line so as to join at the point of junction of the tail with the body, and the other close round its head.

All hands uniting, hauled away until it was drawn up over the taffrail, when down it came flop on deck.

"Stand clear!" cried Sam.

We all leaped on one side or the other, while the shark struck out right and left with its powerful tail, one blow from which might have fractured a leg. The ropes being still attached to the shark, it was dragged into the waist, when the men, with axes and capstan bars, rushing in, showed their hatred of their sworn enemy by striking it again and again, with many a malediction, on its head and tail. But still not dead, it made vicious snaps with its formidable jaws and flung about its powerful tail, until a wellaimed blow severed its spine, when at length it lay perfectly quiet.

"What teeth it has got !" cried Mat, approaching incautiously, when the creature made a snap with its mouth, and had Mat's hand been a little nearer it would have been bitten off.

On cutting it open, we discovered the remains of half-a-dozen flying-fish, and what the sailors declared was a man's leg; but they had in disgust thrown it overboard before the doctor could examine it to ascertain the truth of their statement. On measuring the shark we found that it

was five and twenty feet long. The skin was hard and thick, the back and sides were of an ashy brown, fading into white beneath. The muzzle was slightly rounded, the head was flat, and the mouth, in the form of a semi-circle, was of enormous size, when open measuring three yards in circumference. The throat was of the consistency of leather, and in it was fixed a plate of triangular white teeth; while in its upper, as well as in its lower jaws, were six rows of these fearful weapons. Its eyes were small and nearly round, the iris of a deep green, the eye-ball bluish,—the whole eye having a peculiarly wicked look. The pectoral fins were triangular, extending down each side, and enabling it thus to swim with great rapidity. The tail possesses immense power, and the doctor told us that it could break a man's leg with one blow; of that we had no doubt, indeed, from the tremendous force with which it struck the deck.

No food comes amiss to this pirate of the seas, and, as is well known, it has an especial affection for human beings. When seizing its prey, in consequence of the mouth being placed in the lower part of the head, it turns itself round in the water so that it may snap up the bait. The captain told us that he had seen Africans and Sandwich Islanders attack the shark in its own element, and come off victorious. The marine hunter watches for the monster, and swimming

boldly towards it, waits for the moment when it turns, when, with a sharp knife, he rips it open. In the north seas, large numbers of sharks are caught for the sake of the oil which its liver supplies, equal, it is said, to cod-liver oil.

Taffrail.-The taffrail in ships is the rail that runs along the top of the timbers at the stern, extending across the stern from one quarter-stanchion to another. The waist. That part of a ship which is between the quarter-deck and fore-castle; generally, the middle part of the ship.

Capstan.-A strong, massy column of timber or iron, pierced near the top with holes to receive bars or rods for winding a rope round it. The capstan moves on a pivot, and, as it is turned, the rope or chain coils round it.

The iris.-Is the coloured circle which surrounds the pupil of the eye, by means of which the pupil is enlarged or diminished.

EXERCISES.

1. Name and explain the various nautical phrases in the lesson.

2. Explain exactly how the shark catches its prey.

3. Give the derivation of junction. What is the meaning of the following words, all coming from the same root:-adjoin, conjoin, conjunction, subjoin, rejoin, subjunctive, injunction, junc

ture.

4. Distinguish between these words:-through, threw; fellow, felloe; piece, peace; right, rite, write, wright; tail, tale; plate, plait; bait, bate.

5. Give the meaning of the words in italics in the following sentences:-He sung this strain; The quality of mercy is not strained; He strained every nerve; The rope could sustain the strain. The shark saw the tempting bait; He set the dogs to bait the bear; The traveller stopped to bait the horses. Man the yards; The rod was three yards long; The horses were put into the yard.

THE Red King lies in Malwood Keep,
To drive the deer o'er lawn and steep
He's bound him with the morn;

His steeds are swift, his hounds are good,
The like in covert or highwood

Were never cheered with horn.

And now the mist hung thin and low,
Or drifted o'er the moorland slow,
In many a curly wreath;
His whistle first the plover blew,

Then sharp and shrill the black-cock crew,
And flapped along the heath.

Thin amber clouds bespoke the prime,

These changed to red; and in less time

Than I can tell the story,

Through many a grove of aged oak,

And tangled shadowy thicket, broke
The sun in all its glory.

And with a lusty roundelay,
The throstle welcomed in the day;
And, towering from his lair,
The skylark from his feathers flung
The dewdrops, mounting as he sung
His matins in mid-air.

It was a pleasure but to hear

The bridles ringing sharp and clear,
Amid the forest green;

To hear the rattle of the sheaves,
And coursers rustling in the leaves,
With merry blasts between.

Foremost amid his knights of pride,
The Red King paced, and at his side
Sir Walter Tyrrel free;

For England's love he left his home,
And sailed across the salt sea foam,
From woods of Normandy.

He bare his bow before the King,

And led two grey-hounds in a string,

With skins of snowy hue;

He was a ready man on horse,

Was better none to hunt of force,
Or brace the sounding yew.

Now fast beside the path-way stood

A ruined village, shagged with wood

A melancholy place;

The ruthless Conqueror cast down

(Woe worth the deed!) that little town, To lengthen out his chase.