cidedly. "We intend to get
some land when we can, but we must have it large enough to put out a
good grove on."

"Well, I'll sell you a five-acre lot near the village for two hundred
dollars, and you can work it out."

"Too much," answered Dave. "We want cheaper land, and are willing to go
a longer distance from town."

"But that's cheap," expostulated Pylant, who began to fear he would have
to pay out money. "How far would you be willin' to go for land?" he
added, as another idea seemed to strike him.

"Not particular, if the land is good and price low."

"Then I've got the identical place for you," cried Pylant, his face
brightening; "splendid land, and on a beautiful lake."

"How far?"

Pylant hesitated.

"Mebbe it's twenty miles or so," he at length said, slowly; "but it's
good, and I'll let you have it low."

"Twenty miles is a long distance from town," said Dave, dubiously; "but
what'll you take?"

Fearing he would lose the sale, Pylant lowered the figures he had
mentally fixed upon, and said, quickly:

"If you take the twenty acres, you can have it for three dollars and a
half an acre. I reckoned on sellin' to the party here last week, and I
'lowed to myself I'd ask five dollars. But, somehow, they didn't seem to
take to it."

"Well," said Dave, slowly, as though hesitating, "I reckon we'll take
it. Can you fix up the deed now?"

"Right off!" answered Pylant, quickly, fearing the boys might change
their mind. "Here are the other five dollars I owe you."

Ten minutes later, Dave and Tom were the owners of the coveted twenty
acres.

For the next two weeks the boys worked in the orange grove and added
another thirty-five dollars to their fund.

Their living cost very little, and they now had nearly fifty dollars
between them.

Feeling comparatively wealthy, and with the prospect of, perhaps, weeks
of idleness before them, if they remained where they were, the boys
concluded to remove to their new possession.

Provisions enough to last two months were purchased, and with these,
and with a miscellaneous collection of kettles, axes, and other tools,
the boys set out.

Although the load was packed and strapped to their backs in the most
convenient manner, it took two days to complete their journey.

The third was spent in making a camp and looking up the stubs which
marked the boundaries of their twenty acres.

Like most of the high pine land in Florida, their tract was free from
palmetto,