ors.

So Bob immediately sauntered off toward the spot where he had noticed
the long-eared animals, calculated to make a good meal for hungry
campers.

"I heard gophers whistling," called out Frank, "and that means there's a
village somewhere close by. Keep your eyes out for the rattlers; they
are always found where prairie dogs live."

"I never forget that, Frank," came back from the disappearing hunter.

Frank went on with his preparations. A fire would be necessary, if they
expected to cook fresh meat; and it is not always an easy thing to have
such when out on the open plain or mesa. But Frank had already sighted a
supply of fuel sufficient for their needs and it was indeed next door to
a miracle to find the dead branch of a pine tree here, far away from the
mountains, where the nearest trees seemed to grow.

"I reckon it was just lifted up in some little tornado, and carried
through the air, just to land where we needed it," he remarked, as he
dragged the log closer to where he had quickly put up the tent; and then
began chopping at it with his little camp hatchet.

As he worked there came a quick report from a point not far away.

"That means one jack," he remarked, raising his head to listen; but to
his surprise no second shot followed.

"Well, if he hopes to get a pair, he'll have to hurry up his cakes,"
Frank went on; "because the night's settling down on us fast. But then
one will give us a taste all around, and help out."

It was some little time before he heard Bob coming, and then the
Kentuckian seemed to be walking rather unsteadily. Frank jumped to his
feet, with the suspicion that possibly after all Bob had met with a
misfortune. In the minute of time that he was waiting for his chum to
appear, a number of things flashed through his head to give him
uneasiness.

Had Bob been unlucky enough to run across one of those aggressive little
prairie rattlesnakes after all? Could he have wounded himself in any way
when he fired his repeating rifle? Neither of these might prove to be
the case; and yet Bob was certainly staggering as he came along.

Now he could be seen by the light of the little fire. Frank stared, for
his chum was certainly bending over, as though bearing a load. He had
heard no outcry that would signify the presence of others in the
neighborhood. Ah! surely those were the long slender legs of an antelope
which Bob gripped in front of him.

"Bully for you!" exclaimed Frank. "Where u