In the Wilds of Florida: A Tale of Warfare and Hunting

by William Henry Giles Kingston

anxious to be of use to hisfellow-creatures. Having but a limited knowledge of the subject, and noone to consult, he had taken it into his head that he might aid the redmen in retaining their rights, and the slave population in obtainingtheirs. He was warm-hearted and generous, and from his manner, I hadlittle doubt, as brave as steel. By many he would have been looked uponas a crazy enthusiast or a dangerous character, for whom the walls of aprison or a mad-house would prove the safest abode. He, however, hadthe discretion to follow the advice he had received, and did not againin public broach the subject of Indian rights or the iniquity ofslavery. They were, however, common subjects of conversation betweenus, and he almost won me over to his opinions. What he intended to dohe did not say. Indeed, I found that he had no very definite plan ofproceeding. Had I been by myself, I do not know how I might have acted,but I fortunately did not commit myself by promising to aid him in anyof his schemes.

  I found the old gentleman I have spoken of was Mr. Archelaus Shurtleff,a judge, whose residence was in Florida. The young lady, whom I atfirst supposed to be his daughter, was his wife. They had but onechild, called Paul, a fine little fellow four or five years old, whohappened to be with his black nurse in their cabin when I first sawthem, and hence I did not discover my mistake until the next day. Thekind old gentleman told my father and myself that he should be veryhappy to see us at his house, which was not far from that of my UncleNicholas, with whom he was well acquainted. My father replied that hewould gladly pay him a visit, provided the state of his brother's healthand spirits would allow him to do so.

  "Sorry to hear that our friend Nicholas is ill," said the judge. "As tohis spirits, he is over anxious about the state of the country. He isalways apprehending an attack from the red men. It is a mistaken fancyof his. They'll never dare to interfere with the settlers. They knowtoo well the fearful retribution that would overtake them."

  The worthy judge and his wife, who appeared to have taken a liking forRochford, had frequent conversations with him, and he told me that theyhad given him an invitation to their home, which he had gladly accepted.

  "I hope that we shall meet there," I observed. "At all events, as weshall not be far away from each other, we may have some sport together,and kill no end of crocodiles, bears, deer, and other wild beasts andbirds of all sorts."

  I had expected that in crossing the Atlantic we should have encounteredat least a gale or two of wind, and witnessed the sea foaming androaring and running mountains high. Instead of this, with the exceptionof a little tossing and pitching for a week or two, we ran along over asmooth ocean, generally with a fair wind and delightful weather.Occasionally, when we were becalmed, the sun shone down on our heads,and sent us in search of every shady spot that could be found. Most ofour companions were accustomed to a hotter atmosphere, which they toldus we should find when we got on shore; but even they kept out of therays of the sun as much as possible. When a breeze sprang up, we glidedalong with studding-sails on either side at the rate of some seven oreight knots an hour, and the look-out forward shouted, "A sail on thestarboard bow!"

  The captain remarked that, from the way she was standing, she would passclose to us. Most of the passengers on deck hurried across to look atthe stranger. Rochford, who was seated on a coil of rope writing in hisnote-book, continued his occupation without moving.

  Lejoillie, who had just come from the cuddy, sauntered along the decktowards him.

  "What, my friend, are you inditing sonnets to your lady's eyebrow, orcomposing your first speech as president of your model republic?" hesaid in his bantering way.

  "Whatever I am about, I am not fond of being interrupted," answeredRochford, looking up with a more angry glance than I had yet seen on hiscountenance.

  "My dear friend," exclaimed Lejoillie, taking his hands out of hispockets and stepping forward, "I am sincerely sorry, and beg yourpardon. I thought you would like to see yonder fine ship as she passesus. Happily the world is at peace, or I should fear she was an enemy,and had some intention of attacking the _Liberty_; neither can she be apirate, as our captain does not endeavour to keep out of her way."

  Rochford, quickly appeased, rose to look at the stranger. Instead,however, of crossing to where the rest of the passengers were standing,I saw him dart aft towards one of the ports, all of which had been leftopen to admit of a free current of air. At the same time, little Paul'sblack nurse, Rosa, uttering a wild shriek, fell to the deck. I guessedwhat had happened. The child had escaped from her arms, and runningheedlessly away, had fallen overboard through the port. Rochford, whohad seen the occurrence, without stopping for one instant, plunged inafter him. I felt inclined to follow, but I distrusted my own powers ofswimming. I had, however, what was of far more use, presence of mind torun aft and drop a grating, which was fortunately at hand, over theside, and shout out, at the top of my voice, "Man overboard!"

  While some ladies gathered round the poor mother, who was almost franticwith grief, and others attended to the nurse, who had gone off in aswoon, the captain issued the necessary orders for shortening sail; for,with all the flying-kites set, it was impossible, until the canvas wastaken off the ship, to bring her up to the wind.

  The judge, in the meantime, retained his calmness and presence of mindin a wonderful manner. My father, Lejoillie, Tim Flanagan, and two orthree others, made preparations, under the superintendence of the secondmate, for lowering a boat, every man of the crew being required toshorten sail. The helm was put down, the yards braced up, and the shipquickly brought to the wind. I was going to assist in lowering theboat, when the captain called me aft, and told me to keep an eye on Mr.Rochford and the child.

  Not having stopped to throw off his clothes, the moment he reached thewater he struck out towards the boy, who had just risen after his firstplunge: his head, I saw, was above the surface, and he had unconsciouslyturned on his back, stretching out his little arms for help. In anotherinstant Rochford got up, and holding the child's face well out of thewater, was evidently trying to dispel his fears; then looking round, hesaw the grating, towards which he at once swam, and placed the childupon it. All this time the ship was, of course, running away from thespot, and gradually he and his little charge became less and lessdistinct. I saw, however, that he was holding on to the grating, which,I was thankful to see, perfectly supported the child. A very long timeseemed to elapse before I heard the order to put the helm down, and Ieven fancied that the ship was running away altogether from where littlePaul and Rochford were floating. But what was my horror just then tosee a black fin come gliding by. On the previous day we had passedseveral huge monsters of the deep. What if the shark should discoverour fellow-passenger! I longed to be able to shout out to him to keephis legs moving; but he could not have heard me, even if I had shoutedever so loudly, and by so doing I should have still further alarmed thejudge and his poor wife. Had Rochford been seized, there would havebeen little hope of the child escaping.

  The moment the ship was hove-to, having pointed out to the captain theexact position of those in the water, and being unable to restrain myeagerness, I sprang forward, and just had time to glide down the fallsinto the boat, which, under the charge of the mate, pulled by her crew,was shoving off.

  "Glad you have come, sir," said the mate; "you can nurse the child whenwe get him into the boat."

  "If we do," I said, and I pointed with a thrill of horror to the fin ofthe shark as its wicked eye glanced up at us. The fear seized me thatit might follow the boat and discover Rochford. "I wish I had a pistolto shoot it!" I exclaimed.

  Without answering, the mate seized the after oar and struck with all hisforce, the edge of the blade entering the water at the shark's back.

  The brute disappeared, and, I trusted, had sunk far down into the depthsof the ocean. Away we pulled as hard as the men could lay their backsto the oars, the appearance of the shark making them still more eager toget up to the assistance of the brave young man and the child. To myjoy I saw, as I go
t closer, that little Paul was resting securely on thegrating, while Rochford was striking out with his feet, and one of hishands being still at liberty.

  "Bear a hand, friends!" he cried out. "Take the child on board first,and the sooner you help me in I'll be obliged to you. There are someugly brutes cruising about here who have a mighty fancy for my legs."

  The boat approached the grating. I leaned over to grasp the little boyas soon as I could reach him, and as I did so I heard the mate tell themen to keep striking the water with their oars.

  We soon had Paul safe. Not until then would Rochford allow the crew tohelp him on board. He had a providential escape as it was, for scarcelywere his feet well over the gunwale, when the brute of a shark shovedits hideous snout above the surface, getting, however, an ugly prick inthe nose for his pains from a boat-hook.

  Rochford was well-nigh exhausted; but owing to his courage and presenceof mind, the child appeared very little the worse for its plunge. Whatwould have been his fate, however, had the monster of a shark we sawbeen near at hand at the moment he fell overboard!

  We were speedily alongside, and I had the satisfaction of handing thelittle boy to his parents. The poor mother was about to thank me,supposing that I had been the means of saving him; but I pointed toRochford, who stood dripping wet on deck, as the man who had performedthe gallant act.

  The judge wrung his hand. "I thank you, sir! I thank you!" heexclaimed.

  The mother burst into tears as she held the child to her heart; thentaking Rochford's hand, she pressed it to her lips. The nurse, seeingthe child was saved, quickly recovered, and exhibited her gratitude ineven a more demonstrative way than her master and mistress.

  I came in for a share of their thanks when they were informed that I hadthrown the grating overboard which had contributed so much to save thelives both of the little boy and our friend.

  Rochford having assured those who had collected round him to paycompliments, that he had really done nothing to deserve all the finethings that were said, dived below to change his wet garments. In ashort time afterwards he appeared on deck as if nothing particular hadhappened.

  As may be supposed, he became a greater favourite than ever with thejudge and his wife; and even some of those who had before looked at himaskance, acknowledged that he was a very fine fellow.

  The ship was again put before the wind, and away she stood on herwestward course.

  Among those who looked upon Rochford as a hero was Tim Flanagan, whoregarded his fellow-countryman with unbounded admiration, and declaredhimself ready to go through fire and water to serve him. Lejoillie hadalso taken a great liking to him, and they frequently walked the decktogether, engaged in earnest conversation. Following the Frenchman'sadvice, Rochford had been very careful not again to express hispolitical opinions in public, though he did not hesitate to talk freelyto me, as I have no doubt he did to the naturalist.

  He was thus generally liked, and with the ladies, especially, he becamea great favourite. No one, indeed, would have considered him adangerous character, if one had seen him, whenever he could get littlePaul out of the black nurse's arms, carrying the child about and playingwith him on deck, but taking very good care that he should not againslip through a port.

  The weather continued brilliant; and the numerous sea-birds, whichflitted high in the air or hovered round the ship, told us that we werenearing the end of our voyage.

  CHAPTER TWO.

  FIRST SIGHT OF LAND--ON BOARD THE "GREAT ALEXANDER"--SCISSOR-BILLS--FLYING-FISH--OFF AMELIA ISLAND--SOMETHING ABOUT FLORIDA--INDIANTREATIES--ROCHFORD'S DESIRE TO SERVE THE RED MEN--ENTRANCE TO SAINT JOHNRIVER--THE HAZARD LIGHTHOUSE--A GOOD CURE FOR INTEMPERANCE--SAINT JOHNBLUFF--A SAD HISTORY--A CHANGE OF WEATHER--THE STORM--A FLORIDA SWAMP--ASUCCESSFUL HUNT--SURPRISED BY INDIANS--PARTING WITH OUR NEW FRIENDS.

  Early one morning I was taking a walk on deck with Rochford, when weheard a cry aloft of "Land! land!"

  "Ere long, then, I shall have an opportunity of commencing the glorioustask I have undertaken!" murmured my companion.

  As he did not exactly address me, I made no reply. We immediately wentup the fore-rigging, but could only see a long faint line, distinguishedfrom the ocean and the sky by the difference of tint. It was the coastof Georgia, the eastern portion of which is but slightly elevated abovethe water, though a hilly region exists in the northern part of theState. It was not till some hours afterwards, when we were approachingthe mouth of the river Savannah, that we could see the land clearly fromthe deck.

  The passengers having packed up their personal property in theirportmanteaus and carpet-bags, ready for landing, we collected on thepoop. As I stood near the judge and his wife, who were seated on theskylight, their little boy, guarded watchfully by black Rosa, playingnear them, I heard the former say to Rochford that, as he intended tocharter a schooner to convey himself and family up the Saint John River,he begged to have the pleasure of Rochford's company on board.

  "I purpose going on to Florida with Captain Kearney and his son andMonsieur Lejoillie; and as I cannot desert them, I regret that I amunable to take advantage of your kind offer," was the answer.

  "Get them to come with us then," said the judge. "They can, if theywish it, pay a proper proportion of the expenses of the voyage; but Icannot allow you to do so. You must come under my wing, and you canjoin your friend Lejoillie whenever he starts on his proposed expeditionin search of the wonders of our flowery land."

  When the judge made the offer to my father and Lejoillie, they at onceaccepted it, both being anxious to reach Florida with as little delay aspossible.

  We ran up the river until we anchored, seventeen miles from its mouth,off the city of Savannah, built on a sandy expanse, and elevated aboutforty feet above the level of the tide. I have little to say about thecity, except that it struck me as a fine place, many of the streetsbeing wide and bordered with trees, and that it contains numerouschurches, hospitals, stores, and other public buildings.

  On landing, the judge immediately engaged a schooner, known by thehigh-sounding name of the _Great Alexander_. Her skipper's name wasEbenezer Crump. The craft was not unlike an Irish "hooker;" her greatbeam showed that she was likely to carry her canvas well. That veryevening the judge and his family, my father, Tim, and I, accompanied byRochford and Lejoillie, went on board, and dropped down the river withthe tide, ready to sail the following morning.

  We had plenty to amuse us. Crossing the bar at daybreak with a fairbreeze, we ran along outside the line of islands which fringe the coastof Georgia, and which are devoted to the cultivation of "sea-islandcotton." The water teemed with fish, and birds innumerable came flyinground us. The most remarkable of the latter were the scissor-bills,with black plumage, which went skimming along the surface, scooping upwith their long lower mandible any unwary mollusc or fish of small sizewhich came within their reach, and uttering every instant loud anddiscordant cries. Lejoillie told us that they were of the gull tribe,about twenty inches in length. The peculiarity of their beak consistsin the lower mandible being considerably longer than the other intowhich it shuts. It is of an orange-red at the base, and deepens intoblack at the tip. To prevent the water rushing into its throat as itskims the surface with its beak, the bird is provided with a very smallgullet. When unable to procure food by the method we saw it employing,Lejoillie said that it frequents the sea-shore as the tide is ebbing,where, finding mollusca with open valves, it inserts the lower mandibleof its beak so as to prevent the shell from shutting; and then dashingit down on a rock, breaks it, and devours the inhabitant.

  We frequently caught sight, too, of the frigate-bird, with its longforked tail sweeping behind as it came swooping down on its prey, whichits keen eyes enable it to see from afar.

  More curious to those who, like myself, have never been in the tropics,were the coveys of flying-fish, which rose out of the water, and evendarted to great distances before their fins became dry and they fellagain into their native element. Le
joillie told us that there were twospecies, one much smaller than the other. The larger are somewhat likered gurnards, and are said to prey on their smaller cousins, which arealso pursued by bonitos, albicores, and dolphins of various species, aswell as by numerous sea-birds. Several times we saw a large covey ofthe smaller kind rise above the surface, followed closely by another ofthe larger species, when at the same moment a dozen sea-birds woulddescend, and, quick as lightning, a dolphin would dart by, intent onsharing the prey. Looking down through the clear blue water, we couldsee the beautiful dorados, of pure turquoise hue, as they darted hereand there, keeping away from the vessel while they gambolled round her.

  We kept so close in-shore, that we could sometimes through our glassesdistinguish the scissor-bills standing on the beach, and, in thedistance, the buildings attached to the long staple cotton plantationsfor which the low islands are celebrated.

  At length we came in sight of a line of sand-hills, with palmetto, pine,and live-oak growing at their summits, while below was a glitteringbeach, stretching away to the south; and close in front, low banks, overwhich the white-crested breakers dashed with a fury which made uscareful not to get amongst them. To the south was a headland, which ourskipper informed us was the north end of Amelia Island. Close to theisland was a river of the same name, which united with another stream,the Saint Mary; they together made their way over a bar into the ocean.Crossing the bar, we passed close under the old Spanish Fort Fernandina,and shortly after brought up off a modern city called after the fort,consisting of half a dozen huts. We were now actually in Florida.

  Lejoillie shrugged his shoulders, Rochford looked very blank, and I feltnot a little disappointed; until the judge told us that we had onlyreached the most northern extremity of the