The creature had disappeared at the moment of the cabin-boy’s fall, the sudden and violent splash having completely scared him away for the instant; but scarcely had Frank reached the drowning lad, and raised him in the water, than the huge monster began to make towards them. They were so short a distance from the vessel that those on board could plainly see the movements of the great fish as he glided up to them.
“Splash about with all your might, for Heaven’s sake,” roared out the captain.
“All right,” cried young Oldfield with perfect coolness, and at the same time making a violent commotion in the water all round him, which had the effect of daunting their enemy for the time. And now the quarter-boat was lowered, and reached them in a few vigorous strokes.
“Pull for your lives, my lads,” shouted the mate, who was steering. “Here we are—steady—ship oars. Now then, Tom Davies, lay hold on ’em—in with ’em quick—there’s the shark again. Jack, you slap away at the water with your oar. Ay, my friend, we’ve puzzled you this time—a near shave, though. Now then, all right. Give way, my lads. Jacob, my boy, you’ve baulked Johnny shark of his dinner this once.”
They were soon alongside, and on deck, and were greeted by a lusty “Hurrah!” from captain and crew.
“Nobly done, nobly done, Mr Oldfield!” cried the captain, with tears in his eyes, and shaking Frank warmly by the hand. Hubert was also earnest in his thanks and congratulations. As for poor Jacob, when he had somewhat recovered from the utter bewilderment into which his unfortunate plunge had thrown him, he came up close to his rescuer and said,—
“Mr Oldfield, I can’t thank you as I should, but I shan’t forget as you’ve saved my life.”
“All right, Jacob,” said Frank, laughing; “you’ll do the same for me when I want it, I don’t doubt. But you have to thank our kind friends, the mate and his crew, as much as me, or we should have been pretty sure to have been both of us food for the fishes by this time.”
And so it was that the cabin-boy’s attachment to Frank Oldfield became a passion—a love which many waters could not quench—a love that was wonderful, passing the love of women. Each day increased it. And now his one earnest desire was to serve Frank on shore in some capacity, that he might be always near him. Day by day, as the voyage drew to its close, he was scheming in his head how to bring about what he so ardently desired; and the way was opened for him.
It was in the middle of January, the height of the Australian summer, that the Sabrina came in sight of Kangaroo Island, and in a little while was running along the coast, the range of hills which form a background to the city of Adelaide being visible in the distance. And now all heads, and tongues, and hands were busy, for in a few hours, if the tide should serve for their passing the bar, they would be safe in Port Adelaide.