“And I promised George some more of our extra provisions, if you have no objections, fellows.  He’s going to start for Chattanooga right off.  I didn’t mention about the sheriff and his posse, for I was afraid it might alarm the poor fellow.  Better not say anything to him about it,” remarked Will aside.

“And they don’t want him, anyhow.  Give George just what you and Frank think we can spare.  I feel sorry for the old man, too.  Say! did you get his photo this time, Will?” asked Jerry.

“Thank you, I did, and standing beside that wonderful shack, made of palmetto leaves.  I’m glad to see that you’re beginning to take an interest in my work.  Keep it up, Jerry.  We’ll all enjoy the pictures later on,” remarked Will.

The boys had eaten lunch, but that did not deter them from getting another ready, and both Will and the negro did full justice to it.

“Here, George, is the package of food for you to carry on your long trip.  And I want you to take this, also.  It’s only five dollars, but it may help out on the way to Chattanooga,” said Will, slipping the bill into the old fellow’s black hand.

George looked at it as though he could not believe his eyes.

“Five dollahs!  Gorry! dat am mo’ dan I done see dis t’ree yeahs, suh!  Five dollahs!  If I kin on’y keep dat till I sees my gal, Cleopatrick, how her eyes’ll stick out!” he said, scratching his white wool in delight, while his eyes glistened.

“Say that name again, will you?” murmured Jerry, gripping the arm of Frank as if taken suddenly ill.

“Cleopatrick.  Dat’s my darter, suh.  She merried a right smart nigger, an’ he’s got a barber shop up dar.  His name it am Samuel Parker White, an’ if so be yuh ebber wants tuh send me one ob dat pictur’, jest drap it dar.  I’s over-whelmed wid gratefulness, ’deed I is.  Dey won’t ebber be troubled wif George Duval ’round these diggin’s ag’in, dat’s so, suh.”

“But think of the henroosts up there about poor old Chattanooga,” said Jerry in Frank’s ear, though the latter frowned at him for saying it.

After a short time old George took his departure on foot.  He said that it was his intention to start immediately for the North.  He had a few things at his shack he wanted to get, when he would depart from the soil of Florida forever.

“Happy Florida!” muttered the irrepressible Jerry.

Nevertheless, each of them shook the old darky’s hand, in parting, and wished him the best of good luck.

“Well, what had we better do, boys?” asked Frank when they found themselves once more alone.

“I’m for getting out,” said Will.

“That surprises me some, for it was you who wanted to stay,” remarked Bluff.

“Well, we stayed, didn’t we?  I only want to mention the fact that I’m satisfied, if the rest of you are.  I’ve secured all the swamp scenes I care for,” retorted Will.

“I say move on.  We can find a better place than this to sleep to-night.  Why, the skeeters nearly carried me away last night,” declared Jerry.