ON THE OUTER REEF. 71 



and sound, and tearing along in the smooth water 

 of the inner reef. 



The boys were amazed. "What kind of 

 navigation do you call that ? " asked Tom, wip- 

 ing the spray from his eyes; while the doctor 

 said : " Why, John, you cleared those heads only 

 by about six inches." 



" That's all the room there was, sir," replied 

 Long John with a grin. " It's a regular chan- 

 nel," he added ; " we call it the ' five-foot.' I've 

 been through when it was worse." 



" But how did you know how to steer ? " 

 asked Harry. 



"Well," said Long John, "if you'll promise 

 not to let on, I'll tell you. Keep down the reef 

 until the Garden Key light is just on a line with 

 the third chimney of that big brick building of 

 the fort ; then let her drive, and, if you can keep 

 her head on, you're all right." 



" And if you can't ? " interrupted Harry. 



" Well, sir," was the reply, " it's one of the 

 things it wouldn't pay to miss — it's a bad place 

 for sharks." 



While talking they had neared the lower 



