The Go Ahead Boys and the Treasure Cave Part 30

"Where?"

"Why out there. Don't you see him?"

"He's crazy," said Grant angrily. "Why does he want to go so far out? He can swim just as well along sh.o.r.e and not take half the risk. Suppose anything should happen to him now, we couldn't help him a bit."

"Look!" cried Fred suddenly, "there's a shark."

"Where?"

"Right behind John. He's a goner now," and Fred almost sobbed aloud.

"John! John!" shouted Grant at the top of his voice, but he knew it was hopeless to think of making himself heard at that distance.

"He's gone. He's gone," moaned Fred distractedly.

The great black fin moved steadily along in back of the daring young swimmer. To the boys on the sh.o.r.e it seemed as if it approached nearer with every pa.s.sing moment. Suddenly there was a great splashing in the immediate vicinity of where John was swimming.

CHAPTER XIX

SHARK

"It's horrible," cried Fred almost beside himself with anguish. "Oh, why did he swim out so far?"

The splashing continued. The two boys on the sh.o.r.e stood and watched almost spellbound at the sight. Their faces were white and their hearts were like great lumps in their throats. Neither one had any thought other than that John had been attacked by the shark and was even now being torn to pieces by the great man-eater. They shut their eyes to hide the horror of the thing.

Finally Grant looked again. The splashing had ceased and the water was calm around the spot where John had been. Suddenly he spied a head appearing far out from the sh.o.r.e.

"There he is," he cried suddenly.

"Who? John?" demanded Fred. "Where?"

"Out there in the same place. He hasn't gotten him yet."

"Where's the shark?"

"I don't see it."

"There it is," exclaimed Fred. "Between John and the sh.o.r.e."

Sure enough, the great black fin appeared once more sailing serenely about a few yards distant from John, but between him and land.

"How can he get in?" cried Fred. "The shark is in the way."

"I don't know," said Grant. "Certainly he can't swim right at the shark."

"He never will get in," moaned Fred. "He'll surely be killed."

"He's all right so far."

"I know. He missed him before but he won't again."

"Maybe John can fight him off. You can't tell."

"There he goes again. He's closing in."

The shark did seem to be moving towards John once more. Around and around in circles he went and even from the sh.o.r.e Grant and Fred could see their companion's head turn so as always to keep his eyes fixed on his enemy.

"We must go to him," cried Fred. "We must do something."

"What can we do? We're helpless."

"Can't we swim out?"

"Suppose we did. We couldn't do anything when we got there."

Suddenly the splashing was resumed. John and the shark both disappeared from sight as the water was thrown up in all directions around them.

"What's happened, Grant? I'm afraid to look."

"I think he drove him off."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. There he is. He scared him away again."

"He can't keep that up forever, though," moaned Fred. "He must be getting pretty nearly exhausted by now."

"Look!" cried Grant suddenly. "Here comes Sam."

Running towards them at top speed and throwing off his clothes as he ran came Sam. In his teeth was the long knife he had made so laboriously and spent so many hours to sharpen.

"What's he going to do?" cried Fred in wonderment. "Where are you going, Sam?" he called as the negro came up to the spot where the two boys stood.

"Ah'll get 'im," muttered Sam, and without waiting for another thing he plunged headlong into the water. A moment later he reappeared, the knife still in his mouth, and with powerful strokes struck out for John and the hungry giant that threatened him.

"What's he going to do, Grant?" exclaimed Fred.

"I don't know. Watch him."

"Do you think he can kill the shark with that knife?"

"He's evidently going to try."

"He'll be too late."