Chapter XXIV. Eleven Years in a Few Pages

           TheheadingofthefollowingchapterindicatesthattheadventuresofWilliamGuyandhiscompanionsafterdestructionoftheEnglishschooner,andthedetailsoftheirhistorysubsequenttothedepartureofArthurPymandDirkPeters,areabouttobenarratedwithallpossiblebrevity.

           Wecarriedourtreasure-trovetothecavern,andhadhappinessofrestoringallfourmentolife.Inreality,itwashunger,nothingbuthunger,whichhadreducedthepoorfellowstothesemblanceofdeath.

           Onthe8thofFebruary,1828,thecrewoftheJane,havingnoreasontodoubtthegoodfaithofthepopulationofTsalalIsland,orthatoftheirchief,Too-Wit,disembarked,inordertovisitthevillageofKlock-Klock,havingpreviouslyputtheschoonerintoastateofdefense,leavingsixmenonboard.

           Thecrew,countingWilliamGuy,thecaptain,ArthurPym,andDirkPeters,formedabodyofthirty-twomenarmedwithguns,pistols,andknives.ThedogTigeraccompaniedthem.

           OnreachingthenarrowgorgeleadingtothevillageprecededandfollowedbythenumerouswarriorsofTooWit,thelittlecompanydivided,ArthurPym,DirkPeters,andAllen(thesailor)enteringacleftinthehill-sidewiththeintentionofcrossingittotheotherside.Fromthatmomenttheircompanionswerenevertoseethemmore.

           Afterashortintervalashockwasfelt.Theoppositehillfelldowninavastheap,buryingWilliamGuyandhistwenty-eightcompanions.