AN EXCITING EVENT. 317 



wild scene. " I remember once observing Jacko," says 

 the captain,* "running backwards and forwards along 

 the after-part of the poop hammock-netting, grinning, 

 screaming, and chattering at such a rate, that, as it was 

 nearly calm, he was heard all over the decks. 



" i What's the matter with you, Master Mona ? ' said 

 the quarter-master. Jacko replied not, but merely stretch- 

 ing his head over the railing, stared with his eyes almost 

 bursting from his head, and by the intensity of his grin 

 bared his teeth and gums nearly from ear to ear. 



" The sharp curved dorsal fin of a huge shark was now 

 seen rising about six inches above the water, and cutting 

 the glazed surface of the sea by as fine a line as if a sickle 

 had been drawn along. 



" ' Messenger, run to the cook for a piece of pork,' cried 

 the captain, taking command with as much glee as if it 

 had been an enemy's cruiser he was about to engage. 



" i Where's your hook, quarter-master 1 ' 



" l Here, sir, here ! ' cried the fellow, feeling the point, 

 and declaring it as sharp as any lady's needle, and in the 

 next instant piercing with it a huge junk of rusty pork, 

 weighing four or five pounds ; for nothing, scarcely, is 

 too large or two high in flavour for the stomach of a 

 shark." 



The hook used on these occasions is generally about 

 as thick as one's little finger, has a curvature about as 

 large as that of a man's hand when half-closed, and 

 measures from six to eight inches in length, with a 

 formidable barb. To this potent grappling-hook three or 

 four feet of chain are attached, a precaution which is 



* Captain Basil Hall, "Fragments of Voyages and Travels," Second Series, 

 i , 206-270. 



