THE SEA-SERPENT. 
83 
of course, they were quite alone, — as much alone 
as a couple can be where some eight or nine hun¬ 
dred people are thrown together for mirth and 
revelry. They heard the bugle’s call, — the tone 
that bids hurrying waltzers gather fast ; but still 
they chose to sit alone, nor cared for the dancers 
flitting past. They were talking of happy hours 
gone by, and of happy days in years to come, 
when they saw through the glass a flaming eye, 
that struck them at once with terror dumb. He 
came through the window ; the Gypsy and Knight 
screamed as they ran in terror away. Some of 
the ladies fainted with fright, while others thought 
it “ part of the play ” ; for they knew that De 
Jonge was so cunning and clever he could get 
up a snake, or the deuce, or whatever strange 
costume you liked or wanted to wear ; but they 
never once dreamed the Sea-Serpent was there. 
However, when something like five hundred 
feet had uncoiled through the window, they felt 
slightly queer, and decided the costume was far 
more complete than anything else they had met 
