Part 46 (1/2)

But the afternoon was well advanced, and night was much nearer than they had thought, as they were soon to discover.

At last, Barney cried:

”Oi see loight enough ahead! We must be near out av th' woods.”

Frank said nothing. For a long time he had been certain they were on the wrong course, but he hoped it would bring them out somewhere. He had noted the light that indicated they were soon to reach the termination of the cypress swamp, but he held his enthusiasm in check till he could be sure they had come out somewhere near where they had entered the dismal region.

Professor Scotch grew enthusiastic immediately.

”Ha!” he cried, punching Frank in the back. ”What do you think now, young man? Do you mean to say that we don't know our business? What if we had accepted your way of getting out of the swamp! We'd been in there now, sir.”

”Don't crow till you're out of the woods,” advised Frank.

”Begobs! Oi belave he'd be plazed av we didn't get out at all, at all!”

exclaimed Barney, somewhat touched.

In a short time they came to the termination of the cypress woods, but, to the surprise of Barney and the professor, the swamp, overgrown with tall rushes and reed-gra.s.s, continued, with the water course winding away through it.

”Pwhat th' ould boy does this mane?” cried the Irish lad.

”It means,” said Frank, coolly, ”that we have reached the Everglades.”

”Th' Ivirglades? Well, pwhat do we want iv thim, Oi dunno?”

”They are one of the sights of Florida, Barney.”

”It's soights enough I've seen alreddy. Oi'd loike ter git out av this.”

”I knew you wouldn't get out this way, for we have not pa.s.sed the rookeries of the herons, as you must remember.”

”That's true,” sighed the professor, dejectedly. ”I hadn't thought of that. What can we do, boys?”

”Turn about, and retrace our steps,” said Frank.

But Barney and the professor raised a vigorous protest.

”Nivver a bit will yez get me inther thot swamp again th' doay!” shouted the Irish lad, in a most decisive manner.

”If we go back, we'll not be able to get out before darkness comes on, and we'll have to spend the night in the swamp,” said Scotch, excitedly.

”I can't do that.”

”Well, what do you propose to do?” asked Frank, quietly. ”I don't seem to have anything to say in this matter. You are running it to suit yourselves.”

They were undecided, but one thing was certain; they would not go back into the swamp. The white canoe was there, and the professor and the Irish lad did not care to see that again.

”Whoy not go on, Frankie?” asked Barney. ”We're out av th' woods, an', by follyin' this strame, we ought to get out av th' Iverglades.”

”What do you say, professor?” asked Frank, who was rather enjoying the adventure, although he did not fancy the idea of spending a night on the marsh.

”Go on--by all means, go on!” roared the little man.