Bill Bolton-Flying Midshipman

eeping well under the surface. His plan was to make for one of the small islands of the lagoon, trusting that on

Then a long dark body swept alongside of him. Osceola's sinewy arm caught him by the shoulders and swung him round to

and rose, careful that no more than his nose and mouth appeared above the surface. Two or three life-giving breaths, and he sank again, with the muffled sound of revolver s

find the young Seminole at his side. Osceola

ow," he murmured. "Make

ill understood that a splash might be fatal in advertising their whereabouts, and followed

e canopy of overhanging boughs that lined the lagoon's swampy shore. Soon Bill glided beside him, into

et out of this. They will come here when

te youth. "You're a better man than I

uckled Osceola. "Come on now-there

scrambled out of the water. Osceola led him round the base of a

been working this end of the lagoon. There's a cleft in

here!" was Bill's u

difficult. There ar

he trunk, then felt his hand touch a thic

directed the Seminole. "I'l

Bill. "I'm as blind as

ndian's grasp and he heard the other moving upward. "Follow me," he went on, when he was jus

ent, and especially so to an Annapolis midshipman. Up he went, hand

esently, "give me a hand-that's right. Now

friend in the wide cleft. "If those guys can't see any better th

light they need," replied Osceola. "But the

ste

p sounded the d

odho

e brutes in kennels o

ll be able t

we started to climb. Of course we left a trail up the

nk we're O.K.

e guards can spot us easily from the end of the road

eing-where do w

s, alligators and other pleasant companions, we won't get very far on a h

h luck you and I will be able to get away from this vile place a

They're coming this way.

nd in the niche and stared into the bla

ring clusters which advanced along the road. And again the damp, l

searching party leaves the road and

o," admitted his companion.

t's

arest you and I'll lie on the one that parallels it. Don't move if the

nky darkness of this forest in the swamp. Peering down through the heavy screen of foliage and vines, the gnarled roots, underbrush and stagnant water below became dimly visible. To the left, possibly ten feet away and

ame on again and he could plainly hear the dogs splashing noisily about in the swamp. Still nearer-and the glare of pine torches made it possible for

canoe," sang out a rough voice. "There ain'

if dose guys is in dis swamp dey'll have t' st

he had felled with his shovel. "Them two can see in daylight just the same as us. An' one of 'e

nor grub. What's de use of rustlin' in here now, Pete?

g point. "Long as I'm bossing this job, we goes on-see? You bums is pushin' yer fac

of the cypress where he and Osceola lay hidden. He hugged the limb close, praying

d the neighboring branch. To his horror he saw a huge snake lower its long black body from the branch above. The reptile'

by the sound, and would probably sight him at once. Far better a swift death in the gloo

sound through the air and the snake slid downward, missing him by inches. He saw Osceola draw back th

at a moment before had nearly caused his own death. The frenzied overseer leapt shrieking to his feet and lurched

uted hoarsely, their yells awakening the forest birds who

ime, then with the help of the other two crews, their canoe was righted

ne of the dripping men when the uproar had su

om one of the other canoes. "Le

t another think comin'--" snarled the first man with profane emphasis. "Dis baby's goin' to catch some sleep before sunup-er somebody else is goin' on de s

eech. The canoes headed back toward the road. The tra

had disappeared in the dist

runk. Those chaps are off till m

found Osceola before him at their perch. He

a goner. Some day perhaps I may be able to sh

. "And you did more than that for me on the muck heap this after

spoke of plans j

idea-but wha

while back. Couldn't think. Bu

you thin

r an hour-then hike o

ourselves up?" Osceola

f this rotten cypress swamp for good and all. But to

-to me it is as plain as mud. Sounds like a minstrel gag. Tell me, Mr

irst time since his ar

shell is just this. You may not believe me, but if we live, you and I

y back to Shell Island until tomorrow. But there's no stealing her, youn

in the darkness. "But my plan is

t th

hearty!" This time B