Collected Works of Poe | Page 3

sea.
The wind, as I before said, blew freshly from the southwest. The night
was very clear and cold. Augustus had taken the helm, and I stationed
myself by the mast, on the deck of the cuddy. We flew along at a great
rate -- neither of us having said a word since casting loose from the
wharf. I now asked my companion what course he intended to steer,
and what time he thought it probable we should get back. He whistled
for a few minutes, and then said crustily: "I am going to sea -- you may
go home if you think proper." Turning my eyes upon him, I perceived
at once that, in spite of his assumed nonchalance, he was greatly
agitated. I could see him distinctly by the light of the moon -- his face
was paler than any marble, and his hand shook so excessively that he
could scarcely retain hold of the tiller. I found that something had gone
wrong, and became seriously alarmed. At this period I knew little about
the management of a boat, and was now depending entirely upon the
nautical skill of my friend. The wind, too, had suddenly increased, as
we were fast getting out of the lee of the land -- still I was ashamed to
betray any trepidation, and for almost half an hour maintained a
resolute silence. I could stand it no longer, however, and spoke to
Augustus about the propriety of turning back. As before, it was nearly a

minute before he made answer, or took any notice of my suggestion.
"By-and-by," said he at length -- "time enough -- home by-and-by." I
had expected a similar reply, but there was something in the tone of
these words which filled me with an indescribable feeling of dread. I
again looked at the speaker attentively. His lips were perfectly livid,
and his knees shook so violently together that he seemed scarcely able
to stand. "For God's sake, Augustus," I screamed, now heartily
frightened, "what ails you?- what is the matter?- what are you going to
do?" "Matter!" he stammered, in the greatest apparent surprise, letting
go the tiller at the same moment, and falling forward into the bottom of
the boat- "matter- why, nothing is the -- matter -- going home-
d--d--don't you see?" The whole truth now flashed upon me. I flew to
him and raised him up. He was drunk -- beastly drunk -- he could no
longer either stand, speak, or see. His eyes were perfectly glazed; and
as I let him go in the extremity of my despair, he rolled like a mere log
into the bilge-water, from which I had lifted him. It was evident that,
during the evening, he had drunk far more than I suspected, and that his
conduct in bed had been the result of a highly-concentrated state of
intoxication- a state which, like madness, frequently enables the victim
to imitate the outward demeanour of one in perfect possession of his
senses. The coolness of the night air, however, had had its usual effect-
the mental energy began to yield before its influence- and the confused
perception which he no doubt then had of his perilous situation had
assisted in hastening the catastrophe. He was now thoroughly
insensible, and there was no probability that he would be otherwise for
many hours.
It is hardly possible to conceive the extremity of my terror. The fumes
of the wine lately taken had evaporated, leaving me doubly timid and
irresolute. I knew that I was altogether incapable of managing the boat,
and that a fierce wind and strong ebb tide were hurrying us to
destruction. A storm was evidently gathering behind us; we had neither
compass nor provisions; and it was clear that, if we held our present
course, we should be out of sight of land before daybreak. These
thoughts, with a crowd of others equally fearful, flashed through my
mind with a bewildering rapidity, and for some moments paralyzed me
beyond the possibility of making any exertion. The boat was going

through the water at a terrible rate- full before the wind- no reef in
either jib or mainsail- running her bows completely under the foam. It
was a thousand wonders she did not broach to- Augustus having let go
the tiller, as I said before, and I being too much agitated to think of
taking it myself. By good luck, however, she kept steady, and gradually
I recovered some degree of presence of mind. Still the wind was
increasing fearfully, and whenever we rose from a plunge forward, the
sea behind fell combing over our counter, and deluged us with water. I
was so utterly benumbed, too, in every limb, as to be nearly
unconscious of sensation. At length I summoned