48 DEVIL FISHING. 



second time to tlie shore to have it repaired. We 

 landed at Mrs. Elliott's plantation, and refreshed 

 ourselves with fruits and melons, until our purpose 

 was effected ; when we sallied forth once more in 

 quest of sport. The harpoon was now transferred 

 to the hands of the younger sportsmen; but the 

 fish had grown shy, showed themselves but seldom, 

 and then for so short a time, that before we could 

 succeed in striking another, our attention was drawn 

 off in a new direction. We looked for our consort, 

 and saw her several miles to the east. The sea- 

 breeze had sprung up her sails were set, but she 

 was dragged with ominous speed in a direction 

 opposite to her intended course. " Vestigia nulla 

 rotrorsum" stern foremost, like the beeves of 

 Cacus, was she -wending her way to the den of the 

 devil-fish. Possibly there is less merriment on 

 board of her than when we parted company ! Pos- 

 sibly they begin to comprehend the advantage of a 

 cruise in company ! "No matter ! we must inter- 

 cept her, before she is carried out to sea. 



I here resume the narrative from the " Literary 

 Journal," which I have interrupted by these re- 

 marks : 



II One or two hours passed, and our friends had not yet 

 made any progress toward the capture of their devil-fish. 

 They were, in truth, quite at his mercy. In the first 



