Paddling under Palmettos — page 246: what you’re looking at

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

Paddling Under Palmettos. 239 their course and were soon bowling along merrily toward the point where it was decided to camp. From this place they hoped to reach the Ever- glades, and, as this water-covered section of the country was unusually high for this season of the year, Lake Okeechobee might be finally sighted. Sailing across this dreary stretch of solitary water, they hoped to strike the western shore about the vi- cinity of the place where the great Disston Canal begins. This would in turn take them through Lake Flirt and another lake, eventually bringing them to the Caloosahatchee River, down which they could pad- dle, or sail, past Fort Meyers, to where it joins the eulf at a point called Punta Rassa. The wind became fresher as the bay opened be- fore them, and at length the little fleet came-to near the shore. Sails were stowed and spruce blades brought into requisition as they made their way slowly along, looking for a good camping spot. Archie led, and sighted a small stream that led into the bay at this point. They ran up this, finding GEomicboo cS (E(0)