y,
perhaps less--a rakish triangular object, with which I was familiar
enough by that time to identify as the dorsal fin of a shark, and a
large one too. And, great heaven! even nearer still on the other side
was another of those dreadful glistening fins.

"We'll scare them effectually," I said, with a hollow and ghastly grin
of assumed levity. And springing half out of the water I emitted a most
fiendish yell, while falling back again with a mighty splash. It was
effective, for the two hateful objects sheered off, gliding away a short
distance--but only a short distance.

"Come now," I said, making a most prodigious splashing. "We must get
in. Swim with me. Hold my hand if you are tired."

"No, I'm all right now," said the plucky little thing, beginning to
strike out quite easily and naturally. Then I saw her face pale, and
she stole a quick, terrified look over her shoulder, and I felt mine do
ditto. For there--keeping pace with us, one on each side, and about the
same distance at which we had first sighted them, moved the two horrors.
They were trying to get ahead of us, to cut us off before we could
reach the broken water, wherein they dare not venture.

I once knew a man who had escaped from the foundering of the ill-fated
_Birkenhead_, and he attributed his exemption to the fact that time had
lacked wherein to divest himself of his clothing before starting to swim
ashore--for two sailors, who had been able to strip, were pulled under,
one on each side of him. And now this idea flashed a wonderful hope
into my mind, for I was almost fully clothed and my little companion
wore a bathing dress. But her strokes were quick and spasmodic, and she
panted. Terror was sapping her natural confidence in the water.

"This won't do," I cried in a loud hectoring voice. "Keep cool, can't
you, and don't be a little idiot."

The bullying tone told, as I intended it should. The look she gave me
was amusingly resentful and contemptuous. But she ceased to swim
wildly. At the same time our slimy enemies increased their distance,
doubtless alarmed at the sound of my voice, which I also intended. To
my unspeakable and heartfelt relief we were now on the upheave of the
curling combers, and those horrible fins were still behind.

But we were not out of the wood yet--no, not by any means; for here
before us lay a peril almost as formidable in itself. My little
companion swam gracefully and with ease, but when we came