"
The sand area, and with it the pines, gave way to a stretch of muck and
saw grass, the saw grass to a jungle of elderberry trees so thick the
light barely filtered in. Blackbirds by thousands, large and plump and
glistening, swarmed about in the jungle; and on the thicker branches
the loathsome buzzards sat waiting, waiting.
Payne carefully inspected the shore before leaving the boat when the
landing was made at the high banks.
"Step ashore, Higgins, and see if there's a trail."
"Sort of a one-hog path, I guess. It looks all right."
"All right." Roger gathered their bags from the stinking hole forward
and followed.
"Now," he said, turning to the men on the boat, "we don't want to leave
you with any hard feelings. We'll pay for our ride. Will ten dollars
be about right?"
He plucked two five-dollar bills off a roll and handed one each to the
scarred man and the captain.
"Hey!" called the latter. "You won't say anything about being on this
boat to anybody?"
"Not if it will be a favor not to. I'm not particularly proud of
sneaking a ride."
"We won't say anything if you don't."
"I thought you wouldn't. Now you just lay up here for half an hour and
don't try to pass us. Business is business and I'm playing safe. So
long."
There was no reply.
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