e formidable than those of the forest, were proceeding in
the same direction as himself. One was about twenty feet from him on
the right; the other appeared at an equal distance on his left; and both
were evidently _attending_ upon him!

Unpleasant as two such companions might be deemed, the swimmer at first
paid but slight attention to their movements. His mind was pre-occupied
with a variety of other thoughts--especially with the doubt as to
whether he might be able to find the barges. On the wide surface of the
sea, and in the midst of the profound darkness, it would be but too easy
to pass without perceiving them, and very difficult indeed to find them.
This apprehension, combined with those fearless habits in the water,
which he had contracted while following the life of a pearl-diver--and
furthermore his belief in a positive fatalism--all united in rendering
the Zapoteque indifferent to the presence of his two terrible
attendants.

Only at intervals, and then rather from prudence than fear, he turned
his head to the right or left, and glanced in the direction of his
_compagnons du voyage_. He could not help perceiving moreover that at
each instant the sharks were drawing nearer to him!

By a vigorous stroke on the water he now raised his body high over the
surface; and, there balancing for a moment, glanced forward. It was an
eager glance; for he was looking for that object on the finding of which
his life must depend. He saw only the line of the horizon of dull
sombre hue--no object visible upon it, except here and there the white
crests of the waves.

A sudden glance to the right, and another to the left, showed him the
two fearful creatures, now nearer than ever. Neither was more than ten
feet from his body!

Still the swimmer was not dismayed by their presence. Far more was he
daunted by the immense solitude of the watery surface that surrounded
him.

However bold a man may be, there are moments when danger must
necessarily cause him fear. Costal was in a position sufficiently
perilous to have unnerved most men. Swimming in the midst of a rising
sea--beyond sight of land, or any other object--escorted by two
voracious sharks--with a dark sky overhead, and no precise knowledge of
the direction in which he was going--no wonder he began to feel
something more than inquietude.

However strong may be a swimmer, he cannot fail after long keeping up
such vigorous action as it requires, to become fa