Paddling under Palmettos — page 295: what you’re looking at

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

286 Paddling Under Palmettos. They passed Fort Thompson on the run, and were saluted with handkerchiefs. | At another time they might have enjoyed stop- ping and spending some time at this historical spot, famous during Osceola’s time, but just now they were anxious to reach Myers. ; Some miles below they met a miniature steamer, the Spitfire, ascending the river to Fort Thompson. There was a party of excursionists aboard, and they cheered the canoe fleet as long as the boats could be seen. A tongue of land shut them out of sight, but the cruisers were feeling good at thus meeting their fellow men again. Strange, indeed, how glad we are to see mankind after rushing off for a pilgrimage to the forest in order to be away from the world. Late in the afternoon the river widened until it presented a majestic breadth indeed, being some miles from shore to shore. This was an indication that they were nearing the beautiful little settlement of which they had heard and read so much. Presently they sighted it. The sun was low in the west, and only for the Gomicbooks co