“No, sir. I don’t see either head or tail to it.”
It moved again—rather, it quivered. I can scarcely express the feeling of horror and dislike for the thing that came over me. I shuddered.
“I wish it would go away,” I muttered.
Mr. Barney laughed, shortly. He raised his gun again. Suddenly we heard a sharp, mandatory voice behind us:
“Don’t do that, Mr. Barney!”
We both turned. It was the mate, Mr. Hollister. He was a dark, stern, silent man, who spoke to the men without much bustle, but who evidently expected to be obeyed the first time.
“That’s a giant squid, Mr. Barney,” said the mate. “He’s ‘bad medicine.’ You don’t want to fool with one of those fellows. I did so once to my sorrow.”
Chapter XIII
In Which I Learn a Deal About Sea Monsters in General and the Giant Squid in Particular
“A squid of that size?” cried the young second mate, doubtfully, while I gave my closer attention to the long, dark brown body that lay quivering upon the surface of the sea.