e there were heard inquiries as to when they expected to
stop and have a bite of lunch. Tom and the scout master had already
arranged this, and when the third scout was heard to say he felt as
hungry as a wolf, Tom took it upon himself to explain.

"If you look ahead," he remarked, so that all could hear, "you'll
notice where a hump of the mountain seems to hang over the road. That's
about where we expect to rest an hour or so."

"Must be something unusual about this particular place, I should say,
for you to settle on it ahead of time this way," remarked wise Josh in
his Yankee way.

"There is," Tom informed him. "According to my map here, and what
information I've been able to pick up, there's a fine cold spring
bubbles up alongside the road right there; and for one I'm feeling the
need of a good drink the worst kind."

After that it was noticed that even the laggards began to show unusual
energy, as if the prospect of soon being able to throw themselves down
and slake their thirst, as well as satisfy their hunger, appealed
forcibly to them.

It was close on to noon when finally, with a shout, they hurried
forward and dropped their packs close to where the ice-cold spring
flowed.

"Queer how heavy those old packs do get the longer you carry them,"
observed George, as he waited for his turn to lie down and drink his
fill of the spring water.

"You're a suspicious sort of fellow, George," declared Felix; "I've
seen you turn around as quick as a flash, just as if you thought some
other scout might be hanging his pack on to yours, so as to make you
carry double."

George turned redder than he had already become under the force of the
sun; but he did not deny the accusation.

It was decided not to light a fire at noon. They could eat a cold lunch
and wash it down with water.

"We'll keep our fire for this evening," said Mr. Witherspoon; "you know
it is generally quite a ceremony--the starting of the first campfire
when scouts go off on a long trip."

Waiting until the sun had started well on his way down the heavens,
and there had arisen a little breeze that made it more bearable, the
scout master finally had Felix sound his fish horn for the signal to
"fall in."

Some of the boys did not show quite as much animation as on that other
occasion. They were not accustomed to walking for hours, and would have
to get used to it through experience.

An hour later they were straggling along, some of them on the o