The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1901-10-25

Douls NnuIktHB ou AhE 1uoh0A h'W /
craft. led. probably, by the scent of |
the provision under the thwarts.
1--WE can't stand stlll on this stun;
It goes down every moment" said Co
vile. "Keep moving and watch for
somebody
Potter recovered his shotgun, and
the two men began picking their way
along the kelp. 1t had never occurred
to them before how surprisingly little
Of the sea hedge would bear a mans
weight. They were constantly sink
ing, and had to be wary of the pools
of clear water on every side. They
saw a smaller shark in one Of the in
terstlces of the kelp; the keen mon
sters had been drawn from every
point. Looking back the men saw a
wild commotion In the pool about the
sunken boat.
"Fighting, probably" said Potter.
"Do you suppose they will follow us
under waterY
1t began to appear as If they would.
One OF the brutes dashed into open
sight not forty feet away, and when
they neared a 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 at the most was the
longest time they could stop in one
place; then they would be waist deep,
and the clammy stuff 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 n boat and could take us of. But
believe she went to town."
They were forced to keep moving,
scrambllng on over the coarse dried
hummocks Of the seaweed that pro-
truded from the water, but offered lit
tie security.
There was a 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
agined 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 thu
sharks were moving slowly alongside
in the clear channel, and as the meI
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 fred into the water at tn,
nearer shark, and succeeded In fright
enlng both of them away, but they re
NAMED near by, watching with hun
cry eyes.
The men were now much exhaustet
and chilled by the water. Coville hat
lost his voice from shouting and sail
that he could go but very little further
AS it grew dark they could not picl
the secure footing, and both went tim
and again into deep pools and had t
swim out.
Potter had thrown away the gun, bu
continued to call wildly, althoug
their chances of rescue seemed II
mote.
When they reached a place near tn
boat the sharks were frolicking abou
them in savage playfulness, beatin
the water into bubbles by their stron
rushes to the surface. None Of ther
seemed inclined to charge on the pri'
Oners as yet, although in the dark
was only question of time when the
) would be seized under the water.
One of the monsters swept into tn
kelp not ten feet from Potter, an
turning, tore at the water plants unit
the young man was thrown off an
cried in terror to his friend TIL
sharks constantly grew holder in the