240 ALONG THE FLORIDA BEEF. 



ing of the surf, and occasionally the cry of a 

 stray laughing gull was heard. 



Tom and Dick were lying together flat upon 

 the sands, looking up at the stars, the doctor 

 and Harry having taken their station to the 

 south, when there came a low but distinct hiss. 

 Tom impulsively started up Avith an exclama- 

 tion, but Dick pulled him back. Again came 

 the hiss, and then in the silvery path of the 

 moon a black head glistened on the water. A 

 moment later a black body was seen clamber- 

 ing slow!}' over the sands not fifty feet below 

 them. 



"It's a turtle," whispered Tom, starting up 

 again. 



"But suppose it isn't," retorted Dick; "sup- 

 pose it is something else." 



" Well, what ? " asked Tom impatiently. 



" I don't know," was the reply. 



" It's a turtle fast enough," said Tom. " Let's 

 wait until it gets well up, then Ave will rush 

 at it." 



They remained perfectly quiet, and in a few 

 minutes the turtle was hicdi on the beach near 



