CHAPTER XXIV. LIFE IN THE SWAMPS.

fsomeanimal,whichgraduallyseemedtocomenearerandnearertothem,tillfinallyalargewater-dogemergedfromtheunderbrush,andbegantestifyinghisjoyatthearrivalofthenew-comer,bymostextravagantgambols. "So,ho!Buck!quiet,myboy!"saidDred."Showusthewayin!" Thedog,asifunderstandingthewords,immediatelyturnedintothethicket,andDredandhiscompanionfollowedhim,ontheirhandsandknees.Thepathwoundupanddownthebrushwood,throughmanysharpturnings,tillatlastitceasedaltogether,attherootsofatreeand,whilethedogdisappearedamongthebrushwood,Dredclimbedthetree,anddirectedhiscompaniontofollowhim,and,proceedingoutontooneofthelongestlimbs,hesprangnimblyontothegroundintheclearedspacewhichwehavebeforedescribed. Hiswifewasstandingwaitingforhim,andthrewherselfuponhimwithacryofjoy. "Oh,you'vecomeback!Ithought,sureenough,dey'dgotyoudistime!" "Notyet!Imustcontinuetilltheopeningoftheseals—tillthevisioncometh!Haveyeburiedhim?" "Nothere'sagravedugdownyonder,andhe'sbeencarriedthere." "Come,then!"saidDred. Atadistantpartoftheclearingwasablastedcedar-tree,allwhosenaturalfoliagehadperished.Butitwasveiledfromheadtofootinlongwreathsofthetillandsia,theparasiticmossoftheseregions,and,inthedimlightoftheapproachingdawn,mighthaveformednounaptresemblancetoagiganticspectredressedinmourningweeds. BeneaththistreeDredhadinterred,fromtimetotime,thebodiesoffugitiveswhichhehadfounddeadintheswamps,attachingtothisdispositionofthemsomepeculiarsuperstitiousidea. Thewidowofthedead,thewifeofDred,andthenew-comer,werenowgatheredaroundtheshallowgraveforthesoilwassuchasscarcelygaveroomtomakeaplacedeepenoughforagravewithoutitsbecomingfilledwithwater. Thedawnwasjustcommencingadimforeshadowinginthesky.Themoonandstarswerestillshining. Dredstoodandlookedup,andspoke,inasolemnvoice. "SeekhimthatmakethArcturusandOrion—thatturneththeshadowofdeathintomorning!Beholdthoselightsinthesky—thelightsinhishandspiercedforthesinsoftheworld,andspreadforthasonacross!Butthedayshallcomethatheshalllaydowntheyoke,andhewillbearthesinoftheworldnolonger.Thenshallcomethegreatjudgment.Hewilllayrighteousnesstothelineandjudgmenttotheplummet,andthehailshallsweepawaytherefugesoflies." Hestooped,and,liftingthebody,laidhiminthegrave,andatthismomentthewifebrokeintoaloudlament. "Hush,woman!"saidDred,raisinghishand."Weepyenotforthedead,neitherbewailhimbutweepyesorefortheliving!Hemustresttilltherestofhisbrethrenbekilledforthevisionissealedupforanappointedtime.Ifittarry,waitforit.Itshallsurelycome,andshallnottarry!"