148 ALONG THE FLORIDA KEEP. 



seated himself in the bow, while John sculled 

 the boat quietly out into the channel. 



The sun was just up a big gleaming orb 

 that appeared to rise out of the water, dissipat- 

 ing the pink-tinted clouds that lined the western 

 horizon. Long John headed the dinghy directly 

 at the sun, threw over a line about five feet 

 long, to w^hich was attached a white rag, placed 

 his long grain-pole across the boat within reach, 

 then carving off a big piece of tobacco, he sol- 

 emnly winked at Tom, as much as to say, " Now 

 keep your weather eye open." And this is ex- 

 actly what Long John meant ; so Tom sat still, 

 and watched his tall form working the oar with 

 one hand, and at the same time keeping an eye 

 on the rag that was towing astern. 



" You don't mean to say you catch a barra- 

 cuda with that thing ? " said Tom after a few 

 moments, unable to hold his curiosity longer. 



" Sartin," replied Long John, with a grin. 



Again there was silence, and again Tom's 

 curiosity reached the boiling-point, and he was 

 about to propound another question, when Long 

 John stopped sculling, and reaching down with 



