The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1907-05-02
Two Men anda Shark
by HI. p. BAILEY.


helplessness, ones utter insignif-
cance.
But harkl What was that strange
swishing sound that broke the 81
lence? 1t was quite close to me-
beside me. Horrorsl sprang TO
my feet with sharp exclamation.
for there, not dozen feet away, was
tall. triangular fin--the dorsal fin
of huge shark
A cry from me brought DIR. Butler
quickly to my side. Great heav-
ens'" cried he. vislbly affected. as
he gazed upon the hideous creature.
What bloodthirsty brute he looksl
The blood from my foot must have
attracted him from the open."
A moment more and a terrible
thought flashed simultaneously
through our brains. This horror
creating denizen OF the deep was our
Jailer! So long as he remained there
our only avenue of escape was closed.
The doctor turned and looked at
me in silence, and in silence 1 re-
turned his scrutiny. Each knew cnly
too well that for us there was no
way of gaining the opposite shore
and liberty except by swimming
across the inlet. We knew, more
over, that II we assayed the passage
one of us must be taken by the mon
ster to pay the price of the others
liberty.
But, the reader may ask, why not,
In preference 20 such a horrible
death, stay indefinitely in the cavern,
even to the point of dying of starva-
tion? Unfortunately for us, how
ever, we had no alternative, for we
knew, from the marks on the rocks.
that when the tide rose the shark
would be able to invade the caverni
No; as surely as the waters ebbed
and flowed, certain and horrible
death awaited one or other of us.
Not hairs breadth backward or
forward did the creature move from
his post outside the cave. Grim and
.expectant he lay there in all his re-
pulsiveness, the vanguard of death.
Once he tilted himself slightly, and
by so doing showed us his horrid
grey eyes and his more horrid month
"a mouth that bristled with MANY
rows OF teeth. The great brute
seemed to root us to the spot with n
fascination of horror, for time passed
and we knew it not. How long we
remained staring at the creature I
cannot say, but when we woke from
our terror induced stupor our feet
were being laved by the incoming
tide.
"Bailey!" cried DR.. Butler, sud
denly. Come into the cavern. An
idea has struck me which may save
us. Quick.'
Leaving the brink, padding
through the rising water, dumbly
followed my companion. Already his
face had become pale and haggard;
mental anguish unrelieved soon pals
the brightest face.
We'll, DOCTOR" murmured l, as
we stood inside, what is it?"
why, this" he answered, quiet
ly. Maybe If we keep ourselves out
of his sight in this cave, and remain
absolutely silent, he may get the i'm
preston we have departed, and then
perhaps he will leave the inlet. 1
can suggest nothing better. What
do you think about it?"
Il guess Wen try it, said 1, with
a little hope stealing back to me.
Right; now let us take seats on
these lodges"
Doctor" said I, a moment after
wards, don't you think you had bet
ter take your injured foot out of the
water?" BY this time a few inches
of water covered the entire floor of
the cavern. II notice 1t still bleeds
a little, and no doubt the shark will
stay as long as he scents the blood.
Try that ledge higher up"
How thoughtless of mel" cried
Butler, changing his seat. "And
now, Bailey, old friend"-his voice
grew grave-"give me your hand. 1t
may be the last shake for one of us
In this world, so let it be long one
and good one.' Solemnly we shook
hands.
And now, NUNS the word" add
GU DuliSI, Cdlully.
After that we maintained a death
like silence as we crouched there in
that inc-cold and tomb-like hollow,
each busy with his own sombre
thoughts. Occasionally, during thia
terrible death watch, | glanced tow
ards the mouth of the cavern and the
sweet, alluring sunshine beyond. |
thought OF our position and shud-
dered. If our ruse failed, then every
moment was bringing us nearer to
that last awful scene, when the watt
ing monster would be able to enter
the cave in quest of his victim.
Soon-it seemed but five minutes,
yet it must have been at least an
hour-the water rose within the cav
ern sufficiently high to enable the
shark to swim inside. From our
ledges above the surface we scrutin-
lied the sunlit entrance with strain
Ing eyes. Every instant we expected
to see that ominous dorsal fin enter
and cleave the water of the cave, and
thus raise our sensations to the eli
max of horror before ending forever
our nerve raclKing vigil, But 1t came
not And so we commenced to hope
that our trick had been successful;
TO hope with an Intensity that shut
out all other emotions.
Now, IL ever, the moment for
leaving the cavern had come. Yet
| We felt lOath