The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-01-31

the surface, and disposed to let other
finny inhabitants of the deep alone If
they do not moliest IT, But when in
search Of food or when its anger is
aroused by an attack it is capable OF
executing some pretty rapid ana
long sustained motions.
With movement so swift that the
eye could barely follow It through the
water the giant swordhsh dashed to-
ward the shark with its powerful
lance aimed for the others yitals. But
sharks are quick acting fish, too, and
the big man eater thrown suddenly on
the defensive lodged and completely
turned over.
The sword struck il slanting blow
on the side and ripped surface
wound a yard long. At the same mo
ment the jaws of the shark snapped
viciously, and another portion Of the
lacerated tail was shipped off.
The two combatants remained thus
for ten seconds facing each other
and waiting for the next round. The
sailors. forgetting their own danger
watched the two fighters with fascin-
ated gaze.
Once more the swordfish began the
attack. With incredible swiftness
it turned and darted away, as if
disgusted with the fight, and then
swung around and came for the shark
at the speed of a railroad train.
Tho cbayly Bpau, that ,tyag ppuar-
less to avoid that terrible sword ex-
cept by lodging. When the sword
fish was within a yard of it the man
eater sprang upward and tried to es-
cape the deadly weapon. Fully two
feet out of the water the shark
leaped.
But once more the sword raked its
side, cutting and tearing through skin
and flesh until the blood poured
forth in a stream. This second wound
brought all the fighting blood CT the
shark to the surface.
Taking advantage of the muddled
water created by the commotion, it
plunged downward to a great depth.
and then sprang upward with the
huge jaws extended. The swordfish
lost sight of it for an instant, and
barely escaped being cut in two as
the double row of teeth closed.
There was another swift and dex-
ferrous move on the part of the sword
fish to escape But this time the teeth
grazed its side and ripped piece of
skin from it,
The shark, taking advantage of the
situation, made a frantic close quar-
ter attack. 1t snapped and lunged
viciously, missing the swordfish each
time by only fraction of an inch.
The latter lodged and leaped side
ways to escape the cruel jaws.
The fight was so fierce that neither
combatant could keep up the pace
for long AT one moment the two big
creatures foundered around on the
surface of the water, and the next
dropped entirely out of sight, but the
foaming water rising to the surface
showed that there was nB letup in the
struggle.
Suddenly the swordfish swept to-
ward the boat, as # it intended to
plunge straight through it, but it dip
ped at the critical moment and dis
appeared under it. Close behind it the
shark came, and followed beneath the
boat.
But it was less accurate in its move
ments, and it's body struck the bot
tom of the boat resounding whack
Temporarily disconnected by this ac-
cident the shark turned to snap
angrily at the thing that had struck
its head,
That interruption, short as it was,
gave the swordfish the time to gain
on its pursuer. When it reappear-
ed on the opposite side of the boat
1t swerved sharply and darted away
to a safe distance.
1t was out Of harms way now, for
in a test of speed and endurance the
shark could not hope to win Once
more the watchers expected to see the
combat terminate by the retreat Of
the discounted swordfish.
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