clambered out upon the little ledge and began to put on
the few pieces of clothing that they possessed.

"I certainly do feel fine," exclaimed Fred as he took in a deep breath
of the pure air that was blown upon them straight up from the waters of
the sea. "The air is fine to-day."

"Well, it ought to be, every day," laughed Grant. "After it has traveled
a couple of thousand miles across the water it ought to be pretty nearly
pure."

"And have no dust in it," added Fred.

"That's right," said Grant. "Where's John?"

"I don't see him," said Fred, turning to look for his companion. "I hope
he didn't try to swim out very far. That's always a fool trick, I
think."

"Where is he?" exclaimed Grant, somewhat alarmed at not discovering his
friend.

"There he is," cried Fred suddenly.

"Where?"

"Why out there. Don't you see him?"

"He's crazy," said Grant angrily. "Why does he want to go so far out? He
can swim just as well along shore and not take half the risk. Suppose
anything should happen to him now, we couldn't help him a bit."

"Look!" cried Fred suddenly, "there's a shark."

"Where?"

"Right behind John. He's a goner now," and Fred almost sobbed aloud.

"John! John!" shouted Grant at the top of his voice, but he knew it was
hopeless to think of making himself heard at that distance.

"He's gone. He's gone," moaned Fred distractedly.

The great black fin moved steadily along in back of the daring young
swimmer. To the boys on the shore it seemed as if it approached nearer
with every passing moment. Suddenly there was a great splashing in the
immediate vicinity of where John was swimming.

CHAPTER XIX

SHARK

"It's horrible," cried Fred almost beside himself with anguish. "Oh, why
did he swim out so far?"

The splashing continued. The two boys on the shore stood and watched
almost spellbound at the sight. Their faces were white and their hearts
were like great lumps in their throats. Neither one had any thought
other than that John had been attacked by the shark and was even now
being torn to pieces by the great man-eater. They shut their eyes to
hide the horror of the thing.

Finally Grant looked again. The splashing had ceased and the water was
calm around the spot where John had been. Suddenly he spied a head
appearing far out from the shore.

"There he is," he cried suddenly.

"Who? John?" demanded Fred. "Where?"

"Out there in the same place. He hasn't gotten him yet."

"Whe