The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-27

crowded with transient guests, Flrewater
and his skiff were kept busy from morn
ing to night. At first Frank was discon-
solate, but, with the assistance of the old
Indian, who had a few minutes to spare
just before sunrise, he built a very cred
liable boat of his own. Sometimes he
even prevailed upon his mother to go out
for row, but more often he spent the
day upon the lagoon alone.
One warm spring afternoon he found
himself drifting idly toward the inlet.
The sky was clear and the water tempt
ing, and his preceptors advice was for
gotten. He anchored his boat, stripped,
and presently was padding and splashing
about in the delicious water.
A hundred yards away "A long, low sand
bank arose from the water. 1t was low
tide and a foot or two of the dry sand bar
lay above the gentle breakers. Toward
this Frank made his way and while yet
quite distance from it his feet touched
the shallow bottom of the lagoon.
Once upon the sand bank an irresist-
ible desire to swim out among the break
ers at the other side came over the boy.
Up to the very spot where he stood look
ing upon the ocean. the water was deep;
plunge and a swim Where was the
harm, The old Indians advice rang
through his brain, but as for moment
he hesitated with his hands upon his
head, ready to dive, a piece of sand
slipped and he lost his balance and fell
splashing into the water, whether he
would or no, and moment later he was
out among the ocean swells.
And everything was forgotten save the
pleasure of the moment.
Suddenly the young swimmer drew "A
long breath, shifted the breeze again, then
his face blanched A faint Odor Of water
melon seemed to him to float upon the
waves. With a sudden energy he turned
toward shore and swan for it with all his
might At every stroke the peculiar odor
seemed to grow, until at last the panic
stricken boy felt sure that a monster
shark was swimming at his side ready to
turn upon its back and seize him in its
jaws.
He tried in vain to splash the water,
but his arms and legs we're too weak 1t
was as much as he could do TO guide him
self toward the bank.
When he was almost upon the sand,
with a great effort, he turned to look over
his shoulder. 1t was as he thought He
caught sight Of a knife-like fin cutting the
water not many yards behind.
ExertinR every muscle for a final
struggle he reached for the shore, and
with supreme effort he clambered out
Of the water. AS he lay exhausted a
sharp snap and connection in the break
erS lOJ u IOOb uiSbdilb JOIu MIN ub Ildu tS-
capped none too soon.
Still painting, Frank stood up on the
smooth, hard sea sand The monster
shark was swimming back and forth II
never for an instant took its narrow little
eyes from the naked figure of its post
poned supper Frank shuddered and
smiled as he thought how he would cheat
his sharkship by simply wading out to his
boat.
But that smile soon changed to an ex-
preston of horror, for scarcely had he
taken a step down into the shallow water
on the other side of the bank when an old
log of driftwood suddenly acquired motion
and cut through the water toward him.
''Alligators," gasped the poor boy, as his
knees smote together, and quickly run
ming back he stood once more on the sand
bank. But the scaly monster came on; as
Frank edged away the whole long brown
length of hideous scales slowly followed
until it dragged itself completely out of
the water and waddled forward upon the
sand
Frank had had sufficient experience in
hunting alligators with Firewater TO
know that he could keep out of its way
on dry land, p" but the tide was rising,
and though il meant only a difference of
two feet, even that would submerge the
little island at least twelve inches-and
then it would only be question Of shark
or alligator.