ON TO CORAL-LAND
For him who goes a-traveling
Upon the stormy sea,
A tried and trusty pilot
Is the safest company.
"And did the Pilot really take good care of Sammy?" asked Bob,
anxiously, as he and Eleanor took their places on the little balcony
with grandma, and eagerly awaited the continuation of the ocean story.
"I don't believe he did," said his sister positively. "I just know
that old Pilot was a hypocrite like the Hermit-Crab and ate up poor
Sammy the first chance he got."
"Time will show," said the old lady as she snipped her silk with her
silver scissors. "It is a very bad plan to read the last chapter of a
book first."
As for the Pilot, he had his weaknesses and faults like all people and
all fish, and what they were we will find out as we go along.
* * * * *
Bright and early the next morning Sammy bade farewell to his friends
at the ledge, and in company with his guide started forth on his long
journey to Coral-Land. All the Star-Fishes and Sea-Urchins assembled
to see him off, and wish him a safe and prosperous voyage. Even the
Hermit peered cautiously out from his cave, and waved an adieu with
one claw. But his crafty eyes had a wistful expression as though he
said to himself, "My what a fool I was to let that fellow escape!"
"Speaking of sharks," remarked the Pilot, as he and his companion
glided easily through the water, "many unjust things have been said
about me because I am sometimes seen with the White Shark. They say a
fish is always known by the company he keeps, but I think it is very
unfair to judge me in that way, particularly as I never stayed with
the shark because I liked him. I knew him for a heartless and
ferocious monster who would attack anything that came in his way, and
I was a good deal afraid of him. I only went with him as a matter of
convenience to myself. But it was commonly supposed that I accompanied
him as a guide in order to show him the best feeding places, and tell
him what dangers to avoid, and that was how I got my name of the
Pilot-Fish. But the real reason was that I got better food when in
company with the White Shark than any other way.
"Our usual plan was to follow some ship, which we often did for weeks,
or months at a time, for a great deal of nice fish food is always
thrown overboard from vessels; and as the White Shark only cared for
the big pieces, all the tender little morsels fell to my lot. I lived
well in those days, but I had to give up the job after awhile, the
nervous strain was too great.
"You see the White Shark that I was with then was a very big fellow,
(fully thirty feet long), and just as strong and ugly as he was big.
Once, down in the tropics where he usually lives, I saw him break a
man's leg with one stroke of his tail. His temper was awful, and he
would stop at nothing when angry. He had enormous jaws, with six rows
of flat teeth, and to see him turn on his side, and open those jaws
was enough to give you cold chills for a week.
"The good food that we got from our ship usually kept the White Shark
in a fairly good humor, but, knowing him as I did, I was well aware
that if the food should happen to run short, he would not hesitate to
make a meal off of me; and although I am an excellent swimmer, and
stood a good chance of being able to escape (else I should have never
been there at all), still there was always a possibility of something
unpleasant happening, and it got to be rather wearing.
"So, one day when we were following a particularly promising vessel, I
made an excuse to stay behind, while the White Shark went on alone,
and when he and the ship were both out of sight, I took the
opportunity to escape. Since then I have carefully avoided the society
of all sharks, but what I have learned about them and their ways has
been of great benefit to me, and will be a help to us now, since they
prefer the warm waters of the tropics, and that is where we are bound.
However, you may trust me to keep as far out of their course as
possible.
"We will need to keep a sharp lookout for the Blue Shark, whom you
have already had the pleasure of meeting, and we may catch a glimpse
of the Hammer-headed Shark, a terribly fierce monster with a head
shaped like a hammer.
[Illustration: HAMMERHEADED SHARK A Terribly Fierce Monster is the
Hammerheaded Shark]
"But the enemy that I dread most of all is the Sword-Fish, so named
from the long sword-shaped snout on his upper jaw. This sword is very
strong, and so sharp that it will easily pierce a boat. The White
Shark is bad enough, but the Sword-Fish is even worse. His aim is
unerring, and his disposition so fierce that he will attack anything
that comes in his path, large or small. I saw one once that measured
twenty feet, but that was from a safe distance, for I make it a rule
to give them all a wide berth.
[Illustration: SWORD-FISH The Enemy the Pilot-Fish Dreaded Most of
All]
"Then there is the Saw-Fish, whose long snout has teeth on both sides
like a saw, and his company is not desirable either.
"Fortunately for us the Sea-Wolf prefers the northern ocean, and
fortunate it is for the northern fish that he is a slow swimmer, else
the next census would show a decided decrease in the fish family. The
Sea-Wolf has a tremendous appetite, and his huge jaws, armed each with
six rows of teeth, can easily crush the toughest shell-fish, of which
food he is very fond. They are often to be seen over seven feet long,
and being desperate fighters they are almost as much dreaded as the
Sword-Fish."
With these, and many other stories of the fish world the Pilot
beguiled the tedium of the journey. He told about the famous
Sucking-Fish, or Remora, which has a wonderful flat apparatus on its
head by which it sticks to any object, fish, rock, or ship to which it
attaches itself, and once fixed it is impossible to make it loose its
hold. The natives in Africa use this fish to catch turtles with. They
tie a long, stout string to the Remora, and throw the fish overboard.
When the Remora finds a turtle it presses its head tightly against it,
sticks fast, and both are hauled up together Sometimes the Remora will
lift a turtle weighing many pounds.
[Illustration: REMORA The Remora Has a Wonderful Flat Apparatus on its
Head]
Another of the Pilot's favorite yarns was about the Torpedo-Fish which
makes its home in the Mediterranean Sea, and which possesses powerful
electric batteries with which it paralyzes its prey.
[Illustration: TORPEDO-FISH One of the Pilot-Fish's Favorite Yarns Was
About the Torpedo-Fish]
Altogether the Pilot was a most interesting companion, his knowledge
of the sea was both useful and entertaining, and the sharp outlook
that he kept more than once saved them from unsuspected danger. To
this watchfulness Sammy owed his escape from the Sea-Devil. This
treacherous creature makes its home in the mud, which it stirs up in
order the better to conceal itself. While thus hidden, it waves about
in the cloudy water two long, slender feelers, which to an unwary fish
look like some tempting article of food. Feeling decidedly hungry
Sammy was darting towards this apparently delicious meal, when the
Pilot interfered and explained the nature of the bait which was meant
to attract him within reach of the Angler hidden in the mud.
[Illustration: SEA-DEVIL The Treacherous Sea-Devil and an Unwary Fish]
Truth to tell our hero often went hungry during his somewhat lengthy
journey, for, in spite of his other most admirable qualities, the
Pilot-Fish was very greedy. Few indeed were the morsels that fell to
poor Sammy's share when his guide had finished his meals, and the
young salmon had occasion more than once to wish that he had driven a
sharper bargain. But, although he was growing thin, he comforted
himself with the reflection that they were quickly nearing the
promised land, where the Pilot assured him delicious food of all kinds
abounded.
For now the water was growing warmer, more and more brilliant were the
fish and ocean plants, and strange and beautiful rocks, like fairy
castles rose up from the bed of the ocean.
One morning they saw a strange sight. Away off in the distance the
surface of the water was dark with some large moving substance.
"It is a school of Flying-Fish," said the Pilot. "Wait here and you
will see them leap."
As he spoke the vast body sprang into the air, and the sun gleamed
brightly on beautiful blue bodies, and silver wings, as the fishes
sailed off in different directions. It was a wonderful sight, but
lasted only for a moment, then splash, splash, one after another fell
back into the water, while the sea-gulls circling near seemed to utter
a scream of derision. Again and again, by hundreds at a time, the
beautiful fish leaped and sailed, only to fall back as before.
[Illustration: FLYING-FISH One of the School of Flying-Fish Which
Sammy Met]
"They cannot really fly, you know," explained the Pilot, "for they are
not able to raise themselves in the air after their first leap, and
can only sail for a few feet on a level. And those things that look
like wings are simply very large Pectoral fins, which can support them
for awhile in the air. And a very silly practice the whole thing is
too. Those fish would be a great deal better off if they only kept to
their own element, and stayed pretty well under water. As it is they
are in constant danger, for the sea-gulls are always watching for them
above, and the Bonito beneath. And that reminds me that it would be
safer for us to dive below, for the Bonito is always to be met
following the Flying-Fish, and he is not particular, (being always
hungry) as to what kind of fish he dines on. His usual plan is to
follow the Flying-Fish, keeping near the surface, and when the fish he
has picked out drops, the Bonito has his reward. He is a clever fish,
and being a rapid swimmer, is fond of following vessels, like myself.
The presence of the Flying-Fish proves that we are nearing our
destination, and after a few more miles our journey will be over."
This was a cheering thought, and the two companions swam gaily along
in the best of spirits. Sammy would have liked to stop occasionally to
examine some particularly interesting object, but his guide hurried
him on. "For," said he, "this is by far the most dangerous part of our
voyage. The most vicious of our enemies lurk outside of Coral-Land
waiting for a chance to grab the tourist, but, once inside that long
reef that you see some distance ahead, and we are safe. I have a
special entrance known to myself alone, and no very large fish, or
shark can get through it. I only hope that we can reach it without
being seen."
But it was a vain hope. No sooner were the words uttered, than some
instinct caused the Pilot to glance hastily behind him, and there,
well in the rear to be sure, but moving towards them with
uncomfortable swiftness, were two large, dark moving bodies.
"Sharks!" cried Sammy in terror.
"Sword-Fish!" said the more experienced Pilot. "Follow me and swim for
your life!"
Away he darted, heading in a straight line for the high reef, away
darted Sammy after him, and on came the murderous Sword-Fish. Faster
and faster swam the pursued, and faster and faster the pursuers. On
they came, nearer, nearer and still nearer, their huge shapes and
cruel swords suggesting a fearful death.
Sammy's strength was almost gone, his fins were growing weaker, and he
swam more and more slowly, while the mouth of the monster nearest him
watered in eager anticipation.
But the dauntless Pilot still kept on his course, and showed no sign
of weakening. Straight at the large reef, now very near, he dashed,
and then, just as destruction seemed certain, he swerved to the right
and disappeared from view in a mass of weeds that grew out from the
rock. With one last desperate effort Sammy followed, the weeds closed
behind him, and passing quickly through a small hole in the reef, he
lay, quivering, exhausted, but safe on the other side.
Furious at their disappointment the Sword Fishes rushed at the reef,
striking it again and again with their sharp swords in a vain attempt
to pierce, or batter down the rock. Then they swam wildly about
looking for an entrance large enough for them to pass through, but
none was to be found, for the high, circular reef shut in the lagoon
where the two refugees lay, like a wall.
At length, tired out with their exertions, the two Sword-Fish gave up
the chase, and being in a very ill-temper, and having no one else to
vent it on, they began to quarrel with each other.
"It's all your fault anyway," snarled Slasher, the biggest and
crossest fish. "How often have I told you to take my advice in these
matters! We should have kept further under water, as I suggested in
the first place, then we would not have been seen so soon. I've no
patience with your stupidity!"
"Stupid yourself!" snapped his brother Jabber. "You know as well as I
do that it is much the best plan to keep on a straight line with the
prey we are hunting. We can't half see if we are far above or below.
If you hadn't splashed so loudly with your tail--"
"I didn't splash with my tail," retorted Slasher angrily.
"You did," insisted Jabber.
"I say I didn't!"
"I say you did!"
* * * * *
"Well, well," said grandma, as she paused to gather up her fancy work,
"everybody knows that a family quarrel is the worst kind of quarrel.
But in this case the dispute had a speedy ending, for the two brothers
fiercely attacked each other, and right there and then they fought a
terrible duel, which only ended with the death of both combatants, for
each died pierced through the body with his brother's sword.
"So perished the two dreaded sentinels of Coral-Land, and Sammy was at
his journey's end."