The Florida agriculturist., 1908-03-01

llllllk we dI OOIu CIlClIlCu W d SOOu
rest and good time; as we are
through with high school and both will
have to work hard next year in col
lege, you know"
"Well, I don't know about the col
lege part for me, Harold" said Earle,
Suddenly looking sober. "You see,
father has spent a good deal of money
in getting this new, line of steamers in
operation, between Tampa (and other
points on the west coast) and New
Orleans. and he says if business is
good I can go; if not, I must wait
another year"
Gee whiz! l hope nothing will hap
pen so that we cannot go to college
together next year. But come on
and show me something Of Tarpon
Springs"
faint this walk around the springs
fine! And what a dandy lot of boat
and bath houses; and what lot Of
boats!'
eyes; a great many of the finest
boats and bath houses are owned by
our northern winter visitors and
property holders who come here to
get out of your severe winter up north
and fish and hunt to their hearts con-
tent. But come on, cousin, and [ will
show you further down the bay the
sponge boats
The boys walked along the north
side of the bay until they reached the
river, which flows southwesterly to the
Gulf of Mexico, and found closely
anchored together a fleet of at least
fifty sponge boats, or boats that are
engaged in the sponge diving industry.
These boats are all owned and
operated by Greeks. and are made
after the same style that has been
used in Greece for many years. They
are about thirty feet long and OF great
beam in proportion to their length,
with rounding bow, and little cuddy
for cabin. In each bow is a place
for the long oars, like those used in
a gondola, with the thro-pins at each
side for oars. One short, heavy mast,
which leans at an angle of nearly forty
five degrees toward the stern, is fitted
with main sail and jib. The boats are
clumsy and not at all handsome, but
very seaWorthy, and are particularly
adapted to the perilous life of sponge
diving.
Opposite one Of the boats Earle led
the way, and stopping on the quay,
and putting his hands to his mouth
gave a hearty sailors ''he1lo.'
A large head with curly light hair
bobbed up above the gunwa1e and
strong but gOod-natured bass voice
answered:
Hello; is that you, American boy"
This was said in an odd mixture of
English and Greek, which is impos-
s1ble to initiate, so for the benefit of
Our readers we give it in English
Yes, Dick; can you come and get
us in your dory? [ have a cousin here
from the north who never saw a sponge
boat or a diver, and as you are the
best diver on the coast and have one
Of the best boast you see I can
Kill two birds with one stone,' Hey
Dick?"
The Greek, whose real name was
Aerxes, but was called Dick by all
his friends, showed his even white
teeth in a broad grin, waved his hand
and crossing to the side of his boat,
The Marathon" unfastened the rope
OF his little dory and jumping in
sculled rapidly to shore.
On reaching lard he sprang on the
quay and held out his hand to Earle,
who took it and after giving it
hearty shake said, "Dick, this is my
Cousin Harold; and Harold let me in
troduce to your notice Professor Dick
Something r-other, whose last name
is lost in oblivion and you could not
pronounce it if you heard it. Prof
Dick is the champion low diver of .hc
west coast; the man who cal work