2 TO GUN, RIFLE, AND HOUND. 



were paid out till the baits were floating many yards 

 from the ship, and we sat down to wait. 



In about twenty minutes a black fin appeared 

 moving to and fro near one bait, but rather shyly. The 

 harpooner, who had brought his weapon, the beam of 

 which was a huge pole, commenced by pulling in the 

 second bait. Then the other was drawn in very 

 slowly, the shark following. At last it was right under 

 the counter. The shark seemed unwillingly to close 

 with it and we began to think we must fire. At last 

 he made up his mind, and dashing in, turned up his 

 white belly to seize the bait. 



At that moment the black raised his harpoon, 

 drawing up his figure to its height. He looked like a 

 statue in ebony. The harpoon sped true, and R 

 and I emptied our rifles into the shark, which plunged 

 violently and made off, taking out yards of the line. 

 The lightship man, harpooner, and our boatmen all 

 "tailed on" to the rope, but still they had to give 



ground. Meanwhile R and I fired whenever we 



could get a clear shot. At last the struggles got 

 weaker, and the line began to come in foot by foot. 

 When the shark was right under the counter a couple 

 of bullets in the head finished him. A noose was 

 thrown over his tail, and he was drawn up to the 

 gangway. He was between eight and nine feet long. 

 The harpooner cut out his weapon, the baits were let 

 out again, and we sat down to lunch. 



The view from the lightship is very fine, the 

 mountains all around being of the most rugged and 

 curious shapes, while highest of all rises the extra- 



