ese _coniferae_, barred my way; and, in passing
around them, I soon lost all knowledge of my direction.

I wandered on, now dragging wearily across the dull ditches, now
floundering through tracts of swamp, or climbing over huge prostrate
logs. In my passage I startled the thousand denizens of the dank
forest, who greeted me with their cries. The qua-bird screamed; the
swamp-owl hooted; the bullfrog uttered his trumpet-note; and the hideous
alligator, horribly bellowing from his gaunt jaws, crawled sulkily out
of my way, at times appearing as if he would turn and assail me!

"Ho! yonder is light!--the sky!"

It was but a small patch of the blue heaven--a disc, not larger than a
dining-plate. But, oh! you cannot understand with what joy I greeted
that bright spot. It was the lighthouse to the lost mariner.

It must be the clearings? Yes, I could see the sun shining through the
trees, and the horizon open as I advanced. No doubt the plantations
were before me. Once there I should soon cross the fields, and reach
the town. I should yet be safe. Reigart would surely know how to
extract the poison, or apply some antidote?

I kept on with bounding heart and straining eyes--on, for the bright
meteor before me.

The blue spot grew larger--other pieces of sky appeared--the forest grew
thinner as I advanced--I was drawing nearer to its verge.

The ground became firmer and drier at every step, and the timber of a
lighter growth. The shapeless cypress "knees" no longer impeded my
progress. I now passed among tulip-trees, dogwoods, and magnolias.
Less densely grew the trunks, lighter and less shadowy became the
foliage above; until at length I pushed through the last selvage of the
underwood, and stood in the open sunshine.

A cry of agony rose upon my lips. It was wrung from me by despair. I
had arrived at my point of starting--I was once more within the glade!

I sought not to go farther. Fatigue, disappointment, and chagrin, had
for the moment paralysed my strength. I staggered forward to a
prostrate trunk,--the very one which sheltered my reptile assassin!--and
sat down in a state of irresolution and bewilderment.

It seemed as though I were destined to die in that lovely glade--amidst
those bright flowers--in the midst of that scene I had so lately
admired, and upon the very spot where I had received my fatal wound!

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE.

THE RUNAWAY.

Man rarely yields up his life without an