Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1896-10-29
THEY HAULED HIM INTO THE BOAT.

THEY HAULED HIM INTO THE BOAT.
almost on top of the grim, Shiny mon
ster beneath.
The washerman saw, and yelled in sud-
den fright. The cry brought men run.
ming out of the house. Tom could swim
little, and had anyone been quick
enough, could have caught rope; but
the ship was sliding through the water,
and he was already abreast of the gang
way. BY the time the men rushed aft
he was away on the quarter out Of
reach.
A flying black form few past the
others and John Serooky leaped over The
tafirail into the sea astern.
Between his grinning teeth he held
his sheath knife. With grand, sweep
ing strokes he Glove his way toward
Tom.
"Hol' upl Tom? HoP up! Use
comin!" yelled John Serooky, as be
swan toward his man.
Cuba reached him, sputtering.
"All right, sonny. Use here, boyl"
And, treading water, he supported Tom
by clutching the. back of his arm, in
which position Tom was unable to
grasp him, though on his approach he
had attempted to do so.
Heavens! what distance the ship
had drifted already, although she had
been thrown up into the wind.
nIVba,,, Ja g, ,Ir cnnnuD Won eaa
him?" spluttered Cuba.
"N-no!" quavered Tom. II hope to
God he's frightened away!"
At that instant John Serooky felt q
Shiny body pass his thigh. He looked
round furtively, and for moment
spasm of horror crossed his face.
"What's- -matter-Cuba?"
"Not'ing-not'ing dc matter. Here
de boat come!"
Indeed, the dinghy was now rushing
| toward them under the wild strokes Of
her crew.
"Tom, let you go minute. Strike
out for de boat"
"What-what's de matter?" gasped
Tom. But Cuba had suddenly dived,
and Tom had to splash to prevent him
self from sinking.
The boat dashed up as Cuba rose to
the surface, terror in his eyes. The
bow man clutched Tom, and in mo-
ment he had scrambled into the boat
"Quick, boy!" screamed Cuba, as a
swirlng eddy disturbed the water close
to him. AS they grabbed him his face
distorted and his white teeth snapped
suddenly together.
"What's up, Cuba?" cried the bow
man, as he felt the mans body fall sud.
denly limp in his grasp.
They need not have asked. One ol
Cuba's legs had been bitten off, and the
rest Of him horribly mauled.
They hauled him into the boat. Lay.
| ing him down on the bottom-boards
they turned in haste towards the ship.
"My-good-God!" quavered Tom, aa
he bent over him. "Cuba! Cuba! old
son!"
John Serooky opened his glazing eyes
and his lips moved. Tom bent over.
"Sonny, amt but a cullered man.
know; but-would you kiss me-sonny?
Use gwine-I'se-"
Tom bent over-even in that moment
unable to forget the presence Of the
rest; but, as his lips touched the dying
man, the tears sprang out and blinded
him to all else. AS he dashed them away
with his shirt sleeve Cuba's head lolled
over to one side, and the light left his
eyes forever.
John Serooky had paid his debt Of
gratitude.
The next day the sea monster swan
round them with Cubas knife stuck
half deep in his back. After many trials
they caught him and hacked him to
death savagely.
The carpenter made coffin spr the
dead man; they only buried him when u
breeze had waited them far from
the spot of the tragedy, London An
! sweras