ly; "but the shark has put an embargo on it now at any
rate."

"I'm afraid it just has," observed Mr Marline, to whom Captain Miles
had really been speaking when the old carpenter overheard him. "You
can't expect any sensible man to dive into the water when such a nasty
sort of neighbour is close at hand. I wouldn't like to venture, for
one, I confess; and I don't think I'm a very great coward."

"No, Marline, no; I'll answer for that," replied the captain warmly.
"Your worst enemy wouldn't accuse you of any want of pluck, and really I
should not' care about undertaking the job either, for that matter."

Jake, though, wanted to make another effort to recover the axe, his
courage rising with the emergency, especially as he could notice how
disappointed we all were.

"Me nebber mind shark," he cried, drawing out a long clasp-knife which
he carried in his belt, and opening the blade, which he now brandished
about in a most ferocious way, showing how he would make mincemeat of
the sea-pirate if it attacked him. "I'se not 'fraid ob him one lilly
bit. I tell you wat, I'se gib him goss if um kick up any bobbery wid
me!"

So saying, he was preparing to plunge again into the water, when Captain
Miles ordered him to refrain, having to repeat his command twice before
the brave fellow would stop from making the venture.

"No, Jake," said the captain, "I can't allow you to risk your life in
such a foolhardy way for what may be only a wild-goose chase. Wait
awhile and see if the brute is going to remain here. Perhaps, too,
there may be some more of his comrades about; they generally hunt in
couples in stormy weather."

"All right, massa, me wait an' see," responded Jake submissively,
sitting down on the bulwarks again; and then, we all watched the shark
to see what he would do, and whether, as the captain had suggested,
there were any more of his species about, coming up to help him in
keeping us prisoners.

Unfortunately, Captain Miles's fears proved but too well founded. Very
shortly afterwards, no less than three other sharks appeared, hovering
about the stern of the ship and swimming immediately under the counter,
where we were clustered together, as if keeping guard over us. The one
that had pursued Jake took up his station within the interior part of
the submerged vessel, patrolling backwards and forwards in the water
that covered the deck of the poop up to the mizzen-mast. This fellow,
the first in the field