“The boat steerer swung the boat about to meet the onrush; and Eric snatched a harpoon. They swerved out of the path of the bull. As he roared past them in a smother of foam, Eric sent the harpoon home.
“But next instant the smashing flukes struck them, and the boat’s whole bottom was driven away. Eric chopped the loose line in time to save them; and in ten seconds from the appearance of the bull, they were to their necks in water, the boat beneath them.
“The bull charged on and disappeared. I lowered and went after the men in the water; and we got them aboard. Eric was reacting from his fury now; he was shamed at what he had done; and he looked back once to the body of the cow, about which sharks were already fighting, with something like apology in his eyes.
“The men were talking. ‘Did ye see the cross on the bull’s head?’ the tub oarsman asked; the steerer assented.
“‘A white scar in the blubber,’ he agreed.
“The others nodded; and Eric looked at me and said quietly: ‘The old bull was marked.’
“It was when we were all aboard again, and Eric had changed to dry garments, that Joan came up to where he stood with me. Her eyes were blazing; and little Jem, at her heels, was chuckling blackly.
“‘That was murder,’ said the girl, trembling with her own anger.
“Eric flushed, and his head bowed a little.
“‘A cow and a calf—killed uselessly!’ Joan exclaimed.