CORAL ISLANDS AND CORAL. “73

point deeper than twenty or thirty fathoms beneath the surface of the
water, but on the eminences of this sunken land they can easily build.
When the land sinks still further, it carries the coral formation down to
depths below the point where the animal can work; and this explains
why his work is found so far below the ocean’s surface.”

“How is it,” inquired the sagacious Siah, “dat de openin’s ’mong de
hills fur de scape ob de water should always be on de leeward side?”

?

“You must not ask too many questions,” said Uncle Nat laughing.
“They will upset any theory.”

In the consciousness of an increase of knowledge, Siah had a new
strut all that day. He took it upon himself to attempt the enlighten-
ment of Bumble-bee, who rewarded him by saying that he had never
heard “sich a mess of nonsense in all his life. Dose polypusses de
cap’n tole about, is jest childish! Coral grows kase — it do! ”

Siah only wished that he had the books out of which he could confute
the ignorant Bumble-bee.

“Ef I could only read,” he sighed to Ralph in secret.

“Can’t you read?”

Siah shook his head.

“Don’t you know your letters?”

“Only as fur as pot-hooks,” and there came another mournful, de-
‘spairing shake. ‘

“ Pot-hooks? What letter is that, s?”

Siah nodded. .

“Tl put you through, Siah, and don’t you worry.”

Within twenty-four hours Siah was master of the alphabet. Ho
then prepared himseli to take up a-b, ab, and a-p, ap, declaring thai
he felt as proud as his cousin John C. Fremont, when some
“pusson at a ball stuck two posies into his hair.”

Very soon Siah learned something else. He was near the boys