e arrow was
to carry, whilst the bo'sun and I set-to, each of us, upon the making of
a fresh arrow; for I had realized that we should have to make one or two
flights before we could hope to find our range and make true our aim.

Later, maybe about nine of the night, the bo'sun bade us all to put away
our work, and then he set the watches, after which the rest of us went
into the tent to sleep; for the strength of the wind made the shelter a
very pleasant thing.

That night, when it came my turn to watch, I minded me to take a look
into the valley; but though I watched at intervals through the half of an
hour, I saw nothing to lead me to imagine that I had indeed seen aught on
the previous night, and so I felt more confident in my mind that we
should be troubled no further by the devil-things which had destroyed
poor Job. Yet I must record one thing which I saw during my watch; though
this was from the edge of the hilltop which overlooked the
weed-continent, and was not in the valley, but in the stretch of clear
water which lay between the island and the weed. As I saw it, it seemed
to me that a number of great fish were swimming across from the island,
diagonally towards the great continent of weed: they were swimming in one
wake, and keeping a very regular line; but not breaking the water after
the manner of porpoises or black fish. Yet, though I have mentioned this,
it must not be supposed that I saw any very strange thing in such a
sight, and indeed, I thought nothing more of it than to wonder what sort
of fish they might be; for, as I saw them indistinctly in the moonlight,
they made a queer appearance, seeming each of them to be possessed of two
tails, and further, I could have thought I perceived a flicker as of
tentacles just beneath the surface; but of this I was by no means sure.

Upon the following morning, having hurried our breakfast, each of us
set-to again upon our tasks; for we were in hopes to have the great bow
at work before dinner. Soon, the bo'sun had finished his arrow, and mine
was completed very shortly after, so that there lacked nothing now to
the completion of our work, save the finishing of the line, and the
getting of the bow into position. This latter, assisted by the men, we
proceeded now to effect, making a level bed of rocks near the edge of
the hill which overlooked the weed. Upon this we placed the great bow,
and then, having sent the men back to their work at the line, we
proceeded t