COCOS— THE ISLE OF PIRATES 247 



a time I crouched in a circular cavity between two 

 great coral growths, with my helmet in the entrance 

 like a cork in some astounding bottle. The sharks 

 showed no more than curiosity and, as usual, I was 

 much more concerned with the ugly four and five 

 foot groupers who pushed their unpleasant mouths 

 within a few inches of my body and limbs. But 

 when I saw the pigfish and the angelfish swimming 

 unconcernedly about, I took heart and strode forth. 



In the dim distance I could see a very beautiful 

 sea-fan and started for it. Never, even in the high 

 Himalayas, have I ever breasted so stiff a wind as 

 the push of this current which swept past Nuez. 

 At times I was lifted clear off my feet and carried 

 back. Twice I found myself at my starting point. 

 So I went down on my knees, and with fingers and 

 toes clung to every step which I gained. With 

 me went the brobdingnagian groupers and the lesser 

 fry of angelfish and always overhead circled the 

 sharks. My hose had trailed behind now and was 

 no longer the hub of their orbits. For a while I 

 was the center of attraction in this part of the 

 Pacific Ocean. 



After much effort I reached my sea-fan and hung 

 on to it while I floated in mid-water, waved about 

 by the current Hke a rag on a bush. My body-guard 

 had thinned out, and twisting around, I saw a tiger 

 shark weaving slowly toward me. I would gladly 

 have given my place to any eager scientist in the 

 world, or relinquished it to one of the thousands of 

 men with more courage than I possess. But at 

 least I was not bothered with a choice of action — 



