20 DEVIL FISHING. 



fell not (sucli was tlie rapidity of its motion) till 

 they were fairly left astern. His oarsmen, like 

 prudent fellows, had taken, 'through choice, the 

 position which their master had adopted through 

 necessity, and quietly prostrated themselves in the 

 bottom of the boat, where they rightly supposed 

 their situation was safest. 



There is much that is pleasant in the excitation 

 of violent motion ! So thought Dr. Johnson. It is 

 probable Jones would have added the proviso, " so 

 long as the motion is under our regulation. 5 ' It 

 was not until some minutes had elapsed, that he 

 had the presence of mind, or the power, to crawl 

 from his recumbent posture, and occupy his appro- 

 priate seat at the stern, where, however, he soon 

 settled himself, and enjoyed the whole luxury of 

 his situation. The wind fanned his face, his hair 

 streamed off at right angles from his head, and the 

 water foamed furiously about the stem, as the boat, 

 impelled by this more than Triton, darted through 

 the waters with the speed of an arrow. And now 

 he approached his home, and he rejoiced to see that 

 several of his friends were assembled on the bluff 

 to welcome his return. But what was their amaze- 

 ment, to behold and recognize Jones, seated upright 

 in the stern of his boat, which seemed to fly through 

 the waters without the aid of oar, oarsmen, sail or 



