242 ALONG THE FLORIDA REEF. 



Dick such a sounding blow that he let go, and 

 the big reptile pulled Tom to his knees again. 



" He'll get away from us sure," exclaimed 

 the latter, clinging desperately to the side of the 

 shell, but being carried down the beach. " Help ! " 

 he shouted. " We've got him, but we can't keep 

 him." 



" There's a plank," cried Tom ; " try that." 



Dick seized the plank that had been washed 

 ashore, and, thrusting it beneath the turtle, tried 

 to use it as a lever, while Tom stood in front 

 and tried to intimidate the turtle that was bent 

 upon reaching the water. She would have es- 

 caped had not the doctor and Harry arrived from 

 one direction, while Long John and the keeper's 

 son came running from the other. 



" Now then, again," shouted Tom, hopefully. 

 " Up she goes ! Heave o' ! " 



Three or four pairs of arms grasped the mon- 

 ster this time and over she went, napping her 

 bright-yellow breast with powerful strokes. 



" Well done,"' said Long John. " I'd reck- 

 oned that she would pull you into the water." 



" So she would," replied Tom, puffing and 



