224 ALONG THE FLORIDA REEF. 



" That's a shame," he added. " No it isn't. Look 

 out for yourselves ! " 



As he spoke, the line came taut again at right 

 angles to the boat. The shark had only changed 

 his direction, and the jerk pulled the boat down 

 so that the water poured in by the bucketful. 



" Get to windward quick ! " shouted Tom ; 

 and they all rushed to the other side just in 

 time to escape a capsize. 



The boat now darted ahead as before, bury- 

 ing her bows in foam, and moving around the 

 channel toward the fort. 



" We're going the right way now, and must 

 try and take in some slack," said Tom. " Take 

 hold ! That's it, now ! " 



Altogether they grasped the line and hauled 

 away, starting the shark to more furious exer- 

 tions. But they kept at it ; now gaining a little, 

 then losing, till after ten minutes they had the 

 fish, a perfect monster, in sight. 



" Here comes the doctor," cried Harry in a 

 ralieved tone. 



He was in a dinghy with Long John and 

 Bob Rand, rapidly nearing them. 



