Part 17 (2/2)
”What a beautiful place for a picnic!” said Harry.
”Rather hard to get to, though,” returned Jerry. ”I wonder if there is a spring handy?”
”A spring away up heah!” exclaimed Blumpo. ”Yo' expect watah to run up hill? Ha, ha!”
”Yes, Blumpo; strange as it may seem, the finest springs are found at the very tops of mountains. Come on and look for one.”
The homeless youth showed his surprise, but he readily joined in the hunt, and so did Harry. There was a patch of brush behind the plateau, and this they skirted. Ere long Jerry found a tiny rivulet flowing in a well-worn hollow.
”The head of this rill of water will bring us to the spring,” he said.
They began to follow the watercourse. It led around half a dozen big rocks.
”Halt!”
All three of the boys sprang back in amazement. From whence had that unexpected command proceeded?
”Halt, I say!”
They stopped short.
”Who are you?” asked Jerry quickly.
”I am the Lonely Man. Leave me!”
”The Lonely Man,” repeated Jerry.
”Yes. Depart, my boys, at once.”
”Are you the man they call the hermit of the island?” asked Harry.
”I presume so. Now leave me. I have not spoken to other men for years.”
”We would like to get a little water first, if you please,” said Jerry.
”Surely so good an old man as you will not refuse us that.”
This way of talking evidently struck the hermit's fancy, for there was a rustle of bushes, and the hermit of the island stepped into view.
All of the boys stared at him in blank amazement. He was a reddish-black individual, with snow white hair and long flowing beard.
Blumpo grew so frightened that he immediately fell on his knees.
”De voodoo doctor, suah!” he muttered.
Like many other ignorant people, he was very superst.i.tious and believed in charms and voodooism.
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