He shouted at the top of his lungs. Unexpectedly, out of the fog to starboard Jim's voice answered him.
"Sharks!" yelled Percy. "This way! Quick!"
"Fight 'em off! We're coming!"
In less than two minutes the sloop was alongside, and oars and harpoon helped beat off the assailants while the prize was being hoisted aboard. Though badly gouged and bitten about the head, the swordfish was but little impaired in value, for its body had hardly been touched. Another of about the same size lay in the standing-room. It had been a good morning's work.
Percy told his story as the Barracouta nosed home through the fog. When he had finished, Jim dropped his hand on his shoulder.
"Perce," said he, "you certainly put up a great fight and saved your fish. Nobody could have done any better."
Those few words, Percy felt, amply repaid him for what he had gone through that morning. He had won his spurs and was at last a full-fledged member of Spurling & Company.