The creature was drawing him toward some hole in the cave, probably under water, and he realized most poignantly that something must be done shortly or he would be sacrificed to the pitiless water devil.
He felt himself rising and in a moment, when he most needed it, was able to get his breath.
The devil fish, even with the loss of two of its arms, was still powerful enough to make all his efforts futile, and he felt himself being drawn into some recess beyond where he had first seen the octopus squatting on the rock and glaring at them with its horrible eyes.
Percival, having found Jack's electric torch and searching the cave below and above water for a sign of his friend, suddenly saw the devil fish rise to the ledge where he had first seen it.
Jack was now caught in two of its remaining arms and was being drawn toward some deep recess whence there would be no rescuing him.
Transferring the light to his left hand, Percival whipped out the revolver from his hip pocket with his right and took rapid aim.
"I'm afraid it will be like trying to pierce an elephant's hide," he muttered, "but I'm going to try it for all that."
Luckily he caught sight of the creature's eyes at the moment and took aim straight for one of them.
Jack was being drawn toward the horrible beak and the sight nearly unnerved Dick.
Fortunately he had aimed and pressed the trigger before he saw this ghastly sight.