e did to get after the Pirate Shark.
For the Pirate Shark really existed, beyond any doubt!

CHAPTER X

OFF FOR TIGERS

"Yes, sir, Pirate Shark is what they call him, Cap'n. Thirty-footer."

"What!" Captain Hollinger stared in amazement, then laughed.
"Thirty-footer? You're tangled up, Jerry. Well, he can wait until I get
back."

Jerry had arrived at the yacht almost as soon as the boys reached her,
and in the course of the explanations about their shooting, Mart and Bob
surprised Jerry into ejaculating the title of the Pirate Shark, which
called for further explanations. Thus, without having broken their
promise, the boys apprised the captain of something of the story of the
Pirate Shark, since Jerry reluctantly explained the name. Captain
Hollinger gave the matter little attention, but not so the mate.

"Look here, Cap'n," cried Swanson, stepping out and facing Jerry
aggressively. "I warned you against this here Shark Smith afore we
started, didn't I? Now, I tell you he ain't here for any good, him and
the rest o' his gang! Shark Smith, they call him--don't you growl at me,
you white-haired old hypocrite!--'cause he's been after that 'ere shark
for ten year an' more. That's what he brung you here for, Cap'n--just
so's he could get at that Pirate Shark!"

Swanson flung out this accusation boldly enough, and Jerry's blue eyes
blazed up at him suddenly; but the look was fleeting, and the next
instant the quartermaster flung back his white hair and gazed with mild
reproach on the mate.

"Deary me!" Jerry said softly, then smiled. "Why, Cap'n, Mr. Swanson's
quite right, he is. I knowed that there Pirate Shark was here, an' I
wanted to kill him myself, so to speak. But I've played square, Cap'n.
When you gets back from your hunt, I'll have gold to show you. Can you
ask more'n that, sir?"

"Not a bit, Jerry," smiled Captain Hollinger. "Come, Mr. Swanson, no
more of this suspicion, if you please. Jerry will have to rank as second
officer, and take the port watch for the rest of the cruise, so I want
no ill feeling among my officers. Now, what about the tigers, Jerry?"

Jerry reported that all was ready, and that the beaters were already
arranged for. There were tigers a day's march away, it seemed, and the
chiefs were delighted that Captain Hollinger was so willing and ready to
rid them of their persecutors. The sooner the hunters started, the
better pleased would the natives be.

Accordingly, the captai