Frank cast a quick glance out over the water.

"He's got a fish on, and it seems to be a big one, too!" he exclaimed.

"Why, it's pulling his boat around like fun! Look at that, will you? Say!
be careful, Jerry, or overboard you go!" shrieked Will.

"There! He's headed this way, now, and going faster than ever! I never
saw such a thing before, in all my life! What can it be, Frank?" cried
Bluff, excited.

"I don't know for certain, but I'd venture to say he's fast to a shark!"
answered Frank, hurrying to the side of the motor-boat to see better.

"A shark! Great Caesar's ghost! What will become of him? Why, the brute
is carrying our pard off! There he goes, faster and faster, and headed
straight out toward the open gulf! Jerry, let him go!" called Will in his
excitement.

Jerry, in the little cockleshell of a dinghy, was whirling past as this
cry rang out. He turned to wave a hand at his chums, and they heard him
singing:

"A life on the ocean wave for me, my boys!"




CHAPTER XII