. "I am not at all
tired, and I have my dagger with me; swim on, and I will swim after you.
Argue not, lad, you will but waste your breath; do as I say, and make
all haste to the ship."

Harry, knowing that when Roger spoke thus it was useless to argue, did
as he was ordered, and struck out for the vessel with such energy as he
could muster.

For his part, Roger drew his dagger, and held it firmly in his hand; and
then, swimming after Harry, began to splash and shout with all his
might.

The fins, which had by this time come very close to them, paused
suddenly and scattered at the unexpected commotion; and a little time
was thus gained for the fugitives, who made the utmost of it.

The sharks, however, were not so easily to be denied, and presently they
began to close in again; by which time Harry was approaching the side of
the _Stag Royal_, while Roger was still some distance behind, splashing
and shouting vigorously.

The fins drew nearer and nearer with deadly determination.

Abandoning now the splashing, which was greatly exhausting him, Roger
put out all his remaining strength and swam for his life, while, the
splashing having ceased, the sharks were after him again at once.

It was now a race, not between two boys for a wager of a noble, but
between a boy and a school of sharks, with the boy's life as the stake.

The sharks were fast gaining upon Roger, and he and they were as yet
quite out of range of the missiles with which the men were ready to pelt
the ravenous monsters. But Harry had meanwhile reached the ship and
been hauled in and deposited on deck, where he immediately sank down
fainting with exhaustion.

Then, seeing his friend safe, Roger redoubled his efforts, and the
distance between the sharks and him lessened but slightly, while he
decreased the distance between himself and the ship very perceptibly.

These herculean efforts could not last long, however, and the sharks
once more began to draw in upon him.

The men on the deck of the ship now shouted, and flung their missiles as
far as they could; but the swimmer and the sharks were still too far off
for the latter to be frightened by the bombardment.

Inch by inch the ravenous fish closed in on the lad.

He glanced over his shoulder as he swam, and as he perceived how close
the monsters were, the men on board the ship could see, even at that
distance, that his face turned livid.

The foremost shark was nearly on him now, and there