s with you, and
they have all run to their holes."

"We have one consolation," remarked George, ignoring the last sentence.
"It will be easier getting back to camp, for it's down hill all the
way."

"But we shall have a good deal of climbing to do. I'm ready to say I've
gained enough exercise to last me till to-morrow. I think," added
Victor, rising to his feet and looking at the noisy torrent a few feet
in front, "that we can shorten the distance by crossing that."

"How are we going to do it? We're not likely to find it bridged."

"I'm sure we shall be able to leap across."

The two walked to the edge of the stream, which may be described as a
furious torrent, rushing between the rocks, which were separated by a
dozen feet, the upper margin being one or two feet above the surface of
the stream. Standing on the edge of the small canyon and looking down,
the boys saw that the water was of crystalline clearness and was beaten
in many places into froth and foam, which sparkled with every color of
the rainbow as it shot into the sunlight. The course of the torrent was
so tortuous and the turns so abrupt that clouds of mist curled upward
in places and caused the rocks to drip with moisture. The roar was so
loud that the brothers had to shout to each other.

"We might make a running leap here," said George, "but it isn't worth
while to take the risk."

"There must be narrower portions. Let's look."

Turning to the left, they had to go only a little way when they found a
favorable place. The breadth was no more than seven or eight feet.
While they could not shorten the distance to camp very much, the
advantage was worth striving for.

"No risk in that," remarked Victor, looking at his brother, who nodded
his head to signify he agreed with him.

"I'll jump first," added Victor, walking back several paces to gain the
necessary start. He could have made the leap without this preparation,
but was using only ordinary prudence. George stood to one side and
close to the edge, so as to observe every phase of the performance.
Despite the apparent safety of the attempt, a strange misgiving came
over George, and he turned to his brother to protest, when he saw he
had started on his brief run. He carried his rifle in his right hand,
took a number of short steps, measuring the distance with his eye, so
that the take-off should be exact, and covered the space in a second or
two.

George was watching every movement of the supp