But the spring was not as easy to find as they had supposed. They finally located a small brook, and, tracing it back some distance, they came upon the spring. It justified all that Mr. Brockhurst had said of it, and the boys drank long and deep.
"It's got a queer taste," said Dick.
"That's the medicinal virtues of it, I guess," laughed Innis.
"Well, it's all right when you're thirsty," assented Paul, "for it's good and cold, but I'd have to get used to it before I'd want it steady. Well, shall we go back?"
"Might as well," said Dick, looking at his watch. "We've been here half an hour. Mr. Brockhurst will be getting tired."
They started down the slope, and, when they got to a point where they should have seen the lame man he was not there.
"He's gone!" cried Innis.
"Probably got tired of waiting, and went back to the auto," spoke Dick. "He'll be waiting for us."
But his chums thought they detected a strange note in his voice.