Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1906-07-20
7 II E l,.;. '; Tracy.
PILLAR ef T.: T.: =: :
Morning"
LIGHT =::::: r.: !; = ;;...

1
/ Jim's first expletive died in his
throat
"He's done itv' Jones heard him say.
'He's ripped him. Oh, bully May the
i 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
slant man eater writhed in agon1zed
contort1ons and the sea showed masses
of froth and dark blotches. The f1ut-
terings of the birds became irregular
and alarmed Their wheeling flights
partly obscured events below. The
gulls, screeching their fright, or it
might be interest, kept close to the
water, and The cormorants sailed in cir
cles aloof.
Jones was pallid and streaming with
perspiration.
81 wouldn't have had it happen for
fifty quid,'' he groaned.
st wouldn't ha' missed it for hun
dred," yelped Jim. "It's a fight to
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:
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 a white foam
whirled away in blind pursuit of the
death which was rending9 him. The
man, unharmed but somewhat breath
less, clambered over the folds of the
sail into the boat.
.Glory bev' quavered Jones, who
was 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 as though something had
stung him. His hesitation was mo-
mentary Pressing his left hand to
. | ulOulu tlOSC, LIZ p1SoOo AopANAy AOA-
: ward, stopped, caught limp body by
the belt which every sailor wears and,
with a mighty effort, slung it into the
sea, where it sank instantly. So the
shark, like many q 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 it alone
for the moment.
He shipped a pair Of oars and. with
> two vigorous sweeps, impelled the dere
, lict away from the charnel house at,
, mosphere which evidently clung to it.
Then the shark engaged his attention
1t was floating belly upward. its white
: underskin glistening in the sunlight
Two long gashes were revealed, one
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 dog
, fish, attracted by the scent of blood
which stirs alike the denfZens of air
r land and ocean, was unresisted.
o The rover stood up again, drove
boat hook into the cruel jaws and lash
ed the stock to thorl pin with piece
of cordage. This accomplished to hi
satisfaction, he looked toward the Gull
6 Rock for the first time since he drew
the knife from it's sheath, gave cheer.
4 hand wave to the shouting pair on tn
q balcony and settled down to pull th'
n recovered craft close to the rock.
Jim closed the telescope with snap
O "He heaved the dead man over
h board" he announced, $50 there's
o live ore under the SAIL
v "Why do you think that?' said Jones
9 whose nerves were badly shaken.
y "Well, you saw what happened t
y the other pore devil Either him or tn
= cap'n had to go. 1t 'ud be the same
Il there was a funeral wanted aft. Their
q there birds But come along, boss
+ Let's give him hand"
r They hurried down to the iron barre
K entrance Jones shot outward sma