FLORIDA: THE GULF COAST 



175 



duplicate. The statue has been carefully guarded ; 

 valued as a standard of beauty, it is viewed by 

 students and masters from every part of the world. 

 The other, with all its complicated educational 

 elements of which beauty was not the least, has 

 been destroyed, cannot be restored, and is only 

 known by tradition. 



At Clearwater much of our exploration was 

 accomplished by water, and here to this end the 

 " Bandersnatch " was utilized to the wonder of 

 the natives. Our aquatic pursuits were a source 

 of concern to our landlord, and he constantly 

 cautioned me that we were taking our lives in 

 our hands. One day when about to embark, to 

 allay his anxiety I assured him that I was a fairly 

 good swimmer, and, moreover, that in most places, 

 even if we had to desert the boat, it would be 

 possible to walk ashore. But he shook his head 

 and would not be convinced, and finally confided 

 to me that he had always preferred to travel by 

 land. He had come from Georgia directly after 

 the war, to establish himself in Florida, and had 

 moved all such property as he possessed by teams 

 and wagons. He informed me he had never 

 crossed to the outside islands ; that he considered 

 it a very dangerous undertaking, and wound up 

 by saying to me : — 



" Waal, Scaat, you-all and Mr. Debil may be 

 web-footed, but I'm a high Ian' chickin." 



