e
length.

The cuttle-fish in which this so-called bone is generally met with, is
the same species from whence the well-known colour sepia used in
painting is usually obtained.

To make a long story short, the rest of Miss Nellie's collection
consisted of most of the various members of the crustacean family found
along the south coast, which she, with the help of Bob and Dick, had
picked up promiscuously.

"A good deal of rubbish still, my dear," was the Captain's comment when
he came round in the evening and Nellie showed him the latest additions
to her store; "but, you've got one or two good things. I'll tell you
what you want, though."

"What?" she asked excitedly. "What do we want, Captain? Hush, Bob!"

"An aquarium," said he. "You see, my dear--"

"Why, we've got one. We've got one already, Captain!" she cried out
triumphantly, clapping her hands as she interrupted him. "Aunt Polly
bought one this very morning for us."

"That was very good of her, more than you young torments deserve," said
the Captain, with his customary chuckle. "However, now you've got an
aquarium, you must have something to put in it. Something living, I
mean. These dead and gone dried-up old chaps here are of no use;
although I wouldn't be surprised if that starfish there could still tell
the number of his mess if placed in water. I'm sure he's yet alive, my
dear."

"Why!" exclaimed Nellie, astonished at this, "we've had him hanging up
like that for a week!"

"Never mind that," replied the Captain. "Those funny, fat, seven-
fingered gentlemen have a nasty habit of `shamming Abraham,' or
pretending to have `kicked the bucket' when they are all alive and
hearty!"

"How funny!" said Nellie, laughing. "But, what shall we get to put into
the aquarium besides, Captain dear, crabs and little fish, like those we
see swimming about in the sea below the castle?"

"Crabs and little grandmothers!" ejaculated the Captain in great
disgust. "A nice aquarium you would make of it, missy, if you hadn't
some one to look after you! Why, the crabs would eat your little fish
before a week was out and then turn round and eat you!"

"Dear me, that would be dreadful!" cried Nellie laughing still more, the
Captain did look so comical. "But, what may we have for our aquarium,
if we must not have these?"

"Get? Well, let me see," said he, blinking away furiously and moving
his bushy eyebrows up and down for a moment, as if deliberating.