"But not standing here!" exclaimed Rhoda, after they had almost split their throats, as Bess declared, shrieking for the missing boy. "We must go farther up the gulch. I know a place—"
"There goes my hat!" wailed Bess.
"You'll probably never see it again," said Rhoda. "Come on! Maybe
Walter will find us."
"But he doesn't know this country as you do, Rhoda," objected Nan.
"He'll know what to do just the same," Rhoda said practically.
"He will if he remembers what your father told us," said Bess.
"What's that?" demanded her chum.
"Mr. Ham-Hammond said to lie do-own and hang on to the grass-roots," stammered the almost breathless Bess. "And I guess we'd better do that, too."
"Come on. I'll get you out of the wind," said Rhoda, jerking her horse's head around.
The other animals followed. Whether the three Eastern girls were willing to be led away by Rhoda or not, their mounts would instinctively keep together.