Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-02-12
STORY OF A SHARK.

| knew story Of a shark fearful. 1
bloody s.ory-@ahd osa that laants my |
memory night or day, dreaming or wax |
ing. When was at CAmpeaehy, / form
ed sor, Of pot-friendship with pearl
fisher, who had several under Nina, in
the expedition 10 New Orleans, and could
tell of log burning and bush fighting, and
things had never heard Of before aud
| used to sit in his wigwsm all uight, and
swill rum grog, while he wen, over his
campaign and his wanderings. lis was
merry fellow, and knew how to keep the
joke fresh, and liked his grog, and was
compelled TO IKE his company, for the
yellow fever broke out in our slip, aud !
was thrown upon my shifts until she came
off her quarantine, so that ! was eontent-
ed to swing my hammock ia the pearl III
ver's hut a. long as he would let me.
One night was drunk-perhaps he
made me so for particular ends, but il he
did, ..e was punished for it. 1t was very
dark and sg12nv. and we were sitting
alone in the hut over the i.gAt Of man
grove fire. After looking at me for some
time, with a serious, steadiast eve, Jose
said
Anderson, viii put my life ia year
hands ] have need OF friend TO advise
with, and think you will not beiray me.
You may have heard, for rumors are
loud-lpped, tLat TIE cathedral OF Nuestro
Sonora whs plundered some two years
age. ana that two black men, who were
implicated in the sacrilege, suffered pub
licly on the wheel. There was ano,ler
man who evadll detection. They died
like men of honor, with the secret Ia ,bei,
hearts, and yet he lives, unknown and
unsupported. ! I'm Ne' rT1a! Hush
The gold and silver vessels tempted my
eye, and | never knelt at the altar with.
out wishing 10 tear them down. The
devil assisted me, ard | did it. kIdre a,
Dios such a commoticn as it made in
town. The people seemed to have mad,
. vow to talk oF no.ling else, and the pa
j-o, ,.ollad - - :, ,,oe aonr.s H.. IT,.
poor blacks yelled to, but my name wa
never mingled with their confessions
my punishment is far off. The gold cup
and candiesticks are buried under ten
lathoms of water. know the place well
Assist me in raising them to night, and
will share them with you, and we vii
both take the first chance of going t.
Honduras"
/ consented at once-for the devil
: ever ready to take advantage Of man
, necesSity--and went down to the beRcl
: Immediately, where Jose uniastened hi
: dorey, and We put off Tor the fishing sta
0 ton. The sea ran high, and We b..
y enough 10 do TO manage our slight raii
= Jo,e's experienced eye sas not lo'Is j
e discovering the repository Of his treasure
t though the night was dark and the dri
e was strong, that we could hardly see be
Z yond the bow, excepting when streame
= flashed through the clouds, and Shove
= the heavy black waves G1oualiag aroun
s Us.
: "It's plaguey bad night, messmate,
e said |.
u Jose turned-the lightning siared o.,
" his FACET was pale as death.
Tonight or never lac replied
Wear up the dorey While strip.
!. lie did not lose an instant in prepar
u ton, and after repeating his caution
n wear up the craft and keep near Il
. place, he crossed himself and dfopp'
!, heavily but quietly into the water.
~ thought heard cry as lie deseends
y, and my anxiety began TO take the cour
Of fear. Jose had scarcely diVed a fat
ON when he arose to the suria.e--a
parenily senseless and inanimAle.
thought be had stunned himself assir
the rocks. ! called 10 him bul Dc :
a turned me no answer called sga
TO louder, aud still no repIy. Bold vi
n fear, padded towards .he place ~he
ed the lightning bad shown Tne bis hoasi
le- body. One arm was lying lisllessly up
to the waves. seized hold OF IL hasii
irc and dragged him into The boat. A. IL
r., 50, blood, warm blood, spoalsd over I
X head and kness--a streamer fash
siIl across the llrmameat--i uttered . yell
1 it horror, and iet the load drop heavily
,g- my feet. Twas beailess trunk i
ev. Iiaw OF q shark bad anticipated mans j
md tiee-li.e punishment Of the guilty and
.u- fated jos. lad only been protsaeied--'
20 repealed
nd, --.----
lds Asffeg az uam.s-~Iil thank )