The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-12-09

There was some consolation In the
thought that storm unlikely, for
there were no signs of bad weather. Just
how long my ship would float l could not
tell. but 1 felt certain that il would he for
days. perhaps weeks. There would be pri-
walton certainly. but no starvation so long
as any of the great fish should remain to
be eaten. And who could say the bark
might not heave ia sight at any moment?
Tho idea OF my ship lasting till 1 should
eat it w was so novel that the cOnceit
amused me vastly. and L actually laughed
aloud.
About the middle OF tho afternoon 7 tried
again TO satisfy my hunger on slice of
the whale. and succeeded better than i dld
the first time.
q New Enemy.
Just before shutdown. however. 7 got the
biggest kind Of a scare. ] heard curious
sounds proceeding apparently from be-
meath the whale. and now and then l
was sure / felt tremulous motion as II
! the great carcass might be scratching
along the bottom. Looking over the side
OF the creature ] was Mortified 20 discov-
er the i'm of a shark just breaking through
the surface OF tGa water. soon / saw other
fins ana in "a few minutes / awoke 10 the
fact that there were at least q dozen huge
sharks alongside and beneath the whale,
and that they were attacking the carcass.
and actually tearing off strips Of its tough
skin. These brutes. these awful scavengers
of the sea, were eating up my ship.
How long would my Hfe-raft last under
the furious and hungry assaults OF this
rapacious horde?
There were already a dozen at work.
How soon might not this number be swoi-
len to a score, or nifty or mayne r nun
dred? My heart sank within me and my
mind refused TO contemplate the awful
end that might be awaiting me
The sun set and night rested again on
the face Of the great ocean.
The only sounds 1 heard were the lap
ping of the water along the sides OF the
whale. and that Of the horrid brutes around
and beneath as they tore off strips or
flesh ami snapped and crunched together
their huge Jaws.
And so the hours wore on. throwing me
into a state of mind and apprehension
bordering on frenzy
Toward morning. as ] was living on my
face. J felt the water touch my feet and
jumped UP curious to know what II meant.
Tho water was flowing over the back OF
the whale IN places, and it was evident
that tho repeated assaults Of the sharks
were beginning 10 tell. and that presently
I should have no raft beneath me The
whales body was gradually sinking,
/ crept 30 the flagstaff and stood up
right steadyug myself by holding to II.
The end seemed very near now It was
bad enough TO be drowned. bat TO 70
down into the midst OF these horrid sharks
was simply appalling
] fell into a sort OF stupor dazed as II
wcrc. by the Thought of the impending
danger. with only sense enough LETT To
cling 20 the little staff as I felt the wa
ter svashius over tle whales back and
Ripping about my feet.
The Rescue.
Presently something doomed up out or
tho dusky starlight close beside me. %
seemed to my dlsordcrad mind TO be an
enormous bird with a black body and great
outstrolgacd wings and ii was flying slow
~ passed me.
Suddenly an my wandering senses re-
turned and 7 shouted ONT like q mailman.
for ] now saw that the black bird with
tine white WINGS was a ship with az her
canvas set. SO near thal I could have cast
q pebble upon her deck
There was am answering voice and faces
pCered over the pore ran. Next there was