CHAPTER I_The Young Marooners on the Florida Coast

[Illustration: Cover]

[Illustration: "Hallo!" cried Harold, his own voice husky with emotion .

. . Frontispiece]

THE

YOUNG MAROONERS ON

THE FLORIDA COAST

F. R. GOULDING

WITH INTRODUCTION BY

JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS

(Uncle Remus)

ILLUSTRATED

NEW YORK

DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY

1927

BY F. R. GOULDING

BY DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY

PRINTED IN U. S. A.

INTRODUCTION

I have been asked to furnish an introduction for a new edition of "The

Young Marooners." As an introduction is unnecessary, the writing of it

must be to some extent perfunctory. The book is known in many lands and

languages. It has survived its own success, and has entered into

literature. It has become a classic. The young marooners themselves

have reached middle age, and some of them have passed away, but their

adventures are as fresh and as entertaining as ever.

Dr. Goulding’s work possesses all the elements of enduring popularity.

It has the strength and vigour of simplicity; its narrative flows

continuously forward; its incidents are strange and thrilling, and

underneath all is a moral purpose sanely put.

The author himself was surprised at the great popularity of his story,

and has written a history of its origin as a preface. The internal

evidence is that the book is not the result of literary ambition, but of

a strong desire to instruct and amuse his own children, and the story is

so deftly written that the instruction is a definite part of the

narrative. The art here may be unconscious, but it is a very fine art

nevertheless.

Dr. Goulding lived a busy life. He had the restless missionary spirit

which he inherited from the Puritans of Dorchester, England, who

established themselves in Dorchester, South Carolina, and in Dorchester,

Georgia, before the Revolutionary War. Devoting his life to good works,

he nevertheless found time to indulge his literary faculty; he also

found time to indulge his taste for mechanical invention. He invented

the first sewing-machine that was ever put in practical use in the

South. His family were using this machine a year before the Howe patents

were issued. In his journal of that date (1845) he writes: "Having

satisfied myself about my machine, I laid it aside that I might attend

to other and weightier duties." He applied for no patent.

"The Young Marooners" was begun in 1847, continued in a desultory way,

and completed in 1850. Its first title was a quaint one, "Bobbins and

Cruisers Company." It was afterward called "Robert and Harold; or, the

Young Marooners." The history of the manuscript of the book is an

interesting parallel to that of many other successful books. After

having been positively declined in New York, it was for months left in

Philadelphia, where one night, as the gentleman whose duty it was to

pass judgment upon the material offered had begun in a listless way his

task, he became so much absorbed in the story that he did not lay it

down until long after midnight, and hastening to the publishers early

next morning, insisted that it should be immediately put into print.

Three editions were issued in the first year, and it was soon reprinted

in England by Nisbet & Co., of London, followed by five other houses in

England and Scotland at later dates.

Dr. Goulding was the author of "Little Josephine," published in

Philadelphia (1848); "The Young Marooners" (1852); "Confederate

Soldiers’ Hymn-Book," a compilation (1863); "Marooner’s Island," an

independent sequel to "Young Marooners" (1868); "Frank Gordon; or, When

I was Little Boy" (1869), and "The Woodruff Stories" (1870). With the

exception of "Little Josephine" and the "Hymn-Book," they have all been

republished abroad. Born near Midway, Liberty County, Georgia,

September 28th, 1810, he died August 21st, 1881, and is buried in the

little churchyard at Roswell, Georgia.

JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS.

THE HISTORY OF THIS BOOK

In a vine-covered piazza of the sunny South, a company of boys and girls

used to gather round me, of a summer evening, to hear the varied story

of my early years. As these boys and girls grew larger, I found it

necessary to change my plan of instruction. There were many _facts in

nature_ which I wished to communicate, and many _expedients_ in

practical life, which I supposed might be useful. To give this

information, in such shape as to insure its being remembered, required a

story. The result has been a book; and that book is "The Young

Marooners"--or, as my young folks call it, "Robert and Harold."

Their interest in the story has steadily increased from the beginning to

the end; and sure am I, that if it excites one-half as much abroad, as

it has excited at home, no author need ask for more.

The story, however, is not all a story; the fiction consists mostly in

the putting together. With very few exceptions, the incidents are real

occurrences; and whoever will visit the regions described, will see that

the pictures correspond to nature. Possibly also, the visitor may meet

even now, with a fearless Harold, an intelligent Robert, a womanly Mary,

and a merry Frank.

Should my young readers ever go _marooning_, I trust their party may

meet with fewer misfortunes and as happy a termination.

F. R. G.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I The Company and Their Embarkation

II Mother Carey’s Chickens--Fishing for Trout--Saw-Fish--Frank and the

Shark--Looming--Tom Starboard--The Nautilus--Arrival at Tampa

III Tampa Bay--Bellevue--Unloading--A Dangerous Cut--How to Stop a

Bleeding Artery--Tom Starboard Again

IV Confusion--Housekeeping in a Hurry--First Night on Shore--Company to

Dinner--"Blue Eyed Mary"--Robert at Prayer-Meeting--Danger of Descending

an Old Well--Recovering a Knife Dropped in a Well

V Riley--A Thunderstorm--Ascertaining the Distance of Objects by

Sound--Security Against Lightning--Means of Recovering Life from

Apparent Death by Lightning

VI The Only Way to Study--Taking Cold--Riley’s Family--The Hare

Lip--Fishing for Sheephead--Frank Choked with a Fish Bone--His

Relief--His Story of the Sheep’s Head and Dumplings--"Till the Warfare

is Over"

VII Bug in the Ear--Visit to Fort Brooke--Evading Blood-Hounds--Contest

with Dogs and Means of Defence--Amusing Escape from a Wild Bull and

Conversation on the Subject

VIII Marooning and the Marooning Party

IX Embarkation--Abduction Extraordinary--Efforts to Escape--Alternative

Hopes and Fears--Despair--Vessel in the Distance--Renewed Hopes and

Efforts--Water-Spout--Flash of Lightning and its Effects--Making for

Shore--Grateful Acknowledgments

X Waking Up--Good Resolutions--Alarm--Marooning Breakfast--Search for

Water--Unexpected Gain--Oyster Bank--Fate of a Raccoon--The Plume and

Fan

XI Discussion Of Plans--Doubts--Differences of Opinion--What Was Agreed

Upon--Baking a Turkey Without an Oven--Flying Signal

XII Results of the Cookery--Voyage--Appearance of the Country--Orange

Trees--The Bitter Sweet--Rattlesnake--Usual Signs for Distinguishing a

Fanged And Poisonous Serpent--Various Methods of Treating a Snake

Bite--Return

XIII Disappointment--The Live Oak--Unloading--Fishing

Excursion--Harold’s Still Hunt--Disagreeable Means to an Agreeable End

XIV Frank’s Excuses--Curing Venison--Marooning Cookery--Robert’s

Vegetable Garden--Plans for Return--Preparation for the Sabbath

XV Their First Sabbath on the Island, and the Night and Morning that

succeeded

XVI A Sad Breakfast--Sagacity of Dogs--Search for the Boat--Exciting

Adventure--A Pretty Pet--Unexpected Intelligence

XVII Mary and Frank--Examination of the Tent--Smoke

Signal--Devices--Brute Messenger--Raft--Blazing the

Trees--Voyage--Disastrous Expedition--News from Home--Return to the Tent

XVIII Night Landing--Carrying a Wounded Person--Setting One’s Own Limbs

when Broken--Splinting a Limb--Rest to the Weary

XIX The Surprise and Disappointment--Naming the Fawn--Sam’s

Story--Depression After Excitement--Great Misfortune

XX Speculations and Resolves--Fishing--Inventory of Goods and

Chattels--Roasted Fish--Palmetto Cabbage--Tour--Sea-Shells, Their

Uses--The Pelican--Nature of the Country--Still Hunting--Wild Turkeys

Again--Work on the Tent

XXI Rainy Day--The Kitchen and Fire--Hunting the Opossum

XXII Frank and His "Pigs"--The Cage--Walk on the Beach--Immense

Crawfish--The Museum--Naming the Island

XXIII Their Second Sabbath on the Island, and the Way They Spent It

XXIV Mote in the Eye, and How It Was Removed--Conch Trumpet and

Signals--Tramp--Alarm

XXV A Hunter’s Misfortune--Relief to a Sprain--How to Avoid Being Lost

in the Woods, and to Recover One’s Course After being Lost--A Still Hunt

XXVI Crutches in Demand--Curing Venison--Pemmican--Scalding Off a

Porker’s Hair with Leaves and Water--Turkey Trough--Solitary

Watching--Force of Imagination--Fearful Encounter--Different Modes of

Repelling Wild Beasts

XXVII Turkey-Pen--Sucking Water Through Oozy Sand--Exploring

Tour--Appearance of the Country--"Madame Bruin"--Soldier’s Remedy for

Chafed Feet--Night in the Woods--Prairie--Indian Hut--Fruit

Trees--Singular Spring

XXVIII Plans--Visit to the Prairie--Discoveries--Shoe Making--Waterfowl

XXIX Removal to the Prairie--Night Robbery--Fold--Dangerous

Trap--Mysterious Signals--Bitter Disappointment

XXX Best Cure for Unavailing Sorrow--Mary’s Adventure with a

Bear--Novel Defence--Protecting the Tent

XXXI Hard Work--Labour-Saving Device--Discovery as to the Time of the

Year--Schemes For Amusement--Tides on the Florida Coast

XXXII Christmas Morning--Voyage--Valuable Discovery--Hostile

Invasion--Robbery--Masterly Retreat--Battle at Last--A Quarrel Requires

Two Quarrellers--The Ghost’s Visit

XXXIII The Cubs--Voyage to the Wreck--Stores--Horrid Sights--Trying

Predicament--Prizes--Return--Frank Needs Another Lecture

XXXIV Second Voyage to the Wreck--Fumigating Again--More Minute

Examination--Return--Accident--Dangers of Helping A Drowning

Person--Recovering a Person Apparently Drowned

XXXV Household Arrangements--Third Visit to the Wreck--Rainy

Weather--Agreement About Work--Mary in Great Danger--Extinguishing Fire

on One’s Dress--Relief to a Burn--Conversation

XXXVI Successful Work--Excursion--The Fish-Eagle--Different Methods of

Procuring Fire--Woodsman’s Shelter Against Rain and Hail--Novel Refuge

from Falling Trees

XXXVII Launching the Boats--More Work, and Yet More--Eclipse of Feb.

12th, 1831--Healing By "First Intention"--Frank’s Birthday--Preparing

for a Voyage--Rain, Rain

XXXVIII Voyage Round the Island--The Lost Boat--Strange Signals

Again--Hurricane--Night March--Helpless Vessel--Melancholy Fate--The

Rescue--Marooners’ Hospitality--Conclusion

ILLUSTRATIONS

"Hallo!" cried Harold, his own voice husky with emotion . . .

_Frontispiece_

The company went together to the sea shore and planted the signal

Deliberately taking aim, he discharged the whole load of bullets between

the creature’s eyes

They were not two hours in reaching the proposed landing place

THE YOUNG MAROONERS

CHAPTER I

THE COMPANY AND THEIR EMBARKATION

On Saturday, the 21st of August, 1830, a small but beautiful brig left

the harbour of Charleston, South Carolina, bound for Tampa Bay, Florida.

On board were nine passengers; Dr. Gordon, his three children, Robert,

Mary, and Frank; his sister’s son, Harold McIntosh, and four servants.

Dr. Gordon was a wealthy physician, who resided, during the winter, upon

the seaboard of Georgia, and during the summer upon a farm in the

mountains of that beautifully varied and thriving State. His wife was a

Carolinian, from the neighbourhood of Charleston. Anna Gordon, his

sister, married a Col. McIntosh, who, after residing for twelve years

upon a plantation near the city of Montgomery, in Alabama, died, leaving

his widow with three children, and an encumbered estate. Soon after her

widowhood, Dr. Gordon paid her a visit, for the two-fold purpose of

condolence and of aiding in the settlement of her affairs. She was so

greatly pleased with the gentlemanly bearing and the decided

intelligence of Robert, who on this occasion accompanied his father,

that she requested the privilege of placing her son Harold under her

brother’s care, until some other arrangement could be made for his

education. Dr. Gordon was equally prepossessed with the frank manners

and manly aspect of his nephew, and it was with peculiar pleasure that

he acceded to the request. Harold had been with his uncle about a month

previous to the period at which this history begins.

Mrs. Gordon was a woman of warm affections and cultivated mind, but of

feeble constitution. She had been the mother of five children; but,

during the infancy of the last, her health exhibited so many signs of

decay as to convince her husband that the only hope of saving her life

was to seek for her, during the ensuing winter, a climate even more

bland than that in which she had spent her girlhood.

Tampa Bay is a military post of the United States. Dr. Gordon had

formerly visited it, and was so delighted with its soft Italian climate,

and with the wild beauty of its shores, that he had even then purchased

a choice lot in the vicinity of the fort, and ever after had looked

forward, almost with hope, to the time when he might have some excuse

for removing there. That time had now come. And doubting not that the

restorative powers of the climate would exert a happy influence upon his

wife’s health, he left her with her relatives, while he went to Tampa

for the purpose of preparing a dwelling suitable for her reception.

The accompanying party was larger than he had at first intended. Robert

and Harold were to go of course; they were old enough to be his

companions; and, moreover, Harold had been sent by his mother for the

express purpose of enjoying that excellent _home education_ which had

been so happily exhibited in Robert. But on mature reflection there

appeared to Dr. Gordon special reasons why he should also take his

eldest daughter, Mary, who was about eleven years of age, and his second

son, Frank, who was between seven and eight. The addition of these

younger persons to the party, however, did not cause him any anxiety, or

any addition to the number of his servants; for he and his wife,

although wealthy by inheritance, and accustomed all their lives to the

help of servants, had educated their children to be as independent as

possible of unnecessary help. Indeed, Mary was qualified to be of great

assistance; for though only eleven years of age, she was an excellent

housekeeper, and during the indisposition of her mother had presided

with remarkable ability at her father’s table. Little Frank was too

young to be useful, but he was an obedient, merry little fellow, a great

pet with everybody, and promised, by his cheerful good nature, to add

much to the enjoyment of the party; and as to the care which he needed,

Mary had only to continue that motherly attention which she had been

accustomed already to bestow.

To say a word or two more of the youths; Robert Gordon, now nearly

fourteen years of age, had a great thirst for knowledge. Stimulated

continually by the instructive conversation of his father, who spared no

pains in his education, he drew rapidly from all the sources opened to

him by books, society, and nature. His finely developed mind was

decidedly of a philosophic cast. Partaking, however, of the delicate

constitution of his mother, he was oftentimes averse to those athletic

exercises which became his age, and by which he would have been fitted

for a more vigorous and useful manhood.

Harold McIntosh, a half year older than his cousin, was, on the

contrary, of a robust constitution and active habit, with but little

inclination for books. Through the inattention of a father, who seemed

to care more for manly daring than for intellectual culture, his

education had been sadly neglected. The advantages afforded him had

been of an exceedingly irregular character, and his only incentive to

study had been the gratification of his mother, whom he tenderly loved.

For years preceding the change of his abode, a large portion of his

leisure time had been spent in visiting an old Indian of the

neighbourhood, by the name of Torgah, and gleaning from him by

conversation and practice, that knowledge of wood-craft, which nothing

but an Indian’s experience can furnish, and which usually possesses so

romantic a charm for Southern and Western (perhaps we may say for

American) boys.

The cousins had become very much attached. Each admired the other’s

excellencies, and envied the other’s accomplishments; and the parents

had good reason to hope that they would prove of decided benefit to each

other by mutual example.

Preparing for a winter’s residence at such a place as Tampa, where, with

the exception of what was to be obtained at the fort, they would be far

removed from all the comforts and appliances of civilized life, Dr.

Gordon was careful to take with him everything which could be foreseen

as needful. Among these may be mentioned the materials already framed

for a small dwelling-house, kitchen, and stable; ample stores of

provisions, poultry, goats (as being more convenient than cows), a pair

of horses, a buggy, and wagon, a large and beautiful pleasure boat,

books for reading, and for study, together with such furniture as habit

had made necessary to comfort.