Wakulla: a story of adventure in Florida

t a pilot-boat was seen approaching her in answer to the signal which was flying from the main rigging. As the boat ran alongside, a

n Li," "but dey's scurcer'n gole dollars now-a

ms. The channel was a regular zig-zag, and they ran now to one side and then far over to the other to escape the coral reefs and oyster bars with which it is filled. This occupied much time; but the breeze was fresh, and within an hour they had ru

the dozen or so tumble-down frame buildings that, perched on piles above the low, wet land, l

de ole town, sence trade fell off, an' mos' of de folkses moved away. Uster be wharves all along yere, an' cotton-presses, an' big war'houses, an' plenty ships in de ribber; but now dey's all

-office, and the information that Uncle Christopher Bangs's place was at Wakulla, some six miles farther up the river. As the river above St. Mark's is quite crooked, and bordered on both sides by dense forests, and as no steam-tug could be had, the capt

uickly as possible, the lighter was at once brought alongside the scho

d that this is Christmas-day, and that there is a present down in the hold for you from your U

nto the hold, passed carefully up to those on deck a beautif

delight. "Oh! father, how did he know just exactly what I wanted most?" and the excited boy rush

e placed in her, and she was laid to one side of the deck, she was indeed as pret

e, "and as Mark is a good swimmer and very careful in boats, I thought a canoe would afford him great pleasure, and probably prove very us

Elmer; "but I wish it were flat-bottomed, and b

you might as well wish it

y, Mark"-and she turned to her husband-"one of the letters you brought was from Uncle Christopher, and he says he thi

in fact everything except lumber for that purpose. This material was now being transferred from the schooner to the lighter, and now it

tage of the ebb tide that night to drop down the river and get started for Pensacola. As rowing and poling the heavy lighter up the river would at best prove but slow work, and as there w

d by Jan, they went on board their new craft, and the lines were cast off. The crew of four strong colored men bent over the long sweeps, and followed by a hearty cheer from the crew of the scho

lm, bay, cypress, elm, and sweet gum trees, festooned with moss, and bound together with a net-work of vines, rose like walls, shutting out the sunlight. Strange wa

here was piled a quantity of light-wood or pitch-pine. Here the captain and owner of the lighter

st to the bank, active preparations were begun for cooking suppe

sses and blankets belonging to the Elmers. Jan Jansen and Captain Johnson, who, Mark said, must be related, as their names were the same, spread their blankets in the forward end of the boat

y caught fish sizzled and browned in a most gratifying and appetizing manner. In a couple of kettles hung over the fire hominy and sweet potatoes bubbled, boiled, and tried to outdo each other in getting done. Fresh-made bread and a good supply of butter had been brought from the

they could look out and see the fire around which the crew were gathered. After a while one of these started a plaintive negro melody, which sounded very sweetly through the still air. The others took it up, and they sang for an hour or more, greatly to t

ut John on

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nebber ge

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nging a voice called o

o's there?" or at

ng stopped, and one o

Owl, an' Cap'n Johnsin, an' me,

y that?" asked Mr. E

ave bad luck if they don't answer an owl politely when he asks 'Wh

died down, and all was quiet in the camp, though several times some sleepy negro

of smothered cries, and a loud splashing in the water. It was evident that somet