Mystery of Crocodile Island - Carolyn Keene [8]
“All of these were built up by coral formations and mangrove trees,” Danny explained. “I’ll show you some trees along the edge. The way they grow is fascinating.”
He pulled up to a small key and stopped the boat. The narrow mangrove trunks rose some fifteen feet into the air, then started to bend over. Their branches were heavy with leaves, which in turn hung down into the water. Being thick and close together, they were a natural catchall for whatever floated by, and together they formed a solid shoreline.
“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 IV
Crocodile 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 clogged.
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.
“These channels run quite deep,” Danny explained. “Larger craft can travel only in these, whereas a flat-bottomed boat like ours can go anywhere on the bay.”
A few minutes later he pointed to their left, where series of tall, stout poles protruded from the water. Many had small cottages on top.
“I’ve never seen anything like this before,” Bess stated. “Are they summer homes?”
Danny nodded. “Right. They’re weekend retreats. The owners like to get away from the city. Out here there are a lot of interesting things to see, and many birds. But not noise except from the boat motors.”
“What about the poles with nothing on top?” George asked.
“The houses they supported were blown away in hurricanes,” Danny explained.
Bess shivered. “I’d run at the first sign of a breeze if I lived in one of them.”
Danny laughed. “I’m sure people don’t stay and wait for the storm.”
An hour later he reached another key. It was surrounded by a line of mangroves. As they drew closer, the girls saw stakes driven into the water, forming a fence. It stretched as far as they could see. Here and there warning signs were posted:
CROCODILE FARM
NO TRESPASSING UNDER PENALTY OF THE LAW
“So this is Crocodile Island,” George remarked.
Just then Nancy noticed two bright spots in the water behind the fence. “What are those?” she asked.
“Crocodile eyes,” Danny told her. “You see, these reptiles can stay completely under water except for their eyes, which are raised high in their heads. Watch!” He picked up the can of little marine creatures and tossed them toward