well armed that they roam the seas without fear. On page 52 you see a
picture (No. 2) of the Saw-fish, one of the Shark family. It is a large
fish, and carries a big saw on its head, with which it stabs sideways at
its prey.

Imagine, if you can, a Shark about fifteen feet long and weighing a ton
or so. Now suppose the top jaw of this monster to be drawn out into a
hard, flat blade six feet in length. Then suppose there are sharp ivory
teeth, one inch apart, fixed on each side the blade, and you have an
idea of the Saw-fish. This strange Shark is said to be as strong as it
is fierce. It kills its prey by tearing them open with side blows from
its sharp, two-edged saw. Its big mouth is fitted with a great many rows
of needle-like teeth.

The Sword-fish wears a different weapon--a lance instead of a saw. He is
not a Shark, but a cousin of the beautiful Mackerel. This warrior of the
deep is more dreaded than the Saw-fish, and braver than any Shark. His
speed in the water is marvellous; it makes him safe from attack. He
carries in front of him a terrible weapon, and all sea-creatures hasten
from his path as fast as they can.

You may have seen the Sword-fish in a museum. There is a fine one in the
London Natural History Museum, where there is also a "sword" from one of
these fish, driven eighteen inches into the solid oak of a ship. The
Sword-fish never thinks twice about attacking, no matter if his enemy is
ten or twenty times as large as himself. He sees a Whale, and, like a
flash, hurls himself at it, stabbing his sword as deep as it will go
into the Whale's side. With a twist of his body the sword is wrenched
free, only to be driven savagely in again.