y. And then: "I say, is it true, or only part of
the long dream?"

"True, true!" cried Chris. "But look sharp. Let's fill the barrels and
get back to camp."

"Hah!" ejaculated Ned in a long sigh. "Fill the barrels--get back.
Yes, I'm beginning to be able to think now. My head felt all shut up
and as if it wouldn't go. We have found water, then."

"Yes, and we've been drinking, and--What are you doing?"

There was no answer, for Ned did not hear, from the simple fact that he
had suddenly plunged his head right under water, to hold it there for
nearly a minute, before raising it streaming.

"Oh, Chris," he cried, "do that; it's lovely!"

His comrade wanted no more inciting to follow the example set, keeping
his head below the surface in despite of the water thundering in his
ears, till he was obliged to raise it and breathe.

"If we only had time for a swim," he cried, as he stood up panting once
more.

"Yes, let's have one."

"No," said Chris; "the barrels--we must fill them and get back."

"Yes, of course," cried Ned. "I can't think properly yet. My head's
all muddly. But how can we fill them? If we take them off can we lift
them on the mule's back again?"

"Perhaps not," cried Chris. "But I know," he added, after a pause.

"Do you? Oh, my head's so muddly. Let's be quick and get back. I'm
beginning to think now. Why, what wretches we are, drinking away here,
and my father must be dying of thirst."

"Yes. Don't talk," cried Chris huskily. "Here, get to the other side
of the mule and take hold of the bit."

Ned stared, but obeyed, and together they led the animal between them,
wading farther into the lake, with the water gradually getting deeper,
when as it grew breast-high Ned burst out with--

"Yes, the water seems to have melted something in my head, and I can
think now. I say, are there any alligators here?"

"I don't know," replied Chris. "Perhaps.--Come on, you brute!" he
roared, for the mule began to jib and refused to go any farther in when
from its own natural buoyancy and that of the barrels its legs refused
to touch the bottom.

Chris's fierce shout was accompanied by a heavy dig in the side from his
knee, an act which Ned imitated with the result that the mule snorted,
tossed up its head, and then lowered it, prior to kicking up its heels.
But in performing the evolution of lowering its muzzle its mouth went
down into the cool water, and the opposition ceased in the enj