slight declivity to a stream
several rods in width. The water was so clear that the bottom could be
plainly seen from their saddles, the depth being no more than two or
three feet. The ponies paused to drink, and, as they emerged on the
other side and started up the gentle slope, Hazletine suggested that for
a time at least they should be held down to a walk.

One anxiety began to impress itself upon the minds of Jack and Fred.
They were not only hungrier than they had been for months, but that
hunger was increasing at an alarming rate. Neither had brought any lunch
with them, and they wondered how food was to be obtained. Jack almost
fainted at the awful suspicion that perhaps their friend intended to
break them in by making the two or three days' journey to the ranch
without eating anything at all!

"I suppose it would be no trouble for _him_," was the lugubrious thought
of the youth, "but it will be the death of us!"

Happily this dread proved unfounded. The sun had hardly crossed the
meridian when both lads were thrilled by the declaration of Hazletine:

"Wal, if you younkers are as hungry as me, we'll have a bite."

They were in the middle of the undulating plain, with no wood or water
in sight; but that was a small matter. In a twinkling all three were out
of their saddles, and the guide unstrapped a large bundle from its
fastening to the saddle of his pony. This, being unwrapped, disclosed a
goodly portion of cooked and tender steak and plenty of well-baked brown
bread. Furthermore, there were a couple of bottles of milk--enough for
two meals at least.

These having been placed on the grass, the bits were removed from the
mouths of their horses, who were allowed to graze while their masters
were partaking of one of the most enjoyable meals they had ever eaten.

"If I'd expected to be alone," explained Hazletine, "I wouldn't have
brought this stuff with me, but we may not see a maverick or any game
all the way home. I wouldn't mind it, but I don't s'pose you are used to
it."

"I should say not," replied Jack, as well as he could, while his mouth
was filled with bread, meat and milk; "I'm hungry enough to eat a mule."

"And I feel as if I could chew his saddle," added Fred, laboring under
the same difficulty in speaking clearly. "If our appetites keep up at
this rate, there will be a shrinkage among the cattle in Wyoming before
we go home."

"What do you mean by a maverick?" asked Jack of their guide.