46 ALONG THE FLORIDA REEF. 



"I didn't know that fishes played games 

 before," remarked Harry. 



" They do, though," replied Long John ; " and, 

 as for these fellows, they give that poor turtle 

 no peace. The minute he comes to the surface 

 they begin their tricks, and if they can't jump 

 over him they find some floating stick or straw 

 and practice on that. Oh, fishes are much the 

 same as you boys, I tell you full of fun and all 

 kinds of nonsense." 



" All these animals seem to know you," said 

 Harry. 



" I reckon they do," was the reply. " I kind 

 of look at 'em as belonging to me." 



" Doesn't Bob Rand care anything about 

 them ? " asked Dick. 



"No," replied the long fisherman. "Bob's 

 got a sojer-crab, and that's all he cares for. I 

 reckon you'll find it in the shanty," motioning 

 with his knife over his shoulder. 



The boys entered the office, and, after look- 

 ing about for some moments, espied a singular 

 object nothing less than a common clay stem- 

 less pipe on the floor, slowly moving along. 



