Thus we now find them in their boat upon the lower part of Lake Okechobee, within about five miles of the beginning of the Everglades.
The sun was yet about three hours high, and the professor hoped to reach a good place to land before the shades of night gathered around them.
It was now the second day since they had entered the upper portion of the lake, by way of the stream beyond it, and the professor judged that the marshes must be close at hand.
Owing to the fact that their boat did not possess one of those useful things known as a centerboard, and that the winds had been contrary ever since they entered Lake Okechobee, they had made but a scant twenty miles in nearly two days.
While Prof. Easy was satisfied with this slow mode of progress, Martin Haypole was not.
The boat, which was christened Maid of the Marsh, appeared to be a very insignificant thing in the eyes of the Yankee.
He had laughed at it, swore at it and nearly cried over it.
And now, just as Prof. Easy made a prodigious effort and rose to his feet, he began again.
“I tell you, professor, this is the dod-rottedest boat that ever sot in water. Them trees there to the south’ard are ther Everglades; but d’yer think we’ll ever git thar at this rate? Mought better started in a rowboat. Maid of ther Marsh! A cussed fine name, ain’t it? I hope she gits stuck in some marsh afore long, an’ never gits out again. But I’m ’fraid we’ll both be gray-headed afore she gits to a marsh. Twenty miles in two days! Well, I swan ter Guinea! If that ain’t travelin’ in ther nineteenth century, I’m a downright fule!”
“Tut, tut, Martin,” replied the professor; “take things easy. I took notice that you were very glad to get in the boat day before yesterday, when that big alligator gave chase after you.”
“Oh! she were good enough then, professor. I don’t want a ’gator nosin’ aroun’ me; an’ this tub is good enough when that kind of work is goin’ on. But when you come right down ter sailin’, whar in blazes does this dod-rotted thing come in?”
“Have patience, Martin. We will reach those trees yonder in less than an hour. See! a favorable breeze is even now springing up.”
The professor was right. For the first time during their voyage upon the lake the wind was blowing in a direction suited to their course.
The hitherto flapping mainsail now bellied out, and the little craft went skipping through the water like a thing of life.
Even Martin Haypole was temporarily satisfied, and with his hand upon the tiller he watched the rapidly nearing forest in the swamp district.
The breeze kept up, and, sure enough, in a little while they arrived at the end of the lake proper.
As soon as they got among the trees, the breeze ceased to exist, and once more the sail flapped idly about the mast.
“I’ll be gosh-dinged if we won’t eat supper on land to-night, anyhow!” exclaimed the Yankee, as he pushed the boat, by means of a long pole, into a narrow creek, and made for a little island that was several feet above the level of the marsh.
“Good enough, Martin—good enough!” returned his companion, rubbing his hands. “I am agreeable, I assure you.”
At that moment the prow of the boat struck the bank and caused the fat professor to lose his balance and tumble overboard.
“Ha! ha! ha!” laughed the Yankee, as he observed his employer floundering about in the muddy water. “How d’ye like it, professor? You laughed at me when I fell overboard—now it is your turn, by gosh! I told you laughin’ was catchin’. Now, if one of them ugly ’gators was ter come along there would be fun. Thunder and lightnin’! if there ain’t one, now, I’m a rank sinner!”
A floundering was heard a few feet from the struggling professor, and a half-grown alligator was seen making for him with all his might.
The luckless man had now assumed an upright position, with the dirty, black water even with his chin, and as he observed his peril he bellowed lustily for help.
He strove in vain to reach the gunwale of the boat, but the distance was too far for his short arms.
Haypole, with an amused smile upon his face, allowed the alligator to get within a few feet of his intended prey, and then reached over suddenly and seized his employer by the arms.
He then saw that he would not be able to get him out as quickly as he had anticipated, and his gleeful look turned to one of alarm.
The professor was a heavyweight of the first water, and had it not been for the fact that Haypole was a very strong man, the ferocious alligator would certainly have had a good supper that night.
But by an almost superhuman effort he jerked him from the muddy water just as the ferocious monster made a vicious snap with its huge jaws.
“Murder!” yelled the professor, as he fell in a heap at the feet of the Yankee; “the thing has bitten off my foot!”
“I guess not, professor; he only nipped off ther heel of yer shoe. Great haystacks! but that was a narrar escape, though! I didn’t know you was so ’tarnal heavy.”
As soon as the half-drowned man found that he was not injured, he got mad, and shaking his fist under Haypole’s nose, said:
“Martin, if you ever let such a thing as that occur again, I’ll discharge you on the spot!”
“Now, don’t git mad, old man; you won’t discharge me, you know you won’t. Why, thunderation! You couldn’t git along without me.”
“It makes no difference; the whole thing was your fault. If you had not made such an ass of yourself by pushing the boat so hard against the bank, I would not have fallen overboard at all. Then the idea of your standing here laughing at me when the alligator was coming after me with all his might. You think you are very funny, Martin Haypole; and I’ll tell you what I have a great notion of doing.”
“What?” asked the Yankee, showing just a slight tinge of passion.
“I have a great mind of thrashing you.”
“You had better not try it, professor. I never seen that man yet as could do that in a square rough and tumble.”
Whack!
The enraged professor struck his employee a smart blow on the face with his open hand.
“Thunder and lightning!” howled the Yankee; “I can’t stand that, even if you do be my boss.”
He made a sudden dive forward and seized Prof. Remington Easy by the collar, and prepared to stand him on his head.
But the fat man was still mad, and he ducked down and seized his opponent by his long legs.
Then each strove to force the other to the bottom of the boat.
“Drat your tarnal hide! I’ll wallop you, anyhow, now,” exclaimed Haypole.
He let out his full strength, and down went the fat professor, with him on top.
But as they struck the boat gave a lurch, and overboard went both of them.
And the alligator, who was still hovering about the place, opened wide his jaws and swam toward the two struggling forms, who were each striving to see who could shout “Murder!” the loudest.
CHAPTER II.
AN ACCEPTED PROPOSITION.
“Dick this is a pretty wild spot, isn’t it?”
“Well, I should say so,