to one of those open squares, which, covered
with a scattered growth of immense live-oak
trees, are such a peculiar and strikingly South-
ern feature of the city.
They sat down upon the buttressed roots of
one of the oaks, whence they could look away
beyond the hill-spurs to the low swamps of
Wakulla, out of which rises the far-famed and
mysterious smoke column of the so-called vol-
cano. The sky overhead, seen through rifts
in the foliage, was blue and cloudless ; but
heavy Gulf-caps hung on the horizon south.
There was a dancing silver film in the atmos-
phere of the mid-distance, unlike any thing
ever seen in a Northern climate. The wood,
fringing the ridge a mile away, waved its
shadowy tree-tops to the fitful motions of a
breeze. A long angular line of water-fowl
slowly flew northwestward, so high that the
individual birds looked like mere flickering
specks ; but their clanging voices fell to earth
with great distinctness and power. A ragged
negro, whose face wore the marks of utter
resignation to hopeless poverty, went past in
a rude cart, drawn by a lean little ox, working
