it about here somewhere, or hid it in
some rock."

"A thousand dollars!" said Oscar; "I 'm going to hunt for that; what
will you bet I won't find it?"

"Pooh!" replied Jerry, "people have searched all round here, and dug
holes, and pulled up the floor of the hut, more than a hundred times;
and I guess there's no danger of your finding the money now."

"I 'm going to try, at any rate," said Oscar, and he get up from the
stone upon which he was seated.

"Stop, don't go now," said Jerry; "let's make a fire and get dinner
first--I 'm just about half starved."

Oscar fell in with this suggestion, and they gathered together a lot of
brush and other dry wood, and soon had a good fire kindled against a
large stone, which happened to be hollowed out something like a
fireplace. Among the provisions they had brought with them were half a
dozen potatoes, which they buried in the embers after the fire had got
well under way. While these were baking, they employed themselves in
gathering wood and watching the fire. They also found some slices of
cheese in their basket, which they toasted by holding it before the
fire upon the point of a sharp stick. When their preparations for
dinner were about completed, Oscar inquired:

"Where shall we find some water to drink? Is there a spring about
here?"

"Water, why, there's plenty of it," replied Jerry pointing to the pond.

"What! you don't mean to drink pond water, do you?" said Oscar,
somewhat surprised.

"Yes I do," replied Jerry; "that's good water--old Staples drank it all
the time he lived here."

"Well, come to think of it, I suppose it is good," said Oscar; "for our
Cochituate water, in Boston, is nothing but pond water. It seems
queer, though, to dip it right out of the pond; but I suppose it is
just as good as though we drew it from an aqueduct."

There was a tin dipper in the basket, and Oscar took it, and went down
to the pond, to try the water. He found it clear, and agreeable to the
taste, though not very cold. Filling the dipper, he returned to the
fire, where Jerry now had the dinner in readiness. They found a large
flat stone, which answered for a table, and spreading their provisions
upon it, they threw themselves upon the grass, and began to eat. The
potatoes were nicely roasted, and, indeed, all the articles that helped
to form their rural repast, tasted uncommonly well. Even the pond
water, Oscar confessed, would have been equal to the Cochituate