es, nothing
stopped me--I made light of a leap of a hundred feet. I have run very
fast at times, but I never ran so fast before or since; she, however,
was gaining on me; in a few minutes more she would be up with me. It
was very awful. A high cliff was before me; without hesitation I threw
myself over it; death was preferable to slavery--and such slavery. I
reached the shore in safety, but, horror of horrors! she came after me,
and alighted unhurt on the shore. The ship was at some distance, but I
plunged into the sea to swim on board. I now thought myself safe, for I
had no idea that she could swim, but she could, and after me she came,
blowing like a grampus. It takes my breath away even now to think of
it. I struck out boldly, the water bubbled and hissed as I threw it
aside. I told you I was a good swimmer, but so was she. On she came,
and every instant I expected to feel my foot in her grasp. If a man can
have any reason for being afraid, I surely then had one. We had swam a
mile, and the brig was some way off. I hallooed to my shipmates, but
they did not hear me. Louder and louder grew the blowing of the lady as
she spluttered the salt water from her mouth she was within a few yards
of me, and in another minute I should have been captured, when a dark
object passed close to me--it was my pet shark. There was a loud scream
and a gurgling noise. A dreadful thought occurred to me--it was too
true! I was safe, but the loving Oilyblubbina had been swallowed by the
monster. She must have been a tough morsel, for after his performance
he lay some time on his back utterly unable to move. A revolution had
taken place in my feelings I did not wish her death, I only wanted to
run away from her, and I mourned her untimely fate. I, however,
considered that my lamentations could not restore her to her afflicted
family, so, as soon as the shark had recovered, I placed myself on his
back, and made him convey me alongside my ship. It was time for me to
be off, for as I was throwing my legs across him I saw by the light of
the moon the whole family rushing down the hill to plunge into the sea
after me, and I doubt if he could have swallowed any more of them.

"Thus I was delivered from one of the greatest dangers it has ever been
my lot to encounter. When I got on board, my shipmates welcomed me
warmly, and sincerely congratulated me on my escape. The gale had
abated, and as old Blowhard had been only waiting