DEVIL FISHING. 57 



Elliott's plantation, without seeing a fish. Indeed, 

 we were not much surprised at this, for we were 

 anticipating, by several weeks, the customary time 

 of seeking for them, and looked upon the expedition 

 somewhat in the light of a reconnoisance. Our 

 consort, discouraged by the non-appearance of the 

 fish, and the appearance of some inopportune thun- 

 der-clouds, turned the head of his boat to the east, 

 and moved to Bay Point ; while we, preferring to 

 prolong the cruise, landed at Mrs. Elliott's and, 

 leaving a, look-out man on the bluff, to report if the 

 fish made their appearance, w r alked up to the house 

 to partake of a collation that we had provided. At 

 half ebb we set out on our return, and had reached 

 the Bay Gall breaker, when, close to the bank, a 

 devil-fish showed himself on the surface. Before I 

 could reach the bow, and prepare my harpoon, 

 he had disappeared; and we drifted down a 

 quarter of a mile without seeing him again. I had 

 scarcely resumed my place at the stern, when he 

 appeared just under the bow- of the boat; and had 

 I not gone aft, I must certainly have struck him. 

 Again he sunk ; but I now resolved to remain at my 

 post, and not suffer another surprise. A thunder- 

 squall was in our rear, and the wind, veering to the 

 east, was blowing so strong, that a short, chopping 

 sea was raised, and I found it impossible, from the 



