The boats reached the farther side of the bay, and they spent a lively hour or two turning turtle. The huge ungainly creatures seemed to be too lazy to move, and their weight was enormous. Phil Danks said it was quite unusual to see them on the beach in the day time as they generally crawled out of the water at night. It was evidently a favourite breeding place, for the females were there in abundance, and thousands of eggs were to be found.
"The male turtle has more sense," said Phil, "I have never seen one out of the water."
To Jack Redland and his friend, the turning of turtle was a novel experience. Some of them were so heavy that it took their united efforts to throw them on their backs, and once in that position they were helpless. The silvery sand was soon covered with turned turtle, about fifty of them being at the mercy of their captors.
"What are we to do with the beggars?" asked Jack. "We cannot take the lot on board, it would swamp the boats."
"We will take as many as we require, and turn the remainder over again, if they are left on their backs, they will never get on their feet again, and will rot in the sun. Hundreds of them are destroyed in this way by natives and divers who seem to do it out of pure devilment."
"What a shame," said Harry Marton. "I say, Jack, some of our city aldermen would smack their lips over this sight."
"Yes, turtle is cheap enough here, whatever it may be in London," he replied laughing.
"See this fellow," said Danks, kicking one with his boot. "It's what they call a hawk bill, they are not fit to eat, but tortoise-shell is obtained from them and that makes them valuable. The others are green turtle. They are all right."
"How much do you think this one weighs?" asked Jack, pointing to a larger one than most of the others.
"It will not be far off three hundred pounds weight," answered Phil.