LOSS OF THE MAGPIE. 219 
the shark, and now and then another and another might be 
seen. He looked at his enemies and then at himself. Cer- 
tain death awaited him in the boat, perhaps heightened by 
crime ; a chance of death awaited him in the sea ; but there 
was hope to buoy him up — the time was flying ; the brig was 
fast advancing, and hope was every minute growing less. 
"Well," said he, "Jack, it comes to this, you see, that if 
we wait we must die — if I get to the brig, we must be saved. 
If the sharks — God Almighty protect me!" said he, shudder- 
ing as he mentioned the word — "should take me, and you 
live to get back again, you know where to remember me. I 
say. Jack, it's no use being frightened to death when we can 
but die: come, give us your hand, my la.st companion.. I'll 
do it, if it is to be done. Good by. Now, if you see those 
devils in chase of me, splash or make some noise to frighten 
them, but don't tell me you see them coming. Another shake 
of the hand — God bless you. Jack ! keep your eye upon 
me, and make signals to the brig — there," said he, putting 
his knife down, "that might be of use to you, and here's 
my toggery. If I'm taken, it's none the better for last night's 
swim." Then falling on his knees, and saying, " God pro- 
tect me!" he jumped overboard with as much calmness as 
if he was bathing in security. No sooner had he begun to 
strike out in the direction he intended, than his companion 
turned toward the sharks. The fins had disappeared, and it 
was evident they had heard the splash, and would soon follow 
their prey. It is hard to say who suffered the most anxiety. 
The one left in the boat cheered his companion, looked at the 
brig, and kept waving his jacket — then turned to watch the 
sharks. His horrors may be imagined, when he saw three 
of those terrific monsters swim past the boat, exactly in the 
direction of his companion: he splashed his jacket in the 
water to scare them away, but they seemed quite aware of 
the impotency of the attack, and lazily pursued their course. 
The man swam well and strongly. Thene was no doubt he 
would pass within hail of the brig, provided the sharks did 
not interfere ; and he, knowing that they would not be long in 
following him, kept kicking the water and splashing as he 
swam. There is no fish more cowardly, and yet more des- 
perately savage, than a shark. I have seen one harpooned 
twice, with a hook in its jaws, and come again to a fresh bait : 
yet will they suffer themselves to be scared by the smallest 
noise, and hardly ever take their prey without it is quite still. 
Generally speaking, any place surrounded by rocks where the 
