of that big clump of
trees ahead when I saw a bird; and he told me there was water below,"
remarked William, calmly.

"I didn't hear a single squawk," remarked Andy Flinn, warmly; "and even
if I had, d'ye expect me to belave that ye understand the birrd
language. Oh! come off. Be aisy with us, and roll your hoop, William!"

"Oh!" William blazed up, "you doubt my word, but that bird told me just
as plain as words could there was water below. He was circling up, so as
to get above the trees, and put for his nest. And, fellows, when I tell
you it was a fish-hawk, with his dinner in his claws, you can understand
what I guessed right then and there."

"Hurrah! for William! He's our keen-eyes! Nothing escapes his eagle
vision. He's all to the good!" came the shouts, amid more or less
laughter.

And after that there was no holding the eager scouts in. It seemed as
though they could themselves scent the water, just as the wise old
Dobbin had; for helter-skelter the entire troop started to make a wild
dash ahead.

Even the cripples forgot to limp, and stifled their groans; for they
surprised themselves by their ability to sprint with the rest.

The first to round the clump of rocks and scrub gave a shout that echoed
from the adjacent mountain side; while, he waved his hat above his head
to indicate his delight.

As the others skirted the obstruction they too gave way to enthusiasm,
and the cheers that rolled forth must have startled the hawks, and
wearers of fur in this remote region, since they could never before
have heard a genuine boyish whoop.

There was a lake before them, as wild looking a body of clear water as
any one could ever expect to find, even in the Adirondacks. Indeed,
Paul, and several others, who had been around more or less, declared
that they had never before looked on so desolate a picture.

Nowhere was there the slightest sign of human habitation. And upon the
lonely sheet of water not a solitary craft of any description could be
discovered. So far as they could see the Banner Boy Scouts owned the
whole region!

"Alabama! here we rest!" chorused the whole troop, gleefully, as they
started on a run for the near shore of the lake.

"Don't go far away, any fellow," warned Paul, knowing the weakness of
boys when new and novel scenes beckon them on.

He had good reason to speak in this manner; for judging from the
appearance of the country by which the lake was surrounded, any fellow
who was unl