522 STILL BECALMED. 



bob-stays with a rope, and after a while managed to secure it by the tail. 

 Some of the crew then hoisted it on board. When it arrived on deck, it 

 gave a deep groan, flapped with great force, and soon expired. On 

 opening it next morning, eight hours after death, we found its intestines 

 still warm. They were arranged in the same manner as those of a pig ; 

 the paunch contained several cuttlefishes partially digested. The lower 

 jaw extended beyond the upper about three-fourths of an inch, and both 

 were furnished with a single row of conical teeth, about half an inch long, 

 and just so far separated as to admit those of one jaw between the corres- 

 ponding ones of the other. The animal might weigh about four hundred 

 pounds ; its eyes were extremely small, its flesh was considered delicate 

 by some on board ; but in m}'^ opinion, if it be good, that of a large alli- 

 gator is equally so ; and on neither do I intend to feast for some time. 

 The Captain told me that he had seen these Porpoises leap at times per- 

 pendicularly out of the water to the height of several feet, and that small 

 boats have now and then been sunk by their falling into them, when en- 

 gaged with their sports. 



During all this time flocks of Pigeons were crossing the Gulf, between 

 Cuba and the Floridas ; many a Rose-breasted GuU played around by 

 day ; Noddies alighted on the rigging by night ; and now and then, the 

 Frigate bird was observed ranging high over head in the azure of the 

 cloudless sky. 



The directions of the currents were tried, and our Captain, who had 

 an extraordinary genius for mechanics, was frequently employed in turn- 

 ing powder horns and other articles. So calm and sultry was the weather 

 that we had a large awning spread, under which we took our meals, and 

 spent the night. At length we got so wearied of it, that the very sailors 

 I thought seemed disposed to leap overboard, and swim to land. But 

 at length, on the thirty-seventh day after our departure, a smart breeze 

 overtook us. Presently there was an extraordinary bustle on board; 

 about twelve the Tortugas light-house bore north of us, and in a few 

 hours more we gained the Atlantic, ^olus had indeed awakened from 

 his long sleep ; and on the nineteenth day after leaving the Capes of 

 Florida, I was landed at Liverpool. 



