Fred required no urging as he renewed his labors and not many minutes had passed before both boys were convinced that they were steadily drawing nearer to land. Whether it was the mainland or an island they were unable to determine at the time.
“It’s all marsh along here,” declared John at last when the boat was not many yards distant from the shore. “I can see the rushes.”
“That’s right, Jack,” acknowledged Fred a moment later after he too had peered intently at the nearby shore. “What shall we do?”
“Why, keep on, and we’ll watch for lights too.”
“You won’t see any lights this time of night,” retorted Fred. “If there is anybody willing to live in this forlorn spot he’s probably in bed four or five hours ago.”
“Well, go ahead anyway,” said John.
Accordingly Fred again grasped the oars and slowly rowed forward. For a long distance they were unable to discern anything but the marsh on their right. There was no place seen where they might make a landing nor was an attempt considered worth while.
“I don’t see any use in this,” said Fred at last. “We aren’t getting anywhere.”
“Try a little longer,” said John. “Maybe we’ll come to something different. There you have it!” he added a few minutes later when apparently they came to the end of the marsh and saw before them the dim outlines of a sloping bank. “We can land here, I guess.”
“Land!” retorted Fred. “What do you want to land for?”