“He’s getting desperate,” said Fred. “He knows that unless he can get John before he comes much closer to shore his chance is gone.”
“Hurry, Sam!” shouted Grant with all his strength. “Keep it up, John!” he called. “You’ll be all right in a minute!”
“He will not,” said Fred in a low voice. “He’ll be gone in a minute.”
“No he won’t,” cried Grant. “Sam is almost there.”
“Forty yards is a lot.”
“Hurry, Sam! Hurry!” begged Grant. “You must hurry!”
“Look!” cried Fred. “The shark must have seen him. He’s going away.”
“Not ‘away,’” Grant corrected. “He’s just backing up a little.”
Sure enough the shark moved out a little toward the ocean and the fin stood almost still as if it might be debating what should be done next. Evidently the arrival of a second foe had puzzled him. Sharks are not known especially for their bravery. Rather they are scavengers that feed on the ocean’s refuse, and they must be very hungry indeed to attack a man unless they have him at a disadvantage. Grant and Fred were aware of this fact, but they feared that this particular shark was very hungry and that he did have John at a disadvantage.
“Maybe he’ll go away now that there are two of them,” said Fred hopefully.