“But I say, Jack, don’t you feel frightened?” said the doctor.
“Him frightened! likely!” muttered Edward.
“No; I don’t think I do,” said the lad frankly. “I feel a curious fluttering kind of sensation, as if my heart was beating very fast, but I don’t think I’m frightened—I’m sure I’m not,” he added gravely, and with a simple sincerity far removed from boastfulness.
“How can you be sure?” said the doctor, giving him a searching look.
“Because if I really were frightened I should cut the line.”
“Of course you would,” said the doctor. “Stands to reason. But I didn’t come out prepared for shark-fishing, so I’m beginning to think we may as well cut or break the line, and go back. We don’t want to have far to row on such a day as this.”
“Oh, don’t do that,” cried Jack. “It’s so exciting and strange to be dragged along like this.”
“What do you say to trying to get the fellow up to the surface, so as to have another look at him?”
“But suppose it attacks us?”
“I don’t think there is any fear,” said the mate, smiling.