the Eastern Australian coast.

"Keep it up, my lads; pull!" said the captain, who had an oar over the
stern to steer. "We must get back soon."

I thought this was because the shark, which had ceased to swim round and
round, was now laboriously making its way with the current at the rate
of pretty well two miles an hour; but as the captain spoke I could see
that he was scanning the horizon, and I heard the doctor ask if anything
was wrong.

"Looks dirty," he growled; and I remember wondering half-laughingly
whether a good shower would not wash it clean, when the skipper went on:
"Gets one o' them storms now and then 'bout here. Now, my lads; with a
will!"

The water surged and rattled beneath my feet, and I was forgetting my
annoyance and beginning to enjoy the excitement of my ride; and all the
more that the shark had once more stopped in its steady flight, and was
showing its white under parts some fifty yards away.

"Ready, my lad!" cried the captain. "I'll steer you close in. Give it
him deep, and draw back sharp."

I nodded, and held the lance ready poised as we drew nearer and nearer,
and I was ready with set teeth and every nerve tingling to deliver the
thrust, when _whish_! _splash_! the brute gave its tail a tremendous
lash, and darted away, swimming along with its back fin ploughing the
water, and apparently as strong as ever.

"Only his flurry, my lad. Pull away, boys; we'll soon have him now."

The men rowed hard, and the boat danced over the swell, rising up one
slope, gliding down another, or so it seemed to me.

"He'll turn up the white directly," cried the captain. "Take it coolly
and you'll have him. I'll put you close alongside, and don't you miss."

"Not I, sir," I shouted without turning my head, for it seemed such a
very easy task; and away we went once more, getting nearer and nearer,
till the back fin went out of sight, came up again, went out of sight
the other way, and then there was the shining white skin glistening in
the sun.

There was another swirl and the shark made a fresh effort, but this time
it was weaker and the boat gained upon it fast.

"Now, boys, pull hard, and when I say `In oars,' stop, and we'll run
close up without scaring the beggar. Pull--pull--pull--pull! Now! In
oars!"

The men ceased rowing, the boat glided on from the impetus previously
given, and I was just about to deliver a thrust when the wounded
creature saw its enemy, and as if its strengt