ng backward, despite the orders to the contrary. On
doing so, I saw Jack sitting rigid like a statue, with his paddle
raised, his lips compressed, and his eyebrows bent over his eyes, which
glared savagely from beneath them down into the water.

I also saw the shark, to my horror, quite close under the log, in the
act of darting towards Jack's foot. I could scarce suppress a cry on
beholding this. In another moment the shark rose. Jack drew his leg
suddenly from the water and threw it over the log. The monster's snout
rubbed against the log as it passed, and revealed its hideous jaws, into
which Jack instantly plunged the paddle and thrust it down its throat.
So violent was this act that Jack rose to his feet in performing it; the
log was thereby rolled completely over, and we were once more plunged
into the water. We all rose, spluttering and gasping, in a moment.

"Now, then, strike out for shore!" cried Jack.--"Here, Peterkin, catch
hold of my collar, and kick out with a will!"

Peterkin did as he was desired, and Jack struck out with such force that
he cut through the water like a boat; while I, being free from all
encumbrance, succeeded in keeping up with him. As we had by this time
drawn pretty near to the shore, a few minutes more sufficed to carry us
into shallow water; and finally, we landed in safety, though very much
exhausted, and not a little frightened, by our terrible adventure.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

THE BEAUTIES OF THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA TEMPT PETERKIN TO DIVE--HOW HE DID
IT--MORE DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME--THE WATER GARDEN--CURIOUS CREATURES OF
THE SEA--THE TANK--CANDLES MISSED VERY MUCH, AND THE CANDLE-NUT TREE
DISCOVERED--WONDERFUL ACCOUNT OF PETERKIN'S FIRST VOYAGE--CLOTH FOUND
GROWING ON A TREE--A PLAN PROJECTED, AND ARMS PREPARED FOR OFFENCE AND
DEFENCE--A DREADFUL CRY.

Our encounter with the shark was the first great danger that had
befallen us since landing on this island; and we felt very seriously
affected by it, especially when we considered that we had so often
unwittingly incurred the same danger before while bathing. We were now
forced to take to fishing again in the shallow water until we should
succeed in constructing a raft. What troubled us most, however, was
that we were compelled to forego our morning swimming-excursions. We
did, indeed, continue to enjoy our bathe in the shallow water; but Jack
and I found that one great source of our enjoyment was gone when we
could no lo