t one mile distant; but, before I could arrive there, for
the sea breeze had not yet set in, an enormous shark, well known among
the English by the name of Port Royal Tom, who had daily rations from
government, that by remaining in the harbour he might prevent the
sailors from swimming on shore to desert, ranged up alongside of me. I
thought it hard that I should have to undergo such new dangers, after
having been down the Maelstroom, but there was no help for it. He opened
his enormous jaws, and had I not immediately shifted my leg, would have
taken it off. As it was, he took such a piece out of my horse, as to
render it what the sailors call _lopsided_. Again he attacked it, and
continued to take piece after piece off my steed, until I was afraid
that he would come to the rider at last, when fortunately a boat full of
black people, who were catching flying fish, perceived me and pulled to
my assistance. They took me on shore and carried me to the governor, to
whom I gave a history of my adventures; but Englishmen suppose that
nobody can meet with wondrous adventures except themselves. He called me
a liar, and put me in the Clink, and a pirate schooner having been
lately taken and the crew executed, I was declared to have been one of
them; but, as it was clearly proved that the vessel only contained
thirty men, and they had already hung forty-seven, I was permitted to
quit the island, which I did in a small vessel bound to America, on
condition that I would work my passage.

We had gained to the northward of the Bahama Isles, and were standing to
the westward before a light breeze, when early one morning several
waterspouts were observed to be forming in various directions. It was my
watch below, but as I had never seen one of these curious phenomena of
nature, I went on deck to indulge my curiosity.

* * * * *

"Pray what is a waterspout?" inquired the pacha; "I never heard of one
before."

"A waterspout, your highness, is the ascent of a large body of water
into the clouds--one of those gigantic operations by which nature,
apparently without effort, accomplishes her will, pointing out to man
the insignificance of his most vaunted undertakings."

"Humph! that's a waterspout, is it?" replied the pacha; "I'm about as
wise as before."

"I will describe it more clearly to your highness, for there is no one
who has a better right to know what a waterspout is, than myself."

*