The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-06-13
A VERY CLOSE SHAVE.
A Bad Time to Fall Overheard
When Sharks Are Around.

One day the man at the wheel called my
attention to medium-size shark that was
following in the wake of the ship, vora-
ciously devouring the waste food emptied
through the chute by the cook or the stew
ard. " hen the sailor, Jack Dom ely by
name, was relieved from his trick at the
wheel, he exclaimed as he passed me:
bad time to fall overheard now, sir"
why so?" l naturally questioned.
He pointed to the shark that had fol-
lowed alongside to midships as we walked
forward.
what do you bait them With" l asked.
"a piece of fat pork, mostly, sir; an they
rubs er bit O birthstone on t at night, so
S 1t shines like bonitO eye."
The next day was cloudy, but l trailed a
pound of salt junk on the end of hook
and chain, and watched it steadily until the
dOg-watch. Mr. Shark failed to accept the
invitation. At eight bells on the day after
lost sight of him altogether; so, after tax
Ing the sun and figuring out our latitude
ana longitude, | sat down on the port bits
abaft OF the wheel-hOuse. where l soon be-
came immersed in Dana's Two Years Be-
fore the Mast" | had attached my shark
line to a small handy billy, and had hooked
the tackle to a screw-eye on the bits.
The wind died down, and the sun waXed
hotter aud hotter as the yards creaked in
the sings with the lstleSs rocking of the
vessel. The creaklng acted as lullaby to
the rocking, and the sun put NE to sleep.
When l was awakened 1T was with no
gentle hand-not even a rough one.
was being bumped over the monkey rail
by the handy billy in the slack Of which
my foot had caught, as l probably stirred it
while asleep. 1t did not take more than an
instant to drag me over the ships side. Yet
| heard the IN nj the wDpal mt I'M
oyerbOard!' and saw a life-preSerVer pass
over my head as the latter struck the bead
OF the vessel near the miZzen chains, where
wound up with sharp jerk, more sur
priSed than hurt l hung by my foot
which was held by round turn Of the
haul in" of the handy billy. l was more
surprised than Injured, but l Immediately
became more frightened than L had been
surprised.
Directly below me, within what / i'm
, agned was easy jumping distance, the white
belly OF shark flashed beneath the water,
and was followed by the appearance Of its
mead below the surface. All OF my anatomy
between my throat and my knees seemed to
leave me. l had just sufficient strength to
reach upward and grasp one Of the iron
braces beneath the mlZzen chains and lock
my arm tightly around 1t. On CHANGING be-
low nearly lost my senses, but was reas-
sured as | saw that the chain of the bait led
into the sharks mouth. 1t was struggling
to free itself from the hook instead of striv-
lug to make meal of me. A grange whizzed
by me, and huzza arose on board as it
entered his tiShship.
Hang on, boy-hang Onw 1 heard
CHEEKY voice say. Nov, tip us your flip
per. my hearty. Loose that tackle an let
go, darlin'sl Avast there! Pull him in
tail fuSt, SOS he can't bite. Did ye never
land shark, We lubbers?" Then Jacks
arm closed around my listless form as my
numbed foot was released from its mOOring.
And that's ther biggest fish We ever
eotched yit, sir. I'll quit plum duff eff
'taiu't!' exclaimed forecastle man when l
opened my eyes on the main hatch a few
minutes later and viewed the shark that
was laundering on the deck with a hand
spike through his gills.-Frank Leslle's
Magazine.