Having thus rid myself of my intruder I returned to my cooking. The ship
was now clear of ice, the weather was warm, the bodies of my shipmates
emitted a fetid smell, but I saw and smelt nothing; all that I observed
was that the barley which had been scattered on the deck by the fowls,
had sprung up about the decks, and I congratulated myself upon the
variety it would give to my culinary pursuits. I continued to cook, to
eat, and to sleep as before, when a circumstance occurred, which put an
end to all my culinary madness. One night I found the water washing by
the side of my standing bed-place in the cabin, and jumping out in alarm
to ascertain the cause, I plunged over head and ears. The fact was, that
the ship, when lifted by the ice, had sprung a leak which had gradually
filled her without my perceiving it. My fear of drowning was so great,
that I ran into the very danger which I would have avoided. I darted out
of the cabin windows into the sea, whereas had I gone upon deck I should
have been safe: for a little reflection might have told me that a vessel
laden with oil could not have sunk--but reflection came too late, and
benumbed with the coldness of the waters, I could have struggled but a
few seconds more, when I suddenly came in contact with a spar somewhat
bigger than a boat's mast. I seized it to support myself, and was
surprised at finding it jerked from me occasionally; as if there was
somebody else who had hold of it, and who wished to force me to let it
go; but it was quite dark, and I could distinguish nothing.
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