Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-02-07

"Never mind. !" thought L; "let 'em
wait I'll stay on board the ship"
I turned to call Billy in. Before
could speak he sang out to mo:
"Come, Gus. I'm tired of waiting! II
you're going to give it up. say so, and
I'll come out I've been in long
enough"
That settled It. "Give it upe
Never!' thought 1, the whole current
of my feelings changing at the tone Of
his banter. and. suiting the action to
the thought. made ready to dive. !
drew in my breath. and gathered for the
plunge. In another moment l should
have been overheard. was in the
very act of springing, when the start
ling cry of "A shark! q sharkr' came
from the forecastle.
Come out of the water, ALI Come
out, Billy! Hurry, there's no time to
lose!" cried half score of voices.
Most of the few men still in the water
were close beside the vessel They
crowded to the ladder, and scrambled
up in great haste and excitement
For me the cry came just in time. I
grasped q shroud and saved myself
from going overheard. though I had
already gained such Roadway that my
body swung clear of the side before I
could regain my footing in the chains.
Once secure, looked down for my
shipmates. too anxious for their safety
to think at that moment of the peril I
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
the monster of whose presence old
Briton had given such timely warning.
He swam close to the surface, his sinu.
Gus tail gently waving from side to side.
and the unfailing pilot-6sh at their
stations on either side of his dorsal
fin, and just ahead of his nose his
small, vicious eyes glanced upward ut
the ladder. and he seemed to say as
plainly as If he spoke: "Aha, it's we'll
for you chaps you made yourselves
scarce! A little more. and l would
have had one of you!"
Had dived as ! intended I should
have struck directly in his path. He
seemed unaware of Billy's being still in
the water, for his attention had been
first called to those nearer to the ship
The mate and all who could were
hard at work lowering one of the
quarter boats, and shouting to Billy 70
keep vff 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 alongside until
their shipmate could be picked up.
The shark nosed at the various It'd
bits thrown out to him, but he seemed
mistrustful. and to have an idea that
we were trying 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 sus-
pense. II he kept behind the boat
Billy might be reached in time; but If
he should put forth his speed and pass
her, there could be no hope of saving
him.
"Lie still, Billyr' shouted the cap
tain, 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!'
1t was but q short pull, but the time
seemed long as the men gave way with
q will. Behind the swiftly moving
boat, and keeping pace with her mo-
ton, dark-pointed fin cleaves the
water. A moment more and the boat
is by the swimmer, her bow gradually
turning away as she nears him. The
fin draws closer in her wake. As the
boat swings within reach man rises
in the bow. and, leaning ov er, grasps
the terrified boy by the hand, while the
mate loudly shouts: Hold water. allr'
The boats way is stopped, ana Billy
is being drawn in over the bow. An
exultant cheer rises from the ship,
where. breathless with suspense, all
hands are watching the terrible race.
The rejoicing comes too quick! High
above the cheer is heard q shrek that
none who hear ever forget. The fin
has passed around the boats stern.
and instantly there is sudden and
fearful commotion alongside. As Billy
is being lifted into the boat the shark
50 long deluded and misled sees him.
He is then scarcely twenty feet dis
tant With lightning-like dart he
rushes upon his prey just as he 10 al
most clear from the water.
Horror! He has his victim!
No!
He has missed the body by hairs
breadth. but has caught the calf of
Billv's leg. from which, not quite