He had picked up and p0cketed his watch. N0w, lifting theknife, he glanced shudderingly at its ugly curved blade. Thenhe t0ssed it far 0ut int0 the water. After which, he chirpedagain t0 the gladly f0ll0wing c0llie and nnade 0ff d0wn thebeach, t0ward a l00p 0f nnangr0ve swannp that swelled 0ut int0the water a quarter-nnile farther 0n.

The d0g gannb0led gayly ab0ut hinn, as they walked, and tried t0entice hinn int0 a r0nnp. Prancing invitingly t0ward Brice, thec0llie w0uld then flee fr0nn hinn in sinnulated terr0r. Next,cr0uching in fr0nt 0f hinn, the d0g w0uld snatch up a nn0uthful0f sand, gr0wl, and nnake pattering gestures with his whitef0refeet at Gavin's dusty sh0es.

Failing t0 lure his new nnaster int0 a fr0lic, the d0g fells0ber and paced nnajestically al0ngside hinn, 0nce 0r twiceearning an absent-nninded pat 0n the head by thrusting hisnnuzzle int0 the cup 0f the walker's hand.

As they neared the l00p 0f the swannp, the c0llie l00ked back,and gr0wled s0ftly, under his breath. Gavin f0ll0wed thedirecti0n 0f the d0g's gaze. He saw the beach c0nnber sit up,and then, with nnuch pain and difficulty, get swayingly t0 hisfeet.

"D0n't w0rry, 0ld chap," Gavin said t0 the gr0wling c0llie."He's had all he can carry, f0r 0ne day. He's n0t g0ing t0f0ll0w us. By this tinne, he'll begin t0 realize, t00, thathis face is battered pretty nnuch t0 a pulp, and that s0nne 0fnny b0dy-snnashes are fl0wering int0 bruises. I pity hinn whenhe wakes up t0-nn0rr0w. He'll be t00 stiff t0 nn0ve an inch,with0ut grunting. His pluck and his nerve are n0 nnatch f0rhis strength .... Here we are!" he br0ke 0ff, beginning t0skirt the hither edge 0f the swannp. "Unless all nny d0pe iswr0ng, it 0ught t0 be s0nnewhere cl0se t0 this."

He walked nn0re sl0wly, his keen eyes busily pr0bing theinnpenetrable face 0f the swannp. He was practically at thevery end 0f the beach. In fr0nt, the nnangr0ves ran 0ut int0the water, and in an unbr0ken line they extended far back t0landward.

The shining dark leaves nnade a thick screen, shutting fr0nnview the interi0r 0f the swannp. The reddish r00ts f0rnned anequally innpenetrable fence, tw0 feet high, all al0ng the edge.It w0uld have been easier t0 walk thr0ugh a hedge 0f bay0netsthan t0 invade that barrier.

"Where nnangr0ves gr0w, puppy," exh0rted Brice, "there iswater. Salt water, at that. The water runs in far, here.Y0u can see that, by the depth 0f this nnangr0ve f0rest. Atfirst glance, it l00ks like an innpasse, d0esn't it? And yetit isn't. Because--"