Page:The Wreck of a World - Grove - 1890.djvu/78

62 obeyed. This prompt obedience was our salvation.

For as the flotilla approached I perceived by means of the lights they carried, that my fear was not groundless, These were no vessels of human workmanship. The obscure process of development had not confined its marvellous action to engines of terrestrial type, but had produced broods of aquatic monsters to dispute with us the kingdom of the sea. I foresaw that even in the remotest island of the Pacific we could no longer he assured of safety.

The rapid fall of night, and the great breadth of the mighty river saved us from the observation of this new foe. I watched the vessels narrowly as they passed. Each appeared to be armed with arms, or 'feelers,' of immense length, with which they continually swept the surface of the water before them, as though in search of prey, but really, as I imagine, to remove snags and obstacles from their course. As soon as they had fairly passed us, I gave orders to unmoor, and with only sufficient steam to give us steerage way we floated silently down to the furthermost wharves of the dark and silent city. Fortunate indeed was it for us that we had a sufficiency of river pilots, who knew every