196 FLORIDA DAYS.

not a cloud to blur its haze of glory. ust
as the creek, turning and hesitating arounI a
bank of lilies, is folded into the bosom of he
welcoming river, a fork-tailed kite springs d-
denly up from among the leaves, and out ac oss
the water. But save for the arrowy whir of its
flight, Night silently catches, the drowsy earth in
a golden net, and draws it down among the st*rs.
 Later, the twilight glimmers along low shores,
where orange-orchards stretch, dark and ill,
across the level land. Under their branches
even at dusk the deep sand is warm from a #ay
of blazing sunshine; there is no grass abbut
their roots, only the hot red of flowering soel,
or some tufted weeds, with yellow blossoms. 1 In
the deep green of the leaves, oranges shine fike
lanterns, and blossoms glimmer with pale ligit;
but the branches are so thick that the air scarcely
stirs under them, and the perfume is overpoWer-
ing. Sometimes a wandering breeze bears this
fragrance out upon the river; it is as thick and
palpable, almost, as the creamy flower itself.
The stars seem drunk with it, they shine with
such wonderful brightness.






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