Tom and Dave were put to work carrying chain, and very soon became interested in the talk of their companions.
The spot chosen was a very beautiful one--a sloping hillside gradually narrowing into a strip six or seven hundred yards wide and running between two of the most picturesque lakes the boys had ever seen.
[Ill.u.s.tration: ""WHY, BOYS, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" TOM LOOKED UP TO MEET THE KEEN EYES OF THE DOCTOR."]
From the talk of the surveyors they learned that a number of them were railroad men, and that they were endeavoring to buy at nominal figures all the choice lands along the line of the new road before the settlers became aware of its value.
They discussed their plans before the boys without reserve, and it soon became evident to the latter that the future of this hillside could bear no comparison with the other paper towns they had seen. A number of very wealthy men were interested in it, and they proposed to make it the winter home of themselves and friends.
"You see, gentlemen," said one of the men to his companions, as he pointed across the strip of land to the slope on the other side, "the road will wind around the lake, across the neck of land, and along the western side of the lake to the right, and then in almost a bee-line toward Palatka. Ten years from now, and this hillside for forty miles will be a succession of orange groves. Near the depot we shall have a limited number of business lots, while the balance of the land will be surveyed into large orange grove and villa tracts. It will be specified in each deed that no cheap buildings shall be erected. It is not a mere speculation, as there are already a dozen or more men who will begin elegant residences as soon as the land is surveyed."
"Do you know, professor, who owns that point jutting into the lake?
It is a fine building site."
The speaker was a tall, sharp-featured man of middle age, whom his friends addressed as doctor.
"No," answered the professor, "but I think a man named Pylant is the owner, and that the twenty acres beyond belong to a Dutchman in Eustis.
However, we do not wish to make inquiries at present. They saw us when we came out, and should we go back now and value their land, they will put on four prices. Our policy is to go back as though we were disappointed in the land, and by the time we return next week they will offer it at our own figures. We can probably get it for two to four dollars an acre. It is thirty miles from any town, and as Pylant got it from the government, four dollars will be a big price to him."
"And in twelve months it will be worth as many hundred," said the doctor.
Tom and Dave looked at each other curiously, and wondered how they would feel if they owned a few acres on this hillside.
At the end of the week--for the two days" work had lengthened into five--the boys were paid fifteen dollars, and told they would be soon wanted for several months, should they care to return.
Everything was found safe at the shanty, and the boys went to work at the stumps with a will. At the end of the third day, the last root was reduced to ashes, and then Dave set to work to prepare a supper suitable for such an occasion. Fried quail (which they had snared), orange slump, pineapple shortcake, baked beans and a pot of steaming coffee graced the table (or rather box), while by way of dessert a pillow-case full of oranges, picked up in a neighboring grove, stood by the side of the banqueting board.
Next morning the boys went to see Mr. Pylant.
"So you"ve cleaned it up, have you?" he exclaimed, as the boys told him their errand. "I saw last week it was most done. Reckon you"ll want a little money and the rest in land. Sharp boys! know land is best--goin"
up, goin" up all the time."
"But if you please, Mr. Pylant, we"d rather have the money," said Dave, quietly.
"Money!" exclaimed the "cracker," in astonishment. "Why, boys, in one year there"ll be a city on that land, and you"ll be rich. The lots I let you have for thirty dollars"ll be worth a fortune."
"We don"t want any lots," replied Dave, decidedly. "We intend to get some land when we can, but we must have it large enough to put out a good grove on."
"Well, I"ll sell you a five-acre lot near the village for two hundred dollars, and you can work it out."
"Too much," answered Dave. "We want cheaper land, and are willing to go a longer distance from town."
"But that"s cheap," expostulated Pylant, who began to fear he would have to pay out money. "How far would you be willin" to go for land?" he added, as another idea seemed to strike him.
"Not particular, if the land is good and price low."
"Then I"ve got the identical place for you," cried Pylant, his face brightening; "splendid land, and on a beautiful lake."
"How far?"
Pylant hesitated.
"Mebbe it"s twenty miles or so," he at length said, slowly; "but it"s good, and I"ll let you have it low."
"Twenty miles is a long distance from town," said Dave, dubiously; "but what"ll you take?"
Fearing he would lose the sale, Pylant lowered the figures he had mentally fixed upon, and said, quickly:
"If you take the twenty acres, you can have it for three dollars and a half an acre. I reckoned on sellin" to the party here last week, and I "lowed to myself I"d ask five dollars. But, somehow, they didn"t seem to take to it."
"Well," said Dave, slowly, as though hesitating, "I reckon we"ll take it. Can you fix up the deed now?"
"Right off!" answered Pylant, quickly, fearing the boys might change their mind. "Here are the other five dollars I owe you."
Ten minutes later, Dave and Tom were the owners of the coveted twenty acres.
For the next two weeks the boys worked in the orange grove and added another thirty-five dollars to their fund.
Their living cost very little, and they now had nearly fifty dollars between them.
Feeling comparatively wealthy, and with the prospect of, perhaps, weeks of idleness before them, if they remained where they were, the boys concluded to remove to their new possession.
Provisions enough to last two months were purchased, and with these, and with a miscellaneous collection of kettles, axes, and other tools, the boys set out.
Although the load was packed and strapped to their backs in the most convenient manner, it took two days to complete their journey.
The third was spent in making a camp and looking up the stubs which marked the boundaries of their twenty acres.
Like most of the high pine land in Florida, their tract was free from palmetto, and consequently much easier to clear than the low pine they had previously been at work upon.
Four weeks pa.s.sed, and they had heard nothing from the surveying party.
Nearly three acres were cleared, and the boys were already calculating how many orange and lemon trees they would put out.
One morning, as Tom was digging a hole under the roots of a lofty pine, preparatory to setting it on fire, he was greeted with a surprised:
"Why, boys! What are you doing here?"
And he looked up to meet the keen eyes of the doctor.
"Clearing up our new purchase," answered Tom, quietly.
The doctor"s shrewd face broadened into a smile.
"I see," he said, pleasantly. "But how much are we to pay you boys for outwitting us? I saw Pylant yesterday, and was told that you had the land. The old man was nearly crazy, when one of us said we would be willing to go as high as twenty dollars an acre."
"I reckon we don"t care to sell at present," said Dave. "Our twenty acres wouldn"t make much difference to you, who own as many thousand around the lakes."