DEVIL FISHING. 39 



a party of high spirits, eager for the rapture of this new 

 but perilous pastime. A number of amateurs had taken 

 passage in the third boat, which was to lag behind, with 

 a view to picking up whatever fell overboard from its com- 

 panions in the confusion of the scuffle, on condition of 

 being allowed to be always in a situation to escape season- 

 ably from danger. The sun was already high ; but a light 

 breeze which came in from the sea relieved the intensity of 

 its rays, which descended on our heads through a bright, 

 liquid sky. The blubber, taking advantage of the flood, 

 were seen in troops at our side, throbbing their bright, 

 silky forms toward the banks up the river. A shark now 

 and then shot his fin across our track, as he dashed into a 

 shoal of fry, startling the whole glittering tribe into the 

 air ; while over our heads the sea-gull wended his easy 

 night, now swooping gracefully to the surface and then 

 rising on the wind with his dreary clack, reminding one of 

 the cry of a doomed spirit. 



" We were now moving leisurely along the Hilton 

 Head shore, looking out for our foe in one of his old 

 haunts, about a large trunk which rose black with age and 

 barnacles, some ten or fifteen feet above water. Not a 

 sign of him was discovered. We looked in the direction 

 of Skull Creek, but he was obviously not there, for the sur- 

 face was as quiet as if he had never ruffled it. A glance 

 toward the sea at our backs, gave us as little satisfaction. 

 In the meantime, it was evident from the water-marks on 

 our left, that the flood was far advanced, and that the 



