Then it suddenly recovered itself and tore the water into foam, lashing out with its tail and turning over and over, snapping with its great jaws.

“It is an unnecessary cruelty, Mr. Andrews,” said Sackett, loudly.  “Put that weapon up.  It is no use to kill to satisfy a murderous heart.  The fish would leave us in a few moments if it were fed.”

“Watch the Lord’s anointed feed it then,” snarled the ruffian, with a fierce oath.  “Say a pater for its soul, for it’s on its way to hell.”

With that he fired again as the fish broached clear, and I must say one could hardly help admiring his shooting.  The heavy bullet struck within an inch of the first, although the mark was now several fathoms distant and thrashing about at a great rate.

The shark whirled round and started off, leaving a trail of blood which showed like a dark cloud in its wake.  In a moment it had disappeared.

“Don’t swear so hard, my dear Mr. Andrews,” cried Mr. Bell, in his high, piping voice.  “You’ll scare all the fish.”

Andrews coolly broke his pistol at the breech and tossed out the empty shells.  Then he reloaded it and handed it to the smiling, rosy-cheeked third mate.

“You stand by and take care of things while I spell Bull England a bit,” said he.  “Journegan,” he continued, calling to the English mate, “you take the line for a while, and let that young fellow rest, while I try her bilge aft.”

He stripped off his shirt and stood in his trousers.  When I saw him, I no longer wondered why I had failed to overcome him in our first set-to.  The fellow was a perfect mass of muscle, and while I gazed at his strong frame I wondered at the power in Trunnell’s arms, which held us so tight and saved me that first day on board.

He came out on the frame, and I made way for Journegan to take the line.  He took a turn, and over he went without delay.

After four or five attempts to get under the ship, he finally came to the surface with news.  He had been under her bilge, clear down to the keel on a line with the main channels.  Not being able to get further, and seeing the dark shadow of the keel ahead, he made out to examine as far as he could go.  Close to her garboard strake on the starboard side he saw where a large butt had started, owing probably to the bad loading of the ship.  This plank end starting outboard was evidently where the water came in.

Andrews came on deck after this, and all hands began overhauling gear to get a mattress upon the hole.  Lines were rove and passed under the ship’s bilge and keel.  These were made fast on deck to the stump of the mizzen mast, and their ends brought to the capstan through snatch blocks.  Planks were then strapped loosely on the lines and allowed to run along them freely, being weighted sufficiently to cause them to sink.  After they were slung clear of the ship, they were held in position until a pad of canvas and oakum was inserted between them and the side.