CHAPTER X 



> 



THE MAGIC POOLS 



ilTHIN fifty paces of our tents a spring rose 

 amono- the rocks and trickled over a level 

 strip of sand and through low bushes, 

 meandering so slowly that it filled several 

 broad shallow pools, before filtering almost impercept- 

 ibly into the rushing rlo. 



Here during the first few nights of our stay, Mex- 

 ican Deer came in numbers to drink, but when the 

 smoke of the dying embers of our fire began to taint 

 the air, these timid creatures frequented another pool 

 a few yards farther downstream — out of sight around 

 a bend. In broad daylight we surprised a soft-coated 

 doe — a slender, graceful creature whose white tail 

 flashed up at sight of us. With one mighty bound, 

 she half spanned the stream and sank out of sight in 

 the water. Up and swimming in an instant, the deer 

 surged ahead, and, when just about to be dragged by 

 the swift water into the foaming rapids, she gained 

 a foothold, staggered against the current, and dashed 

 off into the jungle. 



The series of small pools was a favourite drinking 

 and bathing place for many interesting wild creatures. 



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