Chapter 54
"Sit fast and don't move," said the captain, poising the little boat-hook; "he is sure to lash out, but it will be behind, and can't touch the boat."
Only a few moments pa.s.sed, but expectation made them seem minutes, during which the shark's head came nearer and nearer, and its shadow cast by the sun was perfectly plain on the sands a few feet below.
Then with all his force the captain drove the pole down; the aim was good, for the next instant there was a tremendous swirl in the water, the long, heterocercal tail, through which the creature's spine was continued to the end of the upper lobe, rose above the surface, and was brought down with a tremendous blow which raised a shower, and at the same time Captain Bradleigh's arms were dragged lower and lower, till he loosened his hold, and the pole of the boat-hook disappeared.
"I didn't mean that, Mr Jack!" he cried, laughing, as the boat danced up and down, and the lad sat waiting to fire if the need arose. "My word, what a tug! Enough to jerk a man's arms out of the sockets."
"Will it attack us?" said Jack.
"Not he. Gone to get rid of that thing sticking in his head. No; got rid of it directly. Lucky for him. I dare say if it had stopped there his beloved brothers and sisters would have been at him for a cannibal feast."
For about twenty yards away the handle of the boat-hook suddenly shot above the surface, and floated, bobbing gently up and down like a huge quill float, the metal on the end weighting it sufficiently to keep it nearly upright.
A touch or two with the oars sent the dinghy within reach, and the boat-hook was recovered, but with its gun-metal head a good deal bent.
"Got a good strong skull," said the captain, holding the end for Jack to see. "Look under the canoe now."
Jack glanced over the side, and there was not a shark to be seen as the agitated water grew calm again; but even as he looked, first one and then another shadowy object reappeared, until five had resumed their places, waiting for the dead that might float out of the canoe, but in this case waiting in vain.
"The horrible wretches!" said Jack.
"It's their nature, sir. They are the scavengers of the sea in their way, just as the crocodiles are of the great rivers.--Row back,
"And Doctor Instow too," said Jack.
"Here, I say," cried the doctor, "play fair. Don't have all the adventures to yourselves. Been harpooning fish? Ugh!" he continued.
"Sharks. I should like a turn at them."
Over the breakfast the position was discussed.
"Well, you saw, Sir John, we would be obliged to camp out for one, perhaps two nights, if we tried to row inside the reef, and it would be dangerous with the enemy about."
"And the steam is up, and we could run round outside the reef, and be back here in the evening."
"Why not try inside?" said the doctor.
"I was thinking of it," replied the captain. "There is the risk of coming upon shallow water; but if Sir John likes we'll try. I can have a couple of men sounding."
"It would be much more interesting than going out to sea," put in Jack.
"It's so much better than having to be always looking through a gla.s.s."
"Try inside, Bradleigh," said Sir John.
"It means coals, sir."
"Never mind that," said Sir John, who had just drawn a deep breath full of satisfaction to see the intense interest his son was taking in everything now.
"And what about our friends the blacks?" said the doctor.
"Well, sir, we should find out whether they are neighbours or visitors from some other island. I expect the latter," said the captain, "but I want to know."
"Wouldn't there be time to try for the sharks first?" said Jack.
"Oh yes, we could give an hour to that," said the captain; "for perhaps while we are rounding the island our friends of last night will come and fetch their boat. They are welcome to it, I suppose, Sir John. You don't want to take it back to England as a specimen?"
"No," said Sir John, smiling, "let them have it; and I hope we shall see no more of them while we are here."
There was a little excitement among the men as the cutter was lowered down, and a couple of small harpoons, two lances, and a little tub containing a hundred yards of fine strong line carefully coiled in rings were handed down, along with three rifles.
Jack was looking on deeply interested after going with the doctor and Edward to fetch these and the necessary ammunition from the little museum-like place set apart for them and the magazine. He was so much occupied with the preparations and his eagerness to get back that he did not notice a peculiar cough which was uttered behind him twice.
But when it was delivered again with peculiar emphasis close by, and followed by a touch on the arm, he turned sharply round to find Edward looking at him with a most agonised expression of countenance--so bad did the man seem that Jack was startled.
"Why, Ned," he cried, "what's the matter? Here, doctor! doctor!"
"Hus.h.!.+ don't, sir, pray," whispered the man. "He couldn't do me no good. Don't call him, pray."
"But you look horrible," cried Jack.
"So would you look horrible, sir, if you was like me."
"Then why don't you speak out and tell me? Are you in pain?"
"Well, yes, sir, it is pain, and yet it ain't, if you can understand that."
"Well, Ned, I can't. Let me fetch Doctor Instow."
"No, no, sir, please don't; he'd only laugh at me."
"He would not be so unfeeling, I'm sure."
"But he couldn't do me no good, sir. Please don't. n.o.body but you could do me any good."
"What nonsense, Ned! Just because I gave you a seidlitz powder once."
"I don't mean powders, sir."
"Then what is the matter?"
"Oh, sir, you'd be just the same if you was like me. Can't you see?"
"No; only that you look rather yellow."
"Oh, don't laugh at a fellow, sir. It does seem so hard. Sharks! and me left behind."
"That's it, is it?" cried Jack, laughing.
"Yes, sir; ain't it bad enough? But I say, sir, it does do a fellow good to see you laugh like that."