the Yankee succeeded in grasping the gunwale of the Maid of the Marsh, and at length drew himself safely on board.
Then he hastily lifted his employer from the water, after which he gazed pantingly in the direction of the approaching canoe.
“Much obliged to yer, boys,” said he, addressing our two young friends. “Whichever of ye it was that plugged that ugly critter are a good shot, swan if he ain’t!”
Leo and Dick at once perceived that the men were not likely to prove enemies, so they lost no time in urging their canoe to the side of the sailboat.
“Glad to meet you, young gentlemen!” exclaimed the professor, rubbing his hands. “I thought us two were the only ones in this wild place. I am glad that such is not the case, though, I assure you. For had it not been for you, both Haypole and myself would surely have been devoured by that ferocious monster. All on account of his pig-headedness, too.”
“Now, see here, professor,” put in the Yankee, “I ain’t a-goin’ ter quarrel with you ag’in under no consideration. This oughter be a lesson for us both. Why, I swan ter Guinea! that little foolishness nearly cost us both our nat’ral lives! Come aboard, boys; I’ve got some fine, old Medford rum here, an’ gosh! if I don’t stand treat.”
The smell of the blood from the dead alligator was drawing others to the spot, and both Leo and Dick deemed it advisable to board the boat.
They at once clambered over the gunwale of the Maid of the Marsh, and then, tying their canoe to the stern, questioned the professor and Haypole as to where they had come from, and what they were doing there.
In a very matter-of-fact way Prof. Easy related his whole story, word for word, and in conclusion said:
“Now, then, young gentlemen, tell us how we came to find you in this dangerous and unhealthy place.”
It did not take Dick Vincey long to do this, and when he had finished all four seemed glad that the meeting had taken place.
“Leo Malvern and Dick Vincey, eh?” said Prof. Easy. “Well, I’ll tell you both bluntly that I like you. I am now going to make a proposition to you, which you can accept or decline as you see fit.”
“What is it?” asked Leo.
“I would like to have you accompany me on my exploring trip. You are both made of the right sort of material for such an undertaking; and, if my theory proves correct, you will assist me in making one of the greatest discoveries the world has ever known.”
“Before we give you an answer I would suggest that you move your boat over to our island, just beyond the bend. We have a darky there who has supper waiting for us, and we are both hungry. Besides, we have a fire burning there, and it is getting dark. I think it will be pleasanter for all hands,” observed Leo.
“A good idee,” said Haypole. “Here, boys, is ther Medford rum I spoke about; have some?”
His offer was declined, greatly to his astonishment.
“Great haystacks!” he exclaimed, swallowing a big mouthful of the liquor; “this stuff won’t hurt ye any more’n apple cider.”
The longer Leo and Dick remained in the company of the two men, the better they liked them.
There was something about Prof. Easy that was bound to make him friends wherever he went, and Martin Haypole – well, he was one of those comical, unsophisticated people whom almost everybody likes.
Dick grasped a pole and assisted to shove the boat out into the stream, and thence to the little island, where Lucky, the darky, was anxiously awaiting the return of the two boys.
When he saw the sailboat approaching through the gathering darkness, he uttered a cry of alarm and hastily seized his rifle, which stood against a tree.
“Hold on, Lucky! it is all right,” shouted Leo.
“Fo’ de Lor’ sakes! Whar did youse done git de boat, Massa Leo?” asked the darky.
“We found her out here with two men in her,” returned Dick, as the prow of the craft struck the little island.
A line was thrown out, which Lucky quickly tied to a tree, and then the four sprang out upon the ground.
The darky still had the possum and coffee warm, and, as there was enough to go around, all hands did ample justice to the meal.
When supper was finished, Leo and Dick thought over the professor’s proposition, and, after a while, concluded to accept it.
The five sat about the fire for a long while, chatting over the matter, and finally, when they began to get drowsy, Leo suggested that they should turn in upon the bottom of the boat, leaving one man on guard for the first part of the night, and when his time was up, to make a change.
“I think it advisable to do this,” said he, “for we can’t tell what might happen while we slept.”
“A good idea,” promptly returned the professor. “Martin will take the first watch.”
“I will, sartin,” said the Yankee.
“And I’ll take second,” put in Dick. “To-morrow night some one else can have a show.”
This seemed to be satisfactory, so all turned in save Haypole, who, rifle in hand, sat down upon the ground near the boat, with his back to a tree.
He kept the fire burning brightly to keep prowling animals away, and listened to the regular breathing of his companions, who were soon fast asleep.
The hours flitted by.
Martin Haypole’s time was nearly up, and he was still seated in the position he had taken on commencing his watch.
Up to this time he had remained wide awake, but now he began dozing.
Suddenly he was brought to his full senses by hearing the crackling of a twig at his elbow.
The Yankee glanced hastily up, and was surprised to see the figure of a man within two feet of him.
Before he could make a move the stranger seized the rifle from his hands, and bounded from the spot with the speed of an antelope.
“Hey!” exclaimed Haypole, springing to his feet and firing his revolver at the retreating form. “Who in thunderation be you, anyhow?”
But a splash told him that the man had taken to the water.
CHAPTER III.
THE STONE CUBE AND THE OBELISK
Three weeks later we find Prof. Remington Easy and his exploring party in the very heart of the great Everglades.
Had they not been possessed of a vast amount of pluck and endurance they would never have reached this far.
But to turn back was strictly out of the question to them, and this, coupled with the fact that they were completely fitted out for such an undertaking, was the secret of their success.
As Prof. Easy had expected, they found the central position of the swamp less dangerous to traverse. It seemed to be upon
