"Forward, comrades," the Jaguar said, in his calm and sympathetic voice, "swim gently and noiselessly; you know that these monsters are almost blind, and more than half deaf, they have not seen us. John Davis?" he added.
"Here!" the American answered.
"Where are you?"
"I am the last but one on the right."
"Good! you will take the second tintorera and I the first. Lanzi!"
"Lanzi has just disappeared," a voice answered.
"Malediction!" said the Jaguar, "Can he be dead? who shall attack the third tintorera?"
"Do not trouble yourself, Jaguar," the well-known voice of the half-breed answered, "I am after it."
"Good! swim on, comrades, and leave us to cope with these monsters."
The conspirators continued to advance silently, although they redoubled their efforts. The Jaguar dived immediately and dashed toward the shark, which was swimming at a moderate depth. The Chief and the monster were soon so near that the brown fins of the tintorera grazed the shoulder of the daring Texan, who saw the glassy eye of the shark, half covered by a membrane, fixed upon him with an expression of cold malignity.