The Saddle Boys of the Rockies; Or, Lost on Thunder Mountain

psed something moving, out

immediate stop as the b

as he threw back his shock of black hair, and waited

a peep of the last of it. Here, Bob, take the glasses, and wait to see if it shows up agai

antelope feeding on the sweet grass around some spring hole, as you

some, you see, and so I wouldn't like to be too sure; but

glasses to his eyes, training them on the further end of the squat elevatio

Frank, a minute or so later, as something came ou

ell from the lips of the one who

watching with his naked eye; although the distance, separating them from t

marked Bob, presently, as he turned to offer them to h

ayuse dragging poles on which they heap their lodges, blan

ose they're doing so far away from their reservation?" and Bob gripped his quirt, which hung, as usual, from

ins; "unless they've just got desperate for a good old hunt, and broke loose. Pretty soon the pony soldiers will come galloping along, round 'em up, and c

g the long procession pass out beyond the low hill, and

ended on his comrade for all such information, since

hat's old Wolf Killer himself, ridin' at the head of the line, with his gay blanket wrapped around him. Wonder what

e old chief, th

im with the rest of the outfit, and saw old Hank throw his rope over his shoulders. He snaked the fellow over the ground and through the short buffalo grass like a coyote, 'till he was punished enough; and then my dad made 'em l

the chief hims

ought the good old days had come back, when a Navajo always tried to get away with any horses he ran across. They say

know we're here," remarked Bob, uneasily. "We didn't come out on this little picnic for trouble with the reds. There they go, pushing thro

" said Frank, as he turned his head to look toward the

, once more advancing in a Southerly direction, "and, unless all sign

oing to camp at its foot unless something goes wro

he back of the animal, such was his dislike for unknown parties. He could dance almost as well as a circus horse; and when Frank had tended the saddle herd at night, as horse-

ing their corduroy trousers; with boots that mounted spurs; flannel shirts; red handkerchiefs knotted

use at least fairly well. Of course both carried lariats slung from the pommels of their high Mexican sad

loaded down with stuff makes me think of moving day in the old Kentucky mountains. But no use tal

g. "And that applies in an extra way when he mea

ay run up against the

avalanche, or a cloud-burst," remarked the

ing for a chance to drop down on some peaceful ran

b," was the reply. "But the sun's

ter be looking around for

ed. "Suppose we hold up here for a bit, and let me

veled upward toward the bare crown of the great uplift, that ha

stunted cedars. Then you can see the aspens and silver spruce next. And over the whole outfit is a s

ter Frank had used them and

ed. "Well, I must say it shows up right well. I've

l disappointed, do

I came out here to your Rockies; but there's something about this thing that just

e put the field-glasses away. Half an hour's gallop, and we'll jump off. That ought to bring us to t

n with a real cowboy yell. Instantly the spirited steed bounded off, with Bo

; but after a few minutes both boys gradually drew upon the lines, knowing full well that thei

ed Frank, as he suddenly brought Buck

about what a fellow has to look for when he expects to go into camp. Water handy, grass for the horses, wood for

le, and then, with a handful of dead grass, rub the sweaty back of the mettlesome ani

attached, deeply into the ground. After that the bridle came off; and Buckski

t what the programme was to be; for after rolling, they walked down to the little watercourse

s than his companion about such things, but Frank had often accompanied the cowboys on his father's ranch on their expeditions, and had even spen

he should start a cooking fire in a hole he dug, rather than make a roaring blaze that could be

er for cooking, once you get a bed of red ashes; because in this warm countr

tained a small coffee pot, as well as the frying pan without whi

often come to such places in dry season We haven't had rain for so long now, that, when it does come, I ex

angry whirr, similar to the noise made by a locust, a