ed at--"

Apparently the captain failed to find words adequately to express his
ideas, for he did not finish the sentence; meanwhile Paul picked up the
rabbit and attached it to his belt. After this, advancing through the
woods in a north-westerly direction, they made for a somewhat elevated
ridge, hoping to obtain from that point a more extended view of the
land.

Towards noon, feeling hungry, they began to look out for a suitable spot
whereon to lunch, or rather to dine; for while travelling on foot in
wild countries men usually find it convenient to take a very substantial
meal about, or soon after, noon.

"To have water handy," remarked Paul, as they stopped to look round, "is
essential to comfort as well as cookery."

"Look there, away to the nor'-west o' that bunch o' trees," said the
captain, pointing to a distant spot, "there's a depression in the ground
there; and from the lie o' the land all round I should say we shall find
a stream o' some sort near it."

"I hope so," said Oliver; "for I shall want water to wash the rabbit
with, and I have a strong hope that we may find fish in the rivers of
this land, and although my hooks are big, I think the fish may not be
particular, seein' that they have never before been tempted in that
way."

"That's true, Olly; I hope you won't be disappointed. But what makes
you want to wash the rabbit, my boy?" asked the captain; "it is not
dirty?"

"Perhaps not; but I don't quite relish the dirty work of cleaning out a
rabbit before cooking it, so I want to try the plan of cutting it open,
holding it under water, and scraping out the inside while in that
position."

"My son, you won't be so particular when you've been a few weeks huntin'
in the wild woods. But what about the hair?"

"Oh, we can singe that off, daddy."

"What! singe off wet hair? And the skin--I doubt we might find that
tough?"

The young cook--for such he became to the exploring expedition--looked
puzzled.

"I never skinned a rabbit," he said, "but no doubt it is easy enough.
I'll just cut it open at the head--or tail--and pull it off like a
glove."

"Not quite so easily done as that" remarked Paul, with a laugh; "but I
happen to know something about skinning birds and beasts, Olly, so make
your mind easy. I will show you how to do it."

"You happen to know something about almost everything, I think," said
the captain. "Tell me now, d'ye happen to know what sort o' beast it is
that I see