Part 3 (1/2)

”We'll have to turn back now,” said Hubert dolefully.

”No, let's go right ahead,” said Ted, pus.h.i.+ng on. ”We may have to travel more slowly, but we can get through, and maybe when we _do_ get through we'll be out of the swamp. I think from what I've heard that the Okefinokee has a thick rim just like this round a great deal of it.”

In reluctantly consenting, Hubert urged that they first provide themselves with ”some fat lightwood splinters” for kindling. ”It's low and wet down in there,” he said, ”and if we don't get through before night, we'll need them to make a fire.”

This prudent suggestion having been acted upon, Ted pushed ahead, carrying his gun and the hatchet, and Hubert followed, his little gun in his right hand and the bundle of kindling under his left arm.

The jungle evidently covered thousands of acres and was at points so dense as to be penetrable only where wild animals had made their trails.

Th.o.r.n.y brambles often an inch thick and running great lengths added to the discomfort and difficulty of forcing a pa.s.sage. Everywhere the ground was wet, sometimes boggy, and in great part covered with water varying in depth from two inches to two feet. Often the hatchet had to be used before they could move forward a step, and they soon bitterly regretted their decision to force their way through. But the hope of accomplis.h.i.+ng the task led Ted on until, as the sun declined, it became evident that they would be unable to retrace their steps before night.

When little more than half an hour of daylight was left the boys halted to make camp at a point where the jungle was less dense. Even here the water rose above their ankles and the prospect was a very gloomy one.

Ted had often heard how belated Okefinokee hunters had been compelled to build sleeping platforms whereon to spend the night, and this the boys set about doing without delay.

Selecting two saplings about eight feet apart, the boys cut into them with the hatchet, at a point about three feet above the water, until they toppled and fell over in the same direction. These saplings, being young and stringy, did not entirely break from their stumps, and, while slanting gradually down to the water, offered a support to the smaller poles and brush which were bridged across from one to the other. Even with the addition of moss for bed and covering, the resting-place thus secured was far from comfortable, but was to be preferred to spending the night in a tree.

With their guns beside them, and their ”fat” splinters and matches within reach, the boys lay down, thankful at least that it was as yet too early in spring for moccasins and other reptiles to be abroad.

Lying on an uncomfortable pile of boughs three feet above the stagnant water, in hunger and darkness, with little hope of finding their way home, their distress of body and mind was very severe. Hubert broke down at last and sobbed, refusing to be comforted, although Ted made a manful effort to do so.

”We'll get out of the swamp to-morrow or find the slackers' camp,” he predicted, with pretended cheerfulness.

”We'll starve to death,” wailed Hubert.

”You'll see,” persisted Ted. ”It will be one thing or the other, and either will suit me.”

But they spoke little after they lay down, and that little in whispers;--as if fearing to betray their presence to some formidable beast that might lurk in the neighborhood. They were so exhausted that they soon fell into deep sleep.

V

If there was any tramping of wild animals about their camp that night, the boys did not hear it. They slept soundly until dawn and were then awakened by the sweet and cheering voice of a wood-thrush. They lost no time in quitting their gloomy camp-site, pushed steadily forward and about nine o'clock, to their great delight, emerged from the jungle.

They now ascended the slope of an open pine ridge, upon which, at a distance of some three or four hundred yards apart, they noted three Indian mounds about fifteen feet in height. Ted reminded Hubert of his prediction, believing that they were out of the swamp at last. But a two-hours' tramp was sufficient to convince him that they were merely on an island about three miles long by about one mile in width, and that they were probably farther away from the Ridgway farm than ever.

In the course of their tramp a flock of wild turkeys, some eight or ten in number, fluttered out of their path and ran rapidly ahead of them, too little alarmed at first to fly. Both boys fired into them and one turkey remained struggling on the ground when the others rose. Each boy thought he had bagged the game, but they were too hungry to waste time in dispute. They hurried with their prize to the nearest water, built a fire and were soon broiling substantial slices of the great bird on the coals. And after they had eaten their fill, in spite of their misfortunes they became quite cheerful.

”Now, Hu, don't let's worry any more,” advised Ted. ”We are going to come out all right and we are having a wonderful time. Some of it is pretty tough, I know, but when it's all over we'll be so _proud_ of what we've been through! The boys who hang around home and just do the same old things, will wish awfully, when they hear about it, that they had been with us.”

The thought of winning renown among his playmates at home as a great and experienced adventurer was distinctly comforting to Hubert, helping him to resolve to resist fear in future and meet discomfort more cheerfully. The boys felt better still when presently they made a discovery which awakened new hope. At the farther end of the island, where a dense ”hammock” growth sloped down and joined hands with the swamp, which here took on the form of a deeply flooded forest, they found a boat--a small bateau scarcely capable of floating more than three persons. Evidently it had been lying idle for some time. It was half full of water, but when this was bailed out it showed no serious leaks and carried the two boys safely.

”That must lead out to a lake,” said Ted, indicating the narrow boat-road which could be seen winding away through the flooded forest.

”And once on that lake, we may find our way out of the swamp. Anyhow, we may meet some of the slackers. Let's start right off!”

Hubert was loath to leave the dry open pine woods of the island and said so, but Ted convinced him that there was nothing to be done but to push on.

The boat-road had evidently been a good deal traveled and it was not very difficult to make headway, although the two paddles they had picked up were little more than two long sticks. As Ted had surmised, the boat-road led after a few hundred yards into a long and very narrow forest-bordered lake, where feeding fishes of considerable size were ”striking” here and there in a way to tempt the most indifferent angler.

Hubert wanted to stop to fish, but Ted said that if they were to get through by night they couldn't spare the time.