a chance. In fact, we must all bear in mind that
it is urgent that we should be on the lookout for food--not in a
destructive way, but so as to have the next day's supplies in hand. But
now about to-day. We have excellent quarters here, the beasts are
revelling in good pasture, and though I am anxious to go on I think we
had better stay where we are, say for a couple of days more, not to do
nothing, but to let this be the camp from which we make an expedition or
two towards that peak and part of the way up its slopes, so as to
determine in which direction we shall go next."

There was a murmur of assent here, and Wilton took up the debate.

"I believe," he said, "that we shall find the source of a river up
there, and that then it would be wise to follow it down."

"That would take us towards the sea," said Ned's father decisively.

"Not for certain, sir," cried Griggs.

"Well, then, towards where the river joined another which ran into the
sea."

"Not for certain, sir," repeated Griggs.

"Very well, then, where it runs into some good-sized lake."

"Not for certain, sir," paid Griggs, so decisively that Chris laughed,
"But a river must fall into something," said Ned's father sharply,
Griggs' interruptions having made him feel nettled.

"Yes, sir, of course; but in a desert country such as it is about here
they fall into difficulties."

"I know," cried Chris; "Griggs means that they tumble down into those
great canons like that one on the Colorado, isn't it, where the banks
are a mile deep?"

"No, I don't, squire," said Griggs firmly, "though I shouldn't be a bit
surprised if we came across one of those gashes in the desert. I meant
that some of the little rivers that come down from the mountains run
bright and clear for a time in amongst the rocks till they get to the
more level ground, and then they spread-out and grow wide and shallow so
that you find they're only up to your knees. A mile or two lower down
they're not up to your ankles, while a bit lower there's no river at
all."

"What, gone down a sink-hole?" cried Chris.

"No, squire; spread-out and soaked away into the sand, which begins by
looking dark-coloured and has patches of grass growing in it for a bit,
and then you get farther and the sun has drunk up all the sand had not
swallowed."

"But there must be pools and marshes," said Wilton.

"Pools sometimes, but where you do find one it's as salt as the sea,
only a deal nastier, and if