Paddling under Palmettos — page 100: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Paddling Under Palmettos. 93 washed off the deck of his canoe he was ready to Start. As Dick, with the wisdom of an old cruiser, did not believe in hurrying at any time, Archie amused himself watching a fishhawk that sat on a rock out in the water anticipating his morning meal. He had not long to wait. As usual, the mullet were leaping about like acro- bats. Suddenly the hawk arose in the air, fluttered for a few seconds almost stationary, and then, dart- ing down like a flash of light, struck the water, not head first as the gulls and pelicans do, but in a way to fasten its claws into its victim. As the hawk arose, the skipper of the Sea Waif saw a fat mullet in its talons. But a shadow fell on the water, and, looking up, Archie saw that pirate of the air, the noble white-headed eagle, circling around, watching Mr. Hawk. In vain the hawk circled and climbed the air. He was steadily followed by the feathered robber until at length, to save himself, he was obliged to let the mullet fall. They were far up in the heavens to all appear- ances when this occurred. Gomicbooks (E(0)