ny one who might pass during the night.

The horses were fastened to a couple of trees, where they could feed
without danger of getting their halters entangled among the bushes, and
each was given a generous supply of grain.

Among other things which Bob had placed into the carriage while waiting
at the Kenniston farm was a water-pail, and with this on his arm he
started out in search of water for the horses, while George and Ralph
attended to the making of what could only be an apology for a camp.

The blankets, cushions and rug were taken from the carriage, and were
spread on the ground over a small pile of brush, for the boys were too
tired to make any elaborate arrangements for the night.

The carriage cushions formed the pillow to this one bed which was to
serve for all three, and with the rug and one blanket under them, and
the other blanket over them, George thought they would get along very
comfortably.

Bob was not long in finding plenty of water for the horses, and when he
returned with it, after it was decided to go supperless to bed, in order
to save the provisions, all three lay down on the hastily-improvised
bed, little dreaming that they were within but a few rods of those whom
they were pursuing.

CHAPTER XVII.

NEAR NEIGHBORS.

As may be imagined, the sleep which visited the three boys was not as
profound as it would have been had they been in bed at Kenniston farm.
In the first place, the bed of brush, which had seemed so soft when they
first lay down, seemed suddenly to have developed a great number of hard
places, while the ends of the boughs, which had seemed so small when
they were cut, apparently increased in size after they had served as a
bed for an hour.

Many times during the night did Bob get up to see if the horses were all
right, and, while he would not admit that the bed had anything to do
with his wakefulness, he knew, as well as did his companions, that when
sleeping at home, he hardly opened his eyes once during the entire
night.

It was at a very early hour, therefore, that the boys were up, and ready
to continue the chase. As a matter of course, after having gone to bed
supperless, they were ready for a hearty breakfast, and, since they
would have plenty of time to eat it before sunrise, they at once made
preparations for breaking their fast.

Thanks to the cooked food they had with them, these preparations did
not consume very much time, since they were only obl