30 
THE SEA-SERPENT. 
does n’t seem inclined to die ; and though sport 
to him, ’t will be death to us.” 
On fled the snake; Solomon Soils looked over 
his shoulder, and said to Brown, “ What would 
Kimball pay for one of those coils for his Muse¬ 
um up in Bosting town ? ” u Pooh ! Kimball ? 
— he does n’t want the snake; he has one 
now, but it’s stored away, and it’s only waiting 
its turn to take, after the mermaid has had its 
day ; but Barnum-” “ Cut the line ! ” cried 
Rough, again ; “ I say there ! cut the line ! ” But 
the man in the bow was of sterner stuff, and he 
meant to hold on till the sun’s decline. Rough 
rushed to the bow, with his knife in his hand,— 
u I ’ll cut it! ” he cried ; “’t is our only hope ! ” 
— but he slipped, just how I don’t understand, 
and fell into the sea ; meanwhile the rope held on 
to the snake, and away they fled, like a Cunard boat 
o’er the weaves of blue, when the serpent turned 
round and laughingly said, cc To catch me you ’re 
altogether too few ! ” At this a tremendous bound 
he made, and started off as brisk as a linnet, to 
