-SCISSOR-BILLS--
FLYING-FISH--OFF AMELIA ISLAND--SOMETHING ABOUT FLORIDA--INDIAN
TREATIES--ROCHFORD'S DESIRE TO SERVE THE RED MEN--ENTRANCE TO SAINT JOHN
RIVER--THE HAZARD LIGHTHOUSE--A GOOD CURE FOR INTEMPERANCE--SAINT JOHN
BLUFF--A SAD HISTORY--A CHANGE OF WEATHER--THE STORM--A FLORIDA SWAMP--A
SUCCESSFUL HUNT--SURPRISED BY INDIANS--PARTING WITH OUR NEW FRIENDS.

Early one morning I was taking a walk on deck with Rochford, when we
heard a cry aloft of "Land! land!"

"Ere long, then, I shall have an opportunity of commencing the glorious
task I have undertaken!" murmured my companion.

As he did not exactly address me, I made no reply. We immediately went
up the fore-rigging, but could only see a long faint line, distinguished
from the ocean and the sky by the difference of tint. It was the coast
of Georgia, the eastern portion of which is but slightly elevated above
the water, though a hilly region exists in the northern part of the
State. It was not till some hours afterwards, when we were approaching
the mouth of the river Savannah, that we could see the land clearly from
the deck.

The passengers having packed up their personal property in their
portmanteaus and carpet-bags, ready for landing, we collected on the
poop. As I stood near the judge and his wife, who were seated on the
skylight, their little boy, guarded watchfully by black Rosa, playing
near them, I heard the former say to Rochford that, as he intended to
charter a schooner to convey himself and family up the Saint John River,
he begged to have the pleasure of Rochford's company on board.

"I purpose going on to Florida with Captain Kearney and his son and
Monsieur Lejoillie; and as I cannot desert them, I regret that I am
unable to take advantage of your kind offer," was the answer.

"Get them to come with us then," said the judge. "They can, if they
wish it, pay a proper proportion of the expenses of the voyage; but I
cannot allow you to do so. You must come under my wing, and you can
join your friend Lejoillie whenever he starts on his proposed expedition
in search of the wonders of our flowery land."

When the judge made the offer to my father and Lejoillie, they at once
accepted it, both being anxious to reach Florida with as little delay as
possible.

We ran up the river until we anchored, seventeen miles from its mouth,
off the city of Savannah, built on a sandy expanse, and elevated about
forty feet above the level of the tide.