Big Game at Sea 



I had lived some years in what might be termed a 

 waterspout country. Before the wind dropped we 

 had seen two large spouts ahead and supposed they 

 were passing to the eastward, so kept on, headed for 

 them, as they lay in our course; but they were more 

 or less stationary for a while, and as we neared them 

 three others began to drop from the peculiar low- 

 lying clouds, the wind died as though it had been 

 struck, and in a few moments we were literally sur- 

 rounded by the great giants whose tops seemed lost in 

 the heavens. A more terrifying spectacle it was 

 never my fortune to witness. The roar was dis- 

 tinctly audible, and the entire heavens took on a 

 strange copper hue, while the clouds grew dark and 

 angry, and appeared to be supported by the gigantic 

 pillars, apparently a mile high. 



As the wind dropped the heavy boat stopped, and 

 the giants seemed to close in upon us. I turned to 

 Long John, who had the helm, and asked him if we 

 could not pull ahead. He was absolutely unmoved 

 by a sight that should have demoralized any man. 

 The only thing he did was to ask me for a match, 

 and lighting his old pipe he puffed away and waited 

 for death, as it seemed impossible for us to escape. 

 I remember wondering at his nonchalance, and tried 

 to make up my mind what to do, whether to jump 

 overboard when we were struck or stand by the boat. 

 While I was turning it over in my mind Long John 

 said he reckoned we were going to have some wind, 



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