g. Here was a new dilemma. They had no bucket in which to bring
water from the river, and their gourds would not hold over a quart
each, which would make the task of bringing it from such a distance
almost an endless job.

"We must do it," said the trapper. "This is a little too much filth for
civilized people. We can bring each four gourds full at a time which
will do something towards it. If we could turn the river into it we
could clear out the shell of its filth in a very short time."

"Perhaps," said the chief, "we can find something to bring water in if
we hunt over the big house."

"Not worth while now, chief: wait until the children are with us and
then we will go over it; at present our business is to make one room
habitable."

So saying they set out towards the river for a supply of water; but on
descending the first elevation at the side on which the building stood,
the chief, when partly down, placed his foot into a trough-like duct,
running parallel with the elevation which was filled with leaves so as
to obscure the sight of the water until it penetrated his moccasin.

"Water plenty!" cried the chief, drawing his foot from the unexpected
bath, and then commenced clearing the place from the leaves and earth
with which it was partially filled. They soon found it was an
artificial duct about one foot deep and two feet wide, built of the
same kind of grey stone as the rest of the ruins around, and still
supplied with water. They went on clearing it of rubbish in order to
see how far it extended; but after removing it a few rods they became
weary, and filling their gourds, hastened to finish their renovating
task.

That night they found Sidney up and cheerful, insisting he was quite
well enough to be removed. Howe would not venture it, but insisted on
waiting a few days more, during which he and the chief spent the time
making couches in the temple for their accommodation, and hunting, in
which sport he was very successful, having killed a number of deer,
turkeys, and mountain sheep. In searching for game they rarely
attempted to take any other than those whose skin would be valuable to
them as well as the meat, owing to their anxiety to secure as many
skins as possible while game was plenty, as skins and furs were all
they had to rely on as covering for their beds and for clothing.

Chapter Twelfth.

Astonishment of the Children. The Antiquity of the Ruins. Preparations
for making the temple th