Big Game at Sea 



the boat filled it was only necessary to keep still and 

 bail her out. 



Bunsby of all the boatmen here was the only one 

 afraid of sharks. I have seen men swimming under 

 the keel of a vessel to examine the copper when ten- 

 foot sharks were not many feet away, and could be 

 caught at any time, while others often plunged from 

 the dock as big sharks were passing in full view, to 

 prove their timidity. Chief claimed that with a knife 

 he would tackle any shark, and doubtless he could, 

 and with success, for a more clever man in the water, 

 or about it, would be difficult to imagine. 



As this paper refers particularly to the pluck and 

 bravery of boatmen, as a class, I must include an 

 incident relating to a boatman named Rogers, who 

 frequently went with me on fishing trips, and was our 

 chef. 



In one of the devastating West Indian hurricanes 

 which swept over this region, a tall building next to 

 our own quarters was blown over, leaving a danger- 

 ous wall standing. It was necessary to attach a rope 

 to the top to haul it over, but it was so evidently dan- 

 gerous that the overseer would not order any of the 

 men to attempt it. While he was discussing it 

 Rogers volunteered; his sailor life stood him well in 

 hand, and as he climbed up the trembling pile the 

 crowd hardly dared to breathe lest they should 

 demoralize him. Up he went, sixty or one hundred 

 feet, and with consummate skill hauled up a cable 



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