n both sides of the river.

Upon reaching Fort George, the Davenport party drove in the 'bus to the
hotel, over the hardest of shell roads. Magnificent palms lined the
way on both sides. All the foliage, in fact, was extremely luxuriant.
The island was more tropical than anything that the Davenports had
seen, so far, in Florida.

A gentleman in the 'bus proffered the information to Mr. Davenport that
the island had once been visited by Talleyrand. He said it had been
owned by French grandees who carried on an extensive slave trade from
the island.

When questioned about the mounds of shells that are so numerous at Fort
George, the gentleman explained that for many centuries the Indians had
congregated on the island in oyster season, and held high festivals.
They probably feasted on oysters and corn, and these mounds were the
result.

The week that followed was one of almost unalloyed bliss to Julia and
Beth. They got into very little mischief, although they simply lived
out of doors, and up in the trees.

Each morning, a number of the people from the hotel went in surf
bathing. Beth was always one of the party. Mrs. Davenport did not
care to go in, but she generally sat on the beach and watched the
bathers.

Since Beth had learned how to swim, she caused her mother much anxiety.
She was very venturesome, and would often swim far out beyond her depth.

Don did not enjoy salt water as much as he did fresh, and therefore he
often rested beside Mrs. Davenport.

One morning only children went in bathing. All the men were away
fishing, and the women did not care for the sport. Mrs. Davenport was
unusually anxious, and she warned Beth to stay near shore with the
other children. Beth obeyed pretty well at first, but before she knew
it she was out where the water was over her head.

"Beth, it's time to come in," called her mother.

Beth raised her head and spurted out some water.

"Why, mamma, I'm coming."

"No, you're not. You're going out," and Mrs. Davenport sprang to her
feet in sudden terror.

"Why, mamma, I'm swimming as hard as ever I can."

In fact, Beth was trying her very best to reach shore, but
notwithstanding her desperate efforts, she was slowly but surely
drifting out to sea. One of those treacherous undertows that abound on
the Florida coast had her in its deadly power.

Mark Charlesworth, one of the boys, rushed to the side of Beth's mother.

"Oh, Mrs. Davenport, she'll surely dro