wear away. The current was almost enough to carry them on at the rate of
several miles an hour. With the prospect of meeting hidden snags at any
minute, Frank did not deem it wise to put on any speed. That would come
when they were upon the open gulf, and obstacles no longer worried them.

They had entered a section that undoubtedly bordered on a swamp. The
trees grew thicker, and shut out much of the light, so that it seemed
actually like dusk. And to the delight of Will, the long streamers of
Spanish moss hung everywhere.

"Say, perhaps we'd better pull up soon for the night. This sort of work
needs all the eyesight we've got, and it's getting some gloomy just now.
I wouldn't dare attempt an exposure with this shadow on everything,"
remarked Will.

"Always something wrong, eh, Will? However, putting the picture-getting
aside, you'll admit that this is a mighty comfy position to be in.
There's Bluff writing up the menu he expects to spring on us the first
meal out," laughed Frank.

"I own up I _was_ thinking of something along that line. Wish I had some
of the fine oysters they tell us grow down South. Your sister Nellie
gave me several recipes to try, and I'm going to spring them on you the
first chance, see if I don't."

"Well, I only hope you have better success than the said Nellie usually
has. My dad threatens to send her to cooking school before she kills
off the entire family with her experiments. But as to the oysters, you
must wait till we get out of the river. This is fresh water. Mussels or
fresh-water clams grow in such places, but hardly oysters," observed