ly it will be a long day before you get one of the timid little
beasts as easy as that accommodating chap fell to your gun. Why, he was
just a gift, that's all you could call it, Bob."

"That's what I've been thinking myself, though of course I don't know as
much about them as you do, by a long shot," Bob admitted. "I suppose
it's us to hit the saddle again now?"

"We're going to try and make Flagstaff by night," Frank announced, as he
picked up his saddle and bridle, and walked toward the spot where
Buckskin was staked out.

The horses had been able to drink all they wanted during the night, for
the ropes by means of which they were tethered allowed of a range that
took them to the little spring hole from which the water gushed, to run
away, and, in the end, possibly unite with the wonderful Colorado.

In ten minutes more the boys were off at a round gallop. There was no
intention of pushing their mounts so soon in the day. Like most persons
who have spent much time on horseback both lads knew the poor policy of
urging an animal to its best speed in the early part of a journey,
especially one that is to be prolonged for ten or twelve hours.

At noon they were far enough advanced for Frank to declare he had no
doubt about being able to make Flagstaff before sunset.

"When we get there, and spend a night at the hotel, we must remember
and ask if our friend Mr. Stanwix and his partner arrived in good time,
and went on," Bob suggested.

Just as Frank had expected, they made the town on the railroad before
the sun had dropped out of sight; and the horses were in fair condition
at that.

Flagstaff only boasts of a normal population of between one and two
thousand; but there are times, with the influx of tourists bound for the
Grand Canyon, when it is a lively little place.

The two boys only desired shelter and rest for themselves and their
horses during the night. It was their intention to push on early the
following day, keeping along the old wagon trail that at one time was
the sole means of reaching the then little known Wonderland along the
deeply sunk Colorado.

After a fairly pleasant night, they had an early breakfast. The horses
proved to be in fine fettle, and eager for the long gallop. So the two
saddle boys once more started forth.

The day promised to be still warmer than the preceding one; and the
first part of the journey presented some rather difficult problems. They
managed to put the San Franci