154 YACHTING OX THE ST. JOH^S. 



with candor that we did not see them, but bravely fired 

 away, and kept up an expression of entire wisdom, even 

 when, in response to hurried shots, chips flew from logs 

 that were not very near the splash made by the escaping 

 saurian. One or two were hit, and when wounded gave 

 a display of power that increased our respect for them. 

 Smashing about, they made the foam and water fly like 

 a propeller wheel on a tear, but almost invariably re 

 tained enough vitality to get to the bottom, where the 

 body remains in the mud and grass until, expanded by 

 decomposition, it rises to be food for swarms of turkey- 

 buzzards. We continued this rifle practice for some 

 time, until the long shadows covered both banks, when 

 the alligators, as dependent upon sunshine as butterflies, 

 went into their slimy homes. Then we turned, to reach 

 the open river before dark, let on more steam, and laid 

 aside our rifles to enjoy the scene. It was wonderfully 

 fair. Foliage of new forms pressed out over the water ; 

 vines, laden witli bloom, hung, like Narcissus over the 

 flood, lost in their reflections ; ducks swam hastily on 

 before us, drawing a wake that became long rays of light, 

 and, overtaken, took long circles back to the quiet scenes 

 we were leaving ; while, on the topmost branches of tall 

 trees, turkey-buzzards sat in rows, waiting like ghouls 

 for death and decay to lure them down. They were un 

 mindful of rifle-balls ; safe in worthlessness they sur 

 veyed the scene their repulsive forms marred, and when 

 the shadows were almost as dark as their sable wings, 

 we were glad to enter the open river. Over the bar, with 

 full steam, we pressed on as long as we could see ; and 

 then, tied to a deserted wood wharf for the night, lighted 

 up our little cabin, had our supper, a few glasses of social 

 wine, and turned in to dream of semi-tropical life. 



