uld hear the monotonous trickle of water.
It was really the source of the spring that afterwards reappeared fifty
yards nearer the road, and trickled into an unfailing pool known as the
Burnt Spring, from the brown color of the surrounding bracken. It
was the water supply of the ranch, and the reason for Mr. Medliker's
original selection of that site. Johnny lingered for an instant, looked
carefully around, and then lowered himself into the fissure. A moment
later he reached up his arms to Florry, lowered her also, and both
disappeared from view. Yet from time to time their voices came faintly
from below--with the gurgle of water--as of festive gnomes at play.

At the end of ten minutes they reappeared, a little muddy, a little
bedraggled, but flushed and happy. There were two pink spots on Florry's
cheeks, and she clasped something tightly in her little red fist.

"There," said Johnny, when they were seated in the straw again, "now
mind you don't tell."

But here suddenly Florry's lips began to quiver, and she gave vent to a
small howl of anguish.

"You ain't bit by a trant'ler nor nuthin'?" said Johnny anxiously. "Hush
up!"

"N--o--o! But"--

"But what?" said Johnny.

"Mar said I MUST tell! Mar said I was to fin' out where you get the
truly gold! Mar said I was to get you to take me," howled Florry, in an
agony of remorse.

Johnny gasped. "You Injin!" he began.

"But I won't--Johnny!" said Florry, clutching his leg frantically. "I
won't and I sha'n't! I ain't no Injin!"

Then, between her sobs, she told him how her mother and Mr. Staples had
said that she was to ask Johnny the next time they met to take her where
they found the "truly gold," and she was to remember where it was and
to tell them. And they were going to give her a new dolly and a hunk of
gingerbread. "But I won't--and I sha'n't!" she said passionately. She
was quite pale again.

Johnny was convinced, but thoughtful. "Tell 'em," he said hoarsely,
"tell 'em a big whopper! They won't know no better. They'll never guess
where." And he briefly recounted the wild-goose chase he had given the
minister.

"And get the dolly and the cake," said Florry, her eyes shining through
her tears.

"In course," said Johnny. "They'll get the dolly back, but you kin have
eated the cake first." They looked at each other, and their eyes danced
together over this heaven-sent inspiration. Then Johnny took off her
shoes and stockings, rubbed her cold feet with h