rub they could not tell how far
this ran in either direction. Behind them was the river of mud through
which they had wallowed. Before them lay the apparently limitless
expanse of the same formation, dotted sparsely with clumps of grass and
flowers and at rare intervals with tiny mangrove islands. No signs of
animal life were apparent. Even the birds were absent. There were
only the buzzards overhead--waiting, waiting, waiting.

"See any water while you were hunting wood?" yawned Higgins. "I need
about a gallon to top off that meat."

"Yes; come on; there's a little water hole down here."

Payne led the way down the bank to a slight hollow where water had
seeped up through the mud.

"Go easy on it," he advised as Higgins kneeled by the pool. "It
doesn't look extra good to me."

"It's wet anyhow," said Higgins and scooped a double handful to his
lips.

He spat instantly.

"What's the matter?"

Higgins again sampled the blackish water.

"Taste it," he said.

Payne obeyed. He looked at Higgins. Then they both stood up, shaking
the water from their fingers.

"Salt!"

"Yes."

Higgins took out his pipe and slowly began to fill it. Payne looked
round.

"Hig, that means we've got to hustle and find a way out in a hurry. In
this heat we can't go long without water. I suspect it's all salt
round here. I remember I've read of salt water between the Everglades
and the sea. You take the bank downstream and see what you find. I'll
go upstream. We'll meet here in an hour."

They parted at once. But Payne was back at the camp fire in an hour
and Higgins was there ahead of him.

"What did you, Hig?"

"I found a mangrove swamp that a bobcat couldn't get through. Did you
have any luck?"

Payne shook his head.

"This high ground ends less than a mile up there. And then there's
nothing but mud--not a thing but mud. Was there water round the
mangroves?"

"Yes. Salt. Salter than salt herring."

"Do you want to turn back, Hig?" asked Payne suddenly.

"You're going to try to get through?"

"Yes."

"Then I'm with you to the finish; and that's settled."

Payne pointed out over the mud which lay between them and their
destination.

"That's the way we're going. First of all we'll see if the thing can
be waded."

He stepped carefully off into the oozy slime and allowed himself to
sink. He sank to his shoulders without finding any bottom.

"Nothing doing there," he said when Higgins ha