ling as
if he were driving in a marine chariot drawn by sea monsters that were
quite under his control.

"The line cannot bear such a strain long," said the mate. "If we had
heavy tackle we might haul the brutes alongside, and kill them with a
lance or a shot."

"Let's try next time," cried Jack excitedly. "How it is pulling us
along."

"Yes; we are going pretty well," said the doctor dryly. "I _hope_ the
brute won't turn round and attack us."

"Not likely, is it?" said Jack with an anxious look. Then quickly,
"Well, let it come. You take hold of the boat-hook, Mr Bartlett; you
would spear it with that."

"But I say, Jack, don't you feel frightened?" said the doctor.

"Him frightened! likely!" muttered Edward.

"No; I don't think I do," said the lad frankly. "I feel a curious
fluttering kind of sensation, as if my heart was beating very fast, but
I don't think I'm frightened--I'm sure I'm not," he added gravely, and
with a simple sincerity far removed from boastfulness.

"How can you be sure?" said the doctor, giving him a searching look.

"Because if I really were frightened I should cut the line."

"Of course you would," said the doctor. "Stands to reason. But I
didn't come out prepared for shark-fishing, so I'm beginning to think we
may as well cut or break the line, and go back. We don't want to have
far to row on such a day as this."

"Oh, don't do that," cried Jack. "It's so exciting and strange to be
dragged along like this."

"What do you say to trying to get the fellow up to the surface, so as to
have another look at him?"

"But suppose it attacks us?"

"I don't think there is any fear," said the mate, smiling.

"Try and get it up then," said Jack eagerly. "Come and lend a hand,
Edward," said the mate; and they began to take a slow, steady pull on
the line, drawing in the strong hemp fathom by fathom, till the number
of rings in the bottom of the boat showed that they must be near their
captive, but there was no sign of it till another dozen yards were
hauled in, and then, as Jack leaned over the bows, he could dimly see
deep down a shadowy form going right onward, slightly agitating the
water as it passed through.

Then as the pair in the boat hauled, the dark shadow began to show more
and more clearly, proving that the buoyancy of the boat was beginning to
tell upon it, and draw it nearer to the surface.

"Can't stand this much longer, Jack," said the doctor; "the line must
b