The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-19
THE DAILY STAR
MY SHELL AND SHARK
STORY.
CHAPTER 1-(CoNTINUED.)
BY A NAVAL OFFICER.

companions being in the neighborhood,
they might be warned off the premises.
This being done:
"Now, Jack, listenl We have left YOU
plenty Of room, and will keep the boat
in position. You must turn and lower
yourself gently over the ledge; but be-
fore quitting your hold, bring your legs
togther; and directly you let go, close
your arms into your sides. No sooner in
the water than we'll have you in the
boat. Do you understand what l sayT'
eyes, understands; but don't know
how l shall ever manage" he whimpers.
''Let Hassan come FIRST" Boko sug-
gests, "and that will give the boy cour-
age.
Hassan answer comes back very
quickly
"All right, sar; l come. Look out!"
We can not see how he contrives; a
splash in the water is our first intima-
ton, and our dusky interpreter in speed
lily hauled on board.
1t is no easy matter to persuade Jack.
We all try by turns, but without sue
cess.
At last Markham, whose boat is at the
entrance of the gap, gets impatient, and
halls:
"Mr. Dauntmore, if you're determined
not to come shall order both boats back
to the ship, and will return for you at
daylight"
This settles it.
Gall right, them" the poor lad means.
"T know I haven't the strength, and shall
tumble all in heap. Look out for me.
Pm coming" :.
We are instantly on the "qui vive,"
two or three of the men being more than
half overheard in their anxiety to grasp
hold of him.
We have some time to wait; then a
plunge, and Jack is in the boat; he had,
as he predicted, fallen call in a heap,"
and was terribly shaken; his hands, too,
are much damaged from striking the
rocks in his fall.
"Give way on board, men" is the Or
der; and thankfully we quit the scene of
our adventures.
Our anxiety is now about Jack. The
Doctor is busily engaged with him, but
he lies with his eyes shut, and has not
spoken. We are half way to the ship ere
he regains consciousness, and then in a
short time is quite delirious
Signal-guns and rockets are now being
fired which bodies anything but pleas
ant reception from the Captain.
The instant we are alongside the chiefs
head appears over the gangway.
care all safe?' is his first question.
On being answered in the affirma-
tive:
"Let Mr.. Markham and Mr.. Louis
come to me in my cabin at once"
every good, sir" from Markham, and
he disappears. "We're in for wigging,
that's certain. What an idiot you were,
Louis, not to take my advice! You
know Jack is a personal friend of the
shippers, and this aft ir will make him
him thousand times more particular
than he is now. However, it can't be
helped"
On being ushered into the cabin, We
found the Captain looking very grave.
"Why, gentlemen" he commences,
"were. you not on board at sunset? You
know the station orders"
As he speaks he catches sight of me,
and broad grin spreads Ger his feat
ures.
,1. Seeing his eyes fixed on me, wonder
what on earth can he be smiling at. /
look up and catch sight of my face in a
mirror. 1t is covered with a mixture of
dust, perspiration, and blood. My neck
tie is gone, shirt buttonless, and neck ex-
posed; and, to complete, my neither gar
ments are hanging in shreds.
"Well, gentlemen, what reason have
you to assign for disobeying, not only
my orders, but the written orders of the
commander-in-chiefY he continues, on
recovering from the effect Of my appear
ance.
Markham leaves me to reply; SO tell
him precisely what has happened. He is
very wroth.
"You have a perfect right" he says,
"to jeopardize your own life; but how
dare you lead mere child into such
danger? / can only tell you this, if any
thing happens to Mr.. Dauntmore, I'll
try you both by court-martial, as sure as
my name is Benbow. That will do, gen.
tlemen; you may CO."
We next had to endure the quizzine
of our mess-mates; but like good Samar.
itans, they let us off easily-for the pre-
sent.
A good nights rest and were none the
worse, except Dauntmore, whose adven
lures ended in severe attack of fever
For days he raved of sharks and lodges
and great fears were entertrined of hi
recovery. After protracted illness VI
had the pleasure of seeing him crawl OF
deck; but he rarely referred to hi
Guardfui experiences.
Markham and bis party had got bacl
about ten minutes past six; their returl
had been repetition of our morning
trip. He waited until 1880, when, see
ing no signs of our appearance, he hailet
the ship for another boat to be sent t.
the beach, and went in search. Whel
we met him, he had given up all hope
Il IL