"Well," he returned, after mature reflection, "if you go fur enough, it'll take you down to the Diamond Pool."
"The Diamond Pool," said Miss Leslie; "that has a promising sound."
The lane soon began to lead them down the side of a rugged hill, between barberry bushes and stunted savins, with neglected stone walls, where the striped ground squirrels chirruped as they dodged into the crevices. In a few moments they had a glimpse of the water, shining between the branches of the trees below.
"Upon my word," said Morton, as they stood on the margin, "the Diamond Pool is not to be despised. We have chosen our walk well, and found a tempting place of rest at the end of it."
"A grassy bank,—a clear spring, with cardinal flowers along the edge—a cluster of maple trees——"
"And a flat rock at the foot of one of them, for you to rest upon. We are well provided for."
"Except that a seat for you seems to have been forgotten."
"No, if I wish to rest, this mound of grass will serve my turn. I am used to bivouacs."
The sun had just vanished behind the rocky hill on the farther side of the water; a sea of liquid fire, clouds blazoned in gold and crimson, betokened his recent presence. The lake lay like a great mirror framed in green. Another sunset glowed in its depths; rocks, hills, and trees grew downward; and the kingfisher, as he flitted over it, made a dash at the surface, as if to peck at the adversary bird, which seemed shooting upward to meet him.
"One might imagine," said Miss Leslie, "that we were a hundred miles away from railroads, factories, and all abominations of the kind."