Ralph. Peterkin, do your best to BALANCE THE LOG. Don't look out
for the shark. Don't glance behind you. Do nothing but balance
the log."

Peterkin and I instantly did as we were ordered, being only too
glad to do anything that afforded us a chance or a hope of escape,
for we had implicit confidence in Jack's courage and wisdom. For a
few seconds, that seemed long minutes to my mind, we sat thus
silently; but I could not resist glancing backward, despite the
orders to the contrary. On doing so, I saw Jack sitting rigid like
a statue, with his paddle raised, his lips compressed, and his eye-
brows bent over his eyes, which glared savagely from beneath them
down into the water. I also saw the shark, to my horror, quite
close under the log, in the act of darting towards Jack's foot. I
could scarce suppress a cry on beholding this. In another moment
the shark rose. Jack drew his leg suddenly from the water, and
threw it over the log. The monster's snout rubbed against the log
as it passed, and revealed its hideous jaws, into which Jack
instantly plunged the paddle, and thrust it down its throat. So
violent was the act that Jack rose to his feet in performing it;
the log was thereby rolled completely over, and we were once more
plunged into the water. We all rose, spluttering and gasping, in a
moment.

"Now then, strike out for shore," cried Jack. "Here, Peterkin,
catch hold of my collar, and kick out with a will."

Peterkin did as he was desired, and Jack struck out with such force
that he cut through the water like a boat; while I, being free from
all encumbrance, succeeded in keeping up with him. As we had by