“You said it was all black darkness deep down there,” cried Rodd.
“So it is, my lad, and so that the fish may see it those little baits of theirs all glow with light, and shine out in the dark black water. Now, doctor, what do you think of that for a bit of nature?”
“Extraordinary!” cried the doctor. “But who told you that?”
“Nobody, sir. I have seen them with my own eyes.”
“Yes, but what about the men-of-war with their ports lit up?”
“Of course I didn’t mean men-of-war, sir. I thought I made you understand I meant fish. Fish about two foot long, with a row of lights down each side like lamps to see their way in the darkness. There, gentlemen, that’s no story to tell to the marines, but a fact that I have seen with my own eyes; and if there’s things like that deep down in the seas, I don’t see anything wonderful in there being what some people calls sea-sarpints that might be as big as a great sparmacetti whale; and if you put some of them beside a cable a hundred foot long there isn’t much rope to spare. I knew of a ninety-footer once, though they don’t often get so long as that.”