Some of the men examined their priming and held the muskets at their hips all ready, with the muzzles towards the ship, while the coxswain and two men were throwing off their clothes.
"Stop, for God's sake, stop!" cried Jack.

"The harbour is full of ground sharks,--it is, upon my soul!" "Do you think to frighten us with ground sharks ?" replied the coxswain; "keep under cover, my lads; Jack, give him a shot to prove we are in earnest, and every time he or that nigger show their heads, give them another, my lads." "For God's sake, don't attempt to swim," said Jack, in an agony; "I will try some means to give you water." "Too late now--you're doomed"; and the coxswain sprang off the rock into the sea, and was followed by two other men: at the same moment a musket was discharged, and the bullet whistled close to our hero's ear.
Mesty dragged Jack from the gangway, who was nearly fainting from agonising feelings.

He sank on the deck for a moment, and then sprang up and ran to the port to look at the men in the water.

He was just in time to see the coxswain raise himself with a loud yell out of the sea, and then disappear in a vortex, which was crimsoned with his blood.
Mesty threw down his musket in his hand, of which he had several already loaded, in case the men should have gained the boats.
"By the powers, dat no use now!" Jack had covered his face with his hands.

But the tragedy was not complete: the other men, who were in the water, had immediately turned and made for the shore; but before they could reach it, two more of these voracious monsters, attracted by the blood of the coxswain, had flown to the spot, and there was a contention for the fragments of their bodies.
Mesty, who had seen this catastrophe, turned towards our hero, who still hid his face.