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 sea-weed 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