he was. I could have
shot _him_."

"That, my friend," Lord Betterson replied, with a wave of the hand, "was
an error,--quite natural, but still an error. You stay to dinner?"

"Thank you, I have promised myself that pleasure."

Jack was ashamed of having given way to his anger; and he determined
from that moment, whatever happened, to keep calm.

As he threw his useless bridle down, and left Lion to guard it, he saw
Wad starting off with a pail, and asked where he was going.

"For water," said Wad.

"More water? I should think you all had enough for one day!"

"Yes, for the outer man," drawled Wad. "Where's your horse?"

"I concluded to let Peakslow keep him a little longer. He seemed willing
to; and I am not ready to ride home. May I go with you?"

"Glad to have ye," said Wad.

They walked a little way along the road toward Peakslow's house, then
entered the woodland, descended into a little ravine, and, on the slope
beyond, found a spring of running water in the shade of an oak grove.

Jack was not inclined to talk of Snowfoot, but he had a good deal to say
about the spring.

"Why, this is charming! What a clear basin of water! Is it always
running over?"

"Always, even in the driest season. We first noticed that little stream
trickling down into the ravine; and that's about all there was to be
seen, till Rufe and I hollowed out this basin."

"Why don't you come here with your wagon and tubs, instead of going to
the river?"

"There's no good way to get in here with a wagon; and, besides, we can't
dip up more than two or three pailfuls at a time,--then we must wait for
the spring to fill."

"You could sink a barrel," said Jack, "and always have that full, to
start upon. Now dip your pail, and let's see how long it takes for the
basin to fill."

The experiment was tried, and Jack grew quite enthusiastic over the
result.

"See! how fast the water comes in! I say, Wad, you've got something
valuable here."

"Yes," said Wad. "I only wish the house had been built somewhere near.
This is part of the land Peakslow pretended to claim. The swing, where
Cecie got hurt, is in the grove, just up here."

The place was so cool and pleasant that Jack let Wad return alone with
the water, and walked about the spring and the swing, and up into the
woods beyond, calming his inward excitement, until dinner-time.

At table he gave a humorous account of his late interview with Peakslow.

"He was so very cordial i