"We must have another drink from the Fountain of Youth," laughed Alice, the day before their departure. "Who knows but what it may preserve us, out in those dismal swamps?" "Good idea!" commented Paul. "Come on, I'll go with you." So they went and made merry at the historic well. Mr. Pertell and Russ had much to do to get ready for the trip. A motor boat had been arranged for to meet the party at Sycamore, where the headquarters would be for most of the work in the wilds of Florida. On this it was planned to take trips on Lake Kissimmee, and the river of that name. "And we may go as far as Lake Okeechobee," said Russ in speaking of the matter to Ruth. "That's down among the Everglades; isn't it?" she asked. "Close to them. I've always wanted to go there, and see what they are like. Now I may get the chance." "I think I should like to see them, too," she agreed. "Ruth, you are getting very brave," observed Alice a little later, when the two sisters were packing up in their room. "Why, dear?" "To offer to go with Russ to the Everglades." "I didn't offer!" "It was the same thing, sister mine. It makes a big difference; doesn't it?" "Silly!" Alice laughed. "I wonder if we ought to take all these light waists?" she asked a little later, holding up a beautiful flimsy one. "It's sure to be hot there, I suppose." "I imagine so. And yet there may be cool and damp evenings. I'd take everything, if I were you." "I was thinking of sending some of my things back to Mrs. Dalwood. She promised to look after them, if I did." "Oh, I'd take everything. Where did you get that?" Ruth asked curiously, as she held up one of her sister's garments, ornamented with a peculiar lace. "At that little Spanish shop we pass every day. Oh, she has some of the most gorgeous things there, and some of the most beautiful! I wish my purse were as long as my desires. But I got this very reasonably." "Are there any more like it?" asked Ruth, for she, too, liked pretty things. "There were only two, and I took one." "Then I'm going to get the other. I can go without ice cream for a week to make up for it. I never saw anything so pretty." "I'll go with you. She might charge you more than she did me. I had to bargain with her." "I never knew you could do it," laughed Ruth. The two girls desisted from their packing long enough to slip out to the lingerie shop, where they spent more time and money than they intended. The result was they had to hurry at the last minute, and their trunks were hardly strapped before the porter came to take them to the station. The trip to Sycamore from St. Augustine was rather tedious and tiresome. The railways in the interior of Florida were not like some of the fast lines, and there was not always the luxury of a parlor car. Miss Pennington and Miss Dixon were rather inclined to murmur about this, but most of the others of the company took the inconveniences in good spirit, even Mr. Towne making the best of it.