Ms. Found in a Bottle by Edgar Allan Poe

Ms. Found in a Bottle by Edgar Allan Poe
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Edgar Allan Poe

Qui n'a plus qu'un moment vivre

N'a plus rien dissimuler

-- Quinault -- Atys

of_my country and of_my family I_have little to_say ill usage and length years have driven from_the one , and estranged other hereditary wealth afforded education common order , and contemplative turn mind enabled methodize the stores which early study very diligently garnered -- beyond all things , the study of_the German moralists gave_me great delight ; not from any ill - advised admiration of_their eloquent madness , but from_the ease with_which habits rigid thought enabled detect their falsities I_have often been reproached with_the aridity of_my genius ; deficiency imagination has_been imputed to_me crime ; and_the Pyrrhonism of_my opinions has all times rendered notorious indeed , strong relish for physical philosophy has , I_fear , tinctured mind with very common error of_this age -- I mean the habit referring occurrences, even the least susceptible of_such reference , to_the principles of_that science upon_the whole , person could_be less liable than myself to_be led away from_the severe precincts truth by_the ignes fatui superstition I_have thought proper premise thus much , lest the incredible tale I_have to_tell should_be considered rather the raving crude imagination , than_the positive experience mind to_which_the reveries fancy have_been dead letter and nullity

after many years spent foreign travel , I sailed in_the year 18 -- , from_the port Batavia , in_the rich and populous island Java, voyage to_the archipelago of_the Sunda islands I went passenger -- having other inducement than kind nervous restlessness which haunted fiend

our vessel was beautiful ship about four hundred tons, copper - fastened , and built Bombay Malabar teak she was freighted with cotton - wool and oil , from_the Lachadive islands had also board coir, jaggeree, ghee, cocoa -nuts, and few cases opium the stowage was clumsily done , and_the vessel consequently crank

got under way with mere breath wind , and for many days stood along the eastern coast Java, without any_other incident beguile the monotony of_our course than_the occasional meeting with some_of_the small grabs of_the archipelago to_which were bound

one evening , leaning over the taffrail , I observed very singular , isolated cloud , to_the N W it_was remarkable , as_well for its color , from its being the first had seen since our departure from Batavia I watched attentively until sunset , when spread all once to_the eastward and westward , girting in_the horizon with narrow strip vapor , and looking like long line low beach notice was soon afterwards attracted by_the dusky - red appearance of_the moon , and_the peculiar character of_the sea the latter was undergoing rapid change , and_the water seemed more than usually transparent although I_could distinctly see the bottom , yet , heaving the lead , I_found the ship fifteen fathoms the air now became intolerably hot , and was loaded with spiral exhalations similar to_those arising from heat iron night came , every breath wind died away , more entire calm it_is impossible conceive the flame candle burned upon_the poop without the least perceptible motion , and long hair , held between_the finger and , hung without the possibility detecting vibration however , as_the captain said he_could perceive indication danger , and as_we were drifting bodily shore , ordered the sails to_be furled , and_the anchor let watch was set , and_the crew , consisting principally Malays, stretched themselves deliberately upon deck I went below -- not without full presentiment evil indeed , every appearance warranted apprehending Simoom i_told the captain fears; but paid attention what I_said , and left without deigning to_give reply uneasiness , however , prevented from sleeping, and about midnight I went upon deck -- I placed foot upon_the upper step of_the companion - ladder , i_was startled loud , humming noise , like that occasioned by_the rapid revolution mill - wheel , and before I_could ascertain its meaning, I_found the ship quivering its centre in_the next instant , wilderness foam hurled upon our beam -ends, and , rushing over fore and aft, swept the entire decks from stem stern

the extreme fury of_the blast proved , great measure , the salvation of_the ship although completely water -logged, yet , her masts had gone by_the board , she rose , after minute , heavily from_the sea , and , staggering awhile beneath the immense pressure of_the tempest , finally righted

what miracle I escaped destruction , it_is impossible to_say stunned by_the shock of_the water , I_found myself , upon recovery , jammed between_the stern - post and rudder with great difficulty I gained feet , and looking dizzily around , was , first , struck with_the idea of_our being among breakers; terrific , beyond the wildest imagination , was_the whirlpool mountainous and foaming ocean within which were engulfed after while , I heard the voice old Swede, who had shipped with_us at_the moment of_our leaving port I hallooed him with all strength , and presently he_came reeling aft soon discovered that were the sole survivors of_the accident all deck , with_the exception ourselves , had_been swept overboard ; -- the captain and mates must_have perished as_they slept , for_the cabins were deluged with water without assistance , we_could expect to_do little for_the security of_the ship , and_our exertions were first paralyzed by_the momentary expectation going down our cable had , of_course , parted like pack - thread , at_the first breath of_the hurricane , should_have_been instantaneously overwhelmed scudded with frightful velocity before_the sea , and_the water made clear breaches over the frame - work of_our stern was shattered excessively , and , almost every respect , had received considerable injury ; but our extreme joy we_found the pumps unchoked, and_that had made great shifting of_our ballast the main fury of_the blast had already blown over , and apprehended little danger from_the violence of_the wind ; but looked forward its total cessation with dismay ; well believing, that , in_our shattered condition , we_should inevitably perish in_the tremendous swell which would ensue but this very just apprehension seemed means likely to_be soon verified for five entire days and nights -- during which our only subsistence was small quantity jaggeree, procured with great difficulty from_the forecastle -- the hulk flew rate defying computation , before rapidly succeeding flaws wind , which , without equalling the first violence of_the Simoom, were still more terrific than any tempest I had before encountered our course for_the first four days was , with trifling variations, S E and S ; and we_must_have run down the coast new Holland -- on_the fifth day the cold became extreme , although the wind had hauled round point more to_the northward -- the sun arose with sickly yellow lustre, and clambered very few degrees above the horizon -- emitting decisive light -- there were clouds apparent , yet the wind was upon_the increase , and blew with fitful and unsteady fury about noon , nearly we_could guess , our attention was again arrested by_the appearance of_the sun gave out light , properly called , but dull and sullen glow without reflection , as_if all its rays were polarized just before sinking within_the turgid sea , its central fires suddenly went out , as_if hurriedly extinguished some unaccountable power it_was dim , sliver - like rim , alone , rushed down the unfathomable ocean

waited vain for_the arrival of_the sixth day -- that day to_me has_not arrived -- to_the Swede, never did arrive thenceforward were enshrouded patchy darkness , so_that we_could_not have seen object twenty paces from_the ship eternal night continued envelop , all unrelieved by_the phosphoric sea - brilliancy to_which had_been accustomed in_the tropics observed too , that , although the tempest rage with unabated violence , there_was longer to_be discovered the usual appearance surf , foam , which had hitherto attended all around were horror , and thick gloom , and black sweltering desert ebony -- superstitious terror crept degrees into_the spirit of_the old Swede, and own soul was wrapped silent wonder neglected all care of_the ship , worse than useless , and securing ourselves , as_well possible , to_the stump of_the mizen- mast , looked out bitterly world ocean had means calculating time , nor could form any guess of_our situation were , however , well aware having made farther to_the southward than any previous navigators, and felt great amazement not meeting with_the usual impediments ice in_the meantime every moment threatened to_be our last -- every mountainous billow hurried overwhelm the swell surpassed anything I had imagined possible , and_that were_not instantly buried miracle companion spoke of_the lightness of_our cargo , and reminded of_the excellent qualities of_our ship ; but I_could_not help feeling the utter hopelessness hope itself, and prepared myself gloomily for_that death which i_thought nothing could defer beyond hour , , with every knot way the ship made , the swelling of_the black stupendous seas became more dismally appalling times gasped for breath elevation beyond the albatross -- times became dizzy with_the velocity of_our descent into some watery hell, where the air grew stagnant , and sound disturbed the slumbers of_the kraken

were at_the bottom one_of_these abysses, when quick scream from companion broke fearfully upon_the night " see ! see ! " cried , shrieking ears, " almighty god ! see ! see ! " spoke , I became aware dull , sullen glare red light which streamed down the sides of_the vast chasm where lay, and threw fitful brilliancy upon our deck Casting eyes upwards, I beheld spectacle which froze the current of_my blood terrific height directly above , and upon_the very verge of_the precipitous descent , hovered gigantic ship , perhaps , four thousand tons although upreared summit wave more than hundred times her own altitude , her apparent size exceeded that any ship of_the line east Indiaman existence her huge hull was deep dingy black , unrelieved any of_the customary carvings ship single row brass cannon protruded from her open ports, and dashed from their polished surfaces the fires innumerable battle -lanterns, which swung and fro about her rigging but what mainly inspired with horror and astonishment , was_that she bore under press sail in_the very teeth of_that supernatural sea , and of_that ungovernable hurricane when first discovered her , her bows were alone to_be seen , she rose slowly from_the dim and horrible gulf beyond her for moment intense terror she paused upon_the giddy pinnacle , as_if contemplation her own sublimity , then trembled and tottered , and -- came down

at_this instant , I_know not what sudden self - possession came over spirit Staggering far aft I_could , I awaited fearlessly the ruin that was overwhelm our own vessel was at_length ceasing from her struggles, and sinking with her head to_the sea the shock of_the descending mass struck her , consequently , in_that portion her frame which_was already under water , and_the inevitable result was hurl , with irresistible violence , upon_the rigging of_the stranger

I fell, the ship hove stays, and went about ; and to_the confusion ensuing I attributed escape from_the notice of_the crew with little difficulty I_made way unperceived to_the main hatchway , which_was partially open , and soon found opportunity secreting myself in_the hold why I_did I_can hardly tell indefinite sense awe , which first sight of_the navigators of_the ship had taken hold of_my mind , was perhaps the principle of_my concealment i_was unwilling trust myself with race people who had offered , to_the cursory glance I had taken , so_many points vague novelty , doubt , and apprehension I therefore thought proper contrive hiding- place in_the hold this I_did removing small portion of_the shifting-boards, in_such_a_manner as_to afford convenient retreat between_the huge timbers of_the ship

I had scarcely completed work , when footstep in_the hold forced to_make use man passed place concealment with feeble and unsteady gait I could_not_see his face , but had opportunity observing his general appearance there_was about_it evidence great age and infirmity his knees tottered beneath load years, and_his entire frame quivered under the burthen muttered himself , low broken tone , some words language which I_could_not understand , and groped corner among pile singular - looking instruments, and decayed charts

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