The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-04-26

proposed to the stexedore- that we should
take n bath in the lagoon. Peter, however,
suggested that it was not safe on account OF
the alligators but he said he knew q place
outside where we could battle without fear.
Accordingly, we took the gig, and though
l getting through the-nafFow= channel, and
reached the place Peter had spoken Of
1t was small, but beautiful, basin OF
water, with a fine, clear, sandy bottom, en-
closed on one side by bit Of beach, while
the rest was encircled by a reef of rocks.
with sheet of foam, while in others; Jagged
rocks jutted up in hinge masses, over which
the swell broke with a noise like thunder.
Outside the reef, there was a stiff breeze
blowing; but inside the surface was calm,
and the waters clear; though now and then
it was curled by brisk flaw, which rendered
more refreshing and enchanting the-water
of this beautiful inlet.
| Not caring to anchor the boat, we I'M
! dressed, and, plunging in, swain out to the
req. l wss enjoying the bath amazingly,
rocks, over which the green seas broke at
intervals, half smothering me in natural
shower-bath. The water on the part of the
reef on which l stood was scarcely two feet
deep, except where the swell came round,
| and then was almost taken off nv legs,
such was the precarious nature Of my
| footing.
was just waiting for another roller to
burst over me, and the stevedore was float
ing on his back in the centre of the basin,
when, to my intense horror, saw large
shark making toward him. I cried out
loudly, ga shark! a shark"
The stevedOre, hearing this terrifying
cry, turned to see from whence the danger
came. It would have been useless for him
to attempt to reach the boat, SO 1 shouted
to him to strike out for the shore. For
second or two he seemed fear-stricken, and
made no effort to reach the land. Suddenly
he either realized the danger of his position,
or he decided upon some plan of escape,
for he struck out boldly for the shore.
Those few seconds of indecision on the part
of Peter had enabled the monster to get into
fearful proximity to him, and for some
minutes the race was an exciting one. l
held my breath, and looked on, half para
lyzed with terror, while foot by foot the
shark drew nearer to him; expecting every
instant to see its silvery stomach glancing
in the sunlight, and the form of the steve
dOre dragged under water.
just as the shark was within a few faith
oms of him, the stevedore turned sharp
round and Owed. AS his foot disappeared
beneath the surface, the monster dashed at
1T, and there was great commOtion in the
water. For some seconds, the brute dashed
his tail, his struggles were terrific, and
thought it was all over with poor Peter
But, in another moment OF two, to INV in
expresslble joy, saw his head emerge from
the water, some distance from the shark
and a cry of thankfulness escaped me as 1
saw him reach the shore in safety.
Meanwhile the shark had released himself
from the shoal; for now saw that Peter,
who knew the place well had availed him
self of his knowledge, and, dexterously
avoiding it, had put the shark aground upon
spit of sand that ran out from the shore.
No sooner did the brute clear the shoal.
than he mazda nr fhn bo.1
occupied with the stevedore's danger, that
had not thought of myself. When did,
the great black fin was sailing down rapidly
toward me. To enable the reader to realize
my situation more fully, may say that the
boat was floating gayly in the middle of the
inlet, and was thus of no service, either to
Peter or me. Thus, while, on the one hand
my return was effectually cut off by the |
shark, l could not hope for any assistance
from the shore. 1t is true, the danger was |
not so imminent as in the case of the steve
dOre, but my position was, nevertheless |
one of extreme peril, and one from which |
could see no means of escape.
Some horrible instinct seemed to have
enabled this monster to scent me for few
minutes after Peters retreat he was floating
close to me, gazing at me with his hideous
eyes, and looking as though he was only
for favorable opportunity to seize
me. Death, painful and horrible, stared
me in the face, and l could do nothing to
escape from it.
had retreated ON to Che highest part of
the reef; but the position afforded little
extra security, for when the rollers swept
over 1T, was several times knocked off
my feet, and once nearly precipitated into
the very jaws of the shark.
l remained for some time in fearful sus-
pense, half paralyzed with terror, and un-
certain what to do. The boat was pursuing
a most cratic course, now carried one way,
and now another, by the opposite currents
of air. At one time, it seemed tioatiag
toward me, and my spirits began to revive;
but as soon as it got under the lee of the
rocks, it advanced no farther, only bobbing
and dancing before me, as if to cheat me
with vain hopes. Then suddenly another