“I believe there is a remnant of several tribes of Seminole Indians there,” put in Jerry. “Perhaps you’ll discover a prehistoric city.”
“Oh, are there really Indians?” asked Nellie. “How perfectly terrible! I’d like to see a little pappoose, but I’d be afraid of a full blooded Indian!”
While the young people talked in this strain Mr. Snodgrass and Mr. Seabury were discussing deeper subjects. Mr. Seabury, it developed, was quite wealthy, and had helped to found several scientific schools. He was quite interested in the professor’s nature studies, and wanted to know all about the rare butterfly the scientist was seeking.
“I’ll keep a lookout for it,” promised the owner of the _Wanderer_. “If I see one I’ll catch it for you.”
“So will I!” exclaimed Rose, who had listened to the ending of the conversation. “I’m fond of animals.”
“The--er--butterfly isn’t exactly an animal,” spoke the professor with a smile. “But I would be very glad if you could catch one for me.”
“I suppose you’ll get to Lake Okeechobee ahead of us,” said Nellie to Jerry. “If you do we may see you there. It’s rather a large body of water, according to the map, but I expect you will navigate most of it.”
“We plan to make a circuit of it,” answered Ned. “We may find some one we know there.”
“Who?” asked the girl, but before Ned could state that he referred to Noddy Nixon, Mr. Seabury called out:
“Now would one of you boys mind looking at our engine? I’d like to get under way again.”
“There’s your chance, Bob!” whispered Ned, but Bob did not have to undertake the job, for Jerry, who had a natural fondness for machinery, was soon tinkering away at the motor. He found that the mechanism which controlled the electric spark was out of order and, though it was no easy matter to adjust, he soon had the machine working better than ever.
Mr. Seabury was very grateful, and pressed the boys and Mr. Snodgrass to spend several days aboard the _Wanderer_. The chums were half-minded to, but the professor was impatient to begin the hunt for the rare butterfly, the haunts of which were farther south, so they prepared to leave their island camp.
The hot sun and wind soon dried out the wetness of the night before, and when everything had been packed aboard the _Dartaway_ the boys bade their host and his pretty daughters good-bye. Then, voicing the hope that they would meet again soon, those in the motor boat started down the lake toward the Kissimmee river, while the _Wanderer_ followed more slowly.