With a word of thanksgiving the young men rushed over and gulped up large quantities of the precious fluid.
“At last!” cried Bob, too happy for words. “At last we’ve found water!”
CHAPTER XXI
Captured!
TO the two boys, who had hoped against hope that their parched throats could be relieved, the priceless water tasted like nectar. They had felt sure that grim tragedy was near. Now their spirits were restored to a new high level, and they considered themselves equal to anything.
At last, when they had fully quenched their thirst, they glanced about the cavern.
Near the edge of the pool were the tracks of wild animals, which had evidently made this place a frequent haunt. The youths did not recognize all the imprints, but Joe stoutly declared that gazelles had been there.
“Doesn’t seem pleasant to know that we’ve been drinking after wild animals, does it?” laughed Bob.
“No. But we won’t think of that, especially since our thirst was so great. Then, too, it’s not likely that many germs are to be found away out here in the desert mountains.”