"Hello! what's that?" asked Bob, running to the stern of the vessel, and peering over in the gloom.
"I guess it am a whale," suggested Sam, anxious to befriend the lad.
"A whale!" repeated the man with an oath, "it's that kid. Hello, there! Stop, or I'll shoot you!"
And he pointed his revolver at the head of Jim, who, instead of heeding the command, sank beneath the surface, swimming as far as he could before coming up. When he reappeared he was a dozen yards from the schooner.
The very moment he came up the villain discharged two shots from his pistol directly at his head.
"Look out, or dey'll hit yous!" called Sam, unable to repress his solicitude for the boy.
Could the miscreant finish the lad when swimming, it would be as good a way as any to dispose of him.
It looked as if he had succeeded, for Jim uttered a groan, and sank out of sight.
But it was only a trick intended to deceive the sailor.
The latter observed the head as it reappeared, still nearer shore, and he fired again, two shots, as before. The other sailor, fearful of a miss, was hastily lowering a boat.