own in the water, and we could
not venture to pull them up without upsetting the log. Peterkin
instantly hauled up the line, and grasping his paddle, exerted himself
to the utmost, while we also did our best to make for shore. But we
were a good way off, and the log being, as I have before said, very
heavy, moved but slowly through the water. We now saw the shark quite
distinctly swimming round and round us, its sharp fin every now and then
protruding above the water. From its active and unsteady motions, Jack
knew it was making up its mind to attack us; so he urged us vehemently
to paddle for our lives, while he himself set us the example. Suddenly
he shouted, "Look out! there he comes!" and in a second we saw the
monstrous fish dive close under us and turn half-over on his side. But
we all made a great commotion with our paddles, which, no doubt,
frightened it away for that time, as we saw it immediately after
circling round us as before.

"Throw the fish to him!" cried Jack in a quick, suppressed voice; "we'll
make the shore in time yet if we can keep him off for a few minutes."

Peterkin stopped one instant to obey the command, and then plied his
paddle again with all his might. No sooner had the fish fallen on the
water than we observed the shark to sink. In another second we saw its
white breast rising; for sharks always turn over on their sides when
about to seize their prey, their mouths being not at the point of their
heads like those of other fish, but, as it were, under their chins. In
another moment his snout rose above the water; his wide jaws, armed with
a terrific double row of teeth, appeared; the dead fish was engulfed,
and the shark sank out of sight. But Jack was mistaken in supposing
that it would be satisfied. In a very few minutes it returned to us,
and its quick motions led us to fear that it would attack us at once.

"Stop paddling!" cried Jack suddenly. "I see it coming up behind us.
Now, obey my orders _quickly_. Our lives may depend on it. Ralph--
Peterkin--do your best to _balance the log_. Don't look out for the
shark. Don't glance behind you. Do nothing but balance the log."

Peterkin and I instantly did as we were ordered, being only too glad to
do anything that afforded us a chance or a hope of escape, for we had
implicit confidence in Jack's courage and wisdom. For a few seconds,
that seemed long minutes to my mind, we sat thus silently; but I could
not resist glanci