I've
got to blindfold you after we get across the fence on the swamp side of
the tracks."

"All right."

"I suppose you would like to know what you are up against before I take
you into the old swamp, wouldn't you?"

"Sure thing, Handsome."

"Well, it's just this: If you don't pass muster with the boss, you'll
never come out again. There are deep holes in that swamp, Dago."

"Oh, I don't doubt that; but what do you mean by passing muster?"

"I mean just this, and nothing more: If you are not what you appear to
be, and what you say you are, it's a slit across the windpipe for yours;
see?"

Nick did see, and he nodded understandingly.

"I reckon I'll pass, all right," he said negligently. "If you are ready,
I am."

They descended the embankment, and climbed the fence on the swamp side
of the tracks; and then, as soon as they had penetrated a short
distance into the wood, Handsome stopped again, and, drawing a huge
bandanna from his pocket, proceeded to bind it around the detective's
eyes securely.

"Now," he said, "can you do the lockstep?"

"Never tried it," said Nick.

"Sure about that?"

"Never learned--never had to."

"Well, you'll have to learn it now--unless you wish to fall into the
swamp. Get up close to me, and take hold of my sides under my arms. Then
follow in my footsteps as nearly as you can."

"I say, Handsome, you've got some education yourself."

"Never mind that now. We're not going into pasts just at present."

"All right. Lead the way. I'm ready."

Nick's eyes were so securely bandaged that he had not the least idea
where they were going, or where his footsteps tended; but even had he
been without the bandage he could hardly have told that, for the deeper
they penetrated into the swamp, the darker it became, and only those who
were perfectly familiar with the pathway could pass that way in safety
in the night.

There were times when Nick's feet slipped from the precarious footing,
and he slid into the water up to his knees; and once he went in to his
waist; but Handsome was always ready to seize upon him and support him
to dry land again at such times.

And their way wound round in a serpentine course. They climbed over
fallen and moss-grown logs; they slushed through shallow water; they
crawled on their hands and knees under embankments and rocks, and at
last, at Handsome's order, they stepped into a boat of some kind which
the latter pushed away from the bank with a pole.