palmetto leaves had to be used instead; and for those who
wished to drink water, the magnolia leaves, bent so that the ends
lapped, made excellent cups.

How they did enjoy that dinner! How savagely the hams were attacked!
How the beans and crullers were appreciated, and how rapidly the pies
and cakes disappeared! How the coffee, with plenty of "sweet'nin'" in
it, was relished. In other words, what a grand feast it was to them.
How much and how quickly they ate on that occasion can still be learned
from any resident of Wakulla; for they talk of "de feed at de openin'
ob dat ar Elmer Mill" to this day.

Mark says it was the opening of about a hundred mills, all provided
with excellent machinery for grinding.

After dinner they sang, and listened to the music of Ruth's organ,
which had been brought from the house for the occasion, and placed at
one end of the booth. Then some one produced a fiddle, and they danced.
Not only a few danced, but all danced--old and young; and those who
stopped to rest patted time on their knees to encourage the others.

About four o'clock in the afternoon, or about "two hour by sun in the
evening," as the Wakulla people say, the last bushel of corn was
ground. What remained uneaten of the dinner was distributed among those
who needed it most, and the picnic was ended. With many bows and
courtesies to their hosts, the happy company began to troop, or squeak
along in their little ungreased carts, towards the ferry, where Frank
was already on hand waiting to set them across the river.

CHAPTER XIII.

FIGHTING A FOREST FIRE.

Although the day of the picnic was warm and pleasant, a strong breeze
from the southward had been blowing since early morning, and during the
afternoon it increased to a high wind. As the Elmers rode home after
the last of the happy picnickers had departed, they noticed a heavy
cloud of smoke in the southern sky, and Mr. Elmer asked Mr. March what
he thought it was.

"It looks as though some of the settlers down there were burning grass,
though they ought to know better than to start fires on a day like
this," answered Mr. March.

"But what do they do it for?" asked Mr. Elmer.

"So as to burn off the old dead grass, and give their cattle a chance
to get at that which immediately springs up wherever the fire has
passed. But the practice ought to be stopped by law, for more timber
and fences, and sometimes houses, are destroyed every year than all the
catt