252 ALONG THE FLORIDA REEF. 



the outcry and darted forth. Then began a 

 chase that was magnificent in its evolutions. 

 The gull sought to rise, but the swift man-o'- 

 war bird dashed after it, rising higher and 

 higher, and finally shot by. It turned, hesitated 

 a moment, then projected itself like a meteor at 

 the gull. The latter, with wild cries, attempted 

 to avoid it, and then in despair dropped the 

 fish, which the man-o'-war bird Lad followed, 

 catching; it before it struck the water, bearing it 

 off in triumph. 



Man}- nights were spent on the water listen- 

 ing to the tales of Long John or old Busby, 

 while Chief and Bob Rand, who "were upon rare 

 occasions tempted out by the enthusiasm of the 

 boys, would sit and listen, but seldom say a 

 "word. Sometimes a smack would come in with 

 its well loaded with groupers, yellow-tails, and 

 porgies, bound for the Havana market, or the 

 fleet schooner Tortur/as would go over and bring 

 them buck guava jelly and various dainties. In 

 this way the happy days passed in this land of 

 perpetual summer. As their acquaintance with 

 their pets increased, their peculiar traits devel- 



