THE SEA-SERPENT. 107 



name and dim my eyes while I write, with 

 tears ! 



The cottage of Dr. Eobbins, was seated on the 

 very clift', and overlooked the sea. The cloth was 

 hardly removed, when a murmuring noise from 

 without induced us to look out, and we observed 

 that the adjoining rocks, were being fast populated 

 by an anxious crowd, who were looking intently 

 toward the sea ; our eyes took the same direction 

 and there on the smooth surface, lay the sea-ser- 

 pent! There was the ripple, there were tho 

 bunches just as they had been described in print,, 

 there was the long wake, leaving it uncertain what 

 was the actual body, and what represented the dis- 

 placement of the water caused by the rapid motion 

 of the animal. An excitement seized upon us all, 

 and obeying an impulse which my former training 

 may well explain, I resolved to volunteer with any 

 party that should attempt his capture. Meantime, 

 the serpent disappeared, and when he next pre- 

 sented himself on the surface we brought a tele- 

 scope to bear on him, and found to our infinite cha- 

 grin, that the object which magnified by the haze 

 of the atmosphere, had seemed to us the veritable 

 sea-serpent, had now shrunk to the dimensions of a 

 despicable horse-mackerel ! 



" But surely sir. you have mistaken your lati 



