The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-12-04
WEDNESDAY. DECEM BER 4, 1889

swimming. for the life buoy greatly i'm
peded his action, before Captain Sey-
mour vas By her side. She gave sharp
cry as he touched her, for though he had
shouted she had not heard him, and her
thoughts we're on the monster astern.
All right Miss Festherstone catch
hold OF this life buoy We shall soon have
help from the steamer"
The ship seemed long distance away.
but he could see by the spray thrown
high from the screw that her engines
were reversed a boat was already in
the act of being lowered. Then he look
ed the other way, and for q moment his
heart seemed to stand still, for NOS fifty
yards away he saw the black fin Of the
shark. He had expected it, for he knew
that the shark was swimming al the same
rate of speed that the steamer had been
gong, and that be must very soon be up
with them The girl saw il, too, for she
gave sharp cry
Splash with your hands and feet, be
said we shall manage to keep him off
until the boat comes 1p.S
But Mabel was too terrified TO 90 any
thing. She ching 10 the life buoy, with
her eyes fixed in wild horror upon the
shark. Keeping one hand upon the
buoy. Captain Seymour, with the other
arm, and his feet, spl4shed the water /;
and the shark, which approached rapid
ly until within distance oftwenty yards
paused and began to swim round and
round them Mabel now somewhat re-
covered consciousness. and began also 10
splash the water.
That's right Captain seymour said,
cheeringIy. You see We are frighten-
ing him."
This lasted several minutes, which
seemed an age to them
9 The boats half way from the ship,
Csptaln Seymour said. Another coup
le minutes, and it will be here. Keep it
up, Miss Featherstone, til the last mo
ment but if you see the shark make a
rush, leave go the life buoy and throw
yourself on your back. viii meat him. "
No, no, she gasped, ~y0u shall not
throw away your life
Il am notgoing to throw it away. II be
makes a rush shall shove this life buoy
into his jaws That will puzzle him.
The shark had now ceased swimming
round and lay with his head towards
them at distance Of some fifteen yards
The tremendous splashing evidently puz-
zled and alarmed him. The boat was
now rapidly coming Up, and the first Of
ticer, standing up in the stern, shouted
words of encouragement. The SHARK
doubtless heard the sound of the ap-
preaching oars, and, fearing that il was
about to be baked Of its prey, moved
slowly toward them.
leave go, leave go, " Captain Seymour
exclaimed, but as the girl still held on be
jerked the life-buoy from her hand, and
exclAiming. Throw yourself on your
back, swan couple strokes forward TO
meet the shark. Its hesitation was now
over; with sweep of lis tail it darted
forward, throwing itself on its back as il
approached within four or five yards o:
The swimmer. The great mouth with its
treble row of teeth opened widely and as
it did so, Captain Seymour thrust the
life buoy into it.
Large as the mouth was, for the shark
was one of the largest of its kind, it was
not 80 wide as the width Of the buoy. II
closed with sudden snap, but the obsta-
Gle prevented the jaws from meeting
though the swimmer ielt sharp pain in
one of his hands; then ne Was swept
aside as the great fish brushed past him
and he again swan to the side of Miss
Featherstone. A few seconds later the
shark came to the surface some little dist
ance astern. 1t was shaking its head Vi.
olentiy, and lashing the water with lis
tail. The life-buoy had been pushed
nearly to the junction of the jaws, and
the sharp teeth had imbedded themselves
deeply in the cork IL was trying in
vain to get rid OF this strange object that
it had encountered
Thank God its fixed there Il think
we are safe now"
A minute later the boat dashep up
alongside with ringing cheer from the
men.
Miss Featherstone, who was insensible
now, was lifted on board. Captain Sey-
mour was then hauled in. The shark
was still going Though the most violent
contortions, lashing the water intoa foam
shaking its head like dog. turning over
and over, and evidently in paroxysm oi
rage and alarm
Il wish had a harpoon on board,
the first officer said. What on earth
have you done to him, Captain Sey.
mour ?r
Il pushed the life-buoY down his
throat; suppose be can't get nd Of it .
"You are hurt, the officer exclaimed
suddenly, glsncing at Captain seymour's
lef1 hand, which was streaming with
blood.
Yes, the teeth Of his upper jaw just
caught my hsnd, but / must not grumble
st that after such an escape as we have
had
~An e<Ape indeed" the mate agreed.
II tho1ght it was all up with ycu when
we saw the brute make his rush that
was splendid idea of the life-buoy: in
deed it was grand business altogether,
Captain Seymour, and congratulate you
heartily. It's nothing to jump o.erboari
in temperate waterway man might do
that, but to 20 overheard with that
shark coming on behind the ship was
another thing altogether
The ship which had been backing rap
idly down towards them, was now close
alongside. A cheer had come acros the
water as the two swimmers were lifted
into the boat, and this now rose again
and again from the passengers and the
crew clustered along the bulwarks. The
ladder was already lowered The mate
lifted Mable Featherstone IN his arms
and carried her on deck, Captain Sey-
mour following him The cheering crowd
pressed round. every one wanting to
shake hands with him or pat bin on the