IN THE CORAL COUNTRY. 31 



to alight on Bob Rand, but failing in this, 

 it settled down in the dinghy, as if deter- 

 mined to have a ride, whether welcomed or 

 not. 



" Well, that's the queerest thing I ever saw," 

 said Tom, laughing. "Are all the birds around 

 here as tame as that, Paublo ? " 



" Not all, sir," replied Paublo. " Dat's one o' 

 John's pets. It follows him all over, jest like a 

 dog ; an' w'en he's too lazy to fish f o' bait de old 

 pelican does it fo' him. Dey's a queer pair. 

 Long John kin tame anything." 



Bob Rand was soon seen sculling back a 

 large flat-bottomed boat, into which the luggage 

 was thrown ; and after its return the boys eager- 

 ly scrambled in, quickly reaching the shore, 

 finding themselves under the shadow of one of 

 the largest forts in the world. There was no 

 time to examine their surroundings, as their lug- 

 gage, the boxes, and cans had to be taken into 

 the fort. Paublo, with the aid of some colored 

 boys, soon had everything loaded upon wheel- 

 barrows, and with the young naturalists on 

 either side to superintend the work, the march 



