us form, but we had not time to examine
them before it was dark, as we had to make our usual preparations for
passing the night.

Sergeant Custis at once took the can to get some water from a spring
which, not for off, issued from a rock and fell into a basin. From the
regular appearance of this basin, we might have supposed it to have been
artificial. The sergeant dipped in his can, but he drew it back in a
great hurry, exclaiming, "Why, it's at boiling heat!"

We hurried up, and found that such was indeed the case. As the water
had a peculiar taste, we agreed not to use it for cooking, lest it might
have some pernicious effect; so the sergeant had a considerable distance
to go before he could get down to fill his can.

It had now become quite dark, and we were seated round our camp-fire,
when we heard low rumbling sounds; and great was our astonishment to
see, by the light of the moon, which just then appeared from behind a
cloud, a lofty jet of silvery water, rising, as it seemed to us, a
hundred feet or more into the air! Although our curiosity was excited,
we had no wish to venture towards the spot in the darkness, as we hoped
to be able to examine it the next morning.

Scarcely had we placed our heads on the fir-tops which formed our
couches, when hideous sounds burst forth from the forest. The
screeching of night-birds, the barking of coyotes, the dismal howling of
the llovas, the cry of the panther, and other sounds, well-nigh drove
sleep from our eyelids, and showed us that this region must be thickly
inhabited by the wild beasts of the forest, although no human beings
might be found within it. Having plenty of powder and shot, however, we
were not alarmed on that account. Still, it was necessary to keep up a
blazing fire, and to watch vigilantly, lest any unwelcome visitor might
intrude upon us, and still more unpleasantly disturb our night's rest.

CHAPTER TEN.

ADVANCE TOWARDS A BEAUTIFUL LAKE--HOT SULPHUR SPRINGS MET WITH--BOILING
MUD POTS--CURIOUS BASINS FORMED BY WATER IN THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN--
LOVELY FRETWORK ROUND THEIR RIMS--NEARLY SINK INTO A BOILING MUD POOL--
THE LAKE REACHED--ABUNDANCE OF GAME AND FISH--BUILD A RAFT--BEGIN VOYAGE
ACROSS LAKE--VIOLENT STORM--IN GREAT DANGER--DRIVEN ACROSS THE LAKE--WE
CLING TO TREES WHILE THE RAFT IS DASHED TO PIECES--MAKE OUR WAY THROUGH
THE FOREST--I MISS MY COMPANIONS, AND LOSE MY GUN AND KNAPSACK OVER A
PRECIPICE--REACH FOOT OF MOUNTAIN--I C