English
AlthoughMr.andMrs.ElmerregrettedthedelayinKeyWest,beinganxioustogetsettledintheirnewhomeassoonaspossible,thechildrendidnotminditabit;indeed,theywererathergladofit.
InthenoveltyofeverythingtheysawinthisqueerestofAmericancities,theyfoundplentytooccupyandamusethem.
Thecaptainandtheirfatherwerebusyinthecourtroomnearlyeveryday,andMrs.Elmerdidnotcaretogoashoreexceptforawalkintheafternoonwithherhusband.
Sothechildrenwentoffonlongexploringexpeditionsbythemselves,andthefollowingletter,writtenduringthistimebyRuthtoherdearestfriend,EdnaMay,willgiveanideaofsomeofthethingstheysaw:
“KEYWEST,FLA.,December15,188-.
“MYDEARESTEDNA,—ItseemsalmostayearsinceIleftyouindearoldNorton,somuchhashappenedsincethen.
ThisistheveryfirstchanceIhavehadsinceIlefttosendyoualetter,soIwillmakeitareallongone,andtrytotellyoueverything.
“Iwasnotseasickabit,butMarkwas.
“InthePenobscotRiverwerescuedamanfromafloatingcakeofice,andbroughthimwithus.
HisnameisJanJansen,butMarkcallshimJackJackson.
Afewdaysbeforewegotherewefoundawreck,andhelpedgetitoff,andbroughtitheretoKeyWest.
Nowwearewaitingforacourttosayhowmuchitwasworthtodoit.
Ishouldn’twonderiftheyallowedasmuchasathousanddollars,forthewreckwasabigship,anditwasrealhardwork.
“Thisisanawfullyfunnyplace,andIjustwishyouwereheretowalkroundwithMarkandmeandseeit.
Itisonanisland,andthatisthereasonitisnamed‘Key,’becausealltheislandsdownherearecalledkeys.
TheSpaniardscallit‘CayoHueso,’whichmeansbonekey,orboneisland;butI’msureIdon’tknowwhy,forIhaven’tseenanyboneshere.
Theislandisallmadeofcoral,andthestreetsarejusthardwhitecoralworndown.
Theislandisalmostflat,and‘CaptainLi’—he’sourcaptain—saysthatthehighestpartisonlysixteenfeetabovetheocean.
“Oh,Edna!yououghttoseethepalm-trees.
Theygroweverywhere,greatcocoa-nutanddatepalms,andwedrinkthemilkoutofthecocoa-nutswhenwegoonpicnicsandgetthirsty.
Andtherosesareperfectlylovely,andtheyhavegreatoleandersandcactuses,andhundredsofflowersthatIdon’tknowthenamesof,andtheyareallinfullbloomnow,thoughitisnearlyChristmas.
Idon’tsupposeIshallhangupmystockingthisChristmas;theydon’tseemtodoitdownhere.
“Theotherdaywewentouttothesoldiers’barracks,andsawabanyan-treethat‘CaptainLi’saysistheonlyoneintheUnitedStates,butwedidn’tseeanymonkeysorelephants.
Marksayshedon’tthinkthisisverytropical,becausewehaven’tseenanybread-fruit-treesnorasinglepirate;buttheyusedtohavethemhere—Imeanpirates.
Anyhow,wehavecustardapples,andtheysoundtropical,don’tthey?
Andwehavesapadilloesthatlooklikepotatoes,andtastelike—well,Ithinktheytastehorrid,butmostpeopleseemtolikethem.
“Itisrealhothere,andIamwearingmylastsummer’sbeststrawhatandmythinnestlinendresses—youknow,thoseIhadlastvacation.Thethermometergotupto85degreesyesterday.
“Dowrite,andtellmeallaboutyourselfandthegirls.
HasSusieRandgotwellenoughtogotoschoolyet?Andwho’sheadinthealgebraclass?
Markwantstoknowhow’stheskating,andiftheboyshavebuiltasnowfortyet?
Mostallthepeoplehereareblack,andeverybodytalksSpanish:itisSOfunnytohearthem.
“NowImustsaygood-bye,becauseMarkiscallingmetogotothefruitauction.Iwilltellyouaboutitsomeothertime.
“Withlovetoeverybody,Iamyourownlovingestfriend,
“RUTHELMER.
“P.S.—Don’tforgetthatyouarecomingdownheretoseemenextwinter.”
BeforeRuthfinishedthisletterMarkbegancallingtohertohurryup,forthebellhadstoppedringing,andtheauctionwouldbealloverbeforetheygotthere.
Shehurriedlydirectedit,andputitinherpockettomailonthewaytotheauction,justasherbrothercalledoutthathe“didthinkgirlsweretheveryslowest.”
Theyhadgotnearlytotheendofthewharfatwhichtheschoonerlay,whenRuthaskedMarkifhehadanymoney.
“No,”saidhe,“notacent.Iforgotallaboutit.JustwaithereaminutewhileIrunbackandgetsomefrommother.”
“Well,”saidRuth,“ifboysain’ttheverycarelessest!”ButMarkwasoutofhearingbeforeshefinished.
Whileshewaitedforhim,Ruthlookedinattheopendoorofaverylittlehouse,whereseveralcoloredwomenweremakingbeautifulflowersoutoftinyshellsandglisteningfish-scales.
ShebecamesomuchinterestedintheirworkthatshewasalmostsorrywhenMarkcamerunningback,quiteoutofbreath,andgasped,“I’vegotit!Nowlet’shurryup!”
Turningtotheleftfromtheheadofthewharf,theywalkedquicklythroughthenarrowstreetsuntiltheycametoasquare,ononecornerofwhichquiteacrowdofpeoplewerecollected.
Theywerealllisteningattentivelytoalittlemanwithabigvoice,whostoodonaboxinfrontofthemandwhowassayingasfastashecould,
“Forty,forty,forty.ShallIhavethefive?Yes,sir;thankyou.Forty-five,five,five—whosaysfifty?
Fifty,fifty,forty-five—going,going,gone!
Andsoldatforty-fivetoMr.—Begpardon;thename,sir?Ofcourse,certainly!
AndnowcomesthefinestlotoforangeseverofferedforsaleinKeyWest.WhatamIbidperhundredforthem?Whomakesmeanoffer?
IamaperfectJobforpatience,gentlemen,andwillingtowaitallday,ifnecessary,tohearwhatyouhavetosay.”
Ofcoursehewasanauctioneer,andthiswastheregularfruitauctionthatisheldonthissamecornereverymorningoftheyear.
Manyotherthingsbesidesfruitaresoldattheseauctions;infact,almosteverythinginKeyWestisboughtorsoldatauction;certainlyallfruitis.
Foranhourbeforethetimesetfortheauctionamangoesthroughthestreetsringingabellandannouncingwhatistobesold.
Thismorninghehadannouncedafinelotoforanges,amongotherthings,andasMrs.Elmerwasanxioustogetsome,shehadsentMarkandRuthtoattendtheauction,withacommissiontobuyahundredifthebidsdidnotruntoohigh.
Thechildrenhadalreadyattendedseveralauctionsasspectators,andMarkknewenoughnottobidonthefirstlotoffered.
Hewaiteduntilsomebodywhoknewmoreaboutthevalueoforangesthanheshouldfixtheprice.
HeandRuthpushedtheirwayascloseaspossibletotheauctioneer,andwatchedhimattentively.
“Come,gentlemen,”saidthelittleman,“givemeastarter.WhatamItohaveforthefirstlotoftheseprimeoranges?”
“Twodollars!”calledavoicefromthecrowd.
“Two,”criedtheauctioneer.“Two,two,twoandahalf.Whosaysthree?ShallIhearit?Andthree.Whobidsthree?That’sright.DoIhearthequarter?Theyarewellworthit,gentlemen.Willnoonegivemethequarter?Well,timeismoney,andtempusfugit.
Goingatthree—atthree;going,going,andsoldatthreedollars.”
SeveralmorelotssoldsorapidlyatthreedollarsthatMarkhadnoopportunityofmakinghimselfheardorofcatchingtheauctioneer’seye,until,finally,inasortofdespairhecalledout“Quarter,”justasanotherlotwasabouttobeknockeddowntoadealeratthreedollars.
“Ah!”saidtheauctioneer,“thatissomethinglike.
IttakesagentlemanfromtheNorthtoappreciateorangesattheirtruevalue.Aquarterisbid.ShallIhaveahalf?DoIhearit?
Half,half,half;andsoldatthreedollarsandaquartertoMr.—whatname,please?Elder.
Ohyes;goodoldname,andoneyoucanliveuptomoreandmoreeverydayofyourlife.
John,pickoutahundredofthebestforMr.Elder.”
TheorangesselectedbyJohnweresuchbeautiesthatneitherMarknorhismotherregrettedtheextraquarterpaidforthem.
Afterthat,duringtherestoftheirstayinKeyWest,wheneverMarkwentnearafruitauctionhewasaddressedpolitelybytheauctioneeras“Mr.Elder,”andinvitedtoexaminethegoodsofferedforsalethatday.
OnedayMarkandRuthrowedoutamongthevesselsofthespongingfleetthathadjustcomeinfromupthecoast.
Heretheyscrapedacquaintancewithaweather-beatenoldsponger,whosatinthesternofoneofthesmallestoftheboats,smokingashortpipeandoverhaulingsomerigging;andfromhimtheygainedmuchnewinformationconcerningsponges.
“WegetsthemallalongthereefasfarasKeyBiscayne,”saidtheoldsponger;“butthebestcomesfromRockIsland,upthecoastnightoSt.Mark’s.”
“Why,that’swherewe’regoing!”interruptedRuth.
“Beyou,sissy?Wal,you’llseeaplentyrakedupthere,Ireckon.Didyoueverheartellofawater-glass?”
“No,”saidRuth,“Ineverdid.”
“Wal,”saidtheoldman,“here’sone;maybeyou’dliketolookthroughit.”
Andheshowedthemwhatlookedlikeawoodenbucketwithaglassbottom.
“Jesttakean’holditaleetlewaysdownintothewaterandseewhatyoucansee.”
Takingthebucketwhichwasheldouttoher,Ruthdidastheoldmandirected,andutteredanexclamationofdelight.“Why,Icanseethebottomjustasplainaslookingthroughawindow.”
“Tobesure,”saidtheoldsponger;“an’that’sthewayweseesthespongeslyingonthebottom.
An’whenwesees‘emwetakesthoselong-handledrakestherean’hauls‘emuptothetop.
Whentheyfustcomesupthey’splumbblack,andaboutthenastiestthingsyoueverdidsee,Ireckon.
Wethrows‘emintocrawlsbuiltinshallowwater,an’lets‘emrottillalltheanimalmatterisdead,an’westirs‘emupanbeats‘emwithstickstogetitout.
Thentheyhastobewashedan’driedan’trimmed,an’handledconsider’ble,aforethey’sreadyformarket.Thenthey’ssoldatauction.”
Thespongecrawlsofwhichtheoldmanspokearesquarepensmakeofstakesdrivenintothesandsidebyside,andascloseaspossibletogether.
InsomeofthematKeyWestMarkandRuthsawlittlenegroboysdivingtobringupstrayspongesthattherakeshadmissed.
TheydidnotseemtoenjoythishalfasmuchasMarkandhisboyfriendsusedtoenjoydivingintheriveratNorton,andtheyshiveredasthoughtheywerecold,inspiteoftheheatoftheday.
WhenthechildrentoldMr.Elmerabouttheselittle,unhappy-lookingdiversthatnight,hesaid,
“Thatshowshowwhatsomepersonsregardasplay,maybecomehardandunpleasantworktothosewhoarecompelledtodoit.”
SeveraldaysafterthisMr.Elmerengagedacarriage,andtookhiswifeandthechildrenonalongdriveovertheisland.
DuringthisdrivethemostinterestingthingstheysawwereoldFortTaylor,whichstandsjustoutsidethecity,andcommandstheharbor,theabandonedsalt-works,aboutfivemilesfromthecity,andtheMartellotowers,builtalongthesoutherncoastoftheisland.
Thesearesmallbutverystrongforts,builtbythegovernment,butasyetneveroccupiedbysoldiers.
InoneofthemtheElmerswereshownalarge,jaggedhole,brokenthroughthebrickfloorofoneoftheupperstories.
This,thesergeantinchargetoldthem,hadbeenmadebyapartyofsailorswhodesertedfromaman-of-warlyingintheharbor,andhidthemselvesinthisMartellotower.
Theymadeitsothatthroughittheycouldpointtheirmusketsandshootanybodysenttocapturethemassoonasheenteredthelowerrooms.
Theydidnothaveachancetouseitforthispurpose,however,fortheofficersentafterthemjustcampedoutsidethetowerandwaitedpatientlyuntilhungercompelledtherunawaystosurrender,whenhequietlymarchedthembacktotheship.
Inalloftheforts,aswellasinallthehousesofKeyWest,aregreatcisternsforstoringrain-water,fortherearenowellsontheisland,andtheonlyfresh-watertobehadiswhatcanbecaughtandstoredduringtherainyseason.
ItwasaweekaftertheorangeauctionthatMr.Elmercameintothecabinoftheschooneroneafternoonandannouncedthatthecourthadgivenitsdecision,andthattheywouldsailthenextday.
ThisdecisionofthecourtgavetotheschoonerNancyBellfivethousanddollars,andthis,“CaptainLi”said,must,accordingtowrecker’slaw,bedividedamongallwhowereonboardtheschooneratthetimeofthewreck.
Accordingly,heinsistedupongivingMr.andMrs.Elmereachtwohundreddollars,andMark,Ruth,andJaneachonehundreddollars.
Asneitherofthechildrenhadeverbeforeownedmorethanfivedollarsatonetime,theynowfeltwealthyenoughtobuytheStateofFlorida,andregardedeachotherwithvastlyincreasedrespect.
Whiletheirfathertookchargeofthismoneyforthem,hetoldthemtheymightinvestitastheysawfit,providedheandtheirmotherthoughttheinvestmentagoodone.
AtdaylightnextmorningtheNancyBellagainspreadhersails,andsoonKeyWestwasbutalow-lyingcloudleftfarbehind.
Forthreedaystheysailednorthward,withlightwinds,overthewarmwatersoftheGulfofMexico.
Ontheeveningofthethirddayabrightlightflashedacrossthewatersaheadofthem,and“CaptainLi”saiditwasatthemouthoftheSt.Mark’sRiver.
Asthetidewaslow,andnopilotwastobehadthatnight,theyhadtostandoffandon,andwaitfordaylightbeforecrossingthebarandsailinguptheriverbeyondit.
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