As soon as he could get ashore, Mr. Elmer, accompanied by Mark and
the captain, went up into the village to find out what he could
regarding their destination and future movements. In about an hour
he returned, bringing a package of letters from the post-office,
and the information that Uncle Christopher Bangs's place was at
Wakulla, some six miles farther up the river. As the river above
St. Mark's is quite crooked, and bordered on both sides by dense
forests, and as no steam-tug could be had, the captain did not
care to attempt to carry the schooner any farther up. Mr. Elmer
had therefore chartered a large, flat-bottomed lighter, or scow,
to carry to Wakulla the cargo of household goods, tools, building
material, etc., that they had brought with them.

As "Captain Li" was anxious to proceed on his voyage to Pensacola
as quickly as possible, the lighter was at once brought alongside
the schooner, and the work of discharging the Elmers' goods into
her was begun.

"By-the-way, Mark," said Mr. Elmer, as the schooner's hatches were
removed, "I am just reminded that this is Christmas-day, and that
there is a present down in the hold for you from your Uncle
Christmas. It will be one of the first things taken out, so see if
you can recognize it."

He had hardly spoken before the sailors, who had gone down into
the hold, passed carefully up to those on deck a beautiful birch-
bark canoe, with the name Ruth painted on its bows.

"That's it, father! that's it! I'm sure it is. Oh! isn't she a