INnoaffairsofmereprejudice，proorcon，dowededuceinferenceswithentirecertainty，evenfromthemostsimpledata。ItmightbesupposedthatacatastrophesuchasIhavejustrelatedwouldhaveeffectuallycooledmyincipientpassionforthesea。Onthecontrary，Ineverexperiencedamoreardentlongingforthewildadventuresincidenttothelifeofanavigatorthanwithinaweekafterourmiraculousdeliverance。Thisshortperiodprovedamplylongenoughtoerasefrommymemorytheshadows，andbringoutinvividlightallthepleasurablyexcitingpointsofcolor，allthepicturesqueness，ofthelateperilousaccident。MyconversationswithAugustusgrewdailymorefrequentandmoreintenselyfullofinterest。HehadamannerofrelatinghisstoriesoftheoceanmorethanonehalfofwhichInowsuspecttohavebeensheerfabrications
welladaptedtohaveweightwithoneofmyenthusiastictemperamentandsomewhatgloomyalthoughglowingimagination。Itisstrange，too，thathemoststronglyenlistedmyfeelingsinbehalfofthelifeofaseaman，whenhedepictedhismoreterriblemomentsofsufferinganddespair。ForthebrightsideofthepaintingIhadalimitedsympathy。Myvisionswereofshipwreckandfamine；ofdeathorcaptivityamongbarbarianhordes；ofalifetimedraggedoutinsorrowandtears，uponsomegrayanddesolaterock，inanoceanunapproachableandunknown。Suchvisionsordesires-fortheyamountedtodesires-arecommon，Ihavesincebeenassured，tothewholenumerousraceofthemelancholyamongmen-atthetimeofwhichIspeakIregardedthemonlyaspropheticglimpsesofadestinywhichIfeltmyselfinameasureboundtofulfil。Augustusthoroughlyenteredintomystateofmind。Itisprobable，indeed，thatourintimatecommunionhadresultedinapartialinterchangeofcharacter。
AbouteighteenmonthsaftertheperiodoftheAriel’sdisaster，thefirmofLloydandVredenburghahouseconnectedinsomemannerwiththeMessieursEnderby，Ibelieve，ofLiverpoolwereengagedinrepairingandfittingoutthebrigGrampusforawhalingvoyage。Shewasanoldhulk，andscarcelyseaworthywhenallwasdonetoherthatcouldbedone。Ihardlyknowwhyshewaschoseninpreferencetoothergoodvesselsbelongingtothesameownersbutsoitwas。Mr。
Barnardwasappointedtocommandher，andAugustuswasgoingwithhim。Whilethebrigwasgettingready，hefrequentlyurgeduponmetheexcellencyoftheopportunitynowofferedforindulgingmydesireoftravel。Hefoundmebynomeansanunwillinglisteneryetthemattercouldnotbesoeasilyarranged。Myfathermadenodirectopposition；butmymotherwentintohystericsatthebarementionofthedesign；and，morethanall，mygrandfather，fromwhomIexpectedmuch，vowedtocutmeoffwithashillingifIshouldeverbroachthesubjecttohimagain。Thesedifficulties，however，sofarfromabatingmydesire，onlyaddedfueltotheflame。Ideterminedtogoatallhazards；and，havingmadeknownmyintentionstoAugustus，wesetaboutarrangingaplanbywhichitmightbeaccomplished。InthemeantimeIforborespeakingtoanyofmyrelationsinregardtothevoyage，and，asIbusiedmyselfostensiblywithmyusualstudies，itwassupposedthatIhadabandonedthedesign。Ihavesincefrequentlyexaminedmyconductonthisoccasionwithsentimentsofdispleasureaswellasofsurprise。TheintensehypocrisyImadeuseofforthefurtheranceofmyproject-anhypocrisypervadingeverywordandactionofmylifeforsolongaperiodoftime-couldonlyhavebeenrenderedtolerabletomyselfbythewildandburningexpectationwithwhichIlookedforwardtothefulfilmentofmylong-cherishedvisionsoftravel。
Inpursuanceofmyschemeofdeception，IwasnecessarilyobligedtoleavemuchtothemanagementofAugustus，whowasemployedforthegreaterpartofeverydayonboardtheGrampus，attendingtosomearrangementsforhisfatherinthecabinandcabinhold。Atnight，however，weweresuretohaveaconferenceandtalkoverourhopes。
Afternearlyamonthpassedinthismanner，withoutourhittinguponanyplanwethoughtlikelytosucceed，hetoldmeatlastthathehaddetermineduponeverythingnecessary。IhadarelationlivinginNewBedford，aMr。Ross，atwhosehouseIwasinthehabitofspendingoccasionallytwoorthreeweeksatatime。ThebrigwastosailaboutthemiddleofJuneJune，1827，anditwasagreedthat，adayortwobeforeherputtingtosea，myfatherwastoreceiveanote，asusual，fromMr。Ross，askingmetocomeoverandspendafortnightwithRobertandEmmethissons。Augustuschargedhimselfwiththeinditingofthisnoteandgettingitdelivered。Havingsetoutassupposed，forNewBedford，Iwasthentoreportmyselftomycompanion，whowouldcontriveahiding-placeformeintheGrampus。
Thishiding-place，heassuredme，wouldberenderedsufficientlycomfortableforaresidenceofmanydays，duringwhichIwasnottomakemyappearance。Whenthebrighadproceededsofaronhercourseastomakeanyturningbackamatteroutofquestion，Ishouldthen，hesaid，beformallyinstalledinallthecomfortsofthecabin；andastohisfather，hewouldonlylaughheartilyatthejoke。Vesselsenoughwouldbemetwithbywhichalettermightbesenthomeexplainingtheadventuretomyparents。
ThemiddleofJuneatlengtharrived，andeverythinghadbeenmatured。Thenotewaswrittenanddelivered，andonaMondaymorningIleftthehousefortheNewBedfordpacket，assupposed。Iwent，however，straighttoAugustus，whowaswaitingformeatthecornerofastreet。IthadbeenouroriginalplanthatIshouldkeepoutofthewayuntildark，andthensliponboardthebrig；but，astherewasnowathickfoginourfavor，itwasagreedtolosenotimeinsecretingme。Augustusledthewaytothewharf，andIfollowedatalittledistance，envelopedinathickseaman’scloak，whichhehadbroughtwithhim，sothatmypersonmightnotbeeasilyrecognized。
justasweturnedthesecondcorner，afterpassingMr。Edmund’swell，whoshouldappear，standingrightinfrontofme，andlookingmefullintheface，butoldMr。Peterson，mygrandfather。“Why，blessmysoul，Gordon。”saidhe，afteralongpause，“why，why，-whosedirtycloakisthatyouhaveon？”“Sir！”Ireplied，assuming，aswellasI
could，intheexigencyofthemoment，anairofoffendedsurprise，andtalkinginthegruffestofallimaginabletones-“sir！youareasum’matmistaken-myname，inthefirstplace，bee’ntnothingatalllikeGoddin，andI’dwantyoufortoknowbetter，youblackguard，thantocallmynewobercoatadartyone。”FormylifeIcouldhardlyrefrainfromscreamingwithlaughterattheoddmannerinwhichtheoldgentlemanreceivedthishandsomerebuke。Hestartedbacktwoorthreesteps，turnedfirstpaleandthenexcessivelyred，threwuphisspectacles，then，puttingthemdown，ranfulltiltatme，withhisumbrellauplifted。Hestoppedshort，however，inhiscareer，asifstruckwithasuddenrecollection；andpresently，turninground，hobbledoffdownthestreet，shakingallthewhilewithrage，andmutteringbetweenhisteeth：“Won’tdonewglassesthoughtitwasGordonddgood-for-nothingsaltwaterLongTom。”
Afterthisnarrowescapeweproceededwithgreatercaution，andarrivedatourpointofdestinationinsafety。Therewereonlyoneortwoofthehandsonboard，andthesewerebusyforward，doingsomethingtotheforecastlecombings。CaptainBarnard，weknewverywell，wasengagedatLloydandVredenburgh’s，andwouldremainthereuntillateintheevening，sowehadlittletoapprehendonhisaccount。Augustuswentfirstupthevessel’sside，andinashortwhileIfollowedhim，withoutbeingnoticedbythemenatwork。Weproceededatonceintothecabin，andfoundnopersonthere。Itwasfittedupinthemostcomfortablestyle-athingsomewhatunusualinawhaling-vessel。Therewerefourveryexcellentstaterooms，withwideandconvenientberths。Therewasalsoalargestove，Itooknotice，andaremarkablythickandvaluablecarpetcoveringthefloorofboththecabinandstaterooms。Theceilingwasfullsevenfeethigh，and，inshort，everythingappearedofamoreroomyandagreeablenaturethanIhadanticipated。Augustus，however，wouldallowmebutlittletimeforobservation，insistinguponthenecessityofmyconcealingmyselfassoonaspossible。Heledthewayintohisownstateroom，whichwasonthestarboardsideofthebrig，andnexttothebulkheads。Uponentering，heclosedthedoorandboltedit。IthoughtIhadneverseenanicerlittleroomthantheoneinwhichInowfoundmyself。Itwasabouttenfeetlong，andhadonlyoneberth，which，asIsaidbefore，waswideandconvenient。Inthatportionoftheclosetnearestthebulkheadstherewasaspaceoffourfeetsquare，containingatable，achair，andasetofhangingshelvesfullofbooks，chieflybooksofvoyagesandtravels。Thereweremanyotherlittlecomfortsintheroom，amongwhichIoughtnottoforgetakindofsafeorrefrigerator，inwhichAugustuspointedouttomeahostofdelicacies，bothintheeatinganddrinkingdepartment。
Henowpressedwithhisknucklesuponacertainspotofthecarpetinonecornerofthespacejustmentioned，lettingmeknowthataportionoftheflooring，aboutsixteeninchessquare，hadbeenneatlycutoutandagainadjusted。Ashepressed，thisportionroseupatoneendsufficientlytoallowthepassageofhisfingerbeneath。Inthismannerheraisedthemouthofthetraptowhichthecarpetwasstillfastenedbytacks，andIfoundthatitledintotheafterhold。Henextlitasmalltaperbymeansofaphosphorousmatch，and，placingthelightinadarklantern，descendedwithitthroughtheopening，biddingmefollow。Ididso，andbethenpulledthecoveruponthehole，bymeansofanaildrivenintotheunderside-thecarpet，ofcourse，resumingitsoriginalpositiononthefloorofthestateroom，andalltracesoftheaperturebeingconcealed。
ThetapergaveoutsofeeblearaythatitwaswiththegreatestdifficultyIcouldgropemywaythroughtheconfusedmassoflumberamongwhichInowfoundmyself。Bydegrees，however，myeyesbecameaccustomedtothegloom，andIproceededwithlesstrouble，holdingontotheskirtsofmyfriend’scoat。Hebroughtme，atlength，aftercreepingandwindingthroughinnumerablenarrowpassages，toaniron-boundbox，suchasisusedsometimesforpackingfineearthenware。Itwasnearlyfourfeethigh，andfullsixlong，butverynarrow。Twolargeemptyoil-caskslayonthetopofit，andabovethese，again，avastquantityofstrawmatting，piledupashighasthefloorofthecabin。Ineveryotherdirectionaroundwaswedgedascloselyaspossible，evenuptotheceiling，acompletechaosofalmosteveryspeciesofship-furniture，togetherwithaheterogeneousmedleyofcrates，hampers，barrels，andbales，sothatitseemedamatternolessthanmiraculousthatwehaddiscoveredanypassageatalltothebox。IafterwardfoundthatAugustushadpurposelyarrangedthestowageinthisholdwithaviewtoaffordingmeathoroughconcealment，havinghadonlyoneassistantinthelabour，amannotgoingoutinthebrig。
Mycompanionnowshowedmethatoneoftheendsoftheboxcouldberemovedatpleasure。Heslippeditasideanddisplayedtheinterior，atwhichIwasexcessivelyamused。Amattressfromoneofthecabinberthscoveredthewholeofitsbottom，anditcontainedalmosteveryarticleofmerecomfortwhichcouldbecrowdedintososmallaspace，allowingme，atthesametime，sufficientroomformyaccommodation，eitherinasittingpositionorlyingatfulllength。
Amongotherthings，thereweresomebooks，pen，ink，andpaper，threeblankets，alargejugfullofwater，akegofsea-biscuit，threeorfourimmenseBolognasausages，anenormousham，acoldlegofroastmutton，andhalfadozenbottlesofcordialsandliqueurs。I
proceededimmediatelytotakepossessionofmylittleapartment，andthiswithfeelingsofhighersatisfaction，Iamsure，thananymonarcheverexperienceduponenteringanewpalace。Augustusnowpointedouttomethemethodoffasteningtheopenendofthebox，andthen，holdingthetaperclosetothedeck，showedmeapieceofdarkwhipcordlyingalongit。This，hesaid，extendedfrommyhiding-placethroughoutanthenecessarywindingsamongthelumber，toanailwhichwasdrivenintothedeckofthehold，immediatelybeneaththetrap-doorleadingintohisstateroom。BymeansofthiscordIshouldbeenabledreadilytotracemywayoutwithouthisguidance，providedanyunlooked-foraccidentshouldrendersuchastepnecessary。Henowtookhisdeparture，leavingwithmethelantern，togetherwithacopioussupplyoftapersandphosphorous，andpromisingtopaymeavisitasoftenashecouldcontrivetodosowithoutobservation。ThiswasontheseventeenthofJune。
IremainedthreedaysandnightsasnearlyasIcouldguessinmyhiding-placewithoutgettingoutofitatall，excepttwiceforthepurposeofstretchingmylimbsbystandingerectbetweentwocratesjustoppositetheopening。DuringthewholeperiodIsawnothingofAugustus；butthisoccasionedmelittleuneasiness，asI
knewthebrigwasexpectedtoputtoseaeveryhour，andinthebustlehewouldnoteasilyfindopportunitiesofcomingdowntome。
AtlengthIheardthetrapopenandshut。andpresentlyhecalledinalowvoice，askingifallwaswell，andiftherewasanythingI
wanted。“Nothing。”Ireplied；“Iamascomfortableascanbe；whenwillthebrigsail？”“Shewillbeunderweighinlessthanhalfanhour。”heanswered。“Icametoletyouknow，andforfearyoushouldbeuneasyatmyabsence。Ishallnothaveachanceofcomingdownagainforsometime-perhapsforthreeorfourdaysmore。Allisgoingonrightaboveboard。AfterIgoupandclosethetrap，doyoucreepalongbythewhipcordtowherethenailisdrivenin。Youwillfindmywatchthereitmaybeusefultoyou，asyouhavenodaylighttokeeptimeby。Isupposeyoucan’ttellhowlongyouhavebeenburied-onlythreedays-thisisthetwentieth。Iwouldbringthewatchtoyourbox，butamafraidofbeingmissed。”Withthishewentup。
InaboutanhourafterhehadgoneIdistinctlyfeltthebriginmotion，andcongratulatedmyselfuponhavingatlengthfairlycommencedavoyage。Satisfiedwiththisidea，Ideterminedtomakemymindaseasyaspossible，andawaitthecourseofeventsuntilI