But, as a wavelet washed against his white forefeet, he drew back, annoyed, and began aimlessly to skirt the swamp, to landward.

Before he had traveled twenty yards, he vanished.
For a second or so, Gavin Brice stared stupidly at the phenomenon of the jungle-like wall of mangroves that had swallowed a seventy-pound dog.

Then his brow cleared, and a glint of eagerness came into his eye.

Almost running, he hurried to the spot where the dog had vanished.

Then he halted, and called softly: "Come, puppy! Here!" In immediate obedience to his call, the dog reappeared, at the swamp's edge, wagging his plumy tail, glad to be summoned.
Before the collie could stir, Brice was at his side, taking sharp note of the direction from which the dog had just stepped out of the mangroves.
In front, the wall of leaves and branches still hung, seemingly impenetrable.