The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-01-27

hullabaloo on the shale beach signaiized
the preparation of the boats, and after
a hasty breakfast we were off. Our des-
tinahon was a small blight, shut in by a
curving overhang OF coral growth. which
acted as a breakwater and afforded
quiet harbor for the sharks. Our feet
consisted of hat a dozen twenty-foot ca
noes with immense overhangs, fore and
aft We were in the head canoe with
kato. As we sped along he explained
that we were almost certain 10 find some
big sharks lying in the quiet water. Garb
age had been strewn there the day be
fore TO attract them There was one par
ticulariy lively 15-footer, said Kato, that
ne was anxious TO get.
Fifteen footer!" exclaimed the captain
why, he must be man-eater."
Which. being Translated to Kato, elicit
ed the response: Yes, man-eater. Ate
two of my men last time. Canoe broke
up"
Unpleasant thoughts entered my mind
I poked tentatively at the side of the
canoe and was instantly sorry that did
ii. 1t gave, to the touch. like paper.
Good DordH' said the captain, I'D
rather hunt my sharks from the shore"
But 1t was too late TO draw back now
Already our canoe was entering the mar
row channel between the cora. cliffs and
the rest of the fleet was t. ailing out in
single file behind US. Kato warned us in
low tones against loud speech or I'M
guarded movement. At sign from him
a wei. buit native of middle
age. with a long cloak over him,
stepped upon the foreNar overhang and
peered ahead of us.
That's the lookout. I suppose" whis-
pered the captain.
Similar posts were set on the other
canoes. The boats were hardly moving
now, so cautious were the strokes of the
paddiers, but We were gradually getting
into shallower water. 1t was dark, but
singularly clear and nmpid the water of
this lagoon. Our lookout stood like a stat
ue, shaking his head from time to time
as Kato whispered a question to him.
There was an order and the paddles stop
ped moving entirely. We were drifting
on a slow current In a bay. all but sur
rounded by the coral reefs. Presently
there came from one of the craft to the
right of us a sharp clucking sound. The
lookout of this canoe was pointing TO a
spot In the water a little in front and
between us and himself. Stretching my
neck ! peered eagerly into the water, ana
presently made QUE what looked like a
dull blotch swaying just above the bot
tom, al depth of perhaps 10 or Is feet.
IT was a shark, asleep after gorging him
self with the offsl scattered for him. In
the uncertain vagueness of the water,
which naturally magnified objects In an
alarming manner, he seemed of enor-
nous size. and as his huge, grey bulk
and gaping mouth, with its cruel octaves
of teeth. ay exposed. my thoughts re-
verted siokeningly to the franess OF the
canoe At a signal from Kato, whose
beady eyes cleaned with savage excite
ment and the passion of the chase, the
other canoes retired, In order that we
might have the honor of killing the first
shark. But how were we going to do the
killing? The question came up in the
captains mind. too, and he demanded in
a loud and excited whisper:
where's the hook and line? Where's
the harpcon? What are we going to catch
him WITH"
Kate grinned when the query was trans
lated and pointed to our lookout The
man slipped Off his long coat and stood
before us stark naked, a model of 1.-THE
muscularity. STOPPING. he attached to
one ankle a heavy weight. over one
shoulder he had coiled a moose at the
end of long rope. Between his teeth he
held a short road-bladed, keen kris. To
me It seemed like a scene from higl'y
improbable play. That the man with his
rope and kris should go down into the
depths Of an alien element and there at
tack its hercest monster. was too much
for credence. But the Captain was more
practical-minded.
Hold on, there" he said, and he had
forgotten to whisper. whats that man
going to dor"
This question needed no translation Ka-
20 grinned aud pointed down at the shark.
mot while I'm here" declared the Can.
tain. ITS murder. He'd have NOR.
chance against tiger. / won't stand II "
lie started to get up and the canoe
gave o sickening lurch He sat down
hastily. stll grinning in entire innocence
Of why the white king was making fuss,