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
havimg 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.

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"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."

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A black cloud was over our heads, and we perceived that for some time it
was rapidly descending. The main body then remained stationary, and a
certain portion of it continued bellying down until it had assumed the
form of an enormous jelly-bag. From the end of this bag a thin, wiry,
black tongue of vapour continued to descend until it had arrived
half-way between the cloud and the sea. The water beneath, then ruffled
on its surface, increasing its agitation more and more until it boiled
and bubbled like a large cauldron, throwing its foam aside in every
direction. In a few minutes a small spiral thread of water was
perceived to rise into the air, and meet the tongue which had wooed it
from th