But as I seized it, I brought down my right foot into the middle of a big round sponge.

I started, as if I had had an electric shock.

The thing seemed colder and wetter than the water; it was slimy and sticky and horrid.

I did not see what it was, and it felt as if some great sucker-fish, with a cold woolly mouth, was trying to swallow my foot.

I let go of everything, and came right up, and drew myself, puffing and blowing, on board the boat.
How Captain Chris laughed! He had been watching me through the water-glass, and saw what had scared me.
"Why, boss!" said he, "sponges don't eat people! That was nice and sof' to tread on.