The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-01-20

let you Youngsters so into the water II
such "a sharks paradise as this. If hat
my WAY Id masthead the whole biln
Of You.
go it, YOU old growl, you" retortec
John. II suppose YOU never had a swim
IN your life. and now you're too old
You've got the rheumatism yourself, anC
don't want 20 see anybody else enjoy
themselves. Talk about sharks whel
you're where they are. We haven't seer
one since we got among the islands. anc
jim blcst If l think there are any here
atouts. w
Standing there in the claims, with one
band upon the sheer pole already TO LET
go and plunge. / heard Bnton remark
and John's reply. Something an the old
eallOw's manner struck me more thar
{ - fOImor warning had, and as lis
tomcd 10 Johns answer, / could not hell
fc cling that the older sailor lad all tho
rcnson ON his side. The swimmers had
bieun 10 come on board and dress.
almost made up my mind 90 stay on
board and yield the palm Of diving &c
p lly.
But they were all watching me, and
whispered, "Pshuw. Don't show o.,
white feather nOwl There are no sharks
about 1t won't take three minutes O.
ret outside where Billy is and swim back
to the ship Then you needn't 60 IN
again
Still hesitaed. while my shipmates
waited TO sec what ! would do.
Never mind,' thought !; 'let 'em
wait. I'll stay on hoard the ship
l turned TO call Billy in. Before
could speak, he sang ont to me. Come,
Gus, I'm tired Of waitingl II you 10
going TO give it up. say so, and III come
out I've been in long enough.
That settled IT, Give il mp; Never!
thought !. the whole current of my feel
ing at the tone of his banter. and, suit
ing the action 10 the thought. / made
ready TO dive drew IN my breath and
gathered for the plunge. In another
moment / should have been overheard.
| was i'm the very act Of springing. when
Z. the startling cry of "A shark! shark,
came from the forecastle.
Come out Of the water, ALL Come
out, Billyl Hurry, there's 10 time 10
losel' cried half a score Of voices. Most
of the few men still in the water were
close beside the vessel They crowded
10 the ladder and scrambled up it in
great haste and excitement
For me the cry came just in time. |
graspod a shroud an avcd myself from
going overheard, thouch ] had already
gained such Roadway that my body
swung clear Of the side before / could
/ regain my footing in the chains.
Once secure, l looked down for my
shipmates, too anxious for their safety
70 think at that moment of the peril
had been in myself The last swimmer,
save Billy, had gained the ladder, his
feet lust clear Of the water, az round the
bow, with silent speed, came the 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 upfailing pilot fish at their sta
tons Oh either side OF his dOrsal fin, and
Just ahead Of his nose. Lis small,
vicious eyes glanced upward at the lad
der, and he seemed to say as plainly as
if he spoke, Aha, it's well for YOU chaps
you made yourselves scarcel A little
more and / would have had one of you"
Hold 4 diyed as / intended. | should
have struck directly IN his path lie
seemed unaware of Blly'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 10 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
haaids had rushed 10 the iOrecastle and
galley for bits of beef or pork with which
10 Try to coax the shark TO remain along
side until their shipmate could be picked
up.
The shark nOsed at the various tidblts
thrown out 10 him, but he seemed mis-
trustful, and TO have an idea that we
were irving to hoodwink 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 at once
set of toward her. and followed in the
wake. Then began our worst suspense.
If he kept behind the boat, Billy might
be reached in time; but ii he should put
forth his speed ana pass her, there could
DC no nope OF saving hlll'
Lie still, Billy~ shouted the captain,
as he wrung his hands, deploring his
carelessness in permitting Us to go into
the water at all. Lie just as still as
you can, or YOU are lOst!'
II was but a short pull, but the time
seemed long as the men gave way with
a will. Behind the swiftly moving boat,
and keeping pace with her motion, a
dark pointed fin cleaves the water. a
moment more and the boat is boy the
swimmer, her bow gradually turning
away as she nears him. The fin draws
closer in her wake. As the boat swings
within reach, a man rises in the bow,
and leaning over grasps the terrified
boy by the hand, while the mate loudly
shouts, Hold water, all!'
The boats way Is stopped, and Billy is
being drawn in over the bow. An oX-
ultant cheer rises from the ship, where,
breathless with suspense, all hands arc
watching the terrible race.
The rejoicing comes too quickl High
above the cheer is heard a shrek, that
none who hear ever forget. The fin has
passed around the boats stern, and in
stantlyt there is a sudden and fearful com
motion alongside AS Billy is being
lifted into tho boat, the shark so long de-
ludcd and misled sees him. He IS then
scarcely twenty feet distant. With u
lightning like dart he rushcs upon his
prey Just as he is almost clear from the
water.
Horror. He has his victim!