m's line, hanging over the
other quarter, without any warning was snapped off.

"It's that brute of a shark come back again," cried Tom. "Get the
muskets, Desmond, and if we can entice him near, we will settle him this
time."

"He's too knowing for that, sir," observed Jerry. "You may fire away
every shot you've got--he'd see them coming, and be out of the way
before they reach him."

Tom, not believing this, determined to try once more. He got out
another piece of pork, and fastened it to the end of one of the broken
lines.

"The hooks will puzzle his inside," said Desmond, "when he begins to
feel them. He'll think twice before he has another bite."

The muskets were loaded, and the midshipmen standing up, kept their eyes
closely watching the bait, which floated on the surface, two or three
fathoms astern.

"There he comes," cried Desmond. And as the shark, turning on his back,
exposed the white of his belly, they both fired. The brute disappeared,
and so did the bait, sinking like a rocket until lost to sight.

"We have finished him this time, at all events," cried Desmond. "He'll
not take any more of our hooks."

"Yes, but we have lost the slices out of his back," cried Billy; "and,
unless we can now catch some fish, we shall be on short commons for
supper."

Hoping that they should not be again troubled by the shark, fresh lines
were got out. No fish, however, took the bait; either none came near,
or it was not suited to their tastes. Supper consequently consisted
only of biscuits and tea; but the warm tea was a great comfort after the
heat of the day. The watch kept the lines down all night, but still
without success. Two more days went by with little variation. Now and
then their hopes were raised seeing a ripple far away on the surface;
but, if caused by wind, it died away before it reached them. They were
now on a short allowance of water; that in the skins had either
evaporated or leaked out, the store in the cocoa-nuts had soon been
exhausted, and they had only the boat's breaker, on which they had
already commenced. A few biscuits and a portion of the salt beef, which
was at the best scarcely eatable, and possessed but slightly nutritive
qualities, alone remained. Still they had enough to keep them alive for
three or four days, perhaps for longer; but before that time, should a
breeze spring up, they might at all events reach Faralon de Pajaros, the
most northern of the Ladrones. T