he party struck camp, and the
journey for the Denton plantation was continued.

The timber passed, they came out on a long stretch of prairie land
leading to the high hills beyond.

"Here we are on the plains!" cried Sam. "Who wants to race?" And off
he rode at top speed, with some of the others following. Even Wags
seemed to enjoy the brush, and barked continually as he ran ahead
and leaped up before one horse and then another.

Sam's wild ride on the plains lasted rather longer than the others
had anticipated, and when it came to an end, all found themselves
away from the beaten trail which they had been pursuing. They came
to a sudden stop and gazed around in perplexity.

"Here's a mess," said Dick.

"Where's the trail?"

"That is what I want to know."

"I think it is over yonder."

"I think it is in the opposite direction."

All of the boys began to talk at once, and then followed a dead
silence for several seconds.

"One thing is certain--the trail can't be in two directions," said Tom.

"He can pe if he vos krooked," said Hans wisely.

"It was a fairly straight trail," observed Fred. "I can't see how we
happened to leave it."

"I was following Sam," said Songbird. "You can't blame me."

"So was I following Sam," added several of the others.

"And I was having a good time on the horse," said the youngest Rover.
"I thought in the bunch there would be at least one who would look
after the trail."

"So it is really nobody's fault," said Dick quickly, to avoid a
possible quarrel. "The question is: how are we going to find the
trail again?"

"I know how," put in Hans calmly.

"How?"

"Look for him."

"Thanks, awfully," said Tom. "That is a bright as a burnt-out match."

"Just the same, that is what we will have to do, Tom," said Dick.
"Let us divide up, and some go to the right and some to the left."

This was considered a good plan and was carried out without delay.
Ten minutes later, Songbird set up a shout:

"Upon this ground,
The trail is found.
All come right here
And see it clear."

"Good for Songbird!" cried Tom. "He gets a last year's tomato as a
reward. Songbird, will you have it in tissue paper or a trunk?"

"Well, the trail is plain enough," was Dick's comment, as he came
riding up. "I can't see how we missed such a well-defined path."

The run had tired their horses somewhat, and all were willing to
proceed further on a walk. They were coming to a fringe of bushes