THE DISAPPEARING ISLAND. 161 



but they show the greatest variation, though 

 a great many entirely different animals have 

 pouches. For instance, there are the kangaroo, 

 opossum, some of the tree-toads, the pipe-fish 

 and sea-horses, an echinus, some of the cat-fishes, 

 and many others totally at variance as regards 

 structure. So you see your plan would hardly 

 work." 



" If you young gentlemen don't object," in- 

 terrupted Long John, who had been an attentive 

 listener, " I think you had better come aboard " ; 

 and as Tom and Dick waded toward the boat 

 he pointed behind them. A long, low, lead-col- 

 ored cloud had appeared so quickly that they 

 had not noticed it, and from it two curious 

 points extended down. 



" Jump in quick ! " cried the doctor ; and the 

 boys wasted no time, but floundered to the boat, 

 and, following Long John's directions, got out 

 the oars and put them over the sides of the 

 clumsy sail-boat. 



" What is it ? " asked Dick. 



" Them's waterspouts forming," replied Long 

 John ; " and as they have killed the wind, and 



