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Against such an adversary a more capable combatant than the Coromantee could scarce have been found on the waters of the ocean, or even in them. He could swim like a swan, and dive like a sea-duck; nor was it the first time for him to have fought the shark in its own element; neither would it be the first time should he prove conqueror in the combat.
A whaler 'a been over this ground, and killed the spermacety. Maybe I'm wrong about that," he added, after reflecting a short while. "I may be wrong about the ship being over this very ground. I don't like the look o' them drogues." "De drogue?" inquired the Coromantee. "Dem block o' wood dat am driffin' about? Wha' for you no like dem, Massa Brace?"
No shark he, dat ere skulkin' fella. He am massa long-nose, de real enemy ob de albacore. No fear ob dem leabin' us, while he anywhar in sight." Saying this the Coromantee proceeded to single out his hooks; and, assisted by Ben Brace, commenced baiting them with an unconcern that testified a full confidence in the truth of his assertion.
Under the strong arm of the Coromantee, the Catamaran was fast coming round towards the wind, and so shortening the distance between the swimmer and the craft, when an object came under the eye of her steersman that caused him to drop the oar as if either his arm had become suddenly paralysed, or the piece of rounded ash grasped between his hands had become transformed into a bar of red-hot iron!
A cry arose, "Back to the Catamaran!" and in a score of seconds the boy-sailor was swimming alongside the A.B. for the raft; while the Coromantee, with Lilly Lalee hoisted upon his left shoulder, was cleaving the water in the same direction. Another minute and all four were aboard the embarkation they had so lately abandoned, once more saved from the perils of the deep!
The conduct of the Coromantee in thus relinquishing the rudder and springing overboard into the sea was inexplicable, at least, to little William it seemed so for the time. What could be Snowball's object in taking to the water? The sailor's strength was sufficient to sustain both himself and the little girl.
In that case there moutn't be much fear o' 'em; but whether or no, it be best for us to make sure. I say let's set the sail." "Berra well, Massa Brace," rejoined the Coromantee, whose opposition had been only slight. "Dar am troof in wha you hab 'ledged. Ef you say set de sail, I say de same. Dar am a lubbly breeze bowlum. 'Pose we 'tick up de mass dis berry instam ob time?"
It was some time before Snowball could recover his exact equilibrium; for, of all sorts of climate, that least endurable to the Coromantee negro is a cold one.
I know it by their ways. Don't lose a stroke, Snowy. We may tire 'em out yet." "Nebba fear fo' me, Massa Brace!" replied the Coromantee. "A keep pullin' so long's de be a poun' o' trength in ma arms, or a bit o' breff in ma body. Nebba fear!" It might appear as though the crew of the Catamaran were now contending against fate, and without hope.
And the sailor once more put forth his cries with all the power that lay in his lungs. To this was added the stentorian voice of the Coromantee, who, quickly catching the explanation given by the ex-whalesman, saw the necessity of making himself heard. For some moments the deck of the Catamaran rang with the shouts, "Ship ahoy!"
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