All day long buckets rattled against the ship’s side.
Three of the more venturesome men hit upon a plan to earn the reward and divide it among them.
Lashing themselves together, they then lowered themselves down over the side of the vessel, until their feet just touched the water. Here they determined to stay, so that they might be the first to announce the increase of warmth in the water, and in this way make sure of the thousand ducats.
Suddenly a fearful outcry, accompanied by the most piteous whining on the part of Bulger, caused me to rush up on deck.
A sea-monster, a third as long as our ship, had risen directly under them.
Motionless with fright, they fell an easy prey to this terrible foe.
Opening his vast, cavernous jaws, he swallowed the whole three at a single gulp!
My men were wild with grief!
They heaped mad words of reproach upon me.
I had great difficulty in restoring anything like order or discipline.