were pure white. Among this
there grew large quantities of seaweed of the richest hues imaginable,
and of the most graceful forms; while innumerable fishes--blue, red,
yellow, green, and striped--sported in and out amongst the flower-beds
of this submarine garden, and did not appear to be at all afraid of our
approaching them.

On darting to the surface for breath after our first dive, Jack and I
rose close to each other.

"Did you ever in your life, Ralph, see anything so lovely?" said Jack as
he flung the spray from his hair.

"Never," I replied. "It appears to me like fairy realms. I can
scarcely believe that we are not dreaming."

"Dreaming!" cried Jack. "Do you know, Ralph, I'm half-tempted to think
that we really are dreaming! But if so, I am resolved to make the most
of it and dream another dive; so here goes--down again, my boy!"

We took the second dive together, and kept beside each other while under
water; and I was greatly surprised to find that we could keep down much
longer than I ever recollect having done in our own seas at home. I
believe that this was owing to the heat of the water, which was so warm
that we afterwards found we could remain in it for two and three hours
at a time without feeling any unpleasant effects such as we used to
experience in the sea at home. When Jack reached the bottom, he grasped
the coral stems and crept along on his hands and knees, peeping under
the seaweed and among the rocks. I observed him, also, pick up one or
two large oysters and retain them in his grasp, as if he meant to take
them up with him; so I also gathered a few. Suddenly he made a grasp at
a fish with blue and yellow stripes on its back, and actually touched
its tail, but did not catch it. At this he turned towards me and
attempted to smile; but no sooner had he done so than he sprang like an
arrow to the surface, where, on following him, I found him gasping and
coughing and spitting water from his mouth. In a few minutes he
recovered, and we both turned to swim ashore.

"I declare, Ralph," said he, "that I actually tried to laugh under
water!"

"So I saw," I replied; "and I observed that you very nearly caught that
fish by the tail. It would have done capitally for breakfast, if you
had."

"Breakfast enough here," said he, holding up the oysters as we landed
and ran up the beach.--"Hallo, Peterkin! Here you are, boy! split open
these fellows while Ralph and I put on our clothes. The