“What makes you take to the swamp?” inquired Frank.

“It is a short cut across the country,” answered George, “and if we are pursued by blood-hounds we can more easily elude them.”

Between sleeping and listening for the noise of pursuit, the fugitives passed the night.  As soon as day began to dawn, they made a hasty breakfast on the provisions which they had obtained at the plantation, and resumed their journey.  George led the way into the swamp, and, as he seemed to choose the most difficult path, their progress was necessarily slow and laborious.  About the middle of the afternoon the swamp became almost impassable, and the major was about to suggest the propriety of picking out an easier path, when George suddenly halted on the banks of a narrow, but deep and sluggish, stream, and, wiping his forehead with his coat-sleeve, said, with something like a sigh of relief: 

“Here we are, at last.”

“I see we are,” said the major, gazing impatiently about on the labyrinth of trees and bushes with which they were surrounded, “but I had rather be almost anywhere else.  You might as well get us out of this swamp by the shortest and easiest path you can find.”

“I will, if you order me to do so,” answered George; “but we are now at as good a harboring place as can be found in a country filled with enemies, bent upon our capture, and thirsting for our blood.  I know my father’s disposition too well to think that he will allow us to get off easily.  The country is fairly overrun with cavalry by this time, and the best thing we can do is to remain here until the excitement has abated a little, and then push for Red River again.  That high bank you see over there,” he continued, pointing across the stream, “is an island, and all the blood-hounds and negro-hunters in Louisiana would not think of looking for us there.  However, I will lead you out of the swamp, if you say so.”

After a short consultation, it was decided that it would be best to accept George’s plan, as their pursuers would never think of looking for them so near the plantation; and, after divesting themselves of their clothes, they entered the water and struck out for the opposite shore.  Frank, who brought up the rear, had scarcely made half a dozen strokes, when he was startled by a loud splashing in the water, followed by a noise resembling the bellowing of a bull, and looked up just in time to see the huge, shining body of an alligator disappear in the muddy water.  The utmost horror was depicted on Frank’s countenance, as he turned and hastily regained the shore.  The others, who were too far out to return, were no less terrified, but they had the presence of mind to retain their hold of their clothing and weapons, and a few hasty strokes brought them to the shore.  George and the lieutenant were the only ones who did not seem aware of the danger; for, when the former reached the shore, he proceeded to pull on his clothes, and, seeing Frank standing where he had left him, coolly inquired: