"Oko—lake. River end here. We there."
Payne drew out his maps and studied them.
"Where's Deer Hammock?"
"Echu Hammock there." The Indian pointed to a cluster of palmettos that reared its tops above the saw grass to the north.
"Go there."
They shoved their way through the grass; and as he contemplated the drowned land all round Payne grew warm and then cold with anger. Mile after mile to the east, north and south the watery waste stretched. Here and there a hammock bearing a few trees stood out, like tiny islands in a vast sea. Save for this there was only the uninhabited desolation of the water and grass; and the brilliant sky above.
There was no word spoken as they pushed toward the hammock. Higgins had noted the change on Payne's countenance and saw it was no time for careless words. Payne drove his pole into the bottom and drew it out for inspection.
"Limestone bottom; a thin scum of muck on top of it; and water."
The saw grass grew thicker. Only a water trail worn by dugouts permitted them to go through. Higgins probed the bottom.
"About six inches of muck here," he reported, "and a foot of water on it."