CHAPTER XX
ALLIGATORS AND WILD TURKEYS
Out in the wild country to the westward of the
St. Lucie River the winds of dawn mass fluffy
cumulous clouds along the horizon, and the morning
sun tints these till it seems as if a vast golden
fleece were piled there to tempt westward faring
argonauts. Thither I journeyed for nearly a
day, the slow trail ending in a land of enchantment
fifteen miles beyond the nearest outpost of
civilization. Most of this trail led through the
dry prairie where short, wire grass grows among
widely scattered, slim pines, the slimness seeming
to come rather from lack of nourishment than
youth, for the soil here is but a thin and barren
sand. Then the earth beneath us sank gently and
the water rose till the good sorrel horse was
splashing to his knees in water that was crystal
clear and that deepened in spots till the hubs rolled
on its surface. Schools of tiny fishes darted
away as we splashed on, bream and garfish, bass
and sea trout, spawned no doubt in some branch
