The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-20

time narrowly escaped going overheard.
Another loop was now made fast and
the shark, well hooked, started to tow
US through the water and out to sea at
a lively rate.
The sensation was a most novel one,
and not easily forgotten. The boat was
going through the water at a good ten
mlle-an-hour clip, while the water churn-
ed up around the bow as though we were
be1ng propelled by steam. After half an
hour of this sport the rope began to
slacken and to change directions. 1t was
evident that the fish was getting tired
" He's. going to dive said Pedro, and
we had better make ready to fend him
OF ard to haul in the slack
scarcely were the words out of his
mouth when the boat began to bob up
and down in manner which clearly de-
noted that the shark was trying to dive
We clutched at the rope and hauled Ia
few feet, but only to release it again
There were three of us at the rope now
yet we could not manage the fish. Again
and again we tried this process, and in
all l doubt if we gained a yard on him.
We were beginning to wonder how long
the fight would last when the rope sud
dely grew slack. Then there appeared.
about forty feet away, the fin of a shark.
and the next second he rushed at the
boat, his white belly shining in the sun
as he turned on his back to strike. Be-
fore we had time to marvel at this new
trick he butted violently into our craft
IL,
apparently convinced that he had moth
ing to gain by this move, he turned tail
and vanished below the surface.
81 can assure you that we were not al
together sorry when he disappeared as,
although we knew that he could not
make a hole in our boat, it was none the
less highly uncomfortable to be butted
about in that manner.
matters were now getting pretty
warm, and we held a council of war to
determine just what We had better do.
The question was whether it was per-
fectly safe to bring him alongside so that
we could finish him with the spear, or If
it would be better to remain quietly in
the boat and allow ourselves to be tGWed
about until his sharksnip became weary.
after some arguing we decided that
we would attempt to finish the fight
and accordingly we set about our ar,
engagements The. gaff was made fast to
a rope, so that 1t could not be jerked
overheard, and the file or spear was pull
ed from it's sheath aud laid where it
could easily be found. During this time
we were clipping aiong at a merry rate,
with an occasion al halt or turn. Then We
started to haul in on the line. AT first
ISSUANCE which we encoun-
tered made me think that we were trying
to move a house, then little by little we
began to make Roadway.
1--WE could tell by the now freqeunt
halts that the shark was firing, yet
every once in a while we had to brace
ourselves in order to head off rush. 1t
was hard work and firing. and it seemed
as though We would never get him along
side. But at last he arrived, his tail,
strange to say, being the first thing we
caught sight of. 1t appeared enormous,
and swept about just below the surface,
in strong and rapid circles.
ga trife nearer it came and then we
saw the head, and / can assure you that
I will never forget the sight that it pre-
scented. 1 had not had u good look at it
when he butted our boat, or [ think
would have cut the line and let him go.
AS it was I made a silent vow never
again to fish for such game. A sharks
head, when it's owner is at bay, is about
the most cruel and blood-curdling object
that one may expect to see come up out
Of the waters of any sea.
when l saw those large green eyes
looking at me, and the huge jaw, which
at that moment appeared five times It's
natural size, working and swapping, L
felt shiver run up my spine and invol-
unfairly stepped back lest 1 fall over
board. But there was no time to be lost,
as the tail was thrashing the water with
tremendous force and threatening to stave
in the boat. We now saw that the fish
was over ten feet long, and that it would
be useless to use the gait on him until he
had been stabbed at least once or twcie
Some one passed the spear into my