Their conduct,
      however, gave me great uneasiness and alarm; for it was evident
      that, unless some favourable change took place, they could afford
      me no assistance in providing for our common safety. I had not
      yet abandoned all idea of being able to get up something from
      below; but the attempt could not possibly be resumed until some
      one of them was sufficiently master of himself to aid me by
      holding the end of the rope while I went down. Parker appeared to
      be somewhat more in possession of his senses than the others, and
      I endeavoured, by every means in my power, to rouse him. Thinking
      that a plunge in the sea-water might have a beneficial effect, I
      contrived to fasten the end of a rope around his body, and then,
      leading him to the companion-way (he remaining quite passive all
      the while), pushed him in, and immediately drew him out. I had
      good reason to congratulate myself upon having made this
      experiment; for he appeared much revived and invigorated, and,
      upon getting out, asked me, in a rational manner, why I had so
      served him. Having explained my object, he expressed himself
      indebted to me, and said that he felt greatly better from the
      immersion, afterward conversing sensibly upon our situation. We
      then resolved to treat Augustus and Peters in the same way, which
      we immediately did, when they both experienced much benefit from
      the shock. This idea of sudden immersion had been suggested to me
      by reading in some medical work the good effect of the
      shower-bath in a case where the patient was suffering from _mania
      a potu_. Finding that I could now trust my companions to hold the end of
      the rope, I again made three or four plunges into the cabin,
      although it was now quite dark, and a gentle but long swell from
      the northward rendered the hulk somewhat unsteady. In the course
      of these attempts I succeeded in bringing up two case-knives, a
      three-gallon jug, empty, and a blanket, but nothing which could
      serve us for food. I continued my efforts, after getting these
      articles, until I was completely exhausted, but brought up
      nothing else. During the night Parker and Peters occupied
      themselves by turns in the same manner; but nothing coming to
      hand, we now gave up this attempt in despair, concluding that we
      were exhausting ourselves in vain. We passed the remainder of this night in a state of the most
      intense mental and bodily anguish that can possibly be imagined. The morning of the sixteenth at length dawned, and we looked
      eagerly around the horizon for relief, but to no purpose. The sea
      was still smooth, with only a long swell from the northward, as
      on yesterday. This was the sixth day since we had tasted either
      food or drink, with the exception of the bottle of port wine, and
      it was clear that we could hold out but a very little while
      longer unless something could be obtained. I never saw before,
      nor wish to see again, human beings so utterly emaciated as
      Peters and Augustus. Had I met them on shore in their present
      condition I should not have had the slightest suspicion that I
      had ever beheld them. Their countenances were totally changed in
      character, so that I could not bring myself to believe them
      really the same individuals with whom I had been in company but a
      few days before. Parker, although sadly reduced, and so feeble
      that he could not raise his head from his bosom, was not so far
      gone as the other two. He suffered with great patience, making no
      complaint, and endeavouring to inspire us with hope in every
      manner he could devise. For myself, although at the commencement
      of the voyage I had been in bad health, and was at all times of a
      delicate constitution, I suffered less than any of us, being much
      less reduced in frame, and retaining my powers of mind in a
      surprising degree, while the rest were completely prostrated in
      intellect, and seemed to be brought to a species of second
      childhood, generally simpering in their expressions, with idiotic
      smiles, and uttering the most absurd platitudes. At intervals,
      however, they would appear to revive suddenly, as if inspired all
      at once with a consciousness of their condition, when they would
      spring upon their feet in a momentary flash of vigour, and speak,
      for a short period, of their prospects, in a manner altogether
      rational, although full of the most intense despair. It is
      possible, however, that my companions may have entertained the
      same opinion of their own condition as I did of mine, and that I
      may have unwittingly been guilty of the same extravagances and
      imbecilities as themselves—this is a matter which cannot be
      determined. About noon Parker declared that he saw land off the larboard
      quarter, and it was with the utmost difficulty I could restrain
      him from plunging into the sea with the view of swimming toward
      it. Peters and Augustus took little notice of what he said, being
      apparently wrapped up in moody contemplation. Upon looking in the
      direction pointed out, I could not perceive the faintest
      appearance of the shore—indeed, I was too well aware that we were
      far from any land to indulge in a hope of that nature. It was a
      long time, nevertheless, before I could convince Parker of his
      mistake. He then burst into a flood of tears, weeping like a
      child, with loud cries and sobs, for two or three hours, when
      becoming exhausted, he fell asleep. Peters and Augustus now made several ineffectual efforts to
      swallow portions of the leather. I advised them to chew it and
      spit it out; but they were too excessively debilitated to be able
      to follow my advice. I continued to chew pieces of it at
      intervals, and found some relief from so doing; my chief distress
      was for water, and I was only prevented from taking a draught
      from the sea by remembering the horrible consequences which thus
      have resulted to others who were similarly situated with
      ourselves. The day wore on in this manner, when I suddenly discovered a sail
      to the eastward, and on our larboard bow. She appeared to be a
      large ship, and was coming nearly athwart us, being probably
      twelve or fifteen miles distant. None of my companions had as yet
      discovered her, and I forbore to tell them of her for the
      present, lest we might again be disappointed of relief. At length
      upon her getting nearer, I saw distinctly that she was heading
      immediately for us, with her light sails filled. I could now
      contain myself no longer, and pointed her out to my
      fellow-sufferers.