and my hands clutching the rope as I had
never clutched rope before, I hung on. I was almost afraid to climb
higher, lest my muscles failing me for a moment I should lose my grasp,
and yet the cask was only a few feet above me. Suddenly I recollected
that on board whalers casks are placed in the same manner as that was at
the masthead, in order that the officers, protected in some degree, may
in that position obtain a wide extended view in search of whales, and
that they enter by a trap-door in the bottom. Should this beacon
possess such a trap, I might get through it and obtain shelter and rest.
But again a doubt crossed my mind whether I could climb up even thus
far, without the risk of sliding down again into the sea.

I looked down to see if the tide was once more receding, but the waves
seemed still to be rising higher and higher. Some of their foam even
sometimes now touched my feet as they swept over the rock. They might
even cover the beacon itself; and if so, no human power could save me.
After remaining quiet for some time, I felt as if I possessed sufficient
strength, and resolved to make the attempt. With legs and arms and
hands I worked my way up. I would have clung with my teeth to the rope
could I have seized it. I was within a foot of the bottom of the cask,
when I felt so exhausted that I thought I could get no higher. I looked
down on the raging sea and then up at the only place which could afford
me shelter. In the darkness I could not see whether or not there was a
trap, and if there were one perhaps I might not be able to force it
open, and, exhausted by the effort, might drop into the water. I
dreaded the risk, but it must be run.

Nerving myself up to the undertaking, I slowly and carefully began to
work my way higher up. My head struck the cask. I put up my hand, the
bottom yielded, and now exerting all my remaining strength I seized the
edges and drew myself up, holding well on with my hands and feet until I
had got my head and shoulders into the interior. Throwing myself on my
chest, I felt round and discovered some beckets, evidently intended for
the purpose of enabling a person situated as I was to draw himself up.
I then, grasping the rope which hung from the top of the pole which
passed through the cask, dragged myself up and placed my feet at the
bottom. I pressed down the trap. I felt more secure than I had been
for many hours. Had I not still had a post to cling to after