several good-sized pearls were also
found, and one magnificent fellow, as large as a cherry.

As may easily be imagined, we were all excitement after this; and I
proposed that, as soon as dinner was over, we should move the cutter
down and anchor her upon the bed, and devote the remainder of the
afternoon to systematic pearl-fishing. The proposition was rapturously
received, Ella declaring that she had often read of pearl-fishing, and
should very much like to witness the operation.

Accordingly, dinner was no sooner over than we weighed and stood down to
the spot under our jib, and having reached it, the cutter was anchored
as nearly as possible over the centre of the bed. I had hit upon a plan
by which, I thought, some of my difficulties of the morning might be got
over; and, as soon as we were brought up, Bob and I got our floating-
anchor on deck, stretched the canvas upon it, and rigging out our
spinnaker-boom, a rope was passed through the sheave in the outer end of
it, and bent to the crowfoot of the floating-anchor, which thus hung
suspended, like a large tray, over the water. It was then lowered to
the bottom; a small pig of ballast was got on deck and slung to another
rope's-end, and I then went below and changed my dress for an old white
shirt and duck trousers, buckling a belt round my waist, to which, as it
happened, a strong sharp sheath-knife was attached.

Being now ready to descend, I looked over the side, and satisfied myself
that our floating-anchor lay all right at the bottom, and in such a
manner as properly to perform its new functions as a tray. I then
slipped over the side into the water, grasping firmly the rope to which
the piece of ballast was attached; and, having well filled my lungs with
air, I waved my disengaged hand. Bob let go the rope, and the ballast
dragged me swiftly to the bottom.

Still retaining my hold upon the sinker with one hand, I now rapidly
shovelled the oysters into my "tray" with the other, as long as I could
hold my breath; and I was satisfied, at the first experiment, that my
expedient was a complete success, thrice as many oysters being deposited
in the tray at one dive as I had obtained altogether in the morning.

I soon had to rise to get a fresh inhalation; but by hauling up the
sinker every time, so as to have the benefit of its assistance in taking
me to the bottom, I was enabled to reserve all my breath and energy for
my work at the oysters; and so succe