BRUNO 51 



deciding ; so we soon found ourselves speeding 

 away again towards "Decoy," to catch the boat 

 for a little station away down South, up the 

 river, which was then the only route to a small 

 settlement in the mid-lake country, where a 

 relative was living, who had urged us to see 

 his part of Florida before deciding on anything. 



It seems odd now to think how remote south 

 middle Florida was in those days. The point 

 we were then trying to reach is now less than 

 twelve hours from Jacksonville by rail. Then 

 we travelled all night by boat, and took train 

 at breakfast time across to a big lake, where a 

 tiny steamer awaited us ; on this we crossed the 

 lake, then stopped at a town on the other side, 

 to wait for a wagon which was to come a half- 

 day's journey to meet us. 



Our message was delayed, so we spent two 

 days at an English inn, near the big lake, where 

 we made some friends we have kept on our list 

 ever since. And besides these friendships, we 

 have treasured many pleasant memories of this 

 inn. We approached it in the twilight of a 

 chilly, blustering day, and on entering it we 

 were greeted by an immense open fire of light- 

 wood, which glorified the polished floor, strewn 

 with the skins of wild creatures killed in the 



