168 The Cretaceous Seas 



not only got turtle eggs but the turtles them- 

 selves, and a great variety of fishes, mackerel, 

 herring, etc. While building our ship we had un- 

 limited adventures, because each morning and 

 evening we walked off into the forest or explored 

 the sea shore, or walked along the winding river, 

 or mossy bayou. But as my attention was occu- 

 pied in the boat building I could not keep notes 

 of these adventures. We named our little ship 

 The Swan, not because of the beauty of the boat, 

 but because it floated as lightly as a swan on the 

 waters of Mosasaurian Bay. 



One lovely morning in early June w r hen life 

 was the richest, and the forest had attained per- 

 fection; we hoisted our great square sail, and 

 loosened our rudder bands, and put to sea. With 

 a gentle breeze stirring, and with only a gentle 

 ripple on the bosom of the deep; with no rocky 

 breakers in shore, the motion on board was de- 

 lightful. "Look Papa," cried Maud, as a great 

 fish, fifteen feet long, dashed by in pursuit of a 

 school of mackerel, that were struggling to get 

 into water to escape his murderous jaws. He 

 was armed with long conical teeth, those in front 

 where the face with its short muzzle looked like 

 a bull dog, the horrid fangs were four inches 

 long; in the center of the head was a triangular 

 crest, that cut the waves like the dorsal spine of 

 a shark. He beat the water into spray, in his 

 eager pursuit of his prey ; and many a fish fell a 

 victim to his appetite. His skull was two feet 



