an awning, drowsily perusing a book or old newspaper; some leaning on the taffrail, watching the many-colored dolphin, and those beautiful, but spiteful, little creatures, the Portuguese men-of-war, which look so splendid as they sail gently on the smooth surface of the blue ocean, every little ripple causing a change of color in their transparent sails.  I was admiring these curious navigators, as I stood with two or three friends, who, like myself, felt idle, and cared only to dispose of the time in the most agreeable manner attainable in such a ship, with such a commander; and I said, rather thoughtlessly, considering Frederic was at my side, ’How I should like to possess one of those little creatures; I suppose they can be caught?’

“Frederic moved from me, and an instant after he was on the forecastle; presently, I heard a splash in the water, and, leaning over the rail, I saw him swimming after a fine specimen, which shone in all the bright and varied colors of the rainbow, as it floated proudly by.  He had no sooner reached the treasure, and made a grasp at it, than he gave a loud scream, for the creature had encircled the poor boy’s body with its long fibrous legs, or, as they are properly called, ‘tentacula’.  He struggled violently, for he was in great agony; at length he escaped, and was helped on deck by one of the men, who said, he wished, ’he had known what the youngster had in his head, and he would have prevented him attempting to catch such a thing,’ for he was aware of the extraordinary peculiarities of these singular little creatures.  When he came on deck, he looked exactly as if he had been rolled in a bed of nettles, and the steward had to rub him with oil, and give him medicine to reduce the fever caused by the pain of the sting.

“You may be sure, that directly the captain heard of this affair, he was more disposed to chastise, than to pity, our friend Frederic; but I interfered, and begged he would leave him to me, as I had been the cause of the disaster, and must now make amends by attending him, until he was well enough to return to his duty.  The captain was very much displeased, and I regretted extremely that a foolish wish of mine should have caused so much annoyance, and felt it my duty to endeavor to alleviate the boy’s sufferings as much as possible.  Poor Frederic! he was laid up three or four days, and had experienced enough to caution him against ever again attempting to capture a ’Portuguese man-of-war.’[1]

[Footnote 1:  The ancients are said to have derived the art of navigation from these animals, which, in calm weather, are seen floating on the surface of the water, with some of their tentacula extended at their sides, while two arms that are furnished with membranaceous appendages serve the office of sails.  These animals raise themselves to the surface of the sea, by ejecting the sea-water from their shells; and on the approach of danger, they draw their arms, and with them a quantity of water, which occasions them to sink immediately.  By possessing this power, they are but rarely taken perfect, as the instant they are disturbed they disappear.  They are more frequently caught in the nets of fishermen than any other way, or found left dry on rocks.]