268 WILD SPORTS IN THE SOUTH. 



was the daughter of a planter and he a vagrant hunter. Now she 

 was too proud even to think of him, for she was poor, and an 

 orphan. Yet she could not rid herself of that unconfessed regard. 

 There were other men that were bolder than he, many more re- 

 fined. Had this immense world no life and form in it that was 

 perfect to her ideal ? 



"Fool — fool! I am a fool!" she said aloud, springing upon 

 her feet. Taking a cloth from a locker, she began polishing the 

 reflectors of the light, whistling between the pauses of her duty. 



" Donald, isn't it time to light up ? " presently called her voice 

 from the gallery of the lantern. 



" Yes," answered her uncle from below, scanning the horizon 

 with a long look to note the gathering shadows. 



In a moment more it was dark, and the sailor pacing his watch 

 on the ship in the offing called from the fore-castle deck to the 

 mate : " Cape Florida light, sir, on the port bow, ten miles away." 



