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- CHAPTER XLVIII.
Something Under The Surface
Not to omit an occurrence of considerable interest, we must needs here
present some account of a curious retinue of fish which overtook our
Chamois, a day or two after parting with the canoe.
A violent creaming and frothing in our rear announced their approach.
Soon we found ourselves the nucleus of an incredible multitude of finny
creatures, mostly anonymous.
First, far in advance of our prow, swam the helmeted Silver-heads; side
by side, in uniform ranks, like an army. Then came the Boneetas, with
their flashing blue flanks. Then, like a third distinct regiment,
wormed and twisted through the water like Archimedean screws, the
quivering Wriggle-tails; followed in turn by the rank and file of the
Trigger-fish—so called from their quaint dorsal fins being set in their
backs with a comical curve, as if at half-cock. Far astern the rear was
brought up by endless battalions of Yellow- backs, right martially
vested in buff.
And slow sailing overhead were flights of birds; a wing in the air for
every fin in the sea.
But let the sea-fowls fly on: turn we to the fish.
Their numbers were amazing; countless as the tears shed for perfidious
lovers. Far abroad on both flanks, they swam in long lines, tier above
tier; the water alive with their hosts. Locusts of the sea,
peradventure, going to fall with a blight upon some green, mossy
province of Neptune. And tame and fearless they were, as the first fish
that swam in Euphrates; hardly evading the hand; insomuch that Samoa
caught many without lure or line.
They formed a decorous escort; paddling along by our barnacled sides,
as if they had been with us from the very beginning; neither scared by
our craft’s surging in the water; nor in the least sympathetic at
losing a comrade by the hand of Samoa. They closed in their ranks and
swam on.
How innocent, yet heartless they looked! Had a plank dropped out of our
boat, we had sunk to the bottom; and belike, our cheerful retinue would
have paid the last rites to our remains.
But still we kept company; as sociably as you please; Samoa helping
himself when he listed, and Yillah clapping her hands as the radiant
creatures, by a simultaneous turning round on their silvery bellies,
caused the whole sea to glow like a burnished shield.
But what has befallen this poor little Boneeta astern, that he swims so
toilingly on, with gills showing purple? What has he there, towing
behind? It is tangled sea-kelp clinging to its fins. But the clogged
thing strains to keep up with its fellows. Yet little they heed. Away
they go; every fish for itself, and any fish for Samoa.
At last the poor Boneeta is seen no more. The myriad fins swim on; a
lonely waste, where the lost one drops behind.
Strange fish! All the live-long day, they were there by our side; and
at night still tarried and shone; more crystal and scaly in the pale
moonbeams, than in the golden glare of the sun.
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