CATCHING A MAN-EATER. 225 



Tom got a line ready, and as they tore by 

 he hurled it at the dinghy, and soon their 

 fiery steed had two boats in tow instead of 

 one. 



" I was afraid he was too much for you/' 

 called the doctor, hauling in on the line ; " but 

 he can not stand this long." 



Tom was taking in every inch, and in a short 

 time their boat was directly over the shark's 

 tail. <; Now a long pull ! " he cried. 



The boys surged on the line with a hearty 

 " heave o' ! " and ran over the shark. Another 

 brisk turn, and they had its head partly out of 

 water and on its side. But the shark had not 

 given up yet ; the great scythe-like tail beat the 

 water with terrible strokes, and twisted in every 

 possible position in the attempts to break away, 

 showing a mouth full of white serrated teeth 

 which it ground together in a most unpleasant 

 and suggestive manner. 



" Pass your line astern ! " shouted Long 

 John, " and you can tow him in." 



Unshipping the rope from the notch, and 

 quickly passing it astern, they soon had their 



