14 JUNGLE PEACE 



and balance myself for the propitious moment. 

 Now if not before, the audience gathers. It is 

 flattering to see how quickly my performance 

 will empty the smoking room, put an end to 

 bridge games and fill the deck chairs with 

 deserted, outspread yellow-backs. As danger- 

 ous rival attractions, I admit only boat-drill and 

 the dinner gong! 



My whole object is of course to secure as 

 much as possible of the sargasso weed together 

 with its strange inhabitants, and to this end I 

 have tramped the decks of steamers with the 

 patience of the pedestrian of Chillon. I have 

 learned the exact portions of the vessels where the 

 strain is the least, and where the water, outflung 

 from the bow is redrawn most closely to the 

 vessel's side. I have had overheavy grapples 

 dragged from my hand and barely escaped fol- 

 lowing the lost instrument. I have seen too- 

 light irons skip along the surface, touching only 

 the high spots of the waves. As one drops one's 

 aerial bomb well in advance of the object 

 aimed at, so I have had to learn to adjust 

 the advance of my cast to the speed of the 

 ship. 



I make throw after throw in vain, and my 



