A BRAVE FELLOW.

Temuka Leader, Issue 256, 15 May 1880, Page 2

A BRAVE FELLOW.

Our contemporary the Auckland Herald gives an instance of coolness I and courage rarely met with. It says: i—“Ah ui (i 3.» a.m. on I’neMlay last 1 (May 4th), a son of Captain li. Stevens aged 14. was bathing opposite Frasei and Tinne’s, about 100 yards out from the beach, when Joyner came along with the intention of hatlvng, but aftei wards changed his mind. While stand {iron the beach his attention was attracted to the lad through Ids cries, and he then saw a shark about a yard behind the boy, making attempts to seize him, while the terrified lad was splashing to drive it away. Seeing the boy’s danger, Joyner at once stripped, got a sailor’s clasp-knife from a bystander, and leaping into the sea, swam to the spot he told young Stevens to strike out for shore without fear, as he would settle difficulty with the shark himself. The shark was equally agreeable to the new arrangement, and dived udder Joyner with tlie purpose of attacking him, only to receive a stab in the belly, as ho passed under, tor his troub.e. In the second attempt the shark got the ‘cold steel ’ ch’se behind the shoulder. Altering his tactics, the shark made a flank movement,'with the. purpose o' seizing Joyner in the ribs or abdomen, but throwing out his arms round the forequarters he jobbed the shark in the eye with the knife sending it home to the hilt. The shark sheered off, earning the knife away with him as a souvenier of the little difficulty. Joyner swam ashore, and was subsequently thanked and .rewarded by the greatful father of rhelad, Theß oyal Humane Society’s im-dal might very fitly be awarded in s; ch a case, as there is little doubt that yonn>- Sevens owes bis life to Joyner’s gallantry and coinage. There are scor s ofuu n who would leap into the sea t-> rescue anyone from drowning who would think twice before venturing in tobelibirately encounter a shark.