ents of the captain, and the
vigilant watch kept at night, finding that they could not surprise us,
they did not venture on an attack. No attempt during our absence had
been made on the fort, although the garrison had been kept constantly on
the alert. I need not describe the grief which the news of my uncle and
cousin's death caused to my father and Juanita. They were, of course,
now more anxious than ever to get back to Castle Kearney. As the men
who had followed my uncle would form a sufficient escort, it was
resolved that we should set out for the Ocklawaha River, where we hoped
to find boats in which we could descend to the Saint John, and from
thence to continue on to Castle Kearney. The point we aimed at was
known as the "Silver Spring," a stream celebrated for the extraordinary
transparency of its water, and much venerated in consequence by the
Indians. It was supposed, indeed, to be the fountain of youth, of which
they spoke to the Spaniards who first visited this country, and induced
them to believe that its waters had the power of renovating the most
aged, and restoring strength and beauty to the wrinkled and decrepit.

A landing-place, with two or more planked houses, stood on the bank of
the stream, which would afford accommodation should they not have been
destroyed by the Indians, though the inhabitants had long before made
their escape to a less dangerous part of the country. As the whole
distance could be performed in little more than a day, it was considered
advisable to send forward two scouts, who would ascertain the condition
of the place, and whether any Indians still remained in the intervening
district.

Three days having passed, and the scouts not making their appearance, we
began to fear that they had been cut off, and that we should be doomed
to be shut up in the fort for an indefinite period. The commandant was
anxious to get rid of us, for we, of course, consumed the stores
destined for the garrison. It was with no small relief, therefore, that
we saw the two men approaching the fort early on the third day. They
brought the satisfactory intelligence that the Government had sent a
steam-vessel up the river to the mouth of the Ocklawaha, above which she
could not proceed, but that a smaller craft had been despatched up the
stream to Silver Spring with stores for the garrison.

As we were prepared for our journey, we lost no time in setting out,
accompanied by Captain Norton, who le