They ceased entirely after a time.
The good crew were in despair. They listened and listened in vain, and were just putting about, when Harris dropped his oar, to the astonishment of everybody, and sprang overboard like a flash.
In the side of a dark curling wave he had seen a white face. Next minute he was ploughing along back towards the boat with one hand, while with the other he supported the form of the drowned or drowning man.
It was the doctor himself. While hauling in his net as he sat in the dinghy that hung from the davits astern, he had somehow slued it and gone head foremost into the sea.
For a long time he gave no signs of life. But his wet clothing was speedily taken off, and he was laid on the men's coats. After fully half an hour of rubbing and rolling, he gave a sigh and opened his eyes. A little flask of brandy was held to his lips, a portion of which he managed to swallow. He speedily revived now, and by the time they got him on board he was able to tell his story. He did not swim to the life-buoy, he said, because it was watched by a demon shark that would undoubtedly have taken him down.
Next day he was able to resume his duties; but that boy Fred Harris was the hero of the ship for many a week after this strange adventure.
CHAPTER XI.
A TRAGEDY—AULD REIKIE PURSUES SCIENCE
UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
For nine months, if not longer, the Gurnet cruised around the Cape, and along the east coast of Africa, as high up as the tropics, and as low down as Algoa Bay. She took a run round once as far as Simon's Bay.
Jack Mackenzie felt himself now to be a boy no longer. He had grown taller, broader, and, I may add, browner.