Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1881-02-18
A RESOLUTE ACTION.

Some men seem formed by nature for
the out-of-the- way modes Of making
money. Such one was John Dudley,
who chose the calling of diver, where
perilous situations are barely faced for
the sake OF higher remuneration.
A bright, honest, and brave young
man, his sense of fear seemed entirely
blunted by constant companionship
with danger, and in any undertaking of
unusual importance one was sure to
find that he led the van.
The adventure | am about to narrate
took place some years ago, when large
vessel, laden with a valuable cargo
from South American polt, struck on
a sunken reef off the dangerous coast OF
Florida. and was completely wrecked,
although her passengers and crew were
fortunate enough to escape in the
boats.
The owners lived in New York, and
wishing to secure any part her cargo
that the salt water had not damaged
much of it being in specie-they fitted
out a large yacht, and engaging the
DS- q s-ssssssyzssss. hey preasaisea gain.
only on condition OF success, they set
sail for the scene Of the wreck.
Dudley, with his usual adventurous
disposition, was pl ompted to hazard the
speculation, but another man equally
brave-or equally reckless was not
soon found.
At last, however, Dick Turner. a
diver, whose bad character was fully
borne out by his villainous person. was
induced to take the risk, sign the arti-
cles and ship himself.
He WAS q coarse, brutal, drunken
rascal, as great q contrast as could be
found to Dudley's frank, clean, honest
nature and cool determination, and from
the moment they saw each other an
antipathy seemed to spring up between
them, causing the younger man, Dud-
ley, to shrink from the others society
as though he were some loathsoma
reptile.
Ihls antipathy was shared Dy all the
Yachts crew, and seemed justifiable in
view OF the physical as well as moral
responsiveness of the subject.
This Turner had the Jaw and profile
OF a baboon; his eyes, peering from
under his heavy brows, seemed to look
all ways at once and twinkle with
satanic wickedness, and when he
laughed his satanic majesty himself
might have envied his ugly and cunning
grin.
The voyage was fine, and the part of
the coast of Florida where the wreck
lay was soon reached. There it could
be dimly seen, tar down in the depths OF
the blue sea, over which troops OF
sharks and strange looking monster
pFss 'ss a.asr IN .ssls a z. bet
Dudley faced it with his calm strength
ur,H xir,fn mill 4bo%
ing in face OF duty, while the other,
uttering fearful curses, took many a
long pull at his brandy fissk, muttering
that he had been swindled and would
pay off that other land shark when he
caught him alone"
This threat certa My did not tend TO
increase the young mans confidence in
his companion; but, knowing there was
no help for it. he encouraged himself by
thinking "the more danger the more
money" and busted himself in prepar-
ing his things for the attack on the
Bunken vessel.
After about two days. cruising, the
spot was chosen and the yacht anchored.
Tie bell was swung for the plunge, and
the two divers went below to dress for
their descent.
Turner was in his usual evil mood,
swearing and drinking and lunging
about with huge knife that he stuck
in his bet for water-sharks or land
ones either, as the case might be-" said
he, with an evil leer at his companion.
This conduct caused Dudley some
suspicious that all was not right; so,
providing himself with a sharp knife,
he stuck it unobserved down his long
leathern boot, at the Same time resolv-
ing never for moment to be off his
guard.
With such reflections he took his
place in the bell, and. amidst the hur-
rahs of the crew and the general excite
ment, they dipped into the sea.
Common life had passed away, and
beaeath the blue wave new life and
fresh scene, ever-changing and novel,
opened to the two men. The coral
reefs. like grand architectural structures,
covered with beautiful weeds, and va
rious and gorgeous shells of every pos
sible variety of color clinging to them,
rose on every side, while fish, great and
small, of curious shapes, flew at the ap-
proach OF the bell as before tue sweep
of the sharks-those monsters of the
deep, who seemed TO grin with their
long jaws at the prospect of feast on
man.
Down, down, down, till the light was
dlm and uncertain, and then they struck
the wreck. Armed with crowbars,
sharp at one end to repulse the sharks,
ihe two men quilted the bell and sepa-
rated
Turner burst open the cabin door,
While Dudley went in another direction,
though never losing sight of his COM
panion for moment. And so they
spent their first journey, and, after
iading the bell, gave the signal and were