"I got
suthin' to say to him, I have!"
Tom did not pay much attention to this; but Nan did. Her heart
leaped for joy. She believed that Toby Vanderwiller's words
promised help for Uncle Henry.
But she said nothing to Tom about it. She only clung to his
shoulder as the heavy timber cart rattled away from the island.
A misty glow hung over the sawdust strip as they advanced; but
now that the wind had died down the fire could not spread.
Beside the road the glow worms did their feeble best to light the
way; and now and then an old stump in the swamp displayed a
ghostly gleam of phosphorus.
Nan had never been in the swamp before at night. The rain had
driven most of the frogs and other croaking creatures to cover.
But now and then a sudden rumble "Better-go-roun'!" or "Knee-
deep! Knee-deep!" proclaimed the presence of the green-
jacketed gentlemen with the yellow vests.
"Goodness me! I'd be scared to death to travel this road by
myself," Nan said, as they rode on. "The frogs make such awful
noises."
"But frogs won't hurt you," drawled Tom.
"I know all that," sighed Nan. "But they sound as if they would.
There! That one says, just as plain as plain can be, 'Throw 'im
in! Throw 'im in!"
"Good!" chuckled Tom.
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