"034 (B014) - The Fantastic Island (1935-12) - Ryerson Johnson" - читать интересную книгу автора (Robeson Kenneth)

"Aid Pat, if she needs it," Monk bellowed. "Me, I'm goin' for Habeas Corpus!"



Habeas Corpus was Monk's cherished pet pig. He never went anywhere without the animal, much to Ham's disgust and frequent infuriation.



A streak of light, blue-white, darted from the Seven Sea's bridge, knifed across the rock-fanged water.



"Turn that searchlight off," Ham shouted to Pat, as he went down again under a drenching cross-wave.



"It'll help us see to swim ashore," Pat protested.



"It'll draw sharks," Ham snapped, as he caught the life preserver Pat threw him.



"So you're afraid of sharks," Pat said.



But she switched off the searchlight and joined Ham at the submerged rail. Monk appeared on deck an instant later with the squealing, kicking armful of razorback hog that was Habeas Corpus.



Habeas Corpus had a snout like a wood-rasp, flopping coal-scuttle ears, long ungainly legs. The special life preserver which Monk had previously fashioned for Habeas did not improve his appearance. It added to his buoyancy, however. Monk jumped into the water with the wet pig.



"That hog'll draw sharks," Ham yelled.



"Habeas, he fights sharks!" Monk roared back. "Come on!"





PAT and Ham went overboard, Ham still holding tightly to his slim black cane which was almost as much a part of him as his shirt. The cane was in reality a formidable weapon -- a sword cane. Its innocent-appearing exterior sheathed a length of gleaming steel, the point of which had been impregnated with a chemical capable of producing almost instant unconsciousness.