Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-10-30
ESCAPE FROM A SHARK.

Hardy, in his "Travels through Mexico" gives
the following lively account of an escape from a
shark: -
The Placer de la Piedra Negada, which is near
Loretta, was supposed to have quantities of very
large pearl oysters around it-a supposition
which was at once confirmed by the great diff
Guilty of finding this sunken rock Don Pablo,
however, succeeded in sounding it, and in search
OF specimen of the largest and oldest shells,
dived down in eleven fathoms of water. The
rock is about 100 or 200 yards in circumference,
and our adventurer swan rouno examined it in
all directions, but without meeting any induce
ment to prolong his stay. Accordingly, being
satisfied that there were no oysters, he thought
of ascending to the surface of the water but
first he cast a look upwards as all divers are
Obliged to do, who hope to avoid the hungry
jaws of a monster. If the coast is clear, they
may then rise without apprehension. Don Pa
bio, however when he cast a hasty glance up
wards, found that tintetero had taken station
about three or four yards Immediately above
him, and, most probably, had been watching
during the whole time that he had been down.
A double pointed stick is a useless weapon
against tintetero, as its mouth is of such enor-
nous dimensions, that both man and stick
would be swallowed together. He, therefore,
felt himself rather nervous, as his retreat was
completely intercepted But, under water,
therefore, he swan round to another part of the
rock, hoping by this artiice to avoid the vigil
ance of his prosecutor. What was his dismay
when he again looked up, to find the pertina-
cious tintetero still lowering over him as
hawk would follow a bird!
He described him as having large, round, and
infamed eyes. apparently just ready to dart from
their sockets with eagerness, and the mouth tat
the recollection of which he still shuddered) was
constantly opening and shutting, as if the mon
ster was already, in imagination, devouring his
victim, or at least that the contemplation of his
prey impaired foretaste of the gom Two al
ternatiyes now presented themselves to the mind
of Don Pablo, one to suffer himself to be drown
ed, the other TO be eaten. He had already been
under so considerable time, that he found it
impossible any longer to retain his breath, and
was on the point of giving himself up for lost
with as much philosophy as he possessed. But
what Is dearer than life? The invention of man
is seldom at loss to find an expedient for its
preservation in case of great extremity. On a
sudden he recollected that on one side of the
rock he observed sandy spot, and to this he
swan with all imaginable speed, his attentive
friend still watching his movements, and keep
ing measured pace with him. As soon as he
reached the spot he commenced stirring it with
his pointed stick, in such way that the fine
particles rose, and rendered the water perfectly
turbid, so that he could not see the monster,
nor the monster himself
Availing himself of the cloud by which he
and the tntetero were enveloped, he swan very
far out in transvertical direction and reached
the surface in safety, although completely ex-
hausted. Fortunately, he rose close to one of
the boats, and those who were within, seeing
him in such state, and knowing that an ene-
my must have been prosecuting him, and that
by some artifce he had saved his life, jumped
overheard, as is their common practice in such
cases, to frighten the creature away by splash
ing in the water; and Don Pablo was taken in
to the boat more dead than alive