on-boat sunk the yacht and the launch, and drowned every soul
concerned in this mad adventure, she would be within her rights, and the
fugitives knew it well. The _Bella Cuba_ had flung the red rag into the
face of the bull, and Roger Broom and George Trent thought they saw
Virginia's hand in the unhesitating challenge. Captain Gorst might have
thought twice before assuring himself that the time had come to obey
orders given in case of dire necessity; but once would be enough for
Virginia.

"She's given herself away!" laughed George, keeping the launch between
the lagoon and an irregular line of dark horns which, rising just above
the shining surface of the water, marked a group of coral reefs. "There
won't be much doubt in Johnny Crapaud's mind now as to what part that
tidy little craft's cast to play in this show, eh? Hello-o!"

Another blaze and a following roar drew the exclamation; but before
George had had time to draw breath after it, he and Roger and Maxime were
all three in the water. The ball from the little cannon of the
prison-boat had done its work better this time, striking the electric
launch on her nose and shattering her to pieces.

George Trent was a brave man, but his first thought was "Sharks!" and the
horror of it caught his throat with a sensation of nausea. The instinct
of self-preservation is strong in all healthy men, and, though an instant
later he was ashamed on realizing it, the fear that thrilled him was for
himself. He expected, as his momentarily scattered senses told him what
had happened and where he was, to feel huge teeth, sharp as scythes, meet
round his thigh and cut off a leg as cleanly as a surgeon's knife.

While he still quivered with this living horror, he remembered that the
danger was Roger's and Maxime's as well as his, and manhood and
unselfishness came back. He forgot himself in his fear for them, more
especially for Maxime--poor Maxime, who had suffered so much that it
would be hard indeed if he were to meet a ghastly death in the very act
of achieving safety and freedom. Madeleine's beautiful, tragic face rose,
clear as a star, before his eyes, and he knew that it would be reward
enough for him if he could give his life for the brother she loved so
well. If she should say afterward, "Poor fellow, he died that you might
live, Maxime," he felt that the words and the gratitude in the girl's
heart would warm him even, if his grave were to be under these dark
waters at the