ear, sparkling
water, which flashed up at his plunge. Then striking out, he swam with
vigorous strokes right into the depths, and felt that he was being
carried steadily downward towards the fall.

This was something to make him put forth his strength; and as he struck
out upstream so as to reach the bank again there was something
wondrously invigorating in the cool, crisp water which sent thrills of
strength through his exhausted frame, making the lad laugh aloud as he
fought against the pressure of the water, won, and waded ashore nearly a
hundred yards below where he had plunged in.

"What a stream!" he exclaimed as he shook the streaming water from his
tense muscles. "I must mind another time. How cold it was! But how
hot the sun feels! Double!" he ejaculated, and he started along the
bank in a military trot, reached the spot again where he had made his
plunge, looked round, indulged in another run in the brilliant sunshine,
and, pretty well half-dried by his efforts, stepped back into the wood
and rapidly resumed his clothes.

"Why, it has pretty well taken the stiffness out of me," he muttered,
"and I feel ready for anything, only I'm nearly famished. Here, I can't
wait," he added, as he finished dressing, smartening himself up into
soldierly trim, and giving his feet a stamp or two as he resumed his
boots. "Now, how about poor Punch? He can't be worse, for he seemed to
have slept so well. It seems hard, but I must wake him up."

To the lad's great satisfaction, as he reached the door of the rough
cabin, he found that the wounded boy was just unclosing his eyes to look
at him wonderingly as if unable to make out what it all meant.

"Gray," he said faintly.

"Yes. How are you, lad?"

"I--I don't quite know," was the reply, given in a faint voice.--"Oh, I
recollect now. Yes. There, it stings--my wound."

"Yes, I'll bathe it and see to it soon," said Pen eagerly; "but you are
no worse."

"Ain't I? I--I thought I was. I say, look here, Gray; what does this
mean? I can't lift this arm at all. It hurts so."

"Yes. Stiff with your wound; but it will be better when I have done it
up."

"Think so?"

"Yes."

"But look here."

"Yes, I am looking."

"This arm isn't wounded. Look at that."

"Yes, I see; you lifted it up and it fell down again."

"Yes. There's no strength in it. It ain't dead yet?"

"Didn't seem like it," said Pen, smiling cheerily. "You lifted it up."

"Yes, I kno