town. Our fellows are sure to
land to-morrow morning and take possession of it. We have passed across
the isthmus between the two lakes, so the one we want to get round must
lie somewhere to the north-west. Anyhow, the fire will be a guide to us.
If we keep rather to the left of that we must strike the lake, and have
only got to follow that to keep right."

"I am with you," Jim said. "What do you say, Arthur?"

"I am game," Arthur replied, "but let us be off at once. What time do
you think it is?"

"I have no idea. I don't know how long we slept, but it was quite dark
except for the fire, so it must certainly have been past eight o'clock.
We set out half an hour later. I should say that it must be between
twelve and one now, if not later. It will begin to get light again soon
after four, so we have no time to lose."

"Well, let us crawl away as quietly as we can," Jack said. "I think
those chaps are all asleep, but we cannot be too careful until we get a
bit away from them."

The boys found it very difficult to crawl in their female garments, but
kept on as noiselessly as possible until some distance from the cottage,
then they stood up. They followed the lane until they came to the road,
crossed the line of railway beyond it and swam the fresh-water canal,
and then, guided by the glare of light over Alexandria, made their way
across the fields. After half an hour's walking they found themselves on
the shore of the lake. It was low and swampy, and they had to keep some
distance from its edge. The reflection of the light on its smooth
surface enabled them to follow its direction as well as if they had been
walking close to it. They kept on until morning broke, by which time
the glare of light above Alexandria lay due north of them.

"We had better lie up here," Jim said. "There is sure to be a village
near the lake, and the first person who came across us and questioned us
would find us out."

"I shall not be sorry to stop at all," Jack said, "for these loose
yellow slipper things are horrid for walking in. I have tried going
barefoot for a bit, but there are prickly things in the grass and I soon
had to give that up."

There was no difficulty in finding shelter, for in many places belts of
high rushes bordered the lake. Entering one of these for some little
distance, and pressing down a lot of the rushes to make a dry bed on the
damp earth, the lads lay down and were soon fast asleep. The sun was
blazing high