160 THE BOTTOM OF THE SKA. 



hand struggles (if one may use the expression) be- 

 tween heroic men and their terrible adversary. An 

 English merchant-vessel having arrived at Bar- 

 badoes, many of the sailors threw themselves into 

 the sea to take a bath. An enormous shark advanced 

 towards them ; every one endeavoured to reach the 

 ship's boat sent to their aid. At the instant when he 

 was about to escape from the water, one of these 

 poor fellows was bitten in two by the monster. The 

 friend of this unfortunate man was lashed into fury, 

 and, seeing that the shark was looking about in the 

 bloody water for the remains of his victim, the brave 

 young fellow sprang into the sea, resolved to perish 

 as his friend had done, or make the monster pay for 

 his audacity with his life. In a moment the shark 

 made a dash at the intrepid sailor, and now he was 

 close upon him. Already he had turned himself over 

 on his side, and opened his immense jaws. 



With his left hand the sailor gripped hold of the 

 shark under his pectoral fin, and with his right hand, 

 in which he held a sharp poniard, he struck him 

 blow redoubled upon blow. It was in vain the shark 

 endeavoured to disembarrass hin s(4f of his enemy ; 

 the sea was dyed with his blood, and yet the sailor's 

 arm never seemed to tire of repeating the blows. The 

 men in the boats belonging to the various ships 

 moored in the road awaited with anguish the end oi 



