e shy-looking creatures that were swimming alongside.

"Why, Snowy?" asked the lad,--"why is there no fear of their being
scared off?"

"Kase, lilly Willy, I hab de idea dar be something else not far off, dat
dem albacore am more feerd on dan we. I no see dat someting yet. We
sure see de _long snout_, by 'm by."

"The long snout!--what do you mean by that, Snowy?"

"Wha do a mean?--de long-nose a mean. Tole ye so! dar he be yonner,--
right on de la'bord quarter. Dis nigger knew he no far off. Da's why
de beauties hab come roun de raff; an dat I hope keep um hyar till we
hab cotch a few ob dem!"

"A shark!" cried the boy-sailor, catching a glance of some large fish at
some distance out in the water on the larboard bow,--the direction in
which Snowball had pointed.

"Shark! nuffin ob de kind," rejoined the negro; "diff'rent sort ob fish
altogedder. If him wa shark, de albacore no stay hyar. Dey go up to
him, and dart all 'bout im,--jess like de lilly birds when dey see big
hawk or de vulture. No shark he,--dat ere skulkin' fella. He am massa
long-nose,--de real enemy ob de albacore. No fear ob dem leabin' us,
while he anywhar in sight."

Saying this the Coromantee proceeded to single out his hooks; and,
assisted by Ben Brace, commenced baiting them with an unconcern that
testified a full confidence in the truth of his assertion.

CHAPTER FORTY FIVE.

THE SWORD-FISH.

Little William,--whose curiosity had become excited at the appearance of
the strange fish,--stood looking over the larboard quarter, in hopes of
getting a better view of it.

As yet, he had only obtained a slight glimpse of it: for the larboard
quarter lay towards the south-west, and the sun, just then sinking down
upon the sea, hindered him from having a fair opportunity to scan the
surface in that particular direction.

Shading his eyes with the palm of his hand, he gazed for some time, but
saw nothing,--either upon the surface or under it. Snowball,
notwithstanding that he seemed wholly occupied with the hooks and lines,
took notice of the reconnoissance of the sailor-lad.

"No use you look dat way, lilly Willy," said he. "Doan you see dat de
abbacores are now on de larbord side. Wheneber dey am on de larbord,
you look for long-nose on de starbord. Truss dem take care dey no get
on de same side wit' dat ere fella."

"There, Will'm!" interposed Ben. "Look out that way! there he be,--
right astarn,--don't ye see?"

"I s