84 
THE SEA-SERPENT. 
with this year. The serpent immediately saw 
with surprise, that they thought it was only 
a clever disguise ; so he stepped up and asked 
a young Venus to dance ; but she swooned, 
and was borne from the hall in a trance. At 
this there arose a most awful commotion ; some 
jumped out of windows, some vanished through 
doors ; the snake now wishes himself back 
in the ocean, and sincerely the loss of bis 
partner deplores. One man, who had come in 
his no-top wagon, in the dress of the Knight who 
fought with the Dragon, drove off with speed 
from the coming fray, and was never seen more, 
— so the gossips say ; — something caught him 
alone on the road, and the horse went off with 
a lighter load. Meanwhile, a fearful fight went 
on; — officers rushed for their pistols; others, 
including many a Duke and Don, rushed to their 
sweethearts or their mothers. Shot, and shouts 
of wild dismay, usurped the place of mirth and 
laughter; the serpent flees as best he may, while 
all of Newport follows after. This was a regu- 
