ch Frank said was a small Spanish cast-net. It had a row of leads
along the bottom, with leading strings passing up through a central ring.
Frank had read directions how to use this, and he amused himself making a
few trials while Jerry was busy.

At first he came near pulling a few teeth out, for it is a part of the
program that one of the leads must be held between the teeth while others
are gathered up in the hands as the net is flung out over the water by a
sharp rotary motion that spreads it open as it strikes.

The leads instantly sink, covering a space often ten feet or more in
diameter; then, by drawing quickly at the rope, the cords are pulled
through the ring and the net closes in like a purse, holding whatever
fish it may have covered when thrown.

After a few trials Frank succeeded in catching a couple of silver mullet
that had been unable to escape his clumsy attempts.

"I'll get the hang of it after a while," he said, as he tossed these into
the little dinghy where Jerry was taking his place, "but those may do you
for bait this evening, old fellow."

"Bully for you, Frank! Always coming to the rescue. I was just wondering
what I should use, and had an eye on some big blue crabs swimming along
there on the bottom. With the dip-net I might have caught a few. If Bluff
sees them he'll never stop talking about fried crabs." And Jerry pushed
off.

"Good luck to you, sportsman!" called Frank.

He had a number of things he wanted to do himself, and only cast an
occasional glance out to where Jerry had anchored the dinghy, opposite
to where the motor-boat was tied up.

Will was fussing around, doing something or other. He always made so
much bustle whenever he had anything on hand that his chums frequently
called him an "old woman," but this never seemed to bother the ardent
photographer, who pursued his way in spite of laughter or ridicule.

After a while he came and sat down near where Frank was arranging the
three little single blue-flame stoves that formed the cooking range of
the boat.

"I was just thinking, Frank," said he, "that I've never heard you say a
word about that mysterious packet your father entrusted to you before
we left home."

"Well, I've often thought about it as I felt it in my pocket, but you see
there's nothing to be done until we sight Cedar Keys. Then I'll break the
seal and read further directions," replied Frank.

"Of course you've speculated about it?" went on Will.

"Lo