IN FLORIDA. 73 



far niente as myself, " that he intends to remain 

 here for the rest of his natural life." 



" What, going to stay here for ever!" came from 

 the pretty mouth, which belonged to a pretty head, 

 that just then appeared above the companion way, 

 " I do like to go fishing, and get away from people." 



" Yes," came faintly from another in the bowels 

 of the cabin, " I am always fond of a change." 



" We havn't caught a fish since day before yes- 

 terday," continued Seth in a most injured tone of 

 voice. "I should like to catch something beside cat- 

 fish once more." 



This is the sort of thing that the yachtsman has 

 to bear from his mutinous crew, and there is but one 

 way of dealing with it. I went forward without a 

 word, called my men, and we were underway so 

 soon, that the breath was nearly taken from the 

 party, and I heard low grumblings about provisions, 

 which ought to have been laid in, and curiosities, 

 which were to have been bought, and which never 

 could begot again, for an hour afterwards, as we were 

 rapidly running up the river. 



The weather had become hot, the thermometer 

 marking eighty-nine in the shade, and mosquitoes 

 made their appearance in the evenings ; for those 

 we were prepared, as the yacht was especially fitted 

 with mosquito screens. But the heat was too much 

 for us, and it was unanimously determined that we 

 must take a bath. We had brought our bathing 

 dresses more by good luck than good management, 

 for we had no expectation of quite so summery a 



