The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1886-10-30

VI - csNNacA t' - VIVA 49, =
knew instinctively the fiend was gain
ing on us, and, burdened as l was, ex.
pected a horrible death every minute
for both Of us. Only a few strokes and
we should be in safety; but how far of
the boat seemed to my strained limbs.
All this passed through my mind. and
l saw as in a vision little Robins white
face at the bow urging me on, whilst
the voice of one Of my mates came dis
tinctly across the water, sealing our
fate: He'll never do it-never"
1.-THE words were hardly.out of his
mouth when Robin rose from his seat,
With arms appraised, took a tremendous
header into the sea, and began to
make for us. He passed us, but the
monster, keen in pursuit, crossed him
unheeded. Robin, who swan like a
duck, dived beneath the shark, inflict-
ing a great wound with his knife on
the tleshy part of the huge body, and
bobbed up like a cork some distance of.
The savage creature turned suddenly
on his new victim. leaving a red streak
on the green waters, and ROBIN, taking
advantage of his start, struck out gal
lantly towards the ship.
Il and my burden were soon lugged
on board, and all eyes were fixed on
the faxen head in the distance. They
held me back by main force from
jumping into the water. ITS of no
good, mate they said; they are too
far off was then obliged in spite
of myself to become a witness of the
awful race for life. Robin strained
every limb, and | fancied the enemy
showed signs of weakness from loss OF
blood. But Robins strength also be.
gan to give at last, his strokes were
shorter, he made less way, and the
monster seemed to find it out, and to re-
double his efforts, lashing the sea with
his powerful toll. felt rs if l could
not stand the cruel suspense another
minute, when about a cables length
from the ship | saw the little lad make
a squirt, and he managed to grasp n
of the ropes that were flung out for his
rescue. They Immediately began to
haul up, and l breathed afresh as ]
saw him suspended in mid-air, whilst a
burst of cheering rang across the water.
"3aulked of his victim, the shark
made a dive, then jumped high out oi
the water. A cry pierced the air-a
mist came before my eyes. Presently
a voice said close to me:
"'Checr up. man-don't take on so;
the boys hurt, but he amt done for
yet
II can scarce remember now what
more happened till l found myself
standing by the hammock where Robin
lay.
Weren't you afraid, Robin, lad?' ]
"'Afraid, Jack, when it was to help
you! he said, rep%roachfully; but was
for | thought the shark would
take no notice of me- was such q lit.
lie bit of chap'
Those were anxious days that fol-
for the shark had just caught
aim in the heel, and fever set in; and
t was not till we were in mid-ocean
again that the sea-breezes seemed to
the lad. 1t was a glad day when
little Robin was first carried up on
leck; the crew seemed as if they could
not make enough of him, and as for
he captains wife, she looked upon
linn more as her w boy than ever"
'Is that all2' said Elsie, as Jack
paused at last; whilst Freddy asked:
What became of Robin afterwards?"
'Robin never went no more to sea-"
aid Jack; his accident left him a Bit
anne for months afterwards. When
We got back to England, folks had
leard his story-it got into the news.
somehow-and they made nc
md of the plucky little lad, and sent
lin to school, for, as l said before, he
a rare scholar. He's a grown man
low, and master of the gramma,
chool at Northbury, with a little Rob.
n of his own who's almost as fond OF
Id Jacks yarns as you are yourself
Dung SIR
"And is Robin as fond of you a.
yer, JackP" inquired Elsie, anxiously.
"Just the same as ever" returned
ack, $50 is his wife; and they are
wanting me to live with them
or good and all. tried it once, but
olneliow after a bit that living inland
to choke me like. and l was
Il. -