“What did you think when you saw him first?” asked Grant curiously.
“I was nearly scared to death,” said John so solemnly that everybody laughed. “I was swimming along easily and just taking my time when I suddenly had a feeling that something was near me. I looked around and sure enough, over the top of a little wave, I saw that fin. I tell you it gave me the creeps and I honestly thought my last day had come. I knew it was only a question of time before he attacked me and I watched him pretty closely, I can tell you. All the while I kept trying to get in nearer to shore, but I was afraid to swim fast for I knew that if I did I couldn’t watch the shark and that he would get me from behind.”
“A nice feeling,” remarked Fred grimly.
“I should say so. Well, in a minute I saw him coming and I began to kick and splash with all my might. I didn’t think it would be of any use, but I had to do something. Imagine my surprise when I saw him veer away from me. I knew he’d be back though and sure enough he was, and again I scared him away, but I knew it couldn’t last forever. He was getting more determined and closer to me each time and Sam got there none too soon I can tell you.”
“How did you know what was happening, Sam?” demanded Grant. “I thought you were on watch up by the flag.”
“So Ah was. Ah could see jes’ the same, couldn’t Ah?”
“I guess you could,” laughed Grant. “It’s lucky you could too.”
“Maybe a ship has passed while we were down here,” remarked Fred.
“A fine chance,” said John skeptically. “No ships ever pass here.”
“This island reminds me of that old story about the farmer at the circus,” said Grant. “He looked at the giraffe for a long time and then finally turned away in disgust. ‘Oh, shucks,’ he said, ‘there ain’t no such animal.’ That’s the way I feel about this island. There isn’t any such place.”