ense force on our
heads; but we had to endure it and paddle on, for it was important to
get on dry ground before darkness should overtake us.

"Hurrah!" I exclaimed, as I put my pole into the water; "I can touch
the bottom. We shall soon be making better progress than hitherto."

I was right. The water shoaled rapidly. By shoving along with our
poles, we made the raft move twice as fast as before. At length a line
of tall reeds rose before us. The sight was not encouraging, for we
could neither force the raft onwards, nor make our own way through them
on foot. We therefore turned southward, hoping to find some dry ground
at no great distance from the water. On and on we went, but still we
could see only reeds and swamp. At last we caught sight of some pines;
most welcome they were, as they betokened a dry and sandy soil. We now
came to a bay. Although lined with a narrow belt of reeds, we hoped to
force our way through them. We accordingly ran our raft onwards as far
as it would move, then wishing it farewell, with many thanks for the
service it had rendered us, we plunged into the reeds--Tim, as the
strongest of the party, leading the way, and holding his gun over his
head in case he should unexpectedly fall into an unseen hole. Sometimes
we were up to our waists in water. Still we worked our way forward. At
last Tim gave a shout of satisfaction as he landed on dry ground. We
all quickly followed, poor Caesar panting and blowing with his exertions
as he made his way after us. Clouds of mosquitoes and other stinging
insects had been attacking us in our progress, but we were by this time
too well inured to them to think much about the matter. We agreed, at
all hazards, to push on to the pine-ridge which we saw before us, that
we might encamp there for the night.

As soon as we gained a spot of sufficient height to overlook the lake,
we turned anxiously round to ascertain whether the Indians were
following us, but we could see them nowhere on the water. We were
still, however, uncertain whether or not they would pursue us by land,
and Jup and I again climbed to the top of a high tree, to try and obtain
a look-out over the country to the northward. To our relief nothing
moving was seen; so descending, we made our way with our companions to
the ridge.

It was hopeless to seek for any place of concealment in the hollows;
besides the dangers from animals, we were certain to be attacked by
innumerable s