“Well, Adam Guy,” said the colonel, extending his hand to the sailor, “where did you come from? and who have you brought with you? I don’t mean Sam Brewer. I know all I want to know about him.” Adam then introduced the three boys, and proposed that Phil, whom he seemed to consider the best talker of the party, should tell how it happened that they were there. Wooden chairs, which were abundant on the porch, were now drawn up, and Phil told the story of the adventures of himself and his companions from the time of the wreck of the tug-boat up to the present moment, leaving out, of course, many incidents, which, although interesting, were not necessary to be told. The colonel listened, fixing his keen eyes on Phil all the time that he was telling his story. “Well,” said he, “you’ve had a pretty rough time of it, but you’ve got to a safe port at last. I suppose you want to go on North as soon as you can, hey?” “Oh, yes,” said Phil; “our friends must be very anxious about us, and we want to get to them as soon as possible.” “No doubt of it,” said the colonel. “I’ve heard about you, and I’ve been looking out for you for three or four days. You’ve been a precious long time getting up the river. Doctor Walker told me about you--saw you down at Brewer’s--and he had a message for your folks which he was going to telegraph when he got to Sanford.” “I suppose he has sent the telegram by this time,” said Phil. “Oh, yes,” replied the colonel. “He got here the middle of the week, caught the boat, and went right on. But you fellows will have to stay here till Wednesday. There won’t be no boat till then.” The boys looked at each other in consternation. This was Saturday, and a delay of three days in this place seemed a grievous thing to them. “You needn’t look so long-faced about it!” exclaimed the colonel. “You can’t go on, and you might as well be satisfied. Here’s a good hotel, where you can be comfortable and live well at a reasonable price. You got safe to my place, and you’re all right. When the time comes I’ll start you off and fix everything straight for you. You needn’t give yourselves any more trouble about anything. You couldn’t be in a better place than this. Here’s the finest air, the best accommodations, and the prettiest stretch of water in all Florida. All you’ve got to do is to enjoy yourselves. If you want to know anything, just come to me.--Bob!” At this last word, which was shouted in a stentorian voice, a well-dressed negro boy came running to the colonel. “Bob,” said he, “take this party to Number six and Number seven,--two in one room and two in the other.--Now, you’d better go and fix yourselves up. Supper will be ready in half an hour.”