MR. JUMAS'S HOUSE 315 "When you go to Tallahassee, give that to the gentlemen at Lewis's Bank, and you'll get the money to buy your mule and wagon," said Cauthorne, handing the check to the astounded negro. The poor fellow would hardly take it; but Cauthorne explained and insisted, and finally had his way. Then Jumas was over- joyed. He did not say much, but his face worked, and his eyes shone with excitement. This was all that could be found out about Cauthorne's trip to Wakulla. The presentation of the check at Lewis's Bank was the cause of the inquiry and the explanation. The only statements Cauthorne ever made were given to a detective whom he sent after his guide. A long, unauthorized, and wholly fictitious account of the exploration was sent by some anonymous correspondent to a Western news- paper of wide circulation ; but it created no sensation, and was never contradicted. The smoke of Wakulla still lifts its slender column against the sky, and still defies all comers. The sailors see it, and say, "The Old 316 Man of the Swamp is smoking his pipe to-day." The negroes call it " De Debil's tar-kiln." The Crackers, " 'low that mebbe hit's a passel of old light'ud logs afire, or else a patch of this 'ere swamp mud what gits dry and burns." Its principal use seems to be, that it serves as a point towards which all visitors to Tallahassee may turn their eyes in wonderment, as towards a comet or meteor, with the assurance that they know all that any one else knows about the mysterious phenomenon.