A BAD CHARACTER. 73 



a real Cain at times. I saw one dart at an unoffend- 

 ing brother that was passing, and, seizing him with 

 murderous jaws, shed out his Hfe in a few seconds. 

 The poor victim shot his feeble column of ink, and 

 sank white and motionless to the bottom, as soon as 

 the ferocious grasp was loosened. The indictment 

 which old jElian brings against the whole race, that 

 they are gluttonous ("terrible fellows for their belly," 

 — SfiKoi xaTot KoiXiav — is his phrase) and murderous, is, 

 I am afraid, after all, not far from the truth. 



