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 swallowed. Some scouts on their tramps even carry
a small filtering stone such as is used in the army, and this is
considered a wise precaution by thoughtful scout masters.

"Well, that tastes pretty fine," remarked Bud, after he had drunk his
fill and carefully replaced his cup in its receptacle; "and now to
get under cover. I reckon the very first thing we ought to attend
to is getting a supply of wood indoors, so as to make the old shanty
feel comfortable. I never think of a camp without seeing a camp
fire as the best thing in it. It is that that binds scouts together
more than any other part of the outdoor game, I think. Does it
strike you that way, too, Hugh?"