The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-09-25

ADO you suppose they will follow us
under waters"
1t began to appear rs II they would.
One of the brutes dashed into open
sight not forty feet away, and when
they neared long open channel
through the weeds, two or three more
were visible. hanging warily In the
water, and seeming to watch the agi-
tation of the kelp below the mems
feet.
Down the coast there was no one in
sight. There was no possible escape
except by swimming. and the sea-
weeds afforded no resting place.
Two minutes ut the most was the
longest time they could stop in one
place; then they would be waist deep.
and the clammy stun about their bod
les was unpleasantly suggestive of the
preying sharks.
There was no house visible except
the Potter ranch near the coast. Ed
ward could see the smoke curling up
from the chimney on the point OF land
nearest.
"If we could only make them hearw
he said. MY sisters there; she's good
with boat and could take us Off. But
believe she went to town"
They were forced to keep moving
scrambling on over the coarse dried
hummocks of the scaweed that pro-
truded from the water, but offered lit
tie security.
There was long projection of the
stuff landward, and on this they trav-
eled as far as possible. and then they
began to shout loudly for help.
Potter had managed to keep above
water, and he repeatedly fired his shot
gun.
After the sun had set they once i'm
ngined that they heard a response
from the shore. They shouted and
fired again and again, and looked and
listened intently, but heard nothing
more and could detect no sign of life
on land.
The sea field was narrower here;
the swell from the ocean made long,
uneasy undulation in the kelp which
frightened them still more. and they
tried to retrace their steps. On the
way they discovered that two of the
sharks were moving slowly alongside
in the clear channel, and ms the men
were under water above their waists
now, they realized the danger of
sudden rush by one OF the brutes.
which might easily carry a man from
his footing.
Potter fired into the water at the
nearer shark. and succeeded in fright
| .,py I.,,N
mained near by, watching with hun
CRY eyes.
The men We're now much exhausted
and chilled by the water. Coville hid
lost his voice from shouting. and said
that he could go but very little further.
AS It grew dark they could not pick
the secure footing. and both went time
and again into deep pools and had to
swim out.
Potter had thrown away the gun, but
continued to call wildly. although
their chances of rescue seemed re-
mote.
When they reached place near the
boat the sharks were frolicking about
them in savage playfulness, beating
the water into bubbles by their strong
rushes to the surface. None of them
seemed inclined to charge on the pris-
oners as yet, although in the dark it
was only question OF time when they
would be seized under the water.
One of the monsters swept into the
kelp not ten feet from Potter, and
turning, tore Mt the water plants until
the young man was thrown off and
cried in terror to his friend. The
| sharks constantly grew bolder in their
| advances. The men pulled themselves
up on the highest portion Of the slowly
sinking sea hedge and awaited the
; end; they had given up hope of escape
from their grim pursuers.
/ Then suddenly in the dusk toward
the shore they heard girls clear
voice. They stared in amaZement;
/ then Potter cried out in joy at the
| sound of his name.
"Kate! Is that you? Hurry-hclpw
, "Tm coming! What's the matter
+ with you? Supper has been ready for
/ an hour! I heard you calling!. Where's
the boat?"
Hurry, Kate! The sharks are all
, about us-be CAREFUL
, The girl was pulling with swift, pow
erful strokes along the side OF the
y kelp beds The men We're crying to
a her frantlcally, and then began to
founder across the weeds until Potter
at last sprang into the open water and
swan the few remaining feet. He
seized an oar.
"Coville's done upr' he cried. "He's
y just hanging to the stun with his
hands! Push the boat in!'
. Potter leaped out again and caught
tn young naturalist in his arms, and
they stood together until Kate forced
= the boat in near them. The men were
: almost beside themselves with the Joy
y of their release. They lay Imply il
= the bottom of the boat. telling the
:, story of the adventure. while the cir
= rowed down the mirrored channels OF