oing at a rate a little surpassing that of a
cannon ball which has just left its gun."

"King!" exclaimed Noah; "that is what we sailors call 'to cut and run.'"

"Was nothing ever heard of Mr. Jaw and his companions, my good Doctor?"

"Nothing that could be depended on. Some of our naturalists assume
that the monkeys which frequent the other parts of the earth are their
descendants, who, stunned by the shock, have lost their reasoning
powers, while, at the same time, they show glimmerings of their origin.
This is, in truth, the better opinion of our savans; and it is usual
with us, to distinguish all the human species of monkeys by the name of
'the lost monikins.' Since my captivity, chance has thrown me in the way
of several of these animals, who were equally under the control of the
cruel Savoyards; and in conversing with them, in order to inquire into
their traditions and to trace the analogies of language, I have been
led to think there is some foundation for the opinion. Of this, however,
hereafter."

"Pray, Dr. Reasono, what became of the forty thousand square miles of
territory?"

"Of that we have a better account; for one of our vessels, which was
far to the northward, on an exploring expedition, fell in with it in
longitude 2 degrees from Leaphigh, latitude 6 degrees S., and by her
means it was ascertained that divers islands had been already formed by
falling fragments; and, judging by the direction of the main body
when last seen, the fertility of that part of the world, and various
geological proofs, we hold that the great western archipelago is the
deposit of the remainder."

"And the monikin region, sir--what was the consequence of this
phenomenon to that part of the world?"

"Awful--sublime--various--and durable! The more important, or the
personal consequences, shall be mentioned first. Fully one-third of the
monikin species were scalded to death. A great many contracted asthmas
and other diseases of the lungs, by inhaling steam. Most of the bridges
were swept away by the sudden melting of the snows, and large stores
of provisions were spoiled by the unexpected appearance and violent
character of the thaw. These may be enumerated among the unpleasant
consequences. Among the pleasant, we esteem a final and agreeable
melioration of the climate, which regained most of its ancient
character, and a rapid and distinct elongation of our caudtz, by a
sudden acquisition of wisdom.

"The secondary, or th