“Turn us loose!” shouted Ned, and in a moment the skiff was free and being sculled by the captain toward the quarry, while Ned stood in the bow with a noosed rope in his hand.  Soon the manatee rose beside the skiff, so near that Ned laid the noose over the creature’s nose.  But it didn’t stay there, for a column of water rose in the air, and when it subsided Ned was swimming two yards from the skiff.

There was a cry from Molly in the motor-boat which no one noticed, for in half a minute Ned was back in the skiff and the pursuit was on keener than ever.  Every ten seconds the manatee came up to breathe, every time he rose he was driven back under water by the blow of the rope across his nose.  Finally the half-strangled creature lifted his whole head out of the water and held it there long enough for Ned to slip the noose over it.  The next instant the blow of the manatee’s tail deluged the boy with water and jarred the skiff from bow to stern, which was then dragged through the water at a rate which for minutes left the motor-boat behind.  The sea-cow carried the skiff around keys, through deep channels, over shallow banks and under bushes that projected from the shore, until the animal was fairly tired out.  As the speed of the creature slackened, Ned drew the skiff close beside him, and plunging overboard, threw his left arm over the neck and with his right hand grasped the right flipper of the manatee.  Then Captain Hull took a hand, and pulling the skiff up to the manatee was soon swimming beside him and clinging to his left flipper.

Dick slowed down the motor, while Molly kept the boat circling around the swimmers until the manatee surrendered and became quiet as a cow.  The motor was stopped, and the sea-cow was brought beside the boat, where Molly patted the head and laid her hand on the soft lips of the gentle creature.

“Now, Daddy,” said Ned, “Dick and I want a certificate that this isn’t a phantom manatee or a porpoise.”

“I’ll certify to that, Ned.  You boys have made good, although nobody ever doubted it, anyway, for the fisherman was only having a little fun with you.”

The manatee was so tractable that Captain Hull swam back for the skiff, while Ned loosened his hold on the flipper of the creature.  Suddenly a cascade of water half-filled the power-boat, drenched every one in it, and the manatee disappeared.  Ned was chagrined, but Mr. Barstow cheered him: 

“It is all for the best, Ned.  He had done all he could do for us.  We hadn’t time to arrange for his shipment, and so had to set him free.  The only thing I am sorry for is that I didn’t go overboard, too, and have some of the fun.  I am just as wet as you are, without having anything-to show for it.”

“Me, too,” said Molly, whose red cheeks and sparkling eyes shone from among streaming mermaid tresses, and whose pretty frock had been deluged.

“Dad,” said Ned, after they were back on the Irene, “you know Dick and I are in command for two days more.”