ckly arrived at the spot which we had selected as the
landing-place. Here we crouched on a patch of firm ground, undid our
bundles, and proceeded to dress quickly. A smothered exclamation from
Alzura made me glance at him. In his hurry he had whisked his shirt a
yard or two away, and it had settled in the liquid mud.

"There's an end to that garment!" said he. "Well, after all, it's no
great loss; 'twas mostly made of holes. What have you found, Juan?"

"A stout staff tipped with iron, left here by the soldiers, most
likely. What a piece of luck, my boy! Now we shall be able to test
the ground."

"Yes, the balance is on our side," said he happily, buttoning his
tunic. "Are you ready? Give me the staff, and I'll go first."

Of course I could not let him do that; so turning it off with a laugh,
I cried,--

"No, thank you. I'm not going to trust my life to your hands, or
rather feet. Now, follow me closely. Walk just where I do, and if you
see me disappearing, pull me back sharp. We're on the track now, and
must try to keep on."

"Spoken with the wisdom of a sage!" said Alzura saucily. "I say, Juan,
how shall I know when you're moving?"

There was certainly reason for his sarcasm. As often as not, when I
raised my foot I brought it down in the same place again, or, according
to Alzura, even went a step backward. The night was not particularly
dark--indeed, we had doubted whether it was dark enough for us to swim
ashore unobserved--but the marsh was fearfully deceptive.

In places the track was merely a dry hump here and there, for which I
had to feel with the staff. Twice, in spite of every precaution, I
missed my footing, and the second time had sunk to the waist before
Alzura could pull me out.

"I can't see you very well, Juan," said he, laughing, "but I have an
idea that you would cut a fine figure in a ballroom just now."

"Especially if it were a fancy-dress affair," I replied in the same
tone.

We were in no merry humour, mind you; but the weakest joke was better
than dwelling on the horrors which surrounded us. Each of us knew
that, but for Alzura's quickness, I should have disappeared for ever,
leaving no trace behind me. Twice before the break of day I had saved
him from a similar fate.

We left the islet about ten o'clock, and at midnight were still in the
morass, unable to move. Alzura had joined me on a piece of firm
ground, just large enough for us to stand on, and no more.