Every time the ship's bow rose and fell, the little belt of foam made in the water seemed like a belt of blue flame with bright sparkles in it, like stars or diamonds.
I had seen this curious appearance before, but never so bright as it was on that night.
"What is it, Tom ?" said I, as my friend came forward and leaned over the ship's bulwark beside me.
"It's blue fire, Bob," replied Tom, as he smoked his pipe calmly.
"Come, you know I can't swallow that," said I; "everybody knows that fire, either blue or red, can't burn in the water." "Maybe not," returned Tom; "but it's blue fire for all that.

Leastwise if it's not, I don't know wot else it is." Tom had often seen this light before, no doubt, but he had never given himself the trouble to find out what it could be.

Fortunately the captain came up just as I put the question, and he enlightened me on the subject.
"It is caused by small animals," said he, leaning over the side.
"Small animals!" said I, in astonishment.
"Aye; many parts of the sea are full of creatures so small and so thin and colourless, that you can hardly see them even in a clear glass tumbler.

Many of them are larger than others, but the most of them are very small." "But how do they shine like that, sir ?" I asked.
"That I do not know, boy.

God has given them the power to shine, just as he has given us the power to walk or speak; and they do shine brightly, as you see; but how they do it is more than I can tell.