Chapter 3

In no affairs of mere prejudice, pro or con, do we deduce
inferences with entire certainty, even from the most simple data.
It might be supposed that a catastrophe such as I have just
related would have effectually cooled my incipient passion for
the sea. On the contrary, I never experienced a more ardent
longing for the wild adventures incident to the life of a
navigator than within a week after our miraculous deliverance.
This short period proved amply long enough to erase from my
memory the shadows, and bring out in vivid light all the
pleasurably exciting points of color, all the picturesqueness, of
the late perilous accident. My conversations with Augustus grew
daily more frequent and more intensely full of interest. He had a
manner of relating his stories of the ocean (more than one half
of which I now suspect to have been sheer fabrications) well
adapted to have weight with one of my enthusiastic temperament
and somewhat gloomy although glowing imagination. It is strange,
too, that he most strongly enlisted my feelings in behalf of the
life of a seaman, when he depicted his more terrible moments of
suffering and despair. For the bright side of the painting I had
a limited sympathy. My visions were of shipwreck and famine; of
death or captivity among barbarian hordes; of a lifetime dragged
out in sorrow and tears, upon some gray and desolate rock, in an
ocean unapproachable and unknown. Such visions or desires—for
they amounted to desires—are common, I have since been assured,
to the whole numerous race of the melancholy among men—at the
time of which I speak I regarded them only as prophetic glimpses
of a destiny which I felt myself in a measure bound to fulfil.
Augustus thoroughly entered into my state of mind. It is
probable, indeed, that our intimate communion had resulted in a
partial interchange of character.

About eighteen months after the period of the Ariel’s disaster,
the firm of Lloyd and Vredenburgh (a house connected in some
manner with the Messieurs Enderby, I believe, of Liverpool) were
engaged in repairing and fitting out the brig Grampus for a
whaling voyage. She was an old hulk, and scarcely seaworthy when
all was done to her that could be done. I hardly know why she was
chosen in preference to other good vessels belonging to the same
owners—but so it was. Mr. Barnard was appointed to command her,
and Augustus was going with him. While the brig was getting
ready, he frequently urged upon me the excellency of the
opportunity now offered for indulging my desire of travel. He
found me by no means an unwilling listener—yet the matter could
not be so easily arranged. My father made no direct opposition;
but my mother went into hysterics at the bare mention of the
design; and, more than all, my grandfather, from whom I expected
much, vowed to cut me off with a shilling if I should ever broach
the subject to him again. These difficulties, however, so far
from abating my desire, only added fuel to the flame. I
determined to go at all hazards; and, having made known my
intentions to Augustus, we set about arranging a plan by which it
might be accomplished. In the meantime I forbore speaking to any
of my relations in regard to the voyage, and, as I busied myself
ostensibly with my usual studies, it was supposed that I had
abandoned the design. I have since frequently examined my conduct
on this occasion with sentiments of displeasure as well as of
surprise. The intense hypocrisy I made use of for the furtherance
of my project—an hypocrisy pervading every word and action of my
life for so long a period of time—could only have been rendered
tolerable to myself by the wild and burning expectation with
which I looked forward to the fulfilment of my long-cherished
visions of travel.

In pursuance of my scheme of deception, I was necessarily obliged
to leave much to the management of Augustus, who was employed for
the greater part of every day on board the Grampus, attending to
some arrangements for his father in the cabin and cabin hold. At
night, however, we were sure to have a conference and talk over
our hopes. After nearly a month passed in this manner, without
our hitting upon any plan we thought likely to succeed, he told
me at last that he had determined upon everything necessary. I
had a relation living in New Bedford, a Mr. Ross, at whose house
I was in the habit of spending occasionally two or three weeks at
a time. The brig was to sail about the middle of June (June,
1827), and it was agreed that, a day or two before her putting to
sea, my father was to receive a note, as usual, from Mr. Ross,
asking me to come over and spend a fortnight with Robert and
Emmet (his sons). Augustus charged himself with the inditing of
this note and getting it delivered. Having set out as supposed,
for New Bedford, I was then to report myself to my companion, who
would contrive a hiding-place for me in the Grampus. This
hiding-place, he assured me, would be rendered sufficiently
comfortable for a residence of many days, during which I was not
to make my appearance. When the brig had proceeded so far on her
course as to make any turning back a matter out of question, I
should then, he said, be formally installed in all the comforts
of the cabin; and as to his father, he would only laugh heartily
at the joke. Vessels enough would be met with by which a letter
might be sent home explaining the adventure to my parents.

The middle of June at length arrived, and every thing had been
matured. The note was written and delivered, and on a Monday
morning I left the house for the New Bedford packet, as supposed.
I went, however, straight to Augustus, who was waiting for me at
the corner of a street. It had been our original plan that I
should keep out of the way until dark, and then slip on board the
brig; but, as there was now a thick fog in our favor, it was
agreed to lose no time in secreting me. Augustus led the way to
the wharf, and I followed at a little distance, enveloped in a
thick seaman’s cloak, which he had brought with him, so that my
person might not be easily recognized. Just as we turned the
second corner, after passing Mr. Edmund’s well, who should
appear, standing right in front of me, and looking me full in the
face, but old Mr. Peterson, my grandfather. “Why, bless my soul,
Gordon,” said he, after a long pause, “why, why,—whose dirty
cloak is that you have on?” “Sir!” I replied, assuming, as well
as I could, in the exigency of the moment, an air of offended
surprise, and talking in the gruffest of all imaginable
tones—“sir! you are a sum’mat mistaken—my name, in the first
place, bee’nt nothing at all like Goddin, and I’d want you for to
know better, you blackguard, than to call my new obercoat a darty
one.” For my life I could hardly refrain from screaming with
laughter at the odd manner in which the old gentleman received
this handsome rebuke. He started back two or three steps, turned
first pale and then excessively red, threw up his spectacles,
then, putting them down, ran full tilt at me, with his umbrella
uplifted. He stopped short, however, in his career, as if struck
with a sudden recollection; and presently, turning round, hobbled
off down the street, shaking all the while with rage, and
muttering between his teeth: “Won’t do—new glasses—thought it was
Gordon—d—d good-for-nothing salt water Long Tom.”

After this narrow escape we proceeded with greater caution, and
arrived at our point of destination in safety. There were only
one or two of the hands on board, and these were busy forward,
doing something to the forecastle combings. Captain Barnard, we
knew very well, was engaged at Lloyd and Vredenburgh’s, and would
remain there until late in the evening, so we had little to
apprehend on his account. Augustus went first up the vessel’s
side, and in a short while I followed him, without being noticed
by the men at work. We proceeded at once into the cabin, and
found no person there. It was fitted up in the most comfortable
style—a thing somewhat unusual in a whaling-vessel. There were
four very excellent staterooms, with wide and convenient berths.
There was also a large stove, I took notice, and a remarkably
thick and valuable carpet covering the floor of both the cabin
and staterooms. The ceiling was full seven feet high, and, in
short, every thing appeared of a more roomy and agreeable nature
than I had anticipated. Augustus, however, would allow me but
little time for observation, insisting upon the necessity of my
concealing myself as soon as possible. He led the way into his
own stateroom, which was on the starboard side of the brig, and
next to the bulkheads. Upon entering, he closed the door and
bolted it. I thought I had never seen a nicer little room than
the one in which I now found myself. It was about ten feet long,
and had only one berth, which, as I said before, was wide and
convenient. In that portion of the closet nearest the bulkheads
there was a space of four feet square, containing a table, a
chair, and a set of hanging shelves full of books, chiefly books
of voyages and travels. There were many other little comforts in
the room, among which I ought not to forget a kind of safe or
refrigerator, in which Augustus pointed out to me a host of
delicacies, both in the eating and drinking department.

He now pressed with his knuckles upon a certain spot of the
carpet in one corner of the space just mentioned, letting me know
that a portion of the flooring, about sixteen inches square, had
been neatly cut out and again adjusted. As he pressed, this
portion rose up at one end sufficiently to allow the passage of
his finger beneath. In this manner he raised the mouth of the
trap (to which the carpet was still fastened by tacks), and I
found that it led into the after hold. He next lit a small taper
by means of a phosphorous match, and, placing the light in a dark
lantern, descended with it through the opening, bidding me
follow. I did so, and he then pulled the cover upon the hole, by
means of a nail driven into the under side—the carpet, of course,
resuming its original position on the floor of the stateroom, and
all traces of the aperture being concealed.

The taper gave out so feeble a ray that it was with the greatest
difficulty I could grope my way through the confused mass of
lumber among which I now found myself. By degrees, however, my
eyes became accustomed to the gloom, and I proceeded with less
trouble, holding on to the skirts of my friend’s coat. He brought
me, at length, after creeping and winding through innumerable
narrow passages, to an iron-bound box, such as is used sometimes
for packing fine earthenware. It was nearly four feet high, and
full six long, but very narrow. Two large empty oil-casks lay on
the top of it, and above these, again, a vast quantity of straw
matting, piled up as high as the floor of the cabin. In every
other direction around was wedged as closely as possible, even up
to the ceiling, a complete chaos of almost every species of
ship-furniture, together with a heterogeneous medley of crates,
hampers, barrels, and bales, so that it seemed a matter no less
than miraculous that we had discovered any passage at all to the
box. I afterward found that Augustus had purposely arranged the
stowage in this hold with a view to affording me a thorough
concealment, having had only one assistant in the labour, a man
not going out in the brig.

My companion now showed me that one of the ends of the box could
be removed at pleasure. He slipped it aside and displayed the
interior, at which I was excessively amused. A mattress from one
of the cabin berths covered the whole of its bottom, and it
contained almost every article of mere comfort which could be
crowded into so small a space, allowing me, at the same time,
sufficient room for my accommodation, either in a sitting
position or lying at full length. Among other things, there were
some books, pen, ink, and paper, three blankets, a large jug full
of water, a keg of sea-biscuit, three or four immense Bologna
sausages, an enormous ham, a cold leg of roast mutton, and half a
dozen bottles of cordials and liqueurs. I proceeded immediately
to take possession of my little apartment, and this with feelings
of higher satisfaction, I am sure, than any monarch ever
experienced upon entering a new palace. Augustus now pointed out
to me the method of fastening the open end of the box, and then,
holding the taper close to the deck, showed me a piece of dark
whipcord lying along it. This, he said, extended from my
hiding-place throughout all the necessary windings among the
lumber, to a nail which was driven into the deck of the hold,
immediately beneath the trap-door leading into his stateroom. By
means of this cord I should be enabled readily to trace my way
out without his guidance, provided any unlooked-for accident
should render such a step necessary. He now took his departure,
leaving with me the lantern, together with a copious supply of
tapers and phosphorous, and promising to pay me a visit as often
as he could contrive to do so without observation. This was on
the seventeenth of June.

I remained three days and nights (as nearly as I could guess) in
my hiding-place without getting out of it at all, except twice
for the purpose of stretching my limbs by standing erect between
two crates just opposite the opening. During the whole period I
saw nothing of Augustus; but this occasioned me little
uneasiness, as I knew the brig was expected to put to sea every
hour, and in the bustle he would not easily find opportunities of
coming down to me. At length I heard the trap open and shut, and
presently he called in a low voice, asking if all was well, and
if there was any thing I wanted. “Nothing,” I replied; “I am as
comfortable as can be; when will the brig sail?” “She will be
under weigh in less than half an hour,” he answered. “I came to
let you know, and for fear you should be uneasy at my absence. I
shall not have a chance of coming down again for some
time—perhaps for three or four days more. All is going on right
aboveboard. After I go up and close the trap, do you creep along
by the whipcord to where the nail is driven in. You will find my
watch there—it may be useful to you, as you have no daylight to
keep time by. I suppose you can’t tell how long you have been
buried—only three days—this is the twentieth. I would bring the
watch to your box, but am afraid of being missed.” With this he
went up.

In about an hour after he had gone I distinctly felt the brig in
motion, and congratulated myself upon having at length fairly
commenced a voyage. Satisfied with this idea, I determined to
make my mind as easy as possible, and await the course of events
until I should be permitted to exchange the box for the more
roomy, although 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 conclusive 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 the tapers as soon as I had
expected (for I remembered very nearly the spot in which I had
placed them), I gave up the search for the present, and bidding
Tiger lie quiet, began at once my journey toward the trap.

In this attempt my great feebleness became more than ever
apparent. It was with the utmost difficulty I could crawl along
at all, and very frequently my limbs sank suddenly from beneath
me; when, falling prostrate on my face, I would remain for some
minutes in a state bordering on insensibility. Still I struggled
forward by slow degrees, dreading every moment that I should
swoon amid the narrow and intricate windings of the lumber, in
which event I had nothing but death to expect as the result. At
length, upon making a push forward with all the energy I could
command, I struck my forehead violently against the sharp corner
of an iron-bound crate. The accident only stunned me for a few
moments; but I found, to my inexpressible grief, that the quick
and violent roll of the vessel had thrown the crate entirely
across my path, so as effectually to block up the passage. With
my utmost exertions I could not move it a single inch from its
position, it being closely wedged in among the surrounding boxes
and ship-furniture. It became necessary, therefore, enfeebled as
I was, either to leave the guidance of the whipcord and seek out
a new passage, or to climb over the obstacle, and resume the path
on the other side. The former alternative presented too many
difficulties and dangers to be thought of without a shudder. In
my present weak state of both mind and body, I should infallibly
lose my way if I attempted it, and perish miserably amid the
dismal and disgusting labyrinths of the hold. I proceeded,
therefore, without hesitation, to summon up all my remaining
strength and fortitude, and endeavour, as I best might, to
clamber over the crate.

Upon standing erect, with this end in view, I found the
undertaking even a more serious task than my fears had led me to
imagine. On each side of the narrow passage arose a complete wall
of various heavy lumber, which the least blunder on my part might
be the means of bringing down upon my head; or, if this accident
did not occur, the path might be effectually blocked up against
my return by the descending mass, as it was in front by the
obstacle there. The crate itself was a long and unwieldy box,
upon which no foothold could be obtained. In vain I attempted, by
every means in my power, to reach the top, with the hope of being
thus enabled to draw myself up. Had I succeeded in reaching it,
it is certain that my strength would have proved utterly
inadequate to the task of getting over, and it was better in
every respect that I failed. At length, in a desperate effort to
force the crate from its ground, I felt a strong vibration in the
side next me. I thrust my hand eagerly to the edge of the planks,
and found that a very large one was loose. With my pocket-knife,
which, luckily, I had with me, I succeeded, after great labour,
in prying it entirely off; and getting it through the aperture,
discovered, to my exceeding joy, that there were no boards on the
opposite side—in other words, that the top was wanting, it being
the bottom through which I had forced my way. I now met with no
important difficulty in proceeding along the line until I finally
reached the nail. With a beating heart I stood erect, and with a
gentle touch pressed against the cover of the trap. It did not
rise as soon as I had expected, and I pressed it with somewhat
more determination, still dreading lest some other person than
Augustus might be in his state-room. The door, however, to my
astonishment, remained steady, and I became somewhat uneasy, for
I knew that it had formerly required but little or no effort to
remove it. I pushed it strongly—it was nevertheless firm: with
all my strength—it still did not give way: with rage, with fury,
with despair—it set at defiance my utmost efforts; and it was
evident, from the unyielding nature of the resistance, that the
hole had either been discovered and effectually nailed up, or
that some immense weight had been placed upon it, which it was
useless to think of removing.

My sensations were those of extreme horror and dismay. In vain I
attempted to reason on the probable cause of my being thus
entombed. I could summon up no connected chain of reflection,
and, sinking on the floor, gave way, unresistingly, to the most
gloomy imaginings, in which the dreadful deaths of thirst,
famine, suffocation, and premature interment crowded upon me as
the prominent disasters to be encountered. At length there
returned to me some portion of presence of mind. I arose, and
felt with my fingers for the seams or cracks of the aperture.
Having found them, I examined them closely to ascertain if they
emitted any light from the state-room; but none was visible. I
then forced the blade of my pen-knife through them, until I met
with some hard obstacle. Scraping against it, I discovered it to
be a solid mass of iron, which, from its peculiar wavy feel as I
passed the blade along it, I concluded to be a chain-cable. The
only course now left me was to retrace my way to the box, and
there either yield to my sad fate, or try so to tranquilize my
mind as to admit of my arranging some plan of escape. I
immediately set about the attempt, and succeeded, after
innumerable difficulties, in getting back. As I sank, utterly
exhausted, upon the mattress, Tiger threw himself at full length
by my side, and seemed as if desirous, by his caresses, of
consoling me in my troubles, and urging me to bear them with
fortitude.

The singularity of his behavior at length forcibly arrested my
attention. After licking my face and hands for some minutes, he
would suddenly cease doing so, and utter a low whine. Upon
reaching out my hand toward him, I then invariably found him
lying on his back, with his paws uplifted. This conduct, so
frequently repeated, appeared strange, and I could in no manner
account for it. As the dog seemed distressed, I concluded that he
had received some injury; and, taking his paws in my hands, I
examined them one by one, but found no sign of any hurt. I then
supposed him hungry, and gave him a large piece of ham, which he
devoured with avidity—afterward, however, resuming his
extraordinary manoeuvres. I now imagined that he was suffering,
like myself, the torments of thirst, and was about adopting this
conclusion as the true one, when the idea occurred to me that I
had as yet only examined his paws, and that there might possibly
be a wound upon some portion of his body or head. The latter I
felt carefully over, but found nothing. On passing my hand,
however, along his back, I perceived a slight erection of the
hair extending completely across it. Probing this with my finger,
I discovered a string, and tracing it up, found that it encircled
the whole body. Upon a closer scrutiny, I came across a small
slip of what had the feeling of letter paper, through which the
string had been fastened in such a manner as to bring it
immediately beneath the left shoulder of the animal.