A dozen strokes would have carried him up to the craft; which they could
not have hindered him from boarding, except by using some deadly
violence. To avoid this, the oars were plied; and the raft rapidly
pulled in a contrary direction.
For all this, so swiftly did the maniac make way through the water, that
it was just as much as they could do to keep the _Catamaran_ clear of
his grasp; and it was only after Ben Brace and Snowball had got fairly
bent to their oars, that they could insure themselves against being
overtaken. Then became it a chase in which there was no great advantage
in speed between the pursued and the pursuer; though what little there
might have been was in favour of the former.
How long this singular chase might have continued, it is impossible to
say. Perhaps until the lunatic had exhausted his insane strength, and
sunk into the sea: since he appeared to have no idea of making an
attempt to return to the boat. He never looked round to see how far he
was leaving it behind him. On the contrary, he swam straight on, his
eyes steadfastly fixed upon the one object that seemed to have
possession of his soul,--the Coromantee! That it was of him only he was
thinking could be told from his speech,--for even while in the water he
continued to utter imprecations on the head of the negro,--his name
being every moment mentioned in terms of menace.
The chase could not have lasted much longer,--even had it been permitted
to terminate by the exhaustion of the insane swimmer. The supernatural
strength of insanity could not forever sustain him; and in due time he
would have sunk helplessly to the bottom of the sea.
But this was not the sort of death that Fate had designed for him. A
still more violent ending of his life was in store for the unfortunate
wretch. Though he himself knew it not, those aboard the _Catamaran_ had
now become aware of its approach.
Behind him,--scarce half a cable's length,--two creatures were seen
moving through the water. Horrible-looking creatures they were: for
they were hammer-headed sharks! Both were conspicuously seen: for they
had risen to the surface, and were swimming with their dark dorsal fins
protruded above, and set with all the triangular sharpness of staysails.
Although they had not been observed before by those on the _Catamaran_,
they appeared to have been swimming in the proximity of the gig,--on
which, beyond doubt, they had been for some time attending.
They were now advancing side by side, in the same direction as the
swimmer, and there could be no doubt as to their design. They were
evidently in chase of _him_, with as much eagerness as he was in chase
of the _Catamaran_.
The wretched man neither saw nor thought of them. Even had he seen them
it is questionable whether he would have made any attempt to escape from
them. They would, in all likelihood, have appeared a part of the
fearful phantasmagoria already filling his brain.
In any case he could not have eluded those earnest and eager pursuers,--
unless by the intervention of those upon the raft; and even had these
wished to succour him, it would have required a most prompt and adroit
interference. They _did_ wish it, even became desirous to save him.
Their hearts melted within them as they saw the unfortunate man, maniac
though he was, in such a situation. Fear him as they might,--and deem
him an enemy as they did,--still was he a human being,--one of their own
kind,--and their natural instinct of hostility towards those ravenous
monsters of the deep had now obliterated that which they might have felt
for him about to become their prey.
Risking everything from the encounter which they might expect with a
madman, they suspended their oars, and then commenced backing towards
him. Even Snowball exerted himself to bring the _Catamaran_ within
saving distance of the wretch who, in his insane hatred, was threatening
his own destruction.
Their good intentions, however, proved of no avail. The man was
destined to destruction. Before they could get near enough to make any
effective demonstration in his favour, the sharks had closed upon him.
They who would have saved him saw it, and ceased their exertions to
become spectators of the tragical catastrophe.
It was a brief affair. The monsters swam up, one on each side of their
intended victim, till their uncouth bodies were parallel with his. He
saw one of them first, and, with an instinct more true than his
dethroned powers of reason, swerved out of the way to avoid it. The
effort resulted in placing him within reach of the other, that, suddenly
turning upon its side, grasped him between its extended jaws.
The shriek that followed appeared to proceed from only the half of his
body; for the other half, completely dissevered, had been already
carried off between the terrible teeth of the _zygaena_.
There was but one cry. There was not time for another, even had there
been strength. Before it could have been uttered, the remaining moiety
of the madman's body was seized by the second shark, and borne down into
the voiceless abysm of the ocean!