218 ALONG THE FLORIDA REEF. 



Avere dumfounded for a moment in finding that 

 Tom Avas gone ; then, seeing him standing as 

 straight as an arroAV on the pile, they raised 

 a shout. 



" You'll haA-e to SAvim for it," called Dick, 

 taking the tiller. " Turn about is fair play." 



Tom AA-as someAvhat disconcerted at the turn 

 his joke had taken, as the fort Avas a quarter of 

 a mile aAvay and deep Avater nearly half the dis- 

 tance. He called for them to come hack, but 

 theA T lauschins-ly held on their course, leaAdno; 

 him monarch of all he surveyed. Finally, see- 

 ing that tlieA T intended to make him SAvim for 

 it, he began to take off his clothes — a difficult 

 operation Avhile standing on a platform about 

 eight by ten inches. He had diA^ested himself 

 of his shirt and trousers, and Avas about to fasten 

 them xipon his head preparatory to loAvering 

 himself into the Avater, AAhen a shout from the 

 TiOxettit caused him to stop. Looking up, he saw 

 that the boat had gone about and Avas iioav com- 

 inir back. 



" Hold on ! " shouted Harry, Avho was stand- 

 ino; in the bow ; '• look at that ! " 



