CHAPTER III.
A NATIVE FLORIDIAN.
The gentleman who wished to see the captain came off in a small boat,pulled by a man who might have been a mulatto, a Cuban, or a Spaniard.I noticed that he was a fine-looking fellow, lightly but handsomelybuilt. If he had been brown, instead of slightly yellow, I should havetaken him for a white man. He had a fine eye, and both his form and hisface attracted my attention.
I invited the gentleman in the stern sheets, who wished to see me, tocome on board, and then conducted him to my state-room. He was not morethan thirty-five, and was dressed rather jauntily in a suit oflight-colored clothes. He looked and acted like a gentleman, and hisspeech indicated that he was a person of refinement. I gave him achair, and took one myself. Washburn had gone ashore in one of theboats, and I had the room to myself. Before he seated himself he handedme a card, on which was engraved "Kirby Cornwood." There was nothingmore to indicate his business.
"Take a seat, Mr. Cornwood," I said, when I had read his name.
"Thank you, Captain Garningham," he replied: and I wondered where hehad learned my name, for I had not yet been ashore to report at thecustom-house.
"You will excuse me for calling upon you so soon after your arrival;but business is business, and sometimes if it is not attended to inseason, it can't be done at all."
"Quite true, sir; and I was going ashore as soon as the boats returnedto report at the custom-house," I replied, for the want of somethingsensible to say. "I do not remember to have met you before, Mr.Cornwood."
"I dare say you do not remember it; but I have met you none the less."
"Indeed! Where was that?" I asked, looking the stranger over again,though I could not recall his form or features.
"In Jacksonville, last December. I was at the funeral of Mr.Carrington, and I saw you several times. I was on the point of offeringmy services to you then, as I shall now, when I learned that you weresoon to sail for the West Indies," answered Mr. Cornwood, with a verypleasant smile, which might have captured any young man of lessexperience in the ways of the world than myself.
In spite of his explanation I did not remember him. I had met a greatmany people at the time of the exciting events attending the arrival ofthe Sylvania at Jacksonville. I concluded that he was some dealer inprovisions, ice, or coal, who wished to furnish the steamer with hiswares; and I began to lose all interest in the interview. I had a greatmany people call upon me who wished to sell something, and I was usedto such calls.
"I am willing to admit that it is my fault, but I do not remember you,Mr. Cornwood," I replied, rather coldly, for the chief engineer boughtthe coal, and the steward the provisions and ice.
"I can well understand why you should not remember me, CaptainGarningham, for you met a great many people about the time I saw you,and your mind was occupied with some peculiar matters, such as thesinking of the other steamer."
"Exactly so," I answered, looking out the window, as though I was readyto terminate the interview.
"As I said, I was about to offer my services to you then; and I shalltake the liberty to do so now," he continued, not at all disturbed byanything I said or did.
"I don't think we need the services of any gentleman like yourself."
To my astonishment, he broke into a laugh; and it was some time beforehe could proceed with his business. I was not aware that I had saidanything that was funny: if I had, I should have been highlycomplimented by the manner in which my joke was received.
"This is not the first time I have been taken for a gentleman," saidhe, as soon as he was in condition to speak.
"Then you think I made a mistake, do you?" I asked.
"By no means: I have not sunk so low as that yet; and I still believe Iam a gentleman, whatever anybody else may think."
He paused, and I waited for him to proceed with his business, insteadof asking him what he meant, as he evidently expected me to do.
"Yes, captain: I claim to be a gentleman," he continued, when I showedno inclination to ask any questions. "I belong to the legal profession,though I don't work at it now."
"I am sure we don't need any law on board of this vessel at the presenttime," I added.
"I do not offer my services in that capacity. I am a native Floridian,a regular corn-cracker," he continued, laughing. "I was born and raisedhere in St. Augustine. There is not a river, lake, harbor or inlet inall Florida, and hardly a square mile of territory, that I have notexplored."
"As a lawyer?" I asked; and his plump statement rather attracted myattention.
"Certainly not. When I was seventeen I began to study for the bar; butmy health broke down, and for the next ten years I roamed over thestate, now at my own expense, and then as a member of the statesurveying party, or the government coast-survey. I am a pilot for anywaters in Florida."
"Have you a branch or a warrant?"
"Nothing of the sort: I am only an amateur pilot. I am a hunter and afisherman, and I know the flora and the fauna of the State. Seven yearsago I resumed my studies, and have been admitted to the bar. But myhealth would not allow me to spend my days in an office or acourt-room. Captain Garningham, I offer my services to you as a guidefor Florida."
Mr. Kirby Cornwood folded his arms in his chair, and looked ascomplacent as though he had just informed me that he was the governorof the State. He evidently believed it was no use to say anything more,and he was silent.
"I am exceedingly obliged to you, Mr. Cornwood, for your offer ofservice," I replied. "As you are a guide for Florida, could you informme where the custom-house is?"
"Can I inform you where the custom-house is!" exclaimed the guide forFlorida. "How could I have been born and raised in St. Augustinewithout knowing where the custom-house is?"
"I don't know."
He looked at me as though he thought I was a young man to be pitied.Was there anything relating to Florida that he did not know, was theexpression on his face. He could take me to any custom-house in theState by land or water. He could tell me the depth of any lake, stream,or puddle from the Atlantic to the Gulf.
"Having accomplished all that I came on board for, permit me to take myleave, with the hope that you will consider my offer," said Mr.Cornwood, rising from his chair. "I shall be happy to conduct you tothe custom-house when you go on shore, or to take your party to all thepoints of interest in the city."
"Thank you, Mr. Cornwood," I replied.
I had no idea that he intended to leave me, for one does not get rid ofsuch applicants so easily. He bowed gracefully, and much to myastonishment, left my room, walked to the gangway, and went down intohis boat. A moment later, I saw the boatman pulling him towards thelanding-place. I could not help thinking of his offer after he hadgone. It would be exceedingly convenient to have a man on board all thetime who could guide us to any object of interest. He was a pilot forany waters of the State.
But I felt that I could not believe more than one-tenth of what he hadsaid. I sat down, and thought over the matter. An extra hundred hadjust been added to my monthly stipend. I had not thought of having sucha person on board before he suggested the idea. I had expected todepend on local guides for information and direction.
If only one-half of Mr. Kirby Cornwood's story was true, and he couldperform only one-half of what he promised, he would be a valuableperson to our party. He was airy in his manner; but I could not saythat this was not the worst part of him. If he had spent ten years ofhis life with state and national surveys and exploring parties, heought to be very familiar with the travelled localities of Florida. Iwas rather sorry I had not detained him a little longer, and learnedsomething more of his ability to do what he said he could do. But Icould find him again; or I had no doubt he would soon find me. If hehad not left me with so much dignity, and without pressing his offer ofservice, I should not probably have given a second thought to him.
Washburn's boat was the first to return, and I went on shore in it. Iwanted the mate to see Mr. Cornwood; but I did not mention him, for
Iwanted my friend to make up his mind in regard to the Floridian withoutany suggestion from me, and without his knowing that he was doing dutyas a judge. I asked Washburn to take a stroll with me. He told his crewhe should not want them for a couple of hours, and we walked up thepier.
When we reached the head of it, I saw Mr. Cornwood rushing across theintersecting street as if he meant business, though he was not headedtowards me. He did not even seem to see me at first; but as he wasabout to cross my path, he could not well help doing so. He raised hisPanama hat, and bowed politely to me. He evidently did not mean to stopto speak to me; but I hailed him, and asked where the custom-house was.He described the building, and indicated in what direction I was to go.
"If you will excuse me for a few moments, Captain Garningham, I willjoin you," said he, hurrying along towards the St. Augustine Hotel,which faces the harbor.
The Floridian certainly did not seem to be very anxious to make anengagement with me; and this fact improved his chances with me. I wentto the custom-house, and transacted my business there. As I came outwith the mate, I met Mr. Cornwood at the door. I introduced Washburn tohim; and the Floridian was as polite to him as to me.
"I am at your service, gentlemen; and, pardon me, captain, withoutregard to any future engagement," said Mr. Cornwood, with an extraflourish, as he turned to me.
"Thanks. I think you said you were born in Florida," I added.
"Not only in Florida, but here in St. Augustine. If you doubt mystatement, I will show you the house in which I first drew the breathof life," he replied, with a deprecatory smile.
Showing the house would prove it; but I thought more of the fact thathe seemed to have an inkling of my trouble in regard to his statements.I told him I was willing to accept his statement without seeing thehouse.
"My father and mother both died of consumption," he continued. "Theycame down here from Virginia, and lived twenty years longer than theywould in the Old Dominion. My father left me twelve thousand dollars,every cent of which I spent in travelling in this state. But here isyour party, captain."
Our passengers were strolling along St. George Street when we met them.