The Outdoor Girls in Florida; Or, Wintering in the Sunny South

ed Amy. "Don't you d

ly put my hand on his big bla

e of the boat. Betty had turned about at their exclamation

e announced, unbelievingly. "Ar

re's one now, just ahead of you

time. Certainly something long and knobby and black was al

thing but a log, Grace

e sort. I tell you I

e of the big creatures, though," said

eat us-here in the

apsized us, and then-" G

ke our lunch, and have a picnic ashore. See the lovely Spanish moss hanging down from the trees. It's

n who located Florida," corrected Moll

was. Well

MED GRACE. "THERE'S A

or Girls

ere's an alligator, surely. It's a

eemed to be covered with scales and ridges-something that suddenly turned up

its tail, the creature

n alligator," sa

nd to think I nearly had my hand on

ite you," said p

tty. "Now let's forget all about it and enjoy ourselves

nyhow?" came from Amy, as she resumed her

ollie. "What would we do for valises and satch

so," adm

ough to see if any more of the ugly creatures were in

o, she turned the boat and headed up stream. They passed a number of small boats, manned by colored boys who were fi

r at the foot of the orange grove, well satisfied with their fi

Hammond, the overseer, when told of the girls' experience. "Bu

nington grew quite alarmed. Perhaps it was as much worry over the fate of Wil

had set many influences at work on the case,

were so many turpentine camps, or places where contract labor was used to get out

ed. And Grace was worried too. If she could have engaged actively in a search for her brother perh

one so much," said Betty, agreeing

mselves helping somewhat, taking walks, drives and trips

e day, B

unch and go down the river in the boat. Go

ain of youth that Ponce de

water back," begged Mr. Stonington.

e for you," promi

east, keeping a wary eye out for alligators. But

," suggested Betty, as she looked for a pl

ea-cow?" as

ts sea-weed,

n't you remember the big creatures we saw

ey're not as bad as alligators-at l

y eat-grass,"

the river for some quiet cove into which to steer. The day was warm, an

ng, there came a momentary halt,

hat?" cri

d Mollie with a laugh. For the Gem we

ided Grace. "It was

bit nervously, and g

ine isn't giving

a!" crie

their seats the Gem came to a sudden halt, and the eng

"What is it? Has an all

r the bow. Then

all. Run on it good and hard,