358 AUDUBON 



a tangled thicket of low trees, at another crossed a stream 

 flushed by the heavy rain, and again proceeded over the 

 open barrens. 



How long we thus, half lost, groped our way is more 

 than I can tell you ; but at length the tempest passed 

 over, and suddenly the clear sky became spangled with 

 stars. Soon after, we smelt the salt marshes, and walking 

 directly towards them, like pointers advancing on a covey 

 of partridges, we at last to our great joy descried the light 

 of the beacon near St. Augustine. My dog began to run 

 briskly around, having met with ground on which he had 

 hunted before, and taking a direct course, led us to the 

 great causeway that crosses the marshes at the back of 

 the town. We refreshed ourselves with the produce of 

 the first orange-tree that we met with, and in half an hour 

 more arrived at our hotel. Drenched with rain, steaming 

 with perspiration, and covered to the knees with mud, you 

 may imagine what figures we cut in the eyes of the good 

 people whom we found snugly enjoying themselves in 

 the sitting-room. Next morning. Major Gates, who had 

 received me with much kindness, sent a wagon with mules 

 and two trusty soldiers for my companion and luggage. 



THE FLORIDA KEYS 



As the " Marion " neared the Inlet called " Indian Key," 

 which is situated on the eastern coast of the peninsula of 

 Florida, my heart swelled with uncontrollable delight. Our 

 vessel once over the coral reef that everywhere stretches 

 along the shore like a great wall reared by an army of 

 giants, we found ourselves in safe anchoring grounds, 

 within a few furlongs of the land. The next moment 

 saw the oars of a boat propelling us towards the shore, 



