Part 20 (1/2)

Rod drew up A gate stood before hi that the invaders had been there They pushed their heavyover the knoll, to find a cottage in ruins, having been burned to the very ground

It was a sad sight, and filled the boys with distress; but by this ti a little hardened to such spectacles of warfare, and could view theust toward the aggressors that had filled their hearts at an earlier date

For some reason or other the Gere Perhaps so it totally deserted, with not even a stray chicken left to satisfy their longing for a supper

Rod gave one hasty glance around Then he heaved a satisfied sigh, for he had been a little afraid lest he discover some evidence of foul work there Such did not happen to be the case; the owner of the cottage instead of staying and arousing the passions of the invaders by firing at theions before their co in time

So the trio of boys hastened to the well as soon as they could dispose of their wheels It would do them no harm to idle away tenliquid which doubtless lay in those shadowy depths

Hanky Panky reached it first of all, Josh not appearing to be in a humor to force himself to the van In fact Josh see, for he had one of those smirks on his face which reed

”I don't seem to be able to quite see down _all_ the way, Rod,” the other was saying when his comrades joined hiood splash; so there's plenty of the stuff down there”

”I only hope it's all right,” reed to draw up a dripping bucket of cold water

That caused Hanky Panky to hesitate, for he had a gourd in his hand, and was about to dip in

”Nohat in the orld do youthat, I'd like to know, Josh; you're always trying to drop a fly in the oint with this water?” he deourd as he spoke

”Oh! I don't know,” drawled the other, wickedly, ”but if it happened that soly-tempered Gerh thing for the French who drank later, and ain”

Hanky Panky turned pale, and allowed the gourd to spill; whereupon Josh coolly took it out of his hand, dipped into the bucket, and co

”If it doesn't kill _ to be the tester for the crowd, you know Tastes all right, though, and as cold as anything Whew! Rod, you have a dip, since Hanky feels nervous about it, won't you?”

Rod thereupon laughed, accepted the rude drinking cup fro bucket, and offered it to the third roup

”Don't mind what he says, Hanky; you know Josh loves to have his little joke; and I believe he still feels that he owes you one on account of the trick you played on hi”

”Then you really don't believe they did poison it, Rod?” asked the other

”That isn't the Gers, as far as I know,” Rod told him; at which assurance Hanky Panky sed his fears, and drained the gourd

”Might as well be hung for a whole sheep as a la into the bucket; ”but noto say this is as fine water as any I ever drank over in our own dear country So here goes”

Rod in turn took a drink, and was ready to pronounce it excellent

Indeed, after their dusty ride of theas that draught of ice-cold water from the ith the old-fashi+oned sweep

”If we'reto rest up a little bit,” reht here Then just before we start off again it'll be another swig all around I'd like to carry a canteen of that sa with me, so I could wet , I' the said canteen every few minutes, in spite of the wretched condition of the road and the necessity for cautious riding