rable danger.

Carlos was very indignant at the way he had left us. "Why couldn't he
have told us where he was going?" he exclaimed. "If he puts the Indians
up to mischief with any of his wild notions, he will be hunted down, and
to a certainty will get hung on the nearest tree."

The appearance of the Indian showed that some of his people were in the
neighbourhood, and Carlos thought it prudent to keep a strict watch
during the night. Not waiting for daybreak, as the country before us
was tolerably level, we struck camp and pushed homewards. Although we
occasionally saw Indians in the distance, none came near us. It was,
however, pretty evident that our movements were closely watched, but for
what object we could not surmise, as we were allowed to proceed without
being molested.

I missed Rochford greatly; and though I was interested by Lejoillie's
remarks on the natural history of the country, I was very glad when we
at length reached Castle Kearney.

I watched my cousin Juanita when Carlos was giving her an account of
Rochford's disappearance, "I am very sorry," she answered in quite an
indifferent tone. "I thought he would have come back again; but as he
has chosen to go away, I only hope that the Indians will treat him well.
Perhaps he'll return with a red squaw, as a proof of his affection for
the Indian race." She laughed, but perhaps not quite so heartily as she
tried to do.

CHAPTER FIVE.

A CRUISE ON BOARD THE GREAT ALEXANDER--OYSTER-BEDS--A CURIOUS SIGHT--
PELICANS FISHING--SPECIMENS FOR THE NATURALIST--A STORM--MARTYR TO
SCIENCE--TIM FINDS OYSTER-TREES--THE RACOON--A FISHING-PARTY--FLORIDA
WRECKERS--ON THE EVERGLADES--LOOK OUT FOR SNAKES--INDIANS--RETREAT
THROUGH THE FOREST--THE OLD LIGHTHOUSE--A SIEGE--KILLING FOR KILLING'S
SAKE--ATTEMPT TO BURN US OUT--THE REDSKINS DEFEATED--THE TURN OF THE
TIDE--SAFE ON BOARD.

We had returned but a few days, and Lejoillie had scarcely had time to
arrange the collections he had made daring our late trip, when the
_Great Alexander_ anchored off the island, and Captain Crump came on
shore to deliver some goods he had brought for my uncle. He was going
afterwards down the east coast to the Florida Keys, as those coral reefs
and islands which fringe the southern end of the peninsula are called.
He intended to touch at several places on his way, and perhaps
afterwards run up the west coast as far as Cedar Keys.

Lejoillie at once inquired whether he would con