Wakulla: a story of adventure in Florida

loughing, most of the post-holes were dug, the soil being so light as to make that an easy matter

going on. He had become much attached to Mrs. Elmer, and seemed very happy in her company. Neither she nor the children

ening intently to Mrs. Elmer as she read to Mark and Ruth a chapter from a book of travels that they had

you something, and I want

shall be glad to hear whatever you have to te

ars that I found in his desk, and ran away from him. Ever since then I have been living in the woods around here, hunting and fishing. When the weather was bad I slept in the kitchen of this house

w you before. It was you who looked into the wind

to Tallahassee, and I waited then for you to come back alone. I drew out the shot from one barrel of my gun, and was going to fire a charge of powder at you when you got close to the point. I thought pe

er pretty head. "Yes, I know I am," said Frank, "b

u, anyway?" asked Mark, who wa

a long nap, and when he saw my bare foot thought it would make him a nice meal. I was waked by feeling myself dragged along the ground, and finding my foot in what felt like a vise. I caught hold of a tree, and held on until it seemed as though my arms would be pull

ever in that canoe?" asked Mark, a

ry night, and one night I wen

the canoe back at a

own her, and known that I had stole her if

hoot poor Bruc

's B

ore than a week ago, shot so b

ad wounded; but his name is Jack. I didn't kill him though, for I saw him on yo

or it, and if you are truly sorry and mean to try and do right in the future, you will as certainly be for

ver remember to have received, the b

I had a mother like you and

ed to drink, and when he came home drunk would beat him and his mother. One night, after a terrible scene of this kind, which Frank could just remember, his mother had snatched up the baby and run from the house. Afterwards he was told that they were dead; at any rate he never saw them again. Then his father left Savannah and came to Florida to live. He never dra

ldhood, and when it was ended, Ruth went over to the sofa where h

ch an unpleasant home; but you'll stay with us no

nto Mrs. Elmer's face, and she said,

oudly, and directly a sound of wheel

ahoy! Bring out a

ushing to the door with shouts of welcome. Mrs. Elmer

"I wonder if I should be as glad to see my fath

rd a quick step at the door, and looking up, saw the

y way to find you and beg you to come home again." With these words Mr. March stooped down and kissed his son's forehead, saying, "I haven't k

me? Then if you will forgive me for running away and be

. "But what is the matter, Frank? Ha

were exchanging the most important bits of news outside the front gate. They waited there while Mr. Elmer and Jan unhi

was, "Oh, we've got a new boy, father, and he's in the sitting-room, and his name's

, a stranger who had come with Mr. Elmer opened the front ga

has he gone into the house for

is March; and as he was recommended to me as being a good carpenter, I

d Ruth; and then the whole story had to be tol

laced his hand on the boy's shoulder

oom, they found Mr. March and Frank sitti

rch, rising and bowing to Mrs. Elmer; "but when your little girl said a boy named Frank March was in here

en if they do turn up again like bad pennies. Master Frank, you must hurry and get well, for in

ost hungry enough to eat an alligator, and I exp

they were for it. After supper, when they were once more gathered in the sitting-room, Mr. Elm

ested, it was for incorporating "Go Bang," and

hose portions of the town of Wakulla lying on oppo

" said Mr

Y?" sai

sort of a ferry steam-power,

lla needed most was a bridge and a mill. I knew we couldn't build a bridge, at least not at present; but the idea of a ferry seemed practicable.

or his father to finish

ferry will be the very thing to

ted his father. "

e mill-pond is never-failing, because it comes from a big sulphur spring. We found the man who owns it, and had a long talk with him. He says that business fell off so after the bridge was carried away that when his dam broke he didn't think it would pay to rebuild it. He says he will take five hundred dollars cash for the whole c

o it," said Mr. Elmer, smiling at Mark's enthusiasm.

ligator-power, of mills that ground out gold dol