Page:The History and Travels of Hector Maclean, Late Sailor.pdf/12

 Fellow, a Native of England, and a dexterous Swimmer, was foolih enough to attempt taking up the Enign Staff and Colours along with it, was broke and blown over Board by the Sea Breeze (which was very alutary in that Iland) and were driven to Leeward: we put our Ship about to recover them. He took the Lead Line in his Mouth, bidding the Mate haul in the Line when he would call him; he eized the Staff and Colours by jumping over the Wait under the Lee of the Ship, and then called out, Hawl, hawl; by which calling he let the Line lip our of this Mouth, and the Mate hawled it in, and left him a Stern, and the Ship went A-head. The Captain, who till then knew nothing of this deperate Affair, ordered the Ship to be put about, which before it could be done, we could hardly perceive him from the Tops, but only like a Gul on the Top of the Water; we were only afraid he would be eaten up the Sharkes, for we knew he could keep above till we could come to his Relief; which we indeed affected; but before we got the Boat out, we heaved the ame Rope to him, and by wonderful Providence he was got up jut in the Intant of Time, a Shark was turning on her Back to lay hold of him, and made a Jump at him, and went down with a plunge again, after miing her Prey. The Captain reprimanded him for his Rahnes, and advied him never to be guilty of the like any more.

The Shark is very large, and reckoned the boldet of all Fih; I have heard of one that weighed near ten hundred Weight, and have alo heard of a Fih of this Sort that weighed no les than four