idn't
see anything but water all about, and the bright sunshine, and one or
two little hilly clouds, and all the many sails of the _Industry_. For
they were still in the trade winds where it is generally good weather.
And they saw the mate, and he was standing at the stern and looking
down into the water behind the ship.

"Let's see what Mr. Steele is looking at," said little Sol.

"All right," said little Jacob, "let's."

So the two little boys walked to the stern and leaned on the rail and
looked down at the water. But first little Jacob said "Good morning" to
the mate.

"Good morning, Jacob," said the mate. "Now, what do you see there?"

"I know," cried little Sol. "It's a shark."

"Oh, is it?" cried little Jacob. He was very much interested and
excited. "Where is it, Sol?"

Little Sol pointed. "Right there," he said. "You can see his back fin,
just as plain."

And little Jacob looked again, and he saw all the little swirls and
bubbles and foam that made the wake of the ship, and right in the middle
of it all he saw a great three-cornered thing sticking up out of the
water. It was dark colored, and it followed after the ship as if it were
fastened to it.

"Is that his back fin?" asked little Jacob, "that three-cornered thing?
I don't see the rest of him."

"If you look hard," said Mr. Steele, "you'll make him out. He's clear
enough to me."

[Illustration: "'RIGHT THERE,' HE SAID, 'YOU CAN SEE HIS BACK FIN.'"]

Little Jacob looked hard and at last he saw the shark himself; but there
were so many bubbles and swirls, and the shark was colored so exactly
like the water, as he looked down into it, that it wasn't easy to see
him. Both the little boys watched him for some time without saying
anything.

At last little Jacob sighed. "He's pretty big," he said. "Why do you
suppose he follows the ship that way? It's just as if we were towing
him."

"Well," said the mate, "I never had a chance to ask any shark that
question--and get an answer--but I think it's to get what the cook
throws overboard." The mate turned and looked forward. "I see the cook
now, with a bucket of scraps. You watch Mr. Shark."

Little Jacob and little Sol both looked and they saw the cook walking
from the galley with his bucket. The galley is the kitchen of the ship.
And he emptied the bucket over the side. Then the two little boys
looked quickly at the shark again, to see what he would do.

They saw the shark leave his place at the