The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-16
THE DAILY STAR
MY SHELL AND SHARK
STORY.
CHAPTER I-(CeNTINUED.)
BY A NAVAL OFFICER.

not propitious, for on landing we found
our path barred by a stalwart native
bran'lishing his speer, and demanding
"backsheesh;" the only answer he
deigned to the interpreters inquiry as
to what he wanted was "Backsheesh,
backsheeshV' and as he spoke he laid his
spear across the pathway. Atthis Mark
ham lost his patience.
"Hassan," he said to the interpreter,
"iust inform that copper-colored individ-
ual that if he doesn't make himself
scarce, Pll give him such dose of back
sheesh,'" (touching his breech-loader)f fas
he doesn't bargain for, and not in his
hand either"
What Hassan said to him can't vouch
for; but the noble savage, doubtless
thinking "discretion the better part of
valor," and perhaps not altogether ap-
preciating Markham's looks, after gestic-
uating, swearing, and scowling, made
off to the rocks, at intervals facing round
and shaking his spear defiantly at us.
The path now being clear, we set off
on our journey, and had not proceeded a
quarter of mile ere we found, to our
cost, that our walk was likely to, be a
very different one from what we antiei-
pated, and l must cen confess that, had
it not been the fear of being laughed at
on board, we should have given up in
disgust.
Our way lay over soft sand, in which,
at every step, we sank up to our knees; !;
in addition to which, the sand was liter
ally carpetcd with description of creep
ers bearing large thorns from two to three
inches in length; these thorns pierced the
leather of our boots as though it had
been paper, and consequently made us
most careful as to our every footstep.
O, the scorching sun! Not a breath of
wind; and the very air we breathed
seemed from a heated oven. The glare
also from the sand was most painful.
At times, from the sand giving under
feet, we found ourselves on all fours;
and then, TO vary the monotony, at full
length on our back, gazing at the heav-
ems; and on each and every occasion
thorns, thorns thorns!
At length, footsore, bleeding, parched,
and weary, we reached the opposite
beach, having taken four hours to en-
compass the distance, some three or four
miles.
The sea-breeze had now set in, which
made us, comparatively speaking, "new
men," 80 after bathing our "poor feet"
we proceeded to discuss the creature
comforts.
Imagine our feeling on opening the
baskets at discovering that the drnkables
consisted,of two pint bottles of beer and
bottle of brandy; not drop of water,
and not the faintest hope of procuring
any; facing us the Sea, and landwards in
every direction for miles a glittering ex-
paese of white sand; our TASKS had been
emptied long since, and we we're parched
with thirst. Blessings were not poured
on the stewards head. l blamed Mark
ham for not having seen what was put
up, and he retaliated on me. Recrlmin-
ations, however, were useless; there was
nothing for us to do bn' to make the
best of it; so having divided the beer
into six portions, each drank his share
Instead of relieving, it only served to in
tensify our thirst.
Further investigation as to the con-
tents of the baskets showed us that the
cdibles consisted of salt-beef sandwiches,
cheese, sardines, and bread-all, with the
exception of the bread, thirst-provoking;
so they remained untouched.
1t was now ZIP. IN. Shell-hunting was
out of the question, as it would take US
all our timeato get back by sunset.
well. Markham, how do you propose
returnings / ask. "a vote round the
cape, for Ill be hanged if I tramp back
through that horrid valley again"
'Don't be an idiot!' he politely an
swers. "You know the old adage?
Rather bear those ills we have, than fly
to others that we know not Of" Mark
ham never missed an opportonity of a
quotation.) "You see" he adds, "the
tide is already making, and as sure
as you attempt it, so sure, before
you are halfway, you'll either be tide
bound and have to take to the cliffs, or
else you'll be washed off the rocks"
"You're certainly Jobs comforter y
reply: "but, Notwithstanding, Pm =
termined to risk it, if any one will ;,in
me-"
At this Hassan and Jack elected my
route, Ali and Handel preferring to &C.
company Markham.
Ere starting homeward we each took a
thimbleful of brandy, and then consigned
the remainder to the waves, fearing that
thirst might perhaps tempt us to drink
it; we also arranged eur sumptuous ban
guet on the beach as an Offering to Nep-
tune.
trust he appreciated it more than we
mad done.
Before parting company Markham
tried hard to persuade us to alter our
resolution, but was unsuccessful; SO
with chin-chin, off we set in separate
paths.
ec CHAPTER TT