Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1878-02-23


suddenly the Old Indian. with q sweep
of his paddle. brought the bat before
the wind, Stacked the sheet a the little
sail, and We turned toward the distant
islands. Inquired his purpose, and he
swept his arm in that direction, saying
with emphasis:
"Ilaulawayus. bad luck. Yonder We
find um. Good harbor. The black cav
ern. Where Seminole dance the green
corn dance. Must CO."
said nothing more, having a supreme
trust in his oft tested ability in trying
cases, and helpless contempt for my own
inefticiency.
For an hour We few before the wind,
while the low-lying cloud grew darker,
denser, changed from grey to blue, from
blue to the more distinguishable colors
that inhabited it, revealing low, sandy
ridges, bush-covered, fringed by the ever
recurring green of the waving marshes.
The islets were numberless, and stray
Cling channels interpenetrated their hid
den recesses in intricate confusion. Into
ono of these, driven by the gale and
guided by the paddle of Tiger Tail, we
glided and swept rapidly around its curves
into smooth water. I took up pair OF
oars, and, with the sail lowered, we rowed
and padded down long reaches, around
sudden points, up quiet coves and Sc
questered hooks, whose peaceful eddies
sss,re in vivid contrast with tho turmoil
on the lake without.
As we advanced the shore grew higher
and more abrupt. The water. border of
marsh grew less frequent and finally dis
appeared. Rocky lodges of soft, gray
Limestone, interpreted with bold bluffs
of coquina, faced the water; while the
ahrubbery rose from the stsnted bush of
the sand-scrub, gradually into larger
fores.-growth of bay, palmetto, msgno-
lie, oak, india-rubber and crab. wood. At
length We came to deep, tranquil basin,
covering an acre or 30, which seemed
the receptacle Of several continent chan
nels that radiated thence in all directions.
On the southern side rose q high shell
bluff, precipitous toward the water, whose
Overlapping sides hung heavy with q
clinging growth Of alders, gall-berries
and red man-groves; the pyramidal net
work of roots of the latter rising from
the waters edge, while the masses of its
long pointed leaves yelled all that lay
behind.
As we approached the bluff the water
suddenly grew deeper, and changed its
color from the purplish green of the lake
to clear, crystalized hue of diamond
like brilliancy, resembling the purest
smallest fish moved visibly over the bot
tom, and - we approached the mangroves
hiding the base Of the cliff, a huge alli-
gator, whose serried rowS of scales glist-
ened beneath the marvellous transparency
of the water, swan leisurely out from
their deep shadows and passed directly
under our frail boat, forty feet below US.
The cliff now lowered above US fifty
feet high, and as the bow of the canoe
touched the even belt of foliage around
it, heard dull, smothered roar within.
Tiger Tail now shouted to me to lie
down. obeyed, and, with . powerful
sueep Of his paddle, We plunged in among
the mangroves. They swept over the
feavsles, raking nv recumbent form,
ssd q each advancing movement gre9
more dense and sssaingiy impenetrsb bic.
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&assrs 81 49, - 50