NIMROD OF THE SEA; OR, 



CHAPTER XXV. 



"St. Elmo's Fires," close Examination of; Superstitions on. Longfel- 

 low and Shakspeare Versions. Phosphorescence of the Sea. Riding 

 the Gale aloft, and ravishing Sights. Second-mate Sick, and Reconcil- 

 iation. Killer Whales, and Modes of Attack: unsuccessful Chase for 

 One. Boat-mending, and Flying Squid. Plenty of Fish, and Jib car- 

 ried away. Approaching Land, and Smell of the Land. Land Dead 

 Ahead, and the Mystery thereof. The Reason of Man proved equal to 

 the Instinct of the Bird. Hawaii in Sight. 



IN the middle watch of last night, in the murky damp of 

 this climate, the "ampizant" was seen on the boom-irons of 

 the main and maintop sail-yards. These are globular lights, 

 about the size of a man's head, with well-defined outline, and, 

 as seen from the deck, gleaming with a peculiar and super- 

 natural light. This phenomenon is known in the books as 

 " St. Elmo's fires ;" but the common term on board is the 

 " ampizant," or composants. The fires continued so long, and 

 burned so steadily, as to excite speculation and the supersti- 

 tions of the men. Antonio remembered the fearful incanta- 

 tion scene, and had no hesitation in holding that there was 

 some connection between the two mysterious lights alow 

 and aloft. Being curious to observe these lights from a 

 nearer point, and willing to keep up the character of the nec- 

 romancer, I went aloft and crawled out on the mainyard-arm, 

 somewhat cautiously I confess. When I reached the fire 

 and my eye was brought close to it, the appearance changed, 

 and the edge only of the iron was luminous, as though rub- 

 bed with phosphorus. The halo was lost to me, although 

 the men on deck said it remained unchanged to them. On 

 touching the spot with the hand, cautiously, I thought that 



