e
tempting flowers which invited the tiny fish and crustaceans to inspect
their beauties, and at the slightest touch of one of these waving petals
fell paralysed, or were drawn into the all-absorbing mouth that took the
place of the nectary in a flower.

Every stroke of the oars, too, sent the brilliant little fish scurrying
away in shoals--fish that were gorgeous beyond description, and were to
the water what the sun-birds were to the air.

All at once the men ceased rowing and allowed the boat to stop.

"What is it?" said the captain.

Billy Widgeon, who had been looking out seaward, pointed with his oar to
something glistening on the top of the water, and then, giving a
whispered hint to his companion, the latter gave one sturdy tug at his
oar and then raised it and let the boat glide on, curving in a
semicircle toward the object on the water.

"A sea-serpent!" whispered Mark.

"Yes, and a real one," said Gregory as they all watched the creature
lying basking and evidently asleep in the hot sunshine.

Setting aside its shape, which always seems repellent, it was beautiful
in the extreme, being marked with broad bands of orange upon a purple
ground; and as it lay there on the blue water it seemed hard to believe
that it could be dangerous.

"We're not on a collecting expedition," whispered the captain, taking up
his gun; "but I should like to have that to show to people who say there
are no serpents in the sea. What's that, Gregory--ten-feet long?"

"Twelve at least. Aim at his head."

He was too late, for the captain's piece was already at his shoulder,
and as he drew trigger the charge struck the serpent about a third of
its length from the head, making it heave up out of the water, while a
convulsion ran through it, and then it lay motionless upon the surface.

"Dead!" cried Mark excitedly; and he made a dash to check Bruff, but too
late, for the dog plunged over the side and swam towards the serpent.

"Stop him, Billy!" cried Mark; and the little sailor, who had laid in
his oar and stood ready with the boat-hook, made a snatch at the dog's
collar, but did not succeed in gaffing him, and Bruff swam on.

"It's dead, Mark," said the captain; and then, more quickly than it
takes to describe it, Bruff made a snatch at the nearest portion of the
snake--its tail--caught it in his teeth, and was in the act of turning
to drag it after him back to the boat, when there was a rush in the
water, the creature h