I say, this is quite a different sort of country. Look at the
mountains."

"I have."

"We must be all right then, now," continued Ned. "I began to think
yesterday that we were going to tramp along till the heat and thirst
were too much for us, and we had to lie down and die. I say, I
shouldn't have liked that."

"And you'll never find any one who would. Bother the old gold! It
would have been horrid. Better have gone on weeding in the plantation."

"Ever so much; but do you think the place marked in the plan is over
yonder?"

Ned pointed at the beautiful amethystine mountains, but Chris shook his
head.

"Don't look like the place; but never mind that now. Let's see about
breakfast."

The boys rose as if animated by one spirit, and stood looking round.

"What about a fire?" said Ned dismally.

"No wood," replied Chris, with a groan, and his voice made his father
start, look sharply round, and spring to his feet.

"Ah, boys!" he cried. "How long have you been awake?"

This question, loudly uttered, had the effect of a call to the other
sleepers, who rose to their feet to look about in a dazed and wondering
manner, but with signs of satisfaction dawning upon their countenances
as they grasped the improvement in their position.

"Yes," said the doctor, after a brief conversation, "the cattle are all
right, and will be able to go on after another hour's grazing; but there
is no water, I'm afraid, nearer than the mountains yonder."

"But there'll be plenty there, doctor," said Griggs confidently, "and I
don't see that we need wait for the animals to graze any more; they
haven't done much amiss by the state of their portmanteaus. We can halt
again when we like, and the pasture's sure to get better as we go along
towards the mountain-slopes. Would you mind getting out your glass?"

This was quickly done, and the American focussed it and stood gazing
long and intently at the distant range.

"Far as I can make out," he said at last, "there's river and valley and
forest yonder, sir."

"Forests with blue trees, Griggs?" said Chris.

"Forests with trees that look blue at this distance," replied the
American. "That last makes a wonderful difference in the look of
things. So do sunrise and sunset. Why, you've seen the woods look
orange and scarlet, haven't you?"

"Yes, of course," said Chris, looking abashed. "I forgot. But, I say,
if there were water there, shouldn't we see it glitter?"

"Not