THE SEA-SERPENT. 
43 
But perhaps he lives in a castle of air, and he 
needs it when he’s flying there.” Could Miss 
Wood and the captain have looked through the 
wave, they ’d have seen what a grin the Saurian 
gave. But the captain thought — O, how often 
so ’t is in life ! — the serpent beneath his notice. 
ii. 
u These islands,” said Hunt, u are dangerous 
things to meet on the wide and desolate wave, 
when Eolus takes off the top of his cave, setting 
the raging north wind free, for a week or so of 
liberty. These Northmen were still like their 
sires of eld ; every sea has their tall ships held ; 
their ancestors fought for the bright red gold ; 
these took it in trade, and bought and sold. Now 
they were merrily dashing home, with a spanking 
breeze, through the glittering foam. Our two 
ships were alone on the sea, but we sailed for a 
while in company. We were off the coast of 
Norway then, some fifty miles from Bergen Bay, 
and hoped full soon to reach it, when the breeze 
