“But you were telling us something about a river that ran near the plantation, weren’t you?” asked Bobby. “Whereabouts does that lie?”
“Well, it’s that river that really makes the swamp, in a way,” explained Lee. “The country is rather low hereabouts, anyway, and when the river hits the swamp it spreads out. You can follow its course right through, though, and come out on the other side, if you don’t happen to get pocketed in some blind bayou or lagoon.”
“Well, perhaps we could do some exploring by water, anyway,” suggested Fred, hopefully.
“That is possible,” said Mrs. Cartier. “We have a small motor boat, and any time you boys care to use it you may have it.”
“That will be fine!” exclaimed Bobby and Fred.
“We can go to-morrow afternoon, if you want,” said Lee. “I want to drive to the village in the morning to get some things for mother, but if we start early, we can get back in time to get the boat and go for a short trip, anyway.”
Both Bobby and Fred were enthusiastic at the prospect, and for the rest of the evening little else was talked of except plans for the coming outing.
It was arranged that Bobby should accompany Lee on his trip to the village, while Fred was to stay at home and look over the motor boat to make sure that everything was in readiness to start when his two friends got back. After making these arrangements, the boys said good-night to Mrs. Cartier, and went to their rooms. They were all three excited at the prospect of fun and adventure the next day.
CHAPTER XVI
JIM BOOLUS APPEARS
The three boys slept the deep and dreamless sleep of healthy boyhood, and only woke when the sun was streaming in at their windows.