FLORIDA: THE GULF COAST 149 



He gave us explicit, though to all save the darkies 

 obscure, directions how to reach the place, some 

 seven or eight miles distant. It was only a few 

 miles from our ultimate destination, for he told us 

 that he had on a little island, not far from his own 

 dwelling, a small house which he thought would 

 answer, especially when he learned that we were 

 amply supplied with tents. The whole inter- 

 view did not occupy much longer than it takes in 

 telling. The doctor vanished into the pine woods, 

 and we resumed our journey. Eight miles did 

 not seem far to travel, but with heavy freight wag- 

 ons, slow walking, tired horses, and dispirited 

 drivers (for by this time the novelty had begun to 

 wear off), it was night, and some time after, a slow, 

 drizzling rain was falling, when we were made 

 aware by shouts from Black Tom, who was lost 

 in the darkness ahead, and by the barking of dogs, 

 that we had reached our destination. 



A cordial welcome to his lonely cottage was 



extended to us by General C , a retired veteran 



of the Mexican and Seminole wars, whose fortunes 

 had led him to this remote wilderness as the home 

 of his old age. We sat far into the night before 

 the blazing pine-knot fire talking on many themes. 

 The general was eager for human intercourse 

 and an opportunity to talk of the world's past and 

 present affairs. His look and bearing was that 

 of a Huguenot of noble birth, and he may well 



