"It's time we were homeward bound," observed Jack at last: indeed more than one signal had been made to them from the ship to return. Still Bill in his folly wanted to go farther off. At length they turned with their faces to the ship. As they swam round Jack saw close to them a black triangular object moving along just above the surface of the water: he knew it at a glance to be the fin of that remorseless monster of the deep, a shark. He was afraid of telling his companion what he had seen, lest it should unnerve him; but he himself instantly began to kick and beat the water, and shout in the hopes of keeping the shark at a distance. "What's all that about?" asked Bill surprised. "Do as I do," answered Jack, splashing more furiously than before; "it will be the better for both of us." They swam on thus for some way, but that ominous black fin kept even way with them. "If either of us stop for a moment the brute will have one or both of us," thought Jack, and he wished that he had not been so foolhardy as to go so far from his ship. He looked up at the tall masts and dark hull, and the delicate tracery of the rigging, and the white sails, which hung against the masts and were reflected as in a mirror on the tranquil deep, and they seemed still a long, long way from him; but Jack knew in Whom he trusted. He had been foolish and disobedient in going so far from the ship; but he felt that he was under the protection of One, merciful and long suffering, who had the power to save him even from the jaws of the ravenous fish, and to that Great Being he prayed fervently, unceasingly, for aid as he swam on. Not for a moment did he lose heart; still, as now and again he turned his head, there, close to him, was the dark ominous fin, and through the clear water glittered the bright cruel eye of the monster of the deep. As long as the fin was seen Jack knew that the shark was not about to make his attack, but he dreaded every instant to see it disappear; for a shark must always turn on its back to seek its prey. It was some minutes before Sikes discovered the vicinity of their dreaded companion. Where was now his boasting and his courage? On whom had he now to trust? On his own strength? What could that avail him? Unhappy man. He had never learned to trust in God, who alone can help him now. He cried out piteously to his messmate. "Jack, Jack, what shall we do now?" Jack did not taunt him, as he might have done, for his boasting and self-confidence. Far from his heart was such an idea. "Trust in God, Bill, and keep up your courage," he shouted with a cheerful voice; "strike away, we shall soon reach the ship." "I can't, mate, I can't," answered Sikes, "I don't know how to trust in him. He won't listen to such as me." "Pray to him, He'll hear you, depend on it," replied Jack.