You like to take it in your hand ?" John took the splendid thing, and straightway lost himself and the world in a dream of rapture, in which he descended to the depths that his soul desired, and played at spinning tops with the sea-boys, and rode a horse-mackerel, and did many other wonderful things.
"The bat shell!" the Skipper went on, lifting one treasure and then another.

"The Voluta Aulica, extremely rare,--the Mitres, worn by bishops under the sea.

The bishops must be chosen very small, lady, to fit the shell, since shells were made first.

The Queen Conch! This again,--pardon me, gentleman, you desire to assist me?
Too kind, but I shall not give that trouble to a visitor!" The last remark was addressed to Mr.Endymion Scraper, who had for the last five minutes been sidling quietly, and as he thought unobserved, toward the shelf on which lay the Voluta Musica.

His claw-like fingers, after hovering over the prize, had finally closed upon it, and he was about to slip it into his pocket without more ado, when a strong brown hand descended upon his wrist.