The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-01-11
TIE DErTE-FfSH.
A TRUE STORY OF THE INDIAN OCEAN


CLANS. did y0u ever see an octopus ?'
''Not that know of. I never heard tell
on them. as L can mind. Queer sort of
name, isn't it, sir?''
We were lying at anchor off Batavia, af-
ter longer tIip than usual. and L was
reading some copies Of the Times which
had been sent out from home during our
absence. aud had accumulated to good
heap while we were away. Of course the
newest papers were looked at first, so it was
only on this afternoon, when my work was
done and the sun too hot for us to 90 ashore,
that had come upon the discussion con-
cerning the existence or nou-cXisteuce OF
the octopus" which had appeared in the
columns of the Times some months before.
Hans was a weather beaten old sailor, a
Dutchman by biItb, who had been in the
ship much longer Ihan | had, and was
known for as steady hand as a man need
wish to have under him. There was no
Sinking at the wheel when he was there
no need to be watching him every minute
to see that the vessel was not easing from
her course, or luifuG up The wind and liza
bic to be taken aeack as | found was nee
essary with some of the men, who would
Lave had her on reef and hole through
her bottom rather than take the trouble to
keep her up aud do their work tas they
ought. There was not an officer who did
not think himself in luck when old Hans
WAS at the wheel during his watch, nor a
man on board but liked and respected the
rough but kind hearted old tar.
''Well,'' | replied, ''that is the scientific
name : ] dare say we should find them
something else. But I'll see if | can find
any description of the creature, and |
turned over some other numbers of the
newspaper as | continued The doubt
seems TO be about their size not their exist
ence."
There's bigger things in the sea than
people thinks on as hasn't seen hem, re-
piled Hans seriously, as he shifted his pipe
from one side of his mouth to the other,
and leaned little farther over the bulwarkS
watching the clear water which lay beneath
us in the wonderful transparency which
belongs to the Indian ocean.
"Ah here's the account of it ! y sori
of devil fish, | fancy. But how about a
devil fish being enough TO kill u man first
and eat him afterward ?"
'Is il devil fish they mean by that queer
name ?'' asked Hans, lifting himself up.
Il think so. Listen 10 what they say >
and read out the description.
That's him. said Hans who had lis
tened attentively-''theTe amt no doubt /;
but why doesn't they call things by heir
right names? People would know what
they was talking about then. | told you
4 u btNtI Stth wv dihb - ciA
YES" | replied.
t'But have, and the Lord grant | may
never see another"
And there was not the smallest doubt
that Hans meant what he said from the
very bottom of his heart 1t was impossi
bic to mistake the earHestness of his words;
and, besides, he was in general a very rev
ereud, God fearing man, never using words
which he had better have left alone nor
making joke Of religion.
saw at once that there must be yarn
worth hearing, but Hans was very unwil
ling to tell it.
Il go all of a crawl when / think of it
even now, and it's eight years since il hap
pened."
''Never mind that" | urged sit can t
hurt you now, you know ; ard when peo-
pie in England are disputing about the
size Of the creature, it's worth something
to hear story from fellow who has seen
one.'
'Seen ito All, and felt j., too ~ and
Hans drew himself together with shud-
der.
''Felt IL? BY love. you ought to know
the rights Of it, then
None better. Look here, sir. he con
, rinued, III ou wants the yam you shall