Page:The Great Secret.djvu/94

78 where the others had gone, and after swinging me backwards and forwards two or three times, threw me clear over and away from them.

"An eternity seemed to pass after I left their hands until I reached the sunlit, clear waves, an eternity of anticipation, and then with a loud splash I sank below the surface.

"The vessel was going fast, so that before I touched the water I was nearly at her stern, and as I sank it was amongst the froth and turmoil that the revolving screw made. This kept off the sharks for a little time, while I was beaten and tossed wildly about, now out of the water and now submerged, wondering all the time how it was that I was not suffocated.

"Then the turmoil gradually ceased, and I began to sink softly and slowly through the limpid fluid. How blue the sky was above me, how soft and cool the sea.

"I had not long to wait before the sharks found me. They had darted away at the splash I made in falling, and hung back from the disturbance of the screw, but that was gone now and the ship many fathoms in front, while round me I could see only water brightly illumined by the sunlight, so that the objects became distinct and magnified as they approached, with swift and noiseless sweeps.

"Three monsters came towards me at once from different quarters, with dull, glaring eyes, and huge, open jaws, within which gleamed zig-zag rows of sharp, small, saw-like teeth. They came sideways towards me, and for a moment glided over me, meeting each other in deadly fight, leaving me for a second alone, while they tore at each other savagely, disputing about the possession of my poor body.