"By that time it will be too dark to do much more.

And we'll have to find some suitable place to camp for the night." "Oh, we can camp anywhere," cried Tom.

"It's good enough--just for one night." They began to trudge along the edge of the horseshoe curve, over smooth sand.

But this did not last, and presently they came to a muddy flat and went down to their ankles.

Dick was ahead and he cried to the others.
"Stop! It's not fit to walk here!" "Why, it's like a bog!" declared Sam, after testing it.
"We'll have to go inland a distance," said Tom.