Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1894-10-31
AN ADVENTURE WITH A CUT
TLE.FISH.

my spare time during my later
cruises has been dedicated to nature
in other fields; not that ] couldn't
have spared some considerable por-
ton of it in the manner suggested,
but early in my career, my first
cruise, in fact, | had an experience
that took away all inclination for
research in zoology, so | resigned
the field to more ardent and more
reckless chaps than | happened to
be-"
"And there hangs tale. Take
a fresh cigar, doctor, and begin at
the very beginning"
my first cruise, you remember,
took me around the world in the
frigate Washington. TWAS ascien-
tific cruise, and the officers had been
selected for their knowledge of some
speciality in branches of natural
history, deep sea sounding, etc., and
in addition we carried as passengers
some seven or eight civilians
thoroughly posted in their respect
i've scientific pursuits.
Among the latter was young
Westerner, the most indefatigable
fellow l ever met, and although he
was supposed to devote his attention
exclusively to shells and marine
plants, there was nothing from
mosquito to boa-constrictor that
he didn't fasten on to as it came his
way. l liked the young fellow and
assisted him whenever possible; but
our friendship was ruptured, and
though we met daily, we exchanged
no words for over two years.
1--WE arrived at Madagascar about
the first of June, and very shortly
the parties of savants and collect.
ors were on shore eager for relaxa-
ton, after four weeks confinement
on ship-board, and more than eager
in searching for any and everything
that creeps, flies, or walks.
walker, the young Westerner
and l walked along the rocky shore
picking up shells and seaweeds lief,
by the receding tide.
Seeing a small blight that ap.
peared to offer better prospects OF
a large haul at once, l left my
companion looking at the move.
ments of a colony of sea-anemones
and walked forward. had to MIND
my steps, and in looking down my
attention was attracted to a most
extraordinary-looking animal crawl.
ing towards the surf which had on.
ly the moment before left it strand.
ed. 1t needed but few seconds fol
me to recognize it as species OF
sepia, or cuttle-fish, which the
whalers call 'rock-squid.' ! had
seen creatures exposed for sale in
the markets of Japan and China
where they are regarded as luxuries
but never Of the size approaching
the individual at my feet, and never
before on land and free, so it appear.
ed to me the more remarkable.
ut was crawling on its eight legs
which, from their soft, haccid, and
flexible nature, bent considerably
under the weight Of it's body, so that
it was lifted by the efforts of it;
tentacles only a short distance from
the rocks. This gave it an appear.
ance Of being a weakly specimen Of
it's kind, and, as it seemed to BIZ
much alarmed at seeing me, ant
made every effort to escape, ! thought
not in the humor to endeavor tt
capture so ugly customer, whose
aspect excited feeling Of disgust
not unmixed with fear, endeavoret
to prevent its escape by pressing OF
one of its limbs with my foot, max
ing use of considerable force fol-
that purpose, but it's strength was
so great that it quickly liberated
it's member, and all the efforts
could employ in this way, on thu
wet, slippery rock, were futile. Sew
eral times ] placed my foot under it
body attempting to turn it over, bu
in this l was foiled by the wonder
full agility and cleverness displayed
by the creature in drawing its pen
dant body to one side or the other.
81 then laid hold of one of tn,
tentacles with my hands, holding i
firmly, but the quick forward surge'
of the creature were so powerful
that it seemed as if the limb would
be torn asunder by our unitet
strength.
"Now, outside of my desire to as
sist my young friend, I had no NOR,