anoe far up into the mangroves
and fastened it securely to a large root. Making his way ashore he
soon found a small space of cleared ground, to which he speedily
conveyed their blankets which he spread out on the dry sand. Returning
to the boat he endeavored in vain to rouse Charley from the stupor into
which he had fallen. At last he gave up the attempt and half carried
and half dragged his chum ashore and laid him on his blanket, then
quickly stretching himself out by his side, was soon fast asleep.

Once in the night Walter was awakened by a loud splashing. With pistol
in hand he stole to the water's edge. Many dark masses were slowly
gliding to and fro on the surface of the stream. "Alligators," he
exclaimed with a sigh of relief and returned to his blanket and sleep,
from which he was only aroused again by the rising of the sun.

CHAPTER XIX.

THE SWAMP.

Walter's first thought on awakening was for his chum. Charley was
tossing restlessly on his blanket, his face and hands flushed and hot
with fever. All of Walter's attempts to rouse him met only with
unintelligible words and phrases. The exertion of the previous day in
his weak state, the opening of his wound afresh, and the unhealthy
river water he had drank, had all combined to bring him to a dangerous
condition.

Walter removed the bandages and looked at the wound. It was of an
angry red and greatly swollen, and its changed appearance frightened
him. "Charley," he called, shaking him gently, "don't you know me?"

Reason gleamed for a moment in the sufferer's eyes. "Sure, it's Walt,"
he muttered.

"Listen and do try to understand," begged Walter, earnestly. "We are
safe, Charley. The convicts cannot get at us now. We can stay here
and rest up as long as we want to and you can lay quiet and get well
again. Now, I am going to light a fire and get you some broth and
strong coffee, and, after you have taken them, I am going to heat some
water and give that wound a good cleansing. Do you understand, old
chap?"

"Yes," murmured the sufferer, wearily.

After putting his own blanket under Charley's head for a pillow and
making the sick lad as comfortable as possible, Walter began his
preparations for breakfast. Selecting a spot where the ground seemed
soft and free from roots, he dug a hole about two feet deep to contain
his fire. It required only a few minutes to make one large enough for
his purpose, and his next step was to bring