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"I should like to go on shore, Alick, if you have nothing better for me to do," said Washburn, coming into my room when he had finished his supper. "I have nothing for you to do," I replied. "What's up now?" "I have some curiosity to know what has become of Cobbington; and I think I shall call upon his landlord," replied the mate, laughing. "I will go with you, if you have no objection," I added.

The steward was entirely satisfied with the manner in which Cobbington had discharged his duties, and the invalid was the happiest man I had seen in the Land of Flowers. Except in Jacksonville, there was no market on the St. Johns River; and Mr. Peeks had been not a little disturbed in relation to the culinary department of the Sylvania.

"You shouldn't keep poisonous snakes in your room," I added. "He never would have known it if this man hadn't told him," said the snake-man, turning to the mate. "I don't know your name, but you got me into a very bad scrape for an invalid; and that's the reason why I am down in Florida, instead of at home where I could earn a decent living," whined Cobbington.

We had hardly turned the corner before we came plump upon a man who seemed to be very anxious to meet my friend and companion. I had never seen him before. "Mr. Cobbington, this is Captain Garningham, of the steamer Sylvania," said Washburn, chuckling. "How do you do, Mr. Cobbington," I replied. "How are you, captain: I'm glad to see both of you," replied Cobbington.

"On deck, sir!" returned Buck Lingley, who was on duty there. "Stand by with the pole." Buck seized a pole, of which there were several on the forecastle; but he had no idea what he was to do with it, for he was a salt-water sailor. Cobbington was sitting on the deck, and saw that the deck-hand was puzzled by the situation, and took another pole to assist and show the old salt what to do.

I asked him to show me the box, but he wouldn't even do that, and said it was all nonsense to show the box." "You made up your mind that he had no moccasin?" I added. "No more than I had. On my way down from the house I met his landlord, coming home from the market. He asked me if I had found Cobbington. I told him I had, and then informed him his lodger kept a live moccasin snake in his room.

Then he either had a moccasin, or he lied about it, and in either case he didn't want the fellow in his house. I came to the conclusion that the landlord wanted to turn out his lodger, and only wished for a reasonable excuse for getting rid of him. I left him; and I suppose Cobbington has been turned out by this time. I shouldn't want a poisonous snake in my house."

Griffin Leeds had discovered by listening to the conversation of the mate and myself, that we were investigating the matter, and had a clue to Cobbington. Then Cornwood had sent a note to the saloon-keeper to this effect, and Captain Boomsby had bribed the invalid with a dollar to lie about the matter.

"But I will let the steward know in season." The forward-cabin steward retired. It was evident that Cornwood had not seen him on board before, and that he was not at all pleased to have him as a fellow-voyager on the river. Cobbington looked as though he had gained twenty pounds in flesh since he came on board on Saturday night.

The lodger's name was Cobbington; and Jackman thought he was poor." "He must have been, to take a room at Captain Boomsby's house." "I asked Jackman what things besides the trunks he had carried to the St. Johns Hotel. He replied that Cobbington had a pet rattlesnake and a box of alligators." "All this goes to confirm Captain Boomsby's explanation," I added. "I think it has a tendency that way.