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me altogether in my views of his insanity； but cautioned me to say
nothing on this head to any person on board。
Several circumstances occurred immediately after this fit of Wyatt
which contributed to heighten the curiosity with which I was
already possessed。 Among other things； this： I had been nervous
drank too much strong green tea； and slept ill at nightin fact；
for two nights I could not be properly said to sleep at all。 Now；
my state…room opened into the main cabin； or dining…room； as did
those of all the single men on board。 Wyatt's three rooms were in
the after…cabin； which was separated from the main one by a slight
sliding door； never locked even at night。 As we were almost
constantly on a wind； and the breeze was not a little stiff； the
ship heeled to leeward very considerably； and whenever her
starboard side was to leeward； the sliding door between the cabins
slid open； and so remained； nobody taking the trouble to get up and
shut it。 But my berth was in such a position； that when my own
state…room door was open； as well as the sliding door in question
（and my own door was ALWAYS open on account of the heat；） I could
see into the after…cabin quite distinctly； and just at that portion
of it； too； where were situated the state…rooms of Mr。 Wyatt。
Well； during two nights （NOT consecutive） while I lay awake； I
clearly saw Mrs。 W。； about eleven o'clock upon each night； steal
cautiously from the state…room of Mr。 W。； and enter the extra room；
where she remained until daybreak； when she was called by her
husband and went back。 That they were virtually separated was
clear。 They had separate apartmentsno doubt in contemplation of
a more permanent divorce； and here； after all I thought was the
mystery of the extra stateroom。
There was another circumstance； too； which interested me much。
During the two wakeful nights in question； and immediately after
the disappearance of Mrs。 Wyatt into the extra stateroom； I was
attracted by certain singular cautious； subdued noises in that of
her husband。 After listening to them for some time； with
thoughtful attention； I at length succeeded perfectly in
translating their import。 They were sounds occasioned by the
artist in prying open the oblong box； by means of a chisel and
malletthe latter being apparently muffled； or deadened； by some
soft woollen or cotton substance in which its head was enveloped。
In this manner I fancied I could distinguish the precise moment
when he fairly disengaged the lidalso； that I could determine
when he removed it altogether； and when he deposited it upon the
lower berth in his room； this latter point I knew； for example； by
certain slight taps which the lid made in striking against the
wooden edges of the berth； as he endeavored to lay it down VERY
gentlythere being no room for it on the floor。 After this there
was a dead stillness； and I heard nothing more； upon either
occasion； until nearly daybreak； unless； perhaps； I may mention a
low sobbing； or murmuring sound； so very much suppressed as to be
nearly inaudibleif； indeed； the whole of this latter noise were
not rather produced by my own imagination。 I say it seemed to
RESEMBLE sobbing or sighingbut； of course； it could not have been
either。 I rather think it was a ringing in my own ears。 Mr。
Wyatt； no doubt； according to custom； was merely giving the rein to
one of his hobbiesindulging in one of his fits of artistic
enthusiasm。 He had opened his oblong box； in order to feast his
eyes on the pictorial treasure within。 There was nothing in this；
however； to make him SOB。 I repeat； therefore； that it must have
been simply a freak of my own fancy； distempered by good Captain
Hardy's green tea。 just before dawn； on each of the two nights of
which I speak； I distinctly heard Mr。 Wyatt replace the lid upon
the oblong box； and force the nails into their old places by means
of the muffled mallet。 Having done this； he issued from his state…
room； fully dressed； and proceeded to call Mrs。 W。 from hers。
We had been at sea seven days； and were now off Cape Hatteras； when
there came a tremendously heavy blow from the southwest。 We were；
in a measure； prepared for it； however； as the weather had been
holding out threats for some time。 Every thing was made snug； alow
and aloft； and as the wind steadily freshened； we lay to； at
length； under spanker and foretopsail； both double…reefed。
In this trim we rode safely enough for forty…eight hoursthe ship
proving herself an excellent sea…boat in many respects； and
shipping no water of any consequence。 At the end of this period；
however； the gale had freshened into a hurricane； and our after
sail split into ribbons； bringing us so much in the trough of the
water that we shipped several prodigious seas； one immediately
after the other。 By this accident we lost three men overboard with
the caboose； and nearly the whole of the larboard bulwarks。
Scarcely had we recovered our senses； before the foretopsail went
into shreds； when we got up a storm staysail and with this did
pretty well for some hours； the ship heading the sea much more
steadily than before。
The gale still held on； however； and we saw no signs of its
abating。 The rigging was found to be ill…fitted； and greatly
strained； and on the third day of the blow； about five in the
afternoon； our mizzen…mast； in a heavy lurch to windward； went by
the board。 For an hour or more； we tried in vain to get rid of it；
on account of the prodigious rolling of the ship； and； before we
had succeeded； the carpenter came aft and announced four feet of
water in the hold。 To add to our dilemma； we found the pumps
choked and nearly useless。
All was now confusion and despairbut an effort was made to
lighten the ship by throwing overboard as much of her cargo as
could be reached； and by cutting away the two masts that remained。
This we at last accomplishedbut we were still unable to do any
thing at the pumps； and； in the meantime； the leak gained on us
very fast。
At sundown； the gale had sensibly diminished in violence； and as
the sea went down with it； we still entertained faint hopes of
saving ourselves in the boats。 At eight P。 M。； the clouds broke
away to windward； and we had the advantage of a full moona piece
of good fortune which served wonderfully to cheer our drooping
spirits。
After incredible labor we succeeded； at length； in getting the
longboat over the side without material accident； and into this we
crowded the whole of the crew and most of the passengers。 This
party made off immediately； and； after undergoing much suffering；
finally arrived； in safety； at Ocracoke Inlet； on the third day
after the wreck。
Fourteen passengers； with the captain； remained on board； resolving
to trust their fortunes to the jolly…boat at the stern。 We lowered
it without difficulty； although it was only by a miracle that we
prevented it from swamping as it touc