ing architecture, and a few other public buildings, which the
judge pointed out as the commencement of a city. Soon afterwards,
running into a small bay, we hove-to before a house of superior
pretensions, with a veranda round it, backed by an orange grove, a
vegetable garden and orchard on one side, and plantations of various
sorts on the other. It was the judge's home. He warmly pressed my
father and me to accompany him on shore, Rochford and Lejoillie having
accepted the invitation he had given them. But my father, eager, as I
before remarked, to reach my uncle's house, declined promising, however,
if possible, to visit him on a future day.

CHAPTER THREE.

FIRST VIEW OF MY UNCLE'S HOUSE--THE LANDING--MY COUSINS--WE ARE SHOWN
OVER CASTLE KEARNEY--IN THE ORANGE GROVE--A PLEASANT WALK--MY UNCLE'S
HEALTH--PROPOSED VISIT TO JUDGE SHURTLEFF--A FLORIDA HUMMOCK--RITA AND
THE PUMA--A TIMELY SHOT--CAPTAIN NORTON--SHALL WE TURN BACK?--ARRIVAL
AND RECEPTION AT ROSEVILLE--THE JUDGE ON INDIAN TROUBLES--THE CHIEF INN
OF THE SETTLEMENT--CAPTAIN NORTON AND THE BLACK--AN AGREEABLE EVENING--A
STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE.

"There's where Nicholas Kearney lives," observed the skipper, pointing
to a small island off the left bank of the river, towards which we were
steering. "I'll send the boat on shore, gentlemen, with you and your
traps, and will heave the schooner to until she returns. As we shall be
up to the spot in a short time, the sooner you are ready the better."

I looked eagerly ahead, but at first could distinguish only a wood of
cabbage-palms and pines towering above the shrubbery of magnolias and
laurels. As we got nearer, I caught sight of the roof of a house on the
inner side of the island. We had enough to do, however, in getting our
traps into the boat, which was hauled up alongside. The schooner was
hove-to, and two blacks stepping in to pull, we wished the skipper
farewell, and shoved off.

"I trust you may find your brother better than you expect, captain," he
said, as he waved his hand.

We had some little distance to go, as we had to row to the western or
inner side of the island, where the captain told us we should find the
only landing-place. As we approached, our astonishment was considerable
on seeing the style of house inhabited by my uncle and his family. It
was a building of considerable pretensions, erected on piles close to
the edge of the water, above which it rose with a somewhat sombre and
gl