"Oh, Jess! What's that? What is it?"
"Why, it is the lifeguard," rejoined Jessie Norwood, flashing another glance over her shoulder, but continuing to thrash forward at her very best speed.
"No, no! That thing! In the water!" At first Jessie saw nothing ahead but the raft. She thought the lifeguard was hurrying to the raft to meet Amy and herself if they won the race. Another glance that she flashed back swept the smooth, rolling sea as far as Darry and Burd, endeavoring to overcome the handicap they had given the two girl chums.
It was only then that Jessie realized that something must be happening—some threatening thing that she did not understand. From the rear Darry's hail reached Jessie's ear:
"Turn back! Come back, Jess!"
"Why! what does he think?" considered Jessie, amazed. "That I am going to stop and let him and Burd beat us? I—guess—not!"
Then she heard the voice of the lifeguard. He was driving his boat inshore with mighty strokes; but he sat facing shoreward, too, using his oars back-handed. He shouted:
"Shark! Shark! Look out for the shark!"
And behind Jessie Norwood her chum took up the cry:
"Shark! Oh, Jess! Shark!"