ong; even though he did
make a wry face at the very moment of saying this.

Paul endeavored to explain to him what sort of work lay before them,
passing along on such insecure footing.

"Well, I must get in touch with a doctor, and that as speedily as
possible," remarked Mr. Anderson, "and I'll get out of this horrible
place if I have to crawl every foot of the way on my hands and knees.
But I don't imagine it's going to come to such a pass as that, yet
awhile. I'm ready to take my first lesson, Paul, if so be you lead the
way."

Already the aeronaut seemed to have taken a great fancy for the young
scoutmaster; but then that was only what might be expected. Paul had led
the relief expedition; and besides, there was something attractive about
the boy that always drew people to him.

"Then please follow directly after me; and Seth, you fall in behind Mr.
Anderson, will you?" Paul went on to say.

"Huh! hope you don't mean that the way you say it," grunted Seth, with a
wide grin, "because, seems to me I've done nothing else but _fall in_
ever since I got on the go. I've investigated nearly every bog along the
line, and found 'em all pretty much alike, and not to my likin' one
single bit."

But all the same, Seth felt proud of the fact that the scoutmaster had
selected him for the post of honor; for he knew that, coming just behind
the wounded balloonist, he would be expected to lend a helping hand at
such times as Mr. Anderson experienced a slip.

Just the consciousness of responsibility was apt to make Seth much more
sure-footed than before. It is always so; and wise teachers watch their
chances to make boys feel that they are of some consequence. Besides,
experiences goes a great way and Seth, having tested nearly all the
muddy stretches along the way, had in a measure learned how to avoid
contact with them again.

In another minute the boys and Mr. Anderson were on the move. No doubt,
if that savage mother cat and her charges were secretly watching from a
leafy covert near by, they must have been heartily gratified because the
menacing enemy had seen fit to quit the oasis in the swamp, leaving the
remnants of the wrecked balloon to be pawed over by the frolicsome
kittens.

"I see that you are true scouts, for you have blazed the way as
prettily as I ever saw it done, Mr. Anderson remarked presently.

"That was Paul's doing," spoke up Seth, not in the least jealous.

"Oh! it's the easiest thing to do that a