But Confidently Showing Himself Above Water
Without Hiding:
Notwithstanding, we presented ourselves in open view
and gesture to amaze him, as all creatures will be commonly at a
sudden gaze and sight of men.
Thus he passed along turning his head to
and fro, yawing and gaping wide, with ugly demonstration of long
teeth, and glaring eyes; and to bid us a farewell, coming right
against the /Hind/, he sent forth a horrible voice, roaring or
bellowing as doth a lion, which spectacle we all beheld so far as we
were able to discern the same, as men prone to wonder at every strange
thing, as this doubtless was, to see a lion in the ocean sea, or fish
in shape of a lion. What opinion others had thereof, and chiefly the
General himself, I forbear to deliver: but he took it for /bonum
omen/, rejoicing that he was in war against such an enemy, if it were
the devil. The wind was large for England at our return, but very
high, and the sea rough, insomuch as the frigate, wherein the General
went, was almost swallowed up.
Monday in the afternoon we passed in sight of Cape Race, having made
as much way in little more than two days and nights back again, as
before we had done in eight days from Cape Race unto the place where
our ship perished. Which hindrance thitherward, and speed back again,
is to be imputed unto the swift current, as well as to the winds,
which we had more large in our return.
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