"The rays moon seemed to search the very bottom profound gulf ; but still make out nothing distinctly, on account of thick mist everything enveloped, and over which there hung magnificent rainbow, like that narrow and tottering bridge which Mussulmen say only pathway between Time and Eternity This mist, or spray, was occasioned clashing great walls funnel, all met together bottom - but the yell that went Heavens from out mist, I dare not attempt to describe

"Our first slide abyss itself, belt of foam above, had carried us great distance down the slope ; but our farther descent was by no means proportionate Round and round we swept - not with any uniform movement - but in dizzying swings and jerks, that sent us sometimes only few hundred yards - sometimes nearly the complete circuit whirl Our progress downward, at each revolution, was slow, but very perceptible

"Looking about me wide waste of liquid ebony we were thus borne, I perceived boat was not the only object embrace whirl Both above and below us were visible fragments of vessels, large masses of building timber and trunks of trees, with many smaller articles, such as pieces of house furniture, broken boxes, barrels and staves already described the unnatural curiosity which had taken the place original terrors It appeared to grow upon me as I drew nearer and nearer to my dreadful doom I now began to watch, with strange interest, the numerous things that floated company been delirious - for I even sought amusement in speculating relative velocities several descents toward the foam below 'This fir tree,' myself at saying, 'will certainly be the next thing that takes the awful plunge and disappears,' - and then disappointed wreck of Dutch merchant ship overtook it and went down before , after making several guesses nature, and being deceived in all - this fact - the fact invariable miscalculation - set me upon train of reflection that made my limbs again tremble, and my heart beat heavily once more

" not new terror that thus affected me, but the dawn of more exciting hope This hope arose partly from memory, and partly from present observation I called to mind the great variety of buoyant matter that strewed the coast of Lofoden, having been absorbed and then thrown forth Moskoe-strm By far the greater number articles were shattered most extraordinary way - so chafed and roughened as the appearance of being stuck full of splinters - but then I distinctly recollected that there were which disfigured at all Now account difference except by supposing roughened fragments were the only ones which completely absorbed - others had entered the whirl at so late period tide, or, for some reason, had descended so slowly after entering, that reach the bottom turn flood came, or ebb, case I conceived it possible, in either instance, that thus be whirled up again level ocean, without undergoing the fate which drawn in more early, or absorbed more rapidly , also, three important observations The first was, that, as general rule, the larger the bodies were, the more rapid their descent - the second, that, between two masses of equal extent, the one spherical, other of shape_, the superiority in speed of descent was sphere - the third, that, between two masses of equal size, the one cylindrical, other of shape, the cylinder was absorbed the more slowly Since my escape, several conversations subject with an old school-master district ; and that I learned the use words 'cylinder' and 'sphere ' He explained - although forgotten the explanation - how what I observed was, , the natural consequence forms floating fragments - and showed me how it happened that cylinder, swimming in vortex, offered more resistance to its suction, and was drawn in with greater difficulty than an equally bulky body, of any form whatever {*1}

" one startling circumstance which went great way in enforcing these observations, and rendering me anxious them to account, and this , at every revolution, we passed something like barrel, or else the yard or the mast of vessel, while things, which level when I first opened my eyes wonders whirlpool, were now high up above us, and seemed moved but little from their original station

"I no longer hesitated what I resolved to lash myself securely water cask I now held, to cut it loose counter, and to throw myself with it water I attracted my brother's attention by signs, pointed floating barrels that came near us, and did everything in my power him understand what about that he comprehended my design - but, whether the case or not, he shook his head despairingly, and refused to move station ring-bolt impossible to reach him; the emergency admitted of no delay ; and so, with bitter struggle, I resigned him fate, fastened myself cask lashings which secured it counter, and precipitated myself with it sea, without another moment's hesitation

"The result was precisely what I had hoped it myself who now tell you this tale - as that escape - and already in possession mode this escape was effected, and must therefore anticipate all that farther - bring my story quickly to conclusion It an hour, or thereabout, after my quitting the smack, when, having descended to vast distance beneath me, it made three or four wild gyrations in rapid succession, and, bearing my loved brother with it, plunged headlong, at once and forever, chaos of foam below The barrel attached sunk very little farther than half the distance bottom gulf spot at which I leaped overboard, before great change took place character whirlpool The slope sides vast funnel became momently steep The gyrations whirl grew, gradually, violent By degrees, the froth rainbow disappeared, bottom gulf seemed slowly to uprise The sky was clear, the winds had gone down, full moon was setting radiantly west, when myself surface ocean, in full view shores of Lofoden, and above the spot where the pool Moskoe-strm It hour slack - but the sea still heaved in mountainous waves effects hurricane borne violently channel Strm, and was hurried down the coast 'grounds' fishermen boat picked me up - exhausted from fatigue - and (now danger was removed) speechless memory horror Those who drew me on board were my old mates and daily companions - but they knew me no more than known traveller spirit-land My hair which raven-black the day before, was as white as it now They say too whole expression countenance had changed them my story - believe it I now tell it - and scarcely expect you more faith than did the merry fishermen of Lofoden "

Notes--Maelstrom

{*1} See Archimedes, "_De Incidentibus in Fluido " - lib 2

Notes--Island Fay

{*1} Moraux is here derived from moeurs, and its meaning is "fashionable" or more strictly "of manners "

{*2} Speaking tides, Pomponius Mela, treatise "De Situ Orbis," says "either the world is great animal, or" etc

{*3} Balzac--in substance-- remember the words

{*4} Florem putares nare per liquidum aethera -- P Commire