ed.

"What's the matter with him?" exclaimed John in a puzzled manner. "What
does he see and what's he running after?"

"Let's go find out," cried Fred eagerly.

"Come on everybody! Hurry up!" called Grant, stopping for a moment and
turning around. Down along the coast he ran, passing the ledge where
they usually went swimming and continuing his course towards a small
crescent-shaped beach only a short distance away.

"I'm not going to miss anything," exclaimed George, and he also
commenced to run, followed closely by his three companions.

In a few moments they saw the cause of Grant's excitement. When they
reached the spot where they usually bathed they spied him standing on
the shore gazing at an object which lay at his feet.

"Look at that," exclaimed George, increasing his speed.

"What a monster," echoed Fred.

The remaining distance between them and the object of their attention
was covered in a remarkably short time by the three boys and their negro
companion. Every one was eager to be the first on the spot.

"What do you think of that for a shark?" demanded Grant when the others
had come to the place where he was standing.

"That's not a shark, that's a gunboat," exclaimed George grimly. "Where
did it come from?"

"It washed ashore."

"Is it dead?"

"No," jeered Fred. "It isn't dead, Pop. It just crawled up on shore for
a little nap."

"You think you're smart," retorted George. "I just asked for
information."

"And I gave it to you, didn't I?"

"Stop your fighting, you two," exclaimed John. "Give some one else a
chance."

"How did it get here?" said George curiously. "What killed it?"

"Come around this side and I'll show you," said Grant.

All the others went with George and with the giant shark lying on its
side, its white belly towards the waves, Grant pointed out the cause of
its death.

"There it is," he said quietly. A great gaping wound showed squarely in
the center of the shark's belly. It must have been nearly a foot in
length.

"Whew!" whistled George. "Who did that?"

"Sam did it," said John. "Isn't that right, Sam?"

"Ah reckon it am."

"Is this the shark that was after you, String?" exclaimed George.

"That's the one."

"And Sam killed him," said George unable to fully understand it all. "I
don't see how he did it. Why, this shark must be twenty feet long."

"Yes," cried Grant, "and when somebody told you it was eighteen feet
long you laughed. You said it was th