"The mire has him.

Two in two days, and many more, perhaps, for they get in the way of going there in the dry weather and never know the difference until the mire has them in its clutches.

It's a bad place, the great Grimpen Mire." "And you say you can penetrate it ?" "Yes, there are one or two paths which a very active man can take.

I have found them out." "But why should you wish to go into so horrible a place ?" "Well, you see the hills beyond?
They are really islands cut off on all sides by the impassable mire, which has crawled round them in the course of years.

That is where the rare plants and the butterflies are, if you have the wit to reach them." "I shall try my luck some day." He looked at me with a surprised face.