The Mena weekly star., 1910-04-07
Truthful George
 By OLD SALTY

'ne snip Mary Ann, an East In. dlaman, we had very inquisitive mas. senger who would swallow the tough est story, and believe it as readily as gospel truth. l was at the wheel ono uay as the vessel was approaching Si. mons bay, near the Cape of Good Hope, when the inquisitive gentleman spoke to me of three or tour sharks which had been following the shin TOT Az hours. The crew had noticed .he pursuit of those monsters of the ueep' and among the tars it had been theme of general discussion since the moment of their appearance in our wake. The passenger asked me if there were any sharks in Simon's bay.
 No, not now" I answered. "there nave been very few since the sailors began shooting them for their hides and tallow."
 An! then there used to be lots of them some time ago?" he askeS.
 T don't want to talk about them. stranger I answered, because you might think was lying; and that is something Truthful George never does. ! can cheat at cards drink rum, and play mischievous tricks, but can't lie"
 This remark put keen edge on the passengers curiosity, and again he asked if sharks were ever numerous in the bay.
 T am almost afraid to tell you the exact truth" I said. but from the forec1stledeck I once counted 1897 sharks, and then I missed lot more that were in sight"
 "l don't doubt it." remarked the pas. senger.
 And strange as it may appear. lave counted 1S7.430 sharks on one and-bar. It sounds big to tell but assure you it Is true I am certain because we had q government sur. veyor on board, and called them of while he checked them. Fact, I assure you! hope you don't think I am lying?"
 "Oh, no; not at all. I might have doubted the assertion until you men toned the surveyor; but with him as corroborative proof I must believe
 "Ah. an glad of that" continued, some fellows might think was stretching the truth This bay used to oe paradise for sharks. 1 have seen hem so thick that have often walked half mile from the ships side to shore on their fins"
 ''Is that so?' said the inquisitive gentleman.
 True as preaching. As I stepped on the poor brutes I could not but 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 anchor fell on lot of sharks, killing nine and wounding IT. The captain was very compassionate man, and he ordered me to throw overheard IT bottles of liniment and IT healing plasters."
 Now. that was very kind of the captain" said the passenger approv- ingly
 "Ah, our captain always was a good man. l 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 eyes at us."
 "They would, eh?H and the passen. ger opened his eyes in wonder.
 Fact, assure you, One day, dur ing dead calm, the mate ordered me to get the shark hook and 60 fathoms of chain He put 12-pound chunk of pork on the hook, and threw 1t over board The sharks understood what we wanted: they seized the chain and lowed the ship S21s miles up the bay, completing the distance in just two hours. nineteen minutes and fourteen and a quarter seconds. It seems an extravagant story; but never told lie. and never shall. l wouldn't tell A f,b for all the money you could put aboard ship"
 There was an embarrassing silence and after while resumed:
 During a heavy storm we lost our masts and yards. The captain ordered me to get ready four shark-hooks and Aol fathoms of chain. We threw them over the side, the sharks took hold, and lowed the vessel from Calcutta to Madras. a distance of 500 miles, in four days, two hours and six min utes."
 "They did eh?" exclaimed the old gentleman. "Wonderful!"
 "some years afterward, when the news reached simon's bay that Capt. BIcck was dead, all the sharks in the vicinity daubed their backs with mud as a badge of mourning for him, and lots of them fretted themselves to death"
 "Is it possible?"
 oFact, True as gospel My name ,s Truthful George, and never tell lie"