THE GEE AT SEA SERPENT. 247 



long, and it had eight forraidahle arms issuing out 

 of its head, each about six feet long and covered 

 with suckers. Its colour was a reddish brick- dust. 

 Its eyes, which were on a level with its head, were 

 of enormous size, and of terrible fixity. Its mouth, 

 which was shaped like a parrot's beak, was about 

 twenty inches long. Its body was spindle-shaped, 

 only much enlarged towards the centre. Its swim- 

 ming apparatus was placed in the hinder part, and 

 consisted of two rounded lobes of considerable 

 volume. 



Finding himself in the presence of one of these 

 strange creatures which the ocean sometimes yields 

 up from its depths as if to put human science at 

 defiance. Lieutenant Bowyer resolved to examine it 

 more closely, and attempt, if possible, to capture it. 

 He stopped the engines immediately, guns were 

 charged, a slip-knot and harpoons prepared; but, 

 unfortunately, a strong swell which was running at 

 the time disturbed the arrangements, and the crea- 

 ture, which seemed to have a sort of intelligence of 

 danger, shifted its ground, and seemed to desire to 

 avoid the ship; the Alecto, however, gave chase. 



At the first discharge of bullets which it received, 

 the monster dived under the ship and appeared on 

 the other side, rising immediately to the surface, and 

 waving its arms about. Another broadside of ten 

 bullets was then administered ; some of which passed 

 through the creature without effect, but others caused 



