They had not been gone very long, when Himilco pointed out to me some shoals of tunny-fish within reach, and asked permission to try and catch some. As it was some time since our men had tasted fresh fish, I could not refuse, but allowed him to make up a party of the most experienced fishermen he could select. A lot of harpoons and tridents were lowered into a boat, into which got Bichri and two archers, carrying some lines to be attached to the harpoons to haul up the fish that were hit. Jonah, ever on the alert when food was in question, asked permission to join the party, and was allowed to go under condition that he brought his trumpet and some torches to attract the fish. It had been ascertained that Aminocles was a skilful hand at this pursuit; and as soon as he was satisfied that there was no fear of his encountering any of the monsters of which he had heard so much, he was induced to accompany them.
"How was it," he said to Himilco, "that we escaped Scylla and Charybdis so completely? I looked out once or twice, but I saw nothing alarming."
"Neither did I," said Himilco, gravely. "The truth is, the old monster does not show herself every day, or, maybe, something scared her; perhaps Hannibal's red crest, or perhaps Jonah's big trumpet. Anyhow, there's no accounting for the freaks of these monsters."
"She was quite right in keeping out of my way," said Jonah; "now I have seen Nergal's kitchen, I have courage enough for anything."
Aminocles was still not quite easy in his mind, and with reference to the volcanoes, asked whether we were quite out of the reach of the flames.
"Out of reach!" repeated Himilco; "why, the flames are six hundred stadia away from where you saw them; you only saw the reflection in the clouds."
"Nergal's kitchens, all of them!" said Jonah; "plenty of them! nice and hot! He can fry and he can bake! He's a capital cook!"
The sailors were immensely amused at all this talk; and when Himilco, with imperturbable seriousness, proceeded to interpret Jonah's remarks to the credulous and timid Aminocles, their laughter became perfectly uproarious.