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
The only person of our opponents who was left alive was Richard
Parker. This man, it will be remembered, I had knocked down with
a blow from the pump-handle at the commencement of the attack. He
now lay motionless by the door of the shattered stateroom; but,
upon Peters touching him with his foot, he spoke, and entreated
for mercy. His head was only slightly cut, and otherwise he had
received no injury, having been merely stunned by the blow. He
now got up, and, for the present, we secured his hands behind his
back. The dog was still growling over Jones; but, upon
examination, we found him completely dead, the blood issuing in a
stream from a deep wound in the throat, inflicted, no doubt, by
the sharp teeth of the animal.
It was now about one o’clock in the morning, and the wind was
still blowing tremendously. The brig evidently laboured much more
than usual, and it became absolutely necessary that something
should be done with a view of easing her in some measure. At
almost every roll to leeward she shipped a sea, several of which
came partially down into the cabin during our scuffle, the
hatchway having been left open by myself when I descended. The
entire range of bulwarks to larboard had been swept away, as well
as the caboose, together with the jollyboat from the counter. The
creaking and working of the mainmast, too, gave indication that
it was nearly sprung. To make room for more stowage in the
afterhold, the heel of this mast had been stepped between decks
(a very reprehensible practice, occasionally resorted to by
ignorant ship-builders), so that it was in imminent danger of
working from its step. But, to crown all our difficulties, we
plummed the well, and found no less than seven feet of water.
Leaving the bodies of the crew lying in the cabin, we got to work
immediately at the pumps—Parker, of course, being set at liberty
to assist us in the labour. Augustus’s arm was bound up as well
as we could effect it, and he did what he could, but that was not
much. However, we found that we could just manage to keep the
leak from gaining upon us by having one pump constantly going. As
there were only four of us, this was severe labour; but we
endeavoured to keep up our spirits, and looked anxiously for
daybreak, when we hoped to lighten the brig by cutting away the
mainmast.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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