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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