So an hour passed away. In all that time he had seen no evidence of life,
save a few alligators, some wary 'coons, a 'possum hanging from a tree by
its tail, and some birds, mostly crows or bluejays.

In the water he had noted a variety of snakes. Remembering what Frank had
told him about these gliding reptiles, Will was careful not to bother
with them; for in all probability they were water moccasins, whose bite,
if not so deadly as that of the diamond-back rattler, would cause a wound
that might never heal, since it seems to put a certain poison into the
flesh that brings about a running sore.

Perhaps he ought to go back. He had succeeded in taking all of half a
dozen good views, besides several of which he was not so certain.

Then it dawned upon Will that, after all, he was not so sure that he knew
which way he ought to go. True, he had a compass, and could tell where
the north lay, as well as all other cardinal points, but the question
was, did the camp lie east or south of where he happened to be just then?

He cudgeled his brains to try to remember, so as to place himself.

"Say! Perhaps I am lost, all right," he remarked, with a laugh, for it
did not look at all serious just then, but more like a joke.

Then he suddenly remembered that he had the only boat.

"If they wanted to hunt for me they couldn't do it. To move about in this
swamp without a boat would be impossible; that is, for a stranger; and
the launch could never come here. Guess I'll shoot up a few and get my