A Thousand-Mile Walk 



Their leisure in time of high tide they spend 

 in various ways and places. Some go in large 

 flocks to reedy margins about the islands and 

 wade and stand about quarrelling or making 

 sport, occasionally rinding a stray mouthful to 

 eat. Some stand on the mangroves of the soli 

 tary shore, now and then plunging into the 

 water after a fish. Some go long journeys in 

 land, up creeks and inlets. A few lonely old 

 herons of solemn look and wing retire to favor 

 ite oaks. It was my delight to watch those 

 old white sages of immaculate feather as they 

 stood erect drowsing away the dull hours be 

 tween tides, curtained by long skeins of til- 

 landsia. White-bearded hermits gazing dream 

 ily from dark caves could not appear more sol 

 emn or more becomingly shrouded from the 

 rest of their fellow beings. 



One of the characteristic plants of these keys 

 is the Spanish bayonet, a species of yucca, 

 about eight or ten feet in height, and with a 

 trunk three or four inches in diameter when 

 full grown. It belongs to the lily family and 

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