Cedar Keys 



rattlesnake skins, and inquired about shipping, 

 means of travel, etc. 



The proprietor informed me that one of sev- 

 eral sawmills near the village was running, and 

 that a schooner chartered to carry a load of 

 lumber to Galveston, Texas, was expected at 

 the mills for a load. This mill was situated on 

 a tongue of land a few miles along the coast 

 from Cedar Keys, and I determined to see Mr. 

 Hodgson, the owner, to find out particulars 

 about the expected schooner, the time she 

 would take to load, whether I would be likely 

 to obtain passage on her, etc. 



Found Mr. Hodgson at his mill. Stated my 

 case, and was kindly furnished the desired in- 

 formation. I determined to wait the two weeks 

 likely to elapse before she sailed, and go on her 

 to the flowery plains of Texas, from any of 

 whose ports, I fancied, I could easily find pas- 

 sage to the West Indies. I agreed to work for 

 Mr. Hodgson in the mill until I sailed, as I had 

 but little money. He invited me to his spacious 

 house, which occupied a shell hillock and com- 

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