The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-03-08

oASA lAdl
body swung clear of the side before I
could regain my footing in the chains.
Once secure, looked down for my
shipmatos, Zoo anxious for their safety
to think at that moment of the peril !
had been In myself. The last swim
mer, save Billy, had gained the ladder,
his feet just clear of the water, as
round the bow, with silent speed. came
tho monster OF whose presence old
Briton had given such timely warning.
He swan close TO the surface, his sinu-
Gus tail gently waving from side to side,
and the unfailing pilot-hsh at their
stations on either side of his dorsal
fn, and Just ahead of his nose His
small, vicious eyes glanced upward at
the ladder. and he seemed TO say as
plainly 90 II he spoke: " Aha, it's we'll
for you chaps you made yourselves
soarcel A little more. and / would
have had ono of youI"
Had / dived as i intended / should
have struck directly in his path. He
seemed unaware OF BiIly's being still in
the water, for his attention had been
fret called 70 those nearer to the ship
Tho mate and all who could were
hard st work lowering ono OF the
Quartsr boats, and shouting TO Billy 70
keep on and not come any nearor the
vessel With much presence OF mind
he obeyed. rolling on his back and
floating Is 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 20 remain alongside until
their shipmato could be picked up.
The shark nosed at the various It'd
bits thrown out to him. but he seemed
mistrustful, and 20 have an idea that
We were trying 10 hoodwink him He
still. however, remained by the ship.
Tho boat was down, and pulling rap
idly toward the boy, when the noise OF
the oars attracted the shark. He at
once set of toward her and followed in
the wake Then began our worzt sus-
ponse. Ii he koPt behind tho boat
Billy might be reached Ia time; but If
he should put forth his speed and pass
her, there could be no hope OF saving
him ----
Lie still. Bfllyr' shouted the cap
tain, as he wrung his hands, deploring
his carelessness In permitting Us to go
into the water at all Lie just still
az you can, or you are losti"
1t WAS but a short pull, but the time
seemed long as the men gavo way with
q will Behind the swiftly moving
boat. and keeping pnee with her mo-
Gon, a dark-pointed fn cleaves the
water. A moment moro and tho boat
is by the swimmer, her bow gradually
turning away as she pears him. The
fin draws closer in her wake As the
boat swings within roach man rises
In the bow. and, leaning over, grasps
the terrified boy by the hand, while the
mate loudly. shouts: Hold water, aur'
g- The boat way Is stopped. and Billy
ts being drawn in oyey tho bow. AR
exultant cheer rtses from tho ship,
whore, breathless with suspense, al
hands are watching tho terrible race.
Tho rejoicing comes too quick! High
above the cheer is heard shrek that
none who hear ever forget The fin
has passed around tho boats stern.
and instantly there Is sudden and
fearful commotion alongside As Billy
Is being lltod into the boat tho shark
30 long deluded aud mi.led sees him.
he is then scarcely twenty feot dis
tant With lightning dart he
I r7lshes upon his prey just Sc he u al
most clear from the water.
Horror! lie has his VictimJ
MOI
Il. He has missed abe body by a hairs
breadth but has caught tho calf of
Billy's Leg, from which, not quito
grasping tho bone, he has torn half
the flesh and nearly dragged him from
the hold Of his rescuers. With this he
sinks beneath the waves, the boats
crew driving at his tough carcass with
oars and boet-hoOks, but making no
impression $3.50: =.,s.-..s,,..-,-
The boat was quickly alongside tho
ship. and Billy. limp as rag and
bleeding, passed on board He had
tainted as coon as taken from the
water, and just as the shark seized
him Carrying him into tho cabin,
his wound was dressed, and restort-
tVee applied which brought him TO
{ hfe once moro, Not for several weeks
did he fully regain his senses, and il
was many months before his Log IVES
vell enough 70 admit OF his walking.
Billy sailed the deep until he went,
years ago, 20 his long account 1t Is
needless TO say that while no lived he
mover tempted the sharks by under
taking swimming exploits in salt
water. For myself. j have not SWAN
sinoe that day when 1 was on the
point OF loaping into the jaws oi
shark--Clarenoo Pulien, In Youths