CHAPTER XXI
THE HAND OF THE SEA
There was nothing in the boat that could possibly be used as a paddle;the scull was only five or six yards away, but to attempt to swim to itwas certain death, yet they were being swept out to sea. He might havemade the attempt, only that on the starboard quarter the form of theshark, gently swimming at the same pace as they were drifting, could bemade out only half veiled by the water.
The bird perched on the gunwale seemed to divine their trouble, for herose in the air, made a circle, and resumed his perch with all hisfeathers ruffled.
Dick stood in despair, helpless, his hands clasping his head. The shorewas drawing away before him, the surf loudening behind him, yet hecould do nothing. The island was being taken away from them by thegreat hand of the sea.
Then, suddenly, the little boat entered the race formed by theconfluence of the tides, from the right and left arms of the lagoonthe sound of the surf suddenly increased as though a door had beenflung open. The breakers were falling and the sea-gulls crying oneither side of them, and for a moment the ocean seemed to hesitate asto whether they were to be taken away into her wastes, or dashed on thecoral strand. Only for a moment this seeming hesitation lasted; thenthe power of the tide prevailed over the power of the swell, and thelittle boat taken by the current drifted gently out to sea.
Dick flung himself down beside Emmeline, who was seated in the bottomof the boat holding the child to her breast. The bird, seeing the landretreat, and wise in its instinct, rose into the air. It circledthrice round the drifting boat, and then, like a beautiful butfaithless spirit, passed away to the shore.
The Blue Lagoon: A Romance Page 44