t at this moment there was another vivid flash from the mountain, and
the praus could be plainly seen, while now the little party by the boat
realised how thoroughly they were in the shadow of the black rocks.

"If there is a blaze like that when we are on the top of the ridge,"
whispered the captain, "we shall be seen."

Not another word was spoken, and for quite a quarter of an hour there
was an ominous silence as they all waited for the talking to begin again
on board the vessels.

But there was not a sound, and it was evident that the crews were
listening, when suddenly Morgan laid his hand upon the captain's arm,
and pointed in the direction of the lagoon about half-way between them
and the praus.

Every one grasped the meaning, and a chill of dread ran through Mark, in
whose mind's eye wavy krisses were flashed and razor-edged spears
darted, for there, plainly enough, as shown by the flashing and
undulating of the luminous creatures of the water, which they knew so
well, two men were swimming ashore, to see what was the cause of the
noise.

"It means fighting," said the captain.

"Why not leave the boat, father, and get aboard the cutter at once?"

"How?" said the captain coldly. "Wade through water five hundred feet
deep?"

Mark felt as if he could have bitten off his tongue, and then his heart
seemed to stand still, for there suddenly arose a shriek from the
lagoon--a shriek that was terrible in its agonising intensity; there was
the sound of splashing, and the water became ablaze with a beautiful
lambent phosphorescent light, while there was an outburst of yelling and
shouting on board the praus, accompanied by tremendous splashing, as if
the water was being beaten with the oars.

"Quick! All together!" said the captain hoarsely. "Now, forward!"

The men were so paralysed with horror as they each for himself pictured
the fearful scene of two Malay sailors swimming ashore, and being
attacked by the sharks, that for a few moments no one stirred. Then
with the hubbub and splashing increasing, and the water being, as it
were, churned up into liquid fire, the sides of the boat were seized,
and it was borne over and among the rocks to the very ridge, and then,
with a feeling of relief that it is impossible to describe, down lower
and lower, with the sounds dying out; while Mark, who was last, felt
that if the horror had been continued much longer, it would have been
greater than he could have borne, a