d.

But the shark seemed to understand the trap laid for him and refused to
fall in with their plans. He resorted again to fierce lunging and
diving, but did not again approach the boat.

"He's laughing at you," jibed Teddy.

"I don't think he feels like laughing at anything just now," replied
Fred, as he rose to his feet. "But he's evidently given up the idea of
dashing his brains out against the boat."

"He'll be tired out before long," judged Lester, "and then I'll give you
a chance to see what an expert I am at throwing a harpoon."

It was clear that the sea pirate was exhausting his strength in his
futile struggles. His long career of cruelty and rapine was rapidly
coming to an end.

"I think I have a chance now," said Lester, after a few minutes more had
passed. "You take the tiller, Teddy, while Bill and Fred haul him in."

But this was not an easy task. Fred and Bill strained until they felt as
though their arms were being pulled out of their sockets. But the shark
still had enough strength left to make them pay dearly for every inch
they gained.

But they were gaining, nevertheless. They wound the slack around a cleat
as they pulled it in, so as not to lose what they had once won. Lester
joined them after he had got the harpoon ready to throw, and with this
reinforcement they soon had the shark within three feet of the stern of
the boat.

"That's near enough," said Lester, rising to his feet and grasping the
harpoon. "Now hold fast while I throw."

He took careful aim, poised himself so as to get his full force into the
cast and let his weapon go. It hissed through the air straight at its
quarry. But the shark lunged aside, and the harpoon clove the water
three inches to the right.

"Good shot, old scout!" cried Fred, as Lester, a little chagrined at the
miss, drew the dripping harpoon in over the side. "It wasn't your fault
that you didn't get him. It was going at him straight as an arrow when
he dodged."

"I'll get him yet," muttered Lester to himself, as he straightened up
for another effort.

He took his time in aiming and summoned up all his strength. Then he
threw.

The sharp point caught the shark a little behind the head and went clear
through his body. It must have struck a vital point for the monster gave
one convulsive leap and fell back in its death flurry, lashing the water
into yeast. Then it turned part way over and remained motionless, the
leverage of the shaft preventing it f