A DAY'S SPORT ON THE KRAMMETS BERG. 17 ( J 



" It will take us two good hours to get there : we 



have come a great way down, you see, and the clam 



is on the ridge." 



" Is there no water near here ?" 



" Not a drop : do you want to drink ?" 



" Yes, my mouth is as dry as these stones. Shall 



we find no spring as we go along?" 



" No, the only spring is down yonder. It is not 



very near, but if you like I will run and fetch you 



some." 



" No, no," said I, " let us go upwards ; we have 

 no time to lose." 



The day was fine and the sun shining, but the 

 heat, though oppressive in getting up the steep, 

 would have been nothing if I could only have as- 

 suaged my thirst, which became almost intolerable. 

 There was however no help for it but to go on ; some 

 hours more and we might perhaps be able to obtain 

 drink. 



" How far is it now?" I asked, breaking silence, for 

 I had been chary of my breath and was choking. 



11 We have an hour's walk still/ 7 answered Xavier ; 

 and we went on again in silence. 



Just before we reached the clam I stumbled on a 

 puddle. The water, which was dirty enough, had col- 

 lected in a hole in the mud about as large as both my 

 hands. 



"Ah, there's water!" I exclaimed, about to stoop 

 and take a draught. 



" You surely will not drink that" said Xavier, in & 



N 2 



