128 
NATURE’S CRAFTSMEN 
through its watery domains. But instead of go¬ 
ing forward it goes backward! Sometimes it 
crawls on the floor of the sea head downward with 
its shell on its back.” 
“ The real use of the shell, however,” said 
Auntie, “is to serve as a cradle for the little 
ones, for it is only the mother nautilus that is 
provided with a shell. In this lovely floating 
cradle the babies are safe from the many dangers 
of the ocean.” 
“We have an interesting little house-boat 
builder much nearer and better known than the 
nautilus,” Uncle John now remarked. “ She has 
been receiving considerable attention the last few 
years. I wonder if you can guess her. When 
she wishes to travel about over the sands, she 
carries her boat on her back. Although not a 
swift traveler, she often goes a considerable dis¬ 
tance. I saw her footprints down by the boat¬ 
house this very afternoon. She-” 
“ Ah, it’s a snail, Uncle John,” exclaimed 
Ruth, disappointedly. “ I-” 
“It isn’t either, Miss; don’t interrupt,” 
Tommy cried scornfully, himself unmindful, in 
spite of all Grandmother’s warnings, that “ Ex¬ 
ample is better than precept.” “ Who ever pays 
any attention to a snail! ” 
“ Has but one foot,” Uncle John continued 
serenely, wisely ignoring these “ asides.” “ And 
