Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-06-13

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
derelict.
Jones was genuinely startled now.
MY God" he cried. what Ia lit"
"a shark" yelled Jim. 81 knew it.
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 it 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 hearts tensely dramatic ac-
ton. The rapidly moving black signal
reached the small eddy caused by the
mans disappearance. Instantly great
sinuous, shining body rose half out of
the water and powerful tail struck
the side of the boat 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 sing'ra 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
VI uuu udlh OAoASASo. 4uC hui.
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.
81 wouldn't have had it happen for
fifty quid," lie groaned.
Il wouldn't ha' missed 1t for hun
dred," yelped Jim. Its fight to q
finish, and the cap'n II win. There
amt another sen 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 party Brand. who perhaps
had seen d, 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.
| ttE1opv havS Topns xvrh =
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 as though something had
stung him. His hesitation was mo.
mentary. Pressing his left hand to
ward, stopped. caught limp body by
the belt which every sailor wears and,
with mighty effort. slung 1t into the
sea, where 1t 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 1t alone
for the moment.
| He shipped pair Of oars and, witt
, two vigorous sweeps. impelled the dere
: lict away from the charnel house at
5 mosphere which evidently chung to 1t.
Then the shark engaged his attention
1t was floating belly upward. its white
r underskin glistening in the sunlight
], Two long gashes were revealed, ont
I transverse, the ether lengthwise, prov
j ing how coolly and scientifically Brand
had done his work. An occasiona
8 spasm revealed that life was not We
e extinct, but the furtive attack Of a dog
fish. attracted by the scent of blood
r which stirs alike the denizcns Of air
0 land and ocean, was unresisted.
t The rover stood up again. drove {
s boat hook Into the cruel jaws and lash
: cd the stock to thorl pin with piec,
of cordage: This accomplished 10 bill
r satisfaction. he looked toward the Gull
+ Rock for the first time since he drew
the knife from its sheath. gave cheer!
8 hand wave to the shouting pair on thu
balcony and settled down to pull tn,
recovered craft close to the rock.
Jim closed the telescope with snap
HE heavcd the dead man over
:? board" he announced, $50 there's I
e live one under the sail"
"Why do you think thatY' said Jones
7 whose nerves We're badly shaken.
"Well. you saw what happened t
n the other pore devil. Either him or tn
8 cap'n had to go. 1t 'ud be the same
n there was funeral wanted aft Then
d there birds But come along, boss
s Let's give him q hand"
They hurried down to the iron barre,
t entrance. Jones shot outward SINAI
4 crane fitted with a winch. in case
might be needed, while the sailor climb
q ed to the narrow platform of rock int