Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1893-08-03
A sHocKINe SURPRISE.

With an Electric Fish.
"My papa says that last story yor
told me, Capt. Bob. was not all true,
said Willie, with an air of surprise OF
his bright. open face.
"Humphl he did, did hep" grunted out
the old captain, who told wonderful
yarns, while he objected to having them
questioned.
Eyes; he said that you must have
made up the story" replied the boy
rather timidly.
"But you don't think the story was
made up, do you?"
Willie looked puzzled. The cunning
captain followed up his advantage by
saying: 81 was going to tell you to-day
real, true story about some electrical
fishes 1t is even more wonderful than
the last story, which your father says
is not all true. OF course. If you think
my stories are not true, you do not
want to hear it,"
''Do tell me the story, Capt. Bob"
pleaded the anxious boy.
"Well," said the sly old fellow. as he
lit his pipe and settled back in his easy
chair, lone day, when we were in an
eastern port, gentleman came TO me
and wanted to know il he could send
some fishes by my ship on her return
voyage. He wore spectacles, and said
he was naturalist.
'At first | obi ected; but he said:
Captain, / am very anxious to send
some electric rays to scientific society,
which is willing to pay you good
price for them. These rays are peculiar
creatures, and they have power to give
quite strong electric shocks. | don't
think you will have much trouble. All
the fish need IS pure ocean water twice
a day
IAN right said l. but mind. we arc
not to be held responsible If the fish
die So on the morning of sailing, the
electric rays were put into water
barrel, which was braced strongly on
either side on deck. A square hole was
sawed through the slaves on the upper
side in order to give the fish light and air.
''Some of the men were rather
skeptical about the rays giving out
electric shocks that amounted to any.
thing. | didn't know much about II
then myself; but | wasn't going to
try it.
''One sailor, known as Billy Bow
legs. thought he would see just how
strong the electricity was. So. when nj
one was looking. he leaned over, put
his hand down into the barrel anc
moved it around in the water until he
caught one of the fish. The instant he
did that, Billy Strengthened up al
though he had been shot Then he
howled aloud OH He felt his RICH.
shoulder and shook his arm to be sure
that both were there and all right.
I" What's the matter, Billy?' inquired
one of the sailors. who came up
Sure. that was an awful blow he
gave mer
"'who?
"'The fellow in there, said Billy
pointing 10 the barrel.
after this event the sailors were shy
of those electric fish. When one OF
the rays died ! had to take it out
myself with heavy glove on my hand.
and even then | felt singing shocks.
We used to roll the barrel on one side
and let the water run out. Then we
would fill the barrel with fresh water
and roll it back On almost every oc-
casion some of us would receive a
shock.
''Now, Tom was curious fellow; he
was always prowling around and polk
ing his nose into places where he had
no business"
"Who was Tom?"
"Why. he was big. lazy, over-fed
cat. He was a great pet with the sail
ors. who used to take him up in the
rigging. After awhile Tom climbed
aloft. and in clear weather he seemed
to enjoy it. He was cunning cat. and
had a mum Der of tricks both good and
bad.
81 am sorry to say that Tom was a
bold thief The minute the cooks back
was turned he would steal whatever he
could lay his his paws on. One after
noon ! noticed the old fellow studying
the water-barrel. Then ] knew that
Tom was going to commit larcency.
SO / awaited developments.
Cautiously and lightly the cat pulled
himself up the side of the barrel Then
he peered over the square hole for half
a minute. when he saw one Of the elec-
trio fishes. half alive and floating near
the surface.
.sThe temptation was too strong for |
Toms voracious appetite. All at once
he made q quick grab for the fish with I