270 ALONG THE FLORIDA REEF. 



the house. As he reached the fence he grasped 

 it and held on, beckoning with his arm. As 

 Tom stepped out to meet him the old man 

 shouted : " You'd better come out o' that, all 

 hands ! " 



" What for ? " screamed Tom. 



" It's a-gittin' worse. I never see the like," 

 again shouted Busby, crawling up the steps, 

 " and I don't like the look o' fliat" pointing to 

 the big four-storied brick building that, only 

 partly finished, stood near, towering high above 

 the cottage next to that occupied by the party. 



" What were you saying ? " asked the doctor, 

 who now appeared, and as the boatswain re- 

 peated the warning he said to the boys around 

 him : " I hardly think there is any danger my- 

 self, but it is always best to take the advice of 

 those who know more about such tilings than 

 we do, so we will leave the cottage." 



Accordingly, a short time after the little 

 party were struggling toward the casemates. 

 The wind had increased to a frightful degree, 

 and as they reached a clearing midway between 

 the cottage and the arches they had to crouch 



