"He is coming this way."
It was true. The maned monster had altered his course, and was bearing
straight down upon the _Arrandoon_.
No one moved from his position, but there were pale, frightened faces
and starting eyes; and though the men uttered no cry, a strange,
frightened moan arose, a fearful quavering "Oh-h-h?"--a sound that once
heard is never to be forgotten. Next moment, the great sea-serpent,
with a wild and unearthly scream, bore down upon the devoted ship, then
suddenly resolved itself _into a long flight of sea-birds_ (Arctic
divers)!
So there you have a true story of the great sea-serpent, but I am
utterly at a loss to describe to you the jollity and fun and laughing
that ensued, as soon as the ridiculous mistake was discovered.
And nothing would suit Ted Wilson but getting up on the top of the
bowsprit and shouting,--
"Men of the _Arrandoon_, bold sailors all, three cheers for the great
sea-serpent. Hip! hip! hip! Hurrah!!!"
Down below dived Ralph, followed by all the others. "Peter! Peter!
Peter!" he cried.
"Ay, ay, sir," from Peter.
"Peter, I'm precious hungry."
"And so am I," said everybody.
Peter wasn't long in laying the cloth and bringing out the cold meat and
the pickles, and it wasn't long either before Freezing Powders brought
hot coffee. Oh! didn't they do justice to the good things, too!
"I dare say," said the doctor, "this is our breakfast."
"Ridiculous!" cried Ralph, "ridiculous! It's only a late supper,
doctor. We'll have breakfast just the same."
"A vera judeecious arrangement," said Sandy.