“I suppose you have plenty of other kinds of food besides this?” said Nigel.

“Oh yes, plenty.  Most of the fish in our lagoon be good for eating, and so also the crawbs, and we have turtle too.”

“Indeed!  How do you catch the turtle?  Another nut, please.—­Thank you.”

“The way we gets turtle is by the men diving for them and catching them in the water.  We has pigs too—­plenty, and the wild birds are some very nice."[1]

When the artists had finished they proceeded to the shore, and to their surprise and amusement found the cockleshell in possession of a piratical urchin of about four years of age in a charmingly light state of clothing.  He was well known to Kathleen, and it turned out that, having seen the cockle start at too great a distance to be hailed, and having set his heart on joining in the excursion, he had watched their movements, observed their landing on the islet—­which was not far from the main circlet of land—­and, running round till he came opposite to it, swam off and got into the boat.  Being somewhat tired he had lain down to rest and fallen sound asleep.

On the way home this urchin’s sole delight was to lean over the bow and watch the fish and coral groves over which they skimmed.  In this he was imitated by Nigel who, ungallantly permitting his companion to row, also leaned over the side and gazed down into the clear crystal depths with unwearying delight.

For the wonderful colours displayed in those depths must be seen to be believed.  Not only is the eye pleased with the ever-varying formations of the coral bowers, but almost dazzled with the glittering fish—­blue, emerald, green, scarlet, orange, banded, spotted, and striped—­that dart hither and thither among the rich-toned sea-weed and the variegated anemones which spread their tentacles upwards as if inviting the gazer to come down!  Among these, crabs could be seen crawling with undecided motion, as if unable to make up their minds, while in out of the way crevices clams of a gigantic size were gaping in deadly quietude ready to close with a snap on any unfortunate creature that should give them the slightest touch.

Nigel was sharply awakened from his dream by a sudden splash.  Looking up he observed that the small boy was gone.  With a bound he stood erect, one foot on the gunwale and hands clasped ready to dive, when a glance revealed the fact that Kathy was smiling broadly!

“Don’t jump!” she said.  “He is only after a fish.”

Even while she spoke Nigel saw the brown little fellow shooting about like a galvanised tadpole, with a small harpoon in his hand!

Next moment he appeared on the surface shouting and spluttering, with a splendid fish on the end of his harpoon!  Both were hauled into the boat, and very soon after they drew near to land.

In the shallow water Nigel observed some remarkable creatures which resembled hedgehogs, having jaws armed with formidable teeth to enable them to feed, Kathy said, on coral insects.  File-fishes also drew his attention particularly.  These were magnificently striped and coloured, and apparently very fearless.