Trailing the Sea-Bat 



a hushed tone, " an' he mighty uncomfortable near, 

 sah, jes over yander." 



I thought so myself as the eight-oared barge now 

 rocked in the sea made by the fish. In a few moments 

 another jumped some distance away, and we could 

 hear a splashing sound, which Paublo said was caused 

 by the fins as the fish rushed through the water. 



The darkness was of that quality that could be 

 felt, yet it was that described by Milton as 



" Dark with expressive bright " 



as the lagoon scintillated with phosphorescent light; 

 every oar set the sea ablaze with silver radiance, and 

 ahead of the boat waves of fire seemed to go rippling 

 away. Now another seething, hissing sound was 

 heard, and a blaze of triangular light above some 

 huge, dim firebody below, glided swiftly along; then 

 a volcano seemed to rend the very sea, and out of a 

 blaze of phosphorescent light, that sent its radiations 

 in every direction, rose a dim shape, cleaving the air 

 to drop into another volcano, which opened to receive 

 it with loud intonation. 



" Sea vampa, sure," Paublo whispered, as though 

 he feared that the unknown would hear him. " Dey 

 jes wheelin' an' wheelin', leapin', an' I reckon we's 

 in a bad place." 



" Sea-bat," grunted Chief, as the ladies expressed 

 alarm. ' They jump five, yes, eight feet high." 



3 



