ed," and he
seemed quite pleased in his own peculiar way.

"But who is this other one you started to help?" asked Grace, a strange
eagerness creeping into her voice.

"Wait, please, wait," begged The Loon, again passing his hand over his
brow. "I can't think very fast. I know the bad men in the lumber camp
had Tom, and the other one--I don't know his name. But maybe we can
rescue them both. If you'll come----"

He sprang from the boat to the tree branch and thence ashore. Then he
stood waiting in the glare of the boat's lights.

"Wait," said Betty gently. "We must go for help, first. Come, Harry, get
aboard and take us to the orange grove. Then we will get Mr. Hammond and
some men to come to the rescue."

CHAPTER XXII

THE EVERGLADE CAMP

The Loon stood irresolute for a few seconds. He seemed to want to rush
off into the dark woods again, and evidently expected the girls to
follow him. But, though they were very anxious to effect the rescue of
their friend Tom, and the other unknown, held in some distant camp,
Betty and her chums would take no risks.

"Come!" called the Little Captain to the simple-minded lad, "we will go
for help, and soon be back here--if you can guide us."

"Oh, yes, I know the way all over these parts--even in the Everglades."

"Are there Everglades here?" asked Mollie, who had heard much of those
strange, floating forests.

"A small patch," answered The Loon, "but not much like the real
Everglades. It is a big swampy tract, and the camp is in there."

"A turpentine camp?" asked Grace, filled with sudden hope.

"No, the bosses are getting out a certain kind of wood. Oh! but it is
hard work. The wood is partly under water, and the bugs and mosquitoes
and alligators are terrible. I ran away, for I couldn't stand it."

"Poor fellow," murmured Amy. "Oh, to think of Tom Osborne and some other
young fellow being there."

"Just like my poor brother Will," agreed Grace. "Oh, I wonder if he
could be the 'other one' he refers to! Listen," she went on to the
simple youth eagerly, "I am going to describe a young man to you. I want
you to tell me if he is like the one you once tried to rescue--the time
you saved our boat," and she gave a close description of her brother.

"Is the 'other one' like that?" she asked breathlessly.

The Loon shook his head.

"No," he said slowly, "not at all like that. He is very thin, this one,
and he is lame."

"Oh dear!" half sobbed Grace. "I was be