THE SEA-SERPENT. 
51 
story, except the captain and Miss Wood, — so 
the others left them alone in their glory. They 
quietly sat, and talked together, the captain 
doubting very much whether a sea-serpent ever 
swam in the sea ; — but list to the snake’s so¬ 
liloquy. 
u What a horrid monster that Skip must be ! 
he ’ll be caught by some of our family ; one by 
one these doubting men drop yearly into our 
gloomy den. Soe, that younger brother of mine, 
has done pretty well in the doubting line ; he 
catches one now every eveni ig at nine, and at 
dinner he always declares him fine ; he tells me 
he always feels stronger and stouter, after eating 
the most inveterate doubter. To-day, to be 
sure, I killed quite a lot; — I wonder if they were 
doubters or not ! — I really feel quite hungry ; 
it’s plain it is nearly time to feed again.” 
Just at this moment some wicked elf prompted 
the captain to say to Miss Wood, u I would not 
believe, if I saw him myself.” u Neither would 
I. It’s rather too good, that st— ” Up, with 
