THE GULF COAST OF FLORIDA. 201 



very delicate flavor. Following this, we took several Cavalli 

 Spanish mackerel, mangrove, snapper and " bony-fish." 



On arriving at the mouth of the Pass, we pulled up on 

 the main beach, where the surf was running high, and threw 

 for redfish with fair success. The tide started out about noon, 

 and as the fish refused to take bait after that hour, we laid 

 by our tackle and spent a few hours very pleasantly " gather- 

 ing up the shells on the shore." About four o'clock we 

 returned home. On Monday morning Captain Maurice bade 

 us good-bye, and returned home.* We parted with him re- 

 luctantly. He is a kind-hearted, genteel, companionable 

 little fellow, a sailor ' ' to the manner-born and thorough- 

 bred." 



Mr. Webb's two sons, William and Jack, returned home 

 Sunday night, and on Monday morning Jack kindly offered 

 to pilot Captain Squyer and I to South creek, a distance of 

 three miles, where we could shoot some alligators. I was 

 thirsting for the blood of a " 'gator," and this proposition 

 met with my hearty approval. Jack took his brother's Win- 

 chester, the Captain a double shot-gun, and I my little 32- 

 caliber Stevens rifle. We each put a substantial lunch into 

 our game-bag, and were soon on the war-path. 



A mile from the house we came to the first of a series of 

 ponds, in the open pine-woods through which we were to 

 pass. In each of these we found plenty of the large water- 

 birds so numerous in this state. We took an occasional shot 

 at them when one offered a very tempting mark, and bagged 

 a large number during the day. 



As we entered a small bay-head about two miles irom 

 home, Jack, who was in the lead, stopped suddenly and said, 

 " There's a deer ! " I stepped to his side and looked in the 

 direction indicated. There, sure enough, about a hundred 

 yards ahead of us, was a fine young doe feeding in the scrub 



