Paddling under Palmettos — page 285: what you’re looking at

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

276 Paddling Under Palmettos. thing so solemn and desolate about it that the cruis- ers were appalled. Few signs of life appeared here. They missed the rush of the mullet, the roar of the surf, and all the accompaniments of their trip down the Indian River. A fishhawk circled in the blue ether above—or perhaps an eagle—a crane standing like a sentry in the shallow water near by—perhaps an alligator sunning himself on a log near the brink—these were all the signs of life around. The trees overhanging the water were draped with great festoons of Spanish moss, giving a weird aspect to the scene. ‘“‘Alabama—here we rest,” said Ned. “Yes, it would never do to venture out on that sheet of water at this time. We may have to pass around it yet. That is a question to be decided to- night,” put in Dick. They paddled along until they came to a place where a fire could be started, and there halted for the night. At the consultation after supper it was decided to (EOMNIE KOO KS (E()