Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-10-04

AYE. it's smooth enough"
Don't you think he ought to try II?
Every fine mornin' he has dip off the
-ock."
"Well, If it's all right for him an
ron it's all right for me-"
Jim had urged his plea TO the man
whom it chiefly concerned. He was
ar too sporting a character to obtain |
he interference of authority. and |
ones, whose maritime experiences |
we're confined to the hauling in or pay
ng out of a lghtships cable, had not |
he slightest suspicion Of lurking dan
ger in the blue depths.
A light splash came to them, and, a |
ew seconds later, Brands head and |
houlders swung into view After n |
loZen vigorous breast strokes he rolled |
bver on to his side and waved his left |
band to the two men high above him.
With sweeping side stroke he made |
fapd progress Jones. unincumbercd
by knowledge blew through his lips.
Hes wonderful. chap. is Brand"
he said contentedly. 1T ticks me
what man like him wants messin'
lbout in the service for. Hes eddi-
tated up to the top notch, an he has
money too. His lodgln's cost the whole
bf his pay, the missus says. an that
kid Of his has hospital nuss, if you
please"
Jones was grateful to his mates for
heir recent attentions. lie was in
tined to genial gossip, but jim was
Watching the boat curvlng toward the
lighthouse. The high spring tide was
bit the full. So he only growlcd:
you can see with half an eye he has
taken on this Job for a change. l wish
be was in that blessed boat"
Jones was quite certain now that his
subordinate harbored some secret fear
of danger.
whats up?" he cried Hell board
her in two ticks"
On no account would the sailor men
lion sharks. He might he mistaken,
hnd Jones would gui1aw at his deep
sea" fancies. Anyhow, it was Brands
bnair. A friend might advise; he
would never tattle
The head keeper, vaguely excited,
peered through his glass. Both boat
Brand had resumed the breast stroke.
Erhe 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
,norants tapped aloft. A black fin
darted into sight, leaving a sharply d.
Eided trail in the smooth patch of
water created by the turning of the
derelict.
Jones was genuinely startled now
MY Cod" he cried. What is it?'
"A shark" yelled Jim. Il knew it,
b warned him. Eli, but he's game, is
the cap'n."
why didn't you tell meT roared
Homes. Under reversed conditions he
would have behaved exactly as Jim
did.
INlt it was no time for words. The
men pecred 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
rould see-they almost thought they
could hearts tensely dramatic ac-
ton. The rapidly moving black signal
REACHED the small eddy caused by the
mans disappearance. Instantly great
Einuous. shining body rose half out of
the water and a powerful tail struck
the side of the boat a resounding
whack.
Jims first expletive died in his
throat.
Hes done it" Jones heard him say
"He's ripped him. Oh, bully. May the
Lord grant there's only one"
For 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 ana dark blotches. Tho fiut-
terings of the birds became irregular
and alarmed Their wheeling flights
partly obscured events below. The
guls, screaching their fright, or it
ght be interest, kept close to the
water, and the cormorants sailed in cir
Giles aloof.
Jones was pallid and streaming with
perspiratlon.
Il wouldn't have had it happen for
Fifty quid," he groaned,
II wouldn't ha' missed it for a hun
dred' yelped Jim. ITS a fight TO a
finish, and the cap'n II 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 mighty
shout:
Hell swim wild now, Brand. Keep
out Of his track"
Sure enough. the ugly monster bhgan
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
bad seen Malay diver handling his
lifelong enemy, coolly struck ont to-
ward the stern of the boat. The shark
churning the sea into a white foam
whirled away in blind pursuit of tn,
death which was rendng him. III,
man, unframed but somewhat breath
less, clambered over the folds of the
sail into the boat.
GLORY be" quavered Jones, who
was Il Baptist.
Jim was about to chant his thanks in
other terms when his attention was