"Over there," said Danny, pointing, "Is a place where the water is a little deeper. We can glide in between two of the wide-spreading trees and you can get a better look."

He raised the outboard motor somewhat, moved the skiff forward, then headed among the mangroves. It was a strange sight. Roots twisted and turned. Among them and beyond the shoreline lay fragments of weathered coral rock.

Suddenly there was a grinding sound under the skiff, which stopped so abruptly it almost threw the girls into the water!

CHAPTER IVCrocodile Farm

"What did we hit?" Bess cried out. "Oh, I hope it didn't ram a hole in the skiff!"

"I doubt it," Danny replied. From the deck, he picked up a long pole with a pronged hook on the end. Leaning over the side, he poked around under the boat and raised an enormous pile of matted mangrove roots and leaves. With a chuckle, he swung it into the skiff.

"Ugh!" Bess cried out. "What are all those crawly things in there?"

"Crocodile food," Danny said and handed her a, tin can. "Pick them up and drop them in this."

George laughed. "You asked the wrong person, Danny. Bess hates that kind of thing."

"You bet I do," Bess said, pulling her knees up to her chin.

Nancy took the can and she and George scooped up the small marine creatures. Some of them were no longer than a half inch.

Nancy remarked, "A crocodile would have to eat a million of these to get even half a meal."

"That would do for a snack," Danny agreed. Then he made sure the outboard motor was not dogged.

Fortunately the green mass had come up in one big lump, and he was able to back the skiff away from the key. George threw the leaves and roots far out and once more the boat headed for Crocodile Island. The water was very shallow, and sand dunes stuck up here and there. Once in a while the skiff ran through an area where the water was dark green in color.