Pausing in the act of taking a second drink, I looked into my cup, and saw that it contained myriads of animalcula and larvæ, which shot and zigzagged from side to side in the liveliest manner.
"Will they hurt us, Tom?" questioned Henry.
"I rickon they've got the worst of it, Sergeant, laddy; but I think I'd fale a bit aisier if I was blindfolded or takin' a dhrink in the dark. I prefer me liquid refrishmint with a little less mate, not to minshin its being less frisky."
We had come to the tanks with fresh towels, intending to wash off the dust of travel. We now used one of them to strain the water, and were astonished to see that each quart left behind it a plump teaspoonful of animalcula. The water was sweet, but, after discovering the life in it, we drank sparingly.
As we pursued the narrow path to camp in single file, we noticed Vic a considerable distance to the right, scouting and nosing about in an earnest manner. Evidently she thought she had made an important discovery, for she several times looked in our direction and barked. But we were too hungry to investigate, and soon she disappeared from sight.
When we reached the ambulance the boys put a few cakes of hard bread in their pockets, and taking their shot-guns, went out to look for some "cotton-tails" while supper was being prepared. Believing we were well out of the range of hostile Indians, I did not object to their going alone. They passed a considerable distance beyond the growth of Cereus giganteus, over a level stretch covered with knee-high bunch-grass and desert weeds, without seeing a hare. Pausing on the brink of a shoal, dry ravine, they stood side by side, and rested the butts of their guns upon the ground. Just then a shout of "Supper! supper!" came from the group near the camp-fire.
"Hate to go back without anything," said Frank. "Strange we don't see a rabbit now, when we saw dozens on the way to the tanks."
"That was because we didn't have a gun," said Henry.
"You don't believe the rabbits knew we weren't armed then and know we are now?"
"Hunters tell bigger stories than that about 'Brer Rabbit.' Not one has bobbed up since we got a gun."