DOLPHINS m P UR8UIT OF FL YING FISHES. 297 



" Shortly after observing a cluster of flying-fish rise out 

 of the water, we discovered two or three dolphins ranging 

 past the ship in all their beauty, and watched with some 

 anxiety to see one of those aquatic chases of which our 

 friends, the Indiamen, had been telling such wonderful 

 stories. We had not long to wait, for the ship, in her pro- 

 gress through the Avater, soon put up another shoal of these 

 little things, which, as the others had done, took their 

 flight directly to windward. A large dolphin, which had 

 been keeping company with us abresst of the weather gang- 

 way, at the depth of two or three fathoms, and, as usual, 

 glistening most beautifully in the sun, no sooner detected 

 our poor dear little friends take wing than he turned his 

 head towards them and, darting to the surface, leaped from 

 the water with a velocity little short, as it seemed, of a can- 

 non-ball. But, although the impetus with which he shot 

 himself into the air gave him an initial velocity greatly 

 exceeding that of the flying-fish, the start which his fated 

 prey had got enabled them to keep ahead of him for a con- 

 siderable time. 



" The length of the dolphin's first spring could not be 

 less than ten yards, and after he fell we could see him glid- 

 ing like lightning through the water for a moment, when he 

 again arose and shot forwards with considerably greater 

 velocity than at first, and, of course, to a still greater dis- 

 tance. In this manner the merciless pursuer seemed to 

 stride along with fearful rapidity, while his brilliant coat 

 sparkled and flashed in the sun quite splendidly. As he fell 

 headlong on the water at the end of each huge leap, a series 

 of circles were sent far over the still surface, which lay as 

 smooth as a mirror. 



" The group of wretched flying-fish, thus hotly pursued, 

 at length dropped into the sea; but we were rejoiced to 

 observe that they merely touched the top of the swell, and 

 scarcely sank in it ; at least, they instantly set off again in a 



