The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1906-10-26

might be interest, kept close to the
water, and the cormorants sailed In cir
cles aioof.
Jones was pallid and streaming with
perspiration.
II wouldn't have had it happen for
fifty quid," he groaned.
II wouldn't ha' missed II for hun
dred," yelped Jim. Its 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 the surface in frantic commissions
The second stab Of the knife had reach.
ed 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 white foam,
whirled away in blind pursuit Of the
death which was rending him. The
man, unframed but somewhat breath
less, clambered over the folds of the
sail into the boat.
"Glory bev' quavered Jones. who
was a Baptist.
Jim was about to chant his thanks in
other terms when his attention was
caught by Brands curious actions.
In stepping across the after thwart
he stopped az though something had
stung him. His hesitation was mo-
mentary. Pressing his left hand to
mouth and nose, he passed rapidly for
ward, stopped, caught limp body by
the belt which every sailor wears and.
with mighty effort, slung it into the
sea, where 1t sank instantly. So the
shark, like many human congener of
higher intellect, had only missed his
opportunity by being too precipitate.
while the cormorants and gulls. eying
him ominously, did not know what
they had lost.
Then the man returned to the sail
and peered beneath. Neither Of the on
lockers could distinguish anything of
special interest under the heavy can
vas sheet. Whatever it was, Brand
apparently resolved to leave 1t alone
for the moment.
He shipped pair Of oars and, with
two vigorous sweeps, impelled the dere-
lict away from the charnel house at
mosphere which evidently chung to it.
Then the shark engaged his attention.
1t was floating belly upward, its white
underskin glistening in the sunlight.
transverse, the other lengthwise, prov
ing how coolly and scientifically Brand
had done his work. An occasional
spasm revealed that life was not yet
extinct, but the furtive attack of a dog
fish, attracted by the scent of blood,
which stirs alike the denizens of air.
land and ocean, was unresisted
The rover stood up again, drove
boat hook into the cruel jaws and LASH
ed the stock to thorl pin with a piece
of cordage. This accomplished to his
satisfaction, he looked toward the Gulf
Rock for the first time since he drew
the knife from its sheath, gave a CHEEKY
hand wave to the shouting pair on the
balcony and settled down to pull the
recovered craft close to the rock.
Jim closed the telescope with a snap.
"He heaved the dead man over
board" he announced, $50 there's a
live one under the SAIL"
"Why do you think that" said Jones,
whose nerves were badly shaken.
"Well, you saw what happened to
the other pore devil. Either him or the
cap'n had to go. 1t nd be the same if
there was funeral wanted aft Them
there birds But come along, boss.
Let's give him q hand"
They hurried down to the iron barred
entrance. Jones shot outward a small
crane fitted with winch, in case it
might be needed, while the sailor climb
ed to the narrow platform Of rock into
which the base blocks of the lighthouse
were sunk and bolted.
Affording but little superficial space
Mt low water, there was, now not an