vered that at the far edge a fine large brook was running,
apparently and in some mysterious way, escaping at that point the
contamination of the mud, although he could see that farther on it lost
itself in the swamp. But its cool, sparkling waters were a heavenly
sight, and, walking back, he announced his discovery to the others.

"All of you know what you can do," he said.

"We do," said Paul.

"First thought in my mind," said Shif'less Sol.

"An' we'll do it," said Long Jim.

"Now!" said Silent Tom.

They took off their clothing, scraped from it as much mud as they could,
and took a long and luxurious bath in the brook. Then they came out on
the bank and let themselves dry, the night which had now fully come,
fortunately being warm. As they lay in the grass they felt a great
content, and Long Jim gave it utterance.

"An o-sis is a fine thing," he said. "I'm glad you invented 'em, Paul,
'cause I don't know what we'd a-done without this un."

Henry rose and began to dress. The others did likewise.

"I think we'd better eat the rest of Tom's fish and then go to sleep,"
he said. "Tomorrow morning we'll have to hold a grand council, and
consider the question of food, as I think we're very likely to stay in
here quite a while."

"Are you really looking for a long stay?" asked Paul.

"Yes, because the Indians will be beating up the woods for us so
thoroughly that it will be best for us not to move from our hiding
place. It's a fine swamp! A glorious swamp! And because it's so big and
black and miry it's all the better for us. The only problem before us is
to get food."

"And we always get it somehow or other."

They wrapped themselves in their blankets to keep off any chill that
might come later in the night, lay down under the boughs of the dwarf
oaks, and slept soundly until the next day, keeping no watch, because
they were sure they needed none. Tom Ross himself never opened his eyes
once until the sun rose. Then the problem of food, imminent and
pressing, as the last of the fish was gone, presented itself.

"I think that branch is big enough to hold fish," said Tom Ross,
bringing forth his hook and line again, "an' ef any are thar they'll be
purty tame, seein' that the water wuz never fished afore. Anyway I'll
soon see."

The others watched him anxiously, as he threw in his bait, and their
delight was immense, when a half hour's effort was rewarded with a half
dozen perch, of fair size and obviously s