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fromthetimeofourgettinginbed,andIwasjustaboutfallinginto
adoze,whenhesuddenlystartedup,andsworewithaterribleoath
thathewouldnotgotosleepforanyArthurPyminChristendom,
whentherewassogloriousabreezefromthesouthwest.Ineverwas
soastonishedinmylife,notknowingwhatheintended,andthinking
thatthewinesandliquorshehaddrunkhadsethimentirelybeside
himself.Heproceededtotalkverycoolly,however,sayingheknew
thatIsupposedhimintoxicated,butthathewasnevermoresober
inhislife.Hewasonlytired,headded,oflyinginbedonsuchafine
nightlikeadog,andwasdeterminedtogetupanddress,andgoout
onafrolicwiththeboat.Icanhardlytellwhatpossessedme,butthe
wordswerenosooneroutofhismouththanIfeltathrillofthegreatest
excitementandpleasure,andthoughthismadideaoneofthemost
delightfulandmostreasonablethingsintheworld.Itwasblowing
almostagale,andtheweatherwasverycold—itbeinglateinOctober.
Isprangoutofbed,nevertheless,inakindofecstasy,andtoldhim
Iwasquiteasbraveashimself,andquiteastiredashewasoflying
inbedlikeadog,andquiteasreadyforanyfunorfrolicasany
AugustusBarnardinNantucket.
Welostnotimeingettingonourclothesandhurryingdowntothe
boat.Shewaslyingattheolddecayedwharfbythelumber-yard
ofPankey&Co.,andalmostthumpinghersideoutagainsttherough
logs.Augustusgotintoherandbailedher,forshewasnearlyhalffull
ofwater.Thisbeingdone,wehoistedjibandmainsail,keptfull,and
startedboldlyouttosea.
Thewind,asIbeforesaid,blewfreshlyfromthesouthwest.The
nightwasveryclearandcold.Augustushadtakenthehelm,and
Istationedmyselfbythemast,onthedeckofthecuddy.Weflew
alongatagreatrate—neitherofushavingsaidawordsincecasting
loosefromthewharf.Inowaskedmycompanionwhatcourse
heintendedtosteer,andwhattimehethoughtitprobableweshould
getback.Hewhistledforafewminutes,andthensaidcrustily:“I
amgoingtosea—youmaygohomeifyouthinkproper.”Turning
myeyesuponhim,Iperceivedatoncethat,inspiteofhisassumed
nonchalance,hewasgreatlyagitated.Icouldseehimdistinctlybythe
lightofthemoon—hisfacewaspalerthananymarble,andhishand
shooksoexcessivelythathecouldscarcelyretainholdofthetiller.
Ifoundthatsomethinghadgonewrong,andbecameseriouslyalarmed.
AtthisperiodIknewlittleaboutthemanagementofaboat,andwas
