'The Wreckers, 



251 



rather a curious fancy, but notwithstanding, they expressed 

 their pleasure while looking at some of my drawings, and 

 offered their services in procuring specimens. Expedi- 

 tions far and near were proposed, and on settling that 

 one of them was to take place on the morrow, we parted 

 friends. Early next morning several of these kind men 

 accompanied me to a small key called Booby Island, 

 about ten miles distant from the lighthouse. Their boats 

 were well manned, and rowed with long and steady strokes, 

 such as whalers and men-of-war's men are wont to draw. 

 The captain sang, and at times, by way of frolic, ran a 

 race with our own beautiful bark. The Booby Isle was 

 soon reached, and our sport there was equal to any we 

 had elsewhere. They were capital shots, had excellent 

 guns, and knew more about boobies and noddies than 

 nine-tenths of the best naturalists in the world. 



" But what will you say when I tell you that the 

 ' Florida wreckers ' are excellent at a deer-hunt, and that 

 at certain seasons, * when business is slack,' they are 

 wont to land on some extensive key, and in a few hours 

 procure a supply of delicious venison. Some days after 

 the same party took me on an expedition in quest of sea- 

 shells. There we were all in the water at times to the 

 waist, and now and then much deeper. Now they would 

 dip like ducks, and on emerging would hold up a beauti- 

 ful shell. This occupation they seemed to enjoy above all 

 others. The duties of the Marion having been per- 

 formed, intimation of our intended departure reached 

 the wreckers. An invitation was sent me to go and see 

 them on board their vessel, which I accepted. Their 

 object on this occasion was to present me with some 

 superb corals, shells, live turtles of the hawk-billed spe- 

 cies, and a great quantity of eggs. Not a picayune would 

 they receive in return, but putting some letters in my 

 hands, requested me to be so good as to put them in the 



