About six o'clock
Moreover the cleft among the rocks -- though admirably adapted for a hiding place -- had none of the qualifications which a good camping site should possess . A paddle of two miles brought the party to Tanner 's Dam , and when they had carried the canoes around and embarked on the lower side they passed the mouth of the real Otter Run . This enabled Ned to fix their bearings definitely on the map , and he resolved to keep close track of the topography of the creek in the future . About six o'clock a beautiful place to camp was found on the left shore of the creek ; shade was abundant , and the soil was level and grassy . A few yards up the beach a spring bubbled and spurted from a nest of rocks . As the boys landed a flock of wild ducks flew up with a great splashing , and winged their way down the creek . Along the opposite shore , which was flat and marshy , yellow-legged snipe were running to and fro , a couple of gray herons standing contentedly on one leg , were gobbling minnows from the shallow pools .