{"id":"01KG8AKZAYZB32686R6BS5PNY3","cid":"bafkreibfqnuxqkuscjzluilhm73jas7n2st2uxanrhdpwqwjae5dthyeai","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":3699,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:18.535Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 1","source_file":"01KG89J1HYC04JWXEK48P07WPK","start_line":3628,"text":"CHAPTER XXXII.\r\nXiphius Platypterus\r\n\r\n\r\nAbout this time, the loneliness of our voyage was relieved by an event\r\nworth relating.\r\n\r\nEver since leaving the Pearl Shell Islands, the Parki had been followed\r\nby shoals of small fish, pleasantly enlivening the sea, and socially\r\nswimming by her side. But in vain did Jarl and I search among their\r\nranks for the little, steel-blue Pilot fish, so long outriders of the\r\nChamois. But perhaps since the Chamois was now high and dry on the\r\nParki’s deck, our bright little avant-couriers were lurking out of\r\nsight, far down in the brine; racing along close to the keel.\r\n\r\nBut it is not with the Pilot fish that we now have to do.\r\n\r\nOne morning our attention was attracted to a mighty commotion in the\r\nwater. The shoals of fish were darting hither and thither, and leaping\r\ninto the air in the utmost affright. Samoa declared, that their deadly\r\nfoe the Sword fish must be after them.\r\n\r\nAnd here let me say, that, since of all the bullies, and braggarts, and\r\nbravoes, and free-booters, and Hectors, and fish-at-arms, and\r\nknight-errants, and moss-troopers, and assassins, and foot-pads, and\r\ngallant soldiers, and immortal heroes that swim the seas, the Indian\r\nSword fish is by far the most remarkable, I propose to dedicate this\r\nchapter to a special description of the warrior. In doing which, I but\r\nfollow the example of all chroniclers and historians, my Peloponnesian\r\nfriend Thucydides and others, who are ever mindful of devoting much\r\nspace to accounts of eminent destroyers; for the purpose, no doubt, of\r\nholding them up as ensamples to the world.\r\n\r\nNow, the fish here treated of is a very different creature from the\r\nSword fish frequenting the Northern Atlantic; being much larger every\r\nway, and a more dashing varlet to boot. Furthermore, he is denominated\r\nthe Indian Sword fish, in contradistinction from his namesake above\r\nmentioned. But by seamen in the Pacific, he is more commonly known as\r\nthe Bill fish; while for those who love science and hard names, be it\r\nknown, that among the erudite naturalists he goeth by the outlandish\r\nappellation of “_Xiphius Platypterus_.”\r\n\r\nBut I waive for my hero all these his cognomens, and substitute a much\r\nbetter one of my own: namely, the Chevalier. And a Chevalier he is, by\r\ngood right and title. A true gentleman of Black Prince Edward’s bright\r\nday, when all gentlemen were known by their swords; whereas, in times\r\npresent, the Sword fish excepted, they are mostly known by their high\r\npolished boots and rattans.\r\n\r\nA right valiant and jaunty Chevalier is our hero; going about with his\r\nlong Toledo perpetually drawn. Rely upon it, he will fight you to the\r\nhilt, for his bony blade has never a scabbard. He himself sprang from\r\nit at birth; yea, at the very moment he leaped into the Battle of Life;\r\nas we mortals ourselves spring all naked and scabbardless into the\r\nworld. Yet, rather, are we scabbards to our souls. And the drawn soul\r\nof genius is more glittering than the drawn cimeter of Saladin. But how\r\nmany let their steel sleep, till it eat up the scabbard itself, and\r\nboth corrode to rust-chips. Saw you ever the hillocks of old Spanish\r\nanchors, and anchor-stocks of ancient galleons, at the bottom of Callao\r\nBay? The world is full of old Tower armories, and dilapidated Venetian\r\narsenals, and rusty old rapiers. But true warriors polish their good\r\nblades by the bright beams of the morning; and gird them on to their\r\nbrave sirloins; and watch for rust spots as for foes; and by many stout\r\nthrusts and stoccadoes keep their metal lustrous and keen, as the\r\nspears of the Northern Lights charging over Greenland.\r\n\r\nFire from the flint is our Chevalier enraged. He takes umbrage at the\r\ncut of some ship’s keel crossing his road; and straightway runs a tilt\r\nat it; with one mad lounge thrusting his Andrea Ferrara clean through\r\nand through; not seldom breaking it short off at the haft, like a bravo\r\nleaving his poignard in the vitals of his foe.\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 1"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJRHK7WXVC985MRWQGQCB","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1HYC04JWXEK48P07WPK","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AKZXKCXV5XZ3ZEK45X20H","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"next"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:21.854Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:28.720Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}