e noise of the shouts reached our ears faintly, and I saw one of the
men picked up by the last canoe, and the other three were literally
hunted by the schooner's boat, diving like ducks and trying every feat
they could think of to avoid capture; but oars beat hands in the water,
and I saw two of the fugitives struck on the head by a fellow in the
bows of the boat, and then they were dragged over the side.

There was one more savage in the water, and he swam rapidly and well,
besides which, he had gained some distance during the time taken up in
capturing his fellows. As he had changed his direction somewhat I had a
better view of the chase, and I felt horrified to see how rapidly the
boat gained upon him till it was so near that it could be only a matter
of minutes before he would be worn out and treated in the same way as
his unfortunate fellows.

At last the boat overtook the poor wretch, but he dived down and it
passed over him, the blow struck at his head merely making a splash in
the water, when up he came, his black head just showing above the
surface, and he struggled in another direction for his liberty.

To add to the excitement of the scene the sandy shore about the huts was
lined with savages, who were rushing about in a tremendous state of
excitement, shaking their spears and yelling, but showing plainly that
they were a very cowardly race, for not one of them made an effort to
launch a canoe and try to save his brother in distress.

There could be but one end to this cruel tragedy, so I thought; but I
was wrong. Again and again the boat overtook the poor fellow, but he
dived and escaped even though blows were struck at him with a boat-hook;
but it was evident that he was growing weaker, and that he stayed below
a shorter time.

All at once, as if the men had become furious at the length of the
chase, I saw the boat rowed rapidly down upon him; but the savage dived
once more, evidently went right under the boat, and came up full thirty
yards astern, swimming now straight for the shore.

Then all at once I saw him throw up his arms and disappear, as if he had
been snatched under.

"Out of his misery," said a deep voice beside me; and turning I found
that the captain had been watching the scene through his long glass.

"What do you mean?" I said.

"Sharks took him down, poor chap," said the captain. "Sharks is
ignorant, or they would have grabbed the white fellows instead."

As I still watched t