114: ALOXG THE FLORIDA REEF. 



The sun was now high, and, according to 

 Long John, they were in for a "steamer"; so a 

 start was made up the beach. 



"Where can we get some "bait?" asked 

 Dick. 



" You'll find big-heads and plenty of craw- 

 fish on the edge of the channel, right off the 

 west'ard of the key," replied Long John. 



Following the directions, they started; the 

 doctor, Tom, and Harry in the boat, while Dick 

 and Long John waded along the shore — the 

 former chasing spirit-crabs, and picking up shells 

 or bits of sea-weed. 



The water on the reef here was about four 

 feet deep, with a bottom of clear "white sand, so 

 that any object could be seen upon it some dis- 

 tance away, presenting a scene irresistible to the 

 boys in the boat, who leaned over with faces 

 almost touching the water, while the doctor, 

 with the grain-pole in hand, slowly poled along. 

 Here a big conch (fttrombnx) "was lumbering 

 along, racing, perhaps, with the smaller species 

 not a foot away. Now it was a big anemone 

 buried in the sand, and mimicking it in its ab- 



