On looking around, just as the foremost boat rose on a huge wave, he saw what he thought to be a shark directly under it.

He pulled his knife and prepared for an attack.

He was rather nervous, and the feluccas seemed an awful distance away.

He called out that a shark was in sight.
Immediately, as Paul was afterward informed, the brave editor dropped on his knees and began to pray that they might not all be swallowed up.
The shark was darting from side to side of the boat, but spying Boyton's black figure, it turned on its side and swam for him.

Paul braced for the attack, and when the monster was close enough he ripped it under the mouth, and in going down it struck him a severe blow in the side with its tail, then disappeared, leaving a trail of blood in its wake.