oat
been provided with a compass, the commander would have been unable to
steer a direct course.

The men gave way with a will, as the success of the expedition depended
on the rapidity with which it was carried out. On a sudden, as Jack
fancied they were still a considerable way from the shore, he felt the
boat's keel passing over a soft bottom; directly afterwards she remained
fixed. In vain the men pulled away with might and main, endeavouring to
force her over; the water appeared shallower ahead even than astern, and
at length all hands had to jump overboard, including the commander and
Tom, when they sank almost up to their knees in mud.

"Pretty condition we shall be in if daylight finds us here!" said Tom.

"No fear of that," answered Jack; "off the boat must come."

Needham, with boat-hook in hand, went ahead to ascertain the depth of
water, and on his return reported that after some yards it deepened
considerably, whilst, as he could see nothing of the land, he concluded
that they were on a mudbank.

"No doubt about it," said Jack; and all hands together lifting the boat,
they bore her along for fifty yards or so, when, washing the mud off
their legs, they tumbled on board, and again gave way.

"Pretty mess we're in," observed Tom.

His brother laughed. "We shall be in a worse mess before long, as we
have a couple of rivers and a marsh or two to wade through before we
reach our destination. Needham, you are in good wind, I hope?"

"Ay, ay, sir," answered Dick; "I doubt whether any Russian would
overtake me if we have to run for it."

"I wish that I was to go with you," said Tom.

"No, you must remain by the boat, and keep a bright lookout that you are
not surprised," answered Jack; "have your muskets ready for instant use;
and should we at the last be pursued, be ready to cover our retreat; you
don't know at what time we may come. We may be turned back before we
reach our destination, or we may succeed, and still be hard pressed to
escape capture; the last is most likely to occur: at all events, be on
the watch."

Jack had previously made all his arrangements; the gunner and Jerry Bird
each carried match-boxes in waterproof cases, and small torches which
they could easily ignite, so that the moment they stepped on shore they
could proceed on their expedition. A sense of the importance of the
work to be accomplished made Jack enjoy it, otherwise an act of
incendiarism would not have been to hi