"Spoken with the wisdom of a sage!" said Alzura saucily. "I say, Juan, how shall I know when you're moving?" There was certainly reason for his sarcasm. As often as not, when I raised my foot I brought it down in the same place again, or, according to Alzura, even went a step backward. The night was not particularly dark--indeed, we had doubted whether it was dark enough for us to swim ashore unobserved--but the marsh was fearfully deceptive. In places the track was merely a dry hump here and there, for which I had to feel with the staff. Twice, in spite of every precaution, I missed my footing, and the second time had sunk to the waist before Alzura could pull me out. "I can't see you very well, Juan," said he, laughing, "but I have an idea that you would cut a fine figure in a ballroom just now." "Especially if it were a fancy-dress affair," I replied in the same tone. We were in no merry humour, mind you; but the weakest joke was better than dwelling on the horrors which surrounded us. Each of us knew that, but for Alzura's quickness, I should have disappeared for ever, leaving no trace behind me. Twice before the break of day I had saved him from a similar fate. We left the islet about ten o'clock, and at midnight were still in the morass, unable to move. Alzura had joined me on a piece of firm ground, just large enough for us to stand on, and no more. It was darker now, so that we could see nothing clearly, while I failed to touch any solid substance, except that behind us, with my pole. Alzura's attempts were equally unsuccessful. "You're a pretty guide!" said he. "You've got off the track; we had better try back. Give me the staff." "Be careful; mind how you turn. Can you feel the ground where we stood just now?" "Yes; here it is," and the next minute he stepped back to feel for the proper path, while I stood trembling lest he should slip in and be smothered before I could get to his assistance. "Can you find a place?" I asked. "Only towards the lake. It's nothing but marsh to right and left. I think I'll come to you again. What is it? Did I hurt you?" "Oh no, not at all!--only crushed my toes a bit with the pole! What are we going to do now?" "I suppose it's too early for breakfast?" he began, and then in a different tone he added hastily, "Oh, I say, what a joke! I've dropped my bundle of food somewhere. Perhaps it's just as well; I shall walk lighter." "But you'll want something to eat," I suggested. "Of course I shall. How dense you are! Don't you see how the accident will benefit us both? There are two now instead of one to eat your rations, so you will have all the less to carry." "Oh," said I doubtfully, not quite appreciating the logic. "Well, we don't want breakfast yet, and the question is, what are we to do? The sergeant's bound to discover our escape at breakfast-time, and a search-party will be sent ashore immediately."