Free 03 Underwater Adventure by Willard Price

do?’ complained Roger.
    ‘I’d rather you’d stay on board,’ Blake said. ‘This is not a game for boys.’
    But Roger objected so bitterly to this arrangement that Blake relented. ‘Very well, you can come in, but stay at a safe distance. Keep close to the ship. Have your knife handy and if we need you we’ll signal. Inkham can stay there with you.’
    Skink’s jaw dropped. His eyes went to the waiting shark and his face paled. But he tried to put on a bold front.
    ‘Nothing I’d like better than to take on that shark single-handed. But I’m afraid I’ll have to miss the fun this time. My leg, you know - it’s still so numb I wouldn’t be able to swim. I’ll have to stay on deck.’
    Blake nodded. ‘Sorry your leg is bothering you again. It seemed all right when you went down the companionway to lunch.’
    ‘Yes,’ admitted Skink, ‘but you use a different set of muscles for swimming, and they’re still paralysed.’
    ‘Perhaps it’s your nerve that is paralysed instead of your muscles,’ suggested Blake.
    Skink began to bluster but was interrupted by the appearance of Omo carrying a blazing acetylene torch. It had been adjusted for underwater work. Over the tip was fitted an air sheath through which compressed air would make a bubble extending out of the flame to protect it from the water.
    ‘Where are you off to?’ Hal asked.
    ‘The captain wants me to do a little work on the keelson. The metal snapped when we struck one of those coral heads. It needs a bit of welding.’
    He dropped over the side. The torch still blazed bravely under the surface. Omo disappeared under the hulL Dr Blake, Hal and Roger put on their masks, fins, aqualungs.-and weighted belts. Each belt already carried a sheath knife and now a shark billy was thrust in beside it Packets of cupric acetate were strapped to the ankles.
    ‘But we’ll make the other experiments first,’ Blake advised. ‘Don’t open the envelopes until I give the signal.’
    They descended the ladder into the lagoon. Blake swam slowly towards the shark, and Hal, armed with the motion picture camera, followed.
    Roger unwillingly did as he had been told. He stayed near the ship.
    He did not enjoy being treated like a child. He was almost as strong as the other two, and as good a swimmer. Angry and rebellious, he almost hoped something would happen so that he would have to rush in to the rescue. He drew his knife and waited impatiently.
    Dr Blake proceeded with his experiments. First he tested the theory that a shark will retreat if you show no fear and swim straight towards him. He started towards the mako. Hal started the camera.
    The mako paid no attention to the approaching form until it came within ten feet. Then he moved his tail lazily and fell away to one side.
    Again Blake advanced and again the mako moved out of his path - but not so far this time.
    Upon the third advance, the mako did not budge. Blake stopped within five feet of the big muzzle.
    The evidence seemed to be, at least so far as this shark was concerned, that it would retreat at first before a resolute advance, but that this technique could not be relied upon to scare the beast away.
    Blake found himself uncomfortably close to the object of his study. But now would be a good time to test the bubble theory. He took a deep breath, then exhaled sharply and a great volume of bubbles rose from the regulator at the back of his neck.
    Perhaps this might have frightened a smaller fish, but the mako was not disturbed. He seemed to be studying Blake as intently as Blake was studying him. Dr Blake began to feel like the specimen instead of the experimenter.
    Blake began to move away. The shark immediately followed him. It kept the distance between them at about five feet. This was not enough for comfort, and Blake, becoming a little excited, struck out, splashing hands and feet.
    At once the shark began to close in on him. It showed its instinct to attack anything that seemed to be wounded