"Harry, swim you on and reach the ship," said he. "I am not at all tired, and I have my dagger with me; swim on, and I will swim after you. Argue not, lad, you will but waste your breath; do as I say, and make all haste to the ship." Harry, knowing that when Roger spoke thus it was useless to argue, did as he was ordered, and struck out for the vessel with such energy as he could muster. For his part, Roger drew his dagger, and held it firmly in his hand; and then, swimming after Harry, began to splash and shout with all his might. The fins, which had by this time come very close to them, paused suddenly and scattered at the unexpected commotion; and a little time was thus gained for the fugitives, who made the utmost of it. The sharks, however, were not so easily to be denied, and presently they began to close in again; by which time Harry was approaching the side of the _Stag Royal_, while Roger was still some distance behind, splashing and shouting vigorously. The fins drew nearer and nearer with deadly determination. Abandoning now the splashing, which was greatly exhausting him, Roger put out all his remaining strength and swam for his life, while, the splashing having ceased, the sharks were after him again at once. It was now a race, not between two boys for a wager of a noble, but between a boy and a school of sharks, with the boy's life as the stake. The sharks were fast gaining upon Roger, and he and they were as yet quite out of range of the missiles with which the men were ready to pelt the ravenous monsters. But Harry had meanwhile reached the ship and been hauled in and deposited on deck, where he immediately sank down fainting with exhaustion. Then, seeing his friend safe, Roger redoubled his efforts, and the distance between the sharks and him lessened but slightly, while he decreased the distance between himself and the ship very perceptibly. These herculean efforts could not last long, however, and the sharks once more began to draw in upon him. The men on the deck of the ship now shouted, and flung their missiles as far as they could; but the swimmer and the sharks were still too far off for the latter to be frightened by the bombardment. Inch by inch the ravenous fish closed in on the lad. He glanced over his shoulder as he swam, and as he perceived how close the monsters were, the men on board the ship could see, even at that distance, that his face turned livid. The foremost shark was nearly on him now, and there was yet a considerable distance to cover ere he could reach safety. Suddenly the leading fin disappeared, and the watchers knew that the shark had dived, in order the better to seize its prey. Their warning was roared over the water to him, but apparently too late, for with their shout, Roger's body disappeared! A cry of horror at once went up from the ship, and strong men turned away, unwilling to witness the death of their favourite.