IX 



THE WILD. 



Has my reader ever been present at the capture of a 

 shark ? If he has crossed the line, or even if he knows 

 what it is to spend a week or two in " the calm latitudes," 

 the debateable border-sea between the ordinary breezes 

 and the trades, he is no stranger to the assiduous atten- 

 tions of this lank and lithe tenant of the tropical seas. 

 Jack familiarly calls him by the title of " Sea-lawyer/' 

 for reasons which are by no means complimentary to the 

 learned profession; and views him with that admixture of 

 hate and fear, with which unsophisticated landsmen are 

 apt to regard his terrestrial representatives. To bait a line 

 and catch the mackerel or the bonito, is always a welcome 

 occupation to the sailor ; but to no amusement does Jack 

 bend himself with such a hearty alacrity as to take the 

 " shirk." When, on approaching the northern tropic, 



" Down drops the breeze, the sails drop down," 



'tis not " sad as sad can be ; " for all is hilarity and alert- 

 ness. Away goes one to the harness-cask, for a junk of 

 salt pork, another is on his knees before the cabin-locker 

 rummaging out an enormous hook, which tradition con- 

 fidently reports is deposited there ; a third is unreeving 

 the studding-sail halyards to serve as a line, for so tough 



