We often saw them darting after other fish, and no doubt they sometimes killed them with their ivory swords.

Jack remembered having heard once of a sword-fish attacking a ship,--which seemed strange indeed; but, as they are often in the habit of attacking whales, perhaps it mistook the ship for one.

This sword-fish ran against the vessel with such force, that it drove its sword quite through the thick planks; and when the ship arrived in harbour, long afterwards, the sword was found still sticking in it! Sharks did not often appear; but we took care never again to bathe in deep water without leaving one of our number in the boat to give us warning, if he should see a shark approaching.

As for the whales, they never came into our lagoon, but we frequently saw them spouting in the deep water beyond the reef.

I shall never forget my surprise the first day I saw one of these huge monsters close to me.