the works of edgar allan poe-3-第5部分

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hardly　more　comfortable；　accommodations　of　the　cabin。　My　first　care
was　to　get　the　watch。　Leaving　the　taper　burning；　I　groped　along　in
the　dark；　following　the　cord　through　windings　innumerable；　in　some　of
which　I　discovered　that；　after　toiling　a　long　distance；　I　was　brought
back　within　a　foot　or　two　of　a　former　position。　At　length　I　reached
the　nail；　and　securing　the　object　of　my　journey；　returned　with　it　in
safety。　I　now　looked　over　the　books　which　had　been　so　thoughtfully
provided；　and　selected　the　expedition　of　Lewis　and　Clarke　to　the
mouth　of　the　Columbia。　With　this　I　amused　myself　for　some　time；　when；
growing　sleepy；　I　extinguished　the　light　with　great　care；　and　soon
fell　into　a　sound　slumber。

　　　　Upon　awakening　I　felt　strangely　confused　in　mind；　and　some　time
elapsed　before　I　could　bring　to　recollection　all　the　various
circumstances　of　my　situation。　By　degrees；　however；　I　remembered　all。
Striking　a　light；　I　looked　at　the　watch；　but　it　was　run　down；　and
there　were；　consequently；　no　means　of　determining　how　long　I　slept。
My　limbs　were　greatly　cramped；　and　I　was　forced　to　relieve　them　by
standing　between　the　crates。　Presently　feeling　an　almost　ravenous
appetite；　I　bethought　myself　of　the　cold　mutton；　some　of　which　I　had
eaten　just　before　going　to　sleep；　and　found　excellent。　What　was　my
astonishment　in　discovering　it　to　be　in　a　state　of　absolute
putrefaction！　This　circumstance　occasioned　me　great　disquietude；　for；
connecting　it　with　the　disorder　of　mind　I　experienced　upon　awakening；
I　began　to　suppose　that　I　must　have　slept　for　an　inordinately　long
period　of　time。　The　close　atmosphere　of　the　hold　might　have　had
something　to　do　with　this；　and　might；　in　the　end；　be　productive　of
the　most　serious　results。　My　head　ached　excessively；　I　fancied　that　I
drew　every　breath　with　difficulty；　and；　in　short；　I　was　oppressed
with　a　multitude　of　gloomy　feelings。　Still　I　could　not　venture　to
make　any　disturbance　by　opening　the　trap　or　otherwise；　and；　having
wound　up　the　watch；　contented　myself　as　well　as　possible。

　　　　Throughout　the　whole　of　the　next　tedious　twenty…four　hours　no
person　came　to　my　relief；　and　I　could　not　help　accusing　Augustus　of
the　grossest　inattention。　What　alarmed　me　chiefly　was；　that　the　water
in　my　jug　was　reduced　to　about　half　a　pint；　and　I　was　suffering　much
from　thirst；　having　eaten　freely　of　the　Bologna　sausages　after　the
loss　of　my　mutton。　I　became　very　uneasy；　and　could　no　longer　take　any
interest　in　my　books。　I　was　overpowered；　too；　with　a　desire　to　sleep；
yet　trembled　at　the　thought　of　indulging　it；　lest　there　might　exist
some　pernicious　influence；　like　that　of　burning　charcoal；　in　the
confined　air　of　the　hold。　In　the　meantime　the　roll　of　the　brig　told
me　that　we　were　far　in　the　main　ocean；　and　a　dull　humming　sound；
which　reached　my　ears　as　if　from　an　immense　distance；　convinced　me　no
ordinary　gale　was　blowing。　I　could　not　imagine　a　reason　for　the
absence　of　Augustus。　We　were　surely　far　enough　advanced　on　our　voyage
to　allow　of　my　going　up。　Some　accident　might　have　happened　to　him…
but　I　could　think　of　none　which　would　account　for　his　suffering　me　to
remain　so　long　a　prisoner；　except；　indeed；　his　having　suddenly　died
or　fallen　overboard；　and　upon　this　idea　I　could　not　dwell　with　any
degree　of　patience。　It　was　possible　that　we　had　been　baffled　by　head
winds；　and　were　still　in　the　near　vicinity　of　Nantucket。　This　notion；
however；　I　was　forced　to　abandon；　for　such　being　the　case；　the　brig
must　have　frequently　gone　about；　and　I　was　entirely　satisfied；　from
her　continual　inclination　to　the　larboard；　that　she　had　been　sailing
all　along　with　a　steady　breeze　on　her　starboard　quarter。　Besides；
granting　that　we　were　still　in　the　neighborhood　of　the　island；　why
should　not　Augustus　have　visited　me　and　informed　me　of　the
circumstance？　Pondering　in　this　manner　upon　the　difficulties　of　my
solitary　and　cheerless　condition；　I　resolved　to　wait　yet　another
twenty…four　hours；　when；　if　no　relief　were　obtained；　I　would　make　my
way　to　the　trap；　and　endeavour　either　to　hold　a　parley　with　my
friend；　or　get　at　least　a　little　fresh　air　through　the　opening；　and　a
further　supply　of　water　from　the　stateroom。　While　occupied　with　this
thought；　however；　I　fell　in　spite　of　every　exertion　to　the　contrary；
into　a　state　of　profound　sleep；　or　rather　stupor。　My　dreams　were　of
the　most　terrific　description。　Every　species　of　calamity　and　horror
befell　me。　Among　other　miseries　I　was　smothered　to　death　between　huge
pillows；　by　demons　of　the　most　ghastly　and　ferocious　aspect。　Immense
serpents　held　me　in　their　embrace；　and　looked　earnestly　in　my　face
with　their　fearfully　shining　eyes。　Then　deserts；　limitless；　and　of
the　most　forlorn　and　awe…inspiring　character；　spread　themselves　out
before　me。　Immensely　tall　trunks　of　trees；　gray　and　leafless；　rose　up
in　endless　succession　as　far　as　the　eye　could　reach。　Their　roots　were
concealed　in　wide…spreading　morasses；　whose　dreary　water　lay
intensely　black；　still；　and　altogether　terrible；　beneath。　And　the
strange　trees　seemed　endowed　with　a　human　vitality；　and　waving　to　and
fro　their　skeleton　arms；　were　crying　to　the　silent　waters　for　mercy；
in　the　shrill　and　piercing　accents　of　the　most　acute　agony　and
despair。　The　scene　changed；　and　I　stood；　naked　and　alone；　amidst　the
burning　sand…plains　of　Sahara。　At　my　feet　lay　crouched　a　fierce　lion
of　the　tropics。　Suddenly　his　wild　eyes　opened　and　fell　upon　me。　With
a　conculsive　bound　he　sprang　to　his　feet；　and　laid　bare　his　horrible
teeth。　In　another　instant　there　burst　from　his　red　throat　a　roar　like
the　thunder　of　the　firmament；　and　I　fell　impetuously　to　the　earth。
Stifling　in　a　paroxysm　of　terror；　I　at　last　found　myself　partially
awake。　My　dream；　then；　was　not　all　a　dream。　Now；　at　least；　I　was　in
possession　of　my　senses。　The　paws　of　some　huge　and　real　monster　were
pressing　heavily　upon　my　bosom　　his　hot　breath　was　in　my　ear…　and
his　white　and　ghastly　fangs　were　gleaming　upon　me　through　the　gloom。

　　　　Had　a　thousand　lives　hung　upon　the　movement　of　a　limb　or　the
utterance　of　a　syllable；　I　could　have　neither　stirred　nor　spoken。　The
beast；　whatever　it　was；　retained　his　position　without　attempting　any
immediate　violence；　while　I　lay　in　an　utterly　helpless；　and；　I
fancied；　a　dying　condition　beneath　him。　I　felt　that　my　powers　of　body
and　mind　were　fast　leaving　me…　in　a　word；　that　I　was　perishing；　and
perishing　of　sheer　fright。　My　brain　swam　　I　grew　deadly　sick　　my
vision　failed　　even　the　glaring　eyeballs　above　me　grew　dim。　Making
a　last　strong　effort；　I　at　length　breathed　a　faint　ejaculation　to
God；　and　resigned　myself　to　die。　The　sound　of　my　voice　seemed　to
arouse　all　the　latent　fury　of　the　animal。　He　precipitated　himself　at
full　length　upon　my　body；　but　what　was　my　astonishment；　when；　with　a
long　and　low　whine；　he　commenced　licking　my　face　and　hands　with　the
greatest　eagerness；　and　with　the　most　extravagant　demonstration　of
affection　and　joy！　I　was　bewildered；　utterly　lost　in　amazement…　but　I
could　not　forget　the　peculiar　whine　of　my　Newfoundland　dog　Tiger；　and
the　odd　manner　of　his　caresses　I　well　knew。　It　was　he。　I　experienced
a　sudden　rush　of　blood　to　my　temples…　a　giddy　and　overpowering　sense
of　deliverance　and　reanimation。　I　rose　hurriedly　from　the　mattress
upon　which　I　had　been　lying；　and；　throwing　myself　upon　the　neck　of　my
faithful　follower　and　friend；　relieved　the　long　oppression　of　my
bosom　in　a　flood　of　the　most　passionate　tears。

　　　　As　upon　a　former　occasion　my　conceptions　were　in　a　state　of　the
greatest　indistinctness　and　confusion　after　leaving　the　mattress。　For
a　long　time　I　found　it　nearly　impossible　to　connect　any　ideas；　but；
by　very　slow　degrees；　my　thinking　faculties　returned；　and　I　again
called　to　memory　the　several　incidents　of　my　condition。　For　the
presence　of　Tiger　I　tried　in　vain　to　account；　and　after　busying
myself　with　a　thousand　different　conjectures　respecting　him；　was
forced　to　content　myself　with　rejoicing　that　he　was　with　me　to　share
my　dreary　solitude；　and　render　me　comfort　by　his　caresses。　Most
people　love　their　dogs　　but　for　Tiger　I　had　an　affection　far　more
ardent　than　common；　and　never；　certainly；　did　any　creature　more　truly
deserve　it。　For　seven　years　he　had　been　my　inseparable　companion；　and
in　a　multitude　of　instances　had　given　evidence　of　all　the　noble
qualities　for　which　we　value　the　animal。　I　had　rescued　him；　when　a
puppy；　from　the　clutches　of　a　malignant　little　villain　in　Nantucket
who　was　leading　him；　with　a　rope　around　his　neck；　to　the　water；　and
the　grown　dog　repaid　the　obligation；　about　three　years　afterward；　by
saving　me　from　the　bludgeon　of　a　street　robber。

　　　　Getting　now　hold　of　the　watch；　I　found；　upon　applying　it　to　my
ear；　that　it　had　again　run　down；　but　at　this　I　was　not　at　all
surprised；　being　convinced；　from　the　peculiar　state　of　my　feelings；
that　I　had　slept；　as　before；　for　a　very　long　period　of　time；　how
long；　it　was　of　course　impossible　to　say。　I　was　burning　up　with
fever；　and　my　thirst　was　almost　intolerable。　I　felt　about　the　box　for
my　little　remaining　supply　of　water；　for　I　had　no　light；　the　taper
having　burnt　to　the　socket　of　the　lantern；　and　the　phosphorus…box　not
coming　readily　to　hand。　Upon　finding　the　jug；　however；　I　discovered
it　to　be　empty　　Tiger；　no　doubt；　having　been　tempted　to　drink　it；
as　well　as　to　devour　the　remnant　of　mutton；　the　bone　of　which　lay；
well　picked；　by　the　opening　of　the　box。　The　spoiled　meat　I　could　well
spare；　but　my　heart　sank　as　I　thought　of　the　water。　I　was　feeble　in
the　extreme　　so　much　so　that　I　shook　all　over；　as　with　an　ague；　at
the　slightest　movement　or　exertion。　To　add　to　my　troubles；　the　brig
was　pitching　and　rolling　with　great　violence；　and　the　oil…casks　which
lay　upon　my　box　were　in　momentary　danger　of　falling　down；　so　as　to
block　up　the　only　way　of　ingress　or　egress。　I　felt；　also；　terrible
sufferings　from　sea…sickness。　These　considerations　determined　me　to
make　my　way；　at　all　hazards；　to　the　trap；　and　obtain　immediate
relief；　before　I　should　be　incapacitated　from　doing　so　altogether。
Having　come　to　this　resolve；　I　again　felt　about　for　the
phosphorus…box　and　tapers。　The　former　I　found　after　some　little
trouble；　but；　not　discovering