The weather still remained warm and pleasant, with occasional
      fogs and light breezes, most usually from N. to W.

      On the twenty-second, as we were sitting close huddled together,
      gloomily revolving over our lamentable condition, there flashed
      through my mind all at once an idea which inspired me with a
      bright gleam of hope. I remembered that, when the foremast had
      been cut away, Peters, being in the windward chains, passed one
      of the axes into my hand, requesting me to put it, if possible,
      in a place of security, and that a few minutes before the last
      heavy sea struck the brig and filled her I had taken this axe
      into the forecastle and laid it in one of the larboard berths. I
      now thought it possible that, by getting at this axe, we might
      cut through the deck over the storeroom, and thus readily supply
      ourselves with provisions. When I communicated this object to my companions, they uttered a
      feeble shout of joy, and we all proceeded forthwith to the
      forecastle. The difficulty of descending here was greater than
      that of going down in the cabin, the opening being much smaller,
      for it will be remembered that the whole framework about the
      cabin companion-hatch had been carried away, whereas the
      forecastle-way, being a simple hatch of only about three feet
      square, had remained uninjured. I did not hesitate, however, to
      attempt the descent; and a rope being fastened round my body as
      before, I plunged boldly in, feet foremost, made my way quickly
      to the berth, and at the first attempt brought up the axe. It was
      hailed with the most ecstatic joy and triumph, and the ease with
      which it had been obtained was regarded as an omen of our
      ultimate preservation. We now commenced cutting at the deck with all the energy of
      rekindled hope, Peters and myself taking the axe by turns,
      Augustus’s wounded arm not permitting him to aid us in any
      degree. As we were still so feeble as to be scarcely able to
      stand unsupported, and could consequently work but a minute or
      two without resting, it soon became evident that many long hours
      would be necessary to accomplish our task—that is, to cut an
      opening sufficiently large to admit of a free access to the
      storeroom. This consideration, however, did not discourage us;
      and, working all night by the light of the moon, we succeeded in
      effecting our purpose by daybreak on the morning of the
      twenty-third. Peters now volunteered to go down; and, having made all
      arrangements as before, he descended, and soon returned bringing
      up with him a small jar, which, to our great joy, proved to be
      full of olives. Having shared these among us, and devoured them
      with the greatest avidity, we proceeded to let him down again. This time he succeeded beyond our utmost expectations, returning
      instantly with a large ham and a bottle of Madeira wine. Of the
      latter we each took a moderate sup, having learned by experience
      the pernicious consequences of indulging too freely. The ham,
      except about two pounds near the bone, was not in a condition to
      be eaten, having been entirely spoiled by the salt water. The
      sound part was divided among us. Peters and Augustus, not being
      able to restrain their appetite, swallowed theirs upon the
      instant; but I was more cautious, and ate but a small portion of
      mine, dreading the thirst which I knew would ensue. We now rested
      a while from our labors, which had been intolerably severe. By noon, feeling somewhat strengthened and refreshed, we again
      renewed our attempt at getting up provisions, Peters and myself
      going down alternately, and always with more or less success,
      until sundown. During this interval we had the good fortune to
      bring up, altogether, four more small jars of olives, another
      ham, a carboy containing nearly three gallons of excellent Cape
      Madeira wine, and, what gave us still more delight, a small
      tortoise of the Gallipago breed, several of which had been taken
      on board by Captain Barnard, as the _Grampus_ was leaving port,
      from the schooner _Mary Pitts_, just returned from a sealing
      voyage in the Pacific. In a subsequent portion of this narrative I shall have frequent
      occasion to mention this species of tortoise. It is found
      principally, as most of my readers may know, in the group of
      islands called the Gallipagos, which, indeed, derive their name
      from the animal—the Spanish word Gallipago meaning a fresh-water
      terrapin. From the peculiarity of their shape and action they
      have been sometimes called the elephant tortoise. They are
      frequently found of an enormous size. I have myself seen several
      which would weigh from twelve to fifteen hundred pounds, although
      I do not remember that any navigator speaks of having seen them
      weighing more than eight hundred. Their appearance is singular,
      and even disgusting. Their steps are very slow, measured, and
      heavy, their bodies being carried about a foot from the ground. Their neck is long, and exceedingly slender, from eighteen inches
      to two feet is a very common length, and I killed one, where the
      distance from the shoulder to the extremity of the head was no
      less than three feet ten inches. The head has a striking
      resemblance to that of a serpent. They can exist without food for
      an almost incredible length of time, instances having been known
      where they have been thrown into the hold of a vessel and lain
      two years without nourishment of any kind—being as fat, and, in
      every respect, in as good order at the expiration of the time as
      when they were first put in. In one particular these
      extraordinary animals bear a resemblance to the dromedary, or
      camel of the desert. In a bag at the root of the neck they carry
      with them a constant supply of water. In some instances, upon
      killing them after a full year’s deprivation of all nourishment,
      as much as three gallons of perfectly sweet and fresh water have
      been found in their bags. Their food is chiefly wild parsley and
      celery, with purslain, sea-kelp, and prickly pears, upon which
      latter vegetable they thrive wonderfully, a great quantity of it
      being usually found on the hillsides near the shore wherever the
      animal itself is discovered. They are excellent and highly
      nutritious food, and have, no doubt, been the means of preserving
      the lives of thousands of seamen employed in the whale-fishery
      and other pursuits in the Pacific. The one which we had the good fortune to bring up from the
      storeroom was not of a large size, weighing probably sixty-five
      or seventy pounds.