a day in the city," said the pilot. "You see, I live on Fort
George Island, and when I go up to the city I always come down again as
soon as I can; but this time I stopped over for a day, for I had a
chance to bring a vessel down. I went into a saloon on Bay Street, and
who should I see behind the bar but the man that ran the other
steam-yacht into this one, or tried to do so, and got the boot on
t'other leg."

"What, Captain Boomsby?" I asked, astonished at the information.

"Yes, that's the name. I had forgotten what it was; and he hadn't got
his sign out then."

"Do you mean to say that he is in business in Jacksonville?" I asked.

"He keeps a saloon there."

"What sort of a saloon?"

"Why, a bar-room," replied the pilot, laughing. "He told me he had been
up north since I saw him, and had brought his family down. He lives
overhead the saloon; and he seemed to be doing a lively business."

"I am afraid he will be his own best customer," I added.

"I reckon he is, for he was getting rather full when I saw him."

"He talked about coming to Florida when I saw him in Michigan; but he
said he was going into the business of raising early vegetables and
oranges."

"He has got a place up the river, and means to raise truck for the
market besides. He must have some money."

"I think he has considerable property. He did not find farming in
Michigan as profitable as he expected. He is one of those men who want
to coin money all at once."

Shortly after noon we came to anchor off the city. The pilot leaped
into his canoe, and boarded a steamer going down the river. Colonel
Shepard was in a hurry to go on shore, and I landed him at once. The
steward went off to the market for ice and fresh provisions in the
other boat. I did not expect all my passengers to remain on board while
we were at Jacksonville. The Colonel had a house which had been badly
damaged by fire while we were here in December, and I had no doubt he
would occupy it, with his family, while we remained here.

He was not absent more than an hour, for his house was on St. James
Park, a short distance from the shore. Everything about it had been put
in complete repair, and it was ready for occupancy. In the afternoon we
landed the family, and the Hon. Mr. Tiffany and his daughter were
invited to go with them. The Sylvania seemed to be deserted when they
were gone; but in a few days we were to begin the trip up the river,
and in the meantime take the par