h assumed dignity
that hardly went with his forlorn appearance. "It's enough that I
nailed him, and he's going to fill us up for a meal or two. Lead on,
Macduff! I'm able to toddle, I guess."

Tony took his bearings, and then they started. So accurately had the
swamp boy judged their location, that he led them almost directly to
the boat. And there was great joy in the breast of Larry Densmore when
he sank down on the ground to remove his muddy trousers, so that he
might not soil the interior of the motor boat.

Fortunately he had another pair along with him, so that by the time
Tony had unfastened the cable ashore, and Phil turned his engine over,
Larry was decently dressed again.

But it might be noticed that he was not as frisky as usual the balance
of that afternoon, being content to cuddle down, and rest. Phil saw a
serious look on the usually merry countenance of his chum. He knew
from this that Larry had really suffered very much while facing such a
doleful end. Nor did he blame him one whit.

Owing to the amount of time that had been consumed in following Larry,
and getting him back to camp after his rescue, they could only expect
to keep moving for a couple of hours more; when the coming of evening
would necessitate their stopping for the next night.

Phil felt a strange little thrill as he reflected that possibly when
yet another day had closed in they would have advanced far enough on
their journey to admit of a possibility that they might run across some
of the shingle-makers of the big swamps.

"Keep on the lookout for a tying-up place, Tony," he said, as he saw
that the sun was sinking low.

"Not much good place along here," remarked the swamp boy, shrugging his
shoulders in disgust. "Thought we get below this to-day; but stayed
too long above."

"Which of course was my fault," spoke up Larry, immediately; "but even
if it does look spooky around here, with all that Spanish moss hanging
from the trees, we can stand it for one night."

"Sure," said Phil; "especially since we don't have to go ashore, to
cook supper. We'll give our little gas stove a try-out this time, and
show Tony how well it can fill the bill."

So finally Tony picked out as decent a place as he could find; Phil
worked the Aurora close in; the swamp boy sprang ashore in Larry's
place holding the rope; and presently the motor boat was snugly moored
against the bank.

Larry thought there might be fish around, but lacke