My commands fell upon deaf ears.
At last I succeeded in quieting the raging, weeping crowd.
Knowing from my experience with such dread inhabitants of the deep, that this monster had only whetted his appetite by these morsels of human flesh, I directed my men to make haste and construct a straw man, using clothes of the same color as those worn by the three unfortunates.
Into the bosom of this effigy I stored away a quarter quintal of ipecacuanha, of prime quality, which, by good luck, I found in my stock of medicines.
The dummy was now lowered to the water’s edge, at exactly the same spot where the monster had made his luncheon on my three excellent seamen.
We had not long to wait.
He rose to the bait in a few moments, and, opening his huge jaws, thrust out a tongue as large and as red as a roasted ox, and gulped down the savory morsel I had provided for him, with a rumbling gurgle which made my blood run cold.
Recovering myself, I sprang up into the shrouds and kept my eyes fixed upon this rare monster, who floated away lazily a ship’s length and then came to a dead halt.
Ever and anon a quiver shot thro’ the entire length of his body.
Evidently he was having no little difficulty in swallowing this last morsel.