A MAN OVERBOARD 



water, breakfast was just over and those of the passengers 

 not actually engaged in the contest were all on deck, some 

 smoking and others interested spectators. 



Suddenly there came from somewhere forward that awe- 

 inspiring cry " Man overboard ! " In an instant there was 

 a rush to the side instinctively the one over which the 

 man had fallen. 



The ship was brought to immediately, but before a 

 boat could be lowered the man gave one long piercing 

 scream, threw up his hands, and disappeared. 



A few moments later the fin of a shark was seen cutting 

 swiftly through the water, but whether this was the beast 

 concerned we could not tell, probably it was not, for there 

 had been hardly time for it to have disposed of its victim, 

 nor were there any blood-stains on the surface of the water. 



The unfortunate man was one of the lascars of the 

 ship, who, while furling an awning, had suddenly lost his 

 balance and fallen overboard, but would, in all probability 

 have been saved, for, like all natives, he could swim like 

 a fish, happier for him had it been otherwise since he would 

 have met with an easier death. 



After this sad incident it was remembered that sharks 

 had been seen following the ship, a fact which by the 

 superstitiously-inclined might tend to confirm the belief, 

 said to have been held by ancient mariners, that when a 

 shark follows a ship it is a sign that before long there will 

 be a death on board ! 



But although this tradition doubtless owes its origin 

 to some coincidental happenings of the kind, it was not 

 really verified in this case, for the Indian Ocean is, as 

 everybody knows, infested with these monsters, and they 

 seem to prefer swimming on the surface to under water. 

 They are, in calm weather, frequently to be seen, and easily 

 distinguished by the peculiar shape of the dorsal fin. That 

 they should follow a ship, moreover, is not at all surprising, 

 considering that a shark is probably the most voracious 

 of all creatures inhabiting sea or land and the amount of 

 offal and edible refuse of all kinds that is constantly being 

 thrown overboard from ships. 



However, be this all as it may, the incident cast a gloom 

 over the ship, for to those who had actually seen the man 



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