While accustomed to seeing ?>iasses of lordly coreopses lining 

 its banks, and in profusion sennas through ndiich even the 

 tender jewel-7veed sJuvie ; it 7uas unexpected, for its season 7vas 

 nearly over^ to find the scarlet hibiscus bhnving radiantly from 

 lands along the St. John's river. Astonishingly gay was its 

 fire-like fice, and as well guarded from the hands of timid 

 mortals as though it had been a fiame. For tJirough this 

 intense maze of verdure^ tall palm trees and grey //u^ss, 

 stories of sjiakes are more abundant than plant-lore, the much 

 desired. JVe shuddered eve/i to think of treading in the soggy 

 unkno7i>n. 



(CVI.) 



