ught
the younger Rover. "Hang it all, it was a mistake for Tom to get down
to the grind so soon. He ought to have taken a trip out West, or to
Europe, or somewhere."

Presently the students came out on the bank of the stream and there, in
the sunshine, they rested on a fallen tree and some rocks. It was
pleasant to watch the swiftly-rushing water, as it tumbled over the
stones.

"The brook is pretty strong on account of those rains we had," remarked
Sam.

"Yes, I never saw it so swift," answered Stanley.

"Humph! this is nothing," announced Spud. "I saw it once when it ran
so swiftly that the water couldn't make the turn at the bend below here
and ran right up the hill and over on Shelby's barn, drowning sixteen
cows! And some of the water hit the barn roof and bounced off into the
chimney of Shelby's cottage and put out the fire, and----"

"Wow, Spud! put on the soft pedal!" interrupted Sam.

"Oh, it's absolutely true. Some day I'll show you the tombstone they
erected over the sixteen cows. It's of granite and a hundred and ten
feet high."

"Never mind the tombstone," interrupted Tom. "What I want to see is
the match box Shelby stored that water in after it hit the barn." And
at this sally a general laugh went up.

On the boys went again, and half an hour later reached the abandoned
saw mill. All that was left was the dam with the broken wheel and one
end of what had once been a long, low, one-storied building.

"Let's have a look inside," suggested Stanley, and led the way, and the
others followed. Sam was the last to enter, coming directly behind his
brother and he saw Tom suddenly put his hand to the back of his head
and stop.

"Does it hurt again, Tom?" he whispered, kindly.

"Just a--a--spasm!" gasped poor Tom, and then he drew a long breath.
"There, it's gone now," he added, and walked on. Sam sighed and shook
his head. What was this queer condition of Tom going to lead to? It
made him shiver to think of it.

There was but little to see in the old mill. It was a damp,
unwholesome place, and the boys soon came out again. Not far away was
a well hole, rather deep and partly filled with water.

Tom was the first to notice this hole, which was partly covered with
rotted boards. Of a sudden he commenced to grin, as if he scented a
huge joke. He ran up and rearranged the rotted boards, so they
completely covered the hole. Then in the center he placed the
bright-colored cap he had be