of this
expedition, and promise to obey all orders, unquestioningly."

"Well, my first order is," Ned said, laughing, "that we each make a
good pike. The wood we made our bows from will do capitally, and we
can harden the points in the fire. We may meet some wild beasts,
and a good, strong six-foot pike would be better than our swords."

Two hours' work completed the new weapons, and with their bows
slung at their backs, and using their pikes as walking staves,
they again set out on their journey across the continent.

Chapter 11: The Marvel of Fire.

"What are those--natives?" exclaimed Tom suddenly.

Ned looked steadily at them for some time.

"No, I think they are great birds. The ostrich abounds in these
plains; no doubt they are ostriches."

"I suppose it is of no use our chasing them?"

"Not a bit. They can run faster than a horse can gallop."

During the day's walk, they saw vast numbers of deer of various
kinds; but as they were sure that these would not allow them to
approach, they did not alter their course, which was, as nearly as
they could calculate by the sun, due west. The sun was warm during
the day, but all the higher hilltops were covered with snow.

"If the worst comes to the worst," Ned said, "we must go up and get
some snow. We can make a big ball of it, and bring it down with us
in one of our sashes. But I should think there must be some stream,
somewhere about. The snow must melt; besides, these great herds of
deer must drink somewhere."

Late in the afternoon they came on the crest of a ridge.

"There," Ned said, pointing to a valley in which were a number of
trees. "We shall find water there, or I am mistaken."

An hour's tramp brought them to the valley. Through this a stream
ran between steep banks. They followed it for half a mile, and then
came to a spot where the banks sloped away. Here the ground was
trampled with many feet, and the edge of the stream was trodden
into mud.

"Hurrah, Tom! Here is meat, and drink, too. It is hard if we do not
kill something or other here. Look at that clump of bushes, where
the bank rises. If we hide there, the deer will almost touch us as
they pass to water; and we are sure to be able to shoot them, even
with these bows and arrows.

"But first of all, for a drink. Then we will cross the stream, and
make a camping ground under the trees opposite."

The stream was but waist deep, but very cold, for it was composed
of snow water.