TURNING LOGGERHEADS 129 



Our plan was to sail over to the seldom seen except by sailors at sea or 



beach and wait till moonrise. We would dwellers of some warm coast-country, 



spend the first hours of the night in The strangeness of our prey and the un- 



hunting, then camp out on the sand, re- usual environment of the quest acted as 



turning next day. Loggerheads should spurs to my curiosity, 



be abroad and we hoped to get one or Coming to anchor a few miles from 



more of them, but we were also going shore, we transferred our belongings 



to provide against the possible chance to the small boat and landed at the trail 



gf meeting, as often happens, a bear leading through the scrub. After climb- 



who might be there with predatory de- ing the gentle ascent, we found our- 



signs against turtle eggs. selves at the top of the sand cliff which 



It only required a short time to com- overlooks the Atlantic and which is 

 plete the simple preparations necessary, characteristic of almost the entire east- 

 Luncheons were made ready and car- ern coast of Florida, 

 ried to the boat ; a supply of blankets As far north and as far south as the 

 for bedding, and cheese-cloth to serve eye could reach the broad hard beach 

 as canopies to protect us from insects extended in wild and monotonous lone- 

 was included, and to assist us in locat- liness. No vessels were in sight, for 

 ing nests we took a couple of iron rods ships rarely approach this treacherous 

 which were to be thrust into the sand coast. The breakers advancing in end- 

 \\ s here we found evidences of its having less procession discharged their batter- 

 been recently disturbed. These last en- ies of muffled thunder. Far in the dis- 

 able one to detect the presence of the tance the scene was veiled by flying 

 eggs. mist, and to add nature's last touch, a 



The sun was approaching the West half dozen pelicans with distended 

 and the afternoon more than half spent pouches were solemnly flying in single 

 when we hoisted sail, and heading due file over the breaking surf to their roost- 

 East, were speeding towards the beach, ing place some twenty miles to the 

 Before us stretched the shining waters southward. 



of the Banana river and on the oppo- The making of camp was the sim- 



site side about three miles distant we plest matter imaginable. Blankets were 



could see the low line which marked laid upon the dry sand close under the 



the narrow bulwark of sand between cliff, and over them were hung on four 



the river and the Atlantic. As we ap- sticks driven into the sand our netting 



proached the land, the few palmetto of cheese-cloth. There was no fear of 



palms growing on the bank stood out mosquitoes or sand-flies while the wind 



in sharp silhouette against the Eastern held even a half point off shore, but let 



sky, which already reflected the glories it veer a little to landward, or die down, 



of the setting sun. The scrubby man- and we were sure to receive more atten- 



groves and the glossy leaves of the sea- tion from them than would be desirable, 



grape became golden and then purple. Supper disposed of, we waited for the 



Bill, with hand on the tiller, was evi- rising of the moon while the wind blew 



dently enjoying the prospect of giving softly in our faces, sending the smoke 



me a new experience. from our pipes in swirling clouds to 



Turtling was about the only form, of leeward, Cape Canavaral light w 7 as al- 



Florida sport that we had not enjoyed ready shining brightly in the North, 



together. At one time or another we The twilight passed quickly. Night 



had hunted about everything in the way succeeded day with the swiftness pecu- 



of game that the country afforded and liar to the tropics. The squak of a 



had fished the waters of various parts night-bird or the quick rustic of some 



of the state. Now we were after the small animal in the brush could occa- 



largest of sea turtles, great creatures sionally be heard. 



