Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1909-1915, 1910-07-15
rutllful George {!
!. ~ a By OLD SALTY /

=
senger who would swallow the tough.
est story, and believe it as readily sas
gospel truth. Z i was at the wheel one
day as; the vessel was approaching 81.
mons bay, near the Cape of Good
Hope, when the inquisitive gentleman
spoke to me. Of three or four sharks
which had been following the ship
for 48 hours. = The crew had noticed
the pursuit Of those monsters of the
deep, and among the tars it had been
theme Of general discussion since
the moment of their appearance in our
wake. IF The passenger asked me ssif
there were any sharks in Simon's bay.
mo, not now" answered.; there
have been very few since the sailors
began shooting them for their hides
and tallow." n
"Ah! then there used to be lots ESof
them some time ago?'"' he asked. n
II don't want to talk about them,
stranger" I answered, because you
might think I was lying; and that is
something Truthful George never does.
can cheat at cards, drink rum, and
play mischievous tricks, but I can't
ue."
This remark put keen edge on the
passengers curiosity, and again he
asked If sharks were ever numerous
in the bay. ..
IT am almost afraid to tell you the
exact TRUTH" said, "but from the
forecastle-deck once counted 1897
sharks, and then I missed lot more
that were in sight"
IT don't doubt It," remarked the pas
senger. -..,
"And strange as it may appear, I
have counted 1s7,43O sharks on one
sand-bar. It sounds big to tell, but
assure you It is true. am certain
because we had b government sur
yeyor on board, and called them off
while he checked them. Fact, I assure
you! I hope you don't think I am
lying?"
So "'Oh, no; not at all. might have
doubted the assertion until you men.
toned the surveyor; but with him az
eorroboratiye proof must believe"
"'Ah. am glad of that" continued;
"some fellows might think was
stretching the truth. This bay used to
be paradise for sharks. I have seen
them so thick that have often walked
half a mile from the SHIPS side to
shore on their fms -..s. >.,.,..
= rs that so?" said the inquisitive
gentleman.
"True as preaching. AS I stepped
Ron the poor brutes I could not but
1 feel sorry for Them They would CRY
out like lambs rubbing their tails up
and down my back. Our; cable-chain
gave way one day, and the best bower
t anchor fell on q, lot Of sharks, killing
| nine and wounding The captain
| was very CONT passionate man, and he
+ ordered me: to throw overheard II
BOTTLES Of Imminent and II healing
/ plasters." 'itI,@. 49, - - '- .,,~..&
Nov, hat was very kind. of the
captain" said the passenger approx.
ingly ..:;> azSh;>3
.,"'Ah, our captain always was good
| man. I don't expect to ever see his
equal From that time the sharks got
to recognize the Mary Ann, and to
know Capt. Block. They used to be
on the lookout for her, and when they
saw. her entering the bay they, would
swim up TO- her, rub their tails against
the ships side, and purr like cats,
looking up toward the deck, and nod
ding their heads and winking their
4 eyes at us" @'': .'&& 3 g ii
=: "They would eh?" and the passen.
ger opened his eyes in wonder.
"Fact, L assure you! One day, dur
ing dead calm, the mate ordered me
to get the shark-hook and 60 fathoms
Of chain, He put a 12-pound chunk
of pork on the hook, and threw it over.
T board. The sharks understood what
we wanted; they seized the chain and
lowed the ship S2h miles up. the bay,
completing the distance in just two
hours, nineteen minutes and fourteen
and, q; quarter seconds. It Seems an
extravagant story; but ] never told q
lie, and I never shall. I wouldn't tell
q flb for all the money YOU could put
aboard Ship 3S&$$Ef.[32sa:>E LIT g.
-, There was an embarrassing silence
and after while I resumed:
During u heavy storm we lost our
masts and yards. The captain ordered
me 70 get ready -four shark-ho oks and
! 400 fathons Of chain We threw them
over the side, the sharks took hold,
and towed the vessel from Calcutta
70 Madras, . distancexof 800 miles.
| IN four days.: two hours and six min
uees.'' S ss
nThey did, chr" exclaimed the old
lgentlemar. ondeFfuls -. /:
"some years afterward, when the
news reached simon's bay that Capt.
Block was dead, an the sharks IN the
vicinity daubed their backs with mud
id q badge OF mourning for him, and
lots Of them fretted themselves 70
death. !" Ssl
Els It possible r u. s: is /: 81
Fact! True as gospel. MY name
is Truthful George, and ! never tell .
He" s5s5ss 55.;.5 ~
Seed Of. the Guava Plant.