SHARKS AND SKIPPERS 153 



thus conclusively to their minds set at naught the theory 

 that a shark was responsible, it was absolutely unreasonable 

 to fear sharks generally. Why should they blame a shark 

 when it was established beyond doubt that nothing but a 

 " debil-debil could have killed " Jimmy " ? Their opinion 

 was founded on this invincible array of logic : If a shark 

 had killed "Jimmy," it must have been seen. Nothing 

 was seen, therefore it must have been a " debil-debil." And 

 the incident was accepted as a further and most emphatic 

 proof of the contention that sharks do not "fight" live 

 black boys. The single instance at Princess Charlotte Bay 

 was an exception. 



Our tame sharks seem to have no fear of animals larger 

 even than man. A shallow stretch of water half a mile 

 broad separates the islets of Mung-un-gnackum and 

 Kumboola from Dunk Island. At low-water spring-tides 

 two connecting bands are exposed — a sand-bank and a 

 broad, flat coral reef, between which is a lagoon, in which 

 the water may be 6 or 7 feet deep. The horses of 

 the estate are in the habit of making excursions to 

 Kumboola, the desire for change being manifested so 

 strongly that occasionally they will swim across when the 

 tide is full. One of the horses was returning from an outing 

 when there was a depth of about 3 feet on the sand-bank. 

 As it approached the beach a shark, apparently making out 

 from the lagoon, was seen suddenly to change its course, 

 and follow the horse at a discreet distance. When only 

 50 yards from the beach the shark made an impetuous rush, 

 and snapped at one of the horse's forefeet. The horse 

 swerved, plunged and lashed out vigorously and with such 

 excellent precision that the shark was kicked like a foot- 

 ball out of the water. It appeared to be 5 or 6 feet long, 

 and to be quite satisfied that the horse, like a black, was 

 not to be molested until it was past resistance. The horse 

 bore the marks of the affray on the pastern for weeks. 



Again when a favourite dog jumped overboard from the 

 boat in an eager but ridiculous venture after a " skipper," a 

 shark detected the dog and shadowed it. As we went 



