46 DEVIL FISHING. 



which now presented itself must have been full of 

 interest; but to every one possessed of the true 

 spirit of a sportsman, it must have been as exciting 

 as it was novel ! The winds were hushed, and the 

 wide expanse of water on which we floated was 

 smooth as a mirror. The tender, with her devil- 

 fish in tow, was before us. The tide, still flood, was 

 drifting her up the river, and out of her desired 

 course. See ! she has let go her anchors, hauled 

 her fish close up under her stern, and the boatmen 

 are beating off with their oars the sharks, that, 

 having scented the blood, as it flowed from many a 

 ghastly wound, can scarcely be deterred by blows 

 from gorging themselves on the immense but life- 

 less mass ! Further from shore glides the Sea- 

 Gull the first energies of the monster fish that 

 impels her have apparently been tamed down, and 

 she tacks across the channel, like a barge beating to 

 windward ! Jests, merriment and laughter are rife 

 on board of her ; and the mirthful echoes are borne 

 to us over the still waters. Behind her is our 

 own boat whilom the Cotton-Plant, but baptized 

 anew, after her capture of two hours since " The 

 Devil-Fish ;" and her crew, with less noise, but not 

 with less zest, are enjoying the luxury of the scene ! 

 Three ~boats, each with a devil-fish ! Such are the 

 compensations, ye sportsmen who inhabit more 



