gh to sit down and rest
for a few minutes.

"There is no use of our hurrying," said Tom. "Our time is our own in
this out-of-the-way place, and as we have next to nothing to do we
want to make what little work there is last us."

"Like a lazy man working by the day," laughed Sam. "I'm afraid I
can't work that way. When I have something to do I'm not content
until it is done."

"Are you hot, Sam? Here is something to cool you off."

As Tom spoke he playfully scooped up a handful of water and threw it
at his brother.

Soon the two boys were having lots of sport, throwing handfuls of
the salty water at each other. Then Sam made a motion as if he was
going to push Tom overboard with his paddle.

"Hi! none of that!" cried Tom. "I don't mind a wetting by retail,
but I don't want it by wholesale."

He continued to throw water at Sam and the youngest Rover tried to
dodge. The raft began to rock, and of a sudden Sam lost his balance
and went into the bay with a splash.

Tom set up a laugh, for it was a comical sight, and it had been Sam's
own fault that he went overboard. But then Tom's laughter came to an
end as he saw the form of a shark moving swiftly toward the spot.

"A shark! a shark!" he screamed. "Sam, get on board, quick! A shark
is after you!"

Sam had gone far down beneath the surface and he did not reappear at
once. Then he came up spluttering.

"Gosh! I didn't want a bath! Tom, you--"

"Hurry and get aboard, Sam! A shark is after you!"

Sam was about ten feet from the raft, and running to the spot nearest
to him, Tom held out the end of his paddle.

"A shark?" gasped the youngest Rover.

"Yes! yes! Catch the end of the paddle!"

Sam made a frantic effort to do so. In the meantime the shark came
closer and Tom could see his enormous mouth and sharp teeth clearly.
His blood turned to ice in his veins.

Sam made a clutch at the paddle, missed it, and disappeared once more
from sight. The shark rushed to the spot and turned in dismay, and
driven to desperation, Tom hit the monster over the head with the
paddle. Then the shark disappeared also.

The next few seconds were full of agony for poor Tom. He gazed in
all directions for Sam, and for the shark, but neither one nor the
other was to be seen.

"He must have caught Sam under the water!" he muttered. "Oh, Sam,
what an awful death to die!"

A slight noise at the upper end of the raft disturbed him. He turned
swiftly, to see a wet hand glide