ey had gone several
miles. Then it was that they found themselves alongside a stream of
crystalline clearness. It was not very broad nor swift, though quite
deep. Standing on one shore, the bottom could be distinctly seen clean
to the other side. The bed was mainly a reddish clay, and here and there
a few pebbles and large stones, but there was no difficulty in following
with the eye the beautiful concave until the deepest portion in the
middle was reached, and with the same line of beauty it arose to the
land beyond.

"Otto, let's have a swim!" called out Jack Carleton, after admiring the
stream for several minutes.

What youngster could withstand such temptation? The afternoon was warm,
and though rather early in the season, the water itself could not have
been more inviting. The only answer Otto Relstaub made was to begin
disrobing as fast as he could. Then it became a race between him and
Jack as to who should be the first. The Kentuckian was only a few
seconds in advance, and both frolicked and disported themselves like a
couple of urchins who know they are doing something which they should
not do.

Deerfoot had ordered them to push on and not to rest until they reached
the ridge many miles beyond, where he hoped to join them. He would not
be pleased if he should learn in what manner his wishes had been
disregarded.

The boys dove and swam hither and thither, splashing each other and
reveling in the very luxury of enjoyment. It will be understood how a
couple of persons so placed as were they found such a bath not only a
luxury but a necessity. Men who spend days and weeks in tramping through
the woods, without a change of clothing, can not preserve the most
presentable toilet, and the washing of clothing, which at other times
was done by those at home, was looked after to a greater or less degree
by him who was many miles away.

But, oh the other hand, the garments worn by woodmen were far different
from the fashion of to-day. They were tough and enduring, and the coarse
texture next to the skin preserved its good appearance much longer than
does the finer linen we wear. Often Jack Carleton had washed his, and
frolicked in the water or lolled on the bank until it was given time to
dry in the sun. He and Otto did not do so now, because their consciences
would not permit them to linger long enough. As any wading they might do
would leave their footprints in plain sight on the bed of the stream,
they tried to