laimed, on catching sight of Clay. "What
are you doing here, you young rascal?"

"Don't stop to ask questions now," implored Clay. "Get my friend out of
the well, or he will be drowned."

The farmer uttered an exclamation, and peeped through the broken boards.
Then he seized the bucket that was suspended by a windlass over the well
and quickly lowered it.

"Catch hold down there," he shouted gruffly.

"All right, go ahead," came the sepulchral response, a moment later.

The farmer and his two sons threw their weight on the handle of the
windlass, and after considerable creaking and groaning Ned was brought
to the surface and helped out on the ground. His face and hands were
blue and his teeth chattered violently.

"Bring the poor fellow right in," called the farmer's wife from the
porch, where she had witnessed the whole affair. "I'll go light the
fire."

"The rascal don't deserve it," muttered the farmer, but nevertheless he
led the boys into the house, and thence to a large room containing a
stove, a table, a huge settee and half a dozen chairs. A lamp was
burning on the mantel, and a pleasant faced old lady was bustling about
the stove.

Ned's wet clothes were quickly stripped off, and he was rolled in
blankets and made to lie down on the settee. Presently the old lady
brought him a bowl of steaming camomile tea, and after he had swallowed
most of the nauseous mixture he began to feel quite himself again. Then,
seeing that the farmer was suspicious and anxious for an explanation,
he insisted on talking, and related the whole story in such a clear and
concise manner that his hearers were thoroughly convinced.

The farmer thawed out, and showed himself in his true colors--a genial,
kind-hearted old man. He told the boys his name was Adam Plunkett, and
laughingly apologized for mistaking them for thieves.

When Mrs. Plunkett heard that they had eaten nothing since breakfast she
immediately began to set the table--in spite of the fact that it was
then half past ten o'clock. Ned refused to be treated as an invalid any
longer, so Mr. Plunkett gave him a suit of clothes to wear while his own
were drying.

The food was soon ready, and the famished boys did it full justice.

"I reckon you'll want to go to bed now," said Mr. Plunkett; "you must be
worn out after all that tramp. In the morning I'll tell you how to find
your camp. I recognize the place from your description. It's about five
miles and a half from h