118 DAYS IN THE OPEN 



the use of homely but telling illustrations, and, 

 after the passing of many years, one, at least, of 

 those who listened that day, feels the glow and 

 thrill begotten of this fine setting forth of the 

 possibilities in manhood. 



One of the most vivid pictures of Doctor Hale 

 which those days furnished is, as he stands on the 

 government pier at Sanibel Island fishing for 

 sheepshead. He wore a long, linen duster, used a 

 cane-pole without a reel, and the fish that came to 

 his hook were usually made to describe the arc of a 

 circle, landing with a resounding thump on the 

 pier. After fishing had ceased to be attractive, 

 owing to the undue eagerness of the sheepshead 

 to be caught, the party wandered across the island 

 to the outer shore where the waters of the Gulf of 

 Mexico came tumbling in upon the beach, and 

 shells were numerous and beautiful. On the way 

 one bought a fine specimen of the saw of a saw- 

 fish from the Cuban fisherman, and another shot 

 a diamond-back rattlesnake which lay coiled in the 

 path. We were becalmed that night on the sail 

 home, and Doctor Hale's varied experiences were 

 drawn upon to alleviate the monotony of the long 

 wait for a favourable wind. 



The rattlers were treated with the utmost re- 

 spect by all the guests after a resident physician 

 had told us that in an experience of more than 

 twenty years in southern Florida he had never 

 known any one to survive the bite of a diamond- 



