Jack talking in an animated way as they drew nearer, and, as if
in obedience to an order, one of the sailors trotted by them.

As they reached the port bows Jack turned round where he was leaning
over the starboard side, as if to look for the man who had gone on some
errand, and he caught sight of his father.

"Come and look here, father," he cried. "Something so curious."

"Eh? What is it?" said Sir John coolly, and, followed by the doctor, he
crossed to where his son stood with the mate.

"Look over here, straight down into the black water," said Jack.

"Hah! Yes, very beautiful, looks as if we were sailing through a sea of
liquid pale gold."

"And it's all black where it is not disturbed. As soon as the yacht's
prow rushes through, everything is flashing out with phosphorescent
light, and you can see myriads of tiny stars gliding away."

"Yes, beautiful," said Sir John. "Grand," cried the doctor.

"And Mr Bartlett here says it is nothing compared to what he has seen
off Java and the other islands. Look now! it's just as if the sea as
deep down as we can pierce was full of tiny stars. Oh, here's the
pail."

The sailor had returned, and way was made for him to drop the bucket at
the end of a rope down into one of the brightest parts, and bring it up
full of the phosphorescent water.

Just then the doctor gave Sir John a dig in the ribs with his elbow, as
much as to say, "Now, who's right?" While mentally agreeing that his
friend was, Sir John moved out of the way, so as not to receive another
poke.

Then followed rather a learned discourse from the doctor on the
peculiarities of the wonderful little creatures which swarmed in the
bucket, whose contents in the light seemed to be so much clear
sea-water, but which in the darkness flamed with light as soon as it was
disturbed by a hand being passed quickly through.

"Why, it makes my hand tingle and smart just slightly," said Jack.

"Oh yes," said the mate. "If you bathe in a sea like this you can feel
quite an irritation of the skin, while the large jelly-fish sting like a
nettle."

"Then are these jelly-fish?"

"Yes, almost invisible ones," replied the doctor.

"But it seems so strange. Why is it?" said Jack.

"Well, we know that fish prey upon these things wholesale, and my theory
is that the tiny things have the stinging power as a defence by day, and
the ability to light up to make the fish think they will burn their
mouths at night and