336 " IN AT THE DEATH." 



the bow with weapon poised, and when the huge fin once 

 more showed on the surface, drove it in lustily, until the 

 iron was completely buried. 



Like a flash of lightning away sped the shark, appar- 

 ently as fresh as at first. Like a flash of lightning sped 

 the rope, and the men looked round upon one another 

 with faces of dismay. Suddenly the speed slackened, and 

 all closed in their grasp upon the rope. The fish had 

 stopped ! With hearts full of hope, the men applied 

 themselves to their task. Again the harpoon handles 

 emerged above the water, and four men got out their oars 

 to keep the boat stern away while the death-struggle was 

 being fought. When all was ready, they hauled up the 

 prey until his back touched the stern ; then they remorse- 

 lessly plunged into him pike and sword, and hewed at 

 him with hatchet, until the sea was purple with his 

 blood ; while in his agonies, and in his fruitless attempts 

 at vengeance, he lashed the water into clouds of spray 

 with his ponderous tail. 



At last he died, and cheers of triumph signalled the 

 success of the hunters. Truly, it was " royal sport." 

 And the crew, while they grasped each other's hands, and 

 the boat, anchored to the heaving monster now so power- 

 less, rose gaily to the rolling waves, showed by their joy- 

 flushed faces " how glorious is the delight of those who 

 feel that they have had men's work to do and have done 

 it well." 



The next task was to pull up to the yacht for the ad- 

 venture we have been describing took place with the 

 yacht's boat and as the sea was angry, no little danger 

 was incurred. The men, however, with the skipper and 

 harpooneer, got safely on board ; and then began to dis- 



