136 ALONG THE FLORIDA REEF. 



" Hand me that scoop-net, Dick," asked Tom 

 suddenly, fastening Ms line to a pin. " I've 

 been watching several squids playing around the 

 rudder, and I think I can catch one." 



Dick passed the net aft, and Tom, who was 

 sitting on an inverted bucket, leaned over the 

 water and held it in readiness should the squids 

 appear again. They soon returned, and leanin 

 farther over, with his face close to the water, 

 he made a plunge under them with the scoop. 

 But, instead of catching a squid, he started back 



O" 



The porcupine ;ts a balloon. 



with a loud exclamation, lost his balance, and 

 rolled backward over the bucket in among the 

 fish with a great crash, while the countenance 



