found a ford somewhere near. He was very weary from the journey through
the marsh and, sitting on a log, he scraped from his clothes a portion of
the mud they had accumulated on the way.

He was a good swimmer, but he had his arms and ammunition to keep dry,
and he did not wish to trust himself afloat on the deep current. Wading
would be far better, and, when his strength was restored, he walked up
the bank in search of a shallower place.

He came soon to a point, where the cliff was rather high, although it was
clothed in dense forest here as elsewhere, and when he reached the crest
he heard a sound like the swishing of waters. Alert and suspicious he
sank down among the trees and peered over the bank. Two men in a canoe
were paddling in a leisurely manner along the stream.

The men were in faded and worn Confederate uniforms, and Dick saw their
rifles lying in the bottom of the boat. He also saw that they had strong,
resolute faces. They were almost opposite him and they were closely
scanning the forest on his side of the river. He was glad that he had
not tried to swim the stream, and he was glad too that he had kept so
well under cover. The men in the canoe were surely keen of eye, and they
must be a patrol.

He sank closer to the earth and did not stir. One of the watchers drew
in his paddle and took up his rifle, while the other propelled the canoe
very slowly. It seemed that they expected something or somebody, and it
suddenly occurred to him that it might be he. He felt a little shiver of
apprehension. How could they know he was coming? It was mysterious and
alarming.