Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

An extraordinary story is told by Captain Wallace, of a lover and his mistress, who were saved in a singular manner from the jaws of a shark.-A transport, with part of a regiment on board, was sailing with a gentle breeze along the coast of Colney; one of the officers was leaning over the poop railing, conversing with a young lady who had inspired him with tender passion. The fair was in the cabin in the act of handing a paper to her lover, when, over reaching herself she fell into the sea, and, supported by her clothes, drifted astern; the officer lost no time in plunging in after her, and upheld her with one arm. The sails were quickly backed, the ship lay to, and preparations were made to lower the boat, when, to the dismay of all on board, a shark appeared under the keel of the vessel, and gliding toward its victims: a shout of terror from the agonized spectators called the attention of the officer to the approaching danger; he saw the monster’s fearful length nearing him; he made a desperate effort, plunged and splashed the water so as to frighten the shark, who turned and dived out of sight. The current had now carried the officer and the lady close to the vessel, when the shark appeared a second time, and was in the act of turning on his back to seize one of the hapless pair, when a private of the officer’s company, who was standing in the hammock nettings, jumped fearlessly overboard, with a bayonet in his hand, which he plunged into the back of the shark, which instantly disappearing, the three were released from their perilous situation.