olid
masses of sponge-coral, clubs of Hercules, madrepores, like
elegantly-formed vases filled with flowers, dome-like groups of
astraeae, studded with green and purple spangles, and a thousand other
shapes, so fantastic and peculiar, that they can be likened to no other
objects in nature.

Johnny having got tired of lying in wait for the crabs, came to watch
the swimmers and search for shells. In the course of frequent beach
excursions with Mr Frazer, he had picked up the names, and chief
distinguishing characteristics of the principal genera of marine shells,
in consequence of which he had at length come to regard himself as quite
a conchologist, and was ambitious of making a "collection," like other
naturalists, in which design Arthur encouraged and assisted him.

Joining me, where I was lying upon a flat ledge, peering down into the
basin, he presently espied a Triton's trumpet, more than a foot in
length, in some five fathoms of water, and pointing it out to Max, he
begged him to dive for it, earnestly assuring him that he had never seen
so fine a specimen of the "Murex Tritonica." But the latter very
decidedly declined sacrificing his breath in the cause of science,
declaring that he had completely exhausted himself by his exertions in
pearl-diving.

Eiulo coming up at the moment with a number of shell-fish which he had
obtained, Johnny appealed to him for aid, and not in vain, for as soon
as the much-coveted shell was pointed out to him, he threw off his
wrapper, and plunging into the water, almost instantly returned with it.
Max now showed him the supposed pearl-oyster, and challenged him to
make an attempt to bring it up. Eiulo laughed, and nodded his
acceptance of the challenge: after pausing a moment to take breath, he
dived perpendicularly downward, reaching the shell easily with a few
strokes, and made one or two vigorous but ineffectual jerks at it; then,
just as I thought him about to give it up, and ascend again, he grasped
it with both hands, brought his feet under him, and bracing himself
firmly against the wall of coral, he wrenched it off, and bore the prize
in triumph to the surface. It proved to be a pearl-oyster, as Max had
supposed, and on being opened was found to contain eleven seed-pearls.
Eiulo presented the shell and its contents to Johnny, who seemed to
value the former, quite as much as the latter, and presently ran off in
search of Arthur, to inquire whether it should properly be c