YACHTIXG ON THE ST. JOHNS. 153 



off, even if weakened vitality warns that it must be 

 done ? But onr bows were unbent, and our surrender 

 to the peaceful influences was unconditional. The 

 broad, quiet river bore no evidence of the centuries that 

 have passed since the first adventurers explored it for the 

 fountain of youth a fountain that, undiscovered for 

 man, assuredly maintains the evergreen vigor of this 

 remarkable stream. Known longer than any river on 

 the continent, it is the same to the eye as when the first 

 boat passed over it. At hardly any point are there 

 breaks in the line of foliage that crowds to the water s 

 edge; and miles and miles did we pass on, seeing no evi 

 dence that the swells from our boat were not the first 

 that set the water-lilies nodding a friendly welcome. 



The lower river is too wide for game, being often ten 

 miles from shore to shore quite sea-room enough for a 

 yachtman s skill, and water enough for a good sized craft 

 on nearly all stretches. From this wide water we turned 

 into Black creek, where we were promised shots at alli 

 gators. This is a very beautiful stream, about one hun 

 dred yards wide. The alligator is very much like our 

 northern turtles in his manner of life ; and, like them, 

 enjoys sunshine on his scaly form. We slowed the 

 engine and went on very quietly, keeping near the sunny 

 bank of the river, and half forgetting, at times, our pur 

 pose, in admiration of the same. The alligator is not 

 easily seen by a novice among so many new forms to 

 catch the eye. Their scaly backs, when dry, are pre 

 cisely the color of bark, and lying on or by fallen trees, 

 their form assimilates so closely to the decaying trunks, 

 that we were unable to distinguish them at first, even 

 when our small imp-of-all-work would grimace like a 

 monkey in efforts to point them out. We did not admit 



