CHAPTER XXIX 



Salt Water Collecting 



The next dav the bovs invaded the ocean for 

 some of its secrets not already cast upon the beach. 

 They began with shells, because they were easiest, 

 and, after they had brought in a large number of 

 different kinds, they hunted snail shells on land to 

 make the collection as complete as possible. Some 

 of the live oysters contained pearls, which Edna 

 prized highly. 



*'Ji-ist to think," she said," that the beautiful 

 pearl is caused by a grain of sand or something else 

 irritating to the delicate insides of the oyster, and 

 it covers it up with mother-of-pearl like the inside 

 of the shell to stop it from hurting." 



"You might call them the oyster's tears," sug- 

 gested William. 



Henry showed them the Philippine trick of stay- 

 ing under water by holding a hollow reed in his mouth 

 and breathing through it. This proved useful in 

 studying the sea gardens and in collecting seaweeds, 

 corals, and sponges, as well as shells. 



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