reak."

"I wonder it has not parted before now," cried the mate. "It is of
wonderfully good quality, and stretches like india-rubber. Hah! he's
coming up now. Will you take the boat-hook and give him a prod, doctor,
if he is disposed to show fight?"

"Well, yes, unless you would like to, Jack."

"Yes, I should like to," said the lad, with a couple of red spots
appearing in his cheeks; and he bent down, picked up the light
boat-hook, and stood with one foot upon the thwart, holding the
implement as if it were a lance.

"Bravo! Mr Jack," whispered Edward. "See him plainly?" said the mate.
"Yes, very clearly now. It is not above six feet down, a great long
black creature. Would it be a shark?"

"Oh yes, that's a shark, sure enough," said the mate. "I saw him
plainly enough when he took your fish. But you had better watch him,
for at any moment the line may give way."

Another pull or two resulted in the great fish being brought so close to
the surface that its back fin showed from time to time.

"Aren't we quite near enough?" said the doctor in a low tone to the
mate; "it's a big, dangerous-looking creature."

"The line will go at the first struggle it makes," replied the mate,
"and there is no danger. A splashing is the worst thing that can
happen. Let him do as he likes."

"What's the matter? What are you whispering about?"

"I was just thinking of cutting loose," said the doctor, taking out a
knife.

"No, no; let it be," cried Jack. "Look here; we are nearly over it, and
you can see how it tows us along by just gently waving its tail. Pull,
Mr Bartlett; both of you pull."

_Bang_!

At the fresh tightening of the line, which drew the bows of the boat
partly over the fish, there was a tremendous blow delivered on the side,
accompanied by a shower of spray, a violent ebullition which rocked them
to and fro. Then the line hung slack, and the last fathom was drawn on
board by the sailor, while the mate went down on his knees and examined
the slight planking of the boat to make sure that it was not stove in.

"Oh!" groaned Edward; "look at that!"

"Any damage, Bartlett?" said the doctor hastily.

"No; but I was a little startled. What enormous power these creatures
have in their tails!"

Jack laid down the boat-hook, looking rather serious.

"What would have happened," he said, "if the shark had made a hole in
the boat?"

"All depends on the size," said the mate, laughing. "If it had