A Descent into the Maelström by Edgar Allan Poe

A Descent into the Maelström by Edgar Allan Poe
Section [1 | 2 | 3]

, rid

annoyances - just

felons

indulgences, forbidden

" how often we_made the circuit of_the belt it_is impossible to_say careered round and round for perhaps hour , flying rather than floating, getting gradually more and more into_the middle of_the surge , and then nearer and nearer its horrible inner edge all this_time I had never let of_the ring - bolt brother was at_the stern , holding small empty water - cask which had_been securely lashed under the coop of_the counter , and was the_only_thing deck that had_not_been swept overboard when_the gale first took as_we approached the brink of_the pit let his hold upon_this , and made for_the ring , from_which , in_the agony of_his terror , endeavored force hands, it_was not large enough afford both secure grasp I never felt deeper grief than when I_saw him attempt this act - although I_knew he_was madman when he_did - raving maniac through sheer fright I_did_not care , however , contest the point with_him I_knew could make difference whether either held all ; I let him have the bolt , and went astern to_the cask this there_was great difficulty doing ; for_the smack flew round steadily enough , and upon even keel - only swaying and fro, with_the immense sweeps and swelters of_the whirl scarcely had I secured myself new position , when gave wild lurch starboard , and rushed headlong into_the abyss I muttered hurried prayer god , and thought all was over

" I_felt the sickening sweep of_the descent , I had instinctively tightened hold upon_the barrel , and closed eyes for some seconds I dared not open them - while I expected instant destruction , and wondered that i_was not already death -struggles with_the water but moment after moment elapsed I still lived the sense falling had ceased ; and_the motion of_the vessel seemed much had_been before , while in_the belt foam , exception that she now lay more along i_took courage , and looked once again upon_the scene

" never shall I forget the sensations awe , horror , and admiration with_which I gazed about the boat appeared to_be hanging, as_if magic , midway down , upon_the interior surface funnel vast circumference , prodigious depth , and whose perfectly smooth sides might_have_been mistaken for ebony , but for_the bewildering rapidity with_which they spun around , and for_the gleaming and ghastly radiance they shot forth , as_the rays of_the full moon , from_that circular rift amid the clouds which I_have already described , streamed flood golden glory along the black walls, and far away down into_the inmost recesses of_the abyss

" first i_was too_much confused observe anything accurately the general burst terrific grandeur was all that I beheld when I recovered myself little , however , gaze fell instinctively downward in_this direction i_was able obtain unobstructed view , from_the manner in_which_the smack hung on_the inclined surface of_the pool she was quite upon even keel - that_is_to_say , her deck lay plane parallel with_that of_the water - but this latter sloped angle more than forty-five degrees, so_that seemed to_be lying upon our beam -ends I_could_not help observing, nevertheless , that I had scarcely more difficulty maintaining hold and footing in_this situation , than if_we had_been upon dead level ; and this , I suppose , was owing to_the speed which revolved

" the rays of_the moon seemed the very bottom of_the profound gulf ; but still I_could make out nothing distinctly , account thick mist in_which everything there_was enveloped, and over which there hung magnificent rainbow , like that narrow and tottering bridge which Mussulmen say is_the only pathway between time and eternity this mist , spray , was no_doubt occasioned by_the clashing of_the great walls of_the funnel , as_they all met together at_the bottom - but the yell that went up_to_the Heavens from out of_that mist , I dare not attempt describe

" our first slide into_the abyss itself, from_the belt foam above , had carried great distance down the slope ; but our farther descent was means proportionate round and round swept - not with any uniform movement - but dizzying swings and jerks, that sent sometimes only few hundred yards - sometimes nearly the complete circuit of_the whirl our progress downward , each revolution , was slow , but very perceptible

" looking about upon_the wide waste liquid ebony on_which were thus borne, I perceived that_our boat was not the only object in_the embrace of_the whirl both above and below were visible fragments vessels, large masses building timber and trunks trees, with many smaller articles, such pieces house furniture , broken boxes, barrels and staves I_have already described the unnatural curiosity which had taken the place of_my original terrors appeared grow upon I drew nearer and nearer dreadful doom I now began watch , with strange interest , the numerous things that floated in_our company I_must_have been delirious - for I even sought amusement speculating upon_the relative velocities of_their several descents toward the foam below ' this fir tree ,' I_found myself one_time saying, ' will certainly the next thing that takes the awful plunge and disappears,' - and then i_was disappointed to_find that_the wreck Dutch merchant ship overtook and went down before at_length , after making several guesses of_this nature , and being deceived all - this fact - the fact of_my invariable miscalculation - set upon train reflection that made limbs again tremble , and heart beat heavily once more

" it_was not new terror that thus affected , but the dawn more exciting hope this hope arose partly from memory , and partly from present observation I called mind the great variety buoyant matter that strewed the coast Lofoden, having been absorbed and then thrown forth by_the Moskoe-strm far the greater number of_the articles were shattered in_the most extraordinary way - chafed and roughened to_have the appearance being stuck full splinters - but then I distinctly recollected that there were some_of_them which were_not disfigured all now I_could_not account for_this difference except supposing that_the fragments were the only ones which had_been completely absorbed - others had entered the whirl late period of_the tide , , for some reason , had descended slowly after entering, that they_did_not reach the bottom before_the turn of_the flood came , of_the ebb , as_the case might_be I conceived possible , either instance , that they_might thus whirled again to_the level of_the ocean , without undergoing the fate of_those which had_been drawn more early , absorbed more rapidly I_made , also , three important observations the first was , that , general rule , the larger the bodies were , the more rapid their descent - the second , that , between two masses equal extent , the one spherical , and_the other any_other shape_, the superiority speed descent was with_the sphere - the third , that , between two masses equal size , the one cylindrical , and_the other shape , the cylinder was absorbed the more slowly since escape , I_have_had several conversations on_this subject with old school - master of_the district ; and it_was from_him that I learned the use of_the words ' ' and ' sphere ' explained to_me - although I_have forgotten the explanation - how what I observed was , in_fact , the natural consequence of_the forms of_the floating fragments - and showed how happened that cylinder , swimming vortex , offered more resistance its suction , and was drawn with greater difficulty than equally bulky body , any form whatever {*1}

" there_was one startling circumstance which went great way enforcing these observations, and rendering anxious to_turn them account , and this was_that , every revolution , passed something like barrel , else the yard the mast vessel , while many_of_these things , which had_been on_our level when I first opened eyes upon_the wonders of_the whirlpool , were now high above , and seemed to_have moved but little from their original station

"I longer hesitated what to_do I resolved lash myself securely to_the water cask upon_which I now held, cut loose from_the counter , and throw myself with into_the water I attracted brother 's attention signs, pointed to_the floating barrels that came near , and did everything power to_make him understand what i_was about to_do i_thought at_length that comprehended design - but , whether this_was the case not , shook his head despairingly , and refused move from_his station by_the ring - bolt it_was impossible reach him ; the emergency admitted delay ; and , with bitter struggle , I resigned him to_his fate , fastened myself to_the cask by_means of_the lashings which secured to_the counter , and precipitated myself with into_the sea , without another moment 's hesitation

" the result was precisely what I had hoped might_be as_it_is myself who now tell you this tale - you_see that I_did escape - and as_you_are already possession of_the mode in_which this escape was effected , and must therefore anticipate all that I_have farther to_say - i_will bring story quickly conclusion might_have_been hour , thereabout, after quitting the smack , when , having descended vast distance beneath , made three four wild gyrations rapid succession , and , bearing loved brother with , plunged headlong , once and forever , into_the chaos foam below the barrel to_which i_was attached sunk very little farther than half the distance between_the bottom of_the gulf and_the spot which I leaped overboard , before great change took place in_the character of_the whirlpool the slope of_the sides of_the vast funnel became momently less_and_less steep the gyrations of_the whirl grew , gradually , violent degrees, the froth and_the rainbow disappeared , and_the bottom of_the gulf seemed slowly uprise the sky was clear , the winds had gone down , and_the full moon was setting radiantly in_the west , when I_found myself on_the surface of_the ocean , full view of_the shores Lofoden, and above the spot where the pool of_the Moskoe-strm had_been was_the hour of_the slack - but the sea still heaved mountainous waves from_the effects of_the hurricane i_was borne violently into_the channel of_the Strm, and in_a_few_minutes was hurried down the coast 'grounds' of_the fishermen boat picked - exhausted from fatigue - and ( now that_the danger was removed ) speechless from_the memory of_its horror those who drew board were old mates and daily companions - but they knew more than they_would_have known traveller spirit - land hair which had_been raven - black the day before , was white you_see now they say too that_the whole expression of_my countenance had changed i_told them story - they_did_not believe I now tell to_you - and I_can scarcely expect you to_put more faith in_it than did the merry fishermen Lofoden "