290 NIMSOD OF THE SEA; OB, 



CHAPTER XXV. 



"St. Elmo's Fires," close Examination of; Superstitions on. — Longfel- 

 low and Shakspeare Versions. — Phosphorescence of the Sea. — Biding 

 the Gale aloft, and ravishing Sights. — Second-mate Sick, and Reconcil- 

 iation. — Killer Whales, and Modes of Attack : unsuccessful Chase for 

 One. — Boat-mending, and Elying Squid.— Plenty of Fish, and Jib car- 

 ried away. — Approaching Land, and Smell of the Land. — ^Land Dead 

 Ahead, and the Mystery thereof. — The Eeason of Man proved equal to 

 the Instinct of the Bird. — Hawaii in Sight. 



Ik the middle watch of last night, in the murky damp of 

 this climate, the " ampizant " was seen on the hoom-irons of 

 the main and maintop sail-yards. These are globular lights, 

 about the size of a man's head, with well-defined outline, and, 

 as seen from the deck, gleaming with a peculiar and super- 

 natural light. This phenomenon is known in the books as 

 "St. Elmo's fires;" but the common term on board is the 

 " ampizant," or composants. The fires continued so long, and 

 burned so steadily, as to excite speculation and the supersti- 

 tions of the men. Antonio remembered the fearful incanta- 

 tion scene, and had no hesitation in holding that there was 

 some connection between the two mysterious lights alow 

 and aloft. Being curious to observe these lights from a 

 nearer point, and willing to keep up the character of the nec- 

 romancer, I went aloft and crawled out on the raainyard-arra, 

 somewhat cautiously I confess. When I reached the fire 

 and my eye was brought close to it, the appearance changed, 

 and the edge only of the iron was luminous, as though rub- 

 bed with phosphorus. The halo was lost to me, although 

 the men on deck said it remained unchanged to them. On 

 touching the spot with the hand, cautiously, I thought that 



