As he spoke, Jefferson shot up to the boat's side, where half a dozen eager hands dragged him in.
"Phew!" he said, shaking the water from his face and head, "that beast has cost me my knife and my cutlass."
He had sheathed them both in the shark before the ugly beast was done with.
The spectators gave him a cheer.
"That's sharp work, Jack," said Harry Girdwood.
"Sharp, indeed."
"It wants a quick hand and a sharp eye."
"And it has got it, too, there," said Isaac Mole, enthusiastically; "the smartest performance I've seen for many a long day."
Jefferson nodded and smiled at the speaker.
"Thank'ee, Mr. Mole," said he; "such praise is indeed gratifying coming from you, the real hero of the day."