CHAPTER XII--The Pathfinders
Next morning, after breakfast, Fritz Schmockenburg and Herbert Millersaid they would go and reconnoiter the enemy's position, and see whatthey were doing.
"Be careful," said Mr. Santon. "Don't run into any of the enemy'straps."
"We will be careful," said Miller.
"Yah, ve von't let dem gatch us," confidently rejoined Fritz.
So they said good-by, took their departure, and in about twenty minuteswere close enough to the British to see that all was quiet in theencampment.
The redcoats were sitting around, talking and taking it easy, and didnot seem to have any fear of being attacked, for they did not have anysentinels posted. Doubtless they had not yet learned that a patriotregiment was in the vicinity.
"They're going to stay there and watch the path, and keep the patriotsettlers from leaving the swamp," determined Miller. "Doubtless thesettlers have not very much in the way of food supplies with them on theisland, and the redcoats figure on starving them out."
"Yah, dot is der vay uf id, I bet you," said Fritz.
Miller was silent and thoughtful a few minutes, and then said: "I wonderif there is another path leading to the swamp?"
"Uf der vos, der patriot seddlers could leave der island," said theDutch soldier.
"There might be a path reaching almost to the island," said Miller. "Thepath might not be seen from the island, and yet might be reached bymaking a bridge of a fallen tree, and if that were the case, thesettlers could escape."
"Ve mighd loog for der path, alretty," said Fritz. "Ve haf nothing elseto do."
"All right, that is what we will do, Fritz. Come."
They moved slowly and cautiously away, and presently reached the edge ofthe swamp at a point about a half of a mile from the encampment of theBritish soldiers. The intervening trees and bushes made it impossiblefor the redcoats to see them.
They then started along the edge of the shore of the swamp, and kept asharp lookout for any sign of a solid path. They went slowly, so as tobe sure and not by any possibility overlook what they were in search of.
On they went, keeping their eyes on the shoreline, and they had goneperhaps a mile further, when they suddenly came to a point where therewas a path leading into the swamp.
"Here is a starting point," called Miller, "but how far it extends intothe swamp it is impossible to say."
"Ve vill soon find ouid," said Fritz.
"Yes, come along, Fritz. I'll take the lead, as I am lighter and moreactive than you."
"All righd."
They started into the swamp, and proceeded slowly and cautiously. Thepath crooked this way and that, winding and twisting about, butgradually extending deeper and deeper into the swamp, and the two feltencouraged to proceed.
"Mebby ve reach der island afder awhile," said Fritz.
"Yes, I hope that we may be able to do so," was the reply. "Or at anyrate, I hope that we may get close enough so that the intervening spacemay be bridged over."
"Yah, dot vould be all righd."
On they went, slowly and carefully. At some points the path was not morethan a foot in width, but so long as they had that much solid groundunder their feet they were well pleased.
On and still on into the swamp they went, and when they had penetrated aquarter of a mile, and had stopped a few minutes, to rest and try tofigure out the continuation of the path, they suddenly heard a voicecalling, it seemed, for help.
"Did you hear that?" exclaimed Miller, in excitement.
"Yah, somebody is lost der schwamp in, alretty," replied Fritz.
"Right. And likely it is one of the men from the settlers' party.Possibly one is trying to reach the mainland, and has got as far as hecan--or has fallen into the bog; and is in danger of losing his life."
"Maybe dot is der vay uf id," said Fritz.
"Let us hurry on," said Miller. "Perhaps the path we are on will take usclose to the poor fellow, and we may be able to render him someassistance."
"Maybe so," agreed Fritz. "You lead der vay, Misder Miller, und I villkeep up mit you uf I gan."
So they hastened onward, moving through the swamp as swiftly aspossible, and soon the voice came to them louder and plainer, and Fritzuttered an exclamation:
"I think dot voice sounds lige der voice uf Dick Dare, alretty," hesaid.
"Do you think so?" asked Miller.
"Yah, I am sure uf id."
"Then he has tried to make his way through the swamp and has fallen intothe bog, likely, and unless we get to him pretty soon, and render himassistance, he may sink beneath the surface and be smothered to death."
"Let us hurry, then, Misder Miller. I don'd vos vant Dick to ged chokedmit der bog, alretty."
They hastened onward, making, for Fritz, wonderfully fast progress, anda few minutes later they caught sight of someone up nearly to hisarm-pits in the bog. And at sight of him an exclamation escaped the lipsof Fritz.
"Id is Dick!" he cried. "Und he is avay down in der bog. Ve must savehim, Misder Miller." Then he lifted up his voice and called out loudly:"Dick! Dick Dare! Here ve are. Ve haf gome to hellup you ouid."
Dick looked in their direction, and caught sight of them. "Good for you,Fritz, old comrade," he cried, eagerly. "Hurry and get over here asclose as possible, and help me out of this."
"Ve are goming, Dick," said Fritz. "Lead on, Misder Miller."
"I'll do the best I can."
Miller advanced as swiftly as he could, following the winding of thepath, but suddenly he found that there was no continuation. He hadreached the end of the stretch of solid earth. And they were stilltwenty-five or thirty yards from Dick Dare.
"This is as far as the path extends, Mr. Dare," said Miller, adisappointed tone to his voice. "What shall we do?"
"I hardly know, stranger," was the reply.
"If you had a rope to throw to me, you could pull me out; but you haveno rope?"
"No. This is a difficult proposition, sure. But we must reach you andget you out of there, somehow."
"Yes, and you will have to hurry, for I don't like this situation atall."
"Have you anything to suggest?" asked Miller.
"The best plan, to my mind, would be to climb from tree to tree, tillyou reach this one nearest to me, and then perhaps you can break off alimb and reach it down to me."
"I'll try that, Mr. Dare."
The Dare Boys in Virginia Page 12