any of the curious town
boys would be very slight. And, like all modest inventors, Bud was
very shy about showing off until he could be certain that he had
actually something worth talking about to display.

The sun had seemed to hesitate upon the horizon, but now it took a
sudden dip below the earth's rim, and Bud exclaimed:

"Say, did you see the sun just slide out of sight then, as though he
was ashamed to leave us in the dark? This place has all grown up
since I was here last, so I hope we'll get to the shack before night
really sets in."

"We will all right, Bud, so don't worry any," laughed Hugh, whose
aim it seemed to be to take things as philosophically as possible,
especially when they could not be changed. "Right now I'm beginning
to recognize some familiar things around us. There is that chestnut
that has thrown out three young suckers. When it gets big, it will
make a land-mark worth talking about. I noticed it the last time I
was through these woods."

"Yes, like as not," grumbled Bud, who was very tired, "if the old
chestnut bug that's killing all the trees in the next county doesn't
get up here next year and put the kibosh on our fine nut trees for
keeps. Oh! look at that rabbit spin out of that brush pile! He's
on the jump, let me tell you! Hugh, I'm beginning to recognize some
things around here, too, that I remember must have been close to the
shack. There's the meadow clearing that I had in my mind when
choosing to come away up here to try out my latest wonder. Yes, and
as sure as anything, I can hear the singing of that little waterfall
just below the big spring."

"It seems to tell _me_ that I'm thirsty enough to stop and get a
drink before going on. The shack lies just back of that screen of
trees and bushes, anyway," Hugh remarked, as he turned slightly aside
and headed directly toward the quarter from whence that melodious
song arose.

Apparently Bud was of the same mind, for he instantly followed suit.
In another minute both scouts had deposited their packs on the hard
ground and were kneeling at the rim of the little basin where the
clear water, bubbling up from the sand, ran away in a busy stream
that as yet had not felt the chilling hand of Jack Frost.

Each boy produced a collapsible metal cup with which he could dip
into the sparkling spring. This is a much better way than bending
down and sucking in great quantities of water, without knowing what
impurities may be s