DEVIL FISHING. 49 



instance, he took them over to Paris Island Bank, He 

 then entered the Beaufort Kiver, where, after several turns 

 and returns, as if hesitating what to do, he crossed over to 

 the St. Helena shore, and coasted along that, until, falling 

 into the Bay Point channel, he took a steady course for 

 the ocean. All their efforts to bring him within reach of 

 the lances, were fruitless : the oars were out, the sails all 

 set, and a smacking breeze blowing right over the bar : it 

 was all in vain. Nothing either delayed or diverted his 

 progress. Having no banks now in his way, it was 

 obvious that his speed was becoming greater every 

 moment. Very little of the day, moreover, remained. 

 The sun was just above the mass of green woods in the 

 west, sinking majestically into an amphitheatre of bright 

 clouds, which seemed to heap about him in glorious 

 homage to his departing rays. Far down in the opposite 

 direction, the white sails of our companion might be seen 

 rolling and bending before the wind, as she went helplessly 

 on toward the breakers. Yet, we were several miles up 

 the river ! Could we overtake them ? Was it not too 

 late ? However, not a moment was to be lost. Every 

 oarlock was filled every hand grasped an oar every 

 sinew strained to the animating task. The devil-fish, after 

 all, was to be slain by us ! As we approached, the report 

 of a gun came booming toward us, giving notice of another 

 device of our friends to check his course. He had, at 

 last, risen to the surface, and the effect of buckshot was 

 tried upon him. But if he was touched, it served no 



