But the blow given it had told.
The water was full of blood, and the shark writhed as if in pain.
But once more it came down.
Over upon its back it rolled. The horrid jaws were wide open.
This time it had not the strength to come as swiftly as before. Its movements were sluggish.
And this gave Stanhope his chance to deal the monster a blow.
Also Frank thrust his pike into the shark’s body. It was the finishing stroke.
The monster made a convulsive leap upward, beat the water furiously, and then sank quivering but dying to the ocean bed.
The struggle was over. Man had triumphed over brute. The divers were the victors in this terrible battle.
No time was wasted in returning to the cabin of the Dolphin.