246 The Dolphin 



proportionately wide. I saw them scatter, but aim- 

 lessly, as if they knew not whither to flee. And indeed 

 they did not, for if some security could not be found 

 hugging the underside of the ship, it most assuredly 

 would be absent from the open spaces of the clear 

 sea. The aggressive cannibal could for a brief space 

 be dimly discerned as he darted to and fro amidst the 

 frightened youngsters, and then the water became so 

 foul with blood and floating fragments of fish still 

 quivering with recent life, that I could not see more 

 of the fray for a little space. When, however, we 

 had passed beyond that befouled area and the trans- 

 parent blue beneath enabled me to notice what was 

 occurring, I saw that the aforetime solid mass, was, 

 although still endeavouring to cling to the shelter of 

 the ship, broken up into many little groups, which 

 continually shifted their position, as if demoralised 

 by fear. 



Thus they remained with us imtil we again pene- 

 trated the mass of floating weed, when we lost them, 

 for there they found better shelter than the ship could 

 afford, besides what they must have needed badly, 

 an abundance of suitable food. I have never been 

 able to see a school of Dolphin younger than those 

 were, although I have many times seen them in large 

 schools of individuals somewhat more developed, but 

 still clinging together, as if for mutual protection. 

 I once boarded a derelict in mid-Atlantic which 

 contained a large number of these small Dolphin. 

 They had evidently, in rushing from the attack of 

 one of their numerous enemies, plunged headlong 

 into the gaping captivity of the main-hatch, which 

 was completely uncovered and had its port coamings 

 quite under the sea, the vessel being nearly on her 

 beam-ends. The fish darted about between the turn- 



