t broke in, "and it ought to be attended to at once."

"Dat's nothin'," said Sam carelessly. "She'll be all right soon."

"I know," Grant protested, "but just look at it bleed."

"All de bettah. When she bleed lak dat dey's no chance ob poison."

"But it ought to be stopped now. Come up by the spring where there's
cold water and let me bathe it for you."

"Go ahead, Sam," urged John, looking up and speaking for the first time
since he had been brought ashore.

"That's right," agreed Fred. "I'll stay here with John."

"No one need stay with me," said John. "I'm getting my wind back now and
as soon as I get a little strength I'll be as good as ever."

"What made you swim so far out anyway?" demanded Fred.

"I don't know. I guess I was crazy."

"You were worse than that," exclaimed Fred. "You were a fool."

"Don't tell me that; I know it myself now. We always do when it's too
late."

"Well, I can tell you one thing," said Grant warmly. "You wouldn't be
here now if it hadn't been for Sam."

"Right you are," John agreed. "I certainly owe my life to you, Sam."

"Ah guess mebbe Ah will bafe mah shouldah," said Sam, much embarrassed
and ill at ease from all the compliments that were being given him.

"We'll all go with you," said John. "I'm all right now."

"And we'll make Sam tell us how he did it," added Fred eagerly.

"That's right, Sam," exclaimed Grant. "Tell us all about it."

"Well," began Sam slowly, "Ah doan' know jes' what dey is to tell. Ah
jes' took dis heah knife wot yo' all done make so much fun ob, an' Ah
jes' stick ol' mistah sha'k plum' in de belly wid it. Dat's all dey was
to it."

"But, Sam," Fred protested, "how did you get close enough to him? Did he
attack you?"

"Ah reckon as how he did do dat," said Sam. "He jes' came a swimmin'
right at me and natchully dey was only one thing foh me to do."

"Naturally," laughed Grant, "but tell us how you happened to get a good
chance at him and not be bitten."

"When Ah seen dat sha'k a comin' at me," continued Sam, "Ah knowed dat
he meant business. Ah took mah knife in mah right han' an' Ah jes' sunk
a tweeny bit below de sufface ob de watah. He seen me an' he come right
foh me too. Ah waited foh him to turn belly up 'cause Ah knowed dat what
he 'bliged to do befoh he able to use dem razah teeth ob his'n. Sho'
nuff jes' befoh he reach me, ovah he go and den was mah chance. Ah sho'
did let 'im have it an' Ah guess he ain' gwine bothah no more