Part 18 (1/2)

The trees with their huge spreading roots grew so closely together that it was with difficulty that Walter forced the canoe in and out between them. His exultation at his escape from their enemies had given way to a settled despair. From descriptions he had heard, he recognized this mighty floating forest as the fringe which surrounds that greatest of all mysterious, trackless swamps, the Everglades. Before him lay the mighty unknown, unexplored mora.s.s, reeking with fever, and infested with serpents; behind him waited sure death at the hands of the outlaws.

One faint hope alone remained to him. If his strength held out, he might in time come upon a camp of the Seminoles, the only human beings in this unknown land.

Considering the small numbers of the Indians and the vastness of the swamp, it was a faint chance indeed that he or his companion would live to see any of the tribe, but, faint as it was, no other hope remained and Walter sent the canoe onward with feeble strokes.

Gradually the trees grew further and further apart until at last the canoe pa.s.sed out from their shadows into a lake, surrounded by tall growing gra.s.s and reeds. Far as the eye could reach stretched the dismal swamp, broken here and there by lakes or creeks and now and then by an island of higher ground rising from the rotting mud.

Under the heat of the blazing sun there rose around the canoe thick vapors from the sc.u.m-covered water and rotting vegetation, bearing in their foul embrace a sickening, deadly stench.

The paddle strokes grew slower and slower, and gradually ceased, Walter's eyes slowly closed, and he sank down unconscious. His paddle fell from his nerveless hand and floated away on the stagnant water just as a dark, shapeless ma.s.s crept out of a bunch of reeds and struck the canoe with a gentle thud.

CHAPTER XX.

SAVED.

Darkness, black as night, floated over Walter's reeling brain; darkness, pierced by a thousand gleaming, twinkling lights, brilliant as stars, then came a void and nothingness. Slowly at last he felt himself struggling up out of the void, battling, fighting for consciousness, then came a delicious sort of languor. If this was dying, it was very pleasant. Forms seemed to be flitting before his half-opened eyelids and the hum of voices seemed to float in his ears.

One voice irritated him greatly; it was faintly familiar in its loud joyousness. What was it saying?

”Golly, Ma.s.sa Captain, bless de Lawd, he ain't dead.”

Another voice responded, ”No, thank G.o.d, he's goin' to live, Chris.

Bear a hand and we'll get him into the wigwam.”

There was a sensation of being home through the air, and Walter surrendered to the delicious languor,--and slept.

When he opened his eyes again an ebony face was bending over him and Chris' voice demanded, ”Golly, don't you know me, Ma.s.sa Walt?”

”It's Chris,” Walter said, smiling feebly, and the little darky danced about in joy.

Walter raised his head with an effort and looked about him. He was lying on a bed of soft moss with a pillow of blankets under his head.

He seemed to be surrounded by walls of bark which met in a point far above his head; opposite him lay another figure on a bed similar to his own.

”Where am I, and how did I get here?” he demanded confusedly, ”the last I remember was being in the canoe a few minutes ago and everything getting dark before me.”

”A few minutes ago,” cried Chris, excitedly. ”Why, it's dun been two days since Ma.s.sa Captain come on you when he was paddlin' around the lake. You was layin' in the bottom of the canoe like you was dead.”

”Two days,” exclaimed Walter in astonishment; then, with a sudden note of dread in his voice, he cried, ”Charley!”

”He's gettin' along pretty well,” said the little darky cheerfully, ”he's lyin' right across from you thar. Now you jus' keep still an'

doan' talk no more,” he commanded. ”Ma.s.sa Captain out fixing up some soup. Reckon he'll let you talk some more after you drink it.”

The captain soon appeared with a gourd full of steaming liquid. He was overjoyed at finding Walter conscious, but firmly insisted that he should remain quiet, and he fed him liberally with the hot soup.

Indeed, Walter felt little desire to talk; a few swallows of the warm liquid made him very drowsy, and he quickly sank into a deep sleep from which he awoke feeling much stronger and almost like his old self again.

To his great joy, he found Charley conscious, and without fever, although still very weak. He sat down on the edge of the invalid's bed and the two talked over the thrilling adventures through which they had pa.s.sed.

They were interrupted by the entrance of the captain and Chris, the captain bearing an armful of yams and Chris a string of fresh fish.