e
the wind, Mr. Folsom, if you please."

"Steady she is," answered Mont.

The boat stopped at a short distance from the monster, and Homer Woddle
stood up, placed a gun to his shoulder, and fired.

The ball struck the huge slumbering beast, but glided off its back as if
it had struck a piece of polished steel.

"Hard as the hide of a rhinoceros," said the man of science; "we must
try again. Steady, boys."

The monster, however, did not seem to approve of being shot at, and
seemed to tremble violently for a moment.

Then with incredible velocity it darted past the rowboat, which was
upset in a moment, and proceeded to strike the ship.

It struck the unfortunate vessel a terrific blow directly back of the
bow.

The crash was distinctly audible, and amid the noise of falling masts
and flapping sails were heard the cries of the sailors and the moans of
the dying.

After the concussion the monster retired as it had come.

A cloud obscured the surface of the ocean, and it was difficult to tell
where it had gone, or what had become of the ship.

Mont found himself struggling in the sea, and wondered what had become
of his companions.

"Hang those monsters of the deep," he said to himself; "I don't like
them."

Swimming gently, he got hold of one of the oars of the boat, and so kept
himself afloat without much exertion.

It was not a hopeful position to be in.

Struggling alone in the middle of a vast ocean, ignorant of the fate of
his companions, and doubtful of succor, it was not to be wondered at if
he felt inclined to despair.

Would he sink or swim? The question was, just then, a hard one to
answer.

CHAPTER XI.

ON THE BACK OF THE MONSTER.

Mont was alone on the ocean with nothing but water in sight.

Yet his heart did not fail him.

"Well," he said aloud, "I like adventures, and now I have met with a
beautiful one. Perhaps I shall be picked up. Perhaps not."

Five minutes passed. To our hero they seemed an age.

"Hullo! Hi! What cheer? Ship ahoy!" he cried.

He had scarcely closed his lips, after this appeal for help, when he
felt his arm seized vigorously.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"If you will lean upon my shoulder," was the reply, "you will soon gain
strength and swim better."

"Is it you, Stump?" said Mont, recognizing the voice of his faithful
friend.

"At your service, Master Mont. I have been swimming about everywhere
looking for you ever since that submarine beast