RIDING A SHARK. 125 



quisitively at them. The sand beneath the 

 edges of the big coral-heads, as they were called, 

 was dug away by the cray-fish, which backed 

 in, only showing its waving whips or feelers. 



" We'll wade along and see if we can find 

 anything new," said Tom, as he and Harry 

 stepped out on one of the heads, taking their 

 grains with them. 



So closely were the heads connected that the 

 boys found no difficulty in jumping from one to 

 another, the water being only a foot deep over 

 them, though it was slow work, as they were 

 barefooted, and the peculiar coral borers had 

 raised sharp, jagged points not at all pleasant to 

 step upon. They wandered some distance ahead 

 of the boat, occasionally capturing a cray-fish, 

 and leaving it on the heads for the others to 

 pick up. 



Tom had loitered behind to secure a fan- 

 shell that hung from a rich lavender gorgonia, 

 when a shout from Harry caused him to look 

 up. He had evidently struck something heavy, 

 and was pushing and hauling at his grains with 

 all his strength. 



