234 



ALONG THE FLORIDA REEF. 



But what is that under him ? A turtle, surely. 

 Luff a little, please." 



Long John hauled the boat up in the wind a 

 trifle, and seizing a large scoop-net, Tom lowered 

 it under the Pliysalia and drew it up, and with 

 it a turtle about a foot loner that had been 



overpowered by its violent stinging apparatus. 

 Tom rubbed the purple mass away and finally 

 anointed the animal with oil amid the laughter 

 of the rest. Tom was a humanitarian. The tur- 

 tle was a hawk's-bill, the kind so valued for its 

 shell in trade. 



"It is too bad to lose this breeze by stopping 

 to fish," said the doctor finally. " Suppose we 



