e a few
old sun-burned remnants of skulls as we came along. The bone hunter
didn't gather his crop in this region, that means. Besides, didn't you
see all those queer little indentations that looked as though they might
have been pools away back years ago?"

"Sure, I did; and wondered whatever could have made them," Bob admitted.

"I may be wrong," Frank continued; "but somehow I've got an idea that
those must be what they used to call buffalo wallows. Anyhow, that
doesn't matter to us. We've made a good day of it; found a jim-dandy
place for a camp; got some juicy fresh meat; and to-morrow we hope to
land in Flagstaff."

"And what then?" queried Bob.

"We'll decide that while we ride along to-morrow," Frank answered.
"Perhaps it may seem better that we leave our horses there, and take the
train for the Grand Canyon; though I'm inclined to make another day of
it, and follow the old wagon trail over the mesa, and through the pine
forest past Red Butte, to Grand View."

"Listen to Buckskin snorting; what d'ye suppose ails him?" asked Bob, as
his chum stopped speaking.

"I was just going to say that myself," remarked Frank, putting out his
hand for his rifle; and at the same time scattering the brands of the
dying fire so that darkness quickly fell upon the spot.

"Too late, I'm afraid," muttered Bob.

"Seems like it, because the horses are sure coming straight for us,"
said Frank; "but there are many people moving around in this section,
and perhaps some tenderfeet from the East have lost themselves, and
would be glad of a chance to sit by our blaze and taste antelope meat,
fresh where it is grown. Step back, Bob, and let's wait to see what
turns up!"

CHAPTER VII

STANDING BY THE LAW

"What had we ought to do?" asked Bob.

"They must have seen our fire, and that's what made them head this way.
So, all we can do is to wait, and see what they want," replied Frank.

"But there don't seem to be many in the party," his chum went on.

"I think not more than two, Bob."

"You can tell from the beat of their horses' hoofs--is that it?"
inquired the boy who wanted to learn.

"Yes, it's easy enough, Bob."

By this time the sounds had grown quite loud, and both boys strained
their eyes, trying to locate the approaching horsemen. In the old days
on the plains every stranger was deemed an enemy until he had proven
himself a friend. Nowadays it is hardly so positive as that; but
nevertheless those who are