"Good heavens, what has happened!" exclaimed Frank, horror-struck at the scene. The others were white and too unnerved at the sudden accident to speak.
Only Bill and Ben Stubbs kept their heads.
"Let go of the rope," they bellowed.
Billy gave a despairing look back and then was rushed onward through the water at a greater speed than ever.
"What is it—what has happened?" repeated Frank.
"Matter enough," was Ben's rejoinder, "he has evidently got that shark line entangled in his clothing and when the monster gave a pull at the hook it yanked him overboard."
"What are we to do?" cried Harry.
"Put on full speed and go about," cried Ben, suiting the action to the word.
At top speed the Bolo rushed through the water after poor Billy, who was still being borne along at a terrific rate by the hooked shark.
"Get ready to shoot the shark when he comes up," yelled Ben.