we steered south-east, with the wind on our port
quarter. It was in that direction Mr Griffiths said he knew the
islands lay thickest. We had a regular watch set, and a bright look-out
kept ahead, for we could not tell when we might come upon reefs, and the
boat might be knocked to pieces on some uninhabited spot where neither
food nor water was to be procured. The next day was passed much as the
previous one had been, but no flying-fish came on board, though we saw
them glittering in the air in the distance. It was drawing towards
evening when I saw a black triangular fin, which I knew to be that of a
shark, coming up astern.

"What are you looking at?" asked the doctor.

I told him. Presently we caught sight of the monster's cruel eyes and
back a couple of fathoms from the boat. I saw by their looks that the
men did not like its appearance.

"We hab him," cried Sam Coal. "We eat him if he no eat us."

Brown, on hearing this remark, stood up, with his harpoon in hand, but
the savage brute seemed to know its danger, and kept just beyond his
reach, eyeing us, we thought, as if he expected to make a feast of the
whole party.

The men made their remarks on the shark, for having had sufficient food
they had somewhat recovered their spirits. Still I wished that the
shark would take its departure, but it kept on swimming alongside the
boat, and as the breeze freshened it made faster way to keep up with us.
Brown at last proposed shooting it, for our powder, being in a metal
flask, had kept dry, but Mr Griffiths objected to any being expended
for the purpose. It was a hundred to one that the shark would be
killed, he said, and every charge might be of value. Still, as no
flying-fish had been caught, the men cried out that they must have the
shark, and Mr Griffiths at length allowed Brown, who was a good shot,
to try and hit it in a vital part. Just, however, as he stood up with
the musket in his hands the shark dived and disappeared.

"Ah, ha, Jack Shark know what you going to do. Him know eberyting,"
said Sam Coal.

Shortly after this the sun sank amid a bank of black clouds, and
darkness came down on the world of waters, the weather again looking
very threatening. I was awakened by a splash of water in my face. On
sitting up, though a heavy sea was running, I found that the boat was
still keeping on her course. The sail had been reefed, but it was as
much as we could carry. Again and again the sea br