“Be careful,” warned Vevi.
“Oh, I can swim,” Jamie replied carelessly. “My father taught me how.”
Just as he spoke, he stepped into a deep hole. Falling forward, the boy made a terrific splash. As he scrambled to his feet his clothes were all wet.
Captain Tarwell walked down to the edge of the water.
“Avast, there!” he called to Jamie. “Time we start for home, son. You need some dry clothes.”
Jamie reluctantly waded back toward shore.
“Oh, dear,” murmured Vevi. “We have to leave, and after all our work, we have no turtle.”
“After all my work, you mean,” corrected Jamie. He grinned though, as he said it. Turtle hunting had been fun.
The boy suddenly stopped short, gazing toward a rotted log which stuck up out of the water.
He did not say a word for a moment. Then he whispered excitedly: