dismay by a startled cry from Jake, who was standing up in
the weather rigging near me.

"Golly, Mass' Tom!" he yelled out, loud enough for all to hear him, his
black face changing nearly to a sickly sea-green colour with horror and
consternation. "Dere's one big shark swimmin' right ahind de poor
buckra. O Lor', O Lor', he jus' up to him now!"

At this time the ship was not quite a cable's length from the
unfortunate man, who was about a point off our port bow; while the gig
couldn't have been half that distance away from him; and, no sooner had
Jake's startling announcement of the shark's proximity alarmed us all at
the new and terrible peril threatening the swimmer, than the crew, led
by Captain Miles, shouted out a concentrated cry of warning. "Ahoy!
Look out! Shark!"

The words came out almost simultaneously, as it uttered by one voice,
thrilling through the air with their fearful meaning, when, hardly had
the sounds died away than we could see that Mr Marline and those in the
gig with him heard us; for, recognising the urgency of the case, they
redoubled their exertions to reach Jackson in time, so as to frustrate
the intentions of his terrible antagonist. They seemed to put fresh
steam in their oars, pulling all they knew against the choppy sea and
wind, both of which were against them, counteracting their efforts and
pressing the boat back as they urged it forwards.

From the fact, however, of our being to leeward of him and the wind
bearing our shout away, Jackson unfortunately did not appear to hear us.
At all events, he made no sign in response whatever, still swimming
onwards in the direction of the ship, but leisurely, as if ignorant of
any new source of danger.

Captain Miles grew intensely excited, as, indeed, we all were by this
time; so, jumping up on the poop bulwarks and holding on to the mizzen
shrouds, he repeated the cry of warning, all hands taking it up as
before in one hoarse shout.

"Shark! shark! Look out, man alive! He's now close in upon you, and
coming up fast astern!"

This time Jackson caught our hail, but still, evidently mistook its
import. He thought we only called to him by way of encouraging him to
strike out more vigourously for the ship, and he waved his hand in
acknowledgment of the signal; then he breasted the waves anew in fine
style, although taking it quite easy as if thoroughly confident in
himself and not a bit alarmed.

The reason he made for the _Josephin