250 ALONG THE FLORIDA REEF. 



and where the doctor talked to them about 

 their finds and explained many of the mysteries 

 of the deep sea, always finding in these won- 

 ders new evidences of a higher wisdom which 

 was impressed upon his hearers. 



The pets accumulated day by day, as all the 

 boys were fond of animals. Tom had two tame 

 porcupine-fishes that swam through his fingers, 

 while the turtle that was rescued from the 

 Physalia was tied to a stake by a hole in its 

 shell, and considered a pet, though it must be 

 confessed it showed little evidence of domestica- 

 tion. Tame gulls and noddies stalked about, 

 keeping Dick busy in providing them with 

 food, while Harry, having reared two young 

 pelicans, which he took from a rude nest on 

 Bush Key, was similarly employed in supply- 

 ing them with fishes. Long John had made 

 him a small cast-net, and with this and a 

 long iron barrel-hoop with which, by using it 

 as a saber, he cut down sardines, he provided 

 for these pets that were always hungry and 

 never satisfied. 



The crab in the pipe-bowl was an especial 



