Thereseemednowtobenolongeranyroomforhope，andIcouldperceiveinthecountenancesofmycompanionsthattheyhadmadeuptheirmindstoperish。Thewinehadevidentlyproducedinthemaspeciesofdelirium，which，perhaps，IhadbeenpreventedfromfeelingbytheimmersionIhadundergonesincedrinkingit。Theytalkedincoherently，andaboutmattersunconnectedwithourcondition，PetersrepeatedlyaskingmequestionsaboutNantucket。
Augustus，too，Iremember，approachedmewithaseriousair，andrequestedmetolendhimapocket-comb，ashishairwasfulloffish-scales，andhewishedtogetthemoutbeforegoingonshore。
Parkerappearedsomewhatlessaffected，andurgedmetodiveatrandomintothecabin，andbringupanyarticlewhichmightcometohand。TothisIconsented，and，inthefirstattempt，afterstayingunderafullminute，broughtupasmallleathertrunkbelongingtoCaptainBarnard。Thiswasimmediatelyopenedinthefainthopethatitmightcontainsomethingtoeatordrink。Wefoundnothing，however，exceptaboxofrazorsandtwolinenshirts。Inowwentdownagain，andreturnedwithoutanysuccess。AsmyheadcameabovewaterIheardacrashondeck，and，upongettingup，sawthatmycompanionshadungratefullytakenadvantageofmyabsencetodrinktheremainderofthewine，havingletthebottlefallintheendeavourtoreplaceitbeforeIsawthem。Iremonstratedwiththemontheheartlessnessoftheirconduct，whenAugustusburstintotears。Theothertwoendeavouredtolaughthematteroffasajoke，butIhopeneveragaintobeholdlaughterofsuchaspecies：thedistortionofcountenancewasabsolutelyfrightful。Indeed，itwasapparentthatthestimulus，intheemptystateoftheirstomachs，hadtakeninstantandviolenteffect，andthattheywereallexceedinglyintoxicated。WithgreatdifficultyIprevaileduponthemtoliedown，whentheyfellverysoonintoaheavyslumber，accompaniedwithloudstertorousbreathing。
Inowfoundmyself，asitwere，aloneinthebrig，andmyreflections，tobesure，wereofthemostfearfulandgloomynature。
Noprospectoffereditselftomyviewbutalingeringdeathbyfamine，or，atthebest，bybeingoverwhelmedinthefirstgalewhichshouldspringup，forinourpresentexhaustedconditionwecouldhavenohopeoflivingthroughanother。
ThegnawinghungerwhichInowexperiencedwasnearlyinsupportable，andIfeltmyselfcapableofgoingtoanylengthsinordertoappeaseit。WithmyknifeIcutoffasmallportionoftheleathertrunk，andendeavouredtoeatit，butfounditutterlyimpossibletoswallowasinglemorsel，althoughIfanciedthatsomelittlealleviationofmysufferingwasobtainedbychewingsmallpiecesofitandspittingthemout。Towardnightmycompanionsawoke，onebyone，eachinanindescribablestateofweaknessandhorror，broughtonbythewine，whosefumeshadnowevaporated。Theyshookasifwithaviolentague，andutteredthemostlamentablecriesforwater。Theirconditionaffectedmeinthemostlivelydegree，atthesametimecausingmetorejoiceinthefortunatetrainofcircumstanceswhichhadpreventedmefromindulginginthewine，andconsequentlyfromsharingtheirmelancholyandmostdistressingsensations。Theirconduct，however，gavemegreatuneasinessandalarm；foritwasevidentthat，unlesssomefavourablechangetookplace，theycouldaffordmenoassistanceinprovidingforourcommonsafety。Ihadnotyetabandonedallideabeingabletogetupsomethingfrombelow；buttheattemptcouldnotpossiblyberesumeduntilsomeoneofthemwassufficientlymasterofhimselftoaidmebyholdingtheendoftheropewhileIwentdown。Parkerappearedtobesomewhatmoreinpossessionofhissensesthantheothers，andI
endeavoured，byeverymeansinmypower，torousehim。Thinkingthataplungeinthesea-watermighthaveabeneficialeffect，Icontrivedtofastentheendofaropearoundhisbody，andthen，leadinghimtothecompanion-wayheremainingquitepassiveallthewhile，pushedhimin，andimmediatelydrewhimout。Ihadgoodreasontocongratulatemyselfuponhavingmadethisexperiment；forheappearedmuchrevivedandinvigorated，and，upongettingout，askedme，inarationalmanner，whyIhadsoservedhim。Havingexplainedmyobject，heexpressedhimselfindebtedtome，andsaidthathefeltgreatlybetterfromtheimmersion，afterwardconversingsensiblyuponoursituation。WethenresolvedtotreatAugustusandPetersinthesameway，whichweimmediatelydid，whentheybothexperiencedmuchbenefitfromtheshock。Thisideaofsuddenimmersionhadbeensuggestedtomebyreadinginsomemedicalworkthegoodeffectoftheshower-bathinacasewherethepatientwassufferingfrom_maniaapotu_。
FindingthatIcouldnowtrustmycompanionstoholdtheendoftherope，Iagainmadethreeorfourplungesintothecabin，althoughitwasnowquitedark，andagentlebutlongswellfromthenorthwardrenderedthehulksomewhatunsteady。InthecourseoftheseattemptsIsucceededinbringinguptwocase-knives，athree-gallonjug，empty，andablanket，butnothingwhichcouldserveusforfood。I
continuedmyefforts，aftergettingthesearticles，untilIwascompletelyexhausted，butbroughtupnothingelse。DuringthenightParkerandPetersoccupiedthemselvesbyturnsinthesamemanner；
butnothingcomingtohand，wenowgaveupthisattemptindespair，concludingthatwewereexhaustingourselvesinvain。
Wepassedtheremainderofthisnightinastateofthemostintensementalandbodilyanguishthatcanpossiblybeimagined。Themorningofthesixteenthatlengthdawned，andwelookedeagerlyaroundthehorizonforrelief，buttonopurpose。Theseawasstillsmooth，withonlyalongswellfromthenorthward，asonyesterday。
Thiswasthesixthdaysincewehadtastedeitherfoodordrink，withtheexceptionofthebottleofportwine，anditwasclearthatwecouldholdoutbutaverylittlewhilelongerunlesssomethingcouldbeobtained。Ineversawbefore，norwishtoseeagain，humanbeingssoutterlyemaciatedasPetersandAugustus。HadImetthemonshoreintheirpresentconditionIshouldnothavehadtheslightestsuspicionthatIhadeverbeheldthem。Theircountenancesweretotallychangedincharacter，sothatIcouldnotbringmyselftobelievethemreallythesameindividualswithwhomIhadbeenincompanybutafewdaysbefore。Parker，althoughsadlyreduced，andsofeeblethathecouldnotraisehisheadfromhisbosom，wasnotsofargoneastheothertwo。Hesufferedwithgreatpatience，makingnocomplaint，andendeavouringtoinspireuswithhopeineverymannerhecoulddevise。Formyself，althoughatthecommencementofthevoyageIhadbeeninbadhealth，andwasatalltimesofadelicateconstitution，Isufferedlessthananyofus，beingmuchlessreducedinframe，andretainingmypowersofmindinasurprisingdegree，whiletherestwerecompletelyprostratedinintellect，andseemedtobebroughttoaspeciesofsecondchildhood，generallysimperingintheirexpressions，withidioticsmiles，andutteringthemostabsurdplatitudes。Atintervals，however，theywouldappeartorevivesuddenly，asifinspiredallatoncewithaconsciousnessoftheircondition，whentheywouldspringupontheirfeetinamomentaryflashofvigour，andspeak，forashortperiod，oftheirprospects，inamanneraltogetherrational，althoughfullofthemostintensedespair。Itispossible，however，thatmycompanionsmayhaveentertainedthesameopinionoftheirownconditionasIdidofmine，andthatImayhaveunwittinglybeenguiltyofthesameextravagancesandimbecilitiesasthemselvesthisisamatterwhichcannotbedetermined。
AboutnoonParkerdeclaredthathesawlandoffthelarboardquarter，anditwaswiththeutmostdifficultyIcouldrestrainhimfromplungingintotheseawiththeviewofswimmingtowardit。
PetersandAugustustooklittlenoticeofwhathesaid，beingapparentlywrappedupinmoodycontemplation。Uponlookinginthedirectionpointedout，Icouldnotperceivethefaintestappearanceoftheshoreindeed，Iwastoowellawarethatwewerefarfromanylandtoindulgeinahopeofthatnature。Itwasalongtime，nevertheless，beforeIcouldconvinceParkerofhismistake。Hethenburstintoafloodoftears，weepinglikeachild，withloudcriesandsobs，fortwoorthreehours，whenbecomingexhausted，hefellasleep。
PetersandAugustusnowmadeseveralineffectualeffortstoswallowportionsoftheleather。Iadvisedthemtochewitandspititout；buttheyweretooexcessivelydebilitatedtobeabletofollowmyadvice。Icontinuedtochewpiecesofitatintervals，andfoundsomerelieffromsodoing；mychiefdistresswasforwater，andIwasonlypreventedfromtakingadraughtfromtheseabyrememberingthehorribleconsequenceswhichthushaveresultedtootherswhoweresimilarlysituatedwithourselves。
Thedayworeoninthismanner，whenIsuddenlydiscoveredasailtotheeastward，andonourlarboardbow。Sheappearedtobealargeship，andwascomingnearlyathwartus，beingprobablytwelveorfifteenmilesdistant。Noneofmycompanionshadasyetdiscoveredher，andIforboretotellthemofherforthepresent，lestwemightagainbedisappointedofrelief。Atlengthuponhergettingnearer，I
sawdistinctlythatshewasheadingimmediatelyforus，withherlightsailsfilled。Icouldnowcontainmyselfnolonger，andpointedherouttomyfellow-sufferers。Theyimmediatelysprangtotheirfeet，againindulginginthemostextravagantdemonstrationsofjoy，weeping，laughinginanidioticmanner，jumping，stampinguponthedeck，tearingtheirhair，andprayingandcursingbyturns。Iwassoaffectedbytheirconduct，aswellasbywhatIconsideredasureprospectofdeliverance，thatIcouldnotrefrainfromjoininginwiththeirmadness，andgavewaytotheimpulsesofmygratitudeandecstasybylyingandrollingonthedeck，clappingmyhands，shouting，andothersimilaracts，untilIwassuddenlycalledtomyrecollection，andoncemoretotheextremehumanmiseryanddespair，byperceivingtheshipallatoncewithhersternfullypresentedtowardus，andsteeringinadirectionnearlyoppositetothatinwhichIhadatfirstperceivedher。
ItwassometimebeforeIcouldinducemypoorcompanionstobelievethatthissadreverseinourprospectshadactuallytakenplace。Theyrepliedtoallmyassertionswithastareandagestureimplyingthattheywerenottobedeceivedbysuchmisrepresentations。TheconductofAugustusmostsensiblyaffectedme。InspiteofallIcouldsayordotothecontrary，hepersistedinsayingthattheshipwasrapidlynearingus，andinmakingpreparationstogoonboardofher。Someseaweedfloatingbythebrig，hemaintainedthatitwastheship’sboat，andendeavouredtothrowhimselfuponit，howlingandshriekinginthemostheartrendingmanner，whenIforciblyrestrainedhimfromthuscastinghimselfintothesea。
Havingbecomeinsomedegreepacified，wecontinuedtowatchtheshipuntilwefinallylostsightofher，theweatherbecominghazy，withalightbreezespringingup。Assoonasshewasentirelygone，Parkerturnedsuddenlytowardmewithanexpressionofcountenancewhichmademeshudder。Therewasabouthimanairofself-possessionwhichIhadnotnoticedinhimuntilnow，andbeforeheopenedhislipsmyhearttoldmewhathewouldsay。Heproposed，inafewwords，thatoneofusshoulddietopreservetheexistenceoftheothers。
Ihadforsometimepast，dweltupontheprospectofourbeingreducedtothislasthorribleextremity，andhadsecretlymadeupmymindtosufferdeathinanyshapeorunderanycircumstancesratherthanresorttosuchacourse。NorwasthisresolutioninanydegreeweakenedbythepresentintensityofhungerunderwhichIlaboured。
ThepropositionhadnotbeenheardbyeitherPetersorAugustus。I
thereforetookParkeraside；andmentallyprayingtoGodforpowertodissuadehimfromthehorriblepurposeheentertained，Iexpostulatedwithhimforalongtime，andinthemostsupplicatingmanner，begginghiminthenameofeverythingwhichheheldsacred，andurginghimbyeveryspeciesofargumentwhichtheextremityofthecasesuggested，toabandontheidea，andnottomentionittoeitheroftheothertwo。
HeheardallIsaidwithoutattemptingtocontrovertanyofmyarguments，andIhadbeguntohopethathewouldbeprevailedupontodoasIdesired。ButwhenIhadceasedspeaking，hesaidthatheknewverywellallIhadsaidwastrue，andthattoresorttosuchacoursewasthemosthorriblealternativewhichcouldenterintothemindofman；butthathehadnowheldoutaslongashumannaturecouldbesustained；thatitwasunnecessaryforalltoperish，when，bythedeathofone，itwaspossible，andevenprobable，thattherestmightbefinallypreserved；addingthatImightsavemyselfthetroubleoftryingtoturnhimfromhispurpose，hismindhavingbeenthoroughlymadeuponthesubjectevenbeforetheappearanceoftheship，andthatonlyherheavinginsighthadpreventedhimfrommentioninghisintentionatanearlierperiod。
Inowbeggedhim，ifhewouldnotbeprevailedupontoabandonhisdesign，atleasttodeferitforanotherday，whensomevesselmightcometoourrelief；againreiteratingeveryargumentIcoulddevise，andwhichIthoughtlikelytohaveinfluencewithoneofhisroughnature。Hesaid，inreply，thathehadnotspokenuntiltheverylastpossiblemoment，thathecouldexistnolongerwithoutsustenanceofsomekind，andthatthereforeinanotherdayhissuggestionwouldbetoolate，asregardedhimselfatleast。
FindingthathewasnottobemovedbyanythingIcouldsayinamildtone，Inowassumedadifferentdemeanor，andtoldhimthathemustbeawareIhadsufferedlessthananyofusfromourcalamities；
thatmyhealthandstrength，consequently，wereatthatmomentfarbetterthanhisown，orthanthateitherofPetersorAugustus；inshort，thatIwasinaconditiontohavemyownwaybyforceifI
founditnecessary；andthatifheattemptedinanymannertoacquainttheotherswithhisbloodyandcannibaldesigns，Iwouldnothesitatetothrowhimintothesea。Uponthisheimmediatelyseizedmebythethroat，anddrawingaknife，madeseveralineffectualeffortstostabmeinthestomach；anatrocitywhichhisexcessivedebilityalonepreventedhimfromaccomplishing。Inthemeantime，beingrousedtoahighpitchofanger，Iforcedhimtothevessel’sside，withthefullintentionofthrowinghimoverboard。Hewassavedfromhisfate，however，bytheinterferenceofPeters，whonowapproachedandseparatedus，askingthecauseofthedisturbance。
ThisParkertoldbeforeIcouldfindmeansinanymannertopreventhim。
TheeffectofhiswordswasevenmoreterriblethanwhatIhadanticipated。BothAugustusandPeters，who，itseems，hadlongsecretlyentertainedthesamefearfulideawhichParkerhadbeenmerelythefirsttobroach，joinedwithhiminhisdesignandinsisteduponitsimmediatelybeingcarriedintoeffect。Ihadcalculatedthatoneatleastofthetwoformerwouldbefoundstillpossessedofsufficientstrengthofmindtosidewithmyselfinresistinganyattempttoexecutesodreadfulapurpose，and，withtheaidofeitheroneofthem，Ihadnofearofbeingabletopreventitsaccomplishment。Beingdisappointedinthisexpectation，itbecameabsolutelynecessarythatIshouldattendtomyownsafety，asafurtherresistanceonmypartmightpossiblybeconsideredbymenintheirfrightfulconditionasufficientexcuseforrefusingmefairplayinthetragedythatIknewwouldspeedilybeenacted。
InowtoldthemIwaswillingtosubmittotheproposal，merelyrequestingadelayofaboutonehour，inorderthatthefogwhichhadgatheredaroundusmighthaveanopportunityoflifting，whenitwaspossiblethattheshipwehadseenmightbeagaininsight。AftergreatdifficultyIobtainedfromthemapromisetowaitthuslong；
and，asIhadanticipatedabreezerapidlycomingin，thefogliftedbeforethehourhadexpired，when，novesselappearinginsight，wepreparedtodrawlots。