TRACKING THE ENEMY. 379 



tion of " ha !" and quietly sit down to his meal without 

 further examination. 



Mike travelled faster than his predecessors. When he 

 carried his canoe over the portage connecting Jupiter 

 Inlet with the next creek to the southward, and ex- 

 amined the tracks where they had not been drifted over 

 with the sand, he smiled, saying " Gained a day." 

 Presently his dog dug up from the sand a broken pad- 

 dle. Mike patted the hound, and examining the paddle, 

 knew why they had travelled so sloAvly that day ; and a 

 little search showed some shavings where a new one had 

 been cut. His suspicions as to the leadership of the band 

 and the direction they were taking had become confirmed, 

 little by little, and he now baked his corn-bread, and 

 rolled himself to sleep on his Spartan couch, satisfied to 

 a certainty that his journey was not a needless one. 



A boat is usually sent by the government, at regular 

 intervals, to visit the different light-houses of the United 

 States coast, and supply them with stores. Such a visit 

 had just been made to the light-house at Cape Florida. 

 Two barrels of oil, provisions for the light-keeper, a little 

 powder and shot, some tools, cordage and oakum, a few 

 fishing implements, and some books that had been sent 

 for Lou Jackson, had been delivered and were lying in 

 front of the little house, and the white sails of the 

 schooner were again low on the horizon, leaving the 

 light-house keeper and his niece to another month of 

 solitude. 



Lou's uncle was busily engaged storing the goods, some 



