floating on
the surface of the water. "Paddle slowly!" he said; "and make as little
noise as possible. There is a sleeping turtle; and though we cannot
catch it alive, we will have it notwithstanding." Saying this, he got
his bow ready, with one of several large arrows which he had formed
fixed in it. We had cautiously approached; when, standing up, he shot
his arrow into the air, which formed a curve and came down
perpendicularly on the shell of the turtle.

"Paddle up rapidly!" he exclaimed. We did as he directed, but just as
we got near it the turtle disappeared beneath the surface. The shaft of
the arrow, however, remaining above it, Kallolo sprang into the water
and caught it just as it was sinking, and towed it alongside. Passing a
rope round the body of the turtle, we next hauled it on board, when
Kallolo, breaking off the shaft, turned the animal on its back. It was
alive, but from the weak way in which it moved its legs it was evident
that life was ebbing fast. We should, at all events, not return
empty-handed.

We were at last thinking of putting about, when Uncle Paul, who was
taking another look along the shore, announced that he saw just such a
beach as we were in search of. We at once with renewed vigour paddled
towards it, and as we drew nearer he declared his belief that we should
find it frequented by turtle. Instead of landing on the beach, however,
we paddled in on one side, and there saw an open space which would
afford us camping-ground. As turtles are timid creatures, and will not
lay their eggs on ground disturbed by the footsteps of their human or
other foes, it was important not to walk over the ground until they had
come on shore. This they do during the night, though they do not return
to the water till after sunrise.

We built a hut of boughs, and lighting a fire, cooked our provisions;
then, having eaten our supper, we lay down to rest, one of us keeping
watch while the rest slept.

Uncle Paul, who had chosen the morning watch, called us just before
daylight. We made our way along the shore, cautiously approaching the
beach, on which, to our infinite satisfaction, we saw a number of dark
objects crawling slowly along. We now hurried forward--Uncle Paul and
Kallolo taking one side, Tim and I the other--and were soon among the
turtle, which, with all the strength we could exert, we rapidly turned
over on their backs. On seeing us, the creatures began to crawl away
towards