Part 43 (1/2)

”Reckon they smell the snakes,” was Todd's comment. ”A hoss ain't got no use for rattlers--and I ain't nuther,” he added, and rode away, with the boys beside him.

”What about the grouse?” asked Phil, mournfully.

”Do you want to go back after them?” questioned Dave, with a grim smile.

”Not for a thousand dollars!”

”Then I guess we'll have to let the snakes have them,” went on Dave.

”Let us be thankful that we weren't bitten.”

”Rattlesnakes is the one drawback to this country,” said the cowboy, when they were a safe distance from the reptiles. ”I don't mind wild beasts, but I do draw the line on snakes. But there ain't near so many as there used to be, an' some day there won't be any at all.”

”After this I am going to beware of holes that look snaky,” was Roger's comment. ”I think if a rattlesnake got close to me I'd be paralyzed with fright.”

As they went on, they kept their eyes open for more game, and just before resting for dinner Dave saw some grouse high up in a tree in a hollow. With caution they advanced, this time on horseback, and all fired together as before. Out of the tree fluttered seven grouse, for they had been close together and the shot had created great havoc. All but one were dead and the seventh was quickly dispatched by Todd.

”We'll have some good eating to-night, after all,” said Roger, with a grin. He liked fowl of all kinds.

The stop for dinner was made beside a mountain spring, where the water was icy cold and as clear as crystal. They took their time eating, thus allowing the horses a chance to rest and to crop the nearby gra.s.s.

”We have covered about twenty miles,” said the cowboy, in reply to a question from Phil.

”Then, if we do as well this afternoon, we'll be forty miles from the ranch by the time we camp to-night.”

”We'll not make over ten or twelve miles this afternoon, lad,” was the answer. ”It will be hard climbing up the hills.”

”But harder climbing to-morrow,” put in Dave.

”Yes, to-morrow will test the horses, and test you, too,” said Todd.

It was very pleasant to rest in the shade after such a long ride in the sun, but the cowboy was anxious to reach a certain camping spot for the night, and so he allowed only three-quarters of an hour for the midday halt.

As soon as they left the spring, the youths realized what was before them. The trail now led constantly upward, and was in parts stony and uncertain. In several places they had to leap brooks of fair size.

”This isn't so nice,” remarked Phil, as they came to a halt, to allow the horses to rest after a particularly difficult hill had been climbed.

”Oh, this is nothing to the traveling we'll do to-morrow,” answered Sid Todd. ”We are only in the foothills now--to-morrow we'll be right in the mountains.”

About four o'clock they gained the top of another hill. As they came out in a cleared spot all gazed around with interest.

”Look!” cried Dave, pointing with his hand. ”Am I mistaken, or are those deer?”

He was pointing to the top of another hill about half a mile distant.

There, outlined against the sky, could be seen a number of animals grazing.

”Deer, my boy!” cried Sid Todd. ”A fine lot of 'em, too, or I'm mistaken!”

”Oh, let us go after them!” exclaimed Roger, impulsively.