d odors."

"I thought of this when we were laughing here so merrily a while ago.
Laughter is like a perfume, it goes a long way and does not need a
purifying agent; but the harsh and angry word is like the evil smelling
substance, which needs to be purified."

CHAPTER XI

THE GRUESOME SKELETON

The merry party lingered long over the meal. Roast prairie chicken was
the chief dish. The Professor had found lentils, and this, with
potatoes, or cassava, formed the principal dish, to say nothing of the
sago pudding and the residue of the little cakes which just suited
Baby's palate.

For drink there was plenty of cold water, fresh and sparkling, obtained
from a natural spring not far away. The Cataract River furnished a good
water, in the sense that it was clear, but it had an unpleasant taste at
times, so for all cooking purposes the water used had to be carried from
the spring, which was sometimes burdensome.

"I wish we could purify the Cataract water, as it would be a great
convenience," was George's remark, when they were considering their work
and duties.

"We can easily do that by using the chips of the common oak tree or the
charcoal can be used, as I have before stated."

"It is a curious thing that oak chips will purify it. Does it act in
purifying the same way as charcoal?"

"We used oak bark for the purpose of tanning leather because of the
tannic acid it contained. The chips of the wood contain tannic acid as
well, and it does the same thing to the impurities in water that boiling
does--namely, it coagulates it. In Egypt, the muddy waters of the Nile
are clarified and purified by using bitter almonds. In India, they use a
nut called the Strychnos for this, purpose."

"It seems people everywhere had some idea of purifying drinking water."

"Yes, and through all ages; even the Bible speaks of it."

"Where?"

"The Book of Exodus. I think the fifteenth chapter, says:

"'So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; and they went out into the
wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness and found
no water. And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the
waters of Marah, for they were bitter; therefore the name of it was
called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses saying, What shall
we drink? And he cried unto the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree,
which, when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet.'

"Our Cataract water, flowing, as it does,