and then, just as destruction seemed certain, he swerved to the right
and disappeared from view in a mass of weeds that grew out from the
rock. With one last desperate effort Sammy followed, the weeds closed
behind him, and passing quickly through a small hole in the reef, he
lay, quivering, exhausted, but safe on the other side.

Furious at their disappointment the Sword Fishes rushed at the reef,
striking it again and again with their sharp swords in a vain attempt
to pierce, or batter down the rock. Then they swam wildly about
looking for an entrance large enough for them to pass through, but
none was to be found, for the high, circular reef shut in the lagoon
where the two refugees lay, like a wall.

At length, tired out with their exertions, the two Sword-Fish gave up
the chase, and being in a very ill-temper, and having no one else to
vent it on, they began to quarrel with each other.

"It's all your fault anyway," snarled Slasher, the biggest and
crossest fish. "How often have I told you to take my advice in these
matters! We should have kept further under water, as I suggested in
the first place, then we would not have been seen so soon. I've no
patience with your stupidity!"

"Stupid yourself!" snapped his brother Jabber. "You know as well as I
do that it is much the best plan to keep on a straight line with the
prey we are hunting. We can't half see if we are far above or below.
If you hadn't splashed so loudly with your tail--"

"I didn't splash with my tail," retorted Slasher angrily.