THE CRUISE CONTINUED--AMONG THE ISLETS--TURTLES--HARPOONING--A BEAUTIFUL
SUBJECT FOR STUDY--LEJOILLIE OBTAINS A SUPPLY OF CURIOSITIES--A
DANGEROUS ROUTE--TIM'S ADVICE--CAUGHT IN A GALE--THE SCHOONER COMES TO
GRIEF--RESOLVE TO CROSS THE COUNTRY--VOYAGE UP THE RIVER--MONSTER FISH--
THE CANOE LEAKS--WE LAND AND CAMP--SILAS MUNCH--APPEARANCE OF THE
STREAM--AN ALLIGATOR ISLAND--GOOD SHOOTING--AN UNPLEASANT CONCERT--
ENCOUNTER WITH A BEAR--A CURIOUS CRY--LEJOILLIE SECURES A PRIZE--THE
VOYAGE FINISHED--FRIENDLY COUNSEL--"JUPITER," OUR GUIDE--WE PART WITH
OUR PILOT.
I cannot stop to describe the many adventures we met with on our voyage,
or the curious scenes we witnessed. We were now sailing among that
group of islands at the southern extremity of Florida, inside the
ill-famed Florida reef, on which so many stout ships have been cast
away. The inhabitants were mostly ruffianly characters, who lived by
the plunder they obtained from the vessels wrecked on their shores. We
put into a small bay in one of the largest of these islands, called
Cayolargo. Though it is composed of coral rock, there are numerous
spaces covered with dark-red soil, from which the inhabitants raise
pineapples in vast numbers, as well as lemons, oranges, limes, bananas,
mangoes, guavas, tomatoes, alligator pears, peppers, and even
sugar-canes; but as there was no near market for their produce, they
depended more on the booty obtained from wrecks than on the produce of
the soil. As, however, they were all well known to our skipper, who had
constant dealings with them, they received us in a friendly way.
We afterwards passed numerous inhabited keys, among which was a group
called by the Spaniards Los Martires, or The Martyrs, from the number of
seamen wrecked on them who have lost their lives. In the shallow water
among the keys we fell in with several boats manned by whites and
negroes engaged in fishing for sponges. Some waded out from the rocks,
having a long pole with a scythe-like knife at the end of it, with which
the sponges were cut off from the rocks. Others sat in the boats, using
a bucket with a glass bottom, which, being sunk a few inches below the
surface, enabled them to peer down into the water to a depth of nearly
three fathoms. The sponges were then cut off with the knife I have just
described. In deep water, divers were employed; but of course the risk
was great, as they were liable to attacks from sharks and other monsters
of the deep.
We fell in with a countless variety of animal life in enormous
quantities as we sailed along within the reef. The most curious were
the beautiful paper-nautili, which swim with their long arms extended in
a straight line, their bodies contrasting with their fragile shells,
being remarkably ugly, and appearing as if scarcely connected with them.
Porpoises rolled along in large shoals, numerous sharks showed their
dark triangular fins above the water, and turtles of several species
floated on the surface; while ospreys and other sea-birds flew above our
heads, darting down ever and anon to pick up a luckless fish which came
within their ken. As the breeze fell light, our skipper determined to
obtain a supply of turtle to feed us and his crew, and to dispose of at
the first port we might touch at. He had been a turtle-hunter from his
youth, and knew their ways, he told us, as well as any man. There are
four different species--namely, the green turtle, the hawks-bill turtle,
the loggerhead turtle, and the trunk turtle. The first is that which
makes its appearance at aldermanic feasts. It deposits its eggs twice a
year, in May and June. Its first deposit, in which it lays about two
hundred and forty eggs, is the largest. The flesh of the hawks-bill
turtle is not considered equal to that of the green turtle, but its
shell is of great value as an article of commerce. It also lays eggs
twice a year, in July and August; generally three hundred at a time.
The loggerhead lays three sets of eggs, each averaging one hundred and
seventy. The trunk turtle is frequently of enormous size, with a pouch
like a pelican's; the shell is soft, and the flesh is almost of the
consistency of butter. It is the least valuable, having no shell, and
the flesh being seldom eaten. They all lay their eggs much in the same
way. On nearing the shore on a moonlit night, the turtle raises her
head above the water to ascertain that no enemy is near, and if she
thinks all safe, she emits a loud hissing sound to drive away any which
may be concealed from her sight. Landing, she slowly crawls over the
beach, raising her head, until she has found a suitable place for
depositing her eggs. She then at once forms a hollow in the sand by
shovelling it out from beneath her, first by her hind flippers, then
with her fore ones, until a hollow has been dug nearly two feet in
length. This operation she performs in about nine minutes. Having
deposited her eggs in regular layers, which occupies about twenty
minutes, she scrapes the sand over them, and then smooths the surface,
so that any one passing would not discover that any creature had been
there. This task accomplished, she rapidly retreats to the water,
leaving the eggs to be hatched by the heat of the sun. On some parts of
the shore, within the space of a mile, hundreds of turtles deposit their
eggs. Each time they form a new hole, generally near the first. The
young, when hatched, are scarcely larger than a dollar. Having
scratched their way through the sand, they at once run towards the
water, though a large number are picked up on their passage by birds and
the numerous other enemies of their race. All turtles have beaks; but
the loggerhead has the most powerful set of jaws, which enables it to
crush the shells of mollusca of large size with as much ease as a man
can crack a nut. Turtles swim through the water, in spite of their
shape, at great speed, with the same ease apparently as a bird flies
through the air; and we saw numbers of them, as we stood on the deck of
the schooner, darting about in search of their prey.
"How will you ever get hold of these fellows?" asked Carlos, as the
skipper was preparing to shove off in the boat, armed with his harpoon.
"You shall see," he answered.
Tim and I took the oars, Carlos steered, and Lejoillie, note-book in
hand, was ready to jot down his remarks.
Scarcely a minute had elapsed after leaving the side of the vessel, when
the skipper told us to pull in the direction he pointed, while he stood
in the bows of the boat, holding a single-pronged harpoon in his hand.
He had seen a turtle floating just below the surface. Almost the next
instant the weapon darted with tremendous force from his hand. To the
harpoon a line had been attached, which had been carefully coiled away
in the bows. This quickly ran out until the huge loggerhead turtle
which had been struck reached the bottom, when we hauled taut the line
and belayed it. We now sat quietly waiting until the turtle should be
compelled to rise to the surface to breathe. About twenty minutes
passed, when, as it came up, the skipper hurled another weapon into its
body. Now began the tug of war. The turtle went rushing backwards and
forwards, sometimes sinking, sometimes rising, the skipper taking care
to keep the line over the bows, for had it slipped to the side, we
should have been capsized in a moment so tremendous were the jerks the
creature gave.
For nearly an hour the struggle continued, until the turtle gave in,
when, passing a rope round one of its flippers to prevent its sinking,
we towed it alongside the schooner. The turtle, however, was not dead.
As we hoisted it on board, by means of the windlass and a couple of
tackles fastened to a rope secured round its flippers, its huge jaws,
large enough to bite a man in two, opened and shut, biting furiously at
everything near it. We calculated that the monster weighed fully six
hundred pounds.
We afterwards killed a hawks-bill turtle and two small green turtles,
the flesh of which was kept for the cabin table. The meat was preserved
by being cut up into slices and hung in the rigging to dry in the sun.
After this we had turtle-soup, and turtle-steaks, and turtle-hash, until
we agreed that we should infinitely prefer some slices of mutton.
It was extraordinary to observe what tenacity of life was exhibited by
the turtles. For some time after the head was cut off it would snap at
everything near it. Even the tail wriggled about after it was severed
from the body. Captain Crump gravely asserted that, cut up a turtle as
we might, it would not die until the moon rose. No doubt the heads
still retained their muscular power until nightfall.
While in search of turtle, we pulled over a coral reef, where the water
was so clear that we could see to the very bottom; and beautiful indeed
was the spectacle we beheld. From the rocks grew sea-weeds of the most
brilliant colours,--the peacock's tail, sea-fan, and other lovely forms,
hanging in wreaths round the holes; while shells of every variety
covered the surface of the rocks, amid which appeared sponges, sea-eggs
with long spines, and sea-anemones. Hither and thither darted fish of
every size and hue, from huge sharks to green, red, and gold fish of the
size of minnows. On the shore of an island where we landed we found an
enormous number of shells of the most brilliant colours and graceful
shapes, from which Lejoillie selected so many that we could scarcely
carry them back to the boat.
After touching at Key West, where the United States Government has a
naval station, and in the neighbourhood of which a town of some size has
sprung up, we steered due north, intending to proceed to Cedar Keys,
where the _Great Alexander_ was to finish her voyage. The first place
at which we were to touch was called Punta Rassa, at the mouth of the
river Caloosahatchee. High up the river was Fort Myers, the most
westerly of the line of forts extending across the country to keep in
check the Everglade Indians.
Lejoillie proposed that we should try to make our way by these forts to
the head-waters of the Saint John River, by descending which we might
return to Castle Kearney. Our skipper advised us, however, not to make
the attempt. He warned us that the difficulties in the way--cedar
swamps, rivers, lakes, marshes, wild beasts, and savage Indians--would
prove insuperable, and that we should probably never again be heard of.
"Consider, my friends, how much we should add to our stock of scientific
knowledge," said Lejoillie, who was not to be turned from his object.
Carlos and I were ready to accompany him; but Tim, who had listened
attentively, took an opportunity of speaking to me on the subject,
saying--
"It's all very fine, Mr. Maurice, for Mr. Jolly to wish to know about
the birds an' bastes of the country; but what would be the good to him
or any one else, if he got knocked on the head and scalped?--an' from
the capt'n's account that seems to me mighty likely to happen. I'd
stick to the _Great Alexander_, an' return home in her. The longest way
round may prove the shortest way back. Or I'd wait at Cedar Keys until
we can find a party of soldiers crossing the country to Saint John
River; for, depend on it, the Indians are in a bad temper, an' it
wouldn't be safe to cross the country with a small party."
I was much inclined to agree with Tim, and told him I would have a talk
with my cousin about the matter.
The river with the long name is the southernmost of three streams which
fall into a deep bay full of islets, called Charlotte Harbour. We had
nearly reached a mangrove island, called Sanibel, when a squall from the
eastward struck the schooner and almost laid her over on her beam-ends.
The after-sails were quickly lowered, and as she righted away she flew
before the gale, leaving the port for which we were bound far astern.
The farther we got from the land, the heavier the sea became. At length
the tossing and tumbling to which the old schooner was exposed began to
tell on her hull, the seams opening and letting in the water at an
unpleasant rate. The pumps and buckets were therefore set agoing, and
we all turned-to, labouring at one or the other; but in spite of all our
efforts there appeared a great probability that the _Great Alexander_
would go to the bottom. Happily, however, the gale abated in time to
prevent that catastrophe. Once more we hauled our wind and stood back,
steering, however, for the northern entrance to the harbour, as our
skipper intended to touch at Hickory Bluff, near the mouth of Pease
Creek, instead of Punta Rassa, as he at first proposed doing. On
standing in, however, we ran on one of the many oyster-banks which exist
between the islands. As the tide was falling, we in vain endeavoured to
haul off the schooner, which bumped pretty severely for some time,--an
operation not likely to improve her seaworthy qualities. At last we
were left almost high and dry,--the only advantage we gained from this
being the power of collecting an ample supply of very fine oysters.
"Ah!" exclaimed Lejoillie as he popped one after another down his
throat, "this is indeed a fine country, and might maintain a population
as dense as that of China with the abundance of food its shores and
surrounding seas afford."
"What are we to do next?" asked Carlos, when we had finished our
oysters.
"Wait till the tide rises, and then, if we can keep the craft afloat,
make for Hickory Bluff, where I guess we shall have to put her on shore
and try to patch her up," answered the skipper.
"And how long will it take to perform that operation?" inquired
Lejoillie.
"Maybe a week, or maybe a month," was the answer. "I guess we shall
have to put a new bottom into her, for most of her planks are as rotten
as touchwood."
This was not pleasant information, as we had still some miles to sail;
but we were thankful that we had made the long stretch from Key West
without going to the bottom. At last we did get off, and by dint of
hard pumping and baling the _Great Alexander_ was kept above water until
we reached the neighbourhood of Hickory Bluff, on the northern shore of
Pease Creek, when, the wind being favourable for the purpose, we ran the
craft at high-water right up on the sandy beach just in time to prevent
her sinking. As the tide on ebbing left her dry, we surveyed her
bottom, when it seemed doubtful whether she would ever float again, and
we had therefore to decide as to our future proceedings. Lejoillie,
after examining the map, proposed that we should pull up Pease Creek to
its head-waters, whence he calculated it was about a hundred miles to
Lake Washington, through which the Upper Saint John River flows. We
might perform the journey after leaving the canoe, he calculated, in ten
days or a fortnight, or, by crossing another large lake in the
intermediate space, considerably shorten the distance by land.
As we found no vessel sailing northward, Lejoillie's plan appeared the
best; and we accordingly, the next morning, having engaged a canoe, with
two blacks to paddle and a white man to act as pilot, put up our goods
in compact bundles, and bade farewell to the _Great Alexander_, her
mosquitoes, cockroaches, scorpions, tarantulas, fleas, and bugs, as well
as to her worthy skipper and his crew.
We then embarked on our adventurous voyage. Besides our crew, the canoe
held Lejoillie, Carlos, Tim, and me, our stores (including powder and
shot), and my faithful dog Caesar, who at once took up his position in
the bows, where he sat, as if on the look-out to warn us of danger
ahead. There were two spare paddles, of which Tim and I made use, as we
were ashamed of sitting idle, and we found that we could greatly add to
the speed of the canoe. Several times I felt something bump against the
bottom of our craft, and, on asking our pilot what it was, he replied--
"Only maybe a shark or a devil-fish; they are pretty plentiful
hereabout."
Upon looking over the side indeed, so clear was the water that we could
see vast numbers of monster fish,--not only sharks and devil-fish, but
saw-fish, jew-fish, sting rays, whip rays, and other specimens of the
finny tribe, of great size,--swimming below and around us in such
numbers that they threatened to upset the canoe, and we actually struck
them over and over again with our paddles.
By the time we had gone about a mile, having reached the centre of the
river, a strong breeze sprang up, and a good deal of sea constantly
broke over us, and compelled Carlos and Lejoillie to employ themselves
in baling. Our pilot, however, assured us that, in the course of half
an hour or so, we should be in smooth water, if we were not upset in the
meantime. It made us shudder at what would be our fate should such an
event occur. However, we were in for it, and determined to keep our
course up the river. Our canoe, I should have said, was a dug-out, made
from a cypress trunk, about forty feet in length and three feet in
breadth, and sharp at both ends. She had eight thwarts, on which the
paddlers sat, and a seat aft for the helmsman, who also used a paddle
for steering. For several miles mangrove trees bordered the river on
either side, without a single spot, so far as we could see, where we
could land should it become necessary. Wind and tide being in our
favour, we made good progress; but still the water bubbled over the
gunwale, and the canoe leaked considerably. Our guide assured us that
this was nothing, and that he would soon stop the leaks when we got on
shore.
"If we don't go down in the meantime, my friend," said Lejoillie. "I
rather think that in leaving the _Great Alexander_, we only tumbled out
of the frying-pan into the fire."
"Don't trouble your head about that," observed our guide, Silas Munch,
whom, by-the-by, I ought before to have introduced. Born in the
Bahamas, of British parents, he had come over to the States, and had
become a naturalised citizen, such characters being known in that region
as Conches. Hot sand and sea air had burned his countenance to a
mahogany tint. He was small and wiry. His costume consisted of a
broad-brimmed hat, a coarse blue cloth jacket worn above a jersey, while
his nether man was clothed in leather gaiters reaching to the thighs,
and strong boots, so that he was prepared for service either afloat or
ashore. He carried a rusty rifle, with a powder-horn and belt slung
over his shoulders, and an axe and long knife stuck in his belt.
We had paddled on all day. Still the banks appeared as far off as ever,
and the water as rough as at first. Just, however, as the sun was
sinking, Munch pointed out a sand-bank, where he thought that we could
land and pass the night. We were very glad to get on shore, and haul up
the canoe. While some of the party collected wood for a fire, and made
other preparations for camping, Munch, taking his gun and a small iron
pot, asked me if I would accompany him into the forest. In a short time
we reached a group of pitch-pines, one of which he tapped, and collected
the juice in the pot. Not far off also were some gum-trees, from which
he gathered a handful or two of gum. With these we returned to the
camp; when, mixing the juice of the pitch-pine with the gum, he boiled
it down in a small tripod. The canoe being by this time dry, he spread
the mixture over the leaks, and assured us that she would thus be
perfectly water-tight. Though we kept up a blazing fire, the sand-flies
and mosquitoes nearly drove sleep away, and we were all ready at early
dawn the next morning to continue our voyage. We had now got beyond the
influence of the tide, and had the current against us; but as it ran
with no great strength, we made good way.
The river was still of considerable width, though the water was
perfectly fresh. As we passed along the banks, alligators innumerable
were seen. On one occasion a strong blast struck us as we were rounding
a point, and almost drove our canoe among the tangled brushwood which
lined the banks, where a dozen or more of these enormous reptiles were
disporting themselves. They refused to move, until we were within a few
feet of them, when half of their number plunged into the water right
under our canoe, striking her bottom so violently with their scaly backs
that we fully expected to be upset.
We paddled as hard as we could to get off the shore. Had we been
capsized, our fate would have been sealed, for many of them were twenty
feet in length, and could have crushed us and our canoe with one snap of
their jaws. Happily, the brutes are as cowardly as they are powerful in
appearance, and they were probably more frightened at us than we were at
them. I rather think that Lejoillie, judging by his countenance,
heartily wished himself safe on shore.
As we paddled on, the scenery changed, and animal life became more
abundant. Snake-birds, uttering their shrill cries, flew off from every
overhanging bough; kingfishers darted hither and thither, astonished at
the appearance of our canoe; bitterns flew from tree to tree, and
terrapins splashed hastily into the water, as we approached. Tall
lilies, with large white, crimson, or purple blossoms, and beautiful
flowers of various descriptions, fringed the water's edge; while the
banks were overhung with tangled masses of the densest tropical
vegetation, beyond which rose forests of cabbage-palm, backed on the
higher ground by tall pine-trees. The alligators continued as plentiful
as ever; numbers of them lay on the banks, watching us with savage eyes.
Lejoillie shot one of the fellows, who refused to get out of our way;
indeed, had we not been unwilling to expend our ammunition, we might
have killed scores of the monsters. We passed one huge fellow swimming
slowly down the stream, with a number of birds on his back, to which
also was attached a whole forest of boughs, reeds, and water-plants, so
that he had the appearance of a floating island. Lejoillie was of
opinion that he had been wallowing in the mud, as his back was thickly
covered with slime, to which the water-plants and boughs had become
attached so firmly that he was unable to shake them off. It was curious
to see several birds flying about him; or settled on his back,
exhibiting the most perfect fearlessness.
We encamped on a spot of much the same character as we had chosen on the
previous night. A short distance behind rose a rich hummock, where
live-oak, mahogany, mulberry, gum, cabbage-palm, and other valuable
trees and shrubs, grew together in the greatest luxuriance. Beyond it
stretched a savanna, where our pilot told us we should find abundance of
small birds. At daylight we took our guns, and went in search of them.
We saw plenty of quails, gorgeously coloured red-birds and blue-birds,
and mocking-birds of sweet tone, but no animals of any size, though we
came across not a few black snakes and rattlesnakes; the former, being
harmless, were allowed to live, but we never failed to shoot off the
heads of the latter.
We returned with a good bag of quails, which afforded us a luxurious
supper. As game would not keep many hours, we had to eat it at once, or
throw it away. We formed our camp with more care than usual, as our
guide suggested that there might be Indians in the neighbourhood, or
that a panther or a bear might pay us a visit, while it was not
impossible that an alligator might come foraging into our camp. We kept
up a large fire, therefore, and one of the party remained on watch, each
man taking a turn of a couple of hours. About midnight we were aroused
by a most fearful bellowing. We started to our feet, and, supposing
that some unknown monsters were approaching, seized our rifles and
pistols, ready to defend ourselves. On looking about, however, we could
see nothing. Our pilot's laugh reassured us.
"Those are only 'gators," he said; "it's the sort of music they're fond
of, and it's no use trying to stop them. They'll not come on shore
while the fire burns brightly. As long as they keep in the water,
they're welcome to make all the noise they like."
Never having heard the sound of the alligator's voice before, I had no
idea that it could give forth such fearful roars. As our guide had
observed, there was no use in attempting to stop them; so they continued
their horrible concert, preventing us taking a wink of sleep, until
morning dawned, when we turned out, and gathered round our fire to enjoy
our breakfast, for which our wakeful night had given us an appetite. As
soon as our meal was over, we started; but we met with no particular
adventure.
It was time again to land for dinner, or rather forage for our dinner,
for we had no meat on board fit to eat.
Carlos and I accompanied Lejoillie, while the rest of our party remained
to catch fish, and make up the fire for cooking them.
We had shot several snipe and a fat turkey, when, as we were clambering
up a bank, being somewhat before my companions, I was not a little
surprised to see, within four paces of me, the huge head of a black
bear, peering over the tops of the palmetto to ascertain what was
approaching. I mechanically raised my rifle to fire, calling at the
same time to Lejoillie and Carlos to come to my assistance should I
miss. I never felt more nervous in my life, for although I believed
that I should wound the bear, yet I might the next moment find myself in
his embrace, with his jaws applied to my neck. Aiming at his chest, I
pulled the trigger, and then leaped back to avoid him should he spring
on me. He, however, had been more frightened than I was. When my shot
entered his body, he must have been on the point of turning to fly; but
the bullet had taken deadly effect, and he had not gone ten paces, when
over he rolled, and lay struggling on the ground. Lejoillie and Carlos
coming up, fired into his head and killed him. We at once set to work
to cut him up, and procured an ample supply of steaks for all our party.
Paddling on again, as usual, we continued our journey, until a
favourable camping-place presented itself. During the night, while I
was on watch, I heard a singular cry, ceaselessly repeated, which
resembled the words, "Down-ka-dou, down-ka-dou," accented in a guttural
tone. I waited until I was relieved by Carlos; then, instead of lying
down, rifle in hand I crept towards the point whence the sound
proceeded, when I saw a tall bird standing in the water, every now and
then darting forward, poking his long bill amid the reeds which grew
around. I should at once have shot it; but I knew that, if I did so, I
should be unable to pick it up without the risk of being caught by an
alligator. Thinking that probably the bird would remain until the
morning, I returned to camp.
As soon as Lejoillie awoke, I told him what I had seen. He and I at
once set out with Caesar in search of it. We had not gone far, when, on
dashing forward, a large bird rose, and was flying over our heads.
Lejoillie fired, and brought it down. He uttered an exclamation of
delight as he ran forward, observing that it was a bittern of a peculiar
and rare species, of which he had not a single specimen in his
collection. It stood nearly two feet high. The plumage was of a rich
brown, streaked with black; its breast grey; its beak as sharp as a
dagger. The loose plumes on its neck, with its large yellow eyes
dilated, like all night-birds, gave it a stupid look. Lejoillie hurried
back to the camp to skin it. On cutting it open, we discovered that it
ate small birds, as a water-rail, which it had swallowed whole, was
found in its stomach.
It took us ten days to ascend Pease Creek. Though the current ran at no
place very strongly, it was against us; and as we got higher up, our
course was obstructed by the trunks and branches of trees blown down by
a tempest, through which we had to cut our way.
At length we reached a small shallow lake, from which the eastern branch
of the river takes its rise. We had come to the termination of our
voyage.
"I have brought you thus far in safety, gentlemen," said Munch, as we
paid him the stipulated price for his services, and the hire of the
canoe. "I wish that I could accompany you farther, and that I could be
certain you will get through without misadventure. I have little doubt
about your finding the food you require; but I am not quite satisfied
that you will escape the Redskins. Keep out of their way if you can; or
if you fall in with any, show them that you are not to be trifled with."
"I have a favour to ask, my friend," said Lejoillie. "Will you allow
your black, Jupiter, to accompany us? I have spoken to him, and he is
willing to go if you will give him leave. I'll pay for his journey back
to Hickory Bluff, when we reach Castle Kearney. We should not wish to
part with him until then."
Munch hesitated. "Toby and I will find it a hard matter to paddle the
canoe back without him. Still, as we shall have the current with us, I
won't prevent him, if he wishes to go. What do you say, Jup?"
"Me like to go with Massa Jolly, an' Tim, an' young gentlemen. Maybe
dey not find de way without me," answered the black.
"In that case you may go, if they pay your wages from the time we left
Hickory Bluff," answered Munch, who had an eye to business, and would
thus save several dollars. To this Lejoillie at once agreed; and it was
settled that Jupiter, or "Jup," as he was more familiarly called, should
join our party. We were very glad to have him, for he was an active,
intelligent fellow; born of free parents in the country, and well
acquainted with every part of it. He had frequently joined hunting
expeditions into the interior, and knew the habits of the Indians as
well as he did those of the animals we were likely to meet with.
The lagoon was filled with alligators, who shoved their noses up among
the lilies and other water-plants, looking at us with hungry eyes, as if
they would very much like to feast on our bodies. We managed, not
without difficulty, to reach the shore, and, carrying our traps to a
pine-ridge elevated three or four feet above the lake, we encamped. The
next morning, having strapped on our knapsacks, we commenced our march
eastwards; while Munch and his companion set off on their return voyage
down Pease Creek.