Race With A Man Eater

'Speaking of adventures," said my companion, who had been listening to a number of stories told in the old boat house, "I can relate one that at least at the time seemed exciting enough. I had been traveling around the world, after ; the fashion of Englishmen, and had stopped at the Samoan islands on my way up from Australia to run them over and gain some information regarding the natives, their wa}rs and customs, and as a result I became enamored with the place, chmate and people, and remained there nearly a year. "During that time I made inyself familiar with nearly all the islands of the group, and one in particular had a singular fascination to me. Once ou the hill tops I looked down npon a long beach, upon which beat the flnest surf 1 have ever seen. The waves were simply ! great rollers, which carne in a, slow, dignifled fashion that was most impressive. The men, who had all been there before, ran down the shore, where I soon biiw tnem hauling some planks from the buati, which I learned they had concealed on a f ormer occasion. In short, the waves were used by them to enjoy one of the most exciting sports imaginable, and I was very quickly initiated into it. FASCINATINQ SPORT. "The nieu threw off what little clothing they wore. Then each seizëd a plank and attempted to launch it. This was easier said than done, and many were the upsets that ensued as the big rollers came in, but finally all of them got beyond the 6hore and beyond the point where the waves broke, and then I saw where the sport came in. Turning in shore the men threw theinselves upon the planks, and, watehing their opportunity, steered them so that they held their position on the crest of the roller and came in with it. Once under way the natives skillf uil y raised themselves to their feet, and so standing upright came rushing in. Some were tossed off, others were caught in the breaking wave, while the most skillful and intrepid retained their standing position until they i were literally flung upon the beach. "1 was yonnger in those days than 1 am now, and roou convinced mj'self that I should enjoy this sport as well as thu natives, aud, securing a plank, 1, too. pushed out from the shore. The first wave that strack me nearly drowned me, but I dived iuto the next and my plank beat me in about two minutes. "During that visit 1 did not attain sufficient kill to enable me to take the ride standing, but on subsequent occasions 1 became fairly profloient, and then the sport for a time became a veritable craze with me. 1 interested a number of Englishmen and Americana in it, and we really feil into the habit of getting up wave riding parties. 1 had become so skillful that I rarely missed a wave, and could make my way out with ease and come riding in with perfect equipoise. 1 became so daring that 1 often swam out beyond the rest that -1 might obtain the full torce and exhilaration of the ride, and one day when the sea was particularly high and rolling very heavily 1 met with my adventure. CHASED BY A MONSTER. "There were six of us enjoying the sport, with as many natives. I had a plank especially made for the purpose, wide and stout enongh to bear my entire weight. and by lying upon it I soon forced my way over the incoming rollers and floated in the comparatively smooth water beyond. Here I turned my plank shore ward and waited for a good roller. Every third one was, as a rule, large, and ónally a big, green bodied one came whirling in, shutting out the horizon. As it came I caught it, and as I feit the transferred motion lightly sprang to my feet and steadied myself on the monster that extended u and down the shore and was rushing to its own destruction. ; "On 1 went, shouting gayly to my i companions on the beach. Then I suddenly became aware that something was beside me. 1 gave a side glance and the reality almost made me lose my foothold upon the rushing plank. What I paw was the sharp dorsal fin of a man eating shark cutting along through the water like a knife. The monster was thirteen or more feet long and was partly turned uptoward me, showing the white, gleaining under surface. "What passed through my mind in those few seconds can hardly be iinagined. 1 gave myself up for lost, as I believed the shark would soon rush at the plank, when over 1 would go, an easy victim. I do not know that I have more than ordinary nerve, but it flashed through my mind that possibly the shark was waiting for me to fa 11, and would not make an attack unless 1 did, aud in some unaccountable way I was enabled to retain my self possession. Every second I was gaining: every second brought , the big wave nearer the beach. Now it was on the vez-ge of breaking. Still the shark maintuined its position. Then 1 heard the welcome roar above me, and down it came like an avalanche, scintillating and gleaming, until with one mighty burst the aquatic monster broke. For a single second 1 stood in the gleaming inass, and then was dashed upon the beach safe and sound. "The shark did not come in, which was evidence to me that it had not been overeóme by the rush of the water, but i was simply following me with due re1 gard to its cuisine. I need hardly say , that this was my last experience riding breakers there. Upon inquiry I learned that natives had been attacked by sharks during the sport on several occasions. When I look back upon it and recall the Bensation of rushing onward high on the crest of a big wave I almost wish I could indulge in the sport again, though out the shark