" SUN-SPEAKING." 139 



make him acquainted with the virtues of " cold iron," 

 rather than to discuss his sexual or alimentary pecu- 

 liarities. Of these he is of course himself the com- 

 petent judge ; but being in a direct line with the 

 spear, it is obvious that the stroke must be made 

 obliquely or transversely to take effect. This pre- 

 caution being observed, I will assume that the 

 tyro has already transferred him amongst the float- 

 ing cargo of the dingey. He doubtless feels in- 

 dignant at the sudden change of element ; but such 

 accidents seem to be the law of animal life. All 

 creatures prey on other organised or sentient matter ; 

 and omnivorous man most of any. An QEdipus or an 

 optimist may solve the dark enigma of the arrange- 

 ment to his own satisfaction ; but how many dreary 

 volumes of mere guessing would philosophers have 

 spared us if they only possessed the courage to say, 

 " We don't know," when such questions as the 

 " writhing" of eels, and of animals higher in the scale 

 too, occupy their ingenious pens ! The late Dr. 

 Whately was only more candid and daring, though 

 not more convincing perhaps, than his predecessors, 

 in declaring that a world without pain was an im- 

 possibility. 



But the morning, which has been hitherto all that 

 could be desired, has suddenly undergone a change. 

 A dark cloud, that has broken away from its com- 

 panions on the distant horizon, is now passing be- 



