Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1906-11-19

4 dir recent attentions. He was in
lined to genial gossip but jim vas
4 a5chfng the boat curving toward the
aschthouse. The high spring tide was
a the full. SO he only growled:
You can see with half an eye he has
ken on this job for a change. l wish
IN was in that blessed boat"
ZONES was quite certain now that his
srbordnate harbored some secret fear
IN danger.
81 whats up?" he cried. Hell board |
her in two ticks"
FL On no account would the sailor men
4on sharks. He might be mistaken,
Mi Jones would guffaw at his deep
h." fancies. Anyhow, it was Brands
sfair. A friend might advise; he
kouId never tattle.
The head keeper, vaguely excited,
.epred through his glass. Both boat
n3wmmer were in the annular field.
brand had resumed the breast stroke.
he swing of the tide carried the
tOken bow toward him. He was not
ore than the boats length distant
Ehen he dived suddenly and the cor
nUants tapped aloft. A black fin
Earted into sight, leaving a sharply di-
kded trail in the smooth patch of
water created by the turning of the
Eerelict.
Jones was genuinely startled now.
M MY Godr' he cried. What is it?'
"a sharkr' yelled jim. Il knew it.
Ed warned him. Eth, but he's game, is
biz cap'n."
N Why didn't you tell me?" roared
bones. Under reversed conditions he
'rould have behaved exactly as Jim
L.
But it was no time for words. The
|neu peered at the sudden tragedy with
Nm intensity which left them gasping
Nor breath. More than 200 yards away
Id reality. the magnifying glasses
brought this horror so close that they
.t0uld see-they almost thought they
|koud hear-its tensely dramatic ac-
lion. The rapidly moving black signal
&feached the small eddy caused by the
mans disappearance. Instantly great
Lie water and a powerful tail struck
#ihe side of the boat a resounding
&Fhack.
Jim's first expletive died in his
throat.
He's done itr' Jones heard him say.
#fHe's ripped him. Oh. bully! May the
ard grant there's only one"
For a single instant they saw the
Dark hair and face of the man above
E Me surface. The shark whirled about
& and rushed. Brand sank, and again the
giant man eater writhed in agoniZed
< tontortions and the sea showed masses
bt froth and dark blotches. The fiut-
y behring's of the birds became irregular
Rnd alarmed. Their wheeling flights
s partly obscured events below. The
e. guls, screeching their fright, or 1t
nght be interest, kept close to the
water, and the cormorants sailed in cir
teS aloof.
Jones was pallid and streaming with
Respiration.
Il wouldn't have had it HAPPEN fol-
Pity quid,'' he grOaned.
II wouldn't ha' missed it for a hun
tred," 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 mighty
Shout:
M
put Of his track"
Sure enough. the ugly monster began
70 thrash the water and career arounC
pa the surface in frantic commissions
Ihe second stab of the knife had reach
gu vital part Brand, who perhap:
lad seen a Malay diver handling hi;
lifelong enemy, coolly struck out to
ward the stern of the boat. The shark
Aurning the sea into a white foam
"uIled away in blind pursuit of th'
Oedth which was rending him. Th'
1an, unframed but somewhat breath
Ts' clambered over the folds Of th'
SaL into the boat
Glory beg quavered Jones, whC
was a Baptist.
1in was about to chant his thanks il
uer terms when his attention wa:
'usht by Brands curious actions.
III stepping across the after thwar
stopped as though something ha(
Jung him. His hesitation was mo
leulary. Pressing his left hand t.
'Outh and nose, he passed rapidly for
roru' stopped, caught limp body b.
Ie oelt which every sailor wears and
W mighty effort, slung it into tn
o' Where it sank instantly. So tn
lA' like many a human congener o
sner intellect, had only missed hi
pIp'V,rtunity by being too precipitate
]ne the cormorants and gulls. eyinI
% ominously, did not know wha
Aey had lost.
"en the man returned to the sal
peered beneath. Neither of the on
rs could distinguish anything o
interest under the heavy car
Ann. sneet Whatever it was, Bran