"A quarter of a mile isn't a long swim, is it?" he said, after a time. "Oh no!" I agreed cheerfully. "And we might easily save sufficient food from our rations to last a long while." "Most likely we shouldn't need it long." "It would be very useful if we did." "Look here, Alzura," said I, turning on him suddenly, "let's make an end of this business. What are you driving at? Are you going to risk your life in that morass?" "I'm very tired of this place," he answered moodily. "So am I; but that doesn't lessen the danger of the swamp. Now, let us make no mistake. There is, perhaps, one chance in a hundred. Is it worth risking? Death in a morass must be rather horrible. Don't you think so?" "Well, it can't be very pleasant; but you admit we stand a chance of getting across." "One in a hundred, no more." "Ah, well," said he thoughtfully, "let us sleep on it." I could not help thinking that my chum must want his freedom badly to even suggest such a venture. Any hot-blooded enterprise, I knew well, appealed to him strongly; but this one required cool, dogged patience and nerves of iron. Barriero was a brave fellow too, but he honestly admitted he would rather be shot than try to cross the morass in the dark. As for me, I trembled at the thought of taking part in so hazardous an enterprise. However, it seemed to me that Alzura was making up his mind to go. Every day he let fall broad hints, and at last stated his intentions without reserve. "Juan," said he one evening, "I'm going. The war may last a couple of years yet. Are you coming with me? Don't if you'd rather not risk it." "Have you counted the cost?" "Yes. I know it's a touch-and-go affair; that is why I won't press you to join me." "Two will stand a better chance than one," said I thoughtfully, "and you mustn't try it alone. Shall we ask Barriero to come with us?" "May as well pass the compliment," answered Alzura, laughing. "But he won't, I'm positive." And he was right; for Barriero, on being asked, said hotly,-- "You're a pair of idiots, and I don't know which is the bigger." "It must be neither or both, if we're a pair," chuckled Alzura. "Why can't you be satisfied?" growled Barriero. "You've plenty of food, no work to do, and are well treated. And there isn't one chance in a thousand of your getting through." "Crawford said one in a hundred!" "Well, anyway, you're certain to lose your lives, and I shall be blamed for not stopping you. It's my duty to inform the sergeant, and have you chained up." "You can't," said Alzura--"you can't betray us." "You're two lunatics--stark, staring lunatics--and I wish you had told me nothing of your mad scheme." "It's awfully risky," said I, "but not so mad as you think. We shall choose our night, and we know just where to land. Then we shall take provisions to last us three or four days." "You won't need them," interrupted Barriero, in a tone of conviction which was far from encouraging.