340 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



out all night. I was in Smyrna the next day when he came 

 in — and badly scared he looked. He wouldn't say what 

 scared him, but he said he would not go to that house again, 

 for all Florida." 



Judge: "You mean to say that the house is haunted.-"' 



"So some people say. I don't, for I never saw anything 

 strange, myself." 



"Who owns the place, now.^" 



"There's two or three men claim it. One man from the 

 West — St. Louis, I think — was here two years ago, and got 

 me to bring him to see it. He said that he bought it with 

 about 200 acres of land, of some person in New York, for a 

 trifle, but he thought it might be valuable some day; the 

 land is very good." 



Judge: "And it is a fine situation for a house, with deep 

 water in front, and a fine landing place." 



P.: "Yes, the man that picked it out knew what he was 

 doing — and the old Kings road from St. Augustine to Smyrna 

 runs throus:h the hamak." 



Judge: "Now, major, here is a chance for you if you want 

 to sleep in the haunted house.'*" 



Major: "Much obliged, but I have no curiosity, and prefer 

 Mrs. P. 's good beds." 



Judge: "How is it that the Indians did not destroy this 

 house, when they ravaged all this country, and burned up 

 everything.'" 



P. : "That I don't understand; there was nothing to hinder; 

 and they ruined every building on this coast except this one, 

 and this they did not touch. Well, gentlemen, if you have 

 seen all you want, we will be going." 



The route homeward was through the same wilderness of 

 islands and marshes, with no trace of mankind. Many birds 

 were flying about, or perched among the mangroves— egrets, 

 white herons, blue herons, pelicans, ospreys — while along the 

 shores great numbers of the noisy clapper-rail ran in and out 



