t tramp in the dirt beside
their men, shame them by their constancy. This was well to be observed
in the present instance; for here were Ballantrae and I, two gentlemen
of the highest breeding, on the one hand; and on the other, Grady, a
common mariner, and a man nearly a giant in physical strength. The case
of Dutton is not in point, for I confess he did as well as any of us.[4]
But as for Grady, he began early to lament his case, tailed in the rear,
refused to carry Dutton's packet when it came his turn, clamoured
continually for rum (of which we had too little), and at last even
threatened us from behind with a cocked pistol, unless we should allow
him rest. Ballantrae would have fought it out, I believe; but I
prevailed with him the other way; and we made a stop and ate a meal. It
seemed to benefit Grady little; he was in the rear again at once,
growling and bemoaning his lot; and at last, by some carelessness, not
having followed properly in our tracks, stumbled into a deep part of
the slough where it was mostly water, gave some very dreadful screams,
and before we could come to his aid had sunk along with his booty. His
fate, and above all these screams of his, appalled us to the soul; yet
it was on the whole a fortunate circumstance, and the means of our
deliverance, for it moved Dutton to mount into a tree, whence he was
able to perceive and to show me, who had climbed after him, a high piece
of the wood, which was a landmark for the path. He went forward the more
carelessly, I must suppose; for presently we saw him sink a little down,
draw up his feet and sink again, and so twice. Then he turned his face
to us, pretty white.

"Lend a hand," said he, "I am in a bad place."

"I don't know about that," says Ballantrae, standing still.

Dutton broke out into the most violent oaths, sinking a little lower as
he did, so that the mud was nearly to his waist, and plucking a pistol
from his belt, "Help me," he cries, "or die and be damned to you!"

"Nay," says Ballantrae, "I did but jest. I am coming." And he set down
his own packet and Dutton's, which he was then carrying. "Do not venture
near till we see if you are needed," said he to me, and went forward
alone to where the man was bogged. He was quiet now, though he still
held the pistol; and the marks of terror in his countenance were very
moving to behold.

"For the Lord's sake," says he, "look sharp."

Ballantrae was now got close up. "Keep still," says he,