While discussing the plan, a noise in the thicket caught my ear, and turning our eyes to the spot, we saw two men hurrying from their ambush into the forest.  We at once started in pursuit of them.  When overtaken, they looked confused, and acknowledged that the presence of strangers was so unusual in that region that they had been watching our movements critically from the moment we landed until we discovered them.  These men wore the rough garb of cow-hunters, and the older of the two informed me that his home was in Apalachicola.  He was looking after his cattle, which had a very long range, and had been camping with his assistant along St. Joseph’s Sound for many days, being now en route for his home.  Two ponies were tied to a tree in a thicket, while a bed of palmetto leaves and dried grass showed where the hunters had slept the previous night.

These men assured us that the happiest life was that of the cow-hunter, who could range the forest for miles upon his pony, and sleep where he pleased.  The idea was, that the nearer one’s instincts and mode of life approached to that of a cow, the happier the man:  only another version, after all, of living close to nature.  One of these wood-philosophers, taking his creed from the animals in which all his hopes centred, said we should be as simple in our habits as an ox, as gentle as a cow, and do no more injury to our fellow-man than a yearling.  He was certain there would be less sin in the world if men were turned into cattle; was sure cattle were happier than men, and generally more useful.

Upon learning our dilemma, the good-natured fellows set at once to work to help us.  We cut two pine poles, and placing one boat across them, each man grasped an end of a pole, and thus, upon a species of litter, we lifted the burden from the ground and bore it slowly across the land to the sea.  Returning to the bay, we transported the second boat in the same manner; and making a third trip, carried away our provisions, blankets, &c

It was now evening, and viewing with satisfaction our little boats resting upon the beautiful beach, we thanked our new friends heartily for their kindness.  The owner of a thousand cattle gave us a warm invitation to visit his orange grove in Apalachicola, and then retired with his man to their nest in the woods, while we slept in our boats, with porpoises and black-fish sounding their nasal calls all night in the sea which beat upon the strand at our feet.

In the morning the wind arose and sent the waves tumbling far in upon the beach.  After breakfast I walked to the extremity of the cape, and dined with Mr. Robert Colman, the principal light-keeper.  He was a most ingenious man, and an expert in the use of tools.  The United States Light House Establishment selects its light-keepers from the retired army of wounded soldiers.  In all my voyages along our coast, and on inland waters, I have found the good results of the perfect discipline exercised by the superintendents