Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1866-01-06
VOLUME 20.
lie turned his head and perceived to his

Xcs, in spite of his utmost efforts, his
follower was rapidly lessoning the distance
between them.
Nearer and nearer he came, and Of
length Tom could hear him putting close
upon his heels,
At the Same moment fearful sight
broke upon his view-a long black fn
cleaving the smooth surface OF the water
like knife,
His blood ran cold 10 bis veins. The
fin was that of "A shark
Before he could utter word however,
he felt a pair of hands grasp his apkles
under the water. These hands pulled him
beneath the surface, and the next moment
ascondcd to his throat. They grasped it
they pressed upon it like vice. He
struggled vainly to release himself. The
terrible pressure caused his mouth to open.
The salt water rushed into it, and he felt
that he was straugng--that he could live
no logger A horrible pain was in his
head,a leaden weight seemed to have been
placed upon his brain,
Opposite to him, while bis eyeballs were
forced almost from their sockets by the
great agony he suffered, he could see the
dim oatiine Of the Chiliau's face looking
IN the blue depths oil the sea, like the face
Of some hideous monster of the deep. The
eyes, were OF dull, greenish hue, and
the dark face seemod covered with u null
titude OF little fins. The appearance was
caused by the distorted state Of his vision
In few minutes both men rose for an
instant above the surface of the water,-
But Tom knew it not. A yelowsh sub
,tu NAx1t hafor nd
obscured his sight. Now be could hot
even see the face Of the man whose hand
was upon his throat. Failing conscious
ness seemed to convert that hand into a
. fiery serpent twisting its folds about his
. neck.
e That terrible serpent How tightly its
1 folds were clasped about his neck -
n Agony-feariul agony
n Would he never die?
All what did it mean The serpent
n suddenly unwound itself from his throat.
a The dark vapor grew brighter, the To-
II Gusts flew away from his brain, he felt
himself ascending.
II Suddenly be seemed 10 stop The
- vapor was passing from before his eyes.
A sweet feeling of relief entered his
}. bosom.
O He had risen to the surface Of the sea,
10 and had breathed mouthful OF fresh air.
~ Before he sank again consciousness rushed
into bis brain, and gave him back his Da'-
,e ural sight, sense and feeling.
ia lie moved his hands and KEEP: himself
* afoat. His bewilderment passed away
le as he looked aroud hiu.. Here was the
G. sea, there was the sky, and far in the dis
D. tance the little brig.
ID But where was his companion--tho
man who had attempted to murder him
c. Why had he rclinquished his savage in-
ct tention
Id Both questions were soon answered, Tor
rd he suddenly noticed the water IN hls vi
n. cinity thickiy clotted with blood
cs Then he remembered the shark. Tho
ia fierce creature had saved his life; it had
o. attacked the Gillian while the latter was
O. mgaged in his foul work, and dragged him
to away from his intended victim.
or 1t was evident tlat he was not aware
in of the vicinity Of the creature when he
madc his eowardly assault upon Tom, as
,v- the head OF the latter had concealed the
to approaching flu from his view.
m. \ cold shudder ran through the veins of
~ our hero. The shark was probably al
.s, that moment dcvUuling the person of the
giant, away down in the dark depth Of the
th. sea.
1u. He was followed by the Gillian giant
ad and striking out simultaneously both mel
swan away from the brig.
Of, "A race a lace y shouted the rest O.
va the crew. Tom glanced toward the giant
MS and the later returned the glance VIII icl
ON said plainly, Il challenge you.
at Resolved not to be outdone by his buTlI
lad shipmate, the American exerted hlmse
ere with such skill that he was soon enablef
on to pass the other.
ave lie could hear the Gillian bl'wing hk'
porpoise behind him, and as long as tina
ties Enolse saluted his ears he continued hi
i'm, course for, although ho was already
inp long distance from tho brig, be determn
xu, ed that he would not bo the first to turn
With farewell glance at the blood
am. stained water around him, the young sa!o
ver now struck out for the brig. But he foun'
fine that his late cxertion, joined with teartu
her ordeal through which he passed, ha
made it 10 bttul whether he would sue
the oeed in reaching the vessel
,m- In few moments, however, he wa
ner. oratiGcd to observe a boat shoot ou: troI
be the side of the brig. 1t approached rapid
ex- and be was soon picked up, The officer
ave had feared that his companion aud him
the self would not bo able to get back to tn
vessel after the exertion OF swimming o
and to Q great distance, and had therefor
eut. sent the boat for them
can The reader can imagine the feeling
ca the crew when Tom had made them ac
,ttle ouain,ed with the facts we have Just rel'
His ted 80.
S. They were all more or less superstition
ally and the terrible tate OF tho g'an.' 'Tso,"'
utly with the fact that nc haa oce" "',"0Aou
ys Of the shark while engaged in an attempt
like take the life Of our hero, inspued the
amp with feelings OF awe toward '"e latter,
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