The Pirate Shark

sunny morning, and the two boys, up in the chart house with the captain, began to see wild visions of w

ot stop. Going right ahead under Mindanao, we'll round up into the Sulu Sea and cut through Balabac Straits, north of Bornea. That b

art placed his finger on the Malay c

oast is low all along there, with lagoo

the Malay coasts, the captain poi

is island. Jerry says that the lagoon makes a fine harbor, and is deep enough for the yacht. There are

b skeptically. H

rip in first, to make sure it'll be all right for you to come along, and while I'm gone you can ta

essages to be sent off via Honolulu. Having sent them and arranged for answers

between the green-clad hills of Niihau and Kauai, and then struck out on her straight course for the southernmost of

ke a hurricane to Mart. They had had fine weather so far, and Mart had long ago dismissed all thoughts of seasickness, but n

enly. Flinging himself out, he caught his tormentor and bore him to the floor. Bob rose with a bleeding nose, wiped the pork from his face, and fled; and Mart found that he h

the yacht forcing her ahead at a steady fifteen knots through calm and glassy waters. The sun was tremendously hot,

oe Swanson and the others called the jellyfish squadrons. Indeed, there was no lack of sea life all about them. Mart at

astern, while the shark could plainly be seen gobbling the refuse which the cook had just flung out from the galley. His long, dirty-white body was any

k made fast to a line. Having baited the hook with a lump of pork, he flung it over the rail; the boys

r the shark fought gamely, but he could not bite through the big steel shank of the hook, and was finally d

ich were continually leaping beneath the bows of the yacht, while the boys managed to

house, and the boys would join him. There, sitting in their deck chai

g clear in the air to fall back with hardly a splash, in a graceful curve. When he first saw the sight, Mart could hardly contain himself; the thrill of seeing that great body swirl up i

'em?" asked Bob hesitat

, Bob. In the next place, these are little twenty-two caliber bullets; unless it happened to penetrate a vital part, one of these little pellets won't bother

mew, and there seemed to be no lack of porpoises anxious to serve as moving targets. And, indeed,

anywhere near the mark. Bob did better, having had more practice in shooting, and the captain proved himself a past master. But at no time did any thought of cr

ed Mart one morning to his chum. "Do you s

ful lot o' bullets, Mart. I tell you-next time you sight a shark after us, I'll

never knew, for the shark turned and disappeared rapidly. Mart had missed, not allowing for refraction, while Bob's shot had gone true, bu

their efforts in impartial criticism. Mart was amazed to find that after scoring twenty or thirty hits, the shark still plunged and leaped as strongly as ever, al

ting down his rifle. "It doesn't give the brute a fai

s laughter. "I guess I'll stick to the twenty-

for that matter, something occurred the very next day that se

food was far superior to that of the ordinary forecastle galley. The engine-room crew was composed of two

n the men than was the first mate, Swanson. Yet Swanson was obeyed with great alacrity, probably because he did not hesitate to bully the men, while Pet

ing over some magazines in the library saloon. Suddenly they heard voices in altercation

claimed Mart, springi

y, joining him. "Don't get

other. "Hello! By golly,

wnings were up and the decks were being holystoned. Outside the door stood a bucket of water, a big holystone beside it,

y. "If I catch you again with a pipe alight aft of th

s fist had evidently landed, his one eye flamed

ered thickly. "I'll

l-faced seaman full on the jaw, and Birch went back

dered the mate. "And you get gay with that knife again, Birch, and I

traightened up suddenly. Gazing malevolently at the broad back of the retreating mate, the one

e padding along in his bare feet, his white hair flying in the wind. He caught Birch's arm, and for a second the two men stared into each other's faces. And when Mart saw the featur

rry, as Peters disappea

sponded Birch sullenly. "But I'm goin' t

work!" snapped Jerry, an

ooked at his chum. B

men," exclaimed Mart s

thin'-you've got to handle sailors like that. But did you hear what he said to J

. "But a quartermaster ain't an officer, reme

least show of rebellion or "back talk" is answered with a blow. But even so, the evil face of the one-eyed seaman flitted through M