148 THE STORY OF A BIRD LOVER 



son with a commanding air, differing entirely from 

 the cadaverous white of the region, " the piney 

 woods cracker." His brown hair was beginning 

 to be thin on top, and was somewhat silvered with 

 streaks of gray, as was the flowing beard whose 

 luxuriance almost concealed the chest beneath. 

 The horse he rode was, like the man, well kept, 

 well groomed, and mettlesome. He reined in his 

 horse, and was greeted by Black Tom as Dr. 



H . Before leaving Ocala I had been assured 



that there was a magnate living on an island 

 somewhere near the mouth of the Withlacoochee 

 who possessed riches untold in lands and moneys, 

 and who, in addition to his own house, had 

 several other dwellings on his extensive estate. 

 From my former experience in Florida and my 

 knowledge of the condition of affairs generally 

 existing throughout the region, I of course took 

 all this with a grain of salt. 



However, here was the doctor, and so much 

 of the story was true. He appeared a genial 

 gentleman, and ascertaining our desires and hopes, 

 comprehended the situation almost instantly. He 

 gave us some brief directions, excusing himself 

 for not accompanying us, as his business took him 

 in another direction and was imperative. We 

 could rest that night, he told us, at the house of a 



friend of his, General C , where we would find 



all possible hospitality by mentioning his name. 



