THE SEA-SERPENT. 
49 
fact, our captain wanted much to ask the North¬ 
men all about him ; he never had believed in 
such a fish, and even felt disposed to doubt him 
now, although before his eyes, in glittering coils, 
the serpent lies. 
“ A signal came for our recall, and we obeyed 
the order gladly ; the Northmen told us they were 
all surprised to see us act so madly. 4 Are you 
aware,’ their captain said, c this snake has power 
to sink or eat you ? Our sailors hold him in such 
dread, that I have come here to entreat you that 
you will let him go his way, nor stir his anger up 
to-day 7 ; for once,’ said he, 4 a ship of mine was 
sailing with another ship, not far from here, when 
eight or nine sea-serpents came, and stopped her 
trip, — for one of them, a savage beast, leaped 
o’er between her masts, and sunk her ; he was 
six hundred feet, at least, in length, — so swore 
her mate, Joe Bunker. The ship was lost, and 
only Joe escaped these O.mens 8 of the Soe.’ 
The serpent thought beneath the yacht, 4 Well, 
that is droll now, is it not ? Besides, I think it’s 
4 
