The Red Cloud chief., 1906-06-29
(CoNTfNUED.)

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few seconds later, Brands head and
shoulders swung into view. After a
dozen vigorous breast strokes he rolled
over OF to his side and waved his left
hand to the two men high above him.
With a sweeping side stroke he made
rapid progress. Jones. unincumbered
by knowledge, blew through his lips.
Hes a wonderful chap. Is Brand"
he said cOntentedly. at licks me
what a man like him wants messin'
about in the service for. He's eddi-
money too. His lodgin's cost the whole
of his pay, the missus says, an that
kid Of his has a hospital nuss, II you
please"
Jones was grateful to his mates for
their recent attentions. He was in
clined to genial gossip, but Jim was
watching the boat curving toward the
lighthouse. The high spring tide was
at the full. So he only growled:
You can see with half an eye he has
taken on this job for a change. l wish
he was In that blessed boat"
Jones was quite certain now that his
subordinate harbOred some secret fear
of danger.
whats upT" he cried. Hell board
her In two ticks"
On no account would the sailor men
ton sharks. He might be mistaken,
and Jones would guffaw at his deep
sea fancies. Anyhow. 1t was Brands
affair. A friend might advise; he
would never tattle.
The head keeper, vaguely excited,
peered through his glass. Both boat
and swimmer were in the annular field.
Brand had resumed the breast stroke.
The swing Of the tide carried the
broken bow toward him. He was not
more than the boats length distant
when he dived suddenly and the cor
morants tapped aloft. A black fin
darted into sight, leaving a sharply d.
vided trail In the smooth patch Of
water created by the turning Of the
aderelict.
Jones was genuinely startled nov
MY God!" he cried. what Is It'll"
"A shark!' yelled Jim. ~ knew 1t.
I warned him Eth, but he's game. Is
the cap'n."
why didn't you tell me?" roared
Jones. Under reversed conditions he
would have behaved exactly as Jim
did.
But II was no time for words. The
men peered at the sudden tragedy with
an intensity which left them gasping
for breath. More than 200 yards away
In reality, the magnifying glasses
brought this horror so close that they
could %see-they almost thought they
could hear-its tensely dramatic ac-
ton. The rapidly moving black signal
reached the small eddy caused by the
mans disappearance. Instantly a great
sinuous, shining body rose half out Of
the water and a powerful tail struck
the side Of the boat q %resounding
whack.
Jim's FIRST expletive died in his
throat.
Hes done itw Jones heard him say.
Hes ripped him. oh, bully! May the
Lord grant there's only one"
For a single instant they saw the
dark hair and face of the man above
the surface. The shark whirled about
and rushed. Brand sank, and again the
giant man eater writhed in agonized
cOntortions and the sea showed masses
of froth and dark blotches. The lut-
terings of the birds became irregular
and alarmed. Their wheeling flights
partly obscured events below. The
gulls, screeching their fright, or 1t
might be interest, kept close to the
water, and the cormorants sailed In cir.
cles aloof.
Jones was pallid and streaming with
perspiration.
II wouldn't have had it happen for
fifty quiG-" he grOaned.
IL wouldn't ma missed 1t for a hun
dred," yelped jim. ITS a fight to a
finish, and the cap'n III win. There
amt another sea lawyer on the job, an
Brand knows how to handle this one"
Their mates head reappeared, and
Jim relieved the tension by a mighty
shout:
Hell swim wild now, Brand. Keep
out Of his track"
Sure enough, the ugly monster began
to thrash the water and career around
on he surface in frantic commissions.
The second stab of the knife had reach
ed a vital part. Brand, who perhaps
had seen a Malay diver handling his
lifelong enemy, coolly struck out to-
ward the stern Of the boat. The shark,
churning the sea into a white foam,
whiried away IN blind pursuit OF the
death which was rending him. The
man, unframed but somewhat breath
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