The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1901-10-24

| 'hR ENulAh SUM W. $500
1t 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 We're 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
terstices 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 waterT
1t began to appear rs IL 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 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
preylng 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 hear"
he said. "Nly sisters there; she's good
with boat and could take us off. But
l believe she went to town"
They were forced TO keep moving,
scrambling 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 fred his shot
gun.
After the sun had set they once i'm
agined that they heard a response
from the shore. They shouted and
fred again and again, and looked and
li9tened 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 a 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 as the men
were under water above their waists
now, they realized the danger of a
sudden rush by one Of the brutes,
which might easily carry a man from
his footing.
Potter fred into the water at the
nearer shark. and succeeded in fright.
ening both Of them away, but they re-
manned near by, watching with hun
cry eyes.
The men were now much exhausted
and chilled by the water. Coville had
lost his voice from shouting, and said
that he could go but very little further.
As 1t 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 :escue seemed re-
mote.
When they reached a place near the
boat the sharks were frolicking about
them In savage playfulness, beating
the water into bubbles by their strong
PUSHES to the surface. None Of them
seemed inclined to charge on the pris-
oners as yet, although in the dark it
was oplga question Of time when they
would be seized under the water.
Oneof the monsters swept into the
kelp met ten feet from Potter, and
turning tore at the water plants until
the young man was thrown Off and
cried In terror to his friend. The
sharks constantly grew holder 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 a girls clear
voice. They stared in amazement;
then Potter cried out In Joy at the
sound Of his name.
Kate! Is that you? Hurry-helpg'
I'm comingl WHAT'S the matter