on, and
as they were placed in her, and she was laid to one side of the deck,
she was indeed as pretty a little craft as can be imagined, and one
that would delight any boy's heart.

"I knew we were going to live near a river, my dear," said Mr. Elmer,
in answer to his wife's anxious expression as she looked at the canoe,
"and as Mark is a good swimmer and very careful in boats, I thought a
canoe would afford him great pleasure, and probably prove very useful
to all of us. So when Uncle Christopher asked me what I thought the boy
would like most for a Christmas present, I told him a canoe."

"Well, I hope it will prove safe," sighed Mrs. Elmer; "but I wish it
were flat-bottomed, and built of thick boards instead of that thin
bark."

"Oh, mother!" said Mark, "you might as well wish it were a canal-boat
at once."

"Yes, I believe canal-boats are generally considered safer than
canoes," answered his mother with a smile. "By-the-way, Mark"--and she
turned to her husband--"one of the letters you brought was from Uncle
Christopher, and he says he thinks he forgot to tell us that there is a
house on his place, which he hopes we will find in a fit condition to
occupy."

Mr. Elmer had expected to have to build a house, and had accordingly
brought with him sashes, doors, blinds, the necessary hardware, and in
fact everything except lumber for that purpose. This material was now
being transferred from the schooner to the lighter, and now it seemed
almost a pity to have brought it; still they were very glad to learn
that they were likely to find a house all ready to move into.

It wanted but two hours of sundown when the last of the Elmers' goods
were stowed in the lighter, and as there was nothing to detain him any
longer, "Captain Li" said he should take advantage of the ebb tide that
night to drop down the river and get started for Pensacola. As rowing
and poling the heavy lighter up the river would at best prove but slow
work, and as there was no hotel or place for them to stay in St.
Mark's, Mr. Elmer thought they too had better make a start, and take
advantage of the last of the flood tide and what daylight still
remained.

So good-byes were exchanged, and feeling very much as though they were
leaving home for the second time, the Elmers left the comfortable cabin
that had sheltered them for nearly a month. Followed by Jan, they went
on board their new craft, and the lines were cast off. The crew of four
strong colo