112 THE SEA-SERPEKT. 



of jeers and doubts, the captain's testimony was 

 positive, earnest and unvarying, and the conviction 

 soon became general that the monster was really in 

 Port Eoyal ! Then came the unanimous determi- 

 nation to capture him at all hazards ! 



" "We'll teach this Yankee craft to cruise in our 

 waters," said one. 



" Doubtless, he has his belly stuffed with aboli- 

 tion tracts," said a hungry looking secessionist, 

 leading off on the grateful scent. 



" Gentlemen," said a third, " the sea-serpent is 

 here that's a fact. We must capture him, that's 

 another fact, or soon will be. Who'll volunteer ? He 

 shall not insult us by his presence in these waters 

 us, who have encountered and beaten the devil- 

 fish, who are his betters for aught we know us, who 

 have trailed behind them all night in our undecked 

 skiff, on the open sea, and mastered them with the 

 rising sun. We'll kill him, gentlemen ; we're the 

 boys to do it." And it was resolved ! 



The steamer whose intelligence had caused such 

 unwonted commotion in this ordinarily tranquil 

 town 3 now steamed off for her destination, uncoil 

 scious of, and indifferent to, the ferment she had 

 excited. Oh, Beaufort ! thou mother of beautiful 

 women and illustrious men, who devotest thy daugh- 

 ters to Heaven, in this world and the next; but 



