Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-03-19
STORY OF a SHARK,

Gy knew a story of a sha,k-a fearful.
bloody stOry-and one that haunts my
memory night or day, dreaming or
waking. When | wasnat Camptnchy, |
formed n sort Of port>ir!enGshIp, with Il
pearl fisher, who had served under Mi
ma in the expedition to New Orleans,
and could tell Of log>burning aud bush
fighting, and things that had never
heard Of before and used to sit in his
wigwam all night, and swill rum Srog,
while he went over his camFai gu and
his wanderings. He was merry fellow
and knew how to keep his joke fresh, and
liked his grog. and was compelled to
like his company, for the yellow fever
broke out in our ship. and was thrown
upon my shifts until she came of her
quarantine, so that was contented to
swing my hammock in the pearl Divers
hut as long es he would let me. One.
night | was drunk-rerhHps he made me
so fer particular ends, but il he did, he
was punished for it. 1t was very dark
and squaiIy, and we were sitting alone in.
the hut ever the light Of mangrove FIRE !,
After looking at me for some time with
serious and steadiast eye, Jose said
"Anderson, will put my life in your
hands l haveneed ola friend 10 advise
with, and | thinb you will not betrny me.
You may have heard. Tor rumOls are
loud Tipped, that tie cathedral of Nues-
tro Sonora was plundered some years
ago. and that two black men. who were
implicated in the sacr!'ege. suffered pub
licly on the wheel. There WAS another
man who cvaded detection. They died
Ike men Of honor with the secret in their
hearts, and yet he lives unknown and un-
suspected. I Qm that neaa HusA! The
gold and silver vessels tempted my eye.
and never kneIt at the ALTAR without
wishing to tear them down: 3 Phe' 8e]il
assisted me, and did it, Mqlre. dc DioSi
such comm0tion as it made in town,
The people seemed 10 have made IL vow
=. to talk about nothing else. and the" pa
+ dres yelled as If it was doum's day. The
. poor: blacks yelled too. but my name was
never mingled with their confessions !;
my punishment is far of. The gold
cups anI cnndlesticks are buried under
10 fathoms Of water. know. the PLACE
we'll ASsist.me in raising 1hem.to night,
and l will share them with you, and we
will both take the first chance ofgoin,s {, to
Honduras" ..'..H
~.' l consented at once, for the devil is
ever ready to take advantage OF mans
-necessitiss-and went down to the beach
where Jose untastlneJ his dorey. and we
put off for the fishing station. The sea
ran high, and We had enough to do TO
manage our slight raft Juse's, expert.
.enced eye was not long in discovering
the repository Of his treasuc. though the
night vas dark. and the dlilt was strong,
that we could hardly see the bow. ex
ceptiny when a streame" Il sShCd through
the clouds, AMI shaved the heavy black
waves mounting around us. - ./.
Il is p,a5uey bad night, messmate, ,
said l.
Jose notwithstanding gIared over
his FACET was pale as DEATH
"To night or never" he replied. 'Weal
up the dorey while l. strip"
He did not lose an instant in prepara>
tion, and after repeating his caution tc
wear up the craft. and keep near tht
place. lie crossed himself and dropped
heavily, but Quietly into the water.
thought | heard = cry as lie descended
and my anxiety began to take the COURSE
Of fear. Jose had scarcely dived faiths
ON when he rose td the surface. appa
reuty sensc!css and inanimpte. thought
he had stunned himself against the
rocks. called to him; but lie returned
me no answer. a
l called again, louder. and still no re,
ply. Bold with 'ear, padded toward,
the place the lightning had shown me hi
floating body. One arm was lying list
less upon the waves l seized hold of i
hastily. and dragged him into the boat
AS did so. blood. warm blood, spoutee
over my head and knees-a .streame
flashed across the 6rmament--L utteret
a yell of horror. and let the load droF
heavily at my feet. TWAS a. headles
trunk The jaw Of shark had anticipa
ted mans justice-the punishment of tn
ill-fated and guilty Jose had only beel
protracted-not repealed. .i'+