228 ALONG THE FLORIDA REEF. 



age splash the man-eater dashed away amid the 

 cheers of the lookers-on. Up the moat it swam, 

 stirring up the mud, turning the corner at the 

 second face ; then, discovering that it was fairly 

 caged ; it assumed a more moderate rate of speed, 

 and sailed up in plain view, much to the satisfac- 

 tion of its captors. 



" He must be twelve feet long," said Tom to 

 his father. 



" Easily that," replied the latter. " At least, 

 as large as you would care to catch." 



" Yes, indeed," Tom rejoined. " I don't care 

 to try it again to-day ; it's too hard work." 



It was near sundown, and the boys returned 

 to their quarters well pleased with the day's 

 work.* 



That evening the boys brought out all their 

 hermit-crabs. They were in shells of all kinds. 

 Some had gorgeous ones of dazzling pearl that 

 had been partially cleaned with acid ; others had 

 taken up with top shells or a Troclius, while 



* This shark was kept for six months, and was dubbed the Pro- 

 vost-Marshal by the dwellers in the fort. It steadily refused food, 

 and probably died of starvation. Its jaw is now in the Museum of 

 Natural History, Central Park, New York. 



