The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-10-12
A SHARK TNTHE SURF
4 PEARL BUYER IS TOSSED INTO
The SEA As FOOD FOR 1T.

A PEARL BUYER IS TOSSED MI /
The SEA As FOOD FOR IT.
a Traveller Tells Story of what he Saw /
One Day in the Harbor OF sIadras-Ths
l DaPPer Young Buyer and the Rascally |
Parsee Merchant
A wild sea was running high in the
bpen harbor Of Madras. The sea always /
runs nigh there, and in the last two
miles must always be made in surf
boats. The morning when the steam
ship Tigress dropped anchor and ran ur
her signal for the boats, great angry
waves were bowling along before fresh |
monsoon, and even the surf5oats found
it hard to keep dry.
Among our passengers from Ceylon
for Madras we had . dapper young fel- |
low. who was as good judge Of pearls
as 1 ever saw. He had been TO Ceylon
suying for an English house, and was
now on his way 20 the Persian gulf 10
complete his stock. He was 10 leave Us /
al Madras 10 90 overland TO Bombay.
He knew how to buy pearls, but he did
not know how 20 take care Of them Be
fore he had been on board day he had
Told me all about his luck IN Ceylon and
had shown me his entire assortment.
One Of the pearls was simply gorgeous.
Had it not been for faint dot of blue
npon one side it would have been worth
a small fortune. lie was delighted with
my appreciation and enjoyment Of the
stones. and he showed me his treasures
several times during the short voyage.
Twice he left me alone with them. Il
was not, however, through any particu-
lar confidence in me, for I suspect he
made quite as free with his treasures
among several Of the passengers. One
was a Parsee, who was forever going
between Ceylon and Madras, for what
purpose 1 coald never discover, though
had met him several times.
Whatever else he was was sure that
the Parsee was a great rascal, and was
surprised and sorry for the young pearl
man 10 find him making a most intimate
friend Of the fellow.
Together they stepped down the lad
der to enter q surfboat as we neared
Madras. The young man went down
first with his case Of precious pearls In
his hand. The Parsee was stepping in
70 the boat when he paused and spoke
10 its black captain.
i have forgotten something" he said,
turning to the younger man. Il must
come by another boat; viii meet you
at the hotel.
he gave the surfboat a push with his
foot and began to climb the ladder.
A sailor who was standing by me
muttered:
There's a shark in the surf yonder"
But instead Of looking away over the
water he looked directly down upon the
Parsee and then at the young pearl man.
Of course there WAS a shark in the
surf. There are always sharks IN that
surf, but 10 me the sailors sentence
meant something more than that.
The Parsee simply walked behind the
saloon house, stood there two or three
minutes, then left the steamer by an
other boat. Ny curiosity was thoroughly
aroused. Glass in hand I watched the
two boats, quarter of a mile apart.
SIN wondering what the sailor meant by !
"a shark N the surf"
Presently one Of the great waves lifted
the first surfboat, but instead Of taking
the usual advantage Of il to dip their
cars and pull I distinctly noticed the
boatInen sitting ike statues. The al
most naked fellow standing in the stern,
with long car TO guide the craft, sud |
denly leaned upon the oar, and the boat |
turned, was caught broadside on the |
wave and the next instant was capsized. !
] saw the passenger, with the pearl case |
san in hand, plunge head first into the |
water.
Like so many eels the black boatmen 1
Nrriggled about in the water till they
1ighted their boat. then clambered over /
tie side and began to bail 1t ont.
Not one Of them seemed TO give a
thought 10 their passenger.
The next moment a piercing shrek
sounded even as far as cur steamer. and |
10 my horror / saw the young fellows
body lifted cut Of the water not ten
feet from the surfboat. Il made one
Nhirl in the air. disclosing the head Of a
shark holding 1t across the back. then
sank again.
As the next boat passed the place l
saw the Parsee throw something over
board that left white spot on the wa
Ter, which remained as long as watched
il, convincing me that it was q buoy OF
tone sort set for some purpose.
4 few days later we were anchored in
ehe Hoogly river, Of Calcutta.
was walking down the principal
English thoroughfare when l saw the
Parsee emerge from the door of a lapi-
IG1y. He evidently recognized me. but
he turned quickly in the opposite direc-
lion and walked away
- shark in the surf. muttered.
md xith only a vague idea half formed
II my mind l entered the shop and in
q1ired Of the dealer if he had an assort-
snelt Of pearls on hand
How foi Gnate.- he exclaimed. al
Was never SO low as this morning. Pearls
re in very great demand But I have
.ust purchased large lot Of the finest
s'earls ! ever saw. purchased them
very low for cash, ard I cannot only
give yOu the hrst choke CT tins magnif-
cent collection, but great bargain be-
Eioes- They are beaUiiesi Yes!'
Yes" replied, '-they are beauties
especially this one with a dot Of blue
s2on OLE side. Too bad that it has the
s2w."
l knew then why the Parsee went
Town &c the surfboat and spoke to the
captain, but went ashore by another
boat. knew why he left the white
buoy in the water. l knew why he con-
tinDGlly lOurnsyed between Ceylon and
Madras, and knew what the sailor
,Eesnt when he watched him and nut
-ered, There's shark IL the surf."-
Atlanta Constitution.
Henry " Of France was stabbed In
his carriage by Raysillac Just as he was
preparing - e2-Ty cut q scheme Of CON
guest.