A TURTLE TURN. 233 



could not be selected, so preparations for the 

 start were at once commenced. The lines, a 

 hamper of food, and fresh water were stowed 

 in the dinghy which was towed behind the 

 Bull-pup, and with a fair wind they stood out 

 around the southwest channel, heading for the 

 great needle-like tower that alike forms the 

 land's end of the United States and the highest 

 light-house in the country. 



The key was about five miles distant, and, as 

 there was good fishing on the way, Long John 

 proposed that they should stop and catch a mess 

 for supper. They found at the north end of 

 Bird Key some large heads of coral, under which 

 their bait appeared in the guise of craw-fishes. 

 The grains soon brought them up flapping, 

 and when enough hail been caught they 

 kept on toward a reef on the southwest 

 channel. 



" There's a friend of yours, Tom," said 

 Harry, as a large Portuguese man-o'-war ap- 

 peared. 



"Yes," replied Tom, standing up and hold- 

 ing on to the shrouds ; " I know all about him. 



