the brown tips of swamp grass. In a few more feet he made out the
tops of trees, and then the glint of sunlight on the aluminum of the
antenna they had come to photograph.

Scotty had seen it, too. He stopped and the boys consulted.

"We're about twenty yards too far upstream," Scotty guessed.

Rick estimated as best he could. "I think you're right. Let's stay on
high ground and head downstream a little. We must be almost there."

Scotty turned and Rick followed, waving uselessly at the cloud of
insects. He was grateful for the advice Steve had given them to wear
long trousers and long-sleeved shirts. If they had been wearing shorts,
the insects would have had free access to several square feet of bare
hide.

Both boys counted steps automatically, and after twenty paces
downstream, Scotty turned toward the mansion once more. They pushed
through the tall grass into thick mud, then into water with a deep muddy
bottom. A few more steps and the grass thinned. Scotty stopped and
motioned Rick back. They moved sideways, then forward again, and emerged
with the duck blind between them and Calvert's Favor.

Rick thought to himself that it had been pretty good navigation,
considering that most of the journey had been blind, in grass over their
heads. Apparently Scotty thought so, too. He turned and gave Rick a big
grin, then headed for the rear of the duck blind.

The water deepened, washing off some of the mud. Rick reached down and
splashed a handful on his face. It was warm. He saw a wet black head
emerge from under the duck blind and speed for shore. It was a startled
water rat. Alerted by the small splash of their coming, the rodent
decided to take better cover. Then they were at the corner of the blind
where the entrance was located.

The floor of the blind was level with their chests. Rick looked in.
There wasn't much space, since the blind had been built to provide only
a place for hunters to sit, wait, and then shoot from kneeling or
sitting positions.

Both boys put their equipment on the dry wooden floor. Then Rick swung
himself up and pushed the equipment back to make room for Scotty. For a
moment they sat on the floor, resting. Coming through the swamp had been
exhausting work.

After a few moments' rest, Rick moved to the side of the duck blind and
found a small opening, a square window about six inches on a side, that
had apparently been made to give the hunters a view in that direction.
The opening w