evil's not half so black as he's painted--nor the
yellow fever half so yellow, I presume." We were now fast nearing the
island of Barbadoes, the weather was beautiful, the wind always fair;
the flying fish rose in shoals, startled by the foaming seas, which
rolled away, and roared from the bows as our swift frigate cleaved
through the water; the porpoises played about us in thousands--the
bonetas and dolphins at one time chased the flying fish, and, at others,
appeared to be delighted in keeping company with the rapid vessel.
Everything was beautiful, and we all should have been happy, had it not
been for the state of Captain Savage, in the first place, who daily
became worse and worse, and from the dread of the hell which we were
about to enter through such a watery paradise. Mr Falcon, who was in
command, was grave and thoughtful; he appeared indeed to be quite
miserable at the chance which would insure his own promotion. In every
attention and every care that could be taken to insure quiet, and afford
relief to the captain, he was unremitting; the offence of making a noise
was now, with him, a greater crime than drunkenness, or even mutiny.
"When within three days' sail of Barbadoes, it fell almost calm, and the
captain became much worse; and now, for the first time, did we behold
the great white shark" of the Atlantic. There are several kinds of
sharks, but the most dangerous are the great white shark and the ground
shark. The former grows to an enormous length--the latter is seldom
very long, not more than twelve feet, but spreads to a great breadth.
We could not hook the sharks as they played around us, for Mr Falcon
would not permit it, lest the noise of hauling them on board should
disturb the captain. A breeze again sprang up. In two days we were
close to the island, and the men were desired to look out for the land.

CHAPTER THIRTY.

DEATH OF CAPTAIN SAVAGE--HIS FUNERAL--SPECIMEN OF TRUE BARBADIAN
BORN--"SUCKING THE MONKEY"--EFFECTS OF A HURRICANE.

The next morning, having hove-to part of the night, land was discovered
on the bow, and was reported by the mast-head man at the same moment
that the surgeon came up and announced the death of our noble captain.
Although it had been expected for the last two or three days, the
intelligence created a heavy gloom throughout the ship; the men worked
in silence, and spoke to one another in whispers. Mr Falcon was deeply
affected, and so were we all. In t