This was not a cheerful prospect, and the boys would have assisted in the rowing had there been any spare oars. But although Mr. Brewer was a small man, he was very vigorous, and he pulled away bravely. At the end of about five minutes of this violent exercise he stopped and rested. The big alligator had not reappeared, and at the point where they then were there were no alligators to be seen either in the water or on the shore. Coot looked around him. On the right hand of the stream the shore was low and marshy, but on the side nearest the town, the bank was a little higher than it had been, and between the creek and the forest, about a quarter of a mile away, there was a level stretch of dry land, covered with coarse grass. “I tell you what we kin do,” said Coot. “There’s a road over thar in the woods that leads straight to town. ’Taint much of a road, but it’ll do to walk in, and it won’t be long before we kin strike it. I say, let’s land here, and walk to town. We kin git thar easy in three or four hours.” “What do you mean?” cried Phil. “Leave this boat here, and the sail-boat in the river?” “Yes, sir,” said Coot. “You don’t ketch me goin’ down among all them ’gators ag’in. I wouldn’t do it for all the money in the world! We kin come after the sail-boat to-morrow, and as for this dinky, we’ll have to leave her. It’s a pity for Bill Hawkins to lose his dinky, but what’s a little boat like this to being scrunched up by a lot of ’gators!” “It will be a mighty mean thing to leave the man’s boat here!” exclaimed Phil, “and I’m not going to do it!” “Nor I either!” cried Chap and Phœnix, in a breath. “All right!” said Coot, pulling toward the shore. “I’m goin’ to land and walk to town, and if you choose to run back through all them ’gators you kin do it. I ain’t got no way to hender you.” “What did you come for, if you’re afraid?” asked Chap. “I didn’t think there was so many of ’em, or I wouldn’t ’a’ come,” was the cool reply. When the boat touched the bank he put down the oars and jumped ashore. “I’ll take the shot-gun,” he said, “’cause I don’t want to lose any of John’s things. And you might as well give me them victuals you’ve wrapped up, for if the ’gators don’t eat you, you’ll git to the boat before you’re hungry; and I’m likely to want something on the way.” The gun and the luncheon were handed to him without a word, and he began to make his way over the level ground toward the woods. Chap and Phœnix now each took an oar, and pushed off, while Phil sat in the stern. “Did you ever see such a good-for-nothing, contemptible coward as that, in all your life?” said Chap, not waiting until Coot should be entirely out of hearing. “I never did,” said Phil. “Nor I,” added Phœnix. “But for one, I’m glad we’re rid of him. He wasn’t a bit of good to us. And now, what are we going to do?” “Go back to the boat as soon as we can, I should say,” said Phil. “Right through the alligators?” said Chap.