THE SEA -SERPENT. 121 



reported one of them as having been stranded on 

 the island of Kiawah ! 



When, during the pursuit of these whales, the 

 fish occasionally threw themselves in line, following 

 in each other's wakes near the surface, with their 

 fins projecting above the water, the close resem- 

 blance to an immense serpent was brought strik- 

 ingly to the minds of o.ur sportsmen ; and it was 

 . easy to perceive, how, in a hazy atmosphere, or 

 during an agitated sea, the sporting of a shoal of 

 whales might represent (to the mind of an excited 

 mariner), and be honestly mistaken for the redoubt- 

 able sea-serpent ! 



When the expedition returned to Beaufort, there 

 were some to taunt it with its want of success. 



" Well, Captain George, where is your prize 2 

 You have not caught the whale, after all." 



" No," says Captain George, " but we have done 

 better ; we havs killed the gea-serpent !" 



