112 CRAB, SHRIMP, AND LOBSTER LORE. 



and Oriental Company's sTiip Ava, wrecked a few years 

 ago on the coast of Ceylon. Havinp^, in a gutta-percha 

 dress, made his way into the saloon, he was busily 

 searching for the bullion, when, to his horror, he saw a 

 huge ground shark come sailing in at the door. With 

 great presence of mind he lay motionless on the locker, 

 and watched it silently and quietly cruising about. 

 One can well imagine his feelings when he saw its cold 

 green eyes fixed upon him, and felt it pushing against 

 the leaden soles of his boots, and rubbing against his 

 dress, the slightest puncture in which woidd have been 

 certain destruction. About ten minutes of suspense 

 were thus passed, Avhich must have seemed an age, 

 durinof which the monster came back t"UT.ce or thrice to 

 have another look at him. Mr. Pound's courage and 

 coolness were at length rewarded by seeing him steer- 

 ing his way back as he came. Afterwards, Mr. Pound 

 always armed himself with a dagger when he went 

 down to the 'UTeck, from Avhich he recovered altogether 

 22,000/., having spent some 850 hours under water, 

 lie had also some narrow escapes at times from the 

 opening and shutting of the iron plates of the ship as 

 they worked with the roll of the sea. The air-pipe 

 was twice severed from his helmet, but fortunately, 

 slackening it warned the people above to lose no 

 time in rescuing him from his perilous position." 

 One is almost tempted to envy the cunning, miserly 



