82 ALONG THE FLORIDA REEF. 



" Kun for the spout and get behind it," 

 shouted Long John, who had come in and was 

 hauling his boat off shore. 



The doctor and Harry ran past the spout, 

 which was now very near the shore, and, when 

 out of harm's way, turned to watch the mon- 

 ster's progress. On it went, boiling and hissing, 

 in the direction of the fort, passing down the 

 face of the north wall, a sublime and magnificent 

 spectacle. 



" That was a close shave ! " said Harry ; and 

 the others fully agreed with him. 



The line of march was again taken up, and 

 before long they reached the head of the island, 

 where a narrow strait separated Long Key from 

 Bush Key. While stopping to overhaul a pile 

 of sea-weed their attention was attracted by the 

 comical asthmatic cries for food made by some 

 young pelicans from their nests of drift-wood in 

 the mangrove trees near by. The old birds 

 were hard at work, divina; for fish in the lagoon. 



steam-engine. Examination later showed that the spout had plowed 

 a trench in the reef two or three feet deep. Small fishes were killed, 

 and flocks of gulls followed in the wake. — Author. 



