They fired rapidly, and while they probably hit some of the innocent porpoises in their haste, yet they accomplished what they had set out to do—scare off the sharks. In a little while the "tigers of the sea" as some one has aptly called them, disappeared.
"That's the stuff!" cried Mr. Damon. "Now we can watch the porpoises at play."
But they did not have that sight to interest them very long. For, as suddenly as the gamboling fish had appeared, they sank from sight all but a few dead ones that the sharks had left floating on the calm surface of the ocean. Probably the timid fish had taken some alarm from the depths into which they sank.
"Well, that was some excitement while it lasted," remarked Tom, as he and Ned took the rifles back to the captain.
"But it didn't bring out the mysterious passengers," added Ned. Tom shook his head and on their return to deck he purposely went out of his way to go past Stateroom No. 27, where the "Wilsons" were quartered. The door was closed and a momentary pause to listen brought our hero no clew, for all was silent in the room.
"It's too much for me," he murmured, shaking his head and he rejoined his chum.
Several more days passed, for the Maderia was
