," suggested Tom, "that would make him act
up."

"Maybe," admitted Jim.

Now they had arrived at the stream that was roaring through the
meadow. It was no brook either, but a brawling stream about forty
feet in width, very clear and wonderfully cold, as it came from the
snow-clad summits to the northwest. There were a good many large
boulders that checked its course and made a roaring music in the
quiet of the valley. It was a full half mile from the hill where the
camp was.

"This would be a fine stream for trout," remarked Tom. "I wish we were
going to stop in this valley long enough to give us a chance for some
sport, but I suppose we will get up about four o'clock in the morning
and chase over the mountains all day and then make a dry camp where
our animals will be stampeded by the Indians."

"You certainly are a croaker, Tommy," laughed Jim heartily, for Tom's
pessimistic prophecies never failed to amuse his big brother, "but
cheer up, I have about decided to stop here in the valley for a day or
two and give the children a good time."

"It won't be a bad idea, Skipper," remarked Juarez, "because it will
give the horses a good rest and they have had a long, hard pull of it
the past ten days, and will put them in good condition for the rest
of the trip; perhaps, too, we can get a deer or two around here."

"There formerly was and ought now to be deer in this valley or near
it," put in Jeems. "This is just the kind of place for them to come
for grazing and pasture."

"It will help fill out our larder, too," said Tom.

"You mean our stomachs," said Jeems whimsically, after his fashion.

"I would like a mess of trout," remarked Tom. "I'm tired of salt
horse."

"What's the matter with Missouri?" said Jeems, "he won't drink."

"You can't make him then," said Jim. "A mule is sure stubborn."

The rest of the animals appeared willing enough, but it took quite a
while, as only one could come down to the stream at a time. The banks,
though not high, were cut through the turf and there was only one spot
where there was a broken place and a couple of stones where the horses
and mules could step down to the stream.

"I guess Jo will begin to wonder what has become of us," said Jim, as
the last horse drank his fill.

When they turned the animals' heads towards the camp it had grown
dark, while the great valley was filled with the loneliness and the
deep shadows of the night. There was nothing to break the stillne