64 IN LOWER FLORIDA WILDS 



that the sunlight no longer came from the west 

 but from the northeast instead. I realized that I 

 was lost in this gloomy forest with night just at 

 hand. 



My sense of orientation is so poor that the bow 

 of a boat continues to point always in the same 

 direction as when I got aboard. For some time I 

 labored about without any idea of direction and 

 finally resigned myself to the unhappy thought of 

 a night in the swamp. Though the mosquitoes were 

 not at their worst they were abundant enough to 

 make sleep impossible, and moreover, they were 

 increasing as the light faded. I tried to figure out 

 where the shore should be but it was no use. 



Losing oneself in a forest where the consequences 

 are likely to be serious is most disquieting. The 

 feeling that one's wits have deserted him, and the 

 sense of lonely helplessness are most depressing. 

 I searched my pockets for matches, and found in- 

 stead a small forgotten compass. I knew the shore 

 must lie to the southwest so violating my confused 

 ideas of direction I followed the course the needle 

 indicated. I pressed ahead excitedly and as fast 

 as possible, now and then turning aside where the 

 young growth was too dense to push through. 



