Part 30 (2/2)

”Oh no,” said Murray, laughing. ”I don't suppose the directions said, to be taken in water.”

”Um--no. But what's to be done? Look; he's got it.”

For as the descent of the bottle Roberts had thrown in could be traced by the way in which the tiny phosph.o.r.escent creatures were disturbed, lower and lower through the deep water, there was another vivid flash made by some big fish as it gave a tremendous flourish with its tail, and the mids.h.i.+pman rubbed his hands with delight.

”He's got it, I'm sure,” he cried. ”But what's to be done? No use to pitch in a corkscrew.”

”Not a bit, d.i.c.k,” replied Murray cheerily.

”What a pity! I ought to have known better. He's got it, but the gla.s.s will stop the draught from having the proper effect.”

”Oh no; perhaps not,” said Murray, laughing. ”I've read that sharks have wonderful digestions.”

”Well, let's hope this one has. I shall like to look out for him to-morrow watching for the doctor, as he squints up from the wake of the sloop.”

”More likely to be looking up for you, old fellow. The doctor didn't throw the bottle in.”

”Oh, well, never mind that. I don't suppose the horrible beast knows the difference. I've got rid of the stuff, anyhow; that's all I care about; and n.o.body knows but you.”

”Beg pardon, gentlemen,” said a voice out of the darkness; ”was you a-chucking anything overboard?”

There was a short time of silence, for Murray waited so as to give his messmate a chance to answer the question; but as the latter made no reply he took the duty upon himself.

”That you, Tom May?” he asked.

”Ay, ay, sir. Somebody chucked somethin' overboard twiced, and I was wondering whether it was you gents.”

”Why?” said Roberts shortly. ”Couldn't it have been one of the watch?”

”No, sir; they're aft, or t'other side of the s.h.i.+p.”

”Well, it was, Tom.”

”Oh, all right, sir. You'll 'scuse me asking? I only did 'cause the skipper's very partickler since one of the lads got making away with some of the s.h.i.+p's stores, and there's no knowing what mischief the boys might be up to. Then, o' course, sir, there's nothing for me to report to the officer of the watch?”

”No: nothing at all, Tom. Haven't got anything more to throw in, have you, Murray?”

”Not so much as a single pill,” said Murray drily.

”Eh? No, of course not. The water's so still and clear, Tom,”

continued the middy hurriedly, ”you can see the fish dash after anything, making the sea flash quite deep down.”

”Oh yes, sir, I've seen that. It's the sharks, sir; there's often one hanging about right below the keel on the lookout for anything that may be chucked overboard. I believe, sir, as they've got sense enough to know that they may have a bit o' luck and have a chance at an onlucky chap as slips overboard or gets tempted into having a bathe. Wonderful cunning critters, sir, is sharks. I'm always glad when there's a hook with a bit o' pork trailed overboard and one's hauled aboard and cut up to see what he's got inside.”

”What!” said Roberts excitedly. ”Ripped up to see what's inside?”

”Yes, sir. Don't you remember that one we caught 'bout a month ago? Oh no, of course not. You was ash.o.r.e with the skipper's gig at Seery Leony. That there was a whopper, sir, and he did lay about with his tail, till the cook had it off with a lucky chop of his meat axe. That quieted the beggar a bit, and give him a chance to open Mr Jack Shark up and see what he'd had for dinner lately.”

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