This，Iknew，mustarisefromsomeveryminuteremainingparticlesofthephosphoruswithwhichIhadcoveredthepaperinmypreviousattempt。Theother，orunderside，then，wasthatonwhichlaythewriting，ifwritingthereshouldfinallyprovetobe。AgainIturnedthenote，andwenttoworkasIhadpreviouslydone。Havingrubbedinthephosphorus，abrilliancyensuedasbefore-butthistimeseverallinesofMS。inalargehand，andapparentlyinredink，becamedistinctlyvisible。Theglimmer，althoughsufficientlybright，wasbutmomentary。Still，hadInotbeentoogreatlyexcited，therewouldhavebeenampletimeenoughformetoperusethewholethreesentencesbeforeme-forIsawtherewerethree。Inmyanxiety，however，toreadallatonce，Isucceededonlyinreadingthesevenconcludingwords，whichthusappeared-“blood-yourlifedependsuponlyingclose。”
　　HadIbeenabletoascertaintheentirecontentsofthenote-thefullmeaningoftheadmonitionwhichmyfriendhadthusattemptedtoconvey，thatadmonition，evenalthoughitshouldhaverevealedastoryofdisasterthemostunspeakable，couldnot，Iamfirmlyconvinced，haveimbuedmymindwithonetitheoftheharrowingandyetindefinablehorrorwithwhichIwasinspiredbythefragmentarywarningthusreceived。And“blood。”too，thatwordofallwords-sorifeatalltimeswithmystery，andsuffering，andterror-howtreblyfullofimportdiditnowappear-howchillyandheavilydisjointed，asitthuswas，fromanyforegoingwordstoqualifyorrenderitdistinctdiditsvaguesyllablesfall，amidthedeepgloomofmyprison，intotheinnermostrecessesofmysoul！
　　Augustushad，undoubtedly，goodreasonsforwishingmetoremainconcealed，andIformedathousandsurmisesastowhattheycouldbe-
　　butIcouldthinkofnothingaffordingasatisfactorysolutionofthemystery。justafterreturningfrommylastjourneytothetrap，andbeforemyattentionhadbeenotherwisedirectedbythesingularconductofTiger，Ihadcometotheresolutionofmakingmyselfheardatalleventsbythoseonboard，or，ifIcouldnotsucceedinthisdirectly，oftryingtocutmywaythroughtheorlopdeck。ThehalfcertaintywhichIfeltofbeingabletoaccomplishoneofthesetwopurposesinthelastemergency，hadgivenmecouragewhichIshouldnototherwisehavehadtoenduretheevilsofmysituation。ThefewwordsIhadbeenabletoread，however，hadcutmeofffromthesefinalresources，andInow，forthefirsttime，feltallthemiseryofmyfate。InaparoxysmofdespairIthrewmyselfagainuponthemattress，where，forabouttheperiodofadayandnight，Ilayinakindofstupor，relievedonlybymomentaryintervalsofreasonandrecollection。
　　AtlengthIoncemorearose，andbusiedmyselfinreflectionuponthehorrorswhichencompassedme。Foranothertwenty-fourhoursitwasbarelypossiblethatImightexistwithoutwater-foralongertimeIcouldnotdoso。DuringthefirstportionofmyimprisonmentI
　　hadmadefreeuseofthecordialswithwhichAugustushadsuppliedme，buttheyonlyservedtoexcitefever，withoutintheleastdegreeassuagingthirst。Ihadnowonlyaboutagillleft，andthiswasofaspeciesofstrongpeachliqueuratwhichmystomachrevolted。Thesausageswereentirelyconsumed；ofthehamnothingremainedbutasmallpieceoftheskin；andallthebiscuit，exceptafewfragmentsofone，hadbeeneatenbyTiger。Toaddtomytroubles，Ifoundthatmyheadachewasincreasingmomentarily，andwithitthespeciesofdeliriumwhichhaddistressedmemoreorlesssincemyfirstfallingasleep。ForsomehourspastithadbeenwiththegreatestdifficultyIcouldbreatheatall，andnoweachattemptatsodoingwasattendedwiththemostdepressingspasmodicactionofthechest。Buttherewasstillanotherandverydifferentsourceofdisquietude，andone，indeed，whoseharassingterrorshadbeenthechiefmeansofarousingmetoexertionfrommystuporonthemattress。Itarosefromthedemeanorofthedog。
　　Ifirstobservedanalterationinhisconductwhilerubbinginthephosphorusonthepaperinmylastattempt。AsIrubbed，heranhisnoseagainstmyhandwithaslightsnarl；butIwastoogreatlyexcitedatthetimetopaymuchattentiontothecircumstance。Soonafterward，itwillberemembered，Ithrewmyselfonthemattress，andfellintoaspeciesoflethargy。PresentlyIbecameawareofasingularhissingsoundcloseatmyears，anddiscoveredittoproceedfromTiger，whowaspantingandwheezinginastateofthegreatestapparentexcitement，hiseyeballsflashingfiercelythroughthegloom。Ispoketohim，whenherepliedwithalowgrowl，andthenremainedquiet。PresentlyIrelapsedintomystupor，fromwhichIwasagainawakenedinasimilarmanner。Thiswasrepeatedthreeorfourtimes，untilfinallyhisbehaviourinspiredmewithsogreatadegreeoffear，thatIbecamefullyaroused。Hewasnowlyingclosebythedoorofthebox，snarlingfearfully，althoughinakindofundertone，andgrindinghisteethasifstronglyconvulsed。Ihadnodoubtwhateverthatthewantofwaterortheconfinedatmosphereoftheholdhaddrivenhimmad，andIwasatalosswhatcoursetopursue。I
　　couldnotendurethethoughtofkillinghim，yetitseemedabsolutelynecessaryformyownsafety。Icoulddistinctlyperceivehiseyesfasteneduponmewithanexpressionofthemostdeadlyanimosity，andIexpectedeveryinstantthathewouldattackme。AtlastIcouldenduremyterriblesituationnolonger，anddeterminedtomakemywayfromtheboxatallhazards，anddispatchhim，ifhisoppositionshouldrenderitnecessaryformetodoso。Togetout，Ihadtopassdirectlyoverhisbody，andhealreadyseemedtoanticipatemydesign-missinghimselfuponhisfore。legsasIperceivedbythealteredpositionofhiseyes，anddisplayedthewholeofhiswhitefangs，whichwereeasilydiscernible。Itooktheremainsoftheham-skin，andthebottlecontainingtheliqueur，andsecuredthemaboutmyperson，togetherwithalargecarving-knifewhichAugustushadleftme-then，foldingmycloakaroundmeascloselyaspossible，Imadeamovementtowardthemouthofthebox。NosoonerdidIdothis，thanthedogsprangwithaloudgrowltowardmythroat。Thewholeweightofhisbodystruckmeontherightshoulder，andIfellviolentlytotheleft，whiletheenragedanimalpassedentirelyoverme。Ihadfallenuponmyknees，withmyheadburiedamongtheblankets，andtheseprotectedmefromasecondfuriousassault，duringwhichIfeltthesharpteethpressingvigorouslyuponthewoollenwhichenvelopedmyneck-yet，luckily，withoutbeingabletopenetrateallthefolds。Iwasnowbeneaththedog，andafewmomentswouldplacemecompletelyinhispower。Despairgavemestrength，andIroseboldlyup，shakinghimfrommebymainforce，anddraggingwithmetheblanketsfromthemattress。TheseInowthrewoverhim，andbeforehecouldextricatehimself，Ihadgotthroughthedoorandclosediteffectuallyagainsthispursuit。Inthisstruggle，however，Ihadbeenforcedtodropthemorselofham-skin，andInowfoundmywholestockofprovisionsreducedtoasinglegillofliqueur，Asthisreflectioncrossedmymind，Ifeltmyselfactuatedbyoneofthosefitsofperversenesswhichmightbesupposedtoinfluenceaspoiledchildinsimilarcircumstances，and，raisingthebottletomylips，Idrainedittothelastdrop，anddasheditfuriouslyuponthefloor。
　　Scarcelyhadtheechoofthecrashdiedaway，whenIheardmynamepronouncedinaneagerbutsubduedvoice，issuingfromthedirectionofthesteerage。Sounexpectedwasanythingofthekind，andsointensewastheemotionexcitedwithinmebythesound，thatI
　　endeavouredinvaintoreply。Mypowersofspeechtotallyfailed，andinanagonyofterrorlestmyfriendshouldconcludemedead，andreturnwithoutattemptingtoreachme，Istoodupbetweenthecratesnearthedoorofthebox，tremblingconvulsively，andgaspingandstrugglingforutterance。Hadathousandwordsdependeduponasyllable，Icouldnothavespokenit。Therewasaslightmovementnowaudibleamongthelumbersomewhereforwardofmystation。Thesoundpresentlygrewlessdistinct，thenagainlessso，andstillless。
　　ShallIeverforgetmyfeelingsatthismoment？Hewasgoing-myfriend，mycompanion，fromwhomIhadarighttoexpectsomuch-hewasgoing-hewouldabandonme-hewasgone！Hewouldleavemetoperishmiserably，toexpireinthemosthorribleandloathesomeofdungeons-andoneword，onelittlesyllable，wouldsaveme-yetthatsinglesyllableIcouldnotutter！Ifelt，Iamsure，morethantenthousandtimestheagoniesofdeathitself。Mybrainreeled，andI
　　fell，deadlysick，againsttheendofthebox。
　　AsIfellthecarving-knifewasshakenoutfromthewaist-bandofmypantaloons，anddroppedwitharattlingsoundtothefloor。
　　Neverdidanystrainoftherichestmelodycomesosweetlytomyears！WiththeintensestanxietyIlistenedtoascertaintheeffectofthenoiseuponAugustus-forIknewthatthepersonwhocalledmynamecouldbenoonebuthimself。Allwassilentforsomemoments。AtlengthIagainheardtheword“Arthur！”repeatedinalowtone，andonefullofhesitation。Revivinghopeloosenedatoncemypowersofspeech，andInowscreamedatthetopofmyvoice，“Augustus！oh，Augustus！”“Hush！forGod’ssakebesilent！”hereplied，inavoicetremblingwithagitation；“Iwillbewithyouimmediately-assoonasIcanmakemywaythroughthehold。”ForalongtimeIheardhimmovingamongthelumber，andeverymomentseemedtomeanage。AtlengthIfelthishanduponmyshoulder，andheplaced，atthesamemoment，abottleofwatertomylips。Thoseonlywhohavebeensuddenlyredeemedfromthejawsofthetomb，orwhohaveknowntheinsufferabletormentsofthirstundercircumstancesasaggravatedasthosewhichencompassedmeinmydrearyprison，canformanyideaoftheunutterabletransportswhichthatonelongdraughtoftherichestofallphysicalluxuriesafforded。
　　WhenIhadinsomedegreesatisfiedmythirst，Augustusproducedfromhispocketthreeorfourboiledpotatoes，whichIdevouredwiththegreatestavidity。Hehadbroughtwithhimalightinadarklantern，andthegratefulraysaffordedmescarcelylesscomfortthanthefoodanddrink。ButIwasimpatienttolearnthecauseofhisprotractedabsence，andheproceededtorecountwhathadhappenedonboardduringmyincarceration。
　　THEbrigputtosea，asIhadsupposed，inaboutanhourafterhehadleftthewatch。ThiswasonthetwentiethofJune。ItwillberememberedthatIhadthenbeenintheholdforthreedays；and，duringthisperiod，therewassoconstantabustleonboard，andsomuchrunningtoandfro，especiallyinthecabinandstaterooms，thathehadhadnochanceofvisitingmewithouttheriskofhavingthesecretofthetrapdiscovered。Whenatlengthhedidcome，IhadassuredhimthatIwasdoingaswellaspossible；and，therefore，forthetwonextdaysbefeltbutlittleuneasinessonmyaccount-still，however，watchinganopportunityofgoingdown。Itwasnotuntilthefourthdaythathefoundone。Severaltimesduringthisintervalhehadmadeuphismindtolethisfatherknowoftheadventure，andhavemecomeupatonce；butwewerestillwithinreachingdistanceofNantucket，anditwasdoubtful，fromsomeexpressionswhichhadescapedCaptainBarnard，whetherhewouldnotimmediatelyputbackifhediscoveredmetobeonboard。Besides，uponthinkingthematterover，Augustus，sohetoldme，couldnotimaginethatIwasinimmediatewant，orthatIwouldhesitate，insuchcase，tomakemyselfheardatthetrap。When，therefore，heconsideredeverythingheconcludedtoletmestayuntilhecouldmeetwithanopportunityofvisitingmeunobserved。This，asIsaidbefore，didnotoccuruntilthefourthdayafterhisbringingmethewatch，andtheseventhsinceIhadfirstenteredthehold。Hethenwentdownwithouttakingwithhimanywaterorprovisions，intendinginthefirstplacemerelytocallmyattention，andgetmetocomefromtheboxtothetrap，-
　　whenhewouldgouptothestateroomandthencehandmedownasup。
　　ply。WhenhedescendedforthispurposehefoundthatIwasasleep，foritseemsthatIwassnoringveryloudly。FromallthecalculationsIcanmakeonthesubject，thismusthavebeentheslumberintowhichIfelljustaftermyreturnfromthetrapwiththewatch，andwhich，consequently，musthavelastedformorethanthreeentiredaysandnightsattheveryleast。Latterly，Ihavehadreasonbothfrommyownexperienceandtheassuranceofothers，tobeacquaintedwiththestrongsoporificeffectsofthestencharisingfromoldfish-oilwhencloselyconfined；andwhenIthinkoftheconditionoftheholdinwhichIwasimprisoned，andthelongperiodduringwhichthebrighadbeenusedasawhalingvessel，IammoreinclinedtowonderthatIawokeatall，afteroncefallingasleep，thanthatIshouldhavesleptuninterruptedlyfortheperiodspecifiedabove。
　　Augustuscalledtomeatfirstinalowvoiceandwithoutclosingthetrap-butImadehimnoreply。Hethenshutthetrap，andspoketomeinalouder，andfinallyinaveryloudtone-stillI
　　continuedtosnore。Hewasnowatalosswhattodo。Itwouldtakehimsometimetomakehiswaythroughthelumbertomybox，andinthemeanwhilehisabsencewouldbenoticedbyCaptainBarnard，whohadoccasionforhisserviceseveryminute，inarrangingandcopyingpapersconnectedwiththebusinessofthevoyage。Hedetermined，therefore，uponreflection，toascend，andawaitanotheropportunityofvisitingme。Hewasthemoreeasilyinducedtothisresolve，asmyslumberappearedtobeofthemosttranquilnature，andhecouldnotsupposethatIhadundergoneanyinconveniencefrommyincarceration。
　　Hehadjustmadeuphismindonthesepointswhenhisattentionwasarrestedbyanunusualbustle，thesoundofwhichproceededapparentlyfromthecabin。Hesprangthroughthetrapasquicklyaspossible，closedit，andthrewopenthedoorofhisstateroom。Nosoonerhadheputhisfootoverthethresholdthanapistolflashedinhisface，andhewasknockeddown，atthesamemoment，byablowfromahandspike。
　　Astronghandheldhimonthecabinfloor，withatightgraspuponhisthroat；stillhewasabletoseewhatwasgoingonaroundhim。Hisfatherwastiedhandandfoot，andlyingalongthestepsofthecompanion-way，withhisheaddown，andadeepwoundintheforehead，fromwhichthebloodwasflowinginacontinuedstream。Hespokenotaword，andwasapparentlydying。Overhimstoodthefirstmate，eyeinghimwithanexpressionoffiendishderision，anddeliberatelysearchinghispockets，fromwhichhepresentlydrewforthalargewalletandachronometer。Sevenofthecrewamongwhomwasthecook，anegrowererummagingthestateroomsonthelarboardforarms，wheretheysoonequippedthemselveswithmusketsandammunition。BesidesAugustusandCaptainBarnard，therewereninemenaltogetherinthecabin，andtheseamongthemostruffianlyofthebrig’scompany。Thevillainsnowwentupondeck，takingmyfriendwiththemafterhavingsecuredhisarmsbehindhisback。Theyproceededstraighttotheforecastle，whichwasfasteneddown-twoofthemutineersstandingbyitwithaxes-twoalsoatthemainhatch。
　　Thematecalledoutinaloudvoice：“Doyouheartherebelow？tumbleupwithyou，onebyone-now，markthat-andnogrumbling！”Itwassomeminutesbeforeanyoneappeared：-atlastanEnglishman，whohadshippedasarawhand，cameup，weepingpiteously，andentreatingthemate，inthemosthumblemanner，tosparehislife。Theonlyreplywasablowontheforeheadfromanaxe。Thepoorfellowfelltothedeckwithoutagroan，andtheblackcookliftedhimupinhisarmsashewouldachild，andtossedhimdeliberatelyintothesea。Hearingtheblowandtheplungeofthebody，themenbelowcouldnowbeinducedtoventureondeckneitherbythreatsnorpromises，untilapropositionwasmadetosmokethemout。Ageneralrushthenensued，andforamomentitseemedpossiblethatthebrigmightberetaken。