A Thousand-Mile Walk 



Florida. Here I zigzagged and gathered prizes 

 among unnumbered plants and shells along the 

 shore, stopping to press the plant specimens and 

 to rest in the shade of vine-heaps and bushes 

 until sundown. The happy hours stole away 

 until I had to return to the schooner. Either 

 I was seen by the sailors who usually came for 

 me, or I hired a boat to take me back. Ar- 

 rived, I reached up my press and a big handful 

 of flowers, and with a little help climbed up the 

 side of my floating home. 



Refreshed with supper and rest, I recounted 

 my adventures in the vine tangles, cactus 

 thickets, sunflower swamps, and along the 

 shore among the breakers. My flower speci- 

 men^, also, and pocketfuls of shells and corals 

 had to be reviewed. Next followed a cool, 

 dreamy hour on deck amid the lights of the 

 town and the various vessels coming and de- 

 parting. 



Many strange sounds were heard: the vo- 

 ciferous, unsmotherable bells, the heavy thun- 

 dering of cannon from the Castle, and the 

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