; and the stream that supplies the mill-pond is
never-failing, because it comes from a big sulphur spring. We found the
man who owns it, and had a long talk with him. He says that business
fell off so after the bridge was carried away that when his dam broke
he didn't think it would pay to rebuild it. He says he will take five
hundred dollars cash for the whole concern; and I want to put in my
hundred dollars salvage money, and Ruth'll put in hers, and Jan'll put
in his, and mother says she'll put in hers if you think the scheme is a
good one, and we'll buy the mill. Now, your ferry can bring the people
over; and it's just the biggest investment in all Florida. Don't you
think so, father?"

"I'll tell you what I think after I have examined into it," said Mr.
Elmer, smiling at Mark's enthusiasm. "Now it's very late, and time we
all invested in bed."

That night Mark dreamed of ferry-boats run by alligator-power, of mills
that ground out gold dollars, and of "ghoses" that turned out to be
boys.

CHAPTER XI.

"THE ELMER MILL AND FERRY COMPANY."

Mr. Elmer made careful inquiries concerning the mill about which Mark
had told him, and found that it was the only one within twenty miles of
Wakulla. He was told that it used to do a very flourishing business
before the bridge was carried away, and things in that part of the
county went to ruin generally. Both Mr. Bevil and Mr. Carter thought
that if there was any way of getting over to it, the mill could be made
to pay, and were much pleased at the prospect of having it put in
running order again.

Mr. March having been a mill-owner, and thoroughly understanding
machinery, visited the one in question with Mr. Elmer, and together
they inspected it carefully. They found that it contained old-fashioned
but good machinery for grinding corn and ginning cotton, but none for
sawing lumber. Only about thirty feet of the dam had been carried away,
and it could be repaired at a moderate expense. Mr. March said that by
raising the whole dam a few feet the water-power would be greatly
increased, and would be sufficient to run a saw in addition to the
machinery already on hand. He also said that he knew of an abandoned
saw-mill a few miles up the river, the machinery of which was still in
a fair condition and could be bought for a trifle.

The result of what he saw and heard was that Mr. Elmer decided the
investment to be a good one, and at once took the necessary steps
towa