The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-10-23

dren'd better not get too close, and be
ready TO run in case it starts to come
out. "
"Oo-oo-ooh" chied BIZ. Look at
it's tail It's like the tail Of a rat. only
ten times as big"
Yes" shrilled Jim, eager to prove
that he, too, had powers Of observa-
ton, "and do you notice its two
great eyes that it keeps opening and
shutting all the time? My it works
them like the eyes of a man that's
hurt and ready to faint"
Jim once had seen "a man run over.
and he never failed to use some of the
knowledge gained on that exciting and
important occasion.
It's got a great. long. pointed
nose" announced Dick, but / can't
see it's mouth. Run! RUM"
He shrieked the last words, and. for
getting all about his reputation for
bravery, he turned, and ran full speed
after the others, who had rushed away
at his first cry.
The cause for this sudden alarm was
that, while he was looking at II, the
/ strange monster suddenly turned side
/ ways and shot up toward the sur
/ face. When the children had reached
| a safe distance from the little point,
/ they turned and saw something stick
( out Of the water like a wing and flap
to and fro. Sometimes il seemed white
and then it seemed brown. Suddenly
| the sharp nose OF the monster appear
/ ed above the water and then there was
a foundering on the surface, and for
an instant the crowd saw the whole
/ body OF the thing as II rolled over
and dived toward the bottom again.
Now the children set off in great
! haste to the beach where old Jones.
the bayman, had his shanty.
"Oh. Captain Jones" said Dick
breathlessly, there's a sea-devil In the
cove. He's got wings and he tried to
get out and fly, but he fell back in the
water again and he's got a sharp nose
and rats tall"
And eyes like a mans that got
ruined over" added jim.
And it's more'n fifty feet long"
said Mary.
NO. but it's more'n twenty feet"
said precise Dick.
Wall" said Captain Jones, II guess
faint quite all o. that. An / guess,
too, that itIl turn out TO be nOthin'
at all. But seem as it's you, I'll list
go along and look"
So Captain Jones shouldered an eel
spear and led the way toward the
haunt Of the monster.
At first nothing could be seen, and
the children looked around in fear,
half expecting to find that the terri
BILE beast had flown from the water
during their absence and was sitting
somewhere near by, studying with its
awful eyes which one II would select
for food.
But suddenly the shadowy form
came gliding into view again.
BY jiminetty!" said the old bay
man. You were right for once. That
there Is a stingaree and big one.
faint ~ f.frf haF
it's a good ten from the tip of its snout
70 the tip OF its tail. Now, children,
step back. That there fish IS got
singer on the end Of the tail thatll
kill the pusson that Is hit good and
hard by II. So git away over on shore.
an I'll git Mr.. Stingaree."
The children scuttled for shore and
Capt. Jones cautiously poised his eel
spear Till the great creature passed
under his weapon. Then IL went down
ward with all his power behind IL. and
the next moment he was nearly terked
into the water, while the tough han
die Of the spear bent and ereaked as
If It would splinter.
But at last the struggles ceased
enough for the old man 10 step back
and hoist nightly on his weapon.
STEPPING backward. hauled to shore
great. tapping fat creature. ugly
enough 20 frighten any man. The long
rat tail was striking about madly in
all directions and the old bayman took
great care not to get within range OF
H.
He picked up a heavy stake and
struck the tapping thing a number OF
blows. till at last he managed 70 pin
the tail down. Then he withdrew his
spear and stabbed the fish again and
again until It's struggles ceased and
he dragged Il up on the beach.
Nine feet and q half" he announc-
| ed. after measuring u. Now children,
see here" he pointed 20 the end Of the
tail where a spur or thorn protruded.
IL was set IN a slant and was as sharp
as a razor.
That's what makes this fish known
az the stingaree or stingray." said he.
| THAT spur Is worse than q dagger
Many a mans been killed by being hit
with a big one. This II only a small
| specimen. and you kin list imagine
| what a big ones look Ike. I've seen
'em 20 weigh a good 600 pounds"
did you ever see an uRlier mon
ster2" asked Lefty.
mo, indeed" said they all.
They had good reason for their hor-
ror. The thing was fiat and It's back
was full OF tiny, poisonous looking
thorns and prickles. all covered With
thick slime. The color was n muddy.
blacklist brown. Instead Of ordinary
fish FMS n had q ficahy wing on each
side. almost a. big AZ rs body and
looking sfrikinRiy like the wing o. a
| bdl IN shape though n was thick
flesh and not membrane.
The tail. which was oct With hun
dreds or little barbr in addition % TIE
hlg sting, was chin ana bonH ana