There might be another shark, or many more; but for some time past one only had been seen in the neighbourhood of the boat; the shark, as they supposed, which had but recently devoured the dead body of the sailor.

Trusting to this conjecture, they plied the oars with all the little strength left in their arms.

Still, notwithstanding their feeble efforts, and the impediment of pulling against the wind, they were nearing the unfortunate man, surely, if slowly.
They had got over half the distance; less than half a cable's length was now between the boat and the struggling swimmer.

Not a shark was to be seen on the water, nor beneath it--no fish of any kind--nothing whatever in the sea.

Only, in the sky above, a large bird, whose long scimitar-shaped wings and grand curving beak told them what it was--an albatross.