"What a find!" cried the engineer. Forward he strode. "So, then?
Deer-tracks?" he exclaimed, noting a few dainty hoof-prints in the
sandy margin. "Great!" And, filled with exultation, he dropped beside
the spring.

Over it he bent. Setting his bearded lips to the sweet water, he drank
enormous, satisfying drafts.

Sated at last, he stood up again and peered about him. All at once he
burst out into joyous laughter.

"Why, this is certainly an old friend of mine, or I'm a liar!" he
cried out. "This spring is nothing more or less than the lineal
descendant of Madison Square fountain, what? But good Lord, what a
change!

"It would make a splendid subject for an article in the 'Annals of
Applied Geology.' Only--well, there aren't any annals, now, and what's
more, no readers!"

Down to the wider pool he walked.

"Stern, my boy," said he, "here's where you get an A-1, first-class
dip!"

A minute later, stripped to the buff, the man lay splashing vigorously
in the water. From top to toe he scrubbed himself vigorously with the
fine, white sand. And when, some minutes later, he rose up again, the
tingle and joy of life filled him in every nerve.