the lad, caused his companion to turn and look to the other side of the
raft.

A fish was in sight. It was that which had drawn the exclamation from
the boy, who was now swinging his line in the act of casting it out.

The ejaculation had been one of joy. It was checked on his perceiving
that the sailor did not share it. On the contrary, a cloud came over
the countenance of the latter on perceiving the fish,--whose species he
at once recognised.

And why? for it was one of the most beautiful of the finny tribe. A
little creature of perfect form,--of a bright azure blue, with
transverse bands of deeper tint, forming rings around its body. Why did
Ben Brace show disappointment at its appearance?

"You needn't trouble to throw out your line, little Will'm," said he,
"that ere takes no bait,--not it."

"Why?" asked the boy.

"Because it's something else to do than forage for itself. I dare say
its master an't far off."

"What is it?"

"That be the _pilot-fish_. See! turns away from us. It gone back to
him as has sent it."

"Sent it! Who, Ben?"

"A shark, for sarten. Didn't I tell ye? Look yonder. Two o' them, as
I live; and the biggest kind they be. Slash my timbers if I iver see
such a pair! They have fins like lug-sails. Look! the pilot's gone to
guide 'em. Hang me if they bean't a-comin' this way!"

William had looked in the direction pointed out by his companion. He
saw the two great dorsal fins standing several feet above the water. He
knew them to be those of the _white shark_: for he had already seen
these dreaded monsters of the deep on more than one occasion.

It was true, as Ben had hurriedly declared. The little pilot-fish,
after coming within twenty fathoms of the raft, had turned suddenly in
the water, and gone back to the sharks; and now it was seen swimming a
few feet in advance of them, as if in the act of leading them on!

The boy was struck with something in the tone of his companion's voice,
that led him to believe there was danger in the proximity of these ugly
creatures; and to say the truth, Ben did not behold them without a
certain feeling of alarm. On the deck of a ship they might have been
regarded without any fear; but upon a frail structure like that which
supported the castaways--their feet almost on a level with the surface
of the water--it was not so very improbable that the sharks might attack
them!

In his experience the sailor had known cases of a simila