CONTENTS

  1. THE CHUMS [1]
  2. DICK GOES TO SEA [15]
  3. LIFE ON A SPONGER [27]
  4. CAUGHT IN A WATERSPOUT [38]
  5. OUTFITTING FOR THE HUNT [51]
  6. DICK'S HUNT FOR HIS CHUM [61]
  7. THE MEETING IN THE GLADES [76]
  8. OLD DREAMS REALIZED [93]
  9. THE CAPTURE OF THE MANATEE [108]
  10. HARPOONING FROM A CANOE [123]
  11. GHOSTS AND ALLIGATORS [129]
  12. HUNTING IN HARNEY'S RIVER [136]
  13. EDUCATING AN ALLIGATOR [150]
  14. ENCOUNTER WITH OUTLAWS [157]
  15. DICK AND THE BEAR [165]
  16. IN THE CROCODILE COUNTRY [171]
  17. AMONG THE SEMINOLES [183]
  18. DICK'S WILDCAT AND OTHER WILD THINGS [195]
  19. A PRAIRIE ON FIRE [209]
  20. DICK'S FIGHT WITH A PANTHER [219]
  21. CONVALESCENCE AND CATASTROPHE [234]
  22. THE RESCUE [245]
  23. MOLLY AND THE MANATEE [258]
  24. TO THE GLADES IN THE "IRENE" [271]
  25. IN FLORIDA BAY [286]
  26. MADEIRA HAMMOCK AND--THE END [297]

ILLUSTRATIONS

[MAP SHOWING DICK'S CRUISE IN A CANOE]

["DICK HUNTED ALL THE TURTLES HE SAW"]

["A SILVERY, TWISTING BODY SHOT TEN FEET IN THE AIR"]

["THE EVERGLADES AT LAST"]

["WE'VE GOTTER HAVE ONE OF THEM YOUNG TURKS IF IT TAKES ALL NIGHT"]

["THE SEMINOLE WAS STANDING IN HIS CANOE LOOKING FIXEDLY AT US"]

["HE FOUND DICK STANDING IN WATER SHOULDER DEEP, HANGING ON TO THE FLIPPER OF THE MANATEE"]

["THE STRICKEN TARPON LEAPED SIX FEET IN THE AIR"]

["THE TARPON BEGAN A SERIES OF LEAPS"]

["GROUPS OF TALL PALMETTOS, OR MAGNIFICENT TALL PALMS"]

["HE HELD THE JAWS OF THE 'GATOR SHUT, WHILE DICK SEIZED THE HIND LEGS OF THE REPTILE"]

["THE TARPON LEAPED AGAINST NED WITH FURY"]

["OUT CAME THE REPTILE'S HEAD FROM THE CAVE"]

["SEE THE BABY 'GATOR SIT UP, NED!"]

["THERE GOES YOUR PET. THAT'S THE LAST OF HIM"]

["A FEW OF THE HOMELESS BEES LIT ON THE COMB"]

["ALL BEYOND THE DARK MEADOW WAS A LIVING MASS"]

["THE BARB CAUGHT IN THE REPTILE'S LOWER JAW"]

["THE COON SCRAMBLED TO THE TOP OF A LITTLE TREE"]

["HE SAW THE GENTLY SWAYING HEAD AND THE LIGHTNING FLAY OF THE FORKED TONGUE"]

["NED FOUND A GOOD CAMPING SITE MARKED BY A FREAK PALMETTO"]

["THE LYNX SPRANG INTO THE CANOE AND SEIZED ONE OF THE FISH"]

["PORPOISES ROLLED THEIR BACKS OUT OF THE WATER"]

["THE HARD, POINTED HEAD OF THE BIG TARPON TORE THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE FRAGILE CANOE"]

["THE INDIGNANT BIRD PUNCHED HOLES THROUGH HIS HAT"]

["THE LIGHT FROM THE BULL'S EYE SHOWED THE HEAD AND BODY OF THE REPTILE"]

["SLOWLY LIFTING HIS HUGE HEAD OVER THE SIDE OF THE SKIFF"]

["YOUNG HERONS SPREAD WINGS AND STRETCHED LONG LEGS AS THEY FLED"]

["THEY SAW A CROCODILE SWIMMING UNDER WATER NEAR THEM"]

["THE HARPOON STRUCK THE FISH IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS BROAD BACK"]

["SIXTEEN FEET OF FIERCENESS LAY STRANDED ON THE BANK"]

["THEY HAULED THE HEAD OF THE BRUTE OVER THE SIDE OF THE BOAT"]

["HE TOOK THE BABY CROCODILE IN HIS ARMS"]