As soon as the turtle perceived them, it made for the water, but they
met it; and Ready, seizing hold of one of its fore-flippers, turned it
over on its back.

"You see, William, that is the way to turn a turtle: take care that he
does not catch you with his mouth, for, if he did, he would bite the
piece out. Now the animal cannot get away, for he can't turn over
again, and we shall find him here to-morrow morning; so we will now
walk along the beach, and see if we cannot find some more."

Ready and William remained till past midnight, and turned sixteen
turtle.

"I think that will do, William, for once: we have made a good night's
work of it, for we have provided food for many days. Tomorrow we must
put them all into the pond."

"How shall we carry such large animals?"

"We need not carry them; we must put some old canvas under them, and
haul them along by that means; we can easily do that on the smooth
sand."

"Why don't we catch some fish, Ready? We might put them into the
turtle-pond."

"They would not stay there long, William, nor could we easily get them
out if they did. I have often thought of getting some lines ready, and
yet the time has never come, for I feel sleepy after our day's work;
but as soon as the house is built, we will have them, and you shall be