“Very well.”
Frank turned to clamber down from the wreck, but even as he did so he caught sight of a deadly peril.
This was in the form of a huge body which he saw suddenly loom up in the water not far distant.
It was, as he saw at once, a species of shark, and a monster in size. The creature had seen them and was moving toward them.
Frank saw that there was not time to reach the cabin before the monster would be upon them.
For that he meant to attack them was a moral certainty.
The young inventor gripped his companion’s arm in warning. Stanhope saw the terrible peril.
Instinctively he drew the pike from his belt and stood on his guard. The shark, with a lightning-like movement, described a parabola about them.
Frank knew that they might expect a downward attack from the monster.
As it would have to turn upon its back to seize them, the opportunity to strike a defensive blow would be good.