At daylight next morning the Nancy Bell again spread her sails,
and soon Key West was but a low-lying cloud left far behind. For
three days they sailed northward, with light winds, over the warm
waters of the Gulf of Mexico. On the evening of the third day a
bright light flashed across the waters ahead of them, and "Captain
Li" said it was at the mouth of the St. Mark's River. As the tide
was low, and no pilot was to be had that night, they had to stand
off and on, and wait for daylight before crossing the bar and
sailing up the river beyond it.





CHAPTER VI.

A QUEER CHRISTMAS-DAY.


All night long the Nancy Bell sailed back and forth within sight
of the light that marked the mouth of the river. Soon after day-
light a pilot-boat was seen approaching her in answer to the
signal which was flying from the main rigging. As the boat ran
alongside, a colored pilot clambered to the deck and declared it
did him good to see a big schooner waiting to come into the St.
Mark's once more.

"Uster be a plenty of 'em," said he to "Captain Li," "but dey's
scurcer'n gole dollars now-adays, an' I'se proud to see 'em comin'