Trailing the Sea-Bat 



racing with flocks of gulls that eyed us curiously, 

 plunging among schools of Portuguese men of war 

 and velellas, and in a short time without incident 

 entered the lagoon, where I decided to bring matters 

 to a finish and cut away rather than go to sea a second 

 time. 



Whether the great fish was accustomed to go to a 

 certain feeding ground and now returned in its terror 

 from mere force of habit, I do not know, but the fact 

 remains that it was rushing up the lagoon between 

 Long Key and the outer fringing reef, into an almost 

 perfect cul de sac, the water shallowing at every flap 

 of its wonderful wings. I stood on the little deck 

 and could see every movement of the strange fish, that 

 in swimming over the white sandy bottom in water 

 not over four feet in depth, displayed its outline 

 perfectly. 



Chief had the oar, steering the boat after the fish, 

 which, it was expected, would turn at any moment, 

 while Paublo stood amidships holding the rope, which 

 had a turn about the seat. The lagoon narrowed 

 rapidly, and at high tide a small boat-channel was 

 formed; at other times being too shallow and easily 

 waded. Perchance the fish having passed this at 

 flood tide, was again making for it, hoping to reach 

 deep water, which was but a stone's throw away. 

 The graceful, bird-like movements of its fins was a 

 fascinating spectacle; a waving, undulatory motion 

 which sent the ray along at a remarkable speed, and 



13 



