n of the sunken canoe.

"Stop," cried Jack before they had gone fifty yards.

"What is it?" cried the doctor. "Captain Bradleigh said that he would
have a kind of bait made to attract the sharks."

"Here it is, Mr Jack, sir," cried Ned from the bows. "I'm sitting on
it."

Curious to see what it was like, Jack went forward, the men laughingly
making way for him to pass as they tugged against rather a swift
current, for the tide was setting toward the opening in the reef; and
the next minute he was examining a nondescript affair made of two ship's
fenders--the great balls of hempen network used to prevent injury to a
vessel's sides when lying in dock or going up to a wharf or pier. These
were placed, one inside an old pea-jacket, the other in a pair of
oilskin trousers, and all well lashed together so as to have some
semblance to the body of a man.

"But a shark will never be stupid enough to bite at that," said Jack
contemptuously.

"Oh yes, he will, sir," said the black-bearded sailor, grinning. "The
cook's put a bit of salt pork, beef, and old grease inside. They'll
smell that soon enough."

It was soon put to the proof, for the boat was steered by the mate well
beyond the sunken canoe. The men kept near there by clipping their
oars, and then Jack and the doctor were each furnished with a lance, and
the mate took the harpoon and attached it to the line in the tub.

"Would either of you gentlemen like to have first try?"

"No, no, I want to learn," said the doctor. "What do you say, Jack?"

"No, thank you," said the lad merrily; "I should be harpooning one of
the men."

"Not unlikely," said the mate, smiling. "Don't lift your lances till
they are wanted, and then handle them carefully. I don't say though
that I shall strike a fish," he continued, as he rose in his place and
stood ready, with one foot on the side. "Now then, Lenny, overboard
with the dummy, and make a good splash. Give it plenty of line, and let
it sail by the canoe; then bring it back toward me; and you, my lads,
try and give me a chance by backing water gently. Ready?"

"Ay, ay, sir."

"Over she goes then."

_Splash_! went the awkward-looking bundle the next moment, and began to
float toward the stern of the canoe, beneath which the sharks had lain
that morning, but were too far off now to be visible.

"I say, this is exciting, Jack," cried the doctor, rubbing his hands.
"I hope they'll bite. Pike-fishing's nothing to it