is place as he strained his eyes to watch for
the shark, and the next minute he saw its white under-part as it turned
on one side to make a snap at the dummy, now close astern; but at the
same moment the mate darted the keen-bladed harpoon downward with so
true an aim that he buried it deeply in the shark's sleek side. There
was a tremendous swirl in the water as the dummy was dragged aboard; the
rings of rope curled over the side, and others began to run out of the
tub at a rapid rate, while the mate took a big leather glove out of his
pocket and put it on.

"This is three times as big as the one that towed us before," he said
quietly; "but we're better prepared this time."

"What are you going to do when the line's all out?" cried Jack
excitedly. "Look! it will soon be gone."

"I'll show you," said the mate, and taking hold of a piece of the rope
secured to a couple of hooks in the outside of the tub, he cast it
loose, hauled a few yards out, and secured the end of the line to a
ring-bolt astern. Then, raising his foot, he pressed it on the line
where it ran over the boat's edge, slowly increasing the pressure so as
to make his boot act as a brake, with the result that the boat began to
follow the shark, at first slowly, then faster, and at last, when the
line was all out, quite rapidly, farther and farther from the yacht.

"Not a wise shark this," said the mate. "He is going against the tide.
Make it all the better, though, for us. Does not disturb the water
where the rest are."

The shark took them for some distance, but at last began to show signs
of being tired, and then made a curve round toward the sands, but,
finding the water too shallow, made a tremendous leap right out, and
came down with a heavy splash, to begin swimming back nearly over the
same ground. "Cannot be better, eh?" said the doctor. "It's splendid!"
cried Jack.

"Haul upon him now, my lads," said the mate. "Take the tub forward."

This was done, the tub placed right in the bows, and as two men hauled,
another laid the line back in rings, till, about a couple of hundred
yards above the sunken canoe, the motion in the water, and the
occasional appearance of the harpoon pole and shark's back fin, showed
that the end was getting near.

"Now, gentlemen, it's your turn," said the mate. "I'll get out of your
way. Hold your lances ready; wait till you get a good chance, and then
thrust hard just behind the head. Into the white if you