Nothing more was said, nothing seen. The air was darkened with flyingspume. It seemed impossible that the canoe could live a minute.
CHAPTER XIII.--ON THE REEF.
The two lads crouched, drenched through, on the bottom of the canoe,while the Kanaka boys paddled furiously. Giant waves, true mountains ofwater, hung above them threatening to engulf them, but the canoe rodethem with what appeared incredible buoyancy.
How long this kept up, neither Jack nor Billy ever knew. It seemed likeyears. Dizzy and sick from the riotous motions of the canoe as it swungwildly between sea and sky, they lost all count of everything. But thestruggle was nearing its end.
Suddenly a giant comber caught up the dugout, turtled it skyward andthen rushed it sickeningly down. It lifted the craft over the reef andinto the open sea. For one instant it hesitated and then spun round inthe trough of the sea. The next moment it was smashed into sliversagainst the reef while an avalanche of waters carried all its occupantsdown into the depths before they had time to even shout theirconsternation. More dead than alive, Jack shot back to the surfaceagain. Not far from him was a projecting point of the reef. He managedsomehow to crawl to it, but as he made his progress along the lowerlying portions of the coral wall he was swept time and again by wavesand compelled to exert all his strength to avoid being dashed off. Atlength, with hands cut and bleeding from the rough coral, and hisclothing in shreds, he reached his refuge and was almost immediatelyjoined there, to his great relief, by Anai and his comrade, who hadrescued Billy Raynor.
But it was a miserable refuge they had found. The projecting point ofrock hardly gave room for all of them, and frequently waves swept overit. At all times they were choked and blinded with spray.
"Well, this is the limit," declared Billy. "Never again for me so far aspearl hunting is concerned."
"Nor for me either," said Jack. "Still, it was our fault for notwatching the weather."
"How long will the storm last, Anai, do you think?" inquired Billy, alittle later.
The Kanaka boy looked at the weather with a practiced eye.
"Him get better soon," he said. "Him not bad storm."
"Not a bad storm!" exclaimed Jack. "Well, if this isn't one, I neverwant to see one."
"Sometimes hurricane season come blow whole village away," Anai assuredhim.
"I hope this won't be a hurricane," said Jack.
The Kanaka shook his head.
"Bimeby him go way," he assured them. "Look blue sky way off there now."
Sure enough, in the far north-west, from whence the hurricane had come,a shaft of sunlight was striking the sea. Behind them they could see thestorm retreating. Before long the sea had quieted down and the winddropped almost completely.
"Well, we are better off in one respect," said Jack, as they lay abouton the reef, basking in the hot sun and drying their wet garments, "buthow are we to get ashore?"
The question was answered by Anai.
"Me swim, get canoe. Soon back," he said.
The next moment his lithe brown form was in the water. To protecthimself against sharks, he carried a long knife, fashioned out of ironwood, which was slung round his neck by a lanyard. It was as tough andhard as steel, and he appeared to have no doubt that he could protecthimself with it against the great fish.
Half-way to the shore a triangular fin came cruising near him and theboys dreaded to see a tragic end to their island friend. But Anai set updiabolical yells and kicked up a great splashing in the water and thesea monster sheered off again.
"Shark him big coward," said Anai's friend, who had remained behind withthe boys. Directly Anai landed he turned and waved and then set off at asharp run along the beach. Before they expected him he was back againwith a canoe, and thus an adventure which might have had disastrousconsequences ended safely. But it was a long time before the boys everforgot it.
The next morning Jack and Billy were leaning over the rail of the _SeaGypsy_, chatting and watching the sharks that swum around the shipeagerly watching for scraps from the galley. The coal was nearly allunloaded from the small, rusty tramp that had brought it, and all handswere looking forward to a resumption of the journey.
In the meantime, Mr. Jukes had been investigating ashore and learned,from some natives, that the "Tear of the Sea" had actually been boughtby his brother, and that just after the purchase, the _Centurion_ hadsailed away. Not long after, 'Bully' Broom's ship arrived, and the searover was informed of the sale. He was furious as it appeared that, inaccordance with his usual practice, he intended to raid the village andtake possession of the wonderful pearl by force. Mr. Jerushah Jukes'arrival ahead of him had, of course, frustrated this plan. According tothe best information he could get, the millionaire learned that "Bully"had at once put to sea in pursuit of the _Centurion_. The finding of theempty derelict left little doubt that he had attacked the schooner andimprisoned, or worse, perhaps killed, all those on board her.
This, in its way, was well enough, but it left the fate of the partystill a mystery, and their whereabouts unknown, for "Bully" had half adozen retreats scattered through the South Seas where he might havetaken them, for even Captain Sparhawk did not believe that the ruffianwould have dared to kill them.
CHAPTER XIV.--BATTLING MAN-EATING SHARKS.
"Like a chance to catch one uv them bastes, Mishther Riddy?" asked TimMuldoon, the Irish quarter-master of the _Sea Gypsy_, who paused nearwhere the boys were standing watching a mighty commotion in the watermade by two great tiger sharks fighting desperately over a piece ofspoiled pork that had been thrown overboard.
"What would we do with it when we had it?" asked Jack with a smile.
"Shure there's a certain part of the cratirs that makes illigint ateing.Meself and several other la-ads in ther crew wouldn't have inyobjictions at all, at all to a bit of shar-ark steak if so be y'u'dloike to hook one."
"What do you say, Billy?" asked Jack.
"That it would be good fun. But what sort of a rig do you use? No usetaking an eight-ounce rod and a dry fly or a hand line to thosefellows."
"Shure oi've got a foine shar-ark hook up forward. I'll go git it feryez," declared Muldoon, hurrying off.
He was back before long with a hook that looked like one of those usedby butchers on which to hang whole carcasses. Attached to this was alength of steel chain with a swivel, and above a stout rope some hundredfeet in length. Billy Raynor went below to the cook's quarters and sooncame back with a big chunk of pork which was stuck on the hook.
"How'll we haul him out if we do get one?" Billy wanted to know, as thebait struck the water with a splash.
"Just give a holler and I'll git some uv ther byes uv ther crew to lindyez a hand," declared Muldoon. "Sure 'tis foine spor-rot ye'll be hivin'intirely--wow! murtha! Watch yersilf Misther Raynor!"
There had come a sudden vicious rush of one of the sea-monsters at thehook. Turning its hideous jaws upward, the ravenous creature hadliterally swallowed "hook, line and sinker." It happened that at thatprecise moment Billy alone had hold of the rope.
As the shark's jaws gripped the hook and its sharp point sunk into hisflesh, the creature made a mighty rush. It caught Billy unprepared as hestood by the rail, a section of which had been removed while the crewpolished the brass work.
Before he realised what was happening a coil of the rope entangled hislegs. Like a bullet from a gun, he was whisked off the deck and throughthe air into the sea, which Jack knew was alive with sharks. It had allhappened so suddenly that the last of Muldoon's alarmed cries had notleft his lips before poor Billy was towed away from the ship by themaddened shark, unable to make a move to extricate himself. He wasbarely able to breathe, in fact, being half submerged.
Paralyzed for an instant, Jack regained his faculties with an effort.Captain Sparhawk, who had seen the whole affair, was the first to takedefinite action, however. He issued an order for a boat to be lowered atonce and then dashed into his cabin for a pistol.
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sp; "Hurry, Sparhawk, for Heaven's sake," urged Mr. Jukes, who had also beena witness of the accident. "The poor lad will be drowned or eaten aliveby the other sharks if we don't act promptly."
But the captain was already out of earshot. Muldoon and two othersailors were at the oars of the boat as he tumbled into it, followed byJack, who, in his haste, did not stop to ask permission to come.Luckily, the shark, instead of taking a straight course out to sea, wasdashing round and round in circles. This gave them a chance to saveBilly's life, for had the great fish pursued a straight course, Raynor'sfate would undoubtedly have been sealed.
"Row for your lives, men," urged the captain, standing erect, pistol inhand, awaiting the first opportunity for a shot at the shark.
"Shure thare's no nade to till us thot, captain, dear," cried Muldoon."We'll git the poor lad if we have to pull our own heads off."
The shark now made a swift dash for the bow of the _Sea Gypsy_. Behindhim, at a distance of about seventy-five feet, poor Billy's body couldbe seen being rushed through the water with a "wake" behind it like thatof a fast steamer. Jack could see his chum's face, which was ashenwhite. But from the glimpse he had of it, the young wireless man wassure that Billy was still alive, marvelous though that seemed. For halfthe time, owing to the manner in which he was attached to the shark, theunfortunate lad's head was under the surface of the water.
Bang! Captain Sparhawk's pistol spoke as the shark crossed the bow ofthe boat which had been instantly turned to follow the creature's newtactics.
"Missed," he groaned.
"No," cried Jack, an instant later. "See, the water is red behind him!You hit him."
"Yes, but I fear not mortally. These creatures have an amazing grip onlife," was the despondent reply.
And now a fresh element entered into the scene. Round the bow of theyacht, toward which the shark, with its human burden, was dashing, theresuddenly appeared a long, slender canoe with two lithe young nativefigures propelling it. It was Anai and his friend, the sworn allies ofthe boys.
For an instant, as the extraordinary scene presented itself to them,they stood like bronze figures. Then the full meaning of the impendingtragedy appeared to strike them. With a simultaneous cry each graspedhis great iron-wood knife and without the slightest hesitation leapedoverboard.
"They are going to save him!" cried Jack exultingly, as the two Kanakaboys fearlessly clove the shark-infested water to attack the monsterthat had abducted Billy.
"And lose their own lives," exclaimed the captain as several dark finsappeared in the water about the two intrepid youths.
CHAPTER XV.--A MESSAGE FROM THE DEEP.
The scene that ensued was one that lingered long in the recollection ofthose who saw it. Uttering loud yells, the two native boys bore down onthe shark that had poor Billy in tow.
Each taking a side they dashed upon it with fury. As they gained itsflanks their arms flashed up and the next instant their great iron-woodknives were buried hilt-deep in the tough skin. The watchers saw thegreat shark give an upward leap and the water was dyed crimson.
"They reached his vitals. Hurrah for them," cried Captain Sparhawk."Bear down on Billy, lads. I reckon the shark is done for."
They were none too soon. After being disentangled from the rope that hadcaused all the trouble, Billy was hauled into the boat just in the nickof time. The rope had grazed and chafed his legs cruelly, but except forthe great amount of water in his lungs he had suffered no other injury.
But no sooner had this been done than another necessity arose. The braveAnai and his companion were surrounded by a school of sharks attractedby the blood of the creature the two young Kanakas had despatched. Sofar, by splashing furiously, and screeching at the top of their voices,the native youths had succeeded in keeping the monsters at bay, but itwas doubtful for how long they could do so.
"To the rescue, lads," cried Captain Sparhawk, replacing the cartridgehe had discharged. "Give way with a will. I wouldn't wish to see eitherof those brave lads harmed."
In a few seconds they were in the midst of the school of sharks that hadassembled as if by magic, ravenous for the flesh of their dead brother.The captain's pistol spat lead right and left, and at that short rangethe effect of the bullets was deadly. In a few minutes five of the seamonsters were dead. But far from being scared off the rest fellfuriously upon these, making upward rushes, exposing their huge mouthswith their triple rows of needle-like teeth.
Leaving them to their cannibal feast, Anai and his companion were hauledon board and at Muldoon's special request the body of the brute that hadalmost caused Billy's death was taken in tow.
"I'll make you byes some handsome watch-charms out of his teeth ferremimbrancers," he promised.
"As if we needed anything to remind us of it," shuddered Jack.
"Just think, if it hadn't been for Anai here and Bolabola I'd have beenpast saving by now," cried Billy, warmly ringing their hands.
"You may well say that, lad," agreed the captain. "They saved you fromvisiting Davy Jones, without a doubt."
"We your friends. Must save you even if it cost our lives," said Anai,looking embarrassed.
"Shure an' thot's more than many a white man wud say," approved Muldoonwarmly. "Byes, give us yer flippers. Ye may hav' black skins, but bejabers yer hearts is pure gold entoirely."
The canoe was taken in tow and the whole party returned to the yacht,where they received more congratulations from the others on board whohad watched the whole affair spell-bound with alarm and then withadmiration at the Kanaka boys' brave act. The decks rang with cheers asthey came on board, Captain Sparhawk and Jack supporting Billy, who wasstill white and shaky.
Mr. Jukes' enthusiasm for Anai and Bolabola knew no bounds. Themillionaire wanted them to accept a handful of gold pieces each. But thelads shook their heads. Gold was of little use to them. But otherpresents which were showered upon them they accepted gladly. There wasalmost a canoe-full of them, ranging from gaudy neckties to a brokenconcertina, the latter being presented by Muldoon. It could emit, uponcoaxing, a few wheezy notes, and the brown boys appeared to prize itquite above any of their other gifts.
In the meantime, on the foredeck, to which the body of the great sharkhad been hoisted by slings, the members of the crew, who understood suchoperations, assisted by Muldoon, were cutting up the monster. From timeto time they flung useless bits of offal over the side. A scramble fromsuch of the sharks as had disposed of the dead bodies of theircompanions instantly ensued. Sharks are the most rapacious of anycreatures on land or sea, and their appetites appeared to have beenslacked in no important particular by their cannibal meal.
"Bad luck to yez," exclaimed Muldoon, shaking his fist at them after oneof these rushes, for every sailor hates a shark. "There's many a thruelad gone to his long rickonin' through yez or yez mates. Bad cess to alluv yez, says Tim Muldoon."
An interested group, among whom were Jack and Billy, watched theproceedings from the bridge. Mr. Jukes was no less interested than therest. He attentively watched the sharks as they fought. Perhaps theirfeverish rapacity reminded him of certain "big business" operations athome in the States where great corporations have been not unknown togobble up their small competitors as hungrily as any tiger shark.
"Hullo, they seem to have found something interesting," said Jack, as amurmur arose among the butchers who suddenly crowded round Muldoon,chief of the dissectors.
"It's a bottle," cried Billy Raynor.
"Look here what I found in the hongry divil's stomach," exclaimedMuldoon, holding up his find. "Be jabers, he must hav' a digestion adispiptic millionaire would invy to ----"
He stopped short, covered with confusion, as he suddenly recalled thatMr. Jukes suffered from the very complaint he had mentioned.
"Bring that bottle here, Muldoon," ordered Captain Sparhawk, in order tosave what threatened to be an awkward situation, for Mr. Jukes hadturned as red as a turkey-cock and the boys had had to turn away to hidetheir smiles.
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nbsp; The quartermaster hastened aft with the bottle. It was encrusted withdeposits apparently caused by the acids of the shark's stomach. But whenCaptain Sparhawk held it to the light, he could see that containedwithin it was some object.
"There's something inside it," he said.
"By jove, perhaps a letter from some shipwrecked sailors," exclaimed Mr.Jukes.
"Such messages are often frauds, sir," observed the captain. "If itshould prove to be such, I'd be wary about replying to it."
"Well, let's have a look at it, whatever it is," said Mr. Jukes. "Thisis really interesting."
They all crowded about, even the Kanakas, as the captain smashed thebottle on the rail. A rolled-up paper dropped on the deck. Jack, atwhose feet it had fallen, picked it up. He opened it and saw that it wasscribbled on with pencil.
"It seems ----," he began, when a sudden exclamation from Mr. Jukeschecked his further utterance.
"Let me look at that paper," commanded the millionaire, who, they nownoticed, was breathing quickly and whose eyes shone with feverishexcitement.
Jack handed it over, while they all regarded the millionaire's agitationcuriously. With hands that shook, the financier scanned the letter andthen made an electrifying announcement in a voice that was tense andself-controlled, but yet betrayed the excitement under which he laboredas he spoke.