The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-06-11

OF elastic cartilage instead of bone,
but know no eel was ever freer in its
motions. And he could turn, not only
IN his long length, but as II on pivot,
though now in nature he could do it
with nothing but fins and tail beat me.
But the times when he came in be-
bind me or dropped down from the
surface to see me working-those were
minutes when the only feeling had
was cold, sick dread. He would hang
there, his nose almost under my ann
or over my shoulder could feel the
water move with him he was so close
and look on like big dog watching
a man whitewash fence.
HE wasn't ugly or threatening,
merely Interested in lazy, casual sort
Of way. But while he was there I
never moved. even to turn my head.
And when he came in slantwise from
above and | caught a glimpse of his
great blunt muzzle and crescent jaws
ragged with arrowhead teeth, would
make one gasping vow that II got
up safely no money would ever get
me down again.
But once out of water and on the
tug among the men, I hadn't the spunk
TO speak. Two words to the boss and
Led have had the shark put out of
business in no time, some way or 9TH
or. Not one diver in 20 has his right
courage under water. but I was too
young to acknowledge that then. I
pretended that I'd got used to my visi.
tor-indeei, that I was rather interest
cd in watching him.
Il don't suppose fooled them much.
Tivey, the engineer, seemed to guess
the truth of the matter anyway. and
with an old mans delight in picking
en- younger one. he did what he
could to add 10 my misery. He'd throw
cut his greasy waste whenever the
brute came around, by way of keeping
when was up, he'd pitch piece of
PORK nailed to barrel stave. Its jaws
would clash on II like bear-trap. AMI
the old fellow would chuckle horribly
and say: Wait till ye get absent
minded some time down below. and
move your arm too sudden You'll
find that everything that moves quick
Is pork to him.
Then the next time the brute came
near me would sit all hunched to-
gether, and as felt him nose me, now
this side, now that, quaked as II
from a spurt of icy water. Once he
brushed me with his elephants ear of
forward fin and rolled his great
Firth against me as he turned. | stiff
fened out with a jerk that almost
spilled me off the slings.
We'll, that sort Of thing couldn't
go on. and it didn't, but the end of 1t
came from direction and with
suddenness | hadn't had any hope OF.
AS you may know, good many Key
West spongers, when regular business
Is slack, do little 'tiger-kiling. For
q sharks about half liver, and it tries
cut gallons to a Gods gills, though of
course the quality's inferior. Now 1t
seemed the Batabano people were in
the habit of doing some occasional
sharking. too.
"One night, when we'd been singing,
their captain turned to me and asked
ii | wanted some 'fon-a?' said | did.
What did he do then but offer me the
use of his harpoon and line and two
dollars for my time If I'd get him my
nan-eater! accepted the offer quick
ly enough, and the other men were
keen for the sport.
EARLY the next morning the spong.
ers brought over their line. There
was a hundred fathoms of it. with a
six-foot snood of steel chain and a
regular old-time blubber:spade Of a
harpoon. The men rigged the small
MINDLESS for a reel, and | had them
set it well up in the bow. figuring to
avoid fouled lines. Then | put on ex-
ira weight, for my idea after making
my strike was to drop from the slings
like plumb, and then lie low on bot
tom. | started down in sort of joy
Gus excitement.
81 hadn't much more than laid the
iron down beside me and got TO work
when my groper chickens melted out
OF sight. felt the water push against
once more behind me.
81 turned, but gradually as jack
screw. His great torpedo-shaped head
hung well within reach. If | could get
him through that pulpy mackerel
crown. But he suddenly drew back
/ saw would have to do some shadow
catching. The excitement made me
COOL He hove to, and began to throw
lis lazy curves about me. That gave
me broadside chances, but wouldn't
take them. Then, seemingly without
the slightest fear, he turned and came
straight in on me.
81 threw up the iron. His vicious bot
tie-green eyes caught the quick move
ment with one hungry fash, and the
next movement the huge curve Of
muddy white was whirling over at
and at me!
Il struck wildly just below the
snrea,ling reef of iaws and threw NV