"We had better unpack and make camp," advised Tad. "Chunky, Walt and
I will do that if you will get the supper."

"All right. Somebody get me some water."

"I will," said Walter quickly. "Anybody know where I can find it?"

"There must be some near by. Those other fellows would not have made
camp here and remained all night unless there was water near--"

"Unless they know no more about these confounded mountains than we do,
you mean?" laughed Ned.

After some searching about, Walter found a spring. It was full of
water that had a whitish tinge to it. The lad tasted it gingerly,
then smiled knowingly. Filling his pail he returned to camp with it.

By this time Tad and Stacy had unloaded the mules. The three boys got
to work at once putting up the tents. In the absence of Professor
Zepplin, they concluded to erect only two, and by the time this had
been accomplished, Ned was ready for them.

"Come and get it!" he bellowed.

There was no table cloth, no table, just the bare ground, and the boys
sat down to eat in the fresh, bracing air.

"No one who has not been camping for a long time can appreciate
smoke," announced Ned oracularly. "If I had to go without my supper I