's
proceedings were discussed, and the doctor's decision accepted that they
could not do better than strike right away in the direction of the hill
seen the previous afternoon, making that their observatory for deciding
future proceedings.

"Our plan of campaign is simple enough," he said; "we must avoid all
traces of civilisation, and keep to the wilds. The rest lies with
chance and good fortune."

It was only beginning to get light when all set to loading up the mules,
to find it nearly as hard a task as before; but it was mastered, a sharp
lookout given round to make sure that nothing was left behind, and then
the order was given, "Forward!" Griggs led off once more, with the
biting mule's bell jingling, and the low brush, wet with dew, giving out
a peculiar rustling as it was trampled down or passed through, the
direction of the hill being determined by compass, the result of their
leader's observation taken the day before.

But soon after the darkness grew grey, there was a faint band visible in
the heavens which gradually broadened, trees started into view to right
and left, and after progressing some distance in silence, Chris and Ned,
who had taken up their positions on starting right and left of Griggs,
began to find their tongues and make remarks about the faint streaks of
orange colour which lit up the zenith. Soon after it was as if the
coming light of day was illumining them as well as the landscape, and
they ended by asking questions and then talking loudly about what had
passed in the night.

Griggs was ready enough to reply in a bantering, boyish spirit in
response to one of Chris's questions.

"Yes," he said; "your dad roused me up out of about the most delicious
sleep I ever remember to have had. Oh, it's just grand sleeping out in
the open. You have so much room to breathe."

"Why, you slept in the house place the same as we did," cried Ned. "I
saw where you lay down."

"Likely enough, but you didn't see me get up again. It was too hot and
stuffy in there, with things creeping into your hair and ears. I soon
got up and shook them off so as to go and pick a place near where the
doctor was watching, so that he should know where to find me. Then I
lay down on one of nature's own spring mattresses, made by spreading a
blanket over the sage-brush, and the next minute I was asleep."

"But suppose there had been a rattler under where you lay down?" cried
Ned.

"Well, then he'd have just