abitants of the country.

The small hut was visited, and here the litter was still more profuse,
but after every scrap had been gone over, there was nothing to add to
the small accumulation which they had taken from the other hut.

"Shall we go any farther?" asked George.

"It seems to me that this is enough for one day. Before going back,
however, let us look all around this place. You know the Professor will
be sure to want to know everything about it."

Directly west of the knoll, on which the huts were situated, was a
slight declivity. "Let us go down the hill for several hundred feet,"
said George, as he led the way through the tangled brush.

Within a hundred feet of the hut was a little brook, with the clearest
cold water. "I can see why the huts were placed there. Look at that
spring."

Within fifty feet of their position was a slightly shelving rock, and
below it a bubbling spring flowing upwardly into a semicircular basin
formed in the rock.

George ran forward and made a quick survey. "Here is a metal drinking
cup, just as they left it. My, but it's heavy!"

"I wonder what it is made of? Here, rub it."

Only a few passes were made over it, when he held it up in astonishment.
"Why, it looks like silver."

"So it does," broke in Harry. "But what is this on the side? See those
initials: 'A.W.'"

"I must have a drink before I leave this," and Harry removed the little
copper cup which he always carried. "What a peculiar water this is! It
must be a kind of mineral water."

"Yes," responded George; "that is sulphur water, or it has considerable
sulphur in it."

"I wonder if this was a health resort for the savages?" asked Harry, as
he laughed.

"Let's start for home at once," remarked George, without noticing
Harry's sarcastic fling at the poor inhabitants.

CHAPTER XVII

THE GRIM EVIDENCE IN THE HILLS

The boys secured a convenient pole, over which they slung the braces of
game, and started out on the march for the river. It was fully three
o'clock before they were ready to start.

"See here, Harry, there is something we have forgotten, and I begin to
feel it now."

"What is that?"

"Our luncheon."

"I was so excited and interested that I forgot all about it until now.
Why not go back to the spring and take luncheon there?"

"With that water? I'd rather wait until we get to the river."

"Well, let's take something, anyhow. I am mighty hungry. Funny we didn't
think of it befor