82 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 
nearer and still nearer, their huge shapes 
and cruel swords suggesting a fearful 
death. 
Sammy’s strength was almost gone, his 
fins were growing weaker, and he swam 
more and more slowly, while the mouth 
of the monster nearest him watered in 
eager anticipation. 
But the dauntless Pilot still kept on 
his course, and showed no sign of weak¬ 
ening. Straight at the large reef, now 
very near, he dashed, and then, just as 
destruction seemed certain, he swerved to 
the right and disappeared from view in a 
mass of weeds that grew out from the 
rock. With one last desperate effort 
Sammy followed, the weeds closed behind 
him, and passing quickly through a small 
hole in the reef, he lay, quivering, ex¬ 
hausted, but safe on the other side. 
Furious at their disappointment the 
