equally far off. I see one thing, though, which would make
me rather unwilling to jump overboard." He pointed to a black
triangular object, below which was a long shadowy form that was moving
slowly round the ship. "What's that?"

"The boatswain's pet shark, I suppose," said I, laughing. "I should
almost expect to see the Doris coming up with a breeze from the
nor'ard."

"Just jump on his back, Merry, and see if he doesn't carry you off up to
the frigate. It would astonish them not a little to see you coming,"
said McAllister.

"Thank you, I leave such wonderful performances to wonderful people like
Mr Johnson," said I.

Just then the monster, turning up the white of his undersides, made a
dart at a black bottle and a wisp of hay which had been thrown overboard
in the morning. Down they went into his capacious maw.

"Unpleasant sort of pill. I wonder if the glass will cut him," observed
McAllister.

I shuddered, for I could not help thinking what would have been the fate
of any human being who might have happened to be overboard. The seamen
had found out their enemy, and were talking about him, and watching his
proceedings with suspicious glances. They have an idea that when a
shark follows a vessel some one is about to die on board, and that he is
waiting for the corpse. Sharks have been known to follow vessels for
days together, but undoubtedly it is simply that they may feed on the
offal thrown overboard. Of course if any seaman happens to die during
the time, unless he is lashed up in a hammock with a shot at his feet,
they are likely to be the gainers. I have, however, very often seen
them following a ship when nobody has died. One example in support of a
superstitious idea does more to confirm it in the minds of the ignorant
than a hundred examples on the opposite side do to weaken the belief in
it.

Not long after this, Perigal hailed McAllister, and, pointing round to
the sky, told him that he did not like the look of things. He then
signed to us to strike our topmasts, and make everything snug aloft. At
the same moment the crew of the Espoir were seen swarming aloft to
shorten sail. We had our sails lowered. Hands were now sent aloft to
furl them carefully, and to strike upper yards and topmasts. While the
hands were thus engaged, as I was standing by the compass to ascertain
the direction of the schooner's head, I saw Perigal point to the
westward, and make a sign to the men aloft to