Chapter 6

The leading particulars of this narration were all that Augustus
communicated to me while we remained near the box. It was not
until afterward that he entered fully into all the details. He
was apprehensive of being missed, and I was wild with impatience
to leave my detested place of confinement. We resolved to make
our way at once to the hole in the bulkhead, near which I was to
remain for the present, while he went through to reconnoiter. To
leave Tiger in the box was what neither of us could endure to
think of, yet, how to act otherwise was the question. He now
seemed to be perfectly quiet, and we could not even distinguish
the sound of his breathing upon applying our ears closely to the
box. I was convinced that he was dead, and determined to open the
door. We found him lying at full length, apparently in a deep
stupor, yet still alive. No time was to be lost, yet I could not
bring myself to abandon an animal who had now been twice
instrumental in saving my life, without some attempt at
preserving him. We therefore dragged him along with us as well as
we could, although with the greatest difficulty and fatigue;
Augustus, during part of the time, being forced to clamber over
the impediments in our way with the huge dog in his arms—a feat
to which the feebleness of my frame rendered me totally
inadequate. At length we succeeded in reaching the hole, when
Augustus got through, and Tiger was pushed in afterward. All was
found to be safe, and we did not fail to return sincere thanks to
God for our deliverance from the imminent danger we had escaped.
For the present, it was agreed that I should remain near the
opening, through which my companion could readily supply me with
a part of his daily provision, and where I could have the
advantages of breathing an atmosphere comparatively pure.

In explanation of some portions of this narrative, wherein I have
spoken of the stowage of the brig, and which may appear ambiguous
to some of my readers who may have seen a proper or regular
stowage, I must here state that the manner in which this most
important duty had been performed on board the Grampus was a most
shameful piece of neglect on the part of Captain Barnard, who was
by no means as careful or as experienced a seaman as the
hazardous nature of the service on which he was employed would
seem necessarily to demand. A proper stowage cannot be
accomplished in a careless manner, and many most disastrous
accidents, even within the limits of my own experience, have
arisen from neglect or ignorance in this particular. Coasting
vessels, in the frequent hurry and bustle attendant upon taking
in or discharging cargo, are the most liable to mishap from the
want of a proper attention to stowage. The great point is to
allow no possibility of the cargo or ballast shifting position
even in the most violent rollings of the vessel. With this end,
great attention must be paid, not only to the bulk taken in, but
to the nature of the bulk, and whether there be a full or only a
partial cargo. In most kinds of freight the stowage is
accomplished by means of a screw. Thus, in a load of tobacco or
flour, the whole is screwed so tightly into the hold of the
vessel that the barrels or hogsheads, upon discharging, are found
to be completely flattened, and take some time to regain their
original shape. This screwing, however, is resorted to
principally with a view of obtaining more room in the hold; for
in a full load of any such commodities as flour or tobacco, there
can be no danger of any shifting whatever, at least none from
which inconvenience can result. There have been instances,
indeed, where this method of screwing has resulted in the most
lamentable consequences, arising from a cause altogether distinct
from the danger attendant upon a shifting of cargo. A load of
cotton, for example, tightly screwed while in certain conditions,
has been known, through the expansion of its bulk, to rend a
vessel asunder at sea. There can be no doubt either that the same
result would ensue in the case of tobacco, while undergoing its
usual course of fermentation, were it not for the interstices
consequent upon the rotundity of the hogsheads.

It is when a partial cargo is received that danger is chiefly to
be apprehended from shifting, and that precautions should be
always taken to guard against such misfortune. Only those who
have encountered a violent gale of wind, or rather who have
experienced the rolling of a vessel in a sudden calm after the
gale, can form an idea of the tremendous force of the plunges,
and of the consequent terrible impetus given to all loose
articles in the vessel. It is then that the necessity of a
cautious stowage, when there is a partial cargo, becomes obvious.
When lying-to (especially with a small head sail), a vessel which
is not properly modelled in the bows is frequently thrown upon
her beam-ends; this occurring even every fifteen or twenty
minutes upon an average, yet without any serious consequences
resulting, provided there be a proper stowage. If this, however,
has not been strictly attended to, in the first of these heavy
lurches the whole of the cargo tumbles over to the side of the
vessel which lies upon the water, and, being thus prevented from
regaining her equilibrium, as she would otherwise necessarily do,
she is certain to fill in a few seconds and go down. It is not
too much to say that at least one-half of the instances in which
vessels have foundered in heavy gales at sea may be attributed to
a shifting of cargo or of ballast.

When a partial cargo of any kind is taken on board, the whole,
after being first stowed as compactly as may be, should be
covered with a layer of stout shifting-boards, extending
completely across the vessel. Upon these boards strong temporary
stanchions should be erected, reaching to the timbers above, and
thus securing every thing in its place. In cargoes consisting of
grain, or any similar matter, additional precautions are
requisite. A hold filled entirely with grain upon leaving port
will be found not more than three fourths full upon reaching its
destination—this, too, although the freight, when measured bushel
by bushel by the consignee, will overrun by a vast deal (on
account of the swelling of the grain) the quantity consigned.
This result is occasioned by settling during the voyage, and is
the more perceptible in proportion to the roughness of the
weather experienced. If grain loosely thrown in a vessel, then,
is ever so well secured by shifting-boards and stanchions, it
will be liable to shift in a long passage so greatly as to bring
about the most distressing calamities. To prevent these, every
method should be employed before leaving port to settle the cargo
as much as possible; and for this there are many contrivances,
among which may be mentioned the driving of wedges into the
grain. Even after all this is done, and unusual pains taken to
secure the shifting-boards, no seaman who knows what he is about
will feel altogether secure in a gale of any violence with a
cargo of grain on board, and, least of all, with a partial cargo.
Yet there are hundreds of our coasting vessels, and, it is
likely, many more from the ports of Europe, which sail daily with
partial cargoes, even of the most dangerous species, and without
any precaution whatever. The wonder is that no more accidents
occur than do actually happen. A lamentable instance of this
heedlessness occurred to my knowledge in the case of Captain Joel
Rice of the schooner Firefly, which sailed from Richmond,
Virginia, to Madeira, with a cargo of corn, in the year 1825. The
captain had gone many voyages without serious accident, although
he was in the habit of paying no attention whatever to his
stowage, more than to secure it in the ordinary manner. He had
never before sailed with a cargo of grain, and on this occasion
had the corn thrown on board loosely, when it did not much more
than half fill the vessel. For the first portion of the voyage he
met with nothing more than light breezes; but when within a day’s
sail of Madeira there came on a strong gale from the N. N. E.
which forced him to lie-to. He brought the schooner to the wind
under a double-reefed foresail alone, when she rode as well as
any vessel could be expected to do, and shipped not a drop of
water. Toward night the gale somewhat abated, and she rolled with
more unsteadiness than before, but still did very well, until a
heavy lurch threw her upon her beam-ends to starboard. The corn
was then heard to shift bodily, the force of the movement
bursting open the main hatchway. The vessel went down like a
shot. This happened within hail of a small sloop from Madeira,
which picked up one of the crew (the only person saved), and
which rode out the gale in perfect security, as indeed a jolly
boat might have done under proper management.

The stowage on board the Grampus was most clumsily done, if
stowage that could be called which was little better than a
promiscuous huddling together of oil-casks {*1} and ship
furniture. I have already spoken of the condition of articles in
the hold. On the orlop deck there was space enough for my body
(as I have stated) between the oil-casks and the upper deck; a
space was left open around the main hatchway; and several other
large spaces were left in the stowage. Near the hole cut through
the bulkhead by Augustus there was room enough for an entire
cask, and in this space I found myself comfortably situated for
the present.

By the time my friend had got safely into the berth, and
readjusted his handcuffs and the rope, it was broad daylight. We
had made a narrow escape indeed; for scarcely had he arranged all
matters, when the mate came below, with Dirk Peters and the cook.
They talked for some time about the vessel from the Cape Verds,
and seemed to be excessively anxious for her appearance. At
length the cook came to the berth in which Augustus was lying,
and seated himself in it near the head. I could see and hear
every thing from my hiding-place, for the piece cut out had not
been put back, and I was in momentary expectation that the negro
would fall against the pea-jacket, which was hung up to conceal
the aperture, in which case all would have been discovered, and
our lives would, no doubt, have been instantly sacrificed. Our
good fortune prevailed, however; and although he frequently
touched it as the vessel rolled, he never pressed against it
sufficiently to bring about a discovery. The bottom of the jacket
had been carefully fastened to the bulkhead, so that the hole
might not be seen by its swinging to one side. All this time
Tiger was lying in the foot of the berth, and appeared to have
recovered in some measure his faculties, for I could see him
occasionally open his eyes and draw a long breath.

After a few minutes the mate and cook went above, leaving Dirk
Peters behind, who, as soon as they were gone, came and sat
himself down in the place just occupied by the mate. He began to
talk very sociably with Augustus, and we could now see that the
greater part of his apparent intoxication, while the two others
were with him, was a feint. He answered all my companion’s
questions with perfect freedom; told him that he had no doubt of
his father’s having been picked up, as there were no less than
five sail in sight just before sundown on the day he was cut
adrift; and used other language of a consolatory nature, which
occasioned me no less surprise than pleasure. Indeed, I began to
entertain hopes, that through the instrumentality of Peters we
might be finally enabled to regain possession of the brig, and
this idea I mentioned to Augustus as soon as I found an
opportunity. He thought the matter possible, but urged the
necessity of the greatest caution in making the attempt, as the
conduct of the hybrid appeared to be instigated by the most
arbitrary caprice alone; and, indeed, it was difficult to say if
he was at any moment of sound mind. Peters went upon deck in
about an hour, and did not return again until noon, when he
brought Augustus a plentiful supply of junk beef and pudding. Of
this, when we were left alone, I partook heartily, without
returning through the hole. No one else came down into the
forecastle during the day, and at night, I got into Augustus’
berth, where I slept soundly and sweetly until nearly daybreak,
when he awakened me upon hearing a stir upon deck, and I regained
my hiding-place as quickly as possible. When the day was fully
broke, we found that Tiger had recovered his strength almost
entirely, and gave no indications of hydrophobia, drinking a
little water that was offered him with great apparent eagerness.
During the day he regained all his former vigour and appetite.
His strange conduct had been brought on, no doubt, by the
deleterious quality of the air of the hold, and had no connexion
with canine madness. I could not sufficiently rejoice that I had
persisted in bringing him with me from the box. This day was the
thirtieth of June, and the thirteenth since the Grampus made sail
from Nantucket.

On the second of July the mate came below drunk as usual, and in
an excessively good-humor. He came to Augustus’s berth, and,
giving him a slap on the back, asked him if he thought he could
behave himself if he let him loose, and whether he would promise
not to be going into the cabin again. To this, of course, my
friend answered in the affirmative, when the ruffian set him at
liberty, after making him drink from a flask of rum which he drew
from his coat-pocket. Both now went on deck, and I did not see
Augustus for about three hours. He then came below with the good
news that he had obtained permission to go about the brig as he
pleased anywhere forward of the mainmast, and that he had been
ordered to sleep, as usual, in the forecastle. He brought me,
too, a good dinner, and a plentiful supply of water. The brig was
still cruising for the vessel from the Cape Verds, and a sail was
now in sight, which was thought to be the one in question. As the
events of the ensuing eight days were of little importance, and
had no direct bearing upon the main incidents of my narrative, I
will here throw them into the form of a journal, as I do not wish
to omit them altogether.

July 3. Augustus furnished me with three blankets, with which I
contrived a comfortable bed in my hiding-place. No one came
below, except my companion, during the day. Tiger took his
station in the berth just by the aperture, and slept heavily, as
if not yet entirely recovered from the effects of his sickness.
Toward night a flaw of wind struck the brig before sail could be
taken in, and very nearly capsized her. The puff died away
immediately, however, and no damage was done beyond the splitting
of the foretopsail. Dirk Peters treated Augustus all this day
with great kindness and entered into a long conversation with him
respecting the Pacific Ocean, and the islands he had visited in
that region. He asked him whether he would not like to go with
the mutineers on a kind of exploring and pleasure voyage in those
quarters, and said that the men were gradually coming over to the
mate’s views. To this Augustus thought it best to reply that he
would be glad to go on such an adventure, since nothing better
could be done, and that any thing was preferable to a piratical
life.

July 4th. The vessel in sight proved to be a small brig from
Liverpool, and was allowed to pass unmolested. Augustus spent
most of his time on deck, with a view of obtaining all the
information in his power respecting the intentions of the
mutineers. They had frequent and violent quarrels among
themselves, in one of which a harpooner, Jim Bonner, was thrown
overboard. The party of the mate was gaining ground. Jim Bonner
belonged to the cook’s gang, of which Peters was a partisan.

July 5th. About daybreak there came on a stiff breeze from the
west, which at noon freshened into a gale, so that the brig could
carry nothing more than her trysail and foresail. In taking in
the foretopsail, Simms, one of the common hands, and belonging
also to the cook’s gang, fell overboard, being very much in
liquor, and was drowned—no attempt being made to save him. The
whole number of persons on board was now thirteen, to wit: Dirk
Peters; Seymour, the black cook; Jones, Greely, Hartman Rogers
and William Allen, all of the cook’s party; the mate, whose name
I never learned; Absalom Hicks, Wilson, John Hunty Richard
Parker, of the mate’s party;—besides Augustus and myself.

July 6th. The gale lasted all this day, blowing in heavy squalls,
accompanied with rain. The brig took in a good deal of water
through her seams, and one of the pumps was kept continually
going, Augustus being forced to take his turn. Just at twilight a
large ship passed close by us, without having been discovered
until within hail. The ship was supposed to be the one for which
the mutineers were on the lookout. The mate hailed her, but the
reply was drowned in the roaring of the gale. At eleven, a sea
was shipped amidships, which tore away a great portion of the
larboard bulwarks, and did some other slight damage. Toward
morning the weather moderated, and at sunrise there was very
little wind.

July 7th. There was a heavy swell running all this day, during
which the brig, being light, rolled excessively, and many
articles broke loose in the hold, as I could hear distinctly from
my hiding-place. I suffered a great deal from sea-sickness.
Peters had a long conversation this day with Augustus, and told
him that two of his gang, Greely and Allen, had gone over to the
mate, and were resolved to turn pirates. He put several questions
to Augustus which he did not then exactly understand. During a
part of this evening the leak gained upon the vessel; and little
could be done to remedy it, as it was occasioned by the brig's
straining, and taking in the water through her seams. A sail was
thrummed, and got under the bows, which aided us in some measure,
so that we began to gain upon the leak.

July 8th. A light breeze sprang up at sunrise from the eastward,
when the mate headed the brig to the southwest, with the
intention of making some of the West India islands in pursuance
of his piratical designs. No opposition was made by Peters or the
cook—at least none in the hearing of Augustus. All idea of taking
the vessel from the Cape Verds was abandoned. The leak was now
easily kept under by one pump going every three quarters of an
hour. The sail was drawn from beneath the bows. Spoke two small
schooners during the day.

July 9th. Fine weather. All hands employed in repairing bulwarks.
Peters had again a long conversation with Augustus, and spoke
more plainly than he had done heretofore. He said nothing should
induce him to come into the mate’s views, and even hinted his
intention of taking the brig out of his hands. He asked my friend
if he could depend upon his aid in such case, to which Augustus
said, “Yes,” without hesitation. Peters then said he would sound
the others of his party upon the subject, and went away. During
the remainder of the day Augustus had no opportunity of speaking
with him privately.