Florida Swamps and Forests 



left down the brier line, and after scrambling a 

 mile or so, perspiring and bleeding, I discov 

 ered the blessed trail and escaped to dry land 

 and the light. Reached the captain at sun 

 down. Dined on milk and johnny-cake and 

 fresh venison. Was congratulated on my sin 

 gular good fortune and woodcraft, and soon 

 after supper was sleeping the deep sleep of 

 the weary and the safe. 



October 22. This morning I was easily pre 

 vailed upon by the captain and an ex-judge, 

 who was rusticating here, to join in a deer hunt. 

 Had a delightful ramble in the long grass and 

 flowery barrens. Started one deer but did not 

 draw a single shot. The captain, the judge, 

 and myself stood at different stations where the 

 deer was expected to pass, while a brother of the 

 captain entered the woods to arouse the game 

 from cover. The one deer that he started took 

 a direction different from any which this par 

 ticular old buck had ever been known to take 

 in times past, and in so doing was cordially 



cursed as being the &quot;d dest deer that ever 



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