ing his way
across our track, and though by no means a beautiful creature, looking
infinitely happier and more lively than the dull-eyed wretches of his
race, which I have seen lying on their backs, at the doors of the New
York restaurants, ready to be converted into soup and steaks. Johnny
mourned over the impracticability of making any attempt at his capture,
and heaved a sigh which seemed to come from the bottom of his heart, as
the unsightly reptile disappeared among the mazes of the submarine
shrubbery. The hardship of the case, seemed to be greatly aggravated in
his eyes, as he contrasted it with the better fortune of Robinson Crusoe
and the Swiss Family, the former of whom, as he reminded us, caught "any
quantity of turtles" on the beach of his island, with no other trouble
than that of turning them over upon their backs; while the latter,
having surprised an enormous fellow taking an afternoon nap on the
surface of the water, treacherously harpooned him in his sleep, and
then, steering him as easily as one would drive a well-broken nag,
compelled him to tow themselves and their pinnace ashore.

A somewhat startling incident put an end to these interesting
reminiscences. Johnny was leaning over the gunwale, and with his face
almost touching the surface, and his hands playing in the water, was
peering down into the lagoon, probably on the look-out for another
turtle, when a large shark, coming as it seemed from beneath the boat,
rose suddenly but quietly, and made a snatch at him. Johnny saw the
monster barely in time; for just as he sprang up with a cry of affright,
and fell backwards into the boat the shark's shovel-nose shot four feet
above water at our stern, his jaws snapping together as he disappeared
again, with a sound like the springing of a powerful steel-trap. Though
baffled in his first attack, the voracious fish continued to follow us,
watching closely an opportunity for a more successful attempt. He was a
large brown shark, of the species known to sailors as the
"sea-attorney," which designation, together with his formidable
reputation for keenness, vigilance, and enterprise, shows the estimation
in which the members of the ancient and honourable profession of the
law, are held by the honest sons of Neptune. Max professed to recognise
him, as our acquaintance of the previous evening, by whom himself and
Browne had been for a time kept in a state of blockade: our present
visitor certainly evinc