d because I
was hot and tired, and it is so tiresome, one day just like another, and
not a bit of adventure to go through. Why, I expected no end of fun in
that way--I mean, no end of excitement."

"Do you understand what he means, Griggs?" said Chris. "I think you've
upset him by talking about cooking and eating snake."

"It wasn't that," said Griggs. "He must have got out of bed the wrong
way this morning."

"Yes; a nice sort of bed! Nothing but rough sage-brush, crumbling up as
soon as it's moved, and looking like so much gritty imitation tea."

"Same sort of bed as we had, squire, and we don't grumble. Why, you're
not half a fellow. Like to go back perhaps?"

"That I shouldn't!" snapped out Ned, so suddenly that his mustang
started and had to be checked and soothed. "Can't a fellow speak? I
don't want to grumble, but it is so monotonous."

"You said that before," cried Chris banteringly.

"I know, Clevershakes!" retorted Ned. "And now I say it again. I've as
good a right to speak as you have. If you don't like the word
monotonous, I'll say dull and stupid. It's ride and walk, ride and
walk."

"And walk and ride, walk and ride," said Chris, imitating his old
companion's words and tones. "No adventures--nothing to see."

"Not even a rattlesnake," said Griggs softly.

"Look here, Mr Griggs," snapped out Ned, "I wish you wouldn't keep
interrupting me when I'm speaking. It's precious rude."

"I beg your pardon, sir," said Griggs politely.

"Well, don't do it again," said Ned shortly.--"Phew! How hot it is!
I'm sure it's ever so much hotter than it has been before."

"Much," said Chris, with his eyes twinkling, but he looked straight
before him. So did Griggs, and Ned went on--

"It's just as if the sand got to be red-hot and all the heat was
reflected back in one's face. I wouldn't care, though, only it's so
dull and monot--dreary!" the boy snapped out, looking sharply from one
to the other as if to see whether another remark was about to be made
respecting his repetition; but neither of his companions moved a muscle
of his face, and he went on murmuring in the same irritable way--

"There seem to be no fish to catch, no birds to shoot. I wouldn't have
believed that there could have been so much miserable desert if I hadn't
seen it. I quite thought that by this time, after getting right away
from all settlements and into the wildest of the wild country--"

"What!" said Griggs sharply