* * * * *
"Allah Kebir! God is most powerful!" exclaimed the pacha. "Holy
prophet, where was it that you came up again?"
"In the harbour of Port Royal in Jamaica. Your highness will hardly
credit it, but on my honour it is true."
* * * * *
The heat of the sun was so great, that in a very short time the ice that
surrounded me was thawed, and I found myself at liberty; but I still
floated upon the body of the sea-horse, and the ice which was under the
water. The latter soon vanished, and striding the back of the dead
animal, although nearly blind by the rays of the sun, and suffocated
with the sudden change of climate, I waited patiently to gain the shore,
which was not one mile distant; but, before I could arrive there, for
the sea breeze had not yet set in, an enormous shark, well known among
the English by the name of Port Royal Tom, who had daily rations from
government, that by remaining in the harbour he might prevent the
sailors from swimming on shore to desert, ranged up alongside of me. I
thought it hard that I should have to undergo such new dangers, after
having been down the Maelstroom, but there was no help for it. He opened
his enormous jaws, and had I not immediately shifted my leg, would have
taken it off. As it was, he took such a piece out of my horse, as to
render it what the sailors call _lopsided_. Again he attacked it, and
continued to take piece after piece off my steed, until I was afraid
that he would come to the rider at last, when fortunately a boat full of
black people, who were catching flying fish, perceived me and pulled to
my assistance.
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