Presently all around me seemed to sparkle, and I wondered listlessly that the stars were so bright in the water to one who swam among their reflections.

Then the little crests of foam on the waves seemed on fire, and my arms struck sparks, as it were from the water, as the sparks fly from the anvil.

Only these were palest blue, not red, and I wondered at them, thinking at first that they were fancy, or from the shine of the bright stars above.
And all of a sudden, ahead of me, moved swiftly in the sea and across my way a sheet of dazzling blue brightness, and it frightened me.

Often as I had seen the sea and swum in it, I had never seen the like of this, nor had heard of it.

The sheet of silver fire turned and drew toward me, and I ceased swimming, and stood, treading water, watching it.