rd. "I'd hate to
get the screw caught again and break it, for then we'd certainly be
in a pickle."

"Could the houseboat get through here?" questioned Fred.

"Yes, they could pole her through, with hard work," answered Dick.

They turned the gasoline launch to shore and tied fast. Then all
began to leap out.

"This won't do," cried Dick. "Somebody ought to remain on the launch."

"I would like to go with you and look for the houseboat," answered
Harold Bird. "I think the launch will be safe where she is."

"If you want me to stay I'll do it, if Songbird will stay with me,"
said Fred.

"I'll stay," said Songbird, promptly.

So it was arranged, and leaving the two in charge of the gasoline
launch, all the others of the party set off on their search for the
missing houseboat.

Walking along the shore of the small lake was decidedly treacherous,
and more than once one or another would slip down in the mud and slime.

"Hellup!" cried Hans, who had dragged behind, and looking back they
saw the German lad in a bog hole up to his knees. "Hellup, oder I
vos trowned alretty!"

"Can't you crawl out?" questioned Dick, running back.

"No, der mud vos like glue!" gasped Hans.

Tom came back also, and between them they managed to pull Hans from
the sticky ooze, which was plastered over his trousers and shoes.
The German lad gazed at himself ruefully.

"Now, ain't dot a nice mess?" he observed. "Vosn't I a beach!"

"Yes, but a pretty muddy one," laughed Dick. "But never mind now,
come on. You can clean up when we get back."

The party soon reached a spot where the bushes grew in water several
inches deep. Here, to avoid sinking in the mud, they had to make a
wide detour.

"Listen!" cried Sam, presently, and held up his hand.

"What did you hear?" asked Harold Bird.

"I heard something as if somebody was walking through the brush yonder!"

"Maybe it was the men we are after!" cried Dick. "Come on!"

They continued to move forward until some fallen trees all but barred
their further progress. Then they came to a small rise of ground--a
veritable island in this swamp,--and reaching the highest point,
gazed around them.

"What is that?" asked Sam, pointing with his hand to a round, black
object showing above some bushes at a distance.

"Why, that looks like the smokestack of the houseboat!" cried Tom.
He meant the stack to the chimney, for several rooms of the houseboat
were furnished with stoves, to be used w