128 LIVING LIGHTS. 



ing one day upon the sea-wall of Fort Jefferson, on the 

 island of Tortugas, Florida reef, when I perceived a lofty 

 water-spout, a mile to the east, headed directly for the fort, 

 as I thought. In a few moments it struck Long Key, a 

 narrow island a quarter of a mile away ; passing over perhaps 

 one hundred and fifty feet of it, striking a small schooner 

 which had been hauled upon the beach, twisting it around, 

 and then continuing its course with great rapidity. It now 

 turned a little to the north; and, seeing that in all probability 

 it would not strike the fort, I awaited its coming. Never 

 shall I forget the awful grandeur of the sight, as tlie watery 

 monster, seemingly several thousand feet in height, reached 

 the shoal. For some reason which I cannot explain, the 

 central portion was invisible, but the upper part was dis- 

 tinctly seen, and appeared to be nearly over my head ; and 

 its proximity may be imagined from the fact that the drops 

 from it seemed like a heavy rain. The entire spout was 

 bent like a bow by the wind, and was moving along with 

 great rapidity. I could not keep up with it, though run- 

 ning at utmost speed as it passed. Its progress was ac- 

 companied by a loud roar, and a hissing, splashing sound, 

 while great masses of foam were thrown up before and 

 behind. In its wake followed numbers of gulls, feeding 

 upon the small fishes killed by the rush of waters; and 

 where it crossed the shoal, in perhaps eight feet of water, 

 quite a trench was scooped out. Imagine such a column at 

 night coursing over the ocean; its entire shape outlined 

 against the darkness in phosphorescent light (Plate XXV.), 

 and an idea may be gained of the magnificent spectacles 

 which, on rare occasions, are produced by some of the sim- 

 plest of plants, — the diatoms,*^ whose nuclei are luminous. 



