184: ALONG THE FLORIDA REEF. 



bush, he strolled in, led by the sweet odor of the 

 bay -cedar and possibly to see how far the path 

 led. He had not gone far when he saw an 

 object that almost made him shout with aston- 

 ishment. In the dim light was the figure of a 

 man on his knees, digging with both hands in 

 the sand. Tom knew that the island was unin- 

 habited, or at least that it was supposed to be, 

 and the thoughts that rushed through his mind 

 of pirates and Spanish galleons would have made 

 a chapter in this recital. Alarmed and surprised 

 at the apparition, he stood for a moment rooted 

 to the spot ; then, fearing that he would be dis- 

 covered, he backed cautiously into the bush, still 

 keeping his eyes on the figure that was evidently 

 engaged in excavating something. Tom decided 

 to drop to the ground and creep away under 

 cover of the bay-cedar, and so regain the beach, 

 when he could quickly make his way to camp 

 and inform the others. He was about to put 

 this resolution into operation when the figure 

 rose up and quietly disappeared in the bay- 

 cedar forest. After waiting a moment, that 

 seemed an hour, Tom quickly retraced his steps 



