksilk-velvetpall，wrappednegligentlyaroundhisformafterthefashionofaSpanishcloak。Hisheadwasstuckfullofsablehearse-plumes，whichhenoddedtoandfrowithajauntyandknowingair；and，inhisrighthand，heheldahugehumanthigh-bone，withwhichheappearedtohavebeenjustknockingdownsomememberofthecompanyforasong。
　　Oppositehim，andwithherbacktothedoor，wasaladyofnowhitthelessextraordinarycharacter。Althoughquiteastallasthepersonjustdescribed，shehadnorighttocomplainofhisunnaturalemaciation。Shewasevidentlyinthelaststageofadropsy；andherfigureresemblednearlythatofthehugepuncheonofOctoberbeerwhichstood，withtheheaddrivenin，closebyherside，inacornerofthechamber。Herfacewasexceedinglyround，red，andfull；andthesamepeculiarity，orratherwantofpeculiarity，attacheditselftohercountenance，whichIbeforementionedinthecaseofthepresidentthatistosay，onlyonefeatureofherfacewassufficientlydistinguishedtoneedaseparatecharacterization：
　　indeedtheacuteTarpaulinimmediatelyobservedthatthesameremarkmighthaveappliedtoeachindividualpersonoftheparty；everyoneofwhomseemedtopossessamonopolyofsomeparticularportionofphysiognomy。Withtheladyinquestionthisportionprovedtobethemouth。Commencingattherightear，itsweptwithaterrificchasmtothelefttheshortpendantswhichsheworeineitherauriclecontinuallybobbingintotheaperture。Shemade，however，everyexertiontokeephermouthclosedandlookdignified，inadressconsistingofanewlystarchedandironedshroudcomingupcloseunderherchin，withacrimpledruffleofcambricmuslin。
　　Atherrighthandsatadiminutiveyoungladywhomsheappearedtopatronise。Thisdelicatelittlecreature，inthetremblingofherwastedfingers，inthelividhueofherlips，andintheslighthecticspotwhichtingedherotherwiseleadencomplexion，gaveevidentindicationsofagallopingconsumption。Anairofgaveextremehautton，however，pervadedherwholeappearance；sheworeinagracefulanddegagemanner，alargeandbeautifulwinding-sheetofthefinestIndialawn；herhairhunginringletsoverherneck；asoftsmileplayedabouthermouth；buthernose，extremelylong，thin，sinuous，flexibleandpimpled，hungdownfarbelowherunderlip，andinspiteofthedelicatemannerinwhichshenowandthenmovedittoonesideortheotherwithhertongue，gavetohercountenanceasomewhatequivocalexpression。
　　Overagainsther，andupontheleftofthedropsicallady，wasseatedalittlepuffy，wheezing，andgoutyoldman，whosecheeksreposedupontheshouldersoftheirowner，liketwohugebladdersofOportowine。Withhisarmsfolded，andwithonebandagedlegdepositeduponthetable，heseemedtothinkhimselfentitledtosomeconsideration。
　　Heevidentlypridedhimselfmuchuponeveryinchofhispersonalappearance，buttookmoreespecialdelightincallingattentiontohisgaudy-coloredsurtout。This，tosaythetruth，musthavecosthimnolittlemoney，andwasmadetofithimexceedinglywellbeingfashionedfromoneofthecuriouslyembroideredsilkencoversappertainingtothosegloriousescutcheonswhich，inEnglandandelsewhere，arecustomarilyhungup，insomeconspicuousplace，uponthedwellingsofdepartedaristocracy。
　　Nexttohim，andattherighthandofthepresident，wasagentlemaninlongwhitehoseandcottondrawers。Hisframeshook，inaridiculousmanner，withafitofwhatTarpaulincalled“thehorrors。”
　　Hisjaws，whichhadbeennewlyshaved，weretightlytiedupbyabandageofmuslin；andhisarmsbeingfastenedinasimilarwayatthewrists，IIpreventedhimfromhelpinghimselftoofreelytotheliquorsuponthetable；aprecautionrenderednecessary，intheopinionofLegs，bythepeculiarlysottishandwine-bibbingcastofhisvisage。Apairofprodigiousears，nevertheless，whichitwasnodoubtfoundimpossibletoconfine，toweredawayintotheatmosphereoftheapartment，andwereoccasionallyprickedupinaspasm，atthesoundofthedrawingofacork。