n, when the report followed, and the hissing of a ball
was heard. Almost on the instant the little craft received a terrible
shock; and, in the midst of a cloud of spray thrown around it, the two
rowers were seen tumbling over the side and sinking below the surface of
the water. Two of the sharks disappeared at the same moment!

Costal, seated in the stern, at once perceived that the canoe no longer
obeyed the rudder; and Lantejas, who was more amidships, saw to his
horror that the vessel was sinking at the forward part, where she had
been struck by the ball.

"_Por los infiernos_! an unlucky shot!" cried Costal.

"What will be the result?" anxiously demanded Lantejas.

"Why, a very simple thing: the bullet has crushed in the bow of the
craft, and she will go down head foremost, I suppose."

"_Por Dios_! we are lost then!" cried Don Cornelio in a voice of terror.

"Not so sure of that yet," calmly returned Costal, at the same time
rising and stepping forward in the canoe. "Keep your place!" whispered
he to Lantejas, "and don't lose sight of me."

Notwithstanding the assuring air with which the Indian spoke, the third
rower, under the excitement of a terrible alarm, at this moment rushed
up and caught him around the knees--as if clinging to him for help.

"Ho!" cried Costal, endeavouring to disengage himself, "hands off there,
friend! Off, I say--here it is every one for himself!" And as he said
this he pushed the man backward.

The latter, staggering partly under the impulsion he had received, and
partly under the influence of his fright, tumbled back into the water.
At the same instant a third shark disappeared from the side of the
canoe, while a cry of despair appeared to rise up from the bottom of the
sea!

"It was his own fault," said the impassable Zapoteque, "his example
should be a warning to others!"

At this frightful innuendo the ex-student of theology, more dead than
alive, commenced invoking God and the saints with a fervour such as he
had never felt in all his life.

"_Carrambo_! Captain," cried the imperturbable pagan, "put more
confidence in your own courage than your saints. Can you swim?"

"Only a few strokes," feebly replied Lantejas.

"Good! that will be enough. There is only one way to hinder the canoe
from going head downwards. Look out, then, and keep close by my side!"

Saying this, Costal waited until the canoe rose upon the top of a wave;
and then, throwing all his stre