540 TRATOS IX TDK EAST m>UN ARCHIPELAGO. 



Throwing off my hat, that I might go into the dread- 

 fill struggle unimpeded, I shouted out for a long 

 knife, knowing well that what I must try to do was 

 to cut him in two, and that he would attempt to 

 catch my hand m his jaws, and, if he should succeed 

 in doing that, he would wind himself around me as 

 tjuick as a man could wind the lash of a long whip 

 around a fixed stick, and certainly he was large 

 enough and strong enough to crush the largest horse. 

 The cook handed me a sharp knife, more than a foot 

 long, and, holding the board down with my feet, I 

 thrust the blade through the crack, and, wrenching 

 with all my miglit, tried to break the gi'eat reptile's 

 back-bone, and thus render all that part of the body 

 behind the fracture helpless. Despite my utmost 

 efforts, he pulled away the knife, and escaped two or 

 thi-ee feet forward, where there was more room imder 

 the deck By this time there was the greatest con- 

 fusion. The captain, evidently believing that dig- 

 estion is the better part of valor, ran below the mo- 

 ment he was satisfied tliat I had kideed discovered 

 the monster, seized a brace of revolvers, and, perching 

 himself upon the monkey-rail, leaned his back against 

 the mizzen-rigging, and held one in each hand, ready 

 to fire into the boat at the slightest alai-m. The sail- 

 ors all gathered round the boat, and stood perfectly 

 still, appai'ently half - stupified, and not knowing 

 whether it would be safest for them to stand still, 

 climb up in the rigging, or jump overboard. The 

 first mate armed himself with a revolver, and 

 climbed on to the stem of the boat. Indeed, every 

 moment I expected to hear a report^ and find 



