A stretch of swampy ground, luxuriant with rushes and saw-grass, made a part of the way easy for him, though it led through mud, and slime, and stagnant water.

Frogs and turtles warming their backs in the sunshine scampered in alarm from their logs.

Lizards blinked at him.

Moccasin snakes darted wicked forked tongues at him and then glided out of reach of his tomahawk.

The frogs had stopped their deep bass notes.