The devil fish, even with the loss of two of its arms, was still powerful
enough to make all his efforts futile, and he felt himself being drawn
into some recess beyond where he had first seen the octopus squatting on
the rock and glaring at them with its horrible eyes.

Percival, having found Jack's electric torch and searching the cave below
and above water for a sign of his friend, suddenly saw the devil fish rise
to the ledge where he had first seen it.

Jack was now caught in two of its remaining arms and was being drawn
toward some deep recess whence there would be no rescuing him.

Transferring the light to his left hand, Percival whipped out the revolver
from his hip pocket with his right and took rapid aim.

"I'm afraid it will be like trying to pierce an elephant's hide," he
muttered, "but I'm going to try it for all that."

Luckily he caught sight of the creature's eyes at the moment and took aim
straight for one of them.

Jack was being drawn toward the horrible beak and the sight nearly
unnerved Dick.

Fortunately he had aimed and pressed the trigger before he saw this
ghastly sight.

He fired three or four shots in quick succession and then heard the sound
of a plunge in the water.

Jamming his torch into the clutch of one of the tholepins, he seized the
rifle and shot a quick glance ahead of him.

Jack was not to be seen, but he did see the octopus writhing and waving
its frightful arms on the ledge.

"Where are you, Jack?" he shouted.

"All right!" cried Jack himself, rising just alongside the boat and
holding on to the gunwale with one hand.

"I'll finish that demon before he can do any more mischief!" hissed Dick.

It was Jack falling into the water that had caused the plunge he had heard
and not the return of the octopus to its element.

Now, taking quick but careful aim, Percival fired half a dozen shots from
the repeating rifle he had seized and with deadly effect.

The revolver shots had wounded the octopus, but not fatally, and he might
at any moment plunge into the water and seize Jack.

The heavier caliber weapon did the work.

As Jack climbed into the boat there was a great plunge into the water
which caused the light craft to rock again and the spray to fly.

"That settles him!" gasped Percival, and then he dropped his weapon and
drew Jack into the boat, where he promptly sank limp and helpless under
the thwarts, all his strength having seemingly left him.

"All rig