The Boy Chums in the Florida Jungle: or, Charlie West and Walter Hazard with the Seminole IndiansEly, Wilmer M. (Wilmer Mateo)
General
The Boy Chums in the Florida Jungle: or, Charlie West and Walter Hazard with the Seminole Indians
Ely, Wilmer M. (Wilmer Mateo)
Seminole Indians -- Juvenile fiction
"What are you going to do with him?" the Captain asked, jerking his
head toward the tent where the dead man lay.
"Keep him until afternoon," Charley said wearily. "Some of his friends
may come and claim the body. If not, we will give him as good a funeral
as we can. It's a terrible piece of business. If all our money was not
tied up in this job, I would vote to quit right now."
"Same here," agreed Captain Westfield. "I'm getting sick of the mud and
water and all the troubles we are having, and this last business is
about the last straw."
"You fellows will feel better after a little nap, and a good
breakfast," said Walter cheerfully. "I guess none of us is in love
with this new venture of ours, but there is no good to be gained by
getting in the dumps. We must keep cheerful and do the best we can. It
is madness to talk about quitting now. It would likely take us years of
hard work to save up the money we've got tied up in this business."
"You're right," Charley acknowledged. "We have got to fight it out. I
guess I'll crawl in and catch a catnap before breakfast. A little sleep
makes a whole lot of difference in a man's feelings."
Such indeed seemed to be the case, for, when a couple of hours later
he joined the rest at the breakfast table, he was once more his old
cheerful self. During the meal he outlined his plans to meet the new
difficulty that opposed them.
"There's a lawyer coming out to see us to-day," he said, "and when he
goes back I want you, Canady, to go back with him. I'll give you a
check for $500 and I want you to buy a good pair of mules and get them
out here as soon as possible. I will try to get some of the Indians to
haul wood while you are gone. I see there's a couple of piles of wood
left near the machine that will do to fire up with to-morrow morning.
After breakfast, Captain, take part of the men and have them bury the
mules, and also dig a grave in that little bunch of spruces. It ought
not to take more than an hour for the job, then all hands are to knock
off and get a good day's rest. I think we all need it. I do not believe
there is any need for a guard on the machine to-day, but we will have
to put one on it to-night."
Shortly after breakfast, Willie John, the Seminole, arrived as he had
promised. Charley had not forgotten him when he was in town and the
Indian's eyes sparkled over the bright colored cloth, beads, and mouth
organ the lads presented him with. Before he left, Charley succeeded
in hiring him and the two teams and wagons he had in Indiantown to
haul wood for the machine until the teamster returned with the mules.
The Seminole immediately took his departure, promising to be back with
wagons and oxen before dark.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account