EPISODES 



347 



Early next morning, several of these kind men accom- 

 panied me to a small Key called Booby Island, about ten 

 miles distant from the lighthouse. Their boats were well- 

 manned, and rowed with long and steady strokes, such as 

 whalers and men-of-war's men are wont to draw. The 

 captain sang, and at times, by way of frolic, ran a race 

 with our own beautiful bark. The Booby Isle was soon 

 reached, and our sport there was equal to any we had else- 

 where. They were capital shots, had excellent guns, and 

 knew more about Boobies and Noddies than nine-tenths of 

 the best naturalists in the world. But what will you say 

 when I tell you the Florida Wreckers are excellent at a 

 Deer hunt, and that at certain seasons, " when business is 

 slack," they are wont to land on some extensive Key, and 

 in a few hours procure a supply of delicious venison. 



Some days afterwards, the same party took me on an 

 expedition in quest of sea shells. There we were all in 

 water, at times to the waist, anr? now and then much 

 deeper. Now they would dip, like ducks, and on emerg- 

 ing would hold up a beautiful shell. This occupation they 

 seemed to enjoy above all others. 



The duties of the " Marion," having been performed, inti- 

 mation of our intended departure reached the Wreckers. 

 An invitation was sent to me to go and see them on board 

 their vessels, which I accepted. Their object on this occa- 

 sion was to present me with some superb corals, shells, live 

 Turtles of the Hawk-bill species, and a great quantity of 

 eggs. Not a " picayune " would they receive in return, but 

 putting some letters in my hands, requested me " to be so 

 good as to put them in the mail at Charleston," adding that 

 they were for their wives " down east." So anxious did 

 they appear to be to do all they could for me, that they 

 proposed to sail before the " Marion," and meet her under 

 way, to give me some birds that were rare on the coast, 

 and of which they knew the haunts. Circumstances con- 

 nected with "the service" prevented this, however, and 



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