Jim's perched on one of the raised roots a good half meter above the water with one hand holding on to the rope while he watches Stratos carefully. Ready to try and grab for the mage if he falls, or to scramble up the rope after him if he takes a knee up in the tree because he's unwell from so much casting.

It means he's not really watching the water line right away. Not until there's the smallest of sounds in the water and by then he's staring into the mostly open maw of a creature that is very clearly of the Jim Eating Monster size range. The half second that passes is simultaneously the longest wait of Jim's life and no time at all. The captain's yelping in alarm, his left hand wrapped around the rope once while the right drags the knife out of it's sheath at his side.

Jim's only going to take one swipe with his weapon toward the creature's snout before he's shoving it back into place and hauling himself up that rope as far as he can get in the precious few moments his mostly ineffectual attack is going to buy him.

"Shit, fuck! Make room up there!!"