Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-08-13

Talk dDONt your SnaIh HuHleia III
the south Pacific islands, remarked |
,he old traveller, "but / remember See
ing an encounter with one of those long !
toothed gentry that for cool nerve beat
anything l ever read about.
Il was loafing around Calcutta one
day, late in the autumn, waiting Tor the
evening train up TO the city OF Hugh,
when | heard tremendous shouting
coming from the direction Of the river
Hugh, which is practically one Of the
mouths Of the Ganges. Trotting over to
the shore as fast as white man ever
travelled in India, saw huge commo-
ton. Natives were hurrying away from
the bank as if in terror and then run
ming back as if their curiosity had over
come their greatest fears. The river was
full Of boats. The occupants OF the
larger ones were screaming with ex-
citement, while those in the small ones
were shrieking and jabbering with
considerable amount of fear.
81 soon discovered that the fuss had
been created by IA large shark which had
come up with the tide and had ventured
little farther than ii was customary
for sharks 10 do His dorsal fin was cut
ting the water here and there, and when
occasionally he turned on his back and
sent his nose and grinning teeth above
the water grOans and screams OF horror
went up in ali directions. His shark
ship was evidently out for supper and
was casting longing glances at the sue.
culent Hindoo babies, of whom a con-
siderable number were in sight.
I'm the midst of all the hubbub tall.
lank Hindoo stepped out upon the roof
CT kind of houseboat and in Il short
| speech announced that he would catch
the shark
Instantly a dead hush fell upon the
multitude. The Hindoo stood erect. he
was perfectly naked save for little
garment at the loins, which our Texas
cowboys call gee string. He was
armed only with long rope like lari-
at, which ne held behind his back with
! his left hand.
presently Mr.. Shark came to the
surface about eight yards from the boat
and Immediately the Hindoo plunged
overheard.
"A chorus Of groans and EXPLANATIONS
went up, III the midst of which the Hin
doc rcappeared, swimming with his
right hand Man and shark faced each
other and fancied that saw pleased
expression in the monsters eye, as much
as TO say, We'll, this Is civil, to say the
least.
1.-The shark evidently thought he had
'cinch' on the situation, for he swan
leisurely toward the Hindoo, turned
slowly upon his back and opened his
mouth. The mouth closed with snap
and the people screamed, but the Hin
doc had dived, and presently he appeared
again on the off side of the shark, smil-
ing and still carrying his rope
'The big fish looked surprised and
theil made another gentle dab at the
Hindoo The result was the same, and
Mr. Hindoo came up fresh for the third
round.
'.Then the shark began TO grow angry
and made vicious run at the Hindoo,
and again he missed. The people on
shore and in the boats began TO feel
confidence III the human champion, and
their groans were changed to applause.
Every time the man made q. point
against the fish those heatheps would
send up rousing cheer.
"Well, by this time the thing was
getting exciting. l never cav such
swimming before, and l never will
again The rlan was a regular water
snake He lodged, twisted, dove and
Jumped like an eel. The fish made
IL, fin
grazcd the Hindoos arm, and the wa
ter was cGlOred with blood. The man q
stock went down ii point, but 1t soon
rose again, " hon the crowd began to
see that the fish simply wasn't in it.
The man was beating him at his own
game. You see, the fish could only 90
in one direction-straight ahead like
an arrov-while the man turned and
doubled like fox.
well, by and by the exertion and
, excitement told On tho monster. He 60,
ratified, churned the river into foam,
and then became quiet again. AT this
moment the Hindoo faced him again.
1t was the last round.
1.-The shark charged languidly. The
man waited, lying ia the water until
the great mouth was open to seize him.
Then, with convulsive backward leap,
he straightened his body and sank, feet
downward, like plummet Of lead.
1.-THE shark settled down over him,
flashing the water into lather foam.
They seemed to be graphing with each
other. The crowd groaned and scream.
, ed, and then became silent.
For the space of what seemed many
minptes the people watched the surface
/. of the water until even the bubbles had
disappeared and all was quiet.
"Lostl Lostl screamed priest, and
the mob re-echoed the cry and began to
beat their breasts like lot Of madmen.
l Then suddenly in the middle of it all
= the Hindoo reappeared, 30 yards up the
4 stream. Both hands were above his
T head, and he was screaming, Tan, tan,
? TAM He had slipped the moose Of bis
lariat around the shark S tail and drawn
IL FAINT aud he held the free end in his