The Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Volume 3 — John Shaqi
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Volume 3Poe, Edgar Allan
General
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Volume 3
Poe, Edgar Allan
American fiction -- 19th century; Fantasy fiction; Horror tales, American
At length I once more arose, and busied myself in reflection upon
the horrors which encompassed me. For another twenty-four hours
it was barely possible that I might exist without water—for a
longer time I could not do so. During the first portion of my
imprisonment I had made free use of the cordials with which
Augustus had supplied me, but they only served to excite fever,
without in the least degree assuaging thirst. I had now only
about a gill left, and this was of a species of strong peach
liqueur at which my stomach revolted. The sausages were entirely
consumed; of the ham nothing remained but a small piece of the
skin; and all the biscuit, except a few fragments of one, had
been eaten by Tiger. To add to my troubles, I found that my
headache was increasing momentarily, and with it the species of
delirium which had distressed me more or less since my first
falling asleep. For some hours past it had been with the greatest
difficulty I could breathe at all, and now each attempt at so
doing was attended with the most depressing spasmodic action of
the chest. But there was still another and very different source
of disquietude, and one, indeed, whose harassing terrors had been
the chief means of arousing me to exertion from my stupor on the
mattress. It arose from the demeanor of the dog.
I first observed an alteration in his conduct while rubbing in
the phosphorus on the paper in my last attempt. As I rubbed, he
ran his nose against my hand with a slight snarl; but I was too
greatly excited at the time to pay much attention to the
circumstance. Soon afterward, it will be remembered, I threw
myself on the mattress, and fell into a species of lethargy.
Presently I became aware of a singular hissing sound close at my
ears, and discovered it to proceed from Tiger, who was panting
and wheezing in a state of the greatest apparent excitement, his
eyeballs flashing fiercely through the gloom. I spoke to him,
when he replied with a low growl, and then remained quiet.
Presently I relapsed into my stupor, from which I was again
awakened in a similar manner. This was repeated three or four
times, until finally his behaviour inspired me with so great a
degree of fear, that I became fully aroused. He was now lying
close by the door of the box, snarling fearfully, although in a
kind of undertone, and grinding his teeth as if strongly
convulsed. I had no doubt whatever that the want of water or the
confined atmosphere of the hold had driven him mad, and I was at
a loss what course to pursue. I could not endure the thought of
killing him, yet it seemed absolutely necessary for my own
safety. I could distinctly perceive his eyes fastened upon me
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