horror.

"Yes, sir; I hope not, but it's solid soft everywhere I've been. I've
been most through half-a-dozen times, and twiced over I've felt as if
some of them there lizardy crorkendillo things had got hold of my toes
and tugged at 'em to get me down."

"Oh, don't talk about it, Tom," groaned the midshipman.

"All right, sir; on'y you arksed me."

"But you have no right to think such a horror as that. He may have got
down to the boat."

"Yes, sir, he may," said the man, in a low growl, "but I've been trying
my best, and I couldn't."

"Then you haven't seen the boat-keepers, Tom?"

"Not a squint of 'em, sir, and there's going to be the wussest row that
ever happened aboard ship if we don't make haste and find them and fetch
the first luff help."

"It's horrible, I know, Tom, but I've tried all I could. What's to be
done?"

"Dunno, sir. But anyhow I've found you--leastwise, a'most; and I'm
coming to jyne yer. Whereabouts are you, sir? Hail again; it's rayther
puzzling like."

"It is, Tom--dreadful. But here, where I told you--up in this fir
tree--cypress. But mind how you come, for it's very soft."

"Soft ain't the word for it, sir. I've been going to make a swim on it
over and over again. But it's reg'lar hugga-my-buff, sir; neither one
thing nor t'other. It's too soft to walk in, and it ain't soft enough
to swim."

"That's true, Tom," said the lad.

"Oh, you've found it so, have you, sir? Then look here; you arn't so
heavy as I am, so s'pose you comes to me 'stead o' me coming to you.
What do you say to that?"

"I'll try, Tom," cried Murray; and he began to descend, feeling the
elastic evergreen begin to sway and vibrate as if before long it would
double down with the weight of its load; and this it finally did,
leaving the midshipman floundering on the surface of the cane and
reed-covered swamp, so that it was only by a vigorous effort that he
managed to scuffle along in the direction of the man, who kept on
shouting encouragement until he was able to reach out a hand and drag
the lad to his side.

"Hah!" panted Murray, with a sigh of relief.

"Hah it is, sir," said the man. "But beg your pardon, sir; arn't you
a-spoiling your uniform?"

"Don't talk about it, Tom," said Murray, breathing hard. "Let's be
thankful that we've saved our lives."

"Saved our lives! But have we, sir? Don't seem to me that we're out of
the muddle yet. There, look at that!" added the man.

"Look at