t noiseless fall
of crystal drop on crystal drop tapping the loamy soil, and imagination
sings in whatsoever key the soul is tuned.

But with what reaches of farther imaginings do we greet the day, and how
variously! Our eyes do not require a visual picture of the lone wild
turkey on his cypress roost to know that he is ruffling his feathers,
craning his neck inquisitively downward in all directions, before
chancing to descend to earth and breakfast; nor need we see the panther
skulking from his lair to know that he has stopped to lick his paw and
pass it over his face--the feline morning ablution. Each creature has a
particular mode of resurrection after its hours of mimic death; and so
I, on a bed of whatsoever it may be, yawn hideously and stretch my arms
and grumble: O, Lord, how I hate to get up! Indeed, how variously do we
greet the day!

Smilax had opened our duffle and hung out several things to air. But
the provisions, ammunition, matches and--glory be!--my tobacco, had been
packed in tins and were dry. I could not say as much for the clothes I
wore, and quickly stripped them off to hang before the fire he was
building.

As these and the coffee pot were steaming I walked to the beach and
followed it to a westernmost point, being curious to see if from there
we could get a glimpse of the islands, and also if our camp were
securely hidden from anyone passing the entrance of the Cove. Most of
all, of course, did I want to search the horizon, and for several
minutes stood beneath the solitary palm that had resumed its majesty. So
white was the sand, sloping from a violet-tinted fringe of sea-grape
stalks to the lapping waves, so green and sparkling, yet so drowsy, was
the Gulf, that I could not realize, were my present nudeness less
constantly a reminder, that since the setting sun these peaceful things
had been lashed with a devil's fury. No sail showed anywhere; only the
palm and I seemed to be alone in this balmy wilderness. But my faith in
Gates whispered that the _Whim_ was safe. Looking back, I realized also
that our camp lay well concealed; to the south the islands were cut off
by an opposite strip of land; eastward and northward stretched primeval
forests, swamps and prairies for half a hundred miles. I seemed to be
the only human animal upon the earth.

A hungry osprey circling in the sky dropped as a plummet, struck the
water and, after a momentary struggle, arose with his fish, ingeniously
holding i