“Well, as a matter of fact there are no impurities in the water of these pools at this time of the year. It has only just rained into them.”
She shook her head. “I am managing to exist in a wilderness, but I cannot drink from a pond,” she said.
Clym looked towards the well, which was now deserted, the men having gone home. “It is a long way to send for spring-water,” he said, after a silence. “But since you don’t like this in the pond, I’ll try to get you some myself.” He went back to the well. “Yes, I think I could do it by tying on this pail.”
“But, since I would not trouble the men to get it, I cannot in conscience let you.”
“I don’t mind the trouble at all.”
He made fast the pail to the long coil of rope, put it over the wheel, and allowed it to descend by letting the rope slip th
