human
No, focus it and use it yourself, boy. I'll have a look afterwards.
gpt
Capsized long-boat, he muttered.
human
No, it's a fish--sick whale, I think. But I don't know. It's moving pretty well through the water. What do you make of it, my lad?
gpt
It's very big and long, cried Rodd excitedly,
human
Nay! growled the captain.
gpt
It's something--
human
It's gone! shouted Rodd.
gpt
Oh, uncle, I wish you'd seen it. It seemed to sink down out of sight all at once.
human
whispered Joe Cross.
gpt
But look out, sir, he cried eagerly.
human
There it is again, a little farther off.
gpt
Have a look, doctor,
human
Is it a whale?
gpt
Nay, that's no whale, sir, replied the captain.
human
A whale don't go under water like that when she sounds. Down goes her head, and she throws her flukes up in the air.
gpt
Then what is it? cried Uncle Paul, with the glass now glued to his eye.
human
It's something very big. Yes, I can see plainly now-- blackish-grey, and shiny as if slimy. It seems to undulate, for one minute the back seems to be only a few feet long, then three or four parts are above the surface at once, as if the creature were twenty or thirty feet long.
gpt
Yes, sir; I can see that with the naked eye.--Nay, nay, sir; you keep the glass. It's more in your way than mine. Seems to me as if we have hit a curiosity for you, only it's rather too big to tackle.
human
I think it's a great snake, cried Rodd excitedly.
gpt
I mean, a very large eel, swimming on the top, and he keeps throwing his head about as if he were feeding in the middle of a shoal of fish.
human
Yes, it is something like that, Rodd, said the doctor;
gpt
Sea-sarpint, sir,
human
Nonsense! cried Rodd.
gpt
Here, you have a look, Joe, and he passed the glass to the sailor.
human
Now then, he said,
gpt
I say sea-sarpint, sir.
human
Sea-sarpint! he said, in a tone of disgust.
gpt
There, hold your tongue, my lad. You're a naturalist, doctor; you haven't got no sea-sarpints in your books, have you?
human
No, replied the doctor, handing the glass to one of the men, as he caught his longing eye.
gpt
But this must be a very curious fish, and it is evidently feeding. I wish it were coming this way, so that we could have a better view.
human
Yes, let him have a look,