We did not wait for the kettle to boil, but concluded to do without
tea or coffee, for this meal, and content ourselves with pure
water. For some reason or other, however, the creek water did not
seem to be very pure, and we did not like it a bit.

"After lunch," said I, "we will go and look for a spring; that will
be a good way of exploring the country."

"If we can't find one," said Euphemia, "we shall have to go to the
house for water, for I can never drink that stuff."

Soon after lunch we started out. We searched high and low, near
and far, for a spring, but could not find one.

At length, by merest accident, we found ourselves in the vicinity
of old John's little house. I knew he had a good well, and so we
went in to get a drink, for our ham and biscuits had made us very
thirsty.

We told old John, who was digging potatoes, and was also very much
surprised to see us so soon, about our unexpected trouble in
finding a spring.

"No," said he, very slowly, "there is no spring very near to you.
Didn't you tell your gal to bring you water?"

"No," I replied; "we don't want her coming down to the camp. She
is to attend to the house."

"Oh, very well," said John; "I will bring you water, morning and