The Castaways | Page 4

eyes are very large, and placed at each extremity. It is found in the

Mediterranean Sea, as well as in the Indian Ocean, and is noted for its
fierceness and voracity.
CHAPTER THREE.
THE ALBATROSS.
Captain Redwood and the Irishman were horrified at the sight that had
passed under their eyes. So, too, were the children, who had both
started up from their reclining attitude, and looked over the side of the
boat. Even the impassive Malay, all his life used to stirring scenes, in
which blood was often shed, could not look down into those depths,
disturbed by such a tragical occurrence, without having aroused within
him a sensation of horror.
All of them recoiled back into the boat, staggering down upon their
seats. One alone remained standing, and with an expression upon his
face as if he was desirous of again beholding the sight. It was not a look
that betrayed pleasure, but one grim and ghastly, yet strong and steady,
as if it penetrated the profoundest depths of the ocean. It was the look
of the insane sailor.
If his companions had still held any lingering doubts about his insanity,
it was sufficient to dispel them. It was the true stare of the maniac.
It was not long continued. Scarce had they resumed their seats when the
man, once more elevating his arms in the air, uttered another startling
shriek, if possible louder and wilder than before. He had stepped upon
one of the boat seats, and stood with body bent, half leaning over the
gunwale, in the attitude of a diver about to make his headlong plunge.
There could be no mistaking his intention to leap overboard, for his
comrades could see that his muscles were strained to the effort.
All three--the captain, Murtagh, and the Malay--suddenly rose again,
and leant forward to lay hold on him. They were too late. Before a
finger could touch him he had made the fatal spring; and the next
moment he was beneath the surface of the sea!

None of them felt strong enough to leap after and try to save him. In all
probability, the effort would have been idle, and worse; for the mad
fancy that seemed urging him to self-destruction might still influence
his mind, and carry another victim into the same vortex with himself.
Restrained by this thought, they stood up in the boat, and watched for
his coming up again.
He did so at length, but a good distance off. A breeze had been
gradually springing up, and during his dive the pinnace had made some
way, by drifting before it. When his head was again seen above the
curling water, he was nearly a hundred yards to windward of the boat.
He was not so far off as to prevent them from reading the expression
upon his face, now turned toward them. It had become changed, as if
by magic. The wild look of insanity was gone, and in its place was one
almost equally wild, though plainly was it an expression of fear, or
indeed terror. The immersion into the cold, deep sea, had told upon his
fevered brain, producing a quick reaction of reason; and his cries for
help, now in piteous tones sent back to the boat, showed that he
understood the peril in which he had placed himself.
They were not unheeded. Murtagh and the Malay rushed, or rather
tottered, to the oars; while the captain threw himself into the stern, and
took hold of the tiller-ropes.
In an instant the pinnace was headed round, and moving through the
water in the direction of the swimmer; who, on his side, swam toward
them, though evidently with feeble stroke. There seemed not much
doubt of their being able to pick him up. The only danger thought of by
any of them was the zygaena; but they hoped the shark might be still
occupied with its late prey, and not seeking another victim. There
might be another shark, or many more; but for some time past one only
had been seen in the neighbourhood of the boat; the shark, as they
supposed, which had but recently devoured the dead body of the sailor.
Trusting to this conjecture, they plied the oars with all the little strength
left in their arms. Still, notwithstanding their feeble efforts, and the
impediment of pulling against the wind, they were nearing the
unfortunate man, surely, if slowly.

They had got over half the distance; less than half a cable's length was
now between the boat and the struggling swimmer. Not a shark was to
be seen on the water, nor beneath it--no fish of any kind--nothing
whatever in the sea. Only, in the sky above, a large bird, whose long
scimitar-shaped wings and grand curving beak told them what