they found a new friend.

Ten-year-old Marquis and his eight-year-old sister Aja Jones went to the Clearwater Beach just hoping to find crabs and shells for a home aquarium.

Instead, the lucky pair found a small glass bottle with a message from a 13-year-old boy who lives more than 5,000 kilometres away.

"We found this at Clearwater Beach,'' said Marquis as he displayed the small, clear glass bottle.

"And I opened it up and read what was inside,'' the Head Boy continued. "I was thinking that it might have something important in it like a treasure map.'' The two excited children quickly retrieved a small note from Luke Collins, with his address in Nottingham, England.

"I am throwing this over the side of the Queen Elizabeth II, the ship,'' Luke wrote.

"Please write back to me and I'll write back to you. We could be pen friends.

Thank you!'' And on the back of the paper Luke said simply: "Sunday 4th January, 98 -- from Miami and we are 50 miles away from land.'' Marquis said he planned to begin corresponding soon.

"I'm going to tell him that I found his message and where I live,'' said Marquis.

"Then he could send something back to me so we can be penpals.''