132 THRILLING ADVENTURES. 



fed among the cedars which formed a grove round the spring. 

 As the three hunters dismounted from their animals, the lone 

 trapper scarcely noticed their arrival, his eyes being still 

 intently fixed upon the water. Looking round at last, he was 

 instantly recognized by one of La Bonte's companions, and 

 saluted as " Old .Rube." Dressed from head to foot in buck- 

 skin, his face, neck, and hands appeared to be of the same 

 leathery texture, so nearly did they assimilate in color to the 

 materials of his dress. He was at least six feet two or three 

 in his moccasons, straight-limbed and wiry, with long arms 

 ending in hands of tremendous grasp, and a quantity of 

 straight black hair hanging on his shoulders. His features, 

 which were undeniably good, wore an expression of comical 

 gravity, never relaxing into a smile, which a broad good- 

 humored mouth could have grinned from ear to ear. 



" What, boys," he said, " will you be simple enough to camp 

 here, alongside these springs ? Nothing good ever came of 

 sleeping here, I tell you, and the worst kind of devils are in 

 those dancing waters." 



"Why, old hos," cried La Bonte, "what brings you hyar 

 then, and camp at that ?" 



" This nigger," answered Rube, solemnly, " has been down'd 

 upon a sight too often to be skeared by what can came out from 

 them waters ; and thar arn't a devil as hisses thar, as can 

 4 shine' with this child, I tell you. I've tried onest, an' fourt 

 him to clawin' away to Eustis, and if I draws my knife again 

 on such varmint, I'll raise his hair, as sure as shootin. " 



Spite of the reputed dangers of the locality, the trappers 

 camped on the spot, and many a draught of the delicious, 

 sparkling water they quaffed in honor of the "medicine" of 

 the fount. Rube, however, sat sulky and silent, his huge 

 form bending over his legs, which were crossed, Indian fashion, 

 under him, and his long bony fingers spread over the fire, 

 which had been made handy to the spring. At last they 

 elicited from him that he had sought this spot for the purpose 



