The Three Admirals | Page 9

not Desmond and Billy seized him he
would have been overboard.
"He's more afraid of us than we are of him," said Tom. "Now let us get
as far up the cavern as we can."
They pulled cautiously on, Tim standing up in the bows, and feeling
ahead with the boat-hook. The mouth of the cavern seemed to grow
smaller and smaller, until only a point of light remained. Suddenly Pat
Casey, who was pulling with Jerry Bird, declared that he felt something
seize the blade of his oar.
"It's the shark, perhaps," said Tom. "We have the muskets ready. I'll
give him a shot, and that will make him keep his distance. Wait until he
tries it again."
Tom took the musket, and stood up ready to fire.
"There! he's got my oar in his jaws," cried Pat.
Tom fired. The flash revealed for an instant the sides and roof of the
cavern, which seemed to glitter as if studded with thousands of jewels,
while ahead all was pitchy darkness, showing that they had not yet got
to the extremity. The sound of the report, greatly increased in loudness,
went echoing amid the arches and pillars, until it died away in the far
distance, proving the great extent of the cavern.
Whether the shark was hit or not, it was impossible to say; but the
bullet tore off the point of Pat's oar, showing that Tom had taken good
aim.
Jerry Bird now suggested to the midshipmen that it would be prudent to
pull back, as without torches they could not see where they were going.
There might be, for what they could tell to the contrary, some big sea
monster squatting up at the further end, who might crunch them up
without ceremony.
Though Tom had no apprehensions on that score, he agreed to return,

proposing, should the Dragon remain at anchor another day, to explore
the cave with a supply of torches. The boat was accordingly cautiously
pulled round, and made her way towards the mouth. It was curious to
watch the arch growing higher and higher, and the light gradually
increasing. They had almost reached the entrance, when, on either side,
not one, but several sharks, came gliding up. One, bolder and bigger
than the rest, seized the blade of an oar, crunching off the end; and the
other men had to keep a watchful eye to save theirs from being
destroyed. Tom fired the other musket, and declared that the bullet
went through the shark's head. As the monster did not appear the worse
for it, Desmond and Billy doubted the fact. Not until Tom had fired
several times, and the boat had got to a considerable distance from the
cavern, did the sharks leave her.
"There's one thing certain: that's not a place to bathe in, nor would it be
pleasant to tumble overboard hereabouts," observed Tom, gravely. "I
never can see those black monsters, with their wicked eyes, floating
near and looking up at one, without feeling uncomfortable."
They had to row farther than they expected. At last they saw a narrow
opening in a reef of rocks, within which they made out a small bay,
with a sandy shore, where they could land with ease and draw up the
boat. The country beyond, too, looked far more tempting than they had
yet seen. The water in the passage was deep, so that they had no
difficulty in making their way into the bay. As yet they had seen
nothing of the second lieutenant's and the master's boats, which,
supposing the island to be of small size, they had expected to meet
coming round from the opposite side.
"We shall probably see them if we cut directly across the island,"
observed Tom.
They were not disappointed in the bay. The beach was exactly what
they wished for. They hauled the boat up, and agreed that she could be
left without danger.
"But I hope you fellows are not going to begin a long march without
some food," observed Billy, who was noted for his excellent appetite.

"We have no game, nor have we caught any fish. It's lucky that we
brought some food, as I advised."
Wood was collected, and a fire quickly made. As they had brought cold
meat and bread with them, they had only their potatoes to cook. This
operation was superintended by Tim, while the rest of the party
searched for any other productions of the island which might add to
their repast. They had not gone far when Tom exclaimed--
"Why, there are some cocoa-nut trees, and very fine ones, too. I thought
there were none on the island."
"They are cocoa-nut trees, sure enough," said Desmond, "and with
cocoa-nuts growing on them. How to get them down is the