DEVIL FISHING. 80 



or, if that were impracticable, might, at least, dis- 

 engage my harpoon. At this moment, the rope 

 parted. But what was my surprise at beholding 

 the fish, though now released, still keeping com- 

 pany witli us, swimming close to the boat and follow- 

 ing us with his horns projected on each side of the 

 stern, moving exactly with our speed, and in oui 

 Direction ! I caught at my spear ; but one glance 

 at the lowering sky served to show the futility of 

 making further onslaught on him. To reach the 

 shore before the storm should burst on us, was 



the imperious demand now made on us by con- 







trolling circumstances, and we spread our main-sail, 

 and flew away from the gale and from the devil- 

 fish, not without casting some anxious looks behind, 

 to see if he still pursued. But our speed was too 

 great ; he fell behind, and we saw him no more ! 



Shall I say that no touch of superstitious feeling 

 took momentary possession of my mind, in witness- 

 ing an act so startling, on a scene so wild ? What 

 if he pursued us, impelled by the instinct of ven- 

 geance ? "What if he leaped upon us in that vindic- 

 tive mood? In that retributory leap, our boat 

 would be crushed like a cockle-shelL Shall I say, 

 that fancies such as these did not flit across our 

 minds, while the night deepened, and the lightnings 

 flashed around us, and the whitening waves were 



