“Bring the meat here,” exclaimed Mr Parkley; and, choosing the largest piece, he half cut it in two, placed the white canister in the opening, and bound the meat round it firmly with a fresh piece of wire.
“Am dat mustard, sah?” said ’Pollo, with his eyes wide open.
“No, ’Pollo, it’s pepper—pepper for the sharks,” said Mr Parkley, smiling.
“Ho!” said ’Pollo thoughtfully. “I no see de good to gib de shark pepper, sah.”
“Wait a minute and you will, ’Pollo,” said the captain, smiling.
“All ready now,” said Mr Parkley. “Every one stand back.”
The crew shrank away, some of the men, though, climbing the rigging to get a good view of the proceedings, and John Studwick being helped into a sure position in the main chains. Then one of the pieces of coarse beef was taken and jerked out half-a-dozen yards from the ship.
As it struck the water and began to sink there was a rush and commotion as dark-grey forms and white streaks seemed to rise from below. The water bubbled and foamed, and the lump of beef was seized, torn asunder, and two huge sharks gorged the pieces, and then could be seen swimming backwards and forwards, and round and round, in company with others.
“Cut the next up into small bits, ’Pollo,” said the captain, who was standing on the bulwarks, holding on by the main shrouds.
“Yes, sah, I cut um small and easy for mass’ shark ’gestion,” said ’Pollo grinning; and he cut the beef into pieces of the size of his fist with the large cook’s knife he wore in a sheath at his belt.