I have no doubt it was time to do so, but I knew you preferred to sleep
rather than look upon Niagara Falls or the Yellowstone."

"If so, I am not the only younker, as Hazletine says, who has such a
preference. That reminds me, Jack, that it's mighty lucky we are not
vegetarians."

"Why?"

"What should we do for our meals? So long as we stay in these mountains
we must live on game. This seasoning that Hank was thoughtful enough to
give us makes it palatable, but coffee, bread and a few vegetables would
help a good deal."

"It doesn't make much difference, so long as we are blessed, or rather
tortured, with such appetites as we have had ever since we struck
Wyoming."

From where they sat at the mouth of the cavern they saw all three of
their ponies cropping the succulent grass. It was evident that nothing
could add to their enjoyment of this outing.

Naturally the boys speculated over the absence of their guide.

"He must have expected to spend the night with us. And, Fred, perhaps it
will be just as well, when he does come, that we don't tell him how I
passed the time when trying to act the sentinel."

"I surely shall not, unless he questions us so closely that we cannot
help letting him know the truth."

"He will have a small opinion of us."

"Why of '_us_?'"

"Because you would have done the same as I."

"That has not yet been proven."

"Well, say 'myself,' if that suits better."

"It is a very good amendment. I wonder whether anything can have
befallen him?"

"He is too much of a veteran to make such blunders as we."

"That is true, and yet the most skilful hunter in the world is liable to
accident. What's frightened the ponies?"

One of the animals had raised his head, with the grass dripping like
green water from his jaws, and was looking off to the side of the
plateau as if he scented danger of some kind. He was near the further
boundary, thus being considerably removed from the boys, who grasped
their Winchesters and rose to their feet.

"It's Hank's horse," said Jack, in an undertone; "the others do not seem
to be interested in what disturbs him."

"And there comes Hank himself!" was the delighted exclamation of Fred,
as they saw their old friend step into view from behind the rocks and
walk with his peculiar silent stride toward them.

The movement of the beard under the broad sombrero showed that the guide
was smiling, and doubtless he was as pleased as the boys over the
meeting. He