else, I must admit. But if you are ready let us
start off."

Accordingly the entire party began to head in the direction taken by
those four boys from Lenox. Rob and Josh were keeping a close watch,
and from time to time announced that those they were following had
actually come along that same trail, for they could see their
footprints.

"You know we took note of the different prints made by their shoes,"
Rob told some of the other boys when they expressed surprise that this
should be possible, "and it's easy enough to tell them every once in a
while."

"They are really following my usual trail, which I always take when
going to or returning from a trip," explained the hermit-naturalist,
looking pleased at this manifestation of scout sagacity on the part of
the trackers.

Tom was keeping alongside his chum Carl, instead of being with those
who led the procession. He had a reason for this, too; since he had
seen that the other was again showing signs of nervousness.

"Tom," said Carl in a low voice as they walked steadily onward, "do you
think I may have a chance to see Dock face to face, so I can ask him
again to tell me what he ever did with that paper he took?"

"While of course I can't say positively," was Tom's steady answer, "I
seem to feel that something's going to happen that will make you
happier than you've been this many a long day, Carl."

"Oh! I hope you're on the right track!" exclaimed Carl, drawing a long
breath, as he clutched the arm of his faithful chum. "It would mean
everything to me if only I could go home knowing I was to get that
paper. Just think what a fine present it would be to my mother, worried
half to death as she is right now over the future."

"Well, keep hoping for the best, and it's all going to come out well.
But what's that the boys are saying?"

"I think they must have sighted the beginning of the Great Bog,"
replied Carl. "Do you suppose Mr. Henderson has brought that stout
rope along with the idea that it may be needed to pull any one out of
the mud?"

"Nothing else," said Tom. "He knows all about this place, and from what
he's already told us I reckon it must be a terrible hole."

"Especially in that one spot where he says the path is hidden under the
ooze, and that if once you lose it you're apt to get in deeper and
deeper, until there's danger of being sucked down over your head."

"It's a terrible thing to think of," declared Tom; "worse even than
being caught