progress,--for our
raft, though strongly put together, and able to contend with a heavy
sea, was deep in the water, and could not be impelled by rowing at much
speed. If overtaken, we must expect, we knew, a fearful struggle; for
though we outnumbered those who were approaching, four desperate men,
all armed, might overpower us, as we possessed no missiles, not even a
boarding-pike or boat-hook with which to drive them off--nor could we
prevent them from getting alongside, or commencing the fight till their
feet were actually on our raft.

On they came, uttering fearful oaths. "They have probably attacked the
spirit-cask, and in their drunken fury are indifferent to consequences,"
observed Boxall. "It will be madness to show them the slightest mercy
if they get up with us."

While we rowed away with all our might, I could not help frequently
turning my head to watch their progress. They had, I should have said,
stepped a mast on their raft, but had no sail; indeed, they could not
have used it had they possessed one. This was another sign of the haste
in which they must have embarked. Their raft was also, it was evident,
carelessly put together; and as it drew nearer we saw that the men could
with difficulty keep their feet on it--for the wind by this time having
caused the sea to get up slightly, it rocked from side to side.

They were within half a cable's length of us, when the feet of one of
the men slipped, and overboard he fell. His companions, not seeing him,
continued to row on. He shrieked to them to stop; the man next to him
was stooping down, holding out his hands to haul him in, when suddenly
he too was drawn into the water. Piercing cries sounded in our ears.
"See, see," exclaimed Ben; "the sharks have got them!" In an instant
they had disappeared, while their companions looked on horror-struck.
The next moment a huge shark rose to the surface. One of the men struck
it with his oar, which was immediately torn from his grasp; and directly
afterwards another shark darted at him. He seized his axe, and, holding
on to the mast, attempted to defend himself, while the remaining man
continued to row as desperately as before. We would gladly even then
have saved the wretched men, but we were unable to do anything to help
them. There must have been half-a-dozen sharks or more surrounding the
raft, one after the other attacking the frail structure, and threatening
every instant to capsize it. In vain