The Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Volume 3Poe, Edgar Allan
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The Works of Edgar Allan Poe — Volume 3
Poe, Edgar Allan
American fiction -- 19th century; Fantasy fiction; Horror tales, American
A strong hand held him on the cabin floor, with a tight grasp
upon his throat; still he was able to see what was going on
around him. His father was tied hand and foot, and lying along
the steps of the companion-way, with his head down, and a deep
wound in the forehead, from which the blood was flowing in a
continued stream. He spoke not a word, and was apparently dying.
Over him stood the first mate, eyeing him with an expression of
fiendish derision, and deliberately searching his pockets, from
which he presently drew forth a large wallet and a chronometer.
Seven of the crew (among whom was the cook, a negro) were
rummaging the staterooms on the larboard for arms, where they
soon equipped themselves with muskets and ammunition. Besides
Augustus and Captain Barnard, there were nine men altogether in
the cabin, and these among the most ruffianly of the brig’s
company. The villains now went upon deck, taking my friend with
them after having secured his arms behind his back. They
proceeded straight to the forecastle, which was fastened down—two
of the mutineers standing by it with axes—two also at the main
hatch. The mate called out in a loud voice: “Do you hear there
below? tumble up with you, one by one—now, mark that—and no
grumbling!” It was some minutes before any one appeared:—at last
an Englishman, who had shipped as a raw hand, came up, weeping
piteously, and entreating the mate, in the most humble manner, to
spare his life. The only reply was a blow on the forehead from an
axe. The poor fellow fell to the deck without a groan, and the
black cook lifted him up in his arms as he would a child, and
tossed him deliberately into the sea. Hearing the blow and the
plunge of the body, the men below could now be induced to venture
on deck neither by threats nor promises, until a proposition was
made to smoke them out. A general rush then ensued, and for a
moment it seemed possible that the brig might be retaken. The
mutineers, however, succeeded at last in closing the forecastle
effectually before more than six of their opponents could get up.
These six, finding themselves so greatly outnumbered and without
arms, submitted after a brief struggle. The mate gave them fair
words—no doubt with a view of inducing those below to yield, for
they had no difficulty in hearing all that was said on deck. The
result proved his sagacity, no less than his diabolical villainy.
All in the forecastle presently signified their intention of
submitting, and, ascending one by one, were pinioned and then
thrown on their backs, together with the first six—there being in
all, of the crew who were not concerned in the mutiny,
twenty-seven.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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