Paddling under Palmettos — page 35: what you’re looking at

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

30 Paddling Under Palmettos. All this while they had been making progress, and at dusk Palatka came in sight. - “Tet’s haul in here and make fast to one of the docks,” said Dick. “Agreed. Seventy-five miles sailing since yester- day noon in a cold breeze satisfies me,” returned Ned, as he headed for the city on the right. They rounded to beyond a wharf and dropped sail. At once preparations were made for the night, this being always the first thing thought of before even supper was considered. The painter was made fast to the dock, about ten or twelve feet away, and the three canoes were the same distance apart. It was easy to get from one to another, in case visiting was desired. Tents now went up, and when this task had been completed the night was com- ing on, so that dinner was the next consideration. Archie took a run to the post office for letters and to forward their mail. Then they settled down for a night of it, the wind increasing in force as the hours wore on. To a novice the position would have been a strange one, indeed, the small boats dancing the Gomicbooks (€(@)