Itishardlypossibletoconceivetheextremityofmyterror。Thefumesofthewinelatelytakenhadevaporated，leavingmedoublytimidandirresolute。IknewthatIwasaltogetherincapableofmanagingtheboat，andthatafiercewindandstrongebbtidewerehurryingustodestruction。Astormwasevidentlygatheringbehindus；wehadneithercompassnorprovisions；anditwasclearthat，ifweheldourpresentcourse，weshouldbeoutofsightoflandbeforedaybreak。Thesethoughts，withacrowdofothersequallyfearful，flashedthroughmymindwithabewilderingrapidity，andforsomemomentsparalyzedmebeyondthepossibilityofmakinganyexertion。
Theboatwasgoingthroughthewaterataterriblerate-fullbeforethewind-noreefineitherjibormainsail-runningherbowscompletelyunderthefoam。Itwasathousandwondersshedidnotbroachto-Augustushavingletgothetiller，asIsaidbefore，andI
beingtoomuchagitatedtothinkoftakingitmyself。Bygoodluck，however，shekeptsteady，andgraduallyIrecoveredsomedegreeofpresenceofmind。Stillthewindwasincreasingfearfully，andwheneverwerosefromaplungeforward，theseabehindfellcombingoverourcounter，anddelugeduswithwater。Iwassoutterlybenumbed，too，ineverylimb，astobenearlyunconsciousofsensation。AtlengthIsummoneduptheresolutionofdespair，andrushingtothemainsailletitgobytherun。Asmighthavebeenexpected，itflewoverthebows，and，gettingdrenchedwithwater，carriedawaythemastshortoffbytheboard。Thislatteraccidentalonesavedmefrominstantdestruction。Underthejibonly，Inowboomedalongbeforethewind，shippingheavyseasoccasionallyoverthecounter，butrelievedfromtheterrorofimmediatedeath。Itookthehelm，andbreathedwithgreaterfreedomasIfoundthatthereyetremainedtousachanceofultimateescape。Augustusstilllaysenselessinthebottomoftheboat；andastherewasimminentdangerofhisdrowningthewaterbeingnearlyafootdeepjustwherehefell，Icontrivedtoraisehimpartiallyup，andkeephiminasittingposition，bypassingaroperoundhiswaist，andlashingittoaringboltinthedeckofthecuddy。HavingthusarrangedeverythingaswellasIcouldinmychilledandagitatedcondition，I
recommendedmyselftoGod，andmadeupmymindtobearwhatevermighthappenwithallthefortitudeinmypower。
HardlyhadIcometothisresolution，when，suddenly，aloudandlongscreamoryell，asiffromthethroatsofathousanddemons，seemedtopervadethewholeatmospherearoundandabovetheboat。
NeverwhileIliveshallIforgettheintenseagonyofterrorI
experiencedatthatmoment。MyhairstooderectonmyheadIfeltthebloodcongealinginmyveinsmyheartceasedutterlytobeat，andwithouthavingonceraisedmyeyestolearnthesourceofmyalarm，Itumbledheadlongandinsensibleuponthebodyofmyfallencompanion。
Ifoundmyself，uponreviving，inthecabinofalargewhaling-shipthePenguinboundtoNantucket。Severalpersonswerestandingoverme，andAugustus，palerthandeath，wasbusilyoccupiedinchafingmyhands。Uponseeingmeopenmyeyes，hisexclamationsofgratitudeandjoyexcitedalternatelaughterandtearsfromtherough-lookingpersonageswhowerepresent。Themysteryofourbeinginexistencewasnowsoonexplained。Wehadbeenrundownbythewhaling-ship，whichwasclose-hauled，beatinguptoNantucketwitheverysailshecouldventuretoset，andconsequentlyrunningalmostatrightanglestoourowncourse。Severalmenwereonthelook-outforward，butdidnotperceiveourboatuntilitwasanimpossibilitytoavoidcomingincontact-theirshoutsofwarninguponseeinguswerewhatsoterriblyalarmedme。Thehugeship，Iwastold，rodeimmediatelyoveruswithasmucheaseasourownlittlevesselwouldhavepassedoverafeather，andwithouttheleastperceptibleimpedimenttoherprogress。Notascreamarosefromthedeckofthevictim-therewasaslightgratingsoundtobeheardminglingwiththeroarofwindandwater，asthefrailbarkwhichwasswalloweduprubbedforamomentalongthekeelofherdestroyer-butthiswasall。Thinkingourboatwhichitwillberememberedwasdismasted
somemereshellcutadriftasuseless，thecaptainCaptainE。T。V。
Block，ofNewLondonwasforproceedingonhiscoursewithouttroublinghimselffurtheraboutthematter。Luckily，thereweretwoofthelook-outwhosworepositivelytohavingseensomepersonatourhelm，andrepresentedthepossibilityofyetsavinghim。A
discussionensued，whenBlockgrewangry，and，afterawhile，saidthat“itwasnobusinessofhistobeeternallywatchingforegg-shells；thattheshipshouldnotputaboutforanysuchnonsense；
andiftherewasamanrundown，itwasnobody’sfaultbutHenderson，thefirstmate，nowtookthematterup，beingjustlyindignant，aswellasthewholeship’screw，ataspeechevincingsobaseadegreeofheartlessatrocity。Hespokeplainly，seeinghimselfupheldbythemen，toldthecaptainheconsideredhimafitsubjectforthegallows，andthathewoulddisobeyhisordersifhewerehangedforitthemomenthesethisfootonshore。Hestrodeaft，jostlingBlockwhoturnedpaleandmadenoanswerononeside，andseizingthehelm，gavetheword，inafirmvoice，Hard-a-lee！Themenflewtotheirposts，andtheshipwentcleverlyabout。Allthishadoccupiednearlyfiveminutes，anditwassupposedtobehardlywithintheboundsofpossibilitythatanyindividualcouldbesaved-allowinganytohavebeenonboardtheboat。Yet，asthereaderhasseen，bothAugustusandmyselfwererescued；andourdeliveranceseemedtohavebeenbroughtaboutbytwoofthosealmostinconceivablepiecesofgoodfortunewhichareattributedbythewiseandpioustothespecialinterferenceofProvidence。
Whiletheshipwasyetinstays，themateloweredthejolly-boatandjumpedintoherwiththeverytwomen，Ibelieve，whospokeupashavingseenmeatthehelm。Theyhadjustlefttheleeofthevesselthemoonstillshiningbrightlywhenshemadealongandheavyrolltowindward，andHenderson，atthesamemoment，startingupinhisseatbawledouttohiscrewtobackwater。Hewouldsaynothingelse-
repeatinghiscryimpatiently，backwater！blackwater！Themenputbackasspeedilyaspossible，butbythistimetheshiphadgoneround，andgottenfullyunderheadway，althoughallhandsonboardweremakinggreatexertionstotakeinsail。Indespiteofthedangeroftheattempt，themateclungtothemain-chainsassoonastheycamewithinhisreach。Anotherhugelurchnowbroughtthestarboardsideofthevesseloutofwaternearlyasfarasherkeel，whenthecauseofhisanxietywasrenderedobviousenough。ThebodyofamanwasseentobeaffixedinthemostsingularmannertothesmoothandshiningbottomthePenguinwascopperedandcopper-fastened，andbeatingviolentlyagainstitwitheverymovementofthehull。Afterseveralineffectualefforts，madeduringthelurchesoftheship，andattheimminentriskofswampingtheboatIwasfinallydisengagedfrommyperiloussituationandtakenonboard-forthebodyprovedtobemyown。Itappearedthatoneofthetimber-boltshavingstartedandbrokenapassagethroughthecopper，ithadarrestedmyprogressasIpassedundertheship，andfastenedmeinsoextraordinaryamannertoherbottom。TheheadofthebolthadmadeitswaythroughthecollarofthegreenbaizejacketIhadon，andthroughthebackpartofmyneck，forcingitselfoutbetweentwosinewsandjustbelowtherightear。Iwasimmediatelyputtobed-althoughlifeseemedtobetotallyextinct。Therewasnosurgeononboard。Thecaptain，however，treatedmewitheveryattention-tomakeamends，Ipresume，intheeyesofhiscrew，forhisatrociousbehaviourinthepreviousportionoftheadventure。
Inthemeantime，Hendersonhadagainputofffromtheship，althoughthewindwasnowblowingalmostahurricane。Hehadnotbeengonemanyminuteswhenhefellinwithsomefragmentsofourboat，andshortlyafterwardoneofthemenwithhimassertedthathecoulddistinguishacryforhelpatintervalsamidtheroaringofthetempest。Thisinducedthehardyseamentopersevereintheirsearchformorethanhalfanhour，althoughrepeatedsignalstoreturnweremadethembyCaptainBlock，andalthougheverymomentonthewaterinsofrailaboatwasfraughttothemwiththemostimminentanddeadlyperil。Indeed，itisnearlyimpossibletoconceivehowthesmalljollytheywereincouldhaveescapeddestructionforasingleinstant。Shewasbuilt，however，forthewhalingservice，andwasfitted，asIhavesincehadreasontobelieve，withair-boxes，inthemannerofsomelife-boatsusedonthecoastofWales。
Aftersearchinginvainforabouttheperiodoftimejustmentioned，itwasdeterminedtogetbacktotheship。Theyhadscarcelymadethisresolvewhenafeeblecryarosefromadarkobjectthatfloatedrapidlyby。Theypursuedandsoonovertookit。ItprovedtobetheentiredeckoftheAriel’scuddy。Augustuswasstrugglingnearit，apparentlyinthelastagonies。Upongettingholdofhimitwasfoundthathewasattachedbyaropetothefloatingtimber。Thisrope，itwillberemembered，Ihadmyselftiedaroundhiswaist，andmadefasttoaringbolt，forthepurposeofkeepinghiminanuprightposition，andmysodoing，itappeared，hadbeenultimatelythemeansofpreservinghislife。TheArielwasslightlyputtogether，andingoingdownherframenaturallywenttopieces；thedeckofthecuddy，asmighthavebeenexpected，waslifted，bytheforceofthewaterrushingin，entirelyfromthemaintimbers，andfloatedwithotherfragments，nodoubttothesurface-Augustuswasbuoyedupwithit，andthusescapedaterribledeath。
ItwasmorethananhourafterbeingtakenonboardthePenguinbeforehecouldgiveanyaccountofhimself，orbemadetocomprehendthenatureoftheaccidentwhichhadbefallenourboat。Atlengthhebecamethoroughlyaroused，andspokemuchofhissensationswhileinthewater。Uponhisfirstattaininganydegreeofconsciousness，hefoundhimselfbeneaththesurface，whirlingroundandroundwithinconceivablerapidity，andwitharopewrappedinthreeorfourfoldstightlyabouthisneck。Inaninstantafterwardhefelthimselfgoingrapidlyupward，when，hisheadstrikingviolentlyagainstahardsubstance，heagainrelapsedintoinsensibility。Upononcemorerevivinghewasinfullerpossessionofhisreason-thiswasstill，however，inthegreatestdegreecloudedandconfused。Henowknewthatsomeaccidenthadoccurred，andthathewasinthewater，althoughhismouthwasabovethesurface，andhecouldbreathewithsomefreedom。Possibly，atthisperiodthedeckwasdriftingrapidlybeforethewind，anddrawinghimafterit，ashefloateduponhisback。Ofcourse，aslongashecouldhaveretainedthisposition，itwouldhavebeennearlyimpossiblethatheshouldbedrowned。
Presentlyasurgethrewhimdirectlyathwartthedeck，andthispostheendeavoredtomaintain，screamingatintervalsforhelp。justbeforehewasdiscoveredbyMr。Henderson，hehadbeenobligedtorelaxhisholdthroughexhaustion，and，fallingintothesea，hadgivenhimselfupforlost。DuringthewholeperiodofhisstruggleshehadnotthefaintestrecollectionoftheAriel，norofthemattersinconnexionwiththesourceofhisdisaster。Avaguefeelingofterroranddespairhadtakenentirepossessionofhisfaculties。Whenhewasfinallypickedup，everypowerofhismindhadfailedhim；
and，asbeforesaid，itwasnearlyanhouraftergettingonboardthePenguinbeforehebecamefullyawareofhiscondition。Inregardtomyself-Iwasresuscitatedfromastateborderingverynearlyupondeathandaftereveryothermeanshadbeentriedinvainforthreehoursandahalfbyvigorousfrictionwithflannelsbathedinhotoil-aproceedingsuggestedbyAugustus。Thewoundinmyneck，althoughofanuglyappearance，provedoflittlerealconsequence，andIsoonrecoveredfromitseffects。
ThePenguingotintoportaboutnineo’clockinthemorning，afterencounteringoneoftheseverestgaleseverexperiencedoffNantucket。BothAugustusandmyselfmanagedtoappearatMr。
Barnard’sintimeforbreakfast-which，luckily，wassomewhatlate，owingtothepartyovernight。Isupposeallatthetableweretoomuchfatiguedthemselvestonoticeourjadedappearance-ofcourse，itwouldnothaveborneaveryrigidscrutiny。Schoolboys，however，canaccomplishwondersinthewayofdeception，andIverilybelievenotoneofourfriendsinNantuckethadtheslightestsuspicionthattheterriblestorytoldbysomesailorsintownoftheirhavingrundownavesselatseaanddrownedsomethirtyorfortypoordevils，hadreferenceeithertotheAriel，mycompanion，ormyself。Wetwohavesinceveryfrequentlytalkedthematterover-butneverwithoutashudder。InoneofourconversationsAugustusfranklyconfessedtome，thatinhiswholelifehehadatnotimeexperiencedsoexcruciatingasenseofdismay，aswhenonboardourlittleboathefirstdiscoveredtheextentofhisintoxication，andfelthimselfsinkingbeneathitsinfluence。