Several persons had taken their ablutions and came on deck again. But Edwin lingered about in company with another middy, amusing himself with various frolics in the water, when all at once the head of an enormous shark appeared for a moment at the margin of the extended sail. The monster turned up its mouth, shewed its treble row of saw-like teeth, and descended rapidly. Both the youths gave a fearful shriek, and the one nearest to the ship’s-side laid hold of a “dangling rope,” and leaped into the vessel. Not so with Edwin. This poor youth seemed suddenly paralyzed with fear. In a few seconds the shark appeared again, and, making a lurch, threw himself over one part of the sail, and nearly swept the unfortunate Edwin into the sea. The enormous weight of the creature so slackened the ropes that held the sail on one side that it tilted, and left Edwin clinging to the other side in great terror, not knowing what would come next. [Illustration] Arthur was a witness of this dreadful state of things, and Edwin instinctively uttered his brother’s name. In a moment, with his dirk-knife unsheathed in his hand, Arthur was by the side of Edwin. The soft swell of the sea gave a lurch to the ship, and, as the sail dipped deeper into the sea, the horrid creature made a movement towards the lads, turned his mouth upwards, and gave a snap—and so close was his monstrous jaw to the boys, that the rope to which they clung was cut in two, and the monster darted down with a mouthful of sail and rope in his capacious jaws. The sailors on board were endeavouring, with all their might, to haul the boys into the ship; but before this could be done the shark made another plunge above the edge of the sail, close to Edwin, who instinctively threw himself more into the water at this moment. Arthur made a spring—buried his long knife up to the hilt, close to the animal’s jaw, and, quickly withdrawing it, gave him a like “dig” in his throat, and the blood gushed out, making the sea and sail quite red. “Bravo—bravo!” said the sailors on board, “give it him again, middy.” Before, however, Arthur had the opportunity of so doing the shark drew off, and was seen savagely frisking about at a few yards from the side. Shortly after he made another attempt, and Arthur made a bold lurch at him; but, in doing this, he over-reached himself and fell into the sea. In an instant the shark turned upon him, but while it was in the act of throwing up its teeth, Arthur dexterously dived, and, rising beneath the monster, sent his knife into its most vital part. Feeling the wound, the creature twisted downwards, while Arthur rose to the surface—one mass of blood. The shark rose, too, but evidently weaker, and before he could make another attack Arthur dealt another blow at him, amid the cheers of the spectators. The shark endeavoured to dive but was unable: made two or three convulsive twistings, and then turned and floated, belly upwards.