“They’re a nice lot of girls,” observed Bob with a sigh, as a turn of the lake hid the houseboat from sight. “Very nice girls.”
“A very fine man!” was the professor’s comment on Mr. Seabury. “He has traveled much and has seen many strange insects. A very learned man.”
They were now in a fine region, a country higher than the usual low level of Florida, and noted for the variety of its crops. They passed through several large cattle ranges and again through long stretches of dense forests. Now and then they would come to a little colony where fruit growers had settled. At noon they went ashore near a little village and had dinner.
“Boys!” exclaimed the professor, as they prepared to resume their journey, “I’ve had good news!”
“Did some one tell you where to find that butterfly?” asked Bob.
“No, but a man in the village said there was a curious mound about ten miles below here, a mound erected by a prehistoric race, I believe. I must investigate it. Who knows but I shall find some valuable relics?”
“You mean a heap of dirt such as the Ohio mound builders put up?” asked Ned.
“The same, my boy, only I think this one will be richer in historical treasures. The man said it was seldom visited by any one in this region. He was guiding a hunting party one day and discovered it. Come, we must hurry off. I want to see it before dark.”
Once more the _Dartaway_ was sent ahead. The river wound in and out in the dense forest, now broadening and again narrowing. Sometimes it was quite shallow and then would come a deep place, in which several varieties of fish could be observed in the clear depths. Bob wanted to catch some for supper, but the professor was anxious to keep on, so no stop was made.
“I think that’s the place!” Mr. Snodgrass exclaimed after several hours. “The man said when I saw three big palmetto trees on a little point of land to go ashore and then walk due west. There are the three trees,” and he pointed to them.
“Doesn’t look like a very inviting region,” remarked Jerry as he sent the boat over toward the little point. “But I suppose that makes it all the better for the mound. Well, professor, we’ll go ashore and see what we can find.”
Mooring the boat to the bank, the boys leaped out, the professor pausing to take several specimen boxes and his butterfly net.