Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-04-12
A QUEER RACE
BIZ WILLIAM WESTEL.

swain, and apparently the captain, was
Amyas Fame. In the bottom of the boat
were two or three dark objects that looked
like bundles Of rags. As she passed US
the crew gave a cheer, which was cordially
returned by the people on the yacht.
''The shark-fghters, ] supposes" l said
70 the queen.
Eyes. What do You think Of them?"
81 never saw a set of finer young fellows
In my life"
And / never had. All were over six feet
three, brawny and broad-shOuldered, deep
Of chest End long of limb, and as 1.-THE and
active as so many cats. They were nearly
naked, wearing only short drawers, but
each man had on belt, from which hung
sword, and their black hair was confined
in a sort of fillet.
Their boat went ahead, and when she
was well into the bay, about three miles
from the furthest headland, the lug-sail
was lowered, and one Of the dark objects
(Which turned out to be goats) fastened to
line and thrown into the sea. Then the
oars were unshipped, and Amyas Fame,
standing up, saluted the queen, and said,
half laughing
"MOrlturt tc sGtutGnt"
After this a few minutes silence, during
which the other boats came up and formed
a wide circle round the hunters bout
"Do you see thati" said Nab, in an in
tense whisper.
''That" was the dorsal fin of shark, and
the next moment the huge fish rolled over
and opening his great jaws, bit the goat in
two. Then another hOatcd up from unseen
depths and tried to tear the precious NOR
sci from his companions mouth, while a
third. darling suddenly forward, snapped
up the remaining portion.
"Nowp' shouted the captain; and six of
the hunters, drawing their long, sharp
swords, slipped quietly overheard.
The sharks, having by this time finished
with the goat, gave their attention to the
newcomers. But while they were chasing
one. the hunters Owed under their bellies
and stabbed them repeatedly with their
swords, drawing blood Mt every stroke.
Then, when the wounded monsters turned
round to meet their enemy, the pursued
would become pur5uer, and help the com
radc who had just helped him The
shnrks, bewildcrrd and infuri1ted, dashed
hither and thiJhcr in wild confusion, lash
ing the water with their tails and dyeing
it with their blood.
This went on for quarter of an hour
1t was horrible yet fascinating The very
intensity Of the excitement kept the spec
tators silent Nobody spoke except the
captain, who gave his orders from the boat
like commander during an action. Over
and over again / Thought one or other of
the hunters would surely be killed or mu-
tiIatcd; but ut the very moment when de-
slrnction seemed imminent, the almost
victim would either cvade the snap by an
agile turn or dive out Of sight, or com
rade distract the sharks attention by
sudden stab. One hunter thrust his sword
into n sharks jaws ana leaving it there,
swan 10 the boat for another.
The iirht went on fast aud furious, until
one Of the fishes, turning belly upward,
foated to the top of the water-dead.
In obedience to an order from the cap
tain, the hunters now returned to the boat
for II fcw minutes rest, which they had
well earned. ~ also the praises of the queen
aud the pIautits of the spectators.
In the meantime the surviving sharks
had fastened on the body of the slaiu, and
others sccnting blood afar were hurrying
up Co the feast.
Have ut them againi Alp cried the
captain; and himself setting the example,
plunged into the water sword in hand,
leaving the boat to take care Of itself.
This time the sharks, occupied with their
meal, were rather taken at Il disadvant-
age; but the creatures being so close to-
gethcr, the only way TO get Mt them was to
dive under their bellies, and much address
WINS required to avoid blows from their
tails, which were quite capable of breaking
limb. As. moreover, other sharks kept
coming up and might take them unawarcs
two Of the hunters were told off To keep
watch aud ward, give notice Of their ap-
proach, and afford help where help was
most required
In ten minutes after the opening OF the
second attack two more sharks were num-
bered with the slain, and almost before
the breath was ont OF their bodies the
others began to rend their dead Compan-
ions. an occupation which they occasional
ly varied by IA free fight among themselves.
That makes "A fourth, +" said Queen Nab,
"a another shark turned over on his back.
They have done very well. ! think it is
almost time to cry, 'Holdi enoughr What
say your"
81 am quite OF your opinion" | answer
ed Better stop before anybody Is hurt"
"Goodl will order the yellow flag to be
run mp. That is the signal for the combat
To cease"
The worC'7 were hardly spoken, when
one OF the hunters anticipated the signal
by emerging from the throng and swim
ming, slowly and painfully, toward the
boat. Climbing over the gunwale with
some difficulty. he lay down in the stern.
THAT IS Bertram Hare" said Nab, anx-
iously. 81 wonder what is the mattcrf
Are You hurt, Bertram2"
Nothing to speak Of" answered the
young fellow, smiling. That last beggar
we killed gave me crack ON the leg just
As he was turning over; | rather think it
IL broken"
''I am very sorry. | was I'm hopes the
day would end without any mishap How
ever, Doctor Sergeant will soon set you to
rights. You will have to keep the house
two or three weeks. though"
THAT IS the worst of it. But we have
had splendid days sport so l must not
complain The fortune Of war. You know:
and It might have been worse. The last
bout we had, poor Tom Ferrcrs got bitten
I'm two Just rs gave the shark that did it
the death stroke"
"What Spartans those follows areN'
said "But broken leg cannot surely be
cured in two or three wceks"'
Not quite; but he will hc able to hohhle
about in two or three weeks and bc quite
well in five or six
"In England broken legs take double
that time to get we'll"
''Ycs; but in England you eat beef and
drink beer and spirits"
And dou't you eat beef and drink beer
and spirrtsF"
AS we have no cattle we can have no