The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-21

massive shoulders, her Ia feet of length
and fivefold rows of triangular teeth.
she had managed to secure Il respect
able proportion of the spoil for the re-
plenishing of her own huge NAV as
we'll as for the upkeep of the IA shark
lings that were now restlessly darling
in and out of their cosy cave at the
far end of her capacious throat.
Within the immediate range of her
glance vast black shadow obScured
wide. irregularly shaped area of the
blazing sunshine. 1t was SO calm that
the shadow seemed stationary. In the
direction of this cool penumbra her
gaze fingered earnestly. For hereditary
instinct as well as long experience gave
her the knowledge that from the sub
stance of such shadows came food
dropping down, varied and toothsome,
actually alive upon rare occasions.
Somewhat impatiently she wondered at
the long time that her little blue ana
gold attendant had been gone. He was
so seldom absent from his place be-
tween her eyes for a whole minute that
she got quite uneasy. But while she
fidgeted fretfully, with many twitch-
ings of her flexible 'tgaff topsail." back
came the pilot fish in a tearing hurry.
Now then, partner, move along, do.
There's a lump of fat pork almost as
big as your head hanging over that
Siilp SUI GtH l. quite UNDERSTAND
why it doesn't sink, but it is good. |
nibbled just a crumb, and you can be
sure this time that its no bagful of Gin
ders like that nasty mouthful that
gave you the chestache SO bad this
morning"
The latter part of this energetic eXor-
dunn was lost upon mother shark, be-
ing drowned in the wash set up by her
great tail fin, which was going in grand
style, starting her off at such a rate
that two or three stragglers of the FAM
lily had to skip like shrimps to get in
doors before they We're left behind and
lost Straight as an arrow to the mark
went the tiny guide keeping just in
front of his huge friends snout. To-
gether they swept into the shadow,
where. sure enough, a mass of meat
hung just below the sea surface, though
now and then.
"Oh. do look. mammal there's a big
fish. Is he going to eat up that pretty
little one, do you think?'
"Oh. no, my little man." struck in
the mate, "but you watch him now"
AS he spoke the great gray body took
a curve laterally, a dazzling glare of
white appeared, and there beneath the
speaker was a creScentic gap in the
smooth, livid underside, fringed with
innumerable points like chevauX-de-
frise, and as big as the cape of a coal
Sdth. faIouHt IL TIE SIlldll pllol ClICleu
eXcitedly at top speed. Slowly it rose
beneath the bait, which the mate as
gently Stacked away. there was a gulp
and the big joint disappeared. There
was flash, a splash and an eddy. Then
the rope attached to the shark hook
concealed in that pork groaned over
the rail as it felt the strain.
Lay aft the watch roared the
mate, and amid the trampling of many
feet, a babel of directions and ire
mendous tumult alongside through the
writings of the captive monster, she
was transferred forward to the lee
gangway where, by the aid of a stout
watch tackle, she was hoisted out of
water.
Don't take him aboard cried the
captain; he'll make such an Internal
mess if you do Just spritsle yard
him n let him go agen."
So piece of scantling was got from
the carpenter, pointed at both ends,
about four feet long. This they drove
through her jaws from side to side. An
other wedge shaped piece was planted
diagonally down through her broad
snout, the upper end pointing forward.
Then they cut off the wide pectoral fins,
letting the quivering carcass fall into
the sea again by the simple eXpedient
of chopping the hook out. What abom-
Unable cruelty" muttered a gentle
faced man among the crowding pas
heart. But the busting seamen looked
pityingly at him, wondering doubtless
at his lack of sporting instincts.
Thus disabled, the miserable monster
plunged blindly in uncertain directions,
unable to steer herself, unheeding the
frantic caresses of her faithful little
satellite, who had almost exhausted
himself by leaping up at her as she
hung struggling against the Vessels
side. Neither did she notice the puz-
zled waVerng movements of her Won
dering brood. So she disappeared from
the view of the laughing, happy crowd
on deck. But whichever way she
rushed she always fetched up to the
surface promptly, because of the vane
in her head.
Thus for a day and night she fought
aimlessly with all the forces of amazing
vitality pent up in her huge body
against these torturing disablements,
until mercifully she fell in with a cou-
pie of ravenous congeners. Seeming
fresh blood they made for her straight
way. Like mad things they fell upon
her. Long and hard they strove. tear
ing their way through the tough frame
work until assistance came from all
quarters. and a motley multitude of
various hungry ones cleaned up every
shred of the welcome banquet. leaving
only the deserted pilot TO seek another
partner.