The times., 1897-06-27
THE HINDoO AND THE SHARK
An Exciting Combat at the Mouth
of the Hugh.

OL auc nukbs
Talk about your shark hunters in the
South Pacific island," remarked the old
traveller, but 1 remember seeing an en-
counter with one of those long -toothed
gentry that for cool nerve beat anything
1 ever read about.
II was loafing around Calcutta one day
late in the autumn, waiting for the even
ing train up to the city OF HIgli, 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 a white man ever travelled In India,
l saw a huge conimotion. Natives We're
hurry ing away from the bauK, n III
terror, and then running back as if their
curiosity had overcome their greatest
fears. The river was full of boats. The
occupants OF the larger ones were sereanl-
ing with excitement. while those n the
small ones were shriehng and Jabhering
with considerable amount of fear.
Il soon discovered that the fuss had been
created by huge shark, which had come
up with the tide ana had ventured little
further than it was customary for sharks
water here and there, and when OCCASION
ally he turned on his back and sent his nose
and grinning teeth above the water, groans
aud screams OF horror went up in all di-
rections. His sharkship was evidently out
for supper, and was casting longing glances
al the suocalent Hindoo babies. OF whom
d considerable number were in sight.
In the mstist or all the hubDup tall,
lank Hin doo stepped out upon tie iooi OF
kind OF houscboat, and, IN short speech,
announced that he would catch the shark.
INSTANTLY dead hush tell upon tt e multi
tude. The Hndoo stood erect. He w3sper-
fectly naked, save for a Little garment at
the loins, which our Texas cowboys call
a 'gee-string.' He was armed only with a
long rope like lariat, which he held be-
hind his back with his left hand.
Presently Mr.. Shark came to tie surface
about eisht yards from the boat and imme-
diately the Hindoo plunged overheard
"a chorus or gIoans and exclamations
went up, in the midst of which the Hindoo
reappeared, swimming with his hight hand.
Man and shark faced each other, and
fancied that ] saw a pleased expression
in the monsters eyes, as much as to say:
We'll, this is civil, TO say the least
'sThe shark evidently thought Re had q
Cinch OF :he situation, for he swan leisurely
toward the Hindoo, tuned slowly upon his
back, and opened his mouth. The mouth
closed with snap, and the people screamed,
but tie HinGoo had dived, and presently he
appeared again on the offs oe Of tire shark,
smiling and still carrying his rope.
1.-The big fish looked surprised, and then
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 togrow angry, and
made vicious ron at the IIindoo. and again
he missed The people on the shore and N
the boats began to feel confidence ia tie
human champion, and their groans were
changed 20 applause. Every tine the ma n
made a point aga INST the fish those heathens
would send up "A Tousing cheer.
''Well, by this tim e the thing was getting
exciting l never saw such swimming be-
fore, and never VIII again. The man was
a regular water snake. He lodged, twist
ed, dived and jumped Ike an eel. Tie fish
made charge after cha rye. Once his fin
grazed the Hincoo's arm, and the water
was coIored with sIood. The man s stock
went down 3 point. tut it soon rose again,
simply wasn't in IL. The man was beat
ing him at his own game You see, the
fish could only go in one Observation-Disclosures
ahead ike en arrow while the man turned
and doubled Ike fox.
We'll, by and by the exertion and excite
ment told On the monster. He got ia tiled,
churnec the river into foam, and then be-
came quiet again 1t was the last round
-,H,a
waited, lying in the water until the great
mouth was open 30 se.ze HIM Then, with
a conEulsive backward leap, he straight
ened his body and sank foot downward
like a plummet of lead.
1.-The shark settled down over him, lash
ing the water into lather of foam. They
Seemed to be graphing with each other.
The crowd groaned and screamed, and
hen became silent.
For the space OF what seemed many
minutes the people watched the surface
of the water until even the bubbles had dis
appeared. and ali was quiet.
= Lost, losti' screamed priest, and the
mob re-echoed the cry and began to beat
their breasts like a lot Of madmen. Then
suddenly in the middle of il all thc Hindoo
reappeared thirty yards up the stream.
Both hands were above his head, and he was
screaming: Tan, tan, tan,' He had slipped
the moose of his lariat around the sha rk's
tail, and drawn it ia ut; and he held the free
end in his hadn.
I'm an instant it was ashore, and a score
of Hindoos were drawing at it. 1t took
them half an hour to get Mr.. Shark ashore.
for he pulled like locomotive, but they
finally man aged it.
He. proved to be nine feet long, and sold
for a sum which enabled his captor to live
in comfort for nearly half a year."-Phila-
tielphia Telegraph.