It seemed as though the swimmer were doomed, and a gasp of horror went up
from the spectators as they saw that the boat would be too late.

For now the fin had disappeared, and they saw a hideous shape take form as
the monster came into plain sight, a foot beneath the surface, and turned
over upon its back to seize its prey.

Then Joe took a chance--a long chance, a desperate chance, an almost
hopeless chance--and yet, a chance.

With all the force of his powerful arm he sent the jagged piece of iron
hurtling at the fiendish open jaws.

And the chance became a certainty.

The missile crashed into the monster's nose, its most sensitive point. The
brute was so near the surface that the thin sheet of water was no
protection.

The effect was startling. There was a tremendous plunging and leaping that
lashed the waters into foam, and then the crippled monster sank slowly
into the ocean depths.

The next instant the ship's boat had reached the castaway, and strong arms
pulled him aboard, where he sank panting and exhausted across a thwart.

It had all happened with the speed of light. There was a moment of stunned
surprise, a gasp from the crowd, and then a roar went up that swelled into
a deafening thunder of applause.

Joe had reversed the baseball rule of "three strikes and out." This time
it was just one strike--and the shark was out!

CHAPTER XIX

BRAXTON JOINS THE PARTY

The passengers crowded around Joe in wild delight and exhilaration,
reaching for his hand, pounding him on the back, vociferous in their
praise and congratulations, until he was almost ready to pray to be
rescued from his friends.

Mabel, starry-eyed, slipped a hand within his arm and the pressure was
eloquent. Jim almost wrenched his arm from the shoulder, and Clara hugged
her brother openly.

Naturally, Joe's great feat appealed especially to the baseball players of
the party. They felt that he had honored the craft to which they belonged.
He had justified his reputation as the star pitcher of the country, and
they felt that they shared in the reflected glory.

"Great Scott, Joe!" beamed Larry. "You put it all over his sharklet that
time."

"Straight over the plate!" chuckled Burkett.

"Against the rules, though," grinned Denton. "You know that the 'bean
ball' is barred."

The rescued man had now been brought on board. He had been too excited and
confused to understand how he had been snatched from the jaws of
death--