24 ALONG THE FLORIDA REEF. 



the boys was attracted by the actions of a flock 

 of cranes. One by one they had collected until 

 eight or ten stood on the sand. Their move- 

 ments were decidedly curious. Now some of 

 them would rush around, hop in the air, rise just 

 above the surface, and dance along in a dandified 

 fashion, pecking at imaginary objects, and utter- 

 ing strange cries that provoked no little merri- 

 ment among the boys. 



" This must be the land of the dancing 

 crane," said Harry. 



" It looks very much like it," replied the doc- 

 tor, " and is just as truly dancing as the motions 

 of men and women. Many birds have this 

 habit, but the cranes are the most remarkable. 

 The cock of the rock, a South American bird, is 

 also a dancer. The other birds form in a circle 

 about it, and when it retires exhausted another 

 bird takes its place." 



As Captain Ellis had predicted, the wind 

 went down with the sun, and the water be- 

 came as smooth as glass, reflecting the countless 

 stars, and gleaming with phosphorescent light. 

 The schooner appeared to be resting in a sea 



