The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-01-24
He soon gained the chains and jokingly
20 ll;,,er tf, ma that la inlia.oa had

d0 6UUu EtluGu lu6 CQealuS duu JOhLuSly
calling to me that he beloved I had
doubled the distance by going farther
out, took In his breath and shot over
board Like an arrow. So cleanly did he
enter the water that the slightest possible
ripple rufled the surface OF the deep as
It closed over him. / waited with watch
full eyes for his reappearance. Ie1pected
to see him rise between me and the ship,
for the distance was SO great that it had
taxed my own powers, and I thought ]
had him beaten.
Even as Twas thinking this cheer
from the forecastle warned me that he
had come up, and turning my head I be-
held him some five or six yards beyond
me, CHEEKY smile upon his face and his
head cooked on one side as If to say:
"Beat that, my boyp'
Without a word I struck out to the
vessel again, not q little vexed ct being
outdone, and determined to go 80 far
outside him next time as to deter him If
possible from trying again to beat me.
Reaching the ship. I clambered up the
side and took my place In the upper
chains ready for the plunge. The cap
+ tain and mate being doubtless as hard
pushed for amusement as We poor fell
lows forward, were leaning over the
quarter rail and watching our sport with
interest.
SEQ It, Gusr cried John Butler, as he
climbed out Of the water to get % better
view. Beat him this time so he won't
want to try again" Then, as he sur
veyed the distance at which Billy Lay, he
added: MY stars, but that's long divel-
eh, tBriton2" turning to the old sailor
who had warned us against going into
the wcter. ~. $50
EYES, . returned he, SO deal too long.
II John Shark wac to come along now,
what chance would Billy have to get on
board2 The old dEhan must be loony to
let you youngsters go into the water In
such sharks paradise as this. IF I had
my way I'd masthead the whole bilin'
Of you.
ssGo it, You old growl, youl" retorted
John. II suppose you never had swim
In your life, and now you're too old.
You've got the rheumatism yourself, and
don't want to see anybody else enjoy
themselves. Talk about sharks when
you're where they are. We haven't seen!
one since we got. t.among the islands, and
Z I'm blest If / think there are any here
aboutS. !" a 80 IS
Standing there In the chains, with one
hand upon the sheer pole already tosletl
go and plunge, = heard Briton's remark
and Johns reply. Something In the old
fellows manner struck me more than
the former warning had, and as lis
tened to Johns answer, I could not help:
feeling that. the older sailor had all the
reason on bis side. The swimmers had
begun to come ION board and dress ]
almost made Sup my mind to stay oh.
board and yield the palm of diving TO-
Billy. :sa ~; {. ;s5.s.s.
s But they were all watching me, and
whispered, shawl Don't show the
white feather nowl There are no sharks
about. Itwon' 'tsstake three minutes to-
get outside where Billy Is and swim back
to the ship Then you needn't go in
b SILL hesitated, while my shipmates
waited to see what would do.
Never mind r. r thought /; ''let 'em
wait. r stay on board the ship"
+ turned to- call Billy in. Before I
could speak, ha sang out to me, g Come;
Gus, I'm tired OF waitingl If you're
going to:giveit up, say so, and I'll come
out. I've been in long enough. " - y
That settled 1t. :. Give ttup? Neverl"
thought /, the whole current Of my feel
ing at the tone -of3 his banter, and, suit
ing the action to the thought, made
ready to! dive I drew In my breath and
gathered for the plunge. In another
moment; I should have been overheard.
Twas In the:very act Of springing, when
the startling CRY: Of !. a shark Q shark!'
came from. the forecastle.
stt' Gomez sonts Of the water, ALI Come
out, BIlyi Hurry; there's no time to-
slose!r cried half ascore Of voices Most
sof the fewsmen still In the water were
close beside the vessel They crowded
to the ladder, and scrambled up 1t In
great haste and excitement.
For me the cry came just In time. j
;grasped q shroud and saved myself from
going overheard, though had already
gained such headway that my body
swung clear Of the side before could
regain my footing in the chains ,
<. Once secure, II looked down for my
;shipmates, too anxious for their safety
to think at that moment Of the peril /
had been In myself. The last swimmer,
save Billy, had gained the ladder, his
:feetjust clear Of thesswater, as round the
bow, with silent speed, came the monster
fof whose presence old Briton had given
such timely warning.
He swan close to the surface, bis sinu-
.ous tail gently waving from side to side,
and the unfailing pilot fish at their sta
! tions on either side Of his dorsal fin, and
lust ahead Of his nose. His small,
vicious eyes glanced upward at the lad
der; and he seemed to say as plainly as
IL be spoke, Aha, it's well for you chaps
you made yourselves scarce! A little
more and ! would have had one Of you'll"
Had / dived as / intended. I should
have struck directly In bis path. He
seemed unaware Of Billy's being still In
the water, for his attention had been
first called to those nearer the ship.
The mate and all who could were hard
at work lowering one Of the quarter
boats, and shouting to Billy to keep of,
and not come any nearer the vessel.
With much presence Of mind he obeyed,
rolling on his back and floating as lightly
|, as possible upon the surface. Several
hands had rushed to the forecastle and
galley: for bits of beef or pork with which
{ to try to coax the shark to remain along
side until their shipmate could be picked
up.
The shark nosed at the various tidbits
thrown out to him, but he seemed mis-.
hustful, and to have an idea that we
were trying to hood dwink him. He still,
however, remained by the ship.
The boat was down, and pulling rap
idly toward the boy, when the noise Of
the oars attracted the shark. He ct once
set off toward her, and followed in tho
wake. Then. began our worst suspense.
! IF he kept behind the boat, Billy might
Z be reached In time; but II he should put
forth. his speed and pass her, thero could