turbulent, was now nothing better than a muddy,
shallow creek, winding and treacherous to the last degree. As night
came on the expedition found itself still in the stream and many miles
from the lake, and here cascos and launches ran aground and a general
mix-up ensued.

"Hullo, what have we run up against now?" growled the lieutenant in
charge of the soldiers in Larry's boat. "Can't you keep out of the
mud, Jackie?"

"I'm doing my best," panted the youth, as he shoved off for at least
the fourth time. "With the lines forward and aft pulling one way and
another it's rather difficult to keep to the channel, especially in
the dark."

"Oh, you're only a boy and don't understand the trick," growled the
lieutenant, who was in a bad humor generally. "I don't see why they
let you come along."

"Our boat is doing about as well as any of them," answered Larry,
bound to defend himself. "Two boats are aground to our left and three
behind us."

"See here, don't talk back to me! You tend to business and keep us out
of the mud," roared the lieutenant, in worse humor than before.

An angry retort arose to Larry's lips, but he checked it. "A quarrel
won't do any good," he thought. "But what a bulldog that fellow is--as
bad as Quartermaster Yarrow, who caused me so much trouble on the trip
out here."

On went the cascos once more, around a tortuous bend and past a bank
fringed with bushes and reeds. The mosquitoes were numerous, likewise
the flies, and everybody began to wish the journey at an end.

"We'd better make a charge on the insects," growled one old soldier.
"They are worse nor the rebels ten times over," and, just then, many
were inclined to agree with him. Tobacco was scarce or smoking would
have been far more plentiful than it was.

Midnight came and went, and found the expedition still some distance
from the lake. A few of the soldiers were sleeping, but the majority
remained wide awake, fighting off the marshland pests, and aiding in
keeping the cascos and launches from running high and dry in the mud.
Had it not been for the tinclads it is doubtful if the Laguna de Bay
would have been gained at all by more than half of the craft composing
the turnout. But they came to the rescue time and again, and so the
expedition crawled along, until, at four o'clock, the clear sheet of
water beyond was sighted.

They were making the last turn before the lake was gained when the
casco ahead of that steered by Larry went