to the two old ladies, creating a shout of laughter from all hands. The
squall lasted about half an hour, and was succeeded by a fine night and
a spanking breeze.

[Illustration: HARPOONING A SHARK.]

Another bit of excitement was the harpooning and capture of a shark
which had been following the ship for days. This is always an omen of
ill-luck with sailors, who are very superstitious, believing that a
shark under such circumstances is waiting for a body dead or alive, and
will follow the ship until its desire is appeased. They are always,
therefore, keen to kill a shark when opportunity offers. Fortunately,
for our purpose, a calm came on while the shark was visiting us, and
he kept moving about under the stern in a most friendly manner. The plan
of operations was as follows:--A large junk of pork was made fast to a
rope and suspended from the stern, letting it sink about a foot under
the surface. C----, Smith, and I were in the captain's boat, with three
sailors, under the orders of Lapworth, who had taken his stand
immediately above with a harpoon. The shark came up, nibbling and
smelling at the pork, so close to us in the boat that he almost rubbed
along the side without apparent alarm or taking any notice of our
presence. He was a monster, nearly nine feet in length, and as he came
alongside, his back fin rose some inches above the surface. He did not
seem inclined to seize the pork until Lapworth had it quickly jerked up,
when the brute made a dash at it, half turning as he did so, and at the
same instant received the harpoon through his neck. I recollect the
monster turning over on his back, Lapworth swinging himself over into
the boat, a little organised commotion among the men, and in a few
moments running nooses were passed over head and tail, and he was
hoisted on deck and speedily despatched. The body was cut up and divided