Page:Air Service Boys Flying for France.djvu/88

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
THE ATTACK ON THE HIGH SEAS
83

up courage and an occasional laugh was heard again; something that had been foreign to the promenade deck for twenty-four hours at least.

The afternoon too was wearing away.

Both boys lounged in their chairs; indeed, it was next to impossible for any of the trans-Atlantic travelers to keep below longer than was necessary to eat their hurried meals. They wanted to be in the open air all the time. There was some sort of unexplained fascination about having the opportunity to see the danger when it bore down on them, if so be they were fated to endure an attack.

The sea was not calm, but could hardly be called rough. The waves rose and fell in a methodical way that allowed a splendid view of the near distance. Even the dorsal fin of a hungry shark that was sweeping around in eccentric circles in his search for food, was plainly visible.

Just then there were exclamations of interest, not unmixed with alarm, coming from a group of passengers close to where the boys with reading matter gripped in their hands, lay under their steamer rugs.

"What is it?" asked Jack, as he glanced hurriedly up.

"Porpoises wallowing, I should say," replied