80 DEVIL FISHING. 



and jaws, cried out, "Great king ! Mass Tom over 

 board !" So intense was their curiosity to see how 

 the affair would end, that they entirely forgot how 

 much might depend on their own efforts. Could 

 they have rowed and looked at the same time, it 

 would have been all very well ; but to turn their 

 backs 011 such a pageant, every incident of which 

 they were so keenly bent on observing, was ex- 

 pecting too much from African forethought and 

 self-possession ! 



In a few minutes my son found himself sur- 

 rounded by his companions, whose boats were 

 closely grouped around. They threw themselves 

 into action with a vivacity which showed that they 

 were disposed to punish the fish for the insolence 

 of his attack. They allowed him but short time 

 for shrift, and forcing him to the surface, filled his 

 body with their resentful weapons ; then, joining 

 their forces, drew him rapidly to the shore, and 

 landed him, amidst shouts and cheerings, at Mrs. 

 Elliott's, Hilton Head. He measured sixteen feet 

 across ! 



The love of human flesh, ascribed by Oppian to 

 a fish (conjectured to be the devil-fish) which was 

 said to destroy the mariner, by sinking him to the 

 bottom and smothering him beneath his enormous 

 wings, must be considered as fabulous ; for the fish, 



