g it in such a manner that
there was no possibility of its getting broken.

Having rested a while after this fortunate discovery, I again descended,
and now recovered the chain, with which I instantly came up. I then
fastened it on and went down for the third time, when I became fully
satisfied that no exertions whatever, in that situation, would enable
me to force open the door of the storeroom. I therefore returned in
despair.

There seemed now to be no longer any room for hope, and I could perceive
in the countenances of my companions that they had made up their
minds to perish. The wine had evidently produced in them a species
of delirium, which, perhaps, I had been prevented from feeling by the
immersion I had undergone since drinking it. They talked incoherently,
and about matters unconnected with our condition, Peters repeatedly
asking me questions about Nantucket. Augustus, too, I remember,
approached me with a serious air, and requested me to lend him a
pocket-comb, as his hair was full of fish-scales, and he wished to get
them out before going on shore. Parker appeared somewhat less affected,
and urged me to dive at random into the cabin, and bring up any article
which might come to hand. To this I consented, and, in the first
attempt, after staying under a full minute, brought up a small leather
trunk belonging to Captain Barnard. This was immediately opened in the
faint hope that it might contain something to eat or drink. We found
nothing, however, except a box of razors and two linen shirts. I now
went down again, and returned without any success. As my head came
above water I heard a crash on deck, and, upon getting up, saw that my
companions had ungratefully taken advantage of my absence to drink the
remainder of the wine, having let the bottle fall in the endeavour
to replace it before I saw them. I remonstrated with them on the
heartlessness of their conduct, when Augustus burst into tears. The
other two endeavoured to laugh the matter off as a joke, but I hope
never again to behold laughter of such a species: the distortion of
countenance was absolutely frightful. Indeed, it was apparent that the
stimulus, in the empty state of their stomachs, had taken instant and
violent effect, and that they were all exceedingly intoxicated. With
great difficulty I prevailed upon them to lie down, when they fell very
soon into a heavy slumber, accompanied with loud stertorous breathing.

I now found myself, as i