Once they entered camp John privately received a stern lecture about safety in numbers and the importance of staying together and not wandering off without permission.
Eileen spoke with her father as they packed their things and prepared to move on in their search.
“I kind of hate to say this but I’m glad that Mum is teaching Latin and other lessons to me, for if she hadn’t I never would have understood what Marco was saying.”
Andrew smiled. “I never thought I would hear you say those words! Maybe God used this experience to teach you a lesson. I don’t know.”
Eileen nodded thoughtfully. “Maybe so,” she replied as he passed her a blanket which she stuffed into a sack that was being used as luggage.
The temperature was becoming very warm and humid for spring. In fact, it felt more like summer than spring. The environment was becoming more swampy and muddy as they traveled. Everyone was constantly swatting at the mosquitoes and flies that were forever swarming and biting. Their horses were just as busy swatting with their tails.
“Goodness, I hope we leave this area soon. The insect are horrid!” exclaimed Jenny with disgust.
Matthew answered absentmindedly. “We must be nearing some sitting water.”
Hamilton raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Nearing sitting water? We’re standing in it, man!”
Mathew looked down at the watery mud that covered the horse’s hooves. “So we are.”
All horses came to a halt.
“What do we do now?” John looked worried.
“We keep going, of course,” Matthew replied.
Jenny squinted at him and shook her head. “But it is getting deeper, Sir. If we keep going like this we are bound to be swimming.”
“Let’s just see what happens. Follow me!”
Jenny was right; the mud did get deeper until it turned into a still body of water. The water was up to the horse’s knees. In certain places the water bubbled. Everyone stopped, uncertain of what to do. Matthew confirmed the one thought that they all had been wondering.
“Quicksand,” he said.
The word struck fear into Eileen’s heart. Quicksand! The horrid word made her shiver. She feared the deadly substance more than any of her fears. Just the thought of being sucked down into the deep depths of the earth horrified her.
“There is no way we can cross this, it is hopeless! We must find another way around!” she cried out. With eyes filled with fear she pleaded with Matthew, voicing the thoughts that everyone had been wanting to say but not daring to. “Please, don’t drive us to our deaths by making us cross this.”
For the first time during the trip, Andrew had to be stern with her. “Be silent, Eileen.”
She now felt extremely embarrassed and regretted that she had ever said what she did. She knew that she had been disrespectful, and was ashamed. She needed to be brave for Daniel, if not for herself.
Matthew turned to Andrew. “You scout that way,” he pointed to the left. “And I will go the other way.” He motioned to the right. “Taggert and Victor, you two come with us. The rest of you don’t make a move, or it could be your last.”
Eileen shivered at his last statement, but wisely kept silent.
John who had been riding next to her, whispered. “I really don’t blame you for what you said. I was thinking the same thing. I don’t want to cross it either.”
