THE HAND ABOVE THE REEDS 195 



" ' I never studied the ways of him of whom you speak. 

 I am an outlaw. I have been a cruel man, and I am dying 

 here in the swamps of reeds. I murdered members of my 

 own family; so I deserve my fate. Give me water and let 

 me die.' 



" The moon rose. I pointed toward the grand sight and 

 said < God.' 



" But his mind was not to be turned toward sacred 

 things. 



" ' I sailed from Matanzas,' he said; ' I have money, but 

 it is buried where it never will be found.' 



" His voice failed. 



"'I — am — a — dying — man — Farewell!" 



" He fell into my arms. I could not support him. I 

 laid him down. He was dead. 



" I went back to the boat where I had discovered the 

 two dead bodies. The buzzards were feeding on them." 



Such was one scene of the old days of beautiful Florida. 



