y had ever boarded and
he spent a very pleasant evening, the more so as the owner of the vessel
had his family aboard, including his son Paul, a lad almost the same age
as Colin. Mr. Murren was a wealthy capitalist, who had financed a chain
of drug-stores throughout the country and still kept a large amount of
stock in them. This corporation used many thousands of sponges annually,
needing moreover a high-grade article which was found difficult to
procure. It had been thought wise to investigate the question of buying
a sponge farm, and he had been asked to look into the matter.
Accordingly, he was taking a run down the coast, but had come first to
see the American Vice Consul at Bermuda--to whom he was related by
marriage.

"I heard a good deal about that sponge-farming business," said Colin,
when the other boy told him this. "Dr. Crafts told me how it was
worked."

"All the more reason for you to join us," his new friend responded. "I
hope you're coming."

"I hope so, too," Colin answered, "and it's likely enough that we will,
since you say your father has been kind enough to ask us. I think Mr.
Collier has nearly finished what he wanted to do in Bermuda, and if you
are going straight to Florida, it would save us a lot of time, as well
as being a jolly trip in itself."

"Going to do more coral-hunting?" the other boy queried, for Colin had
told him about his Bermuda work.

"A little of that, I think; but I believe Mr. Collier intends also to
make an exhibit showing the way sponges grow. So you see he is as much
interested as your father in reviewing the sponge question."

At this juncture Colin heard his name called.

"Yes, Mr. Collier," he answered.

"Do you think you have been over most of the reef?"

"Yes, sir, I think so," the boy answered; "Early Bird said yesterday
that we had covered the sea-garden grounds fairly thoroughly. But, of
course, there are miles of reef that we haven't seen."

"I think, Mr. Murren," the scientist said, turning to his host, "that I
can finish up all my business here by to-morrow night and be ready for a
start the following morning. If that's agreeable to you, we shall be
very glad to accept your invitation."

"That's agreed, then," said the capitalist, "and now we'll have some
music."

The trip to Florida on the _Golden Falcon_ was one of the pleasantest
Colin had ever known. The little craft fairly flew through the water. He
liked his host and hostess immensely, both