Our advance, while not rapid, was steady, and we must have covered several miles before the east began to show gray, the ghastly light of the new dawn revealing our tired faces.
Ahead of us stretched an extensive swamp, with pools of stagnant water shimmering through lush grass and brown fringes of cat-tails bordering their edges.

Seemingly our further advance was stopped, nor could we determine the end of the morass confronting us.

Some distance out in this desolation, and only half revealed through the dim light, a somewhat higher bit of land, rocky on its exposed side, its crest crowned with trees, arose like an island.

Tim stared across at it, shading his eyes with one hand.
"If we wus goin' ter stop enywhar, Cap," he said finally, "I reckon thar ain't no better place then thet, pervidin' we kin git thar." I followed his gaze, and noticed that the mulatto girl also lifted her head to look.
"We certainly must rest," I confessed.

"Miss Beaucaire seems to be sleeping, but I am sure is thoroughly exhausted.