THE STORM._The Boy Tar

More than a week had I spent under this tedious monotony of existence.

The only sound that reached my ears was the hoarse rushing of the waves

_above_ me. Above me--for I knew that I was far down amid their depths,

far below the surface of the sea. At long intervals only, I could

distinguish other noises, like a thumping upon the decks as if some

heavy object was being moved about, and no doubt such was the cause of

it. In calm weather I sometimes fancied I could hear the bell calling

the men upon their watches, but I was not sure of this. At all events,

the sound appeared so distant and indistinct, that I could not

positively say it was a bell; and if so, it was only during the calmest

weather I could hear it.

I speak of calm weather, for I knew perfectly when there were changes.

I could tell the breeze, the gale, the storm--when they commenced and

when they ended--just as well as if I had been upon deck. The rolling

of the ship, and the creaking of her timbers, were good indices as to

how the wind blew, or whether it was rough or mild weather. On the

sixth day--that is, the tenth from departure, but the sixth of my

night; and must have been a terribly severe one, as it shook the timbers

of the vessel as though it would have torn them asunder. At times I

really thought that the great ship was going to pieces; and the noises

made by huge boxes and casks striking and grinding against each other,

or knocking violently upon the sides and bulwarks of the ship itself,

was sufficiently terrible. At intervals, too; I could distinguish the

sound of big waves--"seas," as the sailors call them--breaking against

the vessel with awful crash, as if a huge trip-hammer or battering-ram

had been directed with full force against the timbers of the ship.

I had no doubt that the vessel was in danger of being wrecked; and under

this belief you may fancy my situation. I need not tell you that I was

in fear. When I thought that we should go to the bottom of the sea, and

I situated as I was--shut in on all sides as if in a coffin--with no

chance to move, not even to make, an effort to save myself by swimming,

how could it be otherwise with me than a time of great fear? Had I been

upon deck and free, I am certain I should not have been half so

frightened at that storm.

To increase my misery, the sea-sickness had returned upon me, for this

is usually the case with those who go to sea on a first voyage. A great

storm encountered brings a return of the nauseous malady, often as

disagreeably vigorous as that experienced during the first twenty-four

hours at sea. This is accounted for very easily: it is simply the

consequence of the more violent rocking of the ship while buffeted by

the storm.

For nearly forty hours the gale continued, and then there succeeded a

perfect calm. I knew this to be the case, because I no longer heard the

seething sound which usually betokens that the ship is moving through

the water. But notwithstanding that the wind had ceased to blow, the

vessel kept tumbling about; and her timbers creaked, and boxes and

barrels rolled and knocked each other, as badly as ever. This was

occasioned by the "swell" which always succeeds a heavy gale, and which

is sometimes as dangerous to vessels as the stormy weather itself. In a

very heavy swell the masts are sometimes broken, and the ship thrown

upon her beam-ends--a catastrophe ever dreaded by sailors.

The swell gradually subsided, until, in about twenty-four hours after,

it had ceased altogether, and the vessel appeared to glide along more

smoothly than ever. The nauseating sickness took its departure about

the same time, and I felt the reaction of health, which produced a

little cheerfulness within me. As my fears had kept me awake during the

whole time the storm was raging, and as I had continued ill so long as

the violent rocking prevailed, I was quite worn out; so that the moment

things were smooth again, I fell off into a profound slumber.

I had dreams that were nearly as terrible as the realities through which

I had been passing. In fact, I dreamt what but the hours before I had

been dreading. I dreamt that I was being drowned, and just under the

circumstances in which I was--shut up in the hold without the chance of

swimming a stroke for my life. Nay more, I dreamt that I actually _was_

drowned, and lying at the bottom of the sea--that I was dead, but not

unconscious. On the contrary, I could see well around me, and

perceived, among other things, horrible green monsters--crabs or

lobsters--crawling towards me, as if with the design of tearing me with

their hideous claws, and feasting on my flesh! One, in particular, drew

my attention, larger and more spiteful-looking than the rest, and closer

to me than any. Each instant, too, he was drawing nearer and nearer. I

thought he had reached my hand, and I could feel him crawling upon it.

I could feel the cold harsh touch as he dragged his unwieldy shape over

my fingers, but I could not move either hand or finger to cast him off.

On he came over my wrist and straight up my arm, which was lying

outstretched from my body. He appeared as if determined to attack me in

the face or the throat. I read his intention to do so from the

eagerness with which he advanced, but despite the horror I felt, I could

do nothing to repel him. I could not move hand or arm--nor a muscle of

my body. How could I, since I was drowned and dead? "Ha! he is on my

breast--at my very throat--he will soon clutch me--ha!"

I awoke with a shriek, and started upward. I would have risen to my

feet, had there been room to stand erect. As it was, there was not

room; and a blow which I received by dashing my head against the great

oak rib of the vessel, brought me back to my couch, and, after some

moments, to a consciousness of my situation.