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EPISODES 



355 



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 I 



humming bee was collecting her winter's store from the 

 snowy flowers of the native orange; and the little warblers 

 frisked along the twigs of the smilax. Now, amid the 

 tall pines of the forest, the sun's rays began to force their 

 way, ^nd as the dense mists dissolved in the atmosphere, 

 the bright luminary at length shone forth. We explored 

 the woods around, guided by some friendly live-oakers 

 who had pitched their camp in the vicinity. After a while 

 the "Spark" again displayed her sails, and as she silently 

 glided along, we spied a Seminole Indian approaching 

 us in his canoe. The poor, dejected son of the woods, 

 endowed with talents of the highest order, although rarely 

 acknowledged by the proud usurpers of his native soil, 

 has spent the night in fishing, and the morning in procur- 

 ing the superb feathered game of the swampy thickets ; 

 and with both he comes to offer them for our acceptance. 

 Alas ! thou fallen one, descendant of an ancient (ine of 

 frccborn hunters, would that I could restore to thee thy 

 birthright, thy natural independence, the generous feel- 

 ings that were once fostered in thy brave bosom. But 

 the irrevocable deed is done, and I can merely admire 

 the perfect symmetry of his frame, as he dexterously 

 throws on our deck the Trout and Turkeys which he has 

 captured. He receives a recompense, and without smile 

 or bow, or acknowledgment of any kind, off he starts 

 with the speed of an arrow from his own bow. 



Alligators were extremely abundant, and the heads of 

 the fishes which tiiey had snapped off", lay floating around 

 on the dark waters. A rifle bullet was now and then sent 

 through the eye of one of the largest, which, with a tre- 

 mendous splash of its tail, expired. One morning we 

 saw a monstrous fellow lying on the shore. I was desir- 

 ous of obtaining him to make an accurate drawing of his 

 head, and accompanied by my assistant and two of the 

 sailors, proceeded cautiously towards him. When within 

 a few yards, one of us fired, and sent through his side an 



