nce; and the faint wake astern was as bright as the track
usually lit up by the moon or rising sun across the ocean, resembling a
pathway of light yellow gold.

When Fritz first saw the reflection, on looking over the side of the
ship, he thought that something had happened down below, and that the
appearance he noticed was caused by different lights, streaming through
the portholes and scuttles.

"What are they doing with all those lanterns in the hold?" he asked Eric
in surprise.

The sailor lad laughed.

"No ship lanterns," said he, "are at work here. They say that this
queer look of the sea is occasioned by thousands of little insects that
float on the surface and which are like the fireflies of the tropics.
Don't you recollect reading about them?"

"But then, this light is so continuous," replied Fritz. "It is bright
as far away as we can see."

"Yes, I suppose the shoal of insects stretches onward for miles; still,
it is only when it is dark like this, with the sky overcast, that you
can see them. At least, that is what I've been told, for I never saw
such a display before."

"You're 'bout right, my lad," observed Captain Brown, who had come over
to leeward, where the brothers were. "I forgit what they call the
durned things; but, they're as thick as muskitters on the Florida coast.
You'll see 'em all clear away as soon as the moon shows a streak,
though. They can't stand her candlelight, you bet!"

It was as the skipper said. Although the illumination of the sea was so
vivid that it lit up the ship's sails with flashes as the water was
stirred, it died away when the moon shone out. Then, too, the sky
lightened all round and the clouds cleared away before the approaching
wind which had thus apparently heralded its coming.

Nothing occurred after this to break the monotony of the voyage, beyond
a school of whales being noticed blowing in the distance away to the
windward one day, about a week after the change of wind.

"There she spouts!" called out a man who was up in the fore cross-trees,
overhauling some of the running gear; but the hail only occasioned a
little temporary excitement, for the animals were much too far off for
pursuit and, besides, Captain Brown wished to land the brothers and
clear his ship of all cargo before going whaling on his own account.

This consummation, however, was not long distant; for some sixteen days
or so after they had turned their backs on the South American