DEVIL FISHING. 21 



steam, or any apparent or visible impulsion. 

 Amazement was their first emotion -joy was their 

 second and they shouted forth in triumph, as the 

 thought suddenly flashed .upon them, Jones has 

 discovered perpetual motion ! He shouted to 

 them for assistance : " Man me a boat, my friends ; 

 hasten to my rescue." His voice, tremulous from 

 excitement, or drowned by distance, never reached 

 their ears. He waved his hat, and shouted again ; 

 hats waved in return, and a triumphant shout 

 responded from his friends but no boat put oif, no 

 rescue came ! Que faut il faire ? He had even to 

 do, as many a shrewd politician has done before 

 him, lie still, and watch some favorable turn of 

 affairs. " These violent motions," thought he, 

 " must have an end, and even devil-fish must tire. 

 Friction, at least, that has so often foiled me, now 

 stands my friend." The fish did pause at last, but 

 not till the boat had been hurried quite out of the 

 harbor, and was floating on the waters of the wide 

 Atlantic. It was then that our sportsman left his 

 position at the stern, where his weight had been 

 necessary to preserve the equipoise, and cut off, 

 with his penknife, the line which bound him to his 

 formidable companion. The oars had been lost 

 overboard in the melde ; the sail, however, remained 

 to waft him to his home. But it was late at night 



