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Once Maud had returned from her flight, Ironbark, Spinifex and Silverwood conferred with the local woodfolk to adjust their path so that they would intercept The Way Through at its most northerly point. Now that Maud had actually seen the children, the whole group felt a renewed sense of urgency.
The revised path began by leading them through a swamp, winding from one piece of dry land to the next. The ground underfoot was spongy peat, which was pleasant to walk on, but the air was full of midges and mosquitoes. It was not long before a halt was called so that Silverwood could dole out an herbal salve to keep the insects at bay. Maud and Sheldrake exchanged dubious glances at the windiness of the path but Ironbark, intercepting one of these, assured them that it was still quicker than
