SAMPSON ON 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 donnet-cub 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?” 
“T never see’em hurt anyone. 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 atme. He was seventeen feet long. Wasn’t 
I skar’d! He was as long as my boat. He looked at me kinder 
anxious like. When I got to my boat I rolled in all in a heap, 
quicker—you may bet 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 had eyes in der Shir edge of der 
heads that way afore.” 
“You don’t mean to say, Sampson, that you was afraid of a 
shark?” 
“‘T 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 
