In any other situation than this (into
      which he had been accidentally thrown after having lashed himself
      in a very exposed spot) he must inevitably have perished before
      morning. Owing to the brig’s lying so much along, we were all
      less liable to be washed off than otherwise would have been the
      case. The heel, as I have before stated, was to larboard, about
      one half of the deck being constantly under water. The seas,
      therefore, which struck us to starboard were much broken, by the
      vessel’s side, only reaching us in fragments as we lay flat on
      our faces; while those which came from larboard being what are
      called back-water seas, and obtaining little hold upon us on
      account of our posture, had not sufficient force to drag us from
      our fastenings. In this frightful situation we lay until the day broke so as to
      show us more fully the horrors which surrounded us. The brig was
      a mere log, rolling about at the mercy of every wave; the gale
      was upon the increase, if any thing, blowing indeed a complete
      hurricane, and there appeared to us no earthly prospect of
      deliverance. For several hours we held on in silence, expecting
      every moment that our lashings would either give way, that the
      remains of the windlass would go by the board, or that some of
      the huge seas, which roared in every direction around us and
      above us, would drive the hulk so far beneath the water that we
      should be drowned before it could regain the surface. By the
      mercy of God, however, we were preserved from these imminent
      dangers, and about midday were cheered by the light of the
      blessed sun. Shortly afterward we could perceive a sensible
      diminution in the force of the wind, when, now for the first time
      since the latter part of the evening before, Augustus spoke,
      asking Peters, who lay closest to him, if he thought there was
      any possibility of our being saved. As no reply was at first made
      to this question, we all concluded that the hybrid had been
      drowned where he lay; but presently, to our great joy, he spoke,
      although very feebly, saying that he was in great pain, being so
      cut by the tightness of his lashings across the stomach, that he
      must either find means of loosening them or perish, as it was
      impossible that he could endure his misery much longer. This
      occasioned us great distress, as it was altogether useless to
      think of aiding him in any manner while the sea continued washing
      over us as it did. We exhorted him to bear his sufferings with
      fortitude, and promised to seize the first opportunity which
      should offer itself to relieve him. He replied that it would soon
      be too late; that it would be all over with him before we could
      help him; and then, after moaning for some minutes, lay silent,
      when we concluded that he had perished. As the evening drew on, the sea had fallen so much that scarcely
      more than one wave broke over the hulk from windward in the
      course of five minutes, and the wind had abated a great deal,
      although still blowing a severe gale. I had not heard any of my
      companions speak for hours, and now called to Augustus. He
      replied, although very feebly, so that I could not distinguish
      what he said. I then spoke to Peters and to Parker, neither of
      whom returned any answer. Shortly after this period I fell into a state of partial
      insensibility, during which the most pleasing images floated in
      my imagination; such as green trees, waving meadows of ripe
      grain, processions of dancing girls, troops of cavalry, and other
      phantasies. I now remember that, in all which passed before my
      mind’s eye, motion was a predominant idea. Thus, I never fancied
      any stationary object, such as a house, a mountain, or any thing
      of that kind; but windmills, ships, large birds, balloons, people
      on horseback, carriages driving furiously, and similar moving
      objects, presented themselves in endless succession. When I
      recovered from this state, the sun was, as near as I could guess,
      an hour high. I had the greatest difficulty in bringing to
      recollection the various circumstances connected with my
      situation, and for some time remained firmly convinced that I was
      still in the hold of the brig, near the box, and that the body of
      Parker was that of Tiger. When I at length completely came to my senses, I found that the
      wind blew no more than a moderate breeze, and that the sea was
      comparatively calm; so much so that it only washed over the brig
      amidships. My left arm had broken loose from its lashings, and
      was much cut about the elbow; my right was entirely benumbed, and
      the hand and wrist swollen prodigiously by the pressure of the
      rope, which had worked from the shoulder downward. I was also in
      great pain from another rope which went about my waist, and had
      been drawn to an insufferable degree of tightness. Looking round
      upon my companions, I saw that Peters still lived, although a
      thick line was pulled so forcibly around his loins as to give him
      the appearance of being cut nearly in two; as I stirred, he made
      a feeble motion to me with his hand, pointing to the rope. Augustus gave no indication of life whatever, and was bent nearly
      double across a splinter of the windlass. Parker spoke to me when
      he saw me moving, and asked me if I had not sufficient strength
      to release him from his situation, saying that if I would summon
      up what spirits I could, and contrive to untie him, we might yet
      save our lives; but that otherwise we must all perish. I told him
      to take courage, and I would endeavor to free him. Feeling in my
      pantaloons’ pocket, I got hold of my penknife, and, after several
      ineffectual attempts, at length succeeded in opening it. I then,
      with my left hand, managed to free my right from its fastenings,
      and afterward cut the other ropes which held me. Upon attempting,
      however, to move from my position, I found that my legs failed me
      altogether, and that I could not get up; neither could I move my
      right arm in any direction. Upon mentioning this to Parker, he
      advised me to lie quiet for a few minutes, holding on to the
      windlass with my left hand, so as to allow time for the blood to
      circulate. Doing this, the numbness presently began to die away
      so that I could move first one of my legs, and then the other,
      and, shortly afterward I regained the partial use of my right
      arm.