by Edgar Allan Poe

The ways of God in Nature, as in Providence, as our_ ways ; nor are the models that we frame commensurate vastness, profundity, and unsearchableness works, depth greater well of Democritus Joseph Glanville . WE had now reached the summit loftiest crag For some minutes the old man seemed exhausted

"Not ," said he , "and guided you route youngest sons ; but, about three years past, there happened an event such as never happened to mortal man - or such as no man ever survived of - six hours of deadly terror which I then endured have broken me up body and soul You suppose me very old man - but not It took single day these hairs from jetty black to white, to weaken my limbs, and to unstring my nerves, I tremble least exertion, and am frightened at shadow scarcely look over this little cliff without getting giddy ? "

The "little cliff," upon whose edge he had so carelessly thrown himself down to rest weightier portion body hung over it, while only kept from falling tenure elbow on its extreme and slippery edge - this "little cliff" arose, sheer unobstructed precipice of black shining rock, some fifteen or sixteen hundred feet world of crags beneath us Nothing tempted me to within half dozen yards brink In truth so deeply was I excited perilous position companion, that I fell at full length ground, clung shrubs around me, and dared not even glance upward sky - while I struggled in vain to divest myself idea very foundations mountain were in danger fury winds long before reason myself into sufficient courage to sit up and look out distance

" get over these fancies," said the guide, "for brought you here that you the best possible view scene event I mentioned - and you the whole story spot just under your eye "

" now," he continued, particularizing manner which distinguished him - " now close Norwegian coast - sixty-eighth degree of latitude - great province of Nordland - and dreary district of Lofoden The mountain upon whose top we sit is Helseggen, the Cloudy Now raise yourself up little higher - hold on grass feel giddy - so - and look out, beyond the belt of vapor beneath us, sea "

I looked dizzily, and beheld wide expanse of ocean, whose waters wore so inky hue bring at once to my mind the Nubian geographer's account Mare Tenebrarum panorama more deplorably desolate no human imagination can conceive right and left, as far eye could reach, there lay outstretched, like ramparts world, lines of horridly black and beetling cliff, whose character of gloom was but the more forcibly illustrated surf which reared high up against its white and ghastly crest, howling and shrieking forever Just opposite the promontory upon whose apex we were placed, and at distance of some five or six miles out at sea, visible small, bleak-looking island ; or, more properly, its position was discernible wilderness of surge enveloped About two miles nearer the land, arose another of smaller size, hideously craggy and barren, and encompassed at various intervals by cluster of dark rocks

The appearance ocean, space more distant island shore, had something very unusual Although, , so strong gale was blowing landward that brig remote offing lay to under double-reefed trysail, and constantly plunged her whole hull out of sight, still here nothing like regular swell, but only short, quick, angry cross dashing of water in every direction - teeth wind as otherwise Of foam little except immediate vicinity rocks

"The island distance," resumed the old man, "is called Norwegians Vurrgh The one midway is Moskoe That mile northward is Ambaaren Yonder are Islesen, Hotholm, Keildhelm, Suarven, and Buckholm Farther off - between Moskoe and Vurrgh - are Otterholm, Flimen, Sandflesen, and Stockholm These are the true names places - but why thought necessary to name them at all, is more than either you or understand hear anything ? Do any change water ? "

We had now been about ten minutes top of Helseggen, we had ascended interior of Lofoden, we had caught no glimpse sea until it had burst upon us summit old man spoke, I became aware of loud and gradually increasing sound, like the moaning of vast herd of buffaloes upon an American prairie; and same moment I perceived that what seamen term the chopping character ocean beneath us, was rapidly changing into current which set eastward Even while I gazed, this current acquired monstrous velocity Each moment added to its speed - to its headlong impetuosity In five minutes the whole sea, as far as Vurrgh, was lashed into ungovernable fury ; but between Moskoe coast main uproar held its sway Here the vast bed waters, seamed and scarred into thousand conflicting channels, burst suddenly into phrensied convulsion - heaving, boiling, hissing - gyrating in gigantic and innumerable vortices, and all whirling and plunging on eastward with rapidity which water never elsewhere assumes except in precipitous descents

more, there came over the scene another radical alteration The general surface grew somewhat more smooth, whirlpools, one by one, disappeared, while prodigious streaks of foam became apparent where none seen before These streaks, , spreading out to great distance, and entering into combination, took unto themselves the gyratory motion subsided vortices, and seemed the germ of another more vast Suddenly - very suddenly - this assumed distinct and definite existence, in circle of more than mile in diameter The edge whirl was represented by broad belt of gleaming spray ; but no particle slipped mouth terrific funnel, whose interior, as far eye could fathom it, was smooth, shining, and jet-black wall of water, inclined horizon at an angle of some forty-five degrees, speeding dizzily round and round with swaying and sweltering motion, and sending forth winds an appalling voice, half shriek, half roar, such as not even the mighty cataract of Niagara ever lifts up in its agony to Heaven

The mountain trembled to its very base, rock rocked I threw myself upon my face, and clung scant herbage in an excess of nervous agitation

"This," said I , old man - " nothing else great whirlpool Maelstrm "

"So sometimes termed," said he "We Norwegians call it the Moskoe-strm, island of Moskoe midway "

The ordinary accounts vortex had by no means prepared me for what That of Jonas Ramus, perhaps the most circumstantial of any, cannot impart the faintest conception either magnificence, or horror scene - or wild bewildering sense novel which confounds the beholder not sure from what point of view the writer surveyed it, nor at what time ; but it could neither summit of Helseggen, nor during storm some passages description, nevertheless, quoted for their details, although their effect is exceedingly feeble in conveying an impression spectacle

"Between Lofoden and Moskoe," , "the depth water is between thirty-six and forty fathoms ; but other side, toward Ver (Vurrgh) this depth decreases so as not to afford convenient passage for vessel, without the risk of splitting rocks, which happens even calmest weather When flood, the stream runs up the country between Lofoden and Moskoe with boisterous rapidity ; but the roar impetuous ebb sea is scarce equalled loudest and most dreadful cataracts ; the noise being heard several leagues off, vortices or pits are an extent and depth, that if ship comes within its attraction, inevitably absorbed and carried down bottom, and there beat to pieces against the rocks ; and water relaxes, the fragments thereof are thrown up again But these intervals of tranquility are only turn ebb and flood, and in calm weather, and last but quarter of an hour, its violence gradually returning stream is most boisterous, and its fury heightened by storm, dangerous within Norway mile of it Boats, yachts, and ships carried away by not guarding against it were within its reach It likewise happens frequently, that whales come too near the stream, overpowered by its violence; and then impossible to describe their howlings and bellowings in their fruitless struggles to disengage themselves bear once, attempting to swim from Lofoden to Moskoe, was caught stream and borne down, while he roared terribly, so be heard on shore Large stocks of firs and pine trees, after being absorbed current, rise again broken and torn to such degree bristles grew upon them This plainly shows the bottom to consist of craggy rocks, among which whirled to and fro This stream is regulated flux and reflux sea - it being constantly high and low water every six hours year 1645, early morning of Sexagesima Sunday, it raged noise and impetuosity very stones houses coast fell ground "