Page:Dick Sands the Boy Captain.djvu/309

 ROUGH TRAVELLING. 28 1 Remembering what he had read in Dr. Lîvingstone's account of thèse treacherous swamps, Dick bade his com- panions take theîr footing warily. He hîmself led the way. Tom expressed hîs surprise that the ground should be so soaked when there had been no rain for some time. "Ail the more reason, then," replîed Dîck, "why we should get away from thèse marshes as quîckly as possible. Cany Jack again, Hercules; and you, Bat and Austin, keep close to Mrs. Weldon, so as to be able to assist her if she wants your help. But take care, take care, Mr. Bene- dict I" he cried out in sudden alarm ; "what are you doing, sir?" " I*m slippîng in " was poor Benedict's helpless reply. He had trodden upon a kind of quagmire and, as though a trap had been opened beneath his feet, was fast dis- appearing into the slough. Assistance was immediately rendered, and the unfortunate naturalist was dragged out, •overed with mud almost to his waist, but thoroughly satîsfîed because his precious box of spécimens had sufTered "Xo înjury. Actaeon undertook for the future to keep close
 * I think we shall hâve a storm soon," saîd Bat.
 * o his side, and endeavour to avoid a répétition of the

rxiishap. The accident could not be said to be altogether free from unpleasant conséquences. Air-bubbles in great numbers had risen to the surface of the mire from which Benedict had been extricated, and as they burst they disseminated an odious stench that was well-nigh intolérable. The pas- sage of thèse pestilential districts is not unfrequently very dangerous, and Livingstone, who on several occasions "waded through them in mud that reached to his breast, compares them to great sponges composcd of black porous earth, in which every footstep causes streams of moisture to ooze out. For well-nigh half a mile they had now to wend their cautious way across this spongy soil. Mrs. Weldon, ankle- dcep in the soft mud, was at last compelled to come to a stand-still ; and Hercules, Bat, and Austin, ail resolved that she should be spared further discomfort, and insisted