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from ear to ear。
〃The only thing I fear；〃 said Staines； 〃is that； the moment he
takes the bait； he will cut the wire before I can complete the
circuit； and fire the fuse。〃
Nevertheless； there was another objection to the success of the
experiment。 The shark had disappeared。
〃Well；〃 said the captain； 〃at all events； you have frightened him
away。〃
〃No；〃 said little Tadcaster； white as a ghost； 〃he is only under
water； I know； waitingwaiting。〃
〃There he is；〃 cried one in the ratlines。
There was a rush to the taffrailgreat excitement。
〃Keep clear of me；〃 said Staines quietly but firmly。 〃It can only
be done at the moment before he cuts the wire。〃
The old shark swam slowly round the bait。
He saw it was something new。
He swam round and round it。
〃He won't take it；〃 said one。
〃He suspects something。〃
〃Oh； yes； he will take the meat somehow； and leave the pepper。 Sly
old fox！〃
〃He has eaten many a poor Jack； that one。〃
The shark turned slowly on his back； and； instead of grabbing at
the bait； seemed to draw it by gentle suction into that capacious
throat； ready to blow it out in a moment if it was not all right。
The moment the bait was drawn out of sight； Staines completed the
circuit； the bottle exploded with a fury that surprised him and
everybody who saw it； a ton of water flew into the air； and came
down in spray； and a gory carcass floated； belly uppermost； visibly
staining the blue water。
There was a roar of amazement and applause。
The carcass was towed alongside； at Tadcaster's urgent request； and
then the power of the explosion was seen。 Confined； first by the
bottle； then by the meat； then by the fish； and lastly by the
water； it had exploded with tenfold power； had blown the brute's
head into a million atoms； and had even torn a great furrow in its
carcass； exposing three feet of the backbone。
Taddy gloated on his enemy； and began to pick up again from that
hour。
The wind improved； and； as usual in that latitude； scarcely varied
a point。 They had a pleasant time；private theatricals and other
amusements till they got to latitude 26 deg。 S。 and longitude 27
deg。 W。 Then the trade wind deserted them。 Light and variable
winds succeeded。
The master complained of the chronometers； and the captain thought
it his duty to verify or correct them； and so shaped his course for
the island of Tristan d'Acunha； then lying a little way out of his
course。 I ought； perhaps； to explain to the general reader that
the exact position of this island being long ago established and
recorded； it was an infallible guide to go by in verifying a ship's
chronometers。
Next day the glass fell all day； and the captain said he should
double…reef topsails at nightfall； for something was brewing。
The weather； however； was fine； and the ship was sailing very fast；
when； about half an hour before sunset； the mast…head man hailed
that there was a bulk of timber in sight； broad on the weather…bow。
The signalman was sent up； and said it looked like a raft。
The captain； who was on deck； levelled his glass at it； and made it
out a raft； with a sort of rail to it； and the stump of a mast。
He ordered the officer of the watch to keep the ship as close to
the wind as possible。 He should like to examine it if he could。
The master represented； respectfully； that it would be unadvisable
to beat to windward for that。 〃I have no faith in our
chronometers； sir； and it is important to make the island before
dark； fogs rise here so suddenly。〃
〃Very well； Mr。 Bolt； then I suppose we must let the raft go。〃
〃MAN ON THE RAFT TO WINDWARD！〃 hailed the signalman。
This electrified the ship。 The captain ran up the mizzen rigging；
and scanned the raft； now nearly abeam。
〃It IS a man！〃 he cried； and was about to alter the ship's course
when； at that moment； the signalman hailed again；
〃IT IS A CORPSE。〃
〃How d'ye know？〃
〃By the gulls。〃
Then succeeded an exciting dialogue between the captain and the
master； who； being in his department； was very firm； and went so
far as to say he would not answer for the safety of the ship； if
they did not sight the land before dark。
The captain said； 〃Very well；〃 and took a turn or two。 But at last
he said； 〃No。 Her Majesty's ship must not pass a raft with a man
on it； dead or alive。〃
He then began to give the necessary orders； but before they were
all out of his mouth； a fatal interruption occurred。
Tadcaster ran into Dr。 Staines's cabin； crying； 〃A raft with a
corpse close by！〃
Staines sprang to the quarter port to see； and craning eagerly out；
the lower port chain； which had not been well secured； slipped； the
port gave way； and as his whole weight rested on it； canted him
headlong into the sea。
A smart seaman in the forechains saw the accident； and instantly
roared out； 〃MAN OVERBOARD！〃 a cry that sends a thrill through a
ship's very ribs。
Another smart fellow cut the life…buoy adrift so quickly that it
struck the water within ten yards of Staines。
The officer of the watch； without the interval of half a moment；
gave the right orders； in the voice of a stentor；
〃Let go life…buoy。
〃Life…boat's crew away。
〃Hands shorten sail。
〃Mainsel up。
〃Main topsel to mast。〃
These orders were executed with admirable swiftness。 Meantime
there was a mighty rush of feet throughout the frigate； every
hatchway was crammed with men eager to force their way on deck。
In five seconds the middy of the watch and half her crew were in
the lee cutter； fitted with Clifford's apparatus。
〃Lower away！〃 cried the excited officer； 〃the others will come down
by the pendants。〃
The man stationed； sitting on the bottom boards； eased away
roundly； when suddenly there was a hitchthe boat would go no
farther。
〃Lower away there in the cutter！ Why don't you lower？〃 screamed
the captain； who had come over to leeward expecting to see the boat
in the water。
〃The rope has swollen； sir； and the pendants won't unreeve；〃 cried
the middy in agony。
〃Volunteers for the weather…boat！〃 shouted the first lieutenant；
but the order was unnecessary； for more than the proper number were
in her already。
〃Plug inlower away。〃
But mishaps never come singly。 Scarcely had this boat gone a foot
from the davit； than the volunteer who was acting as coxswain； in
reaching out for something； inadvertently let go the line； which；
in Kynaston's apparatus； keeps the tackles hooked； consequently；
down went the boat and crew twenty feet； with a terrific crash； the
men were struggling for their lives； and the boat was stove。
But； meantime； more men having been sent into the lee cutter； their
weight caused the pendants to render； and the boat got afloat； and
was soon employed picking up the struggling crew。
Seeing this； Lieutenant Fitzroy collected some hands； and lowered
the life…boat gig； which was fitted with common tackles； got down
into her himself by the falls； and pulling round to windward；
shouted to the signalman for directions。
The signalman was at his post； and had fixed his eye on the man
overboard； as his duty was； but his mess…mate was in the stove
boat； and he had cast one anxious look down to see if he was saved；
and； sad to relate； in that one moment he had lost sight of
Staines； the sudden darknessthere was no twilightconfused him
more； and the ship had increased her drift。
Fitzroy； however； made a rapid calculation； and pulled to windward
with all his might。 He was followed in about a minute by the other
sound boat powerfully manned； and both boats melted away into the
night。
There was a long and anxious suspense； during which it became pitch
dark； and the ship burned blue lights to mark her position more
plainly to the crews that were groping the sea for that beloved
passenger。
Captain Hamilton had no doubt that the fate of Staines was decided；
one way or other； long before this； but he kept quiet until he saw
the plain signs of a squall at hand。 Then； as he was responsible
for the safety of boats and ship； he sent up rockets to recall
them。
The cutter came alongside first。 Lights were poured on her； and
quavering voices asked； 〃Have you got him？〃
The answer was dead silence； and sorrowful； drooping heads。
Sadly and reluctantly was the order given to hoist the boat in。
Then the gig came alongside。 Fitzroy seated in her； with his hands
before his face； the men gloomy and sad。
〃GONE！ GONE！〃
Soon the ship was battling a heavy squall。
At midnight all quiet again； and hove to。 Then； at the request of
many； the bell was tolled； and the ship's company mustered
bareheaded； and many a stout seaman in tears； as the last service
was read for Christopher Staines。
CHAPTER XIV。
Rosa fell ill with grief at the hotel； and could not move for some
days； but the moment she was strong enough； she insisted on leaving
Plymouth： like all wounded things； she must drag herself home。
But what a home！ How empty it struck； and she heart…sick and
desolate。 Now all the familiar places wore a new aspect： the
little yard； where he had so walked and waited； became a temple to
her； and she came out and sat in it； and now