“ SUN-SPEARING.” 139 
make him acquainted with the virtues of “cold iron,” 
rather than to discuss his sexual or alimentary pecu- 
liarities. Of these he is of course himself the com- 
petent judge ; but being in a direct line with the 
spear, it is obvious that the stroke must be made 
obliquely or transversely to take effect. This pre- 
caution being observed, I will assume that the 
tyro has already transferred him amongst the float- 
ing cargo of the dingey. He doubtless feels in- 
dignant at the sudden change of element; but such 
accidents seem to be the law of animal life. All 
creatures prey on other organised or sentient matter ; 
and omnivorous man most of any. An (idipus or an 
optimist may solve the dark enigma of the arrange- 
ment to his own satisfaction ; but how many dreary 
volumes of mere guessing would philosophers have 
spared us if they only possessed the courage to say, 
“We don’t know,” when such questions as the 
“writhing” of eels, and of animals higher in the scale 
too, occupy their ingenious pens! The late Dr. 
Whately was only more candid and daring, though 
not more convincing perhaps, than his predecessors, 
in declaring that a world without pain was an im- 
possibility. 
But the morning, which has been hitherto all that 
could be desired, has suddenly undergone a change. 
A dark cloud, that has broken away from its com- 
panions on the distant horizon, is now passing be- 
