e
during the final preparations for the start, every one being well armed,
and in face of the fact that they meant to be back at the camp the same
evening, burdened with nothing but a wallet containing a little food and
a bottle of water.

"Isn't what grand?" replied Ned.

"Why, riding off into a country where nobody has been before, and not
knowing what wonderful discoveries we may make."

"Oh yes, I suppose so; but I wish old Griggs had spoken out as he has
now before we started."

"What about?"

"What about? Why, our having to go on and on till all the stores are
finished, and then for us to get nothing but frizzled meat to eat and
water to drink. That's a nice lookout, upon my word! Here, see if you
can get my girth tightened to this hole. This brute has been eating
till he's as round as a tub."

"So has mine. I haven't got the girth as tight as it was last time by
three holes."

"Oh! Then you needn't bother. I'm one hole better than you."

"All right, then. We shall have to tighten up two or three times
to-day."

"Ready, boys?" cried the doctor. "That's right. Now sling your guns.
Are you loaded?"

"Yes, father--bullet in one barrel, shot-cartridge in the other."

"Now then, mount. You follow us, and Griggs will bring up the rear."

"That's right," said Chris in a whisper. "We can make him talk to us
and tell us about how he got on when he was travelling before."

The start was made, and as soon as the marshy part was cleared there was
no need to ride in single file. The doctor allowed his two friends to
come up abreast, and Griggs urged his pony forward to get between the
boys.

"Here we are, then," he said cheerily. "Now we can have a palaver."

"About Indians," said Ned eagerly.

"Indians? Not a bit of it. We don't want any Indians. I say, nice
thing to find when we get back that they had raided the camp and cleared
off everything, mules and all."

"Oh, I say, Griggs," cried the boys together, "don't! It would be
horrible. Why, part of us ought to stop and guard the camp."

"Either of you like the job?" said the American. Chris and Ned leaned
so as to gaze across Griggs' pony in each other's eyes.

"Bah! They won't find it, even if there are any in this neighbourhood,"
cried the American. "Nice country, ain't it? Rather better than the
desert."

"But isn't it a pity that we are not going right up the mountain
to-day?"

"Like to go all the way?" said Griggs.