proceeded down the creek.

As it was impossible to get any wetter they waded, pushing the canoes
ahead of them. The gravel bar was twenty yards below, in mid-channel,
and sure enough the first rays of the sun fell full upon it.

The canoes were speedily denuded of everything they held, and the gravel
was soon strewn with water soaked bread, crackers, blankets, fishing
rods, writing paper, and envelopes. The other provisions, being incased
in jars, were uninjured; and so also were the extra clothes, thanks to
the oiled canvas bags in which they were wrapped.

The boys quickly made the change, and stretched out their wet garments
to dry. The canoes were placed bottom up to drain, and after satisfying
himself that the Water Sprite was damaged beyond immediate repair, Ned
suggested that Randy should point out the place he had discovered.

The latter was only too willing, and when the boys had followed his
instructions by rolling their trousers above their knees, he led them
through the shallow water toward the left shore.

As they advanced nothing was visible but the low bank, densely covered
with bushes and young timber. Randy was several yards in advance, and
all at once he stooped and disappeared. The others followed his example,
and when they had waded with bent backs under a heavy screen of bushes,
they were amazed to find themselves in the mouth of a good sized stream.

The water was knee deep, and flowed gently over a bed of sand and
pebbles. For a distance of sixty or seventy feet inland the stream was
three or four yards wide; then came a deep circular pool fed by a
brawling waterfall that dashed impetuously down a mossy incline of
rocks. On all sides were inviting clumps of bushes, and slender trees
bending over their weight of foliage, while from branch to branch swung
foxgrape vines.

Near the head of the pool was a grassy open spot shaded by half a dozen
monster shellbark trees--a perfect little Eden. In fact the whole scene
was so entrancing to these lads, who well knew how to appreciate
Nature's most charming moods, that they stood still with the cool water
surging against their knees, to look and listen.

The sunlight filtered obliquely through the leaves, gleaming here and
there in the dark thickets like stray gold, and shimmering on the eddies
of the pool. The air was fragrant with the scent of wild flowers, and
from every direction came the music of birds and the busy chattering of
squirrels.