SAMPSON OIT SHARKS. 153 



**Der sharks bother us sometimes. Dey comes in wid der 

 tide. T'other day one jest swallowed der bait, hook and all, and 

 towed der boat where he liked. We wouldn't let him go, and 

 der shark couldn't get away. After that my boat hit him with 

 an oar and confused him. We brought him ashore, and had 

 him in a hand-cart, a great big fellow. It was a bonnet-cub 

 shark. We'll kill some when we go fishing, but they'll not let 

 us bring 'em ashore now 'cause of der smell." 



''You call 'em bonnet-cnh sharks — why is that?" 



*'Kause there's something 'bout dar heads that looks like an 

 old fashion ladies' bonnet." 



"Aren't the sharks dangerous, Sampson? Don't they some- 

 times attack men?" 



*' I never see 'em hurt any one. One year arter der war I was a 

 diving for conchs, the water was deep, and I took der first shell I 

 could find. Then I has a way of putting my foot on der bottom 

 and giving a shove to come up. I was finning up, and when I 

 got near my boat, what did I see but a great big bonnet-cub 

 lying there looking at me. He was seventeen feet long. Wasn't 

 I skar'd! He was as long as my boat. Ho looked at me kindei- 

 anxious like. When I got to my boat I rolled in all in a heap, 

 (juicker — you may l^et on that. He just missed me. He 

 'peared disappointed like, wiggled his tail and went off. I've 

 been skar'd ever since. I don't forget his eye and der look he 

 gin me. I never knew dey liad eyes in der outer edge of der 

 heads that way afore." 



" You don't mean to say, Sampson, that you was afraid of a 

 shark?" 



" I mean to say he confused me. I had a heap rather look at 

 'em from der Trident, den to see 'em star at Sampson in der 

 water so wicked, der way he did. " 



*'But do you think if they are not disturbed they will attack 



