remain perfectly
sweet and eatable; but if exposed to the moon's rays, in the tropics,
they will, in the course of one night, become putrid and unwholesome.
They emit no smell; but when eaten will produce diarrhoea, almost as
violent as if you had taken poison."

"I have heard that stated, also, by seamen," said the captain; "but have
never witnessed it."

"A remarkable and corroborative instance occurred, when I was in the bay
of Annapolis," resumed the surgeon. "I was becalmed in a small vessel,
and amused myself with fishing. I pulled up several herrings; but, to
my astonishment, they were putrid and sodden an hour or two after they
were dead. I observed the circumstance to one of the fishermen, who in
formed me that several hundred barrels, taken at a fishery a few miles
off, had all been spoiled in the same manner. I asked the reason, and
the answer was, `that they had been spawned at the full of the moon.'
How far the man was correct, I know not; but he stated that the
circumstance had occurred before, and was well known to the older
fishermen."

"Very singular," replied Captain M---. "We are too apt to reject the
whole, because we have found a part to be erroneous. That the moon is
not the Hecate formerly supposed, I believe; but she seems to have more
power than is usually ascribed to her. Is that seven bells striking?"

"It is, sir; the time has slipped rapidly away. I shall wish you good
night."

"Good night," replied Captain M---, who, for some time after the
departure of the surgeon, continued leaning over the rail of the
entering-port, in silent contemplation of the glassy wave, until the
working of his mind was expressed in the following apostrophe:--

"Yes--placid and beautiful as thou art, there is foul treachery in thy
smile. Who knows, but that, one day, thou mayest, in thy fury, demand
as a victim the form which thou so peaceably reflectest? Ever-craving
epicure! thou must be fed with the healthy and the brave. The
gluttonous earth preys indiscriminately upon the diseased carcases of
age, infancy, and manhood; but thou must be more daintily supplied.
Health and vigour--prime of life and joyous heart--high-beating pulse
and energy of soul--active bodies, and more active minds--such is the
food in which thou delightest: and with such dainty fare wilt thou ever
be supplied, until the Power that created thee, with the other elements,
shall order thee to pass away."

The bell struck eig