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Updated: June 12, 2025
Of course Owen went with the Shepards. Chloe had made herself so agreeable to the ladies that they desired her to accompany them on shore. The steamer was in first-rate condition, and there was nothing for anybody to do but eat and sleep. Mr. Kirby Cornwood was still sulky because he had not been permitted to pilot the vessel up from the ocean; but I was not disposed to comfort him.
"Then I think I will sleep on shore, if you have no objection," he added. "None whatever," I answered; and with the bundle of letters in my hand, I was glad to get rid of him, for he was rather officious, and often interrupted me in my state-room when there was not the least need of it. Cornwood raised his Panama hat, bowed politely to me, and then hastened out of the building.
We were under way as soon as possible, and had no difficulty in getting to Lake Harney, in which the water was not more than three feet deep in many places. But that, and even less, was enough for us, for it gave one foot clear under the sterns of the twin boats. "Now comes the tug of war," said Cornwood, as we entered the river above the lake.
Cornwood asked Miss Margie if she did not want a piece of him for her supper, declaring that he had eaten a portion of the tail, which he considered very good. The English maiden preferred beef and mutton. We did not want the alligator, and we left him where he was.
"This looks like the right place," said Cornwood, after he had directed the deck-hands to carry the bow fasts ashore and catch a turn around the trees. Then he looked about him, as if he was trying to identify the place. "I wish I had the latitude," he added. "We can give you that, for I have my instruments in my room. I brought them because I was afraid they might be stolen," I replied.
"I will examine this at my leisure; for I am called to the house of Colonel Shepard by Mr. Garningham," I continued. "Very likely he desires to give me instructions in regard to the up-river trip. If he does, I wish to see you as soon as I return; and I may not be gone more than an hour." Cornwood made no reply; but I saw that he was biting his lip.
"His knowledge of his native State surprises us all." "I was only bantering him, captain," replied the passenger. "I think he is a very good lawyer too, though he did not have a good case this morning." "When it comes to trial, I will show you that it is a better case than you think it is," replied Cornwood, with more spirit than he had before exhibited.
"I am at your service, gentlemen; and, pardon me, captain, without regard to any future engagement," said Mr. Cornwood, with an extra flourish, as he turned to me. "Thanks. I think you said you were born in Florida," I added. "Not only in Florida, but here in St. Augustine.
"I see that you are not quite satisfied with what I have said. I cannot blame you for feeling so; but I should blame myself if I said anything more about this man," continued my father's friend. "I make no charge against Cornwood; I only say, as I might if we were facing a strange snake, he may do us harm, and we must look out for ourselves. Really, that is all I can say about the matter."
"You will be so much accustomed to them in a week after we start up the river, that you will not mind them more than you do the flies, and not half so much as you do the mosquitoes," added Mr. Cornwood. "Are there many mosquitoes where we are going, Mr. Cornwood?" asked Mr. Tiffany. "Not many at this season of the year, though we may fall into localities where they are very plenty.
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