ading straight for the spot where
Nick clung to the life buoy.

"Splash as hard as you can!" shrilled Josh, who seemed to remember that
sharks can sometimes be kept away by this means.

And immediately the fat boy exerted himself at a great rate, his legs
and one arm beating the water until it sounded like a vast mill in
action.

But as Jack cast a swift glance around he saw that the nearest shark
was heading straight toward poor Nick. Jimmy had heard what was said
to George. He, too, had pulled out a shotgun, and was cowering close
by, holding the weapon in his hands, and with a grim look of "do or
die" on his freckled face.

Bang! went the rifle in George's hands.

The bullet struck the water above the advancing monster, but seemed to
do no particular damage, for they could see that he was still coming
directly on.

Now the prow of the _Tramp_ was just alongside Nick; but the shark
seemed dreadfully close, too. Dropping his hold on the wheel, Jack
bent over to clutch the shoulders of the fat boy. He knew that he
would have a tremendous task dragging him aboard, soaked as his clothes
were; but desperation causes those who try, to perform wonderful deeds,
and Jack felt equal to most anything just then.

He was still dragging Nick upward, and the other was trying to help
himself as well as he was able, when the big fish, rushing under,
seemed to turn over while opening his terrible mouth, lined with cruel
teeth.

And then Jimmy, who had been holding his fire for a good opportunity,
sent the contents of the shotgun straight into that distended mouth.

Jack pulled his chum aboard, and almost fell himself, such was the
relief that passed over him. The boat was whirling around in the mad
currents, but as Jack again took the wheel he quickly mastered its
erratic movements.

"Sure, I guv him the cowld meal, that toime, I did!" shouted the
delighted Jimmy, threatening to attempt a real jig in his excitement.
"How d'ye like cowld lead, me bully bhoy? Next toime take one of your
own kind, will ye, and lave our chum be. Look at the bog-trotter
kicking out yonder, would ye? Don't I hope some of his kind will ate
him up now. It's the biter bitten, fellows. Look! by the powers, if
they ain't tacklin' the gossoon, so they are!"

It was even so, for the wildest commotion was taking place out in the
quarter where the wounded shark had been struggling.

Even Nick managed to crawl to the side of the boat and gape