r, covered in every part with oil, was
immediately in a blaze, and burnt with such rapidity, that before he
could recover his feet on deck, he was like an immense ball of fire. I
retreated to the companion-hatch to watch his motions. His first act
was to return to the quarter-deck and roll himself in the oil, with an
idea of quenching the flames, but this added fuel to them, and the
animal roaring in his agony at last jumped into the sea and disappeared.

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. I clung
to it until daylight appeared, when what was my horror to perceive an
enormous shark close to me. I nearly let go my hold and sunk, so
paralysed was I with fear, I anticipated every moment to feel his teeth
crushing me in half, and I shut my eyes that I might not add to the
horrors of my death by being a witness to the means. Some minutes had
elapsed, which appeared to me as so many hours, when surprised at being
still alive,