Osgod was
well-nigh smothered before he could be rescued, and some of the other men
were only hauled out with the greatest difficulty. Three or four of the
most active men were sent forward, but presently returned with the news
that the bog became worse.
"The sun has already set," Wulf said, "and if darkness catches us here our
plight will be a bad one. Let us retrace our steps at once, Beorn."
It was with great difficulty that they made their way back to firm ground.
By the time they did so darkness had fallen.
"This is a bad business altogether, Beorn," Wulf said. "In the first place
we have lost our guide; in the second place we have no idea where we are,
for we may for aught we know have been going in the wrong direction all the
time; and, besides this, the boy will raise the country against us, and in
the morning we may be attacked by an overwhelming force."
"What do you think we had better do, Wulf?"
"Well, I should say we had better, in the first place, retrace our steps to
the valley, there we will light fires and cook the meat we have brought
with us. Then I should say we had best march for some hours. It matters not
in what direction so that we get as far as possible from here."
As Beorn could suggest nothing better, Wulf's counsel was carried out.
Supper was cooked and eaten in the forest, and after two hours for rest,
for the march had been a very fatiguing one, they started.
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