THE ISLAND OF THE DEAD 



But C. enjoyed action as well as contemplation. 

 Once out on the shoals when Manuel harpooned a 

 huge hawk-bill turtle — ^the valuable species from 

 which the amber shell is derived — we had a thrilling 

 and dangerous ride. For the turtle hauled us at a 

 terrific rate through the water. Then C. joined in 

 with the yells of the Indians. He was glad, how- 

 ever, when the turtle left us stranded high upon a 

 coral bed. 



On moonlight nights when the tide was low C. 

 especially enjoyed wading on the shoals and hunting 

 for the langustas, or giant lobsters. This was excit- 

 ing sport. We used barrel-hoops with nets, and 

 when we saw a lobster shining in the shallow water 

 we waded noiselessly close to swoop down upon him 

 with a great splash. I was always afraid of these 

 huge crayfish, but C. was not. His courage might 

 have been predatory, for he certainly liked to eat 

 lobster. But he had a scare one night when a devil- 

 fish or tremendous ray got between him and the 

 shore and made the water fly aloft in a geyser. It 

 was certainly fun for me to see that dignified Eng- 

 lishman make tracks across the shoal. 



To conclude about C, when I went on to Mexico 



City with him I met friends of his there, a lord and 



a duke traveling incognito. C. himself was a peer of 



England and a major in the EngUsh army. But I 



never learned this till we got to Tampico, where 



they went with me for the tarpon-fishing. They 



were rare fine fellows. L., the little Englishman, 



could do anything under the sun, and it was from 



him I got my type for Castleton, the Englishman, 



in The Light of Western Stars. I have been told 

 2 17 



