remarked Drusilla.

"Now!" exclaimed Mr. Thimblefinger, "put your hand in the spring."

Buster John did as he was bid, and, to his amazement, he could feel no
water. He could see it, but he couldn't feel it. He turned pale with
excitement and withdrew his hand. Then he put his other hand in, but
the result was the same. He plunged his arm in up to the elbow, but
his sleeve remained perfectly dry.

"Try it, sis," he cried.

Sweetest Susan did so, and boldly declared there was no water in the
spring. She wanted Drusilla to try to wet her hand, but Drusilla
sullenly declined.

Mr. Thimblefinger settled the matter by walking into the spring.

"Now, then, if you are going, come along," he cried. "You have just
seventeen and a half seconds." He waved his hand from the bottom of
the spring and stood waiting. A spring lizard ran near him, and he
drew his sword and chased it into a hole. A crawfish showed its head,
and he drove it away. Then he waved his hand again. "Come on, the
coast is clear."

Buster John put his hand in the water again, and this seemed to
satisfy him. He stepped boldly into the spring, and in a moment he
stood by Mr. Thimblefinger, laughing, but still excited by the novelty
of his experience. He called to his sister:--

"Come on, sis. It's splendid down here."

"Is it wet?" she asked plaintively. "Is it cold?"

"No!" replied Buster John impatiently. "Don't be a baby."

"Come on, Drusilla! You've got to come. Mamma said you must go
wherever we went," cried Sweetest Susan.

"No, ma'am!" exclaimed Drusilla, with emphasis. "She ain't tol' me ter
foller you in de fier an' needer in de water!"

But Sweetest Susan didn't wait to hear. She jumped into the spring
with a splash and then stood by her brother very red in the face.

"Five more seconds!" cried Mr. Thimblefinger in a businesslike way.

Drusilla looked in the spring and hesitated. She could see the water
plain enough, but then she could also see Sweetest Susan and Buster
John, and they seemed to be very comfortable.

"I'm comin'," she yelled, "but ef you all make me git drownded in dry
water I'll ha'nt you ef it's de las' thing I do!"

Then she shut her eyes tight, put her fingers in her ears, and leaped
into the spring. She floundered around with her eyes still shut, and
gasped and caught her breath just like a drowning person, until she
heard the others laughing at her, and then she opened her eyes with
astonishment.

Suddenly ther