lad. The water's
wonderfully clear."

These were selected from the ample store, and carried up to the boat,
into which a basket, a bucket, and a big stone bottle covered with a
felt jacket, and full of fresh water, were lowered.

"Won't you come, father?" said Jack suddenly.

"Well--er--no," said Sir John; "there is hardly room for another in that
boat."

"Then we'll have a larger," cried Jack in a decisive tone, speaking as
his father had never heard him speak before.

"No, no," cried Sir John; "don't alter your plans. But look out there."

He pointed away from the side of the yacht, and Jack shaded his eyes,
for the sun flashed from the surface.

"Fish of some kind," said the lad eagerly. "Look, Mr Bartlett; what
are they--eels?"

"Snakes--sea-snakes," said the mate quietly; and they stood gazing at a
little cluster of eight or ten beautiful mottled creatures lying close
to the surface, almost motionless, except that one now and then changed
the S-like figure into which it lay by bending and waving its long
sinuous body into some other graceful curve, progressing by a slight
wavy motion of its tail.

"Proof positive, Jack, that there are sea-snakes," said Sir John.

"We shall have to look out," said the doctor, laughing. "Perhaps these
are the babies, and papa and mamma not far off."

"Hallo! what have you got there?" said the captain, coming up. "Snakes,
eh? Plenty of them to be found."

"And big ones?" asked Jack eagerly.

"I don't say that, my lad," replied the captain. "There's a pretty good
big one there though."

"What, that?" cried Jack. "Three or four feet long."

"Nearer eight when he is out of the water."

"Would they take a bait?"

"Doubtful. But I would not try. Those things can bite, and, as I said,
I've known cases out in the Indian Ocean where men have died from their
bites. They're best dealt with from a distance. Why don't you shoot
one for a curiosity? You could keep it in spirits."

"Ah, why not?" said the doctor; and he ran below, to return directly
with a double gun and some cartridges, a couple of which he inserted at
the breech.

Sir John looked at his friend inquiringly.

"There you are," said the doctor, handing the gun to Jack. "I'd rest
the barrels on the rails as we're rolling a little. Then take a good
aim as we're rising, not as we're going down, and fire as if you wanted
the shot to go under its head."

Jack hesitated, and shrank a little, but