reflected the clear blue sapphire sky, speckled with fleecy white
clouds. They counted over thirty lakes. After enjoying the beauties of
the view, they started down again.

"We'll go down the natural slope of the mountain and then work back
around the bottom to our lake," said Mr. Waterman.

"Then you can't heave any more rocks at us," laughed Pud.

They walked on for at least an hour and at last Mr. Waterman said:

"We are now in our own valley. The small stream at the bottom of this
mountain runs from our lake so if any of you should get lost, just
follow the stream and you'll come out all right."

This proved very good advice for after a half hour's walk, Pud fell
behind and before Bob knew it, the others were lost ahead. They yelled
but there was no reply.

"Let's take a short cut," said Pud.

"How's that?" asked Bob.

"We'll go down the mountain and then follow that stream as Mr. Waterman
told us to."

"All right," said Bob.

Down they started and they soon came to the stream. They then had an
argument as to whether Mr. Waterman had said that the stream emptied
into their lake or ran from it. At last Bob said, "I remember distinctly
that Mr. Waterman said that this stream runs out of our lake so I'm
going this way."

"All right," said Pud. "I know you're wrong, but if I don't go with you,
you'll get lost for good, so lead the way."

The undergrowth near the stream was rank, as might be expected, and the
boys made slow progress. After about an hour's walk they stopped, as
they felt sure they should have been at the lake.

"We should have been there long ago," said Pud.

"I think we ought to be there soon," said Bob.

"We'll never get there going this way," said Pud.

"This is the right way all right for I noticed that we went generally in
an easterly direction coming here and we have been going west for some
time. Let's hustle on."

They did so and neither spoke a word for some time. At last they both
paused, startled, for they heard a crashing in the bushes up the stream.
They darted into the woods as quietly as they could and looked out. The
crashing continued and came their way. Finally, as they looked out they
saw that it was a man and they both gave a shout. This was answered at
once by Mr. Anderson's cheery voice. Pud's short cut had proved a very
long way home. Bill and the two leaders had gone around the foot of the
mountain and had saved a long distance in that way. After reaching the