The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1907-04-26

mained at the entrance, baskihg in
the warm sunshine.
Except for a few sea birds that
whirled In giddy fight far above me
in the clear blue heavens. not a liv-
ing thing gave signs OF it's existence.
The transparent waters OF the mighty
Pacific, with the suns rays dancing
on the tiny waves, Tapped melo1ious-
ly at my feet. Farther seaward, and
as far as the eye could reach, the
solemn, stupendous grandeur OF the
ocean lulled ones senses into be-
nign forgetfulness One felt ones
helplessness, ones utter insignifi-
canoe
But bark What was that strange
swishing sound that broke the 81
lence? II was quite close 20 me
beside me Horrors / sprang TO
| my feet with q sharp exclamation,
for there not dozen feet away, was
a tall. triangular Gn-the dorsal fin
OF a huge shark,
A cry from me brought Or. Butler
! quickly 10 my side. Great heav-
ems cried he. visibly affected, as
he gazed upon the hideous creature.
What a bloodthirsty brute he looks,
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 I'm silence and in silence | re-
turned his scrutiny. Each knew only
too we'll 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 If 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,
i'm preference 90 such a horrible
death, stay indefinitely in the c-vern,
even 20 the point Of dying Of starya-
ton? Unfortunately for us. how
|
knew, from the marks on the rocks.
that when the tide rose the shark
would be able TO invade the cavern,
30; as surely as the waters ebbed
and flowed. a certain and horrible
death awaited one or other Of us
Not a 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-
puisiyeness the vanguard Of death
Once he tilted himself slightly. and
by so doing showed us his horrid
grey eyes and his more horrid mouth
"A mouth that bristled with many
rows or teeth. The great brute
seemed to root us TO the spot with a
fascination of horror, for time passed
and We knew it not. How long we
remained staring at the creature |
cannot say. but when we woke from
our terror induced stupor our feet
were being layed by the incoming
tide
Bailey" cried Or. 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 /, 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.
/ can suggest nothing better. What
, do you think about it,"
/ Il guess well try it. said I, with
r a little hope stealing back to me.
Right; now let us take seats OF
| these ledges"
( Doctor" said I, a moment after
} wards. don't You think YOU had bet
, ter take your injured foot out of tn,
/ water?" BY this time a few inche,
: of water covered the entire floor o
= the cavern. Il notice il still bleed
! a little, and no doubt the shark vii
b. stay as long as he scents the blood
y Try that ledge higher up"
n How thoughtless OF me-" erie,
= Butler. changing his seat AN,
o now, Bailey, old frieud"--hiS voic
grew sraye-"giye me your hand. |
may be the last shake for one OF u
y in this world SO let IL lie a long on
r and a good one. Solemnly.we shoo
l. hands.
# And now, NUNS tho word" add
d ed Butler, calmly.
e After that We maintained a death
s. like silence as We crouched there 1
a that inc-cold and tomb-like hollow
Ie each busy with his own sombr
Is thoughts. Occasionally. during thi
e terrible death watch. | glanced tow
TX ards the mouth of the cavern and tn
| ~ u.