Theintenseeffectproducedbythissuddenapparitionisnotatalltobewonderedatwhenthevariouscircumstancesaretakenintoconsideration。Usually，incasesofasimilarnature，thereisleftinthemindofthespectatorsomeglimmeringofdoubtastotherealityofthevisionbeforehiseyes；adegreeofhope，howeverfeeble，thatheisthevictimofchicanery，andthattheapparitionisnotactuallyavisitantfromtheoldworldofshadows。Itisnottoomuchtosaythatsuchremnantsofdoubthavebeenatthebottomofalmosteverysuchvisitation，andthattheappallinghorrorwhichhassometimesbeenbroughtabout，istobeattributed，eveninthecasesmostinpoint，andwheremostsufferinghasbeenexperienced，moretoakindofanticipativehorror，lesttheapparitionmightpossiblybereal，thantoanunwaveringbeliefinitsreality。But，inthepresentinstance，itwillbeseenimmediately，thatinthemindsofthemutineerstherewasnoteventheshadowofabasisuponwhichtorestadoubtthattheapparitionofRogerswasindeedarevivificationofhisdisgustingcorpse，oratleastitsspiritualimage。Theisolatedsituationofthebrig，withitsentireinaccessibilityonaccountofthegale，confinedtheapparentlypossiblemeansofdeceptionwithinsuchnarrowanddefinitelimits，thattheymusthavethoughtthemselvesenabledtosurveythemallataglance。Theyhadnowbeenatseatwenty-fourdays，withoutholdingmorethanaspeakingcommunicationwithanyvesselwhatever。Thewholeofthecrew，too-atleastallwhomtheyhadthemostremotereasonforsuspectingtobeonboard-wereassembledinthecabin，withtheexceptionofAllen，thewatch；andhisgiganticstaturebewassixfeetsixincheshighwastoofamiliarintheireyestopermitthenotionthathewastheapparitionbeforethemtoentertheirmindsevenforaninstant。Addtotheseconsiderationstheawe-inspiringnatureofthetempest，andthatoftheconversationbroughtaboutbyPeters；thedeepimpressionwhichtheloathsomenessoftheactualcorpsehadmadeinthemorningupontheimaginationsofthemen；theexcellenceoftheimitationinmyperson，andtheuncertainandwaveringlightinwhichtheybeheldme，astheglareofthecabinlantern，swingingviolentlytoandfro，felldubiouslyandfitfullyuponmyfigure，andtherewillbenoreasontowonderthatthedeceptionhadevenmorethantheentireeffectwhichwehadanticipated。Thematesprangupfromthemattressonwhichhewaslying，and，withoututteringasyllable，fellback，stonedead，uponthecabinfloor，andwashurledtotheleewardlikealogbyaheavyrollofthebrig。Oftheremainingseven，therewerebutthreewhohadatfirstanydegreeofpresenceofmind。Thefourotherssatforsometimerootedapparentlytothefloor，themostpitiableobjectsofhorrorandutterdespairmyeyeseverencountered。Theonlyoppositionweexperiencedatallwasfromthecook，JohnHunt，andRichardParker；buttheymadebutafeebleandirresolutedefence。
　　ThetwoformerwereshotinstantlybyPeters，andIfelledParkerwithablowontheheadfromthepump-handlewhichIhadbroughtwithme。Inthemeantime，Augustusseizedoneofthemusketslyingonthefloornowbutthreeremaining；butbythistimetheyhadbecomearousedfromtheirlethargy，andperhapsbegantoseethatadeceptionhadbeenpractiseduponthem，fortheyfoughtwithgreatresolutionandfury，and，butfortheimmensemuscularstrengthofPeters，mighthaveultimatelygotthebetterofus。ThesethreemenwereJones，Greely，andAbsolomHicks。JoneshadthrownAugustustothefloor，stabbedhiminseveralplacesalongtherightarm，andwouldnodoubthavesoondispatchedhimasneitherPetersnormyselfcouldimmediatelygetridofourownantagonists，haditnotbeenforthetimelyaidofafriend，uponwhoseassistancewe，surely，hadneverdepended。ThisfriendwasnootherthanTiger。Withalowgrowl，heboundedintothecabin，atamostcriticalmomentforAugustus，andthrowinghimselfuponJones，pinnedhimtothefloorinaninstant。Myfriend，however，wasnowtoomuchinjuredtorenderusanyaidwhatever，andIwassoencumberedwithmydisguisethatI
　　coulddobutlittle。ThedogwouldnotleavehisholduponthethroatofJonesPeters，nevertheless，wasfarmorethanamatchforthetwomenwhoremained，andwould，nodoubt，havedispatchedthemsooner，haditnotbeenforthenarrowspaceinwhichhehadtoact，andthetremendouslurchesofthevessel。Presentlyhewasenabledtogetholdofaheavystool，severalofwhichlayaboutthefloor。WiththishebeatoutthebrainsofGreelyashewasintheactofdischargingamusketatme，andimmediatelyafterwardarollofthebrigthrowinghimincontactwithHicks，heseizedhimbythethroat，and，bydintofsheerstrength，strangledhiminstantaneously。Thus，infarlesstimethanIhavetakentotellit，wefoundourselvesmastersofthebrig。
　　TheonlypersonofouropponentswhowasleftalivewasRichardParker。Thisman，itwillberemembered，Ihadknockeddownwithablowfromthepump-handleatthecommencementoftheattack。Henowlaymotionlessbythedooroftheshatteredstateroom；but，uponPeterstouchinghimwithhisfoot，hespoke，andentreatedformercy。
　　Hisheadwasonlyslightlycut，andotherwisehehadreceivednoinjury，havingbeenmerelystunnedbytheblow。Henowgotup，and，forthepresent，wesecuredhishandsbehindhisback。ThedogwasstillgrowlingoverJones；but，uponexamination，wefoundhimcompletelydead，thebloodissuinginastreamfromadeepwoundinthethroat，inflicted，nodoubt，bythesharpteethoftheanimal。
　　Itwasnowaboutoneo’clockinthemorning，andthewindwasstillblowingtremendously。Thebrigevidentlylabouredmuchmorethanusual，anditbecameabsolutelynecessarythatsomethingshouldbedonewithaviewofeasingherinsomemeasure。Atalmosteveryrolltoleewardsheshippedasea，severalofwhichcamepartiallydownintothecabinduringourscuffle，thehatchwayhavingbeenleftopenbymyselfwhenIdescended。Theentirerangeofbulwarkstolarboardhadbeensweptaway，aswellasthecaboose，togetherwiththejollyboatfromthecounter。Thecreakingandworkingofthemainmast，too，gaveindicationthatitwasnearlysprung。Tomakeroomformorestowageintheafterhold，theheelofthismasthadbeensteppedbetweendecksaveryreprehensiblepractice，occasionallyresortedtobyignorantship-builders，sothatitwasinimminentdangerofworkingfromitsstep。But，tocrownallourdifficulties，weplummedthewell，andfoundnolessthansevenfeetofwater。
　　Leavingthebodiesofthecrewlyinginthecabin，wegottoworkimmediatelyatthepumps-Parker，ofcourse，beingsetatlibertytoassistusinthelabour。Augustus’sarmwasboundupaswellaswecouldeffectit，andhedidwhathecould，butthatwasnotmuch。
　　However，wefoundthatwecouldjustmanagetokeeptheleakfromgaininguponusbyhavingonepumpconstantlygoing。Astherewereonlyfourofus，thiswasseverelabour；butweendeavouredtokeepupourspirits，andlookedanxiouslyfordaybreak，whenwehopedtolightenthebrigbycuttingawaythemainmast。
　　Inthismannerwepassedanightofterribleanxietyandfatigue，and，whenthedayatlengthbroke，thegalehadneitherabatedintheleast，norwerethereanysignsofitsabating。Wenowdraggedthebodiesondeckandthrewthemoverboard。Ournextcarewastogetridofthemainmast。Thenecessarypreparationshavingbeenmade，Peterscutawayatthemasthavingfoundaxesinthecabin，whiletherestofusstoodbythestaysandlanyards。Asthebriggaveatremendouslee-lurch，thewordwasgiventocutawaytheweather-lanyards，whichbeingdone，thewholemassofwoodandriggingplungedintothesea，clearofthebrig，andwithoutdoinganymaterialinjury。Wenowfoundthatthevesseldidnotlabourquiteasmuchasbefore，butoursituationwasstillexceedinglyprecarious，andinspiteoftheutmostexertions，wecouldnotgainupontheleakwithouttheaidofbothpumps。ThelittleassistancewhichAugustuscouldrenderuswasnotreallyofanyimportance。Toaddtoourdistress，aheavysea，strikingthebrigtothewindward，threwheroffseveralpointsfromthewind，and，beforeshecouldregainherposition，anotherbrokecompletelyoverher，andhurledherfulluponherbeam-ends。Theballastnowshiftedinamasstoleewardthestowagehadbeenknockingaboutperfectlyatrandomforsometime，andforafewmomentswethoughtnothingcouldsaveusfromcapsizing。Presently，however，wepartiallyrighted；buttheballaststillretainingitsplacetolarboard，welaysomuchalongthatitwasuselesstothinkofworkingthepumps，whichindeedwecouldnothavedonemuchlongerinanycase，asourhandswereentirelyrawwiththeexcessivelabourwehadundergone，andwerebleedinginthemosthorriblemanner。
　　ContrarytoParker’sadvice，wenowproceededtocutawaytheforemast，andatlengthaccomplisheditaftermuchdifficulty，owingtothepositioninwhichwelay。Ingoingoverboardthewrecktookwithitthebowsprit，andleftusacompletehulk。
　　Sofarwehadhadreasontorejoiceintheescapeofourlongboat，whichhadreceivednodamagefromanyofthehugeseaswhichhadcomeonboard。Butwehadnotlongtocongratulateourselves；fortheforemasthavinggone，and，ofcourse，theforesailwithit，bywhichthebrighadbeensteadied，everyseanowmadeacompletebreachoverus，andinfiveminutesourdeckwassweptfromsterntostern，thelongboatandstarboardbulwarkstornoff，andeventhewindlassshatteredintofragments。Itwas，indeed，hardlypossibleforustobeinamorepitiablecondition。
　　Atnoonthereseemedtobesomeslightappearanceofthegale’sabating，butinthisweweresadlydisappointed，foritonlylulledforafewminutestoblowwithredoubledfury。Aboutfourintheafternoonitwasutterlyimpossibletostandupagainsttheviolenceoftheblast；and，asthenightclosedinuponus，Ihadnotashadowofhopethatthevesselwouldholdtogetheruntilmorning。
　　Bymidnightwehadsettledverydeepinthewater，whichwasnowuptotheorlopdeck。Therudderwentsoonafterward，theseawhichtoreitawayliftingtheafterportionofthebrigentirelyfromthewater，againstwhichshethumpedinherdescentwithsuchaconcussionaswouldbeoccasionedbygoingashore。Wehadallcalculatedthattherudderwouldholditsowntothelast，asitwasunusuallystrong，beingriggedasIhaveneverseenoneriggedeitherbeforeorsince。Downitsmaintimberthereranasuccessionofstoutironhooks，andothersinthesamemannerdownthestern-post。
　　Throughthesehooksthereextendedaverythickwrought-ironrod，therudderbeingthusheldtothestern-postandswingingfreelyontherod。Thetremendousforceoftheseawhichtoreitoffmaybeestimatedbythefact，thatthehooksinthestern-post，whichranentirelythroughit，beingclinchedontheinside，weredrawneveryoneofthemcompletelyoutofthesolidwood。
　　Wehadscarcelytimetodrawbreathaftertheviolenceofthisshock，whenoneofthemosttremendouswavesIhadtheneverknownbrokerightonboardofus，sweepingthecompanion-wayclearoff，burstinginthehatchways，andfiringeveryinchofthevesselwithwater。
　　LUCKILY，justbeforenight，allfourofushadlashedourselvesfirmlytothefragmentsofthewindlass，lyinginthismannerasflatuponthedeckaspossible。Thisprecautionalonesavedusfromdestruction。Asitwas，wewereallmoreorlessstunnedbytheimmenseweightofwaterwhichtumbleduponus，andwhichdidnotrollfromaboveusuntilwewerenearlyexhausted。AssoonasIcouldrecoverbreath，Icalledaloudtomycompanions。Augustusalonereplied，saying：“Itisalloverwithus，andmayGodhavemercyuponoursouls！”By-and-byboththeotherswereenabledtospeak，whentheyexhortedustotakecourage，astherewasstillhope；itbeingimpossible，fromthenatureofthecargo，thatthebrigcouldgodown，andtherebeingeverychancethatthegalewouldblowoverbythemorning。Thesewordsinspiredmewithnewlife；for，strangeasitmayseem，althoughitwasobviousthatavesselwithacargoofemptyoil-caskswouldnotsink，Ihadbeenhithertosoconfusedinmindastohaveoverlookedthisconsiderationaltogether；andthedangerwhichIhadforsometimeregardedasthemostimminentwasthatoffoundering。Ashoperevivedwithinme，Imadeuseofeveryopportunitytostrengthenthelashingswhichheldmetotheremainsofthewindlass，andinthisoccupationIsoondiscoveredthatmycompanionswerealsobusy。Thenightwasasdarkasitcouldpossiblybe，andthehorribleshriekingdinandconfusionwhichsurroundedusitisuselesstoattemptdescribing。Ourdecklaylevelwiththesea，orratherwewereencircledwithatoweringridgeoffoam，aportionofwhichsweptoveruseveninstant。Itisnottoomuchtosaythatourheadswerenotfairlyoutofthewatermorethanonesecondinthree。Althoughwelayclosetogether，nooneofuscouldseetheother，or，indeed，anyportionofthebrigitself，uponwhichweweresotempestuouslyhurledabout。Atintervalswecalledonetotheother，thusendeavouringtokeepalivehope，andrenderconsolationandencouragementtosuchofusasstoodmostinneedofit。ThefeebleconditionofAugustusmadehimanobjectofsolicitudewithusall；andas，fromthelaceratedconditionofhisrightarm，itmusthavebeenimpossibleforhimtosecurehislashingswithanydegreeoffirmness，wewereinmomentaryexpectationoffindingthathehadgoneoverboardyettorenderhimaidwasathingaltogetheroutofthequestion。Fortunately，hisstationwasmoresecurethanthatofanyoftherestofus；fortheupperpartofhisbodylyingjustbeneathaportionoftheshatteredwindlass，theseas，astheytumbledinuponhim，weregreatlybrokenintheirviolence。Inanyothersituationthanthisintowhichhehadbeenaccidentallythrownafterhavinglashedhimselfinaveryexposedspothemustinevitablyhaveperishedbeforemorning。Owingtothebrig’slyingsomuchalong，wewerealllessliabletobewashedoffthanotherwisewouldhavebeenthecase。Theheel，asIhavebeforestated，wastolarboard，aboutonehalfofthedeckbeingconstantlyunderwater。
　　Theseas，therefore，whichstruckustostarboardweremuchbroken，bythevessel’sside，onlyreachingusinfragmentsaswelayflatonourfaces；whilethosewhichcamefromlarboardbeingwhatarecalledback-waterseas，andobtaininglittleholduponusonaccountofourposture，hadnotsufficientforcetodragusfromourfastenings。