110105    That must have been some kind of fish you saw or something.”

110106    “A fish!”

110107    the half-cast of Cubanese and Portuguese spluttered.

110108    “A fish does not have hands, Captain.

110109    I am not some Batak Captain, I went to school in Badyoeng …

110110    I might even still know my ten commandments and other scientifically proven facts; and an educated man will know the difference between a demon and an animal.

110111    Ask the Bataks, Captain.”

110112    “Negro superstitions,” the captain declared with the jovial confidence of an educated man.

110113    “This is scientific nonsense.

110114    A demon can’t live in water anyway.

110115    What would he be doing in the water?

110116    You shouldn’t listen to all the nonsense talked by the natives, lad.

110117    Somebody gave the place the name Devil Bay and ever since then the Bataks have been afraid of it.

110118    That’s all there is to it,” the captain declared, and threw his chubby hand down on the table.

110119    “There’s nothing there, lad, that is scientifically obvious.”