luck, for the tide
was down lower than usual, and prawns seemed plentiful, there having
been plenty of time for them to collect since they were last disturbed,
for we boys were the only hunters on that deserted shore. So on we
went, one poking about among the weeds till the prawn darted backwards
into the nets held ready, and we had soon been able to muster over a
dozen.

Then, all at once, we came upon quite a little pool right under a large
mass of rock with a smaller and deeper pool joined to it by a narrow
channel between two blocks of stone, and farther from the sea.

We caught sight of several prawns darting under cover as we came in
sight, but, to our disgust, found that we could not attack them, the
pool being so sheltered by overhanging rocks that the only possible way
seemed to be by undressing and going into what was quite a grotto.

Travellers tell us how the natives of some far-off islands dive into the
sea and do battle with sharks; but no boy ever lived who could dive into
a pool and catch a prawn in his native element--at least I never knew
one who could, and we were going to give it up after a few frantic
thrusts with our nets, when an idea occurred to me.

"Here, I know!" I cried. "Let's bale out the little low hole, and that
will empty the big one."

"To be sure," cried Bob. "Go it! But we've got nothing to bale with."

"Big's shoes," I cried as I caught sight of them hanging from his neck,
tied together by their thongs, and each with a knitted worsted stocking
plugging up the toes.

Big made not the slightest objection, but laughed as he pulled out his
stockings and thrust them into his breeches' pockets.

The next minute he and I were scooping out the water at a tremendous
rate, making quite a stream flow down from the upper part under the
rock, and it soon became evident that in less than an hour both would be
dry.

We worked away till I was tired and gave place to Bob Chowne, Bigley all
the while working away and sending out great shoefuls over the lower
edge of the rocks.

I sat down to rest, and as I watched where the water fell I suddenly
made a dart at something thrown out, but it only proved to be a prickly
weaver.

Five minutes later, though, Big threw out a prawn which had come down
with the current, and this encouraged him to work harder, but Bob began
to be tired, and he showed it by sending a shoeful of water at me,
making me shout, "Leave off!"

Then he sent one fl