IN THE CORAL COUNTRY. 39 



the vigorous puffing of boy and turtle would 

 strike the air together. 



" Lay out sideways ! " again shouted Paublo, 

 which Tom did and found much easier. 



Up the moat he went, passing Harry, who 

 was having a hard struggle, shouting, laughing, 

 choking, all in one breath, and converting the 

 hitherto smooth waters of the moat into a whirl 

 of foam. The end of the inclosure reached, the 

 turtles whirled about and dashed back again. 



Such an exciting sport the boys had never 

 experienced a race on turtle-back and the 

 walls of the fort echoed back shouts of laughter 

 and cries that brought out the doctor, who 

 heartily enjoyed the sight from one of the port- 

 holes of the fort. 



Even turtles will become tired, &nd these 

 were no exception ; after making the run several 

 times they gradually relaxed their exertions, 

 and the boys, by putting their knees upon the 

 shell and raising themselves up, presented a 

 greater surface, and finally stopped the huge 

 animals against the wall. 



Paublo, who had been the general and sug- 



