h they were making.

As they advanced, all observed that the outer rim of this fringe was
very irregular, as if it had been broken up and changed by the action
of fierce tempests for many decades. This peculiarity, if such it may
be termed, left many places where the ocean was as calm as within the
atoll, and it was in one of these that the oyster-bed for which they
were searching was to be found.

Mate and captain advanced quite spiritedly for some distance, until
they were close to the northernmost portion, when they hesitated,
slackened their gait, looked to the right and left, conferred in low
tones, and then the captain suddenly exclaimed:

"This looks like the spot!"

The words were scarcely out of his mouth when the two men dashed down
the slight slope, ran a short distance, and then abruptly halted close
to the water's edge, at a point where the sea was locked in so that it
was only slightly disturbed by the ordinary swell. Close behind them
were Redvignez and Brazzier, while Pomp brought up the rear. The three
men exchanged only a word or two while following, and those were heard
by the leaders, because they were of no significance, but it is safe
to conclude they did a great deal of thinking.

The five grouped themselves along the water, standing side by side and
peering down into the depths before them. This perhaps averaged three
fathoms, and the water itself was as clear as crystal, without even
the tinge of green generally seen in the ocean. The bottom was quite
even and flat, resting upon a substratum of coral. The glinting rays
of the sun helped, so that a marble could have been distinguished many
fathoms down. And looking downward, the quintette saw the bottom
strewn with oysters of unusual size, lying so close together that in
many places they seemed to touch each other.

For a full minute the five stood motionless and speechless. It was
Pomp who was the first to recover his voice:

"My gracious! am dem 'isters full of pearls?"

"That can only be told by examination," was the quiet reply of Mr.
Storms.

"Dat's ruther deep to dive down, an' how 'bout sharks?"

The mate smiled.

"We thought of all that before we left home, Pomp."

"Well, what good did all de thinkin' do? Dat won't drive away de
shark, dat would as lief bite a man in two as to swaller a fish."

"If you and Redvig will return to the vessel and get that coat of mail
on deck, I will agree to go down there and take all the ris