Freeman laid himself prone upon the brink, and followed his steed's example.

The draught was cool and pure.
"I didn't know how much I wanted it!" said he to himself.

"It must come from a good way down.

If I could only bring the parent stream to the surface, my mission would be on a fair road to success." An examination of the spring revealed the fact that it could not have been long in existence.

Indeed, there were no traces whatever of long continuance.