146 WiLD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 
visited by men, the sun rose from the bosom of the waters 
with a burst of glory that flashed on my soul the idea of that 
power which called into existence so magnificent an object. 
The moon, thin and pale, as if ashamed to show her feeble 
light, concealed herself in the dim west. The surface of the 
waters shone in its tremulous smoothness, and the deep blue 
of the clear heavens was pure as the world that lies beyond 
them. The Heron heavily flew towards the land, like the 
glutton retiring at day-break, with well-lined paunch, from 
the house of some wealthy patron of good cheer. The Night 
Heron and the Owl, fearful of day, with hurried flight sought 
safety in the recesses of the deepest swamps; while the Gulls 
and Terns, ever cheerful, gambolled over the water, exulting 
in the prospect of abundance. I also exulted in hope; my 
whole frame seemed to expand; and our sturdy crew showed, 
by their merry faces, that nature had charms for them too. 
How much of beauty and joy, is lost to those who never view 
the rising sun, and of whose waking existence the best half is 
nocturnal ! 
Twenty miles our men had to row before we reached 
“ Sandy Island,” and as on its level shores we all leaped, we 
plainly saw the southernmost cape of the Floridas. The 
flocks of birds that covered the shelly beaches, and those 
hovering over head so astonished us, that we could for awhile 
scarcely believe our eyes. The first volley procured a supply 
of food sufficient for two days’ consumption. Such tales, you 
have already been told, are well enough at a distance from 
the place to which they refer; but you will doubtless be still 
more surprised, when I tell you that our first fire among a 
erowd of the Great Godwits laid prostrate sixty-five of these 
birds. Rose-colored Curlews stalked gracefully beneath the 
mangroves; Purple Herons rose at almost every step we 
took, and each cactus supported the nest of a White Ibis. 
The air was darkened by whistling wings, while, on the waters, 
floated Gallinules and other interesting birds. We formed a 
