28 
THE SEA-SERPENT. 
three cheers for the valiant men ! See where the 
boat like a cockle-shell dances in the wake of 
the monster, as down to his den he rushes as fast 
as an arrow can fly, when sped from the string of 
a trusty bow ; — as swift as the eagle mounts the 
sky, he plunges down to the depths below ! 
Every man, with his hair on end, held on to his 
oar in mute despair, — thought of his mother, — 
and some pretend each had to hold on to his 
neighbour’s hair. So fast the serpent flew through 
the waves, though calm, it seemed to blow hard 
now ; — look out, my hearties, for watery graves, 
if with his tail he staves your prow! Some in the 
boat were saying their prayers, some were too 
much frightened to pray ; while others thought 
they’d sell him in shares, when they got him up 
to Boston Bay. A Boston merchant, safe on 
the beach, was thinking how much he ’d bring 
on “ Change”; his daughter lost all power of 
speech at a sight so most terrifically strange. 
On flew the boat ; — up came the snake ; — but 
only a moment he stays above, just to see which 
