of us.

From my own narrative I shall omit much of description and colloquy
which, during its development in 1877, occurred concerning discoveries
of a geographical and geological nature, and also many discussions of a
character purely philosophical; but no fact shall be discarded. The
historian has, in my opinion, no discretionary power concerning the
introduction or elimination of facts. His duty is plain, and in the
present instance it shall be faithfully performed.

The following presents a very general outline of "The Narrative of A.
Gordon Pym":

In the year 1827, Pym, just verging upon manhood, runs away from his
home in the town of Nantucket, on the island of the same name, in
companionship with his boy friend, Augustus Barnard, son of the captain
of the ship on which they depart. The name of the brig on which they
embark is the Grampus, which is starting for a trading voyage in the
South Pacific Ocean. Young Barnard secretes Pym in the hold of the brig,
to remain hidden until so far from land as to make a return of the
runaway impracticable. Pym, hidden amid the freightage of the hold,
falls into a prolonged slumber, probably caused by the foul air in that
part of the vessel. When the brig is four days at sea, a majority of the
crew mutiny; and after killing many of those who have not joined them,
Captain Barnard is set adrift in a small boat, without food and with
only a jug of water. Young Barnard is permitted to remain on the vessel.
There is a dog that plays a leading part in the mutiny episode by acting
as a messenger between Barnard and Pym, who had no other means of
communicating.