In Search of the Okapi | Page 9

is again."
"Yes. I heard something like a sheep bleating."
"Would a sheep be swimming out here, you ass?"

"The shark's off--look!" and they saw a streak of fire shoot forward.
"And there goes another. By Jove, they must have heard the cry!"
"I'm sorry for the sheep then," muttered Compton.
They bent far forward, listening intently, and following the course
taken by the sharks as defined by the gleaming wake. The leadsman
swung out the sounder as the vessel slackened down with a yell from
the escape-valve that drowned all other sounds with its deafening
clamour.
"By the deep nine!" cried a bass voice.
The bell in the engine-room signaled the skipper's order, and the ship
felt her way once more. Again there was silence, save for the throb of
the engines and the grating of the steering-chain at intervals.
"I have not heard the cry again," said Compton.
"Can you see anything over there--follow the line of my finger-- there,
just by that gleam?"
"Yes; I think there is something."
"Then I think the captain ought to know;" and Venning ran off first to
Mr. Hume.
"Something afloat, eh?" and Mr. Home rose from his deck-chair.
"Some one in distress, I think," They went on to the bridge, and
Venning began his story; but the captain cut him short by wheeling
round to the rail.
"Ahoy, there--ahoy!"
A startling response came in a long, quivering wail out of the dark sea.
"By the lord," muttered the captain, "what's that?"

"Jackal," said Mr. Hume.
"Impossible! We are miles from the shore."
"Jackal, sure enough. Maybe sent adrift by a flood, and taken to a tree."
The captain laughed. "I thought it was a hoodoo at least. Well,
lad"--turning to Venning--"you don't want me to pick up a creature like
that?"
"I don't think it is far away, sir. I think I see a tree or boat, and if you
would lower me over the bows and ease the vessel----"
"Well?"
"Perhaps I could pick it up."
"You are not afraid of being bitten?"
"I think it would know I meant it good."
The skipper laughed good-humouredly. "Well, you're a plucky lad, and,
at any rate, I'd not be losing time." He touched the bell, and motioned
to the steersman. The ship slowed down and came round. "Mr. Bobbins,
just sling this young gentleman over the port-bows, and have a light
lowered. Do you still stick to your bargain?"
Venning answered by sliding off the bridge and climbing up into the
bows, where a knot of sailors had gathered at the gangway. A rope was
looped round his thigh, so as to give his arms play, and two men stood
to pay him over and down.
"Here she is!" sang out the mate.
The bell rang out, "Stop her," and Venning went over, catching the rope
above his head with his left hand, and taking a turn round with his right
foot. There was a scraping sound against the side of the vessel.
"I've got hold," he shouted. "It's a tree--no, a boat." Then, "By Jove!"

"What is it?" cried several together, excited by the startled exclamation.
"Lower the light!" The lantern sank over the side, but those above
could not see well because of the bulge of the hull.
"Now lower me. I shall get in and make fast."
"Take care!" cried Mr. Hume.
"Look out for the sharks, sir," sang out a sailor. "There's one coming
up."
"Lower away, please--quick!"
The men lowered. "That's right. I'm in the boat, or whatever it is. Now
let down the lantern."
Those leaning over the side saw Venning reach up for the lantern, and
then they heard a snarling and snapping.
"Stand ready to haul in!" cried the captain. "That brute will attack the
boy. One of you men go down."
The snarling continued, mingled with soothing cries from Venning; and
then the weird howl burst forth anew, daunting the sailor who was
carrying out the captain's order.
The mate stepped forward. "Stand aside!" he cried, and swung himself
over and down. He reached Venning's side, and they saw him peering
about him.
"By thunder!" he muttered.
"What is it?" demanded the captain, irritably. "D'ye expect me to spend
the whole night here?"
"A minute, sir. Let over a running tackle, and we'll have the whole
thing aboard."

"Lively there! Lower the tackle, and don't stand staring with your
mouths open. Swing out those davits."
The davits swung out, the tackle ran through the pulleys into the water
with a splash, and the mate shifted the unknown craft, with its
mysterious freight, amidships. A few moments he occupied in getting
the tackle into position.
"Haul in!" he shouted.
"Heave!" roared the captain, in a state of high excitement; and the
sailors, wrought up to a