50 
THE SEA-SERPENT. 
rather queer, that I should hear of it down here ; 
for, as I hope to eat my mother, the snake that 
did that was my brother ! ’ The mate declared, 
c Had they cast some castor out of the vessel into 
the sea, they would not have met this dire disas¬ 
ter ; for at that these serpents always flee .’ 9 At 
this the Northmen rose, and went on deck ; and 
though Captain Bent was bent on giving the crea¬ 
ture a shot, I own I am glad he concluded to let 
him alone. The Northmen left us and rowed 
away; and at every stroke their oarsmen gave, as 
they pulled in fear through the glittering spray, 
aqua vitae and castor they threw in the wave. 
The moment the serpent scented the drug, the 
men said he streaked off like a lightning-bug ; 
and a breeze springing up at six bells next day, 
we anchored not far from Bergen Bay.” 
The lieutenant’s story was over, and those 
who heard it prepared for their night’s repose ; 
for, truth to tell, it was somewhat late, and they 
hoped to land in the morning at eight. Most of 
the party went below ; nearly all believed Hunt’s 
