ON BOTH COASTS 115 



but twenty-five years ago, no one who visited 

 Florida need fail of a sight of this ugly saurian. 

 Coming home in the afternoon of the day spent 

 with the negro boatman, our attention was called 

 to the swaying of the marsh grass not far distant, 

 and the negro informed us that it was caused, he 

 thought, by an alligator. With guns at cock and 

 all ready to open a fusillade on the first appearance 

 of the game, a cautious approach was made until 

 we were alongside the grass. Then, as we were 

 standing in the boat, peering this way and that in 

 an effort to spy our victim, there was an unexpected 

 rush, the boat was given a whack that almost 

 caused the hunters to fall overboard, and we had 

 a fleeting glimpse of our quarry as he disappeared 

 in the waters of the river. The performance was 

 so unexpected and so soon over that not a shot 

 was fired. 



For many years the Indian River country has 

 been a prime favourite with those who visit Florida. 

 The so-called river is really a long, narrow arm of 

 the sea, and at some points, a walk of five minutes 

 brings one from the river to the ocean. The soil 

 along this river is exceedingly fertile, and some of 

 the finest orange groves in the state are found at 

 Rock Ledge and farther south. This body of 

 water furnishes ideal conditions for sailing, hunt- 

 ing and fishing, and nothing can be more delightful 

 than a cruise of a few days with congenial com- 

 panions. We hired a sharpie, a flat-bottomed sail- 



