The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1907-04-26
Two Men and a Shark
By III. II. BAILEY.


was the position i'm which the au-
thor and his companion found them
selves. What happened afterwards
is graphically told in the subjoined
narrative
| was in San Francisco taking my
late employers advice-a rest. One
morning he had failed to meet his
liabilities-and me. Re just left a
clean pair of heels and a little note.
The note advised me 10 follow his
seeding example, or remain and take
a moneyless rest. acted on the lat
ter; had to.
After a weeks very active "rest"
my liabilities were sold to a newly
formed CO. per syndicate. THE San
Francisco and California Copper
Company / was TO accompany an
other gentleman as a surveyor on a
copper prospecting expedition in
Southern California.
That week one Of the Pacific Mail
Companys boats-the City Of Pan
anna, think-saled for Mexico and
Peru and in her we took berths In
a few days we were dropped at Maza-
liant, a port on the west coast Of
Mexico. From there we crossed the
Gulf OF California to La PaZ-an
idle-born, listless town, having then
but little, if any. excuse 10 offer for
its existence. Here We procured
some over-ripe Mexican plugs "A
species OF quadruped. or, rather. ac-
tive volcano on four legs-to jolt us
into the mountains. / do not intend
10 inhict upon the reader the results
of scientific expedition which had
for its object the examination OF the
copper-bearirE rocks I'm that 'egion;
let Il suffice 10 say that during this
metal-chasing trip Dr. Butler, geo
logist. of Chicago, ard myself were
the unaspiring victims Of very
nerve-trying adventure. which befell
MS on the southwest coast OF the Gulf
OF California.
One sun-bathed morning fifty or
sixty miles south of La PaZ. Or. But
Ter and ! found ourselves upon the
coast. lie was examining and obtain
ing specimens OF basaltic and irachy-
tic rock. | accompanied him. ready
TO take bearings and measurements
OF the locality II necessary.
We had Just wended our way
around the foot of a bluff and rocky
headland when we saw before us a
~ shaped inlet, rock-girt on three
sides. About $50 feet across a, it's
widest part the cove penetrated sew
eral hundred feet into the rocky
coast Precipitous were ito sides and
sullen its outlines. but its deep and
sparkling waters looked cool and in
yiting.
IN the blank and shrubless clif
across tae in. t we discerned the gap
lip, to the extent o. few inches, APP
pearing above the waters edge.
Il shoul like TO examine the rock
formation Of that cavern's interior. "
said the doctor. presently. half 20
himself and half to me. Then, after
momentary pause, he added, But
how the dickens are we TO get tnerc,
Bailey?"
1t could be seen at n glance that
there was no land approach to the
cavern. Neitfer was there any ma
terial around us with which to CON
struct a raft. However, il needed no
sixth sense to solve the pre- 5lem.
81 guess there is only one way,
DOCTOR" said ], and that is TO
SWIM
Both of us were fairly good swim.
mers and cared little for the watery
stretch tnat separated us from ouI
object; indeed, the project melted
within us great and pleasant expec
tations. In tfC overweening fit OF
enthusiasm that inspired us we con
s!dered danger % every sort out
OF the question. Accordingl.. W,
stripped dived, and struc.; out Will
all the vigor commensurate, with oul
high spirits.
Up the other side we crawled. Gnt
together prepared to enter the darl
unknown. With my eyes attuned {,
business | noticed that the cavern
was about thirty feet long an,
shaped like trumpet. Inside it wa
about tifteen feet wide by six O
seven feet high. Once we were vel
inside, the damp, salt-laden air, to
gether with the half-lit shadow
rocks, had depressing effect upoi
my spirits. Next To a tomb. | de
cided, it was the most uncomfortable
place in which had ever been.
However, in this ocean cubicle Dl
Butler pursued his investigations 70
II promised something tangible to ON
business hopes. Meanwhile. accout
red in the unobstrusive costume G
Adam, | squatted on the floor an
watched him. lie fitted from on
one point to another with busines,
like zeal. Presently he CONNER CO
TO trace towards the entrance n sid
tissure in the rock. So intent was n
mind on his task, and SO glued weI
his eyes to the assure, that he too
h.n LII